Chapter 2 – The Festival

-:-:-

Chad struggled to coherence reluctantly.

Reluctant, because he knew he hadn't rested enough. Whatever sleep he'd managed to acquire only put a small dent in the growing wake of his exhaustion. He felt taunted by it, unsatisfied, his body sore and heavy, eyes full of grit but he was clean, and whatever he was resting on was soft. It didn't feel like his bed back in Sardinia, and come to think of it, these didn't feel like his clothes either, he was-

Lance. The spell. The sewers and Gil and um- the accidental sex stuff.

Right.

That was enough to have Chad blinking awake with more coherence, the prince rubbing at his eyes while he tried to place what had exactly woken him in the first place.

Apparently the answer to that question was Gil. The pirate was crouched before him, wearing an open look of apology.

"Sorry," he offered. "I didn't want to wake you, but they just traded shifts down at the guard station, which means they'll be fresh, and Uma says we have to go when they're fresh and therefore more invested." He tugged Chad upright, the prince apparently sprawled across the squishy looking sectional he'd briefly spotted on the way in. "You can sleep more after we make the report, okay?"

"I'll just sleep at home," Chad said, taking stock of his new outfit. It seemed to be an accumulation of Harry's clothes – black, calf-length pants and a knitted sort of white, sleeveless sweatshirt. Gil had even given him underwear, though Chad did not want to ask who they belonged to.

Gil had changed since he'd last seen him, though that likely had to do with his old outfit getting spattered in sewage. "We'll see how it goes," he offered by way of compromise. "Here." He passed over a red bundle that was topped with a brown mask. "Uma got me a spare in case I lost mine," he explained. "I um- I wasn't sure if you'd want one…"

"I do," Chad said, thinking of the ugly birthmark he had given Lance to obscure his features. "Thanks."

"You're welcome!" Gil chirped. "I also got you one of Harry's coats so you wouldn't get cold." That explained the red bundle. "Here." Gil placed a set of boots by the blond's feet as well. "They're a little big I think, but your old ones were ruined, so I they should do the trick."

"Thank you," Chad sighed, shrugging into the clothes. He had fuzzy socks on his feet. They were covered in cartoon fishes. "I really appreciate your help."

"You're welcome!' Gil cheered. "I like being a good guy now. Helping people is awesome."

"Just- you should be careful, though," Chad offered, sliding into Harry's boots. He could see the remnants of his personal effects on the coffee table, the collection seemingly cleaned – likely by Gil's hand. "I could be anybody. This could have been a trap."

"I'm pretty sure I could take you," Gil said, not unkindly.

"But if I had been lying," Chad insisted. "If I had just pretended to be exhausted and attacked, this would have been a good way to find out where you live."

"Aw, you're sweet," Gil said, ruffling Chad's hair. "Uma and Harry tell me the same sort of stuff all the time. Hey, you should meet them! I'd bet you'd really like them."

"I'm sure they're great," Chad offered, mentally throwing his hands in the air. He'd tried. Uma and Harry could handle the prospect of fortifying Gil's self-preservation instincts themselves. "But-"

"We need to go to the guard station first, right," Gil interrupted distractedly, helping Chad with his shoes. "Then you can meet them." He helped Chad load his things into his pockets and then they were going, Chad feeling slightly less exhausted than he'd been before. "We were all supposed to go out together," he explained as they headed out onto the streets, Gil dragging Chad further away from his hidden car. "But I thought- it's a festival, right? So I figured I would let Uma and Harry have alone time, because they've wanted to kiss for forever but Uma won't let Harry do it until he means it and Harry gets freaked out by that kind of stuff so I thought maybe if they were by themselves, they'd figure things out." He tugged Chad along carefully, his broad hand safely curled around the prince's, a casual sort of intimacy that he didn't seem to think twice about. "I pretended that I wanted to hang out with the rest of the crew, only a lot of them don't like me, so that's why I was chilling by the ocean when I found you, because the ocean's pretty here! And definitely not filled with sharks."

