Chapter 1 – Not Quite a Fairytale Start
Summary – Chad was happy with his lot in life. He had a job and a home, which was more than most people. He didn't need much else, but when he saw that the king was giving a ball, he thought it might be fun to have his own fairytale evening. He did not account for Harry Hook, nor the chaos that would trickle into his once secluded but cozy life.
Notes – I started writing this story when my computer decided to temporarily crap out on me and eat some of my stories. I got them back, thankfully (minus 10,000 words and random nonsense that severely crippled some of my stories, the poor babies), but while my computer was in the shop, I kept myself occupied with this writing prompt.
While I am completely biased, I'm pretty happy with how it turned out :)
-:-:-:-:-:-
Realistically, Chad knew he had no right to be here. Fancy balls were for royalty and the upper-class, for people in shimmering, exquisite gowns and expensive suits like the ones Chad tailored in the back of Eudora's Alterations shop - not for nobody's like him who pieced together their suit out of scraps that had been abandoned by their owners. But, this particular ball had been declared open to all to celebrate the destruction of the barrier around the Isle of the Lost, and Chad had been too tempted to pass on the opportunity altogether. He knew his father would prefer for Chad to stay tucked in their cozy cabin on the outskirts of Auradon city until the day he died, but Chad wanted to see more of the world than the small corner of the town he was allowed in, more than the Alterations shop and the grocery store and his books could give him.
Like every other teen searching for adventure, he wanted to experience a real ball, to get to know the Isle children that had been trapped behind the barrier for so long and to - well, he blushed even thinking about it, but it would be nice to meet someone. Just- someone to share a dance with. Chad had been practicing, watching the old movies his father had left him and reviewing the books. He'd even asked Mr. Marius, the manager of the alterations shop, to give him a few pointers, who'd agreed after laughing at Chad's 'boyish fancy'. He supposed it was silly, but he wanted to do his best. It would, after all, be the first time he'd intermingle with people his own age. He wanted to make a good first impression.
Like all the other commoners, Chad entered Auradon castle through the side door, trying not to gape at the stunning architecture he'd only ever seen in books and magazines. He was able to find a safe spot by a column to watch the attending royals be announced from the grand staircase to make their dramatic entrance. Lord Adam and Lady Belle were dignified creatures of old royalty, stunning and steadfast - and King Ben and Lady Mal were - well, of course they were lovely, they were royal. What else would they be? The king was dressed in stunning blues and yellows of Auradon, and his future queen a vision in purple, tulle and lace and all the delicate materials Mr. Marius steered Chad away from, fearing his clumsy fingers. Chad didn't blame him, he was much better with gentlemen's clothing, no doubts there.
It was King Ben who kicked off the fun, making a general welcome speech that warmed Chad down to his bones. The speech was immediately followed by dancing, whereupon dozens of sparkling couples took to the dance floor with a sort of synchronicity that only came from doing this sort of thing hundreds of times before.
This was it. All Chad had to do was find some girl - preferably a nobody like him - who looked as longing as he felt who would maybe say yes to him and then he'd have his foot in the door. It could only get better with experience, right? And it wasn't like he had to worry about spilling anything on her because his hands were free, and he wouldn't trip if he was careful of where he stepped-
"Hey," a bright voice chirped from beside him, and Chad looked over to see a buff teen lingering near his column, the firm muscles of his arms on display in an uncharacteristic version of finery, though the materials he wore were high quality, sleek leathers trimmed in gold, and he had a cape running down his back. It made Chad feel slightly inadequate with his meager tailcoat. "Would you like to dance?"
"Me?" Chad looked around, sure that the teen had been addressing some girl nearby that Chad had just missed.
But everyone else was already pulled into their own conversations, and when Chad looked back the teen was still smiling. "Yeah." He made a show of doing one of those elaborate noble bows. "You look like you want to dance, and I want to dance, so I thought I'd ask."
"Oh." Chad blinked, feeling a heat rise to his cheeks. He didn't know guys could dance with guys, though now that he looked out on the floor, that obviously was the case and he was just stupid. "I mean- yes, I'd be delighted."
"Really?" The teen lit up, his radiant smile somehow spreading wider. "Awesome."
He offered Chad his arm, and it didn't feel like a mockery but it was still strange being under this much genuine interest, the other teen seeming so pleased by such a small thing. He led them to the outskirts of the floor, where they immediately discovered a problem for who should lead who. Conscious of the people who could be staring at them, Chad relented and took the girl spot, mentally flipping all the steps he'd already practiced.
"I'm Gil," the other teen continued brightly, brows furrowed in concentration as he tried to lead them in a circle.
"Kit," Chad replied. "I mean, I'm Kit."
It was what his father called him - well, what everyone called him because his father said he wasn't allowed to use his real name under any circumstances, not that Chad knew why or really even minded, because Chad was a dumb name anyway.
"Hey, we both have short names!" This delighted Gil, enough for him to step on Chad's toes again. He immediately looked down, wincing. "Sorry, I'm um- not very good at this yet. That's probably why the others told me not to dance."
Chad didn't know who these 'others' were, but he immediately felt a kinship to the bright teen who'd asked him to dance when Chad had been too nervous to do so himself, so that sorrow would not do.
"It's okay," Chad assured, squeezing his shoulder. "You just need more practice. Here." He tugged the other teen off the dance floor, towards a secluded stone balcony overlooking the castle gardens. The area was mostly deserted because everything interesting was happening inside, but it felt like a good enough place to show Gil the basic steps. "Just follow me. And- one, two, three..."
Gil was by no means a natural, and it didn't help that Chad didn't really know what he was doing either, but eventually they managed to get the steps of a basic waltz mastered. Without Gil stepping on his feet, dancing was actually fun. Chad felt safe with the other teen's arm curled around his waist, spinning them in easy circles that made Chad feel like he was walking on air. This must be what princesses felt like when they met their prince charming - not that Gil was Chad's prince- that would be stupid, just- it was nice. That was all.
"You're a great teacher," Gil chirped, easing Chad into a dip that made them both giggle. "Evie tried to help me out earlier but she had to give up because there 'just wasn't enough time'. Harry said I was hopeless."
