Hey Descendants,
Sorry I missed the update on Sunday. For those of you not in America, the 4th of July is brutal for people who don't do okay with Fireworks.
Hi. I don't do well with Fireworks.
Add to that my complete lack of remembering what day it was...
I didn't really have many coherent thoughts for the 8 hours that fireworks were constantly going off.
Anyway, that's why you guys got 2 chapters today.
So then, I'll let you get to it!
We hope you enjoy.
Lots of Love,
-Dark-
"I'm nervous." Carlos interrupts the comfortable silence as his hands freeze over the open suitcase on the bed.
Nervous.
He crosses his arms over his chest as he adjusts the bag on his shoulder.
His hastily packed bag of clothes for the next four days.
"Ya know what, Pup? I think we all are." He finally admits.
"Really?" Carlos lifts an eyebrow as she looks back over his shoulder at him.
The sight makes a small smile tug at his lips.
It didn't matter that he was apprehensive about this afternoon, about the pack splitting for the first time since the Isle.
Didn't matter that he was shoving down a panic at the thought of not seeing the others for four days.
"Really." He sighs as he walks over and plops on the bed beside the suitcase, "It's gonna be okay though. You'll have Hiro and Lilo-"
"And Stitch." Carlos grins before he snaps his fingers and collects Dude's bed.
"And the blue mini monster." He chuckles, "And Evie will have Snow and Florian, Mal will have Fairy Godmother and Jane, and I'll have David and Nani. It's cool."
"Please don't add any additional cools," Carlos nervously chuckles before he grabs his list and starts double-checking his bag.
He snorts. No one outed themselves like Deez, though he had to admit, it was something they all seemed to have picked up at some point.
"It really is though." He assures Carlos as the other boy neatly folds his list before chucking it in the trash can.
"I just-" Carlos sighs as he flips the suitcase closed, "I've been working with David, and, and I don't know what I'm going to do if I have a freak out on Hiro and Lilo." His brow furrows as he struggles with the zipper.
He frowns. "Do you want to talk about it?" He asks carefully as he puts an arm on the suitcase to help.
The moment he leans on it the zipper jumps forward.
"Thanks," Carlos says as he easily zips the suitcase shut, "And yeah, I kinda do. It just never seemed like a good time, ya know?"
He nods as he leans back against the headboard, "Sup?"
Carlos takes a deep breath, "I hear my- I mean, I hear her voice." He looks away, "Like in my head."
His brow furrows as he leans forward. Their pup was hearing Cruella's voice in his head? "Brah," He rests a hand on his shoulder, "You okay?"
Carlos looks down at his hand before he slowly nods, "Yeah, most of the time." He squeezes his eyes shut, "But, it's her, you know. Except David says it isn't really her. Just like, my brain being mean and like, using my trauma against me."
He squeezes his shoulder, "That sounds really hard," he frowns, "Is there anything I can do?"
Carlos looks up at him with a grin, "You're really starting to sound like him." He chuckles, "Like David. It kinda suits ya."
He can't help his smile, "Yeah? Guess I can't complain about that."
"You shouldn't. You've always been kinda good at like, being there. Even when it couldn't be obvious. I always appreciated it."
"And now I have words for it, so much better." He ruffles Carlos's hair, "Seriously though, if there's anything I can do. Even if you just wanna talk or whatever, you know how to get me."
"Thanks."
"Brah, we're a pack. It's what we do." He chuckles as he stands up and pulls the surprisingly heavy suitcase off the bed, "Damn man, what did you pack?"
Carlos blushes, "Well, Hiro mentioned wanting to take me to his school, so I, well, I had no idea what to pack for that. Except for the robots, the modifications I'm working on for them. A camera, a backup phone. Oh, and a couple of the phones so Hiro and I can work on them together. And a couple of ideas I kind of wanted to get his input on, and maybe a few of his friends if I do get to meet them. And stuff for Dude. So-" He rubs the back of his head, "It's too much, isn't it? I packed too much. I have to start all over-"
He quickly moves the suitcase behind him, pulling out the handle as he turns Carlos and starts marching him for the door, "Come on, Dude."