"There's still sharks," Chad murmured. "There's just a latent enchantment in the waters that doesn't allow them to get within a certain distance of the beach." At Gil's inquiring look, Chad flushed. "I um- heard about it."

"That's awesome," Gil chirped. "It's so cool how Auradon looks after its people."

He was so optimistic despite the fact that he definitely hadn't been looked after the way he should have been, despite the fact that he had every right to be angry or bitter. Instead, Gil was pleased, delighted that people he had never met were being taken care of, because that was the kind of guy he was.

It was a pure sort of kindness that easily rivaled Chad's mother, and it came from Gaston's son of all people.

It just went to show how genetics rarely cemented their futures, nor the fairytales that preceded them.

"Yeah," Chad said, voice soft. "It is."

"Hey." Gil squeezed Chad's hand. "You're an Auradon citizen now, which means you're going to be taken care of too. You don't have to be afraid anymore."

Chad tensed. "I didn't say I was afraid."

"You didn't have to," Gil replied with a careless sort of shrug. "I'm an expert on these things, 'cuz like, I used to be afraid all the time, but I would always hide it with smiles and you- you like, try to be all emotionless and stuff, but you're scared." He squeezed Chad's hand again. "But you don't have to be. Uma's going to take care of all the Isle kids, and that includes you."

"You have a lot of faith in her," Chad said, scrambling for an answer. Chad already knew from personal – future – experience that Uma was one of the greatest assets to emerge from the Isle. She was determined to do right by all the children of the Isle, and was often asked to consult on the suggested reforms for the Isle refugees.

That said, she was still a teenager. She was still in high school. For the Isle kids, she was a leader – like Mal – a symbol of hope, but she was only one person.

"That's 'cuz she's the best," Gil cheered. "You'll figure that out when you meet her."

How nice it must be to have that sort of unwavering faith in a person. Chad had done that once. Had received it in kind. Unlike Uma, he was fairly certain he was not built for such things, but that was not something worth dwelling on.

He could only move forward.

-:-:-

Chad spent the entire time in the Guard Station nervous and on edge. While he had been attacked, Lance didn't technically exist, didn't technically have rights, and he felt bad making a statement on behalf of his persona. That said, he did feel an obligation to report the men who had attacked him for fear that they might attack someone else, someone less capable of escaping the sewers, who didn't have Gil's-in-shining-armor to rescue them at the end of the night.

So he gave his brief statement and then sat down with a sketch artist to perfectly recreate the men's likeness. Chad might be exhausted, but his memory was sharp, and he'd given them a good description to go off of. If the guards were as up to snuff as they should be, they should have the men arrested by the end of the evening.

"What number could we contact you at for further questions?" the detective asked as Chad's session was winding down.

Chad tensed. "I don't have a phone."

"I have one!" Gil chirped, pulling out a sleek, gold phone. "Hold on, I gotta find the note Uma made with the actual number on it."

That led to Gil giving them his contact information – his number and address, with assurances that he'd be able to get in contact with Chad should the guards need him, even though that wasn't true.

"This was like, the first thing King Ben gave us," Gil explained as they exited the station, showing Chad his phone. "Well, that and the apartment. He wanted us to stay in touch. I think he was mostly talking about Uma; he likes her a lot." Gil lowered his voice. "Harry's kind of mad at how much he likes her."

Chad marveled at that for a few seconds, wondering how he could have missed Ben's affection for Uma. Perhaps Gil or Harry misunderstood, though. Chad didn't know them well enough to make any judgements on that front, but Chad felt like he would have known if Ben had a thing for Uma.

Probably.

"It's um- always good to make new friends," Chad offered somewhat lamely. "Thank you for all your help, but I think it's time for me to get going-"

As if on cue, Chad's stomach growled something fierce, reminding Chad that this version of him was still under his grandfather's strict thumb when it came to his diet, and that he likely hadn't eaten anything since breakfast.

"You're right, we should get food," Gil said, deftly snagging Chad's hand again and dragging him along. "Come on, Auradon has like, all this super amazing food, and it all tastes really great, and I have money!" Gil grinned at him like this meant everything. "So I can get us stuff."