"Well, that's obviously not the case." Chad grinned, basking in the look of joy that comment earned him. "You just needed more time. There's nothing wrong with that."
"Thanks." Gil's cheeks were flushed with exertion, and Chad knew he shouldn't stare or else the other teen might think he was weird, even though it was hard to pull his eyes away. "Where'd you learn to dance?"
Chad felt heat blossom in his cheeks. "From books, actually. And um- some old video tapes."
"No way," Gil laughed. "Am I like- your first partner?"
"You're the first person who's asked me to dance," Chad allowed, deciding that the few awkward practice sessions he'd had with Mr. Marius didn't count.
"Lucky me," Gil said, and it was almost like he'd meant it. "Do you know any other dances?"
"A couple," Chad admitted, and that was how they came to spend the next thirty or so minutes reviewing the few meager dances Chad had in his arsenal. It was fun, dancing with Gil. Comfortable in a way Chad hadn't expected (he'd also expected to dance with a girl so it was an adjustment all around). Gil made him laugh with his easy jokes, and seemed genuinely interested in anything Chad had to say (which couldn't, comparatively, be that interesting, but it was flattering just the same).
They were laughing over their failed attempt to do the foxtrot when an arm curled around his waist- deftly tugging him away from Gil in a motion so seamless Chad almost didn't register it until he was face-to-face with another teen.
This one seemed to be a direct counter to Gil in almost every way. Pale skin with startling blue eyes lined with smears of eyeliner (Chad had never seen a guy wearing makeup before, but it seemed natural on this guy, and um- interesting in a way he'd rather not delve into), short dark hair that contrasted with the long golden curls that spilled down Gil's back in a low pony tail.
"And who's this exquisite creature, Gilly?" the teen drawled, voiced tinged with a thick sort of accent. "Is he the one who stole ye off the dance floor?"
"This is Kit!" Gil didn't seem phased by this interruption, nor the way this strange teen was holding Chad so close. "Kit, this is my friend Harry."
"Ah, so you've been talking about me, then?" A wicked sort of smirk overtook Harry's face. He lifted Chad's hand deliberately, pressing his lips to Chad's knuckles. "All good things, I hope?"
"You said Gil was hopeless," Chad replied before he could think to filter himself, and he was rewarded with a half second of surprise before Harry let out a rough bark of laughter.
"He certainly was, at least," Harry chuckled. "Seems like he's found his sea legs now, though."
"Kit's been teaching me," Gil cheered. "I can waltz now. And two-step."
"How 'bout a polka?" Harry asked, leaning into Chad's space. He was already very close, and he didn't seem bothered by this. "Pretty little thing like you should know how to do that."
Chad was certain that his face was as red as a tomato, because he was pretty sure this guy was flirting with him, on purpose. "I um- yes, I can polka."
"Excellent." Harry drew him into the appropriate position. He tipped his head low so that his mouth could brush against Chad's ear, warm breath sending shivers down Chad's frame. "Let's see how you fair then."
Dancing with Harry was nothing like dancing with Gil. Where Gil was a whirlwind of energy, Harry was a tornado. He moved with a distinct confidence that didn't require Chad's reassurance, comfortable maneuvering the blond wherever he needed to go. They ended up pressed closer together than the dance strictly required, and part of Chad liked that for whatever reason, liked the way Harry leered at him even though he didn't know why. Maybe it was an isolation thing. His first time out with people his age, obviously he was latching onto the first two individuals he saw. He should leave them after this, maybe ask a girl to dance, or maybe leave the ball altogether. He was obviously too needy for this kind of thing.
"You're light on your feet, aren't ye?" Harry breathed, lips grazing against the shell of his ear. "Is that why you sought Gil out?"
"He um- asked me." As though Chad had the courage for that.
"Did he, now?" Harry drawled, mouth definitely brushing against Chad's neck, just above his collar. "And is there a reason you've been holding him hostage out here?"
"I haven't- I was teaching him how to dance," Chad sputtered, feeling very uneasy. "I um- I'm sorry if I've been monopolizing his time. I'll go find someone else to dance with-"
"No." Harry squeezed his hand. "He likes you now, don't he?"
"I think Gil might like everyone," Chad mumbled. "...he's very nice."
That seemed to throw Harry for a moment, though Chad didn't know why. If he was Gil's friend, he was already aware of how generous and enthusiastic he was. Maybe he just didn't want to share.
The polka began to wind down, and through the open doors of the ballroom the band started to slow down into a more romantic couples' dance. Harry readjusted his hold appropriately, tucking Chad against his chest as they started to sway in small circles.
"Damn right, he is," Harry murmured, his forehead pressed against the side of Chad's face so he could whisper in his ear. "An if you think for a second about taking advantage of him-"
"How would I take advantage of him?" Chad felt a furious blush creep over his cheeks. Based on the way they were dressed, both Gil and Harry were nobility, where Chad was just a pauper in his thrown-together clothes, obviously out-of-fashion and never feeling it more distinctly than in this exact moment. "I'm nothing, you jerk. You're the one that told him he couldn't dance. Maybe you should be nicer to him."
Harry pulled back enough so he could press their foreheads together, taking in Chad's angered expression with a sly grin. "Maybe I should be," he relented, eyes shining bright. "I must say I do like a piece with a bit of bite to them." One of his hands slid down Chad's back, resting low on his waist as a sort of threat, or maybe a taunt. Chad didn't know. "Got a bit of spine on you, eh?"
He dipped his head low, nuzzling under Chad's jaw before licking the skin there, making Chad tense in his hold.
"What are you doing?" Chad hissed, because Harry was just- sucking his neck, in public. Was this what noble people did?
"Getting a taste," Harry drawled, lips pulling into a grin Chad could feel against his neck. "Like that?"
Chad nodded before he could think not to, blushing horribly at Harry's wry chuckle. "Harry..."
"Tongue isn't so sharp now, is it?" He bit into Chad's skin, sucking a mark there like they did in the movies and this should be horrifying but it was actually sort of hot and what the hell was wrong with Chad. He didn't even know he was attracted to guys. Granted, there had never been anyone nearby for him to be attracted to, but he hadn't realized guys might even be an option. "Seem to be getting awfully flustered, Kitten."