"No, Jay-" Carlos struggles against him, "I need to start over. I don't want to bring too much and look-"
"You're fine, Pup. You're just excited to see something you've wanted to see since I've known you. It's fine." He grins as he shuts their door behind them, carefully locking it.
"You think so?"
"I wouldn't be pushing you to the parking lot if I didn't. You're fine."
Carlos purses his lips to the side, "You're only taking a backpack."
"Yep. David and Nani are going to work on surfing with me. Nothing but sand, sun, and surfing." He pulls Carlos into a side hug, "I don't need much for that. But I am excited."
Excited to get away from the school.
Excited to spend time with his new family.
His Ohana.
He smiles.
He just had to get Carlos safely into Hiro's hands and then-
His face falls.
And then he had a promise to keep.
"Then why are you making that face?" Carlos asks as they step out of the dorms.
"I just remembered I have something I have to do before I can leave." He shrugs, "No big."
"Chibi-Chan!" A Hiro-shaped blur comes barreling down the hall, "Oi-kun," He grins as he skids to halt in front of them.
He can't help his grin.
Hiro was so much like T, sometimes it hurt.
"Oi-kun?" He asks curiously.
"Nephew." Hiro shrugs with a lazy smile. "Thanks for helping Chibi-chan," He smiles down at Carlos. "Ready?"
Carlos nods before he turns back to him, "See ya later?"
"Duh." He grins as he holds out the handle of the suitcase, "Have fun nerding out."
Hiro chuckles as he takes it, "That's the plan." He grins as he casually twirls the case to his other hand, "N'joy the waves." He nods before he snakes his arm around Carlos's shoulder and starts guiding him down the hill towards the parking lot with Dude running in front of them.
He stands there for a moment, watching as the two walk off while excitedly talking about whatever trouble they were about to get into.
Hiro was a great guy. They seriously couldn't have asked for a better dad for Carlos.
He grins.
Oi-kun.
Nephew.
The reminder that they were all family.
He stands taller in the warmth of the sun.
Or maybe it was just warmth from the feeling.
They were ohana.
He grins and waves when Carlos turns back for a last look, which was exactly why he'd stayed.
He sighs before he settles his bag on his shoulder and turns back to the school, carefully eyeing the building he needed to visit.
Somewhere up there, close to David and Nani's offices, Cobra Bubbles was waiting for him.
He shivers before looking around for the eyes he could feel on him.
The guards?
Or Cobra?
Unfortunately, it wasn't T.
He sighs before he makes his way back.
One promise.
One session before they could start the long surfing weekend.
One session.
He trudges up the stairs.
Why had he promised this?
David and Nani had been so excited when they asked him how he felt about using the long weekend to settle at their beach house. Settle into his room.
His room.
The realization of being adopted, of having not only a real father but also a mother-
Of having a real room, not just a mattress under the sales desk-
It was overwhelming.
Exciting, but overwhelming.
Surreal even.
And then their eyes had grown concerned.
Worried.
Would he feel comfortable having a session with Cobra before they left?
He would have said anything to erase the look.
Make them happy again.
He sighs when he realizes he's already at the door.
Could he get away with not doing this?
He grimaces as he knocks.
No.
No, he did not want to see them worry because he was skipping a counseling session.
"Please, come in."
Even if everything in him wanted to run from the steel in the man's voice.
He takes a deep breath as he pushes the door open and walks in.
He takes a second to survey the room.
The door behind him, the door leading to a bathroom. The two windows.
It was very much like David and Nani's offices.
Except it wasn't.
Nani had a relaxing chat vibe.
Welcome, let me brew you some tea.
Pretty plants and a few personal items.
Pictures. Trophies. Postcards.
David's office was full of different things to sit on.