"I have money too," Chad said. "You should let me get dinner to pay you back-"

"You don't have to do that," Gil interrupted. "I'm the hero and you're my damsel in distress. I can't make the damsel in distress pay for their own food, that's be like- awful."

Chad was grateful for his mask, though he was sure it only covered part of his new flush. "I'm not a damsel, Gil. And you don't have to buy me food."

"But I want to," Gil pressed, and that was that.

This was how Chad found himself dragged to the hand pie stall he had frequented himself the second day of the festival. The aromas drifting from the modest booth were as brilliant as Chad remembered them, and he immediately found his mouth watering at the prospect of food – filling, hearty food combined with a flaky crust and rich gravy.

"Two, please," Gil chirped, passing over his money and leaving a generous tip, further proving he was the best human in all of existence. "Here," he said, passing over a hand pie as he tugged Chad off to the side, someplace they could safely eat without getting bumped into. "Careful, it's hot."

"Oh," Chad breathed, savoring the warmth that spilled through the paper wrapping and soaked into his fingers. He hadn't had something like this – something homemade and filling – since he'd returned to Sardinia. There just hadn't been time for such indulgences, but this was… it was a lot like coming home.

He waited before he took his first bite, wanting to savor it. Immediately, his tongue was flooded with a curl of warm flavor that sent him home, had his body reacting with an excessive sort of nostalgia because he hadn't- this body hadn't had this, yet. He hadn't been allowed this, and even if Chad had gotten used to eating richer, nicer things over time, it hadn't happened yet, in his current present.

It had him tearing up, eyes getting stupidly hot as he tried to hold onto those flavors, taking slow, careful bites.

"Hey, it's okay," Gil murmured, and then Chad found an arm wrapped around his waist, Chad clinging onto the pie with both hands, as though he was afraid it would get taken away if he let it go. "I was like that when I first got nice food too. Like, when I tried grapes – man, I was lucky we were on a quest, or I would have started crying."

"It's really good," Chad whispered, scrubbing at his cheeks in case he actually started to cry like the dumb mess he was. He was so hungry and this was so nice. It was familiar and Chad wanted a dozen of them, but he already knew he was pressing his luck with one.

"Hook!" a voice – some teen girl Chad didn't recognize – called in their direction, making them break out of the weird spell that seemed to have fallen over them. When they did, a dark-skinned girl approached them dressed in Isle clothes, her face half-obscured in a skull mask. On her heels was a small recreation of her, likely a younger sibling. "I thought you were with Uma."

"Oh, this isn't Harry," Gil said as the two girls drew to a halt. "This is Lance. Lance-" He turned to Chad. "This is Freddy and Celia Facilier."

That was right – Dr. Facilier had two daughters, and apparently he was one of the villains that had been reformed when going to the Isle. Turned out the barrier had nullified whatever outstanding debts he had with the dark magic spirits. He didn't seem to be wasting his fresh chance, avoiding the dark arts at all costs while sticking to minor fortune telling. He did sessions for free – at least when he wasn't working on the Isle reforms full time. Between the school and his arcade, the good doctor had created safe retreats for the children of the Isle, giving them places to hide away from the worst of the thugs that might attack them. In light of that, it was no wonder that his younger daughter had been selected as one of the first VKs to get off the Isle.

Chad swallowed, feeling somewhat stupid. "Nice to meet you," he murmured, ducking his head.

"Lance is trying his first hand pie," Gil chirped. "He didn't run with any crews on the Isle."

"Then how are you alive?" Celia asked, blunt in the way only preteens could be.

Chad tensed. "I didn't get out much."

"What, like princess?" Freddy asked, likely referring to Evie.

Chad nodded. "Yeah."

"Well." Freddy shifted sort of restlessly, sharing a look with her sister. "We'll let you get back to your dinner."

"Don't eat too fast," Celia advised. "You'll throw up."

Chad offered her a small grin. "Thank you."

"Thank you," Celia echoed. "Being in Auradon is so weird."

"You act like our dad didn't teach us manners," Freddy complained, giving the back of her sister's head a light smack.