"I've um- never done this before," Chad mumbled, feeling distinctly overwhelmed.
That actually made Harry pull back, one of his hands shifting to cup Chad's jaw - what the fuck, was he going to kiss Chad? Did Chad want to get kissed by Harry?
"Oh, you haven't, have you?" he drawled, pressing his thumb to Chad's bottom lip and then just- coaxing it into his mouth and what the fuck was this. Chad hadn't read anything like this in his books, he'd read a lot and this was covered by none of them. "Such a perfect little thing you are, charming and helpful - bashful and new so Gil can get you broken in, is it? So tell me-" He pressed his thumb down hard on Chad's tongue. "Who sent you? Was it Audrey? Are ye one of hers?"
Chad shook his head as much as Harry's hand would allow, gaze shifting frantically to the doors to make sure no one else was nearby to witness whatever the fuck this was.
"Ah-ah." In one swift movement, Harry boxed him against a wall of the castle, looming into Chad's space. "Don't even think about running."
With a few frantic movements, Chad reached for Harry's wrist, ripping the offending digit out of his mouth so he could speak. "What's wrong with you? No one sent me. The ball was open for everyone-"
"And you dressed like this as a coincidence?" Harry asked, tugging at Chad's coat collar with an offended growl. "Spruced yourself up like an Isle kid, though there isn't one thing about you that's Isle-like." He cupped the side of Chad's face again, letting his fingers twist in soft blond curls. "Practically put yourself on a platter, waiting for him."
"This isn't-" Chad felt a wet heat pulling at the corner of his eyes, wondering where Gil went, wondering how this had all gone wrong so very quickly. "I made this myself. I'm a seamstress at Eudora's Alteration Shop in Conques-"
"Nice back story," Harry murmured. "You're very committed, but I'm not buying it."
"Please," Chad whispered. "I'll leave right now-"
"Not until you say who sent you."
"No one sent me." Was that a thing rich people worried about? "I don't know who Audrey is-"
Harry shoved him hard against the wall. "Likely story." He fingered the sleeve of Chad's coat, eyeing the fabric until he gave it a swift yank that tore the shoulder seam right open. "Looks like you're not that good a seamstress."
"Hey-" Chad would have scrambled for his sleeve but Harry was already reaching for his vest, tearing the buttons off in one easy movement. It had taken Chad weeks to save up the nicest ones, and he knew there were mismatched but he'd liked them, and now they were scattered on the balcony of the castle because of some noble's shitty son. "Stop."
"Who sent you?" Harry snapped. "I'm not asking again."
"Harry?" Gil's voice broke into their confrontation like water on a roaring fire, dousing the flames with such sudden effectiveness that Harry froze in place. Gil was just barely out the doors of the castle with a- a princess on his arm, dark blue hair with a pretty gold tiara and Chad was standing there with ripped up clothes and the beginnings of a hickey on his neck.
Before something else could happen, Chad rode his wave of panic and shoved Harry at the other teen, ducking around the corner as fast as his legs could carry him. He found himself jumping over the edge of the balcony into an area that was probably restricted but he didn't care, he just wanted to leave. What the hell had he been thinking? His father was right, the outside world was too dangerous for people like him. Chad should be happy with his job and his books and his father that he got to see every once and a while. Happy with the cozy roof over his head that kept him safe from crazy nobles that demanded whatever they wanted from whoever they wanted without thinking twice, as though the world owed it to them.
Chad's landing was far from graceful, and he stumbled as a flare of pain emanated from his ankle but Chad ignored it, stubbornly limping on so Harry couldn't find him. He tried to stay as close to the castle as possible, looking for any kind of exit. He didn't find a gate, but he found a small side entrance that might be for servants. Worse comes to worst, Chad could always claim the honest truth of being lost and ask to be seen out, or would be seen out for trespassing. It was fine, it was all fine.
The small door was unlocked, fortunately, and it led into a small hallway that he hoped would eventually lead to the front gate. He limped down the tasteful interior grateful not to be seen, and had almost managed to will away his tears by the time he rounded the corner and came face-to-face with King Ben and Lady Mal themselves.
Aside from looking as amazing and put together as they'd been before, both the king and his fiancé were as surprised by Chad's appearance as he was theirs', and he was about to release a mumbled apology when Lady Mal darted forward, taking his hand between hers.
"What happened?" she growled, staring at his torn clothes with a look of fury that was entirely unwarranted. "Did someone hurt you?"
"It's fine." Chad could feel himself begin to get flustered again. "I got lost, sorry. I was just looking for the exit-"
"If someone hurt you, we need to know about it," Mal hissed, exuding a sense of overprotection, and Chad didn't know why until he remembered what Harry had said, and he felt the tears pool in his eyes once more.
"I'm not- I'm not an Isle kid," Chad mumbled. "Sorry. I made this out of the nicest things I had and..." He swallowed looking down at the remnants of his outfit. "Until about ten minutes ago I was really proud of it."
Lady Mal didn't say anything, seeming to be struck quiet, and it was then that the king strode forward, his presence a calm dichotomy to Mal's rage. "Whether you're an Isle kid or not, you deserve justice."
"It was just a misunderstanding." Chad stared down at where the lady was still holding his hands - such small, delicate things sandwiching his tan, clumsy fingers. "I'd really just like to leave, your majesty."
"How about you get him some new clothes?" the king aimed this at his fiancé, who seemed to latch onto the idea. "And I'll go back out into the crowds?"
"And maybe keep an eye open?" Lady Mal hummed, seeming more settled now that she had a plan in place. "Alright, we can do that."
"That isn't necessary," Chad tried to assure them, but neither seemed to listen, the king going to far as to squeeze his arm before calmly continuing down the hallway.
"Sure it is," the lady chirped, sliding her hand into his and tugging Chad in a different direction, through a secret portion up the wall and up a hidden staircase into yet another hallway. "What kind of rulers would we be if we didn't look after our people?"
"It was my understanding that rulers delegated, your ladyship," Chad murmured, feeling terribly self-conscious.
Mal let out a bark of laughter, though unlike Harry's it was infinitely kind. "Maybe, but we had additional security for this affair that was supposed to prevent this kind of shit from happening. Therefore, you are owed special treatment."