Couches in different areas of the room.
Straight-backed chairs at a table.
Desks.
Reclining chairs.
Thick rugs.
And his desk, while neater than it had been when they'd first met, was still disorganized. It was nothing to find half-eaten protein bars forgotten under stacks of folders or coffee cups hidden under piles of brochures.
That was just David.
Cobra's office though?
Was plain.
Cold.
With a few framed certificates on the wall.
At least that's what they looked like.
Like the ones David and Nani also had.
Except this guy had a wall nearly covered in them.
A desk.
A sofa.
A tv.
A mini-fridge.
His eyes narrow, and several bowls of snacks?
Huh.
It was a small, strange detail.
Different snacks, perfectly arranged by size and color in bowls.
A tray above the mini-fridge.
His grip tightens around the strap of his bag as he finally lets his gaze wander to the man sitting behind his desk.
Stiff.
Straight.
Writing in some kind of notebook.
Why was he still wearing sunglasses?
And the suit?
He was no Evie, but his suit didn't look like a formal party suit to him.
Not like the shit the royals and everyone wore to Ben's oath ceremony.
What the hell kind of suit was it then?
He bites his lip.
And why did he care?
Cobra places down the pen before he steeples his fingers in front of him, "Please. Make yourself comfortable."
He blinks.
How?
He takes a deep breath before he takes the center of the sofa, letting his bag slip from his shoulder to rest beside him.
If he had to move, he had plenty of options with how low the arms were.
And he could use the window or door to get out.
The bathroom wasn't an option, not until he was able to see if the window in there was bigger than in David's office.
But still, worst case, he'd be able to dodge long enough to get out.
He takes a deep breath as he rubs his sweaty palms over his pants but finds it impossible to speak when he looks up and finds the man watching him.
"The window is unlocked."
His eye twitches.
How fucking obvious had he been?
The chair creeks as Cobra leans back, "I believe we may have gotten off on the wrong foot at the party." He frowns.
"Oh?" Getting off on the wrong foot would have been great.
It would make it easier to not disappoint Nani and David.
But he wasn't sure how wrong foot it was to just know how dangerous the man in front of him was.
To have every instinct screaming at him to run.
Telling him he was outmatched.
Cobra nods, "I feel like you might be able to relate," His lip twitches into a small smile, "But, I prefer knowing what I'm walking into." He interlocks his fingers and rests them against his stomach.
Fair.
He and Carlos might go about it differently, but they both preferred to have a level of understanding about things.
Carlos took it to an extreme place, but he couldn't make fun of him for it.
He was able to roll with most things so long as he had a basic understanding of what they were doing.
"You are quite an impressive young man. Your instincts are very well attuned to both your environment and those in it. It's not something many your age possess."
He bites his lip as he looks away, "Everyone has to have something like it to still be here."
His eyes instantly snap back at the slightest movement, only to see Cobra tapping a single finger against the back of his hand.
Thoughtfully?
"On the contrary, most people aren't naturally astute in that capacity."
"Maybe not in Auradon," He can't help the eye roll, "but where I come from, you either have it, or you're dead, or someone else protects you."
Cobra nods, "I would imagine that being the case." He's silent for a moment. "Protector."
"We've got each other's backs. My pack has those instincts. They're just, also good at-" He shrugs, "Hiding it better."
It wasn't completely true.
They had instincts.
Mostly the instincts to know when they were being watched.
Sometimes.
Maybe not always Evie.
But he wasn't going to take credit for the pack surviving. It was something they all worked to do.
Again Cobra's lips twitch, "I'm sure that is the case in certain instances, but when it comes to base survival, you and your alpha have it in spades."
He shrugs.
No argument there.
He and Mal had instincts and paranoia, with a very blurred line in between.
It served them well on the Isle.
At times kept them safe here in Auradon.
But this was the first time he was really questioning himself and everyone he cared about.
The conversation with Lonnie helped.
Knowing she'd felt the danger.