"That doesn't mean I'm used to other people having them," Celia grumbled, and then they were swallowed by the crowd, pleasantly bickering with each other.

"They're pretty cool," Gil said when they watched the sisters' retreat. "Freddy would work with us sometimes – help us with chemistry stuff. Mal's crew had Evie and Carlos which was like, super unfair, but Freddy and Celia were both pretty good at that kind of stuff, and their dad would let them help as long as we weren't attacking any other kids, so…" He shrugged. "You were trapped inside?"

Chad jolted at the sudden change in conversation. "Not trapped, just- that's… it was safer."

"You have a lot of scars on your back," Gil said. "So maybe it wasn't."

Chad's meat pie suddenly didn't seem so inviting. "You promised that would be a secret."

"From other people," Gil said. "And it will be, but-"

"I don't want to talk about it," Chad interrupted, forcing himself to take another bite. It was still delicious, still wonderful. Still more than Chad deserved, and he couldn't distract himself away from that truth, even though he really wanted to.

Gil sighed. "I'll be here for you if you do," he said, squeezing Chad close.

They finished the rest of their food in silence.

"Thanks, Gil," Chad said, trying to part ways from the pirate for the fifth time that evening. "That was-"

"Look, games!" Gil cheered, and then Chad found himself dragged towards an area set up with carnival games. "Come on, I need to win you a bear."

Chad felt himself blushing again. "I um- I don't need-"

"Do you have a stuffed bear?" Gil asked as though this question was of the utmost importance.

Chad swallowed.

He did have bears. Or, had them. He had a bounty of gifts from his partners that ranged from practical to novel indulgences. But that was in the future. Right now, Chad had nothing but a stuffed mouse to his name, with button eyes he couldn't allow to be burned a second time.

He shook his head.

"Then I must get you one," Gil pledged. "Because you're in Auradon and you deserve one."

"You don't know me," Chad pressed. "Gil, I could be awful."

"You're really not, though," Gil said. "You've been super nice to me, and you weren't even slightly afraid when we met, even though you're afraid of everything else."

He noticed that? Chad hadn't been afraid because it was Gil, who was sweet and kind and who Jay valued so greatly. It seemed preposterous to be scared of him.

"Yeah," Gil said while Chad numbly thought that over. "I know. People don't expect me to notice stuff because I'm dumb."

"You're not dumb," Chad snapped. "You're really sweet."

"See?" Gil's grin was wide and relentless. "Super nice. You're nice and nice people deserve presents. Now, come on," he tugged Chad onwards. "I've always wanted to win a prize for someone, and that someone's going to be you."

Vaguely, Chad wondered why Gil didn't win prizes for Uma and Harry whom he lived with, but he was past the point of understanding. The nap had only gotten Chad so far, and with the report and the hand pie and the unrelenting presence of Gil, it was easier to give into the pirate's whims than it was to fight him.

Whatever, he may as well get some kind of enjoyment from this. He deserved it.

For doing the right thing.

That was why he deserved it.

-:-:-

One of the few things Gil seemed to carry through from his father was a frightening accuracy over long distances. That was what led to Gil sweeping the balloon pop booth, the VK weighing each dart carefully before he tossed it with perfect aim, popping a balloon with every throw. It was no wonder that he was able to win Chad a fluffy bear – pale gold with a bright red bow that made Chad laugh.

That seemed to be the point of the exercise, Chad realized. Gil was trying to make him feel relaxed, trying to get him to smile. It was something that only came easier when the first kid tugged on Gil's pant leg, asking if the pirate could throw darts for him too. That was how a small group of children came to pay Gil to play for them, the pirate winning each of them some kind of prize while Chad and the booth runner cheered him on. It was Auradon, and yeah, in some skeevier parts of Auradon they rigged the games, but in Auradon City – in kingdom-sponsored events – everyone was there for the fun of it, and no one was against little children walking away with some kind of prize.

It made Gil a real hit, had parents requesting photos of the VK with their children, which Gil enthusiastically accepted. He was kind an energetic with all of them, smiling boisterously at the camera, and he didn't know it, but this was the kind of publicity the Isle kids needed. And Gil wasn't even faking it, he was just being his usual kind self, which was enough to make Chad feel warm with a muted sort of happiness.