She tugged him towards two large double doors that were manned by footmen who didn't so much as blink before pulling them open, revealing an elegant suite fit for royalty. Chad could feel his heart pounding in his chest, barely managing to take in the high, vaulted ceilings before he was dragged down another hallway and into a bedroom that most definitely belonged to the king and his future queen.
"I shouldn't be here," Chad said, feeling faint as he spotted what had to be the lady's art studio through an open door leading off of the bedroom, the entire thing covered with detailed canvases and pastel drawings and the walls themselves covered with painted art.
"Sure, you should," Lady Mal countered easily, going into what Chad assumed was her closet and riffling through the clothes. "I invited you. It would be rude to turn me down."
"Rude, but appropriate." Chad tried to avoid looking at his reflection in the full-length mirror that stood next to the closet. "Honestly, if you could just give me directions, I could show myself out."
"With that ankle?" Lady Mal reappeared with a selection of clothing bundled in her hands. "Yeah, no."
In all the chaos, Chad had sort of forgotten about his likely-sprained ankle, and as though to object to this treatment it pulsed in annoyance. "...it's not that bad."
"You're limping." She started sorting her haul out onto the very large bed that she and the king probably slept in, revealing an assortment of shirts, vests, and coats, and also they were the king's. "This is nice." She held up one of the light blue shirts. "It'll bring out your eyes."
"I can't take that." Chad wasn't sure why he was still objecting when she wasn't going to listen to him, but he felt obligated to try anyway. He should be home right now, feeding his mice and finishing the quilt for his father's birthday. He should not be here, talking to the almost-queen.
"You can and you will," Mal replied, proving him right. "Now sit down before you collapse."
Chad wasn't on the verge of collapse, but his ankle did hurt, so he went ahead and took a seat as instructed, perched on the edge of some sort of fancy lounging thing that only rich people owned.
"That's better." The lady grinned, handing over the shirt. "Try this on, he never wears it anyway."
"Why?" Chad asked before he could help himself, feeling the elegant cut of the seams. It must have been specially tailored for the king, with pretty matching buttons and even holes for cuff links, who even used cuff links? The king, of course. Dumb question.
Mal snorted. "I know, right? That's just Ben, though. He was born into this stuff so he forgets to appreciate it sometime." Her mischievous gaze slid over to him. "I'm glad it's going to someone who does appreciate it, though."
"Oh, no." Chad felt the color drain from his face. "I can't take this. It's hand stitched." Chad's shirt had been hand stitched, but that was because his machine at home had gotten jammed up again. He'd need to take it apart to repair it, but that would have to wait until he found another wrecked machine at the pawn shop. "Besides, my shirt's fine."
The lady gave him a dubious look, motioning to his shoulder - and it was then that Chad realized that Harry must have torn the seam from both his coat and his shirt. It was like salt rubbed into the wound, and it made Chad ache with shame. It wouldn't have torn so easily if he'd been able to use his machine, which would have been fine if he'd just taken better care of it.
Chad sighed.
"At this rate, I think you deserve that shirt more than Ben ever could," the lady decided, motioning for him to take off what remained of his coat. Chad did so reluctantly, fingering the tear in his shirt before sliding off the sad remnants of his vest. "You sew, then?"
"Not well." Obviously. "But enough to get by." That was what Mr. Marius said, though he offered it kindly, which Chad always appreciated. "It's a way to give new life to old clothing."
Which, for someone like Chad who had to stretch, well - everything to make ends meet on his small budget - was absolutely vital.
"I knit too," Chad offered, latching onto the small talk to make himself feel less awkward about sliding into the king's shirt while his future bride was right there like this wasn't the most bizarre thing in the world. "Which is handy for the winter."
Cheaper too, to purchase the yarn and knit your own blankets and sweaters rather than buying them secondhand, though Chad was always relegated to whatever colors they had in the bargain bin. Still, it kept him warm, and that was what mattered.
"No shit?" the lady cursed offhandedly, looking over Chad's torso with a quiet sort of approval that made him shake inside. "Evie always wanted to try that out, but we could never get any yarn on the Isle."
"I'm sorry," Chad said before he could think of what a truly moronic statement that was, and then he was burying his face in his hands. "And I'm sorry for that. Please pretend I didn't say anything."
Mal giggle. "No, you're fine," she assured, voice lilting in with an air of amusement. "I don't mind when it's genuine, it just so rarely is."
"There's plenty of people who'd be genuine about it," Chad countered slowly, daring to look up again. "At least everyone I've talked to. Which granted, isn't much, but..."
"We shouldn't count you out," the lady finished for him with a bright grin. "Here, try this vest on."
"I don't really need a vest," Chad tried to wheedle, though the lady would have none of it, practically shoving the elegant navy vest into his hands with its beautiful matching buttons and it's definitely silk lining.
"So what do you think about it?" Mal asked, going over towards the vanity and searching through a polished wooden box that seemed more expensive than any of the furniture in Chad's cottage. "The barrier being taken down from the Isle?"
"I'm glad," Chad replied honestly. "I mean, with all the new reforms it'll only house the people that should be there, right? Everyone else getting to be free- I'm glad for that. It's terrible, thinking of being trapped somewhere for something you didn't do." Chad had no right to compare it to his cozy cottage, but sometimes he couldn't help but feel a little stifled, even if today was enough to make him realize he should be locked away. "And um- I'm not just saying that because you're almost the queen."
Mal laughed at him, openly and without restraint. It was a very nice sound. "Thank you for assuaging that concern. Now here-" She handed over a pair of cuff links that gleamed in the light of room, gold circular studs with a sort of white granite center. "Looking sharp, slick."
"I know I've said this before, but I really can't take these." Chad was freaking out at the very prospect of having them in his hand.
"Nonsense, he doesn't wear them." Mal waved him off, eyeing his ankle with a single-minded focus. "We need to get that elevated."
"Don't you need to get back to the ball?" That seemed like a thing she, the host, should be doing. "I'm really grateful for the clothes-"
"And the cuff links."
"I'm definitely not taking these cuff links," Chad said, and it was a minor relief when Lady Mal deftly snatched them from his hands.