Knowing she had the same realization.
The fear.
Knowing that if Cobra attacked, there was very little he'd be able to do about it.
"I am very much aware that my… Aura and demeanor are much different than what you are used to in a counselor-"
"No shit!" He shakes his head as he gestures to the man, "You, you're a- you would have made villains piss themselves. Maybe not all of them, but definitely most of them."
This time a real smile tugs at the stoic man's lips. "I tend to have that effect on people."
He could smile?
He could feel his open mouth, his eyes frozen in narrowed disbelief.
But fuck if he could do anything about it.
The man smiled.
But it didn't change the vibe.
Didn't affect the knowledge that this man was a killer.
"I don't normally like to speak about myself, as these sessions are meant to be yours, but perhaps a little background about me will help. I spent years as an agent in special ops, before I decided to make a career change."
"Is special ops like code for killing people?" He finally manages to ask.
"I have killed my share of people," Cobra states bluntly as he nods, "I won't insult your intelligence or instincts by claiming otherwise, though those years are far behind me."
He takes a slow, deep breath.
Was that relief? Relief at being able to say those years were behind him?
"You look like you still carry weapons or train." He points out
"Both are accurate. When you have led the life, I have you tend to make enemies."
He nods slowly.
He could understand that.
He made lots of enemies on the Isle.
Just being in Mal's gang made him a few.
Cobra studies him for a moment, "What are you trained in?"
"Trained." He snorts, "Self-taught and group taught-"
"I did not say who trained you. I simply asked what you are trained in. Though it is of no surprise to me that you would train those you deemed under your protection. In a place like the Isle, I can imagine you couldn't be everywhere at once. And since your pack is so drastically, dynamically, different, I imagine you were not always together."
He narrows his eyes.
It felt weird.
On the one hand, he knew how counseling was supposed to work.
They talked.
In this room and with this man, he was supposed to be able to talk about anything.
And yet, it still felt like a standoff.
Like he was staring Atilla down after a confrontation.
Show your skills or keep them close to your chest?
Use only what you needed to survive or put the other in their place?
He grimaces as he shifts, resting his palms on his knees.
"I see." Cobra nods. "I am proficient in marksmanship."
"Guns or bow?" He asks automatically.
Cobra raises a single brow, "Guns. In my former profession, they were the most efficient means of taking down the enemy."
He presses his lips together tightly as he takes a slow breath in through his nose.
Guns.
Efficient.
And they'd fucking left the others on the Isle with them.
And there were people with guns here in Auradon that wanted them gone.
Stupid fucking guns.
Cobra frowns, "Come with me." He stands and walks to the door.
His eyes narrow.
Go with him?
Walk around?
It was harder to keep an eye on someone when they were moving.
And walking out into the school would mean that innocent people would get rolled into it if anything happened.
But, Nani and David really wanted this.
He sighs as he stands.
"By all means, take my six, but I would like to show you something."
"It's not like I have a choice." He grips his bag tightly as he slings it back over his shoulder.
Cobra turns and lowers his glasses to look him over.
He takes a hesitant step back before he can stop himself, grimacing as the muscles in his side pull against his ribs as he readies to make a move.
"In this matter, you can make that decision upon seeing what I'm going to show you."
"Cool." He ignores the hitch as he blinks up at Cobra, his grip white-knuckled around his bag.
Nani and David trust him.
Nani and David want this to work.
Cobra nods before he ducks and twists his way out of the doorway.
How did this guy exist?
If Gil ever met him, he was going to be so fucking jealous.
He frowns when Cobra leads him out of the building.
And then out past the stables.
His steps slow.
Fuck being afraid for the rest of the school.
He was scared of being alone with the guy too.
He takes several deep breaths as he wipes sweat off his face.
David and Nani trusted this man.
Their eyes.
The worry.
He promised.
Promised he'd do a session with Cobra.
Cobra stops when they reach a long building. "Hiro helped me with this. After a hefty debate with Janice."
