Hiya Descendants!

Happy Mother's Day to all the Moms out there. Being a parent is rough, so here's to you and every loving and the not so lovely things you do on the daily.

And to all you Aunties out there, here's to you too.

I really wish a chapter with Mom power lined up near here, you guys would have gotten an extra chapter to make that work. Alas, no such magical luck.

Anyway, I was excited to see the chapter we're posting today! I love writing Carlos and Twisted does such an amazing job with Roy.

We've uploaded art of Roy on our Pat reon! Head on over and check it out! We also have some music videos, and as always, Pa treon is a week ahead in posting.

Anyway, on with the story!

Lots of Love,

-Dark-

Roy cheers as he swings the door open and jumps through.

He snorts at the level of enthusiasm while also finding himself appreciating the normalcy of it.

Roy was just as Roy as ever.

"One more day and I was just going to bring the game to you." Roy smiles before he jumps over the back of the couch and grabs the controllers, "Come on, One o' One, every second not playing makes you suck more."

Like not playing for a couple of days could hurt his skills.

"Oh, it is on-" He purses his lips to the side as he closes the door behind him, "But um," He rubs the back of his neck awkwardly, "can we be on a team together?"

He wasn't sure he could handle having to deal with friendly fire right now.

"Figured." Roy grins. "Now get over here, and let's do this."

He chuckles as he rushes to join Roy on the couch, but he stumbles at the sight before he can vault over the back.

He'd never seen the room so… Clean.

And there were snacks on the table in front of the couch.

Organized snacks.

Like even the rainbow drops were in bowls, divided by color.

And the drinks were neatly lined up on coasters.

Coasters.

The blankets usually tossed half haphazardly on the couch were folded.

Pillows were fluffed and arranged.

There was even a Dude-sized bed in the middle of the couch.

His eyes drift over the scene, drinking in the details of something he was pretty sure he'd never see again.

And then he noticed the waiting screen of Crown of Duty and the conveniently placed controllers and headsets.

"So when you said what a great idea when I asked if we could play… What you really meant was you'd been waiting?"

Because why else would Roy have been this… meticulous?

"Yup." Roy grins unrepentantly. "God help me, I even did my fucking school work so you wouldn't nerd out."

If his eyes could have fallen out of his skull, they would have. As it was, they hurt with how wide he'd opened them.

"I know, right? Me too." Roy snorts.

"Is Doug still not that good at aiming?" He asks as he carefully walks around the couch and sits, patting the middle for Dude to join him.

"Tch." Roy snorts. "No."

He blinks as he looks around at all the snacks.

Rainbow drops. Sugar straws. Peanut butter cups. Cloud Candy. Jerky. Chips. Popcorn.

These were his favorite snacks.

His eyes travel to the bucket of cans curiously. It even had his favorite flavors of Titan energy drinks.

"You, you didn't have to do this." He whispers even though he was already collecting a handful of peanut butter cups.

"Technically, no one has to do anything." Roy grins.

"I guess that's true." He agrees around his mouthful.

So then, why?

He wipes his hand carefully on the towel beside him before he grabs the controller and snaps the headset in place, shaking off the need to understand.

He was just excited to be spending time with Roy again.

Glad to be eating peanut butter cups.

Content to have Dude beside him.

Happy to be playing a video game.

It beat laying in a bed in the hospital, though even then, he couldn't really complain since Hiro had also been there.

And sure, he'd been afraid Mal was going to kill his new dad if they'd had to stay even one more day, but luckily they'd been released. Still, it had been nice.

He blinks when a message pops up, suggesting that they let the game update before they begin.

Roy groans.

His brow furrows as he tilts his head.

The game updated every day, patching as each player or console logged in. So if it was asking to update before they started playing…

How long had Roy been waiting for him to come over and play? How long had the game been on, just waiting for them to enter their gamer tags?

The thought makes his heart constrict.

Roy…

They'd been told the HKs had been searching the sewers for them but-

For Roy to not have even touched his console?

He bites his lip.

"It shouldn't take long." Roy rolls his eyes as he mashes accept and sets the controller down, "Pizza? Burgers?" He asks as he pulls his phone out, "My treat man."

Dude barks and wags his tail happily before he spins in a circle and resumes his place.

Roy snorts as he picks up a bag of green bones from the side table. "I know. I know." He chuckles. "Magic word and all that." He tosses Dude the treat.

He blinks as he watches Dude happily teeth the treat until he can break it and munch.