It was less of a relief when she started sliding them into the appropriate slots at Chad's wrists, completely ignoring Chad's protests.
He was going to be labeled a thief. He'd already been labeled a saboteur or something and now he was a thief and socially awkward nobody who kept stealing the queen's time.
"Elevate," Mal said, tapping his wounded ankle lightly. "I'll send for some ice-"
"I can ice it at home-"
"Do I have to make this an order?" Mal huffed, blowing a stray hair out of her face. "Because I'll do it. I will totally abuse my authority to get you to sit still long enough to see a doctor."
"I don't need a doctor, your ladyship." That was the very last thing Chad wanted anyway. "And my ankle's feeling a lot better anyway."
The lady locked her gaze with his and then, very meaningfully, jabbed his ankle.
Chad flinched away with a hiss.
"So stubborn," she muttered, guiding his leg up onto the lounger. She busied herself by grabbing a few pillows and shoving them under Chad's injured foot. "How did that happen anyway?"
"I um... jumped off the back balcony." Chad ducked his head, feeling his cheeks heat up with shame. "I was trying to make a tactful retreat, but I just sort of panicked."
"Who were you retreating from?"
"No one important." If Harry had been a nuisance to Chad with minimal provocation, he would hate to see what the noble would do if Chad actually gave him an excuse to be angry. Or, more of one.
"Gah," Mal sighed, dragging a hand over her face. "...I literally just realized I don't know your name."
Chad flushed, because he was the dipshit that had forgotten to give it to her. "I'm Kit, your ladyship."
"Kit," she said it as though she were testing out the name for how offensive it was to her sensibilities, and it seemed to be not very. "Well, Kit, you're not doing anyone a favor by keeping quiet. If someone bothered you, they're likely to target someone just like you."
"I doubt that, your majesty," Chad replied, even though internally he felt cowed. "It was a um- very specific order of events that set him off."
That mostly had to do with Chad hogging his supposed friend who he'd given up on, but maybe Harry was just a gigantic hypocrite anyway.
"So it was a him, was it?" the lady pressed, wagging her brows. "Was he the one who gave you that mark on your neck?"
Were it possible to die of humiliation, Chad may have done so right then, because somehow in the presence of royalty he'd forgotten about the love mark that had been sucked onto his neck.
"Was that against your will?" Mal continued, graciously moving on.
"N-no." Why couldn't the ground just swallow him now? "That um- was before things went bad."
Or rather, it was during, but Chad had liked it because he was likely fundamentally broken. Or maybe just sheltered.
"Did you want to stop?" Mal asked, like this was a normal conversation for her to have with one of her subjects. "Could he not take no for an answer?"
"The only thing he wouldn't stop doing was ripping my clothes," Chad sniffed, fingering his old coat. It seemed even more depressing than before. "But that was entirely unrelated."
"How?" the lady pressed, and then - thankfully - there was a chiming sound. "Someone's at the door to the suite," she explained, moving towards the hallway. "This isn't finished."
Chad kept quiet instead of choosing to reply, waiting for her to exit the room before he undid the cuff links, leaving them beside the polished box before grabbing the bundle of his old clothes. He was quietly hobbling back towards the door Mal had exited when he heard a familiar voice echo down the hallway.
"I don't need to calm down," Harry snapped. "I should be out there, lookin' for him!"
"Looking for who, Harry?" The lady replied, and that was all Chad registered before he bolted for the only other door he knew of - the one to the art studio. He closed the door behind him, scanning the floor to ceiling windows until he found yet another balcony. This was smaller than the one he'd jumped off of before, but also substantially higher and that was bad but it would be worse going back inside so Harry - who was apparently friends with Lady Mal - could declare that Chad was trying to win her over with a sob story of some kind.
From the corner of Chad's eye, he spotted a rain gutter just off the edge of the balcony, and he knew that what would happen next was a terrible idea, but it was also the only one he had, so-
So that was how Chad came to precariously climb down a narrow drain pipe three stories until he was finally at ground level. At least he could see an exit at this point and he gladly took it, limping past a crowd of latecomers until he was back at the city square. It was only when he had safely gotten onto the bus back to Conques that Chad breathed easy once more, deciding that his first trip into Auradon central was definitely going to be his last. Nobles were crazy and balls certainly weren't anything to write home about. He'd take his books and his garden over that again any day, though he did make a note to write down his adventure, figuring it would be his only one.
He may as well get a laugh out of it on some future rainy day. He could at least get that much.
Which, for him, was more than enough.
-:-:-:-:-:-
Riding his bike to the alterations shop the next day was an exercise in mind over matter that Chad almost failed, but he managed it all the same, even if he was distinctly sweaty and sore by the time he stored his bike away in the cleaning storage closet that only he used. While they had all been granted a day off for the celebrations the day before, that was the extent of their vacation time, and Chad was the low man on the totem pole. It was his job to get the shop prepped for Mr. Marius, who would flip the sign to open when he got in, and get a head start on the pile of alterations that were still to be finished. They'd prioritized all the ball clothes, which left them with everything else - garden dresses and pant hemming and back to school clothes for all the royals attending Auradon Prep and Auradon University come fall.
Chad was generally the first one in to the shop, so he spent the first few hours working in silence, finishing up his load of projects before starting on Lila's - who had a slower turnaround time but was infinitely better at detail work than Chad. If he didn't take her easy stuff now, she'd just dump it on him later, so he decided to get a head start before the influx of formal wear that would need to be repaired after yesterday's festivities.
The sun was safely in the sky by the time Lila and Mr. Marius came in, opening the shop for proper business. They passed a few hours like that in relative silence, Lila glaring at the delicately beaded shawl she was repairing while Chad let out the seams on a whimsical summer dress when Mr. Marius strolled into the backroom.
"I just received the most interesting call." He aimed this at Chad, which was weird because he rarely gossiped with Chad during work hours.
"Did we get another big order?" Lila asked. "Some royal looking for legitimate tailoring rather than alterations?"
"No, it actually wasn't a business call," Mr. Marius said. "It was about you, Kit."
"Me?" Chad felt his stomach turn to stone, the slight twinge in his ankle seeming to pulsate acutely.