"It's a building, like the warehouses on the Isle." Except it didn't look like this one would collapse in a light rain.
Or any weather.
"Your school ID." Cobra turns and holds out his hand.
His brow furrows as he digs into his pocket for his wallet, "Why?" He asks as he shakily holds it out.
Shakily.
He takes another deep breath.
Cobra doesn't answer as he swipes the ID, which makes a panel open up. "Put your hand there." He points to a green screen.
His eye twitches as he takes a step away from the weird screen.
Everything in him was screaming.
Get out.
Run.
Something wasn't right.
Why did he have to put his hand on the flashing outline?
He takes a deep breath before he stands up taller.
He had to because he promised to see this through.
Strange ohana.
Hiro helped with this.
David and Nani had to know about it, right?
Before he can think too much about that last question he steps forward and slams his hand down on the screen.
He jumps when it beeps.
Too late to turn back now.
Cobra smiles as something hisses and then clicks before he walks away.
Only to open a door like the one on Hiro's rocket car.
He blinks before he follows after the man, only to stop in surprise when he walks into a room with plants on either side of it.
Past them, on the other end of the long building, were targets.
Targets?
Cobra once again smiles before he walks over to a wall and swipes his ID again before another green screen appears behind a panel.
He steps back and gestures again.
He frowns before he presses his hand against the scanner.
What was the point in arguing or asking questions right now?
Besides, he wanted to know.
Another psst sounds before several panels open and extend tiered shelves.
"Those look like guns."
But not like the guns from the Isle, just one's he'd seen online and in the games he played with Carlos.
"Observant." Cobra's lip twitches.
He purses his lips as he glances up, "I've never seen real ones like this."
"I can hear the silent asshole there." Cobra states, "But, David has expressed concerns that you are worried one of your friends will not want to come over."
"T." He sighs.
So this wasn't because the idea of guns made his chest tight.
Or because he had nightmares about guns being used on his pack.
His friends.
Him.
Guns.
Long-range weapons.
By the time you heard the noise, it was too late.
"T." Cobra repeats, "It is clear you are not comfortable with the subject, nor comfortable with them."
He takes a breath when he realizes he'd been holding it.
Loosens his grip on his bag strap.
"David and Nani were not thrilled about the idea of training you, but since guns are- Common among some of your Ohana- Namely Stitch and Gantu-"
"That furry little blue monster uses guns?" He hears himself ask in sheer terror and disbelief.
"Six," Cobra nods, "plasma guns at a time."
"I-" He slowly shakes his head, "am not the Pup, so I have no idea what that means."
"It's alien technology. But the same principle as ours."
Six.
Six alien guns.
He takes another breath, forcing the air into his uncooperative lungs.
He was not going to start shaking.
The room would stay put.
He was not going to show that in front of this man.
No.
Fucking.
Way.
"Needless to say, they came around to the idea." Cobra continues, "And we all decided it would be best if you learned to use them."
He blinks as he looks over the different guns.
Some small, like the handguns that were easy to find in CoD.
Some longer, more like the ones T found on the Isle.
Except nothing like them.
These were sleek.
"You-" He takes a breath around his suddenly dry mouth, "Are you offering to teach me how to handle guns?"
"It is your choice." Cobra nods, "Your decision. But as it stands, this building opens to a select number of people. You and your pack are four of them. But I would be happy to be the one to teach you as I have proficiency and am well versed in safety."
"And David and Nani are okay with this?"
Fuck, this would help.
A lot.
Or at least he hoped it would.
Learning how to use the thing that was so scary to the people of Auradon.
The thing that was threatening him and his pack.
Learn to use something better than the Isle had.
Because as understated as it was, Cobra had mentioned the Isle and retrieving T.
"As I said, me and Hiro made many points. And, as much as they weren't open to the idea, we agreed it would be best to have you trained. But, when it's time to collect, T, it would make us all feel better that you are as equipped as possible."