"Earth to One o' One… Come in."

"Huh?" He shakes his head before he looks up.

Roy snorts. "And Mal thinks Ben's the space cadet."

"He is." He snorts, "But um, yeah, food. Burgers sound good to me. The food in the hospital wasn't bad, but they really like broccoli."

"Ugh." Roy's nose crinkles. "Same as ushe?"

He grins, "Yeah, please. That-" He blushes as a hand drops to his growling stomach.

"Yeah, figured it was like that." Roy grins as he dials and places their order.

As Roy slips his phone back in his pocket he bites his lip.

He couldn't shake the feeling that he'd done something wrong. "Everything okay?"

And while he knew Roy was nothing like his mother, the idea that he could have done something wrong made his heart race.

Roy's mouth snaps shut. "Yep." He shrugs as he awkwardly taps the controller against his knee.

He purses his lips as he looks around the room, claiming his controller again before he collapses back into the couch.

Was Roy mad at him?

That didn't make sense.

If Roy was mad, why would he buy dinner?

Why would he clean the room?

Why put out snacks?

Roy had even done his homework.

He sighs.

He couldn't shake the feeling.

He glances back over to Roy from the corner of his eyes, frowning at how quiet and unsure he seemed.

"I-" He starts, only to quickly fall silent again.

Why push if Roy didn't want to talk about it?

"You…?" Roy turns curiously.

"Uh, I wanted to say thank you." He finishes awkwardly as he pulls at the leg hem of his shorts.

Roy's brows furrow, "For what?"

"Hiro told me you took care of Dude, you know, while I.." He sighs as he runs his hand over Dude's back, "wasn't."

Roy waves him off, "No prob." He looks down to ruffle Dude's head.

"It means a lot, though-" His eyes widen. Was that the problem? "I can pay you back, and like pay you for watching him-"

Roy jerks his head to him. "The fuck?" He frowns.

He blinks before he looks away, "Sorry." He whispers as he stares at the controller in his hand.

"No, it's not-" Roy sighs, "Just ouch man. You don't have to- I mean. He's your buddy. I know he used to be the ground's mutt but like, I couldn't let him get like fleas or shit. Or not ya know, make sure he was okay."

"Sorry, I, I didn't mean to, like, I wasn't trying to insult you." He sighs, "And, thanks. It took me forever to figure out how to get the stuff to help him with fleas. I just, I feel bad that you did so much."

"Don't be dumb." Roy rolls his eyes.

"I try really hard not to be dumb." He nods his head eagerly.

"Huh." Roy shakes his head. "Not what I- I mean in this sitch. It was nice having him."

They both jump as the game loads up, the music blaring as gunshots pop animatedly in the background.

"Fuck." Roy laughs, "Loud much?" He shakes his head as he scoops up the remote and lowers the volume. "Sorry, Dude-Dudes'."

He laughs as he soothes Dude until he lays back down, "No big, I forgot the load-in screen loses sound eventually."

"Same." Roy nods before he collapses back on the couch after his scramble.

He clicks through the menu, taking time to load in his profile and change his avatar to give himself time to calm the pounding in his chest.

Was he reading into something too much?

David had been suggesting that he take things at face value.

If you go looking for problems, that's all you were bound to find.

He could see the logic and reasoning behind it, but at the same time, seeking out problems and fixing them was something he liked doing.

Sure, in science and math terms, but same basic principles.

He glances at Roy again, smiling when he sees the new avatar skins his friend was loading onto his character.

Roy seemed fine now. Maybe it was just nerves about the hospital thing.

He relaxes further into the couch as he accepts the changes and enters the staging screen, taking time to adjust his headset so he wouldn't get any more surprises.

"I uh," He racks his brain before he remembers the Crown of Duty newsletter he got yesterday, "I read that they've upgraded the sniper rifle and lowered its ammo drop rate, making it effective but hard to keep in supply."

"Noice." Roy grins. "That mean you're covering my ass then?"

"Duh, I know where the best spawn point for it is," He grins before it falls to a thoughtful frown, "unless they changed that in the update too."

Roy bites his lip before he gives a lazy shrug, "Don't know. Definitely have time to figure it out though-" He looks over at him. "Right?" He asks hesitantly, his tone off slightly.

"Yeah, I'm ready for an all-nighter if you are, I mean, with all this sugar, and knowing how to pace myself," He grins as he grabs a handful of blue rainbow drops to pop in his mouth, "I can totally see us getting through the new season campaign."