"Yes, it was from the royal household."
"What would the royal household want with Kit?" Lila asked, setting the beaded shawl aside. "You didn't make a nuisance of yourself at the ball yesterday, did you?"
"No," Chad replied, perhaps a bit too defensively because she narrowed her eyes at him in that knowing way of hers, being that a majority of the accidents that happened in the back room were Chad's fault anyway.
"It wasn't anything like that," Mr. Marius assured. "They wanted to know how long you'd been working here."
Chad froze. "You lied, right?"
Chad had, more or less, been working under the counter for Mr. Marius since he was twelve, the old man taking pity on him and giving him a job doing basic repairs and all the shop maintenance when he started struggling to make ends meet.
"I said you'd been working here since you were sixteen," Mr. Marius all but confirmed, leaving Chad with a respectable three-year employment window. "Though I am curious why they'd call for that in the first place."
"Why?" Lila asked. "You think they're going to snatch him up from under you? Maybe hire Kit to do their alterations."
She said as though Chad would be employed for something else, and as he did any other time she implied he was only useful for his moderate looks, Chad flushed with shame.
And just like every other time, she laughed at the sight of it. "As if anyone would be clambering for your expertise with the outfit you had on yesterday."
"I liked that outfit," Chad said quietly, trying to focus on his seam work.
"It wasn't bad, for a middle school art project."
"That's enough," Mr. Marius sighed. "I just thought you'd like to know, Kit, and see if there was anything you'd want to tell me?"
"I don't think you have to worry about me being offered a job, Mr. Marius," Chad muttered, turning back to his work. "I'm sorry they bothered you, but I'm not sure why they called."
"In that case, I'll leave you two to your work," Mr. Marius declared, heading back to the front of the store to take more customers' orders.
It wasn't until an hour later when things really picked up.
Seeing Mr. Marius in the backroom wasn't all that unusual, but seeing Mr. Marius in the backroom without any new orders for them to fill was an even rarer sight, and it'd already happened once that day.
It was even less comforting when his eyes fell on Chad once more. "Kit, you've got some visitors."
"Him?" Lila asked with the same confusion Chad felt. "Who would visit him? He doesn't have any friends."
Which was something Chad would defend against, but then Lady Mal was pushing into the backroom with none other than Harry the crazy noble right on her heels, looking like he'd rather be anywhere but there.
"You left your cuff links," was how Mal chose to greet him, crossing over to Chad's station and dumping a small velvet box into his hands. "Common mistake, Ben does it all the time."
"These aren't mine," Chad tried to sputter, but Mal was already turning back to Mr. Marius.
"Can I take him to lunch?" Mal asked. "I want to take him to lunch."
Mr. Marius didn't seem to know what to do with this information, though he slowly nodded. "...of course, your ladyship. I - and Kit - would be honored."
"Well, so long as you're honored," Harry grumbled.
With the practice that likely came from knowing a crazy person, Mal ignored him. "Thank you, Mr. Marius. I appreciate that." She turned back to Chad. "Come on, up and at 'em. I'm hungry."
"Umm..." Chad shot a desperate look to Mr. Marius, who motioned for him to leave.
Alrighty then.
That was how Chad ended up in a private car with Lady Mal and grumpy Harry, feeling very out of place with his homemade sweater, patched khakis, and a velvet box he had tried very hard to give back to Mal who had stubbornly ignored him every time he did so.
It was Mal that led them into a small but very expensive looking cafe, the three of them whisked off towards a private upper floor Chad wouldn't have known existed even if he'd dared to step foot in there, which he definitely wouldn't have.
"So, apologies are in order," Mal declared when they settled around their small and utterly charming table. "From both myself and Harry - mostly me for thinking Harry could behave without adult supervision-"
"Mal," Harry growled, but the lady ignored him.
"And the rest entirely from Harry for being an unmitigated shit and accosting you at the ball, so..." She motioned to Harry who... seemed to be pouting. Mal sighed. "I'm sorry that you were assaulted by this lug I am unfortunately fond of. It would be entirely within your right to press charges-"
"I don't want to do that," Chad interrupted, feeling like his voice was too loud, too insistent, but knowing he had to cut in before she went down that path. "He was just trying to protect his friend. I can't blame him for that."
Thankfully the conversation paused there when the waiter came to take their drink orders - and where Mal got a fancy fruit tea and Harry ordered a soda of some kind, Chad stuck to water. He knew what water tasted like, the majority of his body was composed of it, and it was free. There was nothing but bonuses there.
Mal narrowed her eyes at his choice, but otherwise said nothing. "There are better ways to protect your friends," she settled on. "One which involves gathering evidence before throwing accusations around."
"That's what I was trying to do," Harry sputtered, but she waved him off with a lazy hand. It was kind of wild.
"Harry," Mal began with a sweet flutter of her eyes. "Is there something you'd like to say?"
The noble released a put-upon sigh. "I'm sorry for thinking ye were a plant," he muttered. "And I'm sorry for ripping your clothes and..."
"Just generally harassing him," Mal finished neatly. "And prompting him to jump off of a balcony just to escape your dumb face, when the only crime he'd committed was teaching Gil to dance."
"He did it outside," Harry grumbled. "Where we couldn't see them."
"Gil felt self-conscious," Chad said with a flush, not entirely liking the implications of Harry's statement. "I just wanted to show him the moves somewhere where he'd feel better. I wasn't trying to lure him away for nefarious purposes." Not like Harry had done to Chad's neck.
"And his teaching style worked," Mal chirped before Harry could reply. "Evie's feet can attest to that."
"So I might have overreacted," Harry allowed. "But ye know how people get with Gil. They seem 'im and they think he's an easy target."
"Because he's nice?" Chad asked. Or maybe it was because he was generous, asking lonely looking dudes out for a dance. Harry had thought Gil had gone for him because he was dressed like an Isle kid, which still sort of hurt, as Isle kids only had access to Auradon's secondhand goods. Though Chad supposed that description fit him pretty well.
The other two just sort of stared at him.
"Among other things," Mal settled on.