"And this training would be..." He trails off.
"Part of your counseling." Cobra finishes. "I have found that being on a level field with your enemy, known or otherwise, eases anxiety."
He huffs as he looks over the guns again before he turns back to Cobra.
Could he trust this?
He wanted to. Wanted to trust this new family.
New ohana.
Trust that Cobra was not the threat he seemed.
But more than that, he just wanted to make Nani and David proud of him.
Cobra, stoic as ever, continues, "Would it make you feel better to know Red and Li are allowed access?"
He nods slowly, "Lonnie also offered to teach me, and-" He sighs, "she also knows you."
It would help to have her there.
He rolls his lips between his teeth, "But, David and Nani wouldn't, strange ohana-" He sighs as he rubs his forehead with one hand, "Yeah, I'd like to try." He finally manages to say.
Fuck, that had been hard.
Cobra nods, "I know it's unorthodox. But, with circumstances being as they are, it seemed to be for the best."
He slowly nods before he sighs.
Might as well take the leap.
It worked with David, and led to great places.
So despite everything screaming at him to shut the hell up-
"I don't know what to do about the edge I'm on with you."
Cobra frowns, "I have that effect on people." He frowns. "There is not a way to change who I am, but I think, with you, it's best for you to acquaint yourself with a person of my energy. As you will eventually have to meet Li's father."
He purses his lips as he folds his arms over his chest, "What does Lonnie have to do with this?"
"You are pursuing a relationship with her, are you not? Or did I read that wrong?"
"Fan-fucking-tastic." He throws his arms in the air.
Cobra's lip quirks in amusement.
"And her mother carries a similar aura. Albeit, more subtle."
"People actually meet parents in Auradon?"
Cobra lowers his glasses, "It is an unfortunate reality."
"On the Isle, the best thing you can do is keep people you protect away from OVs." He sighs at the huge oversight.
He was going to have to meet Lonnie's parents eventually.
She cared about them.
And they cared about her.
So-
He rolls his eyes.
"Yeah, that was dumb." He shakes his head.
Cobra shrugs, "Culture shock is a very real thing."
"No fucking kidding."
Cobra snorts before his face returns as stoic as ever.
He tilts his head, "So you can smile, and you do laugh. But barely."
Cobra's lip twitches, "Contrary to appearance, I do have a sense of humor."
"You sure?"
"No," Cobra responds dryly.
"Fair." He takes a deep breath, realizing for the first time that it wasn't as forced as his breathing had been.
Huh.
It wasn't like anything had changed.
He still knew he'd be dead if Cobra Bubbles wanted him that way.
But, it was starting to seem like that wasn't what the man wanted.
"You're really not what I was expecting when David and Nani told me I'd have to see someone else." He finally admits.
Cobra nods, "Understandable. Nani didn't like me upon our initial meeting. And David yelped."
That checked.
He can't help the small smile.
Cobra smiles, "Needless to say, eventually you might understand, appearances can be deceiving."
"Weird thing is, I already get that." He shakes his head.
The Isle was full of that.
Deez.
Gil.
Harry.
Uma.
Anthony.
A lot of people.
"I would imagine you would more than most." Cobra states. "We all have our masks. Some just have made theirs thicker than others."
He nods in agreement before he slowly holds one hand up, willfully ignoring the way it shook.
He holds back a grimace as Cobra's hand dwarfs his.
"Thank you." He breaths out once they drop their hands again.
"My pleasure." Cobra nods. "I know this is an uncomfortable situation for you, but I assure you, that after a few sessions the tightness will loosen."
Fuck, he really hoped so.
"I'm good." He nods as he grips his bag again, "I don't want David and Nani to worry."
"Then let's call this session over. Go, have fun surfing. This, and I, will be here when you get back."
He frowns as he pulls his phone out and looks at the clock.
Sessions usually lasted an hour.
And while he'd had several last a lot longer than that, he'd never had one last half of it.