"Dope." Roy nods, his eyes gleaming as he rips open several sugar straws and downs them.

He shifts excitedly, pulling his legs up to fold under him as the countdown timer starts.

Figure out where he is on the map.

Five-

Race to the spawn point for the rifle.

Four-

Find a spot.

Three-

Cover Roy.

Two-

Easy enough.

Start!

"Damn it." He hears Roy groan before the game pauses.

He blinks at the frozen screen.

"I can't." Roy sighs as he drops his head in disappointment. He tosses the remote on the table before he turns to him, pulling down his headphones.

Wide-eyed, he sets his controller aside and slips the headset off, "Something is wrong then?"

"Yeah," Roy rubs the back of his neck.

He knew it.

He'd done something, and Roy had been trying to pretend they were still friends, but he was disgusted with him and was tired of pretending.

They weren't friends anymore.

No more study sessions.

No more parkour practice.

No more Crown of Duty perfection and over-nighters.

Roy takes a deep breath, "I can't just- Dude." He bites his lip before he frowns. "How to- ugh."

"I'm sorry. I didn't mean to insult you earlier." He shrinks into the corner of the couch, pulling his knees tight to his chest, "And I know you were like out looking in the sewers for us. That's gross, and I'm sorry you had to do that. Well, you didn't, but you did, but only because of us, so I'm sorry."

Roy's face twists in confusion "What the-" He hops off the couch and walks over to him. "Dude." He kneels in front of him, "Chill."

"Chill?"

"Yeah, like, as in, breathe and shit."

He blinks before he gulps in air.

When had he started panicking?

He takes another deep breath and holds it for an extra second before letting it out again.

He blinks when Roy slowly lifts his hands, holding them up as if he were showing how little harm he could cause before he feels his hands grip his arms, "Dude." He sighs. "I was like, trying to let and go and shit but- fuck David for being right. Ugh." He rolls his eyes. "-I can't."

His lower lip trembles as heat burns the back of his throat, "I get it. I'm sor-"

"No, I don't think you do." Roy shakes his head. "First of all, there's very little you can actually do to insult me. I was just hurt that you'd offer to pay me when-" Roy looks up at him, uncertain. "We are bros' right?"

He blinks, "I still want to be."

"Oh, thank god." Roy lets out a relieved sigh as he lets him go and falls backward onto his ass.

"Wait… You-" His brow furrows as he slowly slides to the edge of the couch, "You thought I didn't want to be friends?"

"Well, I mean…" Roy averts his eyes.

"Why wouldn't I want to be friends with you?"

How had he read this situation so wrong?

How could Roy think he didn't want to still be friends?

"Cause I'm a fucking burnout loser, duh."

He frowns, "No, you're not," He shakes his head, "You're one of the coolest people I've ever met. And you just do things your own way, which-" He shrugs, "Ya know, wicked."

He braces his feet against the floor as he watches Roy.

"Unpopular opinion." Roy snorts, "But I just-" He bites his lip. "You're like-" He rubs the back of his head. "It sucked."

"Uh…" His frown deepens as he tilts his head

"No-sorry. I mean like, it sucked. Not knowing where you were and shit. You're like my bestie, ya know? I was worried about you and shit. Like really worried. Like, more than I liked worried. Like, boss levels of worry. Except with no backup lives. And no health or shit, worried."

That sounded stressful.

"I didn't mean to worry you." He explains lamely as the room blurs.

Roy snorts. "It was stupid. You were like with your pack, and even if you weren't-"

"Are you mad at me?" He asks around the ache in his throat as he fights to hold back the stupid waterworks he could feel building.

"No!" Roy rushes out. "Dude." He nearly trips over himself as he quickly drops to the couch. "Knew I was gonna fuck this up-" He groans.

Without warning he feels Roy's arm snake over his shoulder before he suddenly finds himself tucked into his side.

"Not mad," Roy assures him. "Well, not at you anyways."

"I- you're not fucking anything up." He explains before he takes a deep breath, "I just, I needed to know, I needed to make sure I hadn't-" He laughs as his eyes clear and warmth runs down his cheeks, "I was afraid I'd messed up too I guess. And you can take your time, I, I just needed to make sure you're not mad." he explains as he twists his hands in his jacket.

"Nah, could never actually be mad at you One o' One. Pretty sure anyway." Roy shrugs, "I'll let you know if that changes."

"Yes, please." He nods as he draws in another shaky breath, "I'd like to try and make it right before you decide you don't like me anymore."