They paused after this when the waiter returned with their drinks, pausing to take their orders, whereupon Chad panicked and ordered the cheapest soup he could find, which wasn't that entirely cheap anyway. And then the point was moot because Mal ordered him a sandwich as well, along with some fruity drink spritzer that came with an umbrella and a slice of pear on the rim.
"Is Gil okay?" Chad asked when he thought he was ready to itch out of his own skin. "I didn't mean to upset him."
"Ye shoved me at him," Harry growled, narrowing his eyes in a suspicious glare.
"After you shoved your thumb in my mouth," Chad hissed, dropping his voice low despite the fact that they were the only people in the room. "Like some kind of weirdo."
"Okay, I missed that part." Lady Mal blinked as though she was visually processing this. "What the hell, Harry?"
"Aw, come on," Harry groused. "Ye want to tell me he isn't the perfect setup? Isle clothes, charming, nice, never been asked to dance before, supposedly never canoodled with anyone-"
"I haven't canoodled with anyone." Chad flushed. "Except for you and I regret that very much."
"And he's funny," Harry continued. "And cute when he's mad. Of course I thought he was a plant. I'm still amazed he isn't."
"Well, I'm not," Chad snapped. "And I'm sorry if that's something you guys have to worry about on a regular basis, but that doesn't give you an excuse to rip my clothes." He lowered his gaze to the table. "I worked hard on those."
Mal's hand settled on his arm, a grounding sort of presence Chad didn't feel worthy of. "I know, Kit," she said quietly. "And Harry knows too, which is why we're here today."
"...to take me to apology lunch?" Chad asked, still not quite confident to lift his gaze.
"Among other things," Mal echoed the sentiment from earlier. "To apologize, yes, but this is just step one."
That implied there was a step two and Chad honestly didn't want to know what that was.
"We don't have to take any more steps," he tried to offer instead, letting his nerves return when their food was settled in front of them. Apparently he had ordered some kind of mushroom soup. It smelled very nice though. "I'm happy with Harry's apology."
"Well, I'm not," Mal declared. "And Uma isn't either."
Chad didn't know who the hell Uma was, but at the mention of her name Harry seemed rightfully contrite, sinking into his seat.
"So," Mal continued. "We decided that Harry's gonna learn how much work goes into making a garment, so that maybe he'll think twice before ripping one apart."
That... did not sound like it boded well for Chad.
"Eat your food," Mal ordered before Chad could ask for clarification. And, well-
Breakfast had been small that morning to make up for the day off.
Chad ate his food.
-:-:-:-:-:-
"I don't think I understand," Mr. Marius said when Mal explained her reasoning to the store manager.
"It's easy," Mal said, though 'easy' seemed like the last thing it was. "Harry here is going to act as free labor for Kit until such a time that he fully realizes the errors of his ways. If he causes any trouble, call me-" She pointed to the card she'd handed Mr. Marius earlier. "-and I'll sort him out real quick. Is that okay?"
Mr. Marius stared at the card, then went back to staring at the queen. "...and he won't be any trouble?"
"He'd better not be," Mal murmured, low and threatening, giving Harry a look that promised swift retribution should he deign to cross her.
The other teen said nothing.
"Well... I guess I can't say no to free labor," Mr. Marius laughed. "Or to our future queen."
"I really appreciate it," Mal offered sweetly, a complete one eighty to her previous disposition. She turned back to Chad, whom she'd already given a card to (he'd didn't actually have a phone, but he didn't have the heart to tell her that much, choosing to tuck the card into his pocket instead and save it next to the king's shirt and vest he had hanging in his closet). "I'll have him start tomorrow," she decided. "What time do you need him?"
Chad realized this was happening whether he wanted it to or not. "Six will be fine."
Lady Mal seemed to balk. "I thought you guys opened at nine."
In his peripherals, Chad could see Mr. Marius tense. "I get the shop ready," Chad explained. "Prep the orders for pickup, that sort of stuff."
"Huh," Mal said, and beside her, Harry was bemoaning his existence. "Six, it is. He'll see you then." She offered them both a quick curtsy, more or less dragging Harry back towards the door. "Don't be such a baby, at least you'll get to leave early-" was the last thing Chad heard before they left.
Which was not entirely accurate, because Chad closed the store too. He was the one with the shortest commute, and the least amount of family obligations. It was only fair.
As though reading his mind, Mr. Marius cleared his throat. "You can let him go at three."
"Okay." Chad nodded, and then it was back to work with a full stomach, with a packed lunch he could save tomorrow and the potential of a helping - though unwilling - hand on the morrow.
It wasn't until he was getting ready to bike home that night that he realized he still had the cuff links box in his pocket, and with a weary sort of resignation, he sighed. It seemed that whatever Lady Mal wanted, she got. He may as well get used to that, and hope it didn't land him in dark waters.
-:-:-:-:-:-
Sure enough, Harry was waiting outside the alterations shop the next morning, blinking at the early morning sun as though it deeply offended him and following Chad into the shop with an incoherent grumble that could have served as a hello.
As... unwelcoming as Harry was, he was good at manual labor, helping Chad clean the front of the shop and organize the backroom supplies in half the usual time. He couldn't really help Chad with his alterations, but he could hand the blond things as he asked for them, sitting in companionable silence while Chad knocked out the orders he had left over from the day before.
Chad had thought things would be weird with Harry around, lounging near his feet when he'd gotten bored of the rickety chair next to Chad's station, but it was actually nice. For some reason, there weren't nearly as many accidents (perhaps because Harry was the one storing the extra buttons and locating zippers instead of Chad), and Lila didn't feel inclined to peck at him with the other teen present, likely cowed by his noble status. Chad hadn't realized how much easier that made things, but he almost didn't notice when his late lunchtime arrived, slotted after Lila and Mr. Marius' because he had the best stamina among them.
"Finally," Harry huffed when Chad let him know it was time for a break, and instead of letting Chad go back to get his packed lunch, he grabbed the blond's wrist and dragged him from the store, giving Mr. Marius a lazy wave. "Lunch is on me. It's part of Mal's deal."
"...Mal isn't here," Chad pointed out, allowing Harry to tug him along more out of curiosity than anything else. The guy had been relatively well behaved, he probably wouldn't accost Chad again.