"You really are a hero," Chad said when the last of the kids skipped away, talking animatedly to their parents as they clutched their stuffed prizes. "You made them really happy, Gil."

For whatever reason, it was that which finally made Gil bashful, the pirate kicking his feet and rubbing the back of his head. "I just did what I would have wanted someone to do for me," he murmured, his cheeks flushing under the praise. "You know how it was."

"Yeah." Chad swallowed, his throat feeling suddenly thick. "I do."

Luckily, Gil didn't notice his sudden reserve before a new voice broke in.

Unfortunately, it was the last voice Chad wanted to hear.

"Hey, Gil," Jay drawled, the Agraben sliding into their conversation as though he'd always been there. His warm gaze drifted to Chad, looking him over in a flirtatious leer that covered up his true assessment before he shifted into a familiar smile. "And who's this?"

On instinct, Chad flinched back, feeling skittish and hurt – even if it was a hurt of his own doing. He found himself hiding behind Gil on reflex, who slipped his hand into Chad's again, likely in an effort to ground him.

"Hey, it's alright," Gil murmured, dragging Chad close. "Jay's a good guy, now. He's not going to steal from you."

"Aw shit," Jay said, and any attempt at a mask was dropped for his usual, awkward self. "Did I mug you on the Isle?"

Chad shook his head, squeezing his eyes shut because Jay had never stolen anything from Chad that he hadn't willingly given, it just-

It was hard, and Chad wasn't supposed to have to talk to him again.

"He doesn't like talking about it," Gil offered, abandoning Chad's hand so he could wrap an arm around his waist again. "Like most of us, I guess. This is Lance, by the way."

"I'm sorry," Jay urged, sounding genuinely regretful because for all that Chad had denied any injury, there was no ignoring the fact that the prince was shaking in Gil's hold, clutching onto his dumb bear and trying desperately to ground himself. "Whatever shitty thing I did- that's not me, anymore. Can… can I make it up to you?"

"You um- didn't do anything," Chad whispered, hating himself for the stupid tears that leaked from the corner of his eyes.

"Did my dad?" Jay pressed, not knowing what he was asking.

Chad flinched, thinking about rules. Thinking about precedence and prosperity and family members, thinking about securing a line and laying a stable foundation and the ever-pressing weight of duty. It wasn't fair, but it rarely was.

"Shit," Jay repeated. "Whatever he did-"

"It's not your fault," Chad whispered, tears flowing freely now. He was swaying on his feet, the last of his energy seeming dragged from him. He was in the past. He'd undid his relationship. It shouldn't hurt anymore.

"That doesn't mean I'm not sorry," Jay said, painfully earnest. "Or that I don't want to make up for it."

It wasn't fair. Jay shouldn't offer this kindness to a stranger, but of course he did. He was Jay, who was noble and brave and goofy – who wanted to do the right thing and didn't think he was worthy of an Auradon lover. It was Jay, who wanted to fix every mistake that came his way, and fell hard when he couldn't.

Because he had no grace, Chad started sobbing, though he managed to stifle it by shoving a hand against his mouth, turning so he could hide his face against Gil's shoulder.

It was over, it was over, it was over. Jay wasn't supposed to be able to bother him anymore.

"I think that's enough festival for today," Gil said. "It was um- good seeing you, Jay."

"Jay?" And that was Jane's voice – sweet and kind Jane, who had been Jay's date for the first day of the festival, who'd been waiting for him when Chad had shown up, tittering with excitement at the prospect of being someone other than himself with his fairy godperson, because maybe then she'd like him. "What's wrong?" A pause. "Did you make Harry cry? Jay, we talked about this-"

"This isn't Harry," Gil said as he hugged Chad close, leaving the prince wondering what they could have been talking about that involved Harry. "This is Lance, and Jay didn't mean to make him cry, and we need to go now, Miss Jane."

"Oh." Chad could picture Jane's confused blinks, could see her wearing his dress – one she'd bought before he started designing them custom because she was his muse – one of many – and she deserved the best. "Hold on, I can teleport you back to the apartments."