Roy snorts. "Yeah, for sure, that one ain't ever happening, bro."

"Do," He takes a deep breath before he sits up, though he doesn't try to put any space between him and Roy, "do you want to talk about the Ceremony and what happened?"

"I mean, kinda, yeah…"

He nods as he pulls his hands free of his twisted and mangled jacket to grip his knees, "About Malef- Maleficent? Or um, after? I mean, yeah, I don't mind talking to you about it. Now that I know you're not mad."

"Oh, thank god." Roy lets out a heavy sigh of relief. "Dude. The fuck? I know you guys can survive an apocalypse and shit, but seriously? I mean, I knew I gave a shit bout ya'll but like, not like that. Especially you."

"Oh-" He twists his head to look up at Roy, forgetting the fact he had tears on his face in his almost sheer and sudden understanding, "To be fair, I um, I didn't realize how much you and the others meant to me until I was scared Maleficent was going to roast you all."

"Dude, for real. You fucking faced a fucking dragon."

"I didn't know she could do that. Either of them. That was the most terrifying thing I've ever done, and I didn't even really face them."

"It was so fucking shitty to watch. And not help. David called it powerless. I call it some straight unfair motherfucking bullshit."

"Yeah-" He sighs as he drums his fingers against his leg, "I uh, Hiro already told me I'm never allowed to face a dragon, except Mal, down like that again. Actually-" His brow furrows as he twists to pull Dude into the hug, "I think he said nothing larger than Dude."

Roy snorts, "Sounds bout right." He squeezes him. "It just- You ditched. Afterward. You guys just fuckin' ran. Like we'd let anything happen to you. Like I'd let anyone throw you back to that shitastic cesspit of a fuckfest."

"Sorry." He presses his lips together as he watches Dude settle on his lap, "I, I don't really remember much about the later part of the fight, or the running. Except I remember being afraid that Dude was going to follow and get hurt. I, I think I was so full of scared I couldn't really feel anything else."

David had already warned him that the next couple of days would be focused on getting a self-assessment of what happened and how he felt about it.

He still had no idea how he was going to answer that.

"I was full of scared too." Roy shakes his head. "I didn't think I was ever going to see you again. I would've scoured a hundred sewer systems to keep that from happening. Doug's cool-" he pauses, "-ish." He sighs with a shrug, "Sure, why not? Doug's cool-ish. But you're like a whole different level."

He can't help the grin.

It felt nice to hear that he mattered so much to Roy. Not so much that Roy had been so worried, but it sounded like they really were like best friends.

He'd been worried about Roy once the numbness wore off, once they'd found a place to drop.

He'd been worried about a lot of things. It was all jumbled now, but at the time the fears had seemed so reasonable.

"So… Like noticed Mal's the one who called out for you guys to run… So, like, fuck forbid this shit ever fucking happens again- But do I like, tackle her? Or tackle you? I mean, I doubt they'd leave you..."

"I seriously hope nothing like this ever happens again." He shakes his head as he twines and fidgets with his fingers, "I don't know how well I'd deal with another OV showing up."

"No shit, right? Talk about a cunt, by the way. But you? You handled it like you were a max-level character dealing with like a fourth-level boss. It was terrifyingly awesome."

He tilts his head to the side, "Did I? I don't remember being a badass. I just remember being scared and wanting to run. Even on the Isle, we knew better than to piss the leader off, and that was before she got her magic back."

Which was another level of terrifying. The OVs at full power.

Facing any OV with magic.

"Dude. You helped slay a motherfucking dragon. If that ain't hero-" He pauses, "-lolz- level shit I don't know what is."

He grins at the joke. He wasn't sure he'd ever get tired of the play on his new dad's name.

Hiro had always been a hero of his.

"I can't believe you thought I was mad at you." Roy shakes his head. "Bitch," he waves towards the room. "This is a desperate attempt at a bribe. Like, look, I can be a good dog. Don't leave."

"You're not a dog," He frowns as he rubs Dude's head, "Not that there's anything wrong with being a dog." He assures Dude, receiving a lick to his nose in return.

"And man, I don't care if your room is clean or if the snacks are organized," He chuckles before he can continue, "I am glad you got your homework done, though, I'll take that. Just, you're my friend. I, I know I freak out easily and get worked up a lot, but you've always just rolled with it, and, like, yeah, that means a lot to me."