"I- I promised I'd do a session." He admits as he looks up in confusion.
"Hard to do a proper session without trusting your counselor, don't worry, Jay. We'll build up to it."
He bites his lip.
It was hard.
It had been hard with David too.
But his first session with David-
He'd broken down and cried.
At least he hadn't done that with Cobra.
Fuck.
He just wanted to run away, take him up on his offer to be done for today.
Go join his new family.
Surf.
Let them help him set his room up.
They'd mentioned going shopping on the way there.
He wanted to take the out.
But-
Would they understand?
Or would they be disappointed in him for not giving it his all.
Cobra's lips twitch, "You're a good kid, Jay, but I assure you they are quite understanding of the situation and will surely just be proud you actually showed up." He tilts his head to the side, "And, no, it's not obvious. I've just been trained to read things, if you've been concerned. I know it can be disquieting. Usually I don't proceed this way with most of my cases. But, I don't believe obfuscating my truths will lend me any favors with you."
He blinks, "So, brushing past how easily you just read me, which isn't the first time that's happened so-" He shakes his head as he gestures the thought away.
Fucking Deez.
"But um, you really think they'll be okay? I was afraid I hurt them when I uh, reacted to your-" his eyes narrow, "Aura?"
Cobra nods, "If anything, your reaction speaks highly of your awareness. And I know they will understand and be proud of you for staying as long as you did. Most run before the first five minutes."
Oh, he'd wanted to.
He'd wanted to run the moment he first laid eyes on the man.
He'd forced himself to show up.
Forced the knock.
Forced himself to sit by tricking himself into looking for the most secure place in the room.
Every word had been forced.
Like the handshake.
Because he did not want to worry them.
But, more than that, he wanted to keep working.
Wanted to keep getting better.
He wanted to be able to help the others when they got here.
He takes another deep breath. "Okay."
Cobra checks his watch, 'I should go find Red anyways."
He blinks, "Roy?"
Cobra gestures to the plants, "He's bound to be panicking."
His eyes narrow. "Because of plants?"
"Illegal plants."
"Oh. Wait," his brow furrows as he gestures to the weirdly shaped leaves, "these are his green?"
Cobra's lip twitches, "Correct." He looks around the room. "Speaking of-" He slides his hand into his pocket.
He immediately takes a step back and braces, poised to run, except he wasn't sure if he'd be able to get out without his-
Cobra doesn't react, instead just produces his ID, a folded piece of paper, and a black card.
He takes several deep breaths as he straightens up, fighting the shiver running down his spine.
Like a fucking lightswtich.
Everything was slowly calming, and then that.
Cobra holds out the items calmly.
"Sorry." He mutters under his breath as he collects his ID, what he assumed was a business card, and the small folded rectangle of paper.
Cobra shrugs. "The paper is a prescription. David and Nani will know what to do with it."
He nods as he shoves it all in his pocket.
"Once the others have returned, I'd like you to bring them to my office as well."
"Like, all of them at the same time?"
Cobra shrugs, "I have prescriptions for them as well."
Hiro mentioned something about them needing pills.
He takes another deep breath, "Okay. When should I come by again?"
"How often did you see David?"
"Almost daily." He slowly admits.
Cobra nods, "Let's start with Tuesdays, and figure it out from there."
"I can handle that."
He nods as he pulls his ID back out, "So like, scan and hand coming in and out or-" He jumps when the door opens before he can find a screen, "Nevermind."
Cobra chuckles.
He looks up in disbelief.
A straight up chuckle.
Way more than a snort.
"Huh."
"I'm leaving as well." Cobra states, "Would you like me to go first?"
"Nah, you're still scary as hell, and fuck if you ever want to take me out my only chance is running," He shakes his head, "but, I mean I got you to chuckle. Even if it was at me jumping, which I will deny. Fucking loud ass doors."
"It was the delivery."
He chuckles, "Sure it was."
Still, any practice was better than nothing.