Harry snorted. "Believe me, she'll know if I don't take you out. Don't ask me how, she just will."
"...do you know where we're going?" Chad asked after a short pause.
Harry sighed. "Mal has given me a list to work through."
Which was how they ended up at a cute hole-in-the-wall place that served Imperial City food. Chad had only ever seen pictures of the stuff, but he'd heard good things about sweet and sour pork, so he tried that.
They ate in relative silence, until Harry spoke up halfway through the meal. "Ye seem to do the bulk of the work there."
"What?" Chad blinked up from his rice, which he'd given up eating with the chopsticks because his stupid hands lacked the coordination to use them.
"The alterations," Harry clarified. "Ye cleared out your stack and then ye cleared out half of hers before she even showed up."
"Yeah, but that was easy stuff." Chad shrugged. "Lila does the detail work."
"Lila seems to dither, to me," Harry scoffed around a mouthful of noodles. "Ye finish three times as much stuff as that stuck up broad."
"I don't think you've got much room to talk," Chad sniffed, even if he didn't feel all that defensive of Lila. Maybe of her skills and the work she did, but not her personality.
"Excuse me?" Harry had the gall to sputter. "Ye think I'm stuck up?"
"You looked down on me for my clothes."
Crimson seemed to flood Harry's cheeks. "That wasn't why I got onto ye about your clothes."
"You thought I was dressed like an Isle kid," Chad pressed. "Which obviously isn't a bad thing-" Because the isle kids certainly couldn't help it. "Unless I was dressed like one. I mean, do you get that a lot?" Chad asked. "People trying to pass for Isle refugees to get sympathy?"
"Ye'd be surprised what ends lunatics are willing to go through to get what they want," Harry muttered.
Chad poked at his sweet and sour pork. "...what does Audrey want with Gil anyway?"
It wasn't any of his business, except Harry had sort of made it his business when he shoved Chad against the wall.
Harry sighed. "To date him, is my guess." He stabbed at his noodles angrily, swirling them around his fork in jerked movements. "She knows Gil's close to Uma, and Uma's close to Mal - so if she can get to Gil, she's got access to the ruler of Auradon."
"If that's a concern, why didn't you keep a better eye on him?"
"I bloody told the idiot not to dance," Harry grumbled, shoveling another forkful of noodles into his mouth. "Then I get off the floor after the first damn waltz and I can't find him anywhere. I check with all the others, scour the entire ballroom until finally one of the guards motioned me outside to where he's dancing around with-" He gestured to Chad with his fork. "-an I figure, he's been with one guy this whole time all alone, that's plenty of opportunity to plant the seeds of attraction - exactly what Audrey would want."
"I'm sorry," Chad murmured, feeling his appetite slowly dwindle over the course of the conversation. "I didn't realize what it might look like. I've never been to a ball before or anything like that- and then Gil asked me to dance-" Chad flushed, shuffling his food around his plate on auto pilot. "...he was just really nice."
Harry sighed again. Louder. "Don't I bloody know it," he grumbled. "That lout's too nice for his own good, has been his entire life."
"...people take advantage of him because of it," Chad surmised.
Harry gave him something close to a look of approval. "That they do."
"I'm sorry," Chad repeated.
Harry's shoulders seemed to shift uncomfortably. "Not your fault," he muttered. It must have truly pained him. "He asked you to dance. Didn't even know how and he still asked you."
"I think he took pity on me," Chad offered. "Since I was by myself."
"Why were you alone?" Harry asked, narrowing his eyes in suspicion. "Cute looking guy like you should have no problem getting dates."
Chad flushed, and didn't exactly know how to tell him about his father's instructions to interact with as few people as possible, and that attending the ball had been a major violation of the rules.
"I'm um... homeschooled," Chad settled on. "I don't really know that many people outside of work." There were the people at the grocery store, and Mrs. Blanc at the bakery he sometimes made things for, and that was pretty much it.
"That..." Harry began with a swish of his fork. "...explains a few things."
This did little to quell Chad's nerves. "I know, I'm weird," he mumbled, thinking of all the times Lila had mocked him for this fact. "But I'm happy with what I've got."
Granted, he'd be happier when his dad finally came to visit again, but it couldn't be much longer now. Six years was pretty long time, he had to come back eventually. He had to.
"Which is more than can be said for some people," Harry awkwardly offered, and they decided to leave it at that, finishing the rest of lunch in silence.
-:-:-:-:-:-
Chad waved Harry off at three, assuring him that he just had to finish one last zipper (which Harry couldn't help him with) and then he'd be done. The noble left almost reluctantly, but he still left, putting Chad back into his regular schedule until closing time at six, where he bid Lila and Mr. Marius goodbye while he closed up the shop. He considered leaving the sweeping and mopping for tomorrow morning, when he had Harry, but he knew he'd never be able to rest until he did it himself, so with a weary sigh he got to work.
It was around seven thirty by the time Chad got home, but he had a packed lunch he could eat for dinner and an optimistic view for tomorrow, which was more than he could really hope for.
-:-:-:-:-:-
Endnotes:
Fourth Descendants story, woo!
I update once a week, generally on Sundays, but because things have been so crazy lately, I decided to make an effort to update twice a week. So there will be one update on Sunday and one update on Wednesday/Thursday each week. I don't post stories that don't have endings (it's way easier on my anxiety that way), so you don't have to worry about this story being incomplete. It will have an ending, though granted, it will be crazy because my mind has no understanding of the word 'restraint', lol.
Story notes:
So I googled 'Disney seamstress character' and the first and only entry I could find was Eudora, who is princess Tiana's mother. So in this world, she has a franchise of shops and the one Chad works at is run by Marius, who was a part of Tiana's story arc in the 'Once Upon a Time' television series. That is literally all I know about him, I just needed a name and it was there, lol.
In the live action remake of Cinderella, the prince was nicknamed Kit, which is where I got Chad's nickname from :)
Conques is the real-life village in France that Belle's hometown in Beauty and the Beast is based on. I figured it would be a nice Provencal town for Chad to hide out in.
Lila is an original character I invented for the sake of providing a snotty antagonist. She is not a Disney character, but you are certainly free to use her if you also need a snotty random character.
Until next time :)