"I love rollin' with ya One o' One, you're definitely my favorite buddy- Not gonna lie, I know I'm obnoxious. But like for real." He turns his head gently so their eyes meet, "You're my favorite."

"You're not obnoxious." He smiles as he watches Roy's vibrant amber eyes before he takes another deep breath.

Might as well be fully honest while they were… being honest. "It means a lot that you just treat me like a regular person and not some poor VK or evil wannabe."

"Lil, liar." Roy snorts as he ruffles his hair affectionately. "'Sides you'd have to be on some real hardcore shit to view you as anything less than the dope ass nerd you are."

He pouts, "I mean it, man. Back on the Isle, and even here in Auradon-" He sighs, "I uh, I hardly ever really feel like, you know, people get me. But you're so different from me, and you still do, and it's a big first for me… And I, I guess I just, you know, feel better knowing we're friends."

Roy's silent for a moment. "Thank you." He breathes softly. "I mean, it sucks no one gets you like that- but, it feels nice to know you get it. And feel the same. I haven't had a real friend since I came to this place. I mean, Doug is like the only person here that tolerated me before you four came along… And tolerate is a strong word. I mean besides Tuck."

Was that why they got along so well? Because they both were misfits?

Like him and Deez?

Him and T?

And maybe Faustina?

He blinks at the niggling sensation in his head.

He hugs Roy, pressing himself and Dude against the taller boy's side.

He smiles when Roy does the same.

"I think you don't give yourself enough credit," He shrugs, "but T would also say that's dirt calling sand dirty."

He sighs as he sits up again, "And if something like this happens again, just tackle me. I'm not really a fighter, but- Mal can turn into a fucking Dragon and I'm sorry, I'm pretty sure Jay can take you. Since I'd be pissed if you tackled E, that leaves me." He chuckles, "Or you could just, talk me out of running or something. Whatever works."

"I'd tackle the Dragon before the Princess."

"Yeah, I know. Hence listing her first," He smiles as he rolls his eyes, "But no. I mean, hopefully this is something we never have to do, but, yeah, I'd rather you just tackle me if you think something bad is about to happen again."

"Done and done." Roy grins down at him.

He grins as he holds out his hand, "Deal then."

"For sure." Roy grins as they shake on it, "Cool. Good talk man. Let me get the game restarted and we can load into a new campaign. DB's on this server are gonna be pissed we AFK'd."

He smiles as he sweeps his controller up and falls back into his side of the couch.

He side-eyes Roy as he adjusts the headset.

That weirdness was gone. The strange feeling of things being slightly off between them.

Good.

Roy was one of his best friends, and he really didn't know what he would have done if they suddenly weren't.

"Late start, but go get ur sniper One 'o One."

"Oh yeah." He nods as he starts tearing across the map.

It hadn't been an easy conversation, but he was glad he'd been able to talk about Maleficent and the running away with Roy.

He knew he'd have to talk to David about it soon; they were going to start their sessions up again.

But he didn't want to think about that right now. Right now, he just wanted to focus on something that made sense.

First-person shooter.

Objectives.

One thing and then another.

He could handle that.

Technically Roy's right.

You don't have to do anything, but-

When you guys take the time to review, it seriously means a lot to us.

Enough of that shit tho.

Roy and Carlos' bromance is fucking dope to write.

I fucking roll in nothing but joy whenever I get to write this kid, and like Dark is amazeballs at writing C so it just clicks.

But since you guys aren't me, which, shame really, I'm pretty fucking awesome, where do you fall on the subject?

Fuck if this chap didn't have feelz tho.

Like mood Roy, mood.

And C?

I'd fucking hit Cruella with a car, reverse, and start over eight or a hundred times for what she did to our pup.

Fucking bitch.

What'cha guys think of this one?

Sorry if this outro was obnoxious, well kinda, Roy just brings out the best (best worse) of me.

And I totes revel in it.

Fave quote was a tie again,

"So… Like noticed Mal's the one who called out for you guys to run… So, like, fuck forbid this shit ever fucking happens again- But do I like tackle her? Or tackle you? I mean, I doubt they'd leave you..."-Roy

"I can't believe you thought I was mad at you." Roy shakes his head. "Bitch," he waves towards the room. "This is a desperate attempt at a bribe. Like, look, I can be a good dog. Don't leave."-Roy

How fucking bad is it that my fave's usually come from my own characters *SMH* talk about being full of yourself. LoLz.

Anyways, what was yours?

Much love and appreciation

-Twisted