"That would be super awesome, Miss Jane," Gil said, rubbing a hand down Chad's back as his sobs died down. "Miss Jane is a fairy with magic and she's going to transport us home, okay Lance?"

Chad wanted to remind the pirate that he didn't actually live with him, that Gil didn't actually know him, but Chad was too tired for it. Instead, he mustered the effort for a nod before Gil herded him towards a new space – likely an alley out of the way – before the four of them huddled close-

There was a familiar surge of magic, and when Chad risked looking up from Gil's shoulder, they were back at the apartment complex.

Right. Jane had helped Mal design them. She probably knew all the building codes and paperwork and stuff.

"Thanks, Jane," Gil said, sweeping Chad into his arms like it was nothing. "I owe you one."

"You don't owe friends, Gil," Jane reminded him sweetly, looking sad while she slid her hand into a sorrowful Jay's. "It was good to see you."

"I'm sorry," Chad croaked, scrubbing at his cheeks. "I'm sorry."

"You didn't do anything wrong," Jane said, her gaze unyielding. "Nobody here did."

The last part seemed to be aimed at Jay, though he wasn't really listening to it. His gaze was shut down, though he tried to hide it, hide his pain, which was an expression that was unfortunately quite familiar to Chad.

Jay had worn it a lot near the end.

"Maybe we'll see you guys tomorrow," Gil said. "After we've slept and stuff. Goodnight!"

He left before they could say goodbye, most of his attention on Chad who was trying, and failing, to stifle his tears. He maintained his steady comfort until they got to the apartment again, the pirate deciding to bypass the living room this time and pushing into a bedroom that could only be his. The colors were distinctive – warm, earthy browns and gold, the majority of the room seemingly untouched save for a couple bags Gil seemed to be living out of.

"It's okay to cry," Gil said, petting a hand through Chad's hair while he set him down on the bed. "You cry all you need to. You're probably still super tired and then I made you run around-"

"I liked that," Chad murmured, his voice sounding rough. "I liked dinner and watching you win. I like my bear." He hugged the fluffy thing tight, the first sign of his new life. "I liked it all, Gil, and I'm very grateful for it."

"You probably didn't like the last part, though," Gil said, properly fretting over Chad. He was hovering anxiously, not seeming to know what to do before he started tugging off Harry's boots. "I'm sorry about whatever Jafar did."

"That wasn't your fault," Chad murmured.

"But you're sad and I don't like that," Gil said, tossing the boots aside before easing Chad out of the red, long sleeve coat. "Do you want to sleep?"

"Yeah," Chad said when the full weight of his exhaustion hit him. "I'd like that."

"Cool, cool, cool," Gil murmured to himself. "King Ben gave us some clothes from Auradon Prep. I've got some sweatpants and stuff. Apparently out here they have special clothes you sleep in, and they're like, super soft and comfortable, like sleeping in a hug." Chad giggled at the imagery, Gil brightening in response. "Uma insisted on making sure the crew got a couple different sets so they wouldn't have to worry if any of them got ruined. She says we deserve it, and you deserve it too."

Absently, he tugged Chad's mask off and the prince let him, numbly followed his nudges as he slid off the sleeveless sweater thing and replaced it with a long sleeve shirt.

He sort of lost track of things after that, everything seeming to come in a blur until he was being nudged into the blankets, the bear eased into his arms.

"I'll um- just get you some water," Gil said, stroking Chad's curls. "You can sleep as much as you want, okay? You're safe here."

Chad didn't doubt it, was the thing. He felt too tired to consider the prospect, so he surrendered into the waiting arms of exhaustion, hoping when he woke, things would seem more manageable.

They wouldn't, but if he could pretend…

That would be enough for him.

-:-:-

Endnotes:

What's this? Father-in-law troubles? But one of the many issues being juggled in this soap opera ;)

Story notes:

It is my opinion that small feet run in Chad's family, seeing as his mom's foot was so small she was the only one who could fit the glass slipper in a whole kingdom ;D

Until next time