And, Cobra wasn't wrong. It was hard to trust someone with the things he talked to David about, especially when everything was screaming at you to not trust them.
Except, it wasn't so much that he felt like he couldn't trust Cobra, it was just, damn if the dude wasn't terrifying.
In a quiet way, sure.
Maybe that was what scared him the most.
On the Isle, OVs beat their chest and demonstrated all the ways that they were scary or dangerous.
But Cobra?
Come on, his last name was Bubbles.
And he smiled sometimes.
And laughed.
And at this point he was pretty sure the glasses were to keep people from freaking out at his 'dead ass see into your soul' stare.
There was more to Cobra than just his past.
His training.
The lives he'd taken.
"David ends his sessions when he lays on the ground-"
Cobra stares at him.
"Ooh, uh, not, can I still ask questions or is the session over?"
"Of course." Cobra nods, "You and Red are my only cases at the moment. As far as I see it, the session ends when you end it yourself."
"Cool." He sighs as he starts walking back towards the school, "Please don't tell David I said that."
"That he lays on the floor to end sessions?"
"With me," He quickly defends, "it's like, the difference between Councillor David and Dad David."
"Liar." Cobra's lip twitches.
"Okay, Councillor David and Uncle David for Carlos." He quickly amends.
"Liar." Cobra chuckles. "David's methods are his own." He shrugs, "And it suits him." He lowers his glasses, "The only issue I have with your father is his filing. Besides that, he's a damn good counselor."
He blinks as his steps slow.
His father.
Not Jafar, the pathetic man who still believed a lamp could save him from the barrier.
David.
David the damn good counselor.
The man who cared enough about him and his pack he'd overcome his hatred of paperwork to help push through their adoption.
Should it feel strange?
Or was it okay to cling to the fact like this?
His father.
"Which I will deny saying."
He slowly smiles as he looks up, "He's getting better about paperwork. And sorting his informative brochures."
Cobra cough sounds suspiciously like Carlos.
"Look, no one is ever ready for Carlos and his OCD," He shakes his head, "So, that wasn't fair and he feels bad about it." He glares up at Cobra, "Point is, he kept it organized."
Cobra's lip twitches, "Understood."
He blinks before he looks away again, "But, thanks, for telling me how good he is. Not like I have a lot to measure it by."
"Him and Nani are two of the best I know… Then again-"
"You mentored them, so you might be biased?"
"One hundred percent."
Cobra wasn't as hard to talk to one on one.
Or out in the open where he'd actually have a fighting chance of getting away.
"Do," He clears his throat, "Do you think we could do sessions outside?"
"I don't do rain." Cobra states.
"Good to know," He shrugs, "makes window escapes the better option when it's raining then."
Cobra nods, "Though I hoped we could reschedule, I concede your point. I'd leave it open for you if it wouldn't be easy to eavesdrop."
"Fair, there is a tree outside the window. It's how I would have gotten down."
"And here I thought you'd just scale it."
"Work smarter." He shrugs.
"Noted." Cobra nods. "Rule number two. I don't chase."
"Also good to know- Except I saw how quickly you grabbed Roy, so it would seem you have that rule because you don't need to."
"If you're going to do illegal shit, don't be obvious." Cobra states.
"Rule three?"
"Rule three." He nods.
He shakes his head as he looks up at the school slowly getting closer.
"Another question?"
"Go for it."
"You've said it a couple of times, that you're not going to insult my instincts, intelligence, and like, shit like that, but," He sighs as he looks up, needing to watch Cobra fully, "will you always be honest with me?"
"Yes. Though, if I can't, I'll tell you. So, to simply put it, I promise I'll never lie to you."
He nods, "Thanks."
Sure, building trust was going to take time.
Being able to shut off the fear that at any second Cobra could snap him like a twig was going to take even longer.
But, he believed him when he said he wouldn't lie.
He sounded like David and Nani when they promised him the same thing.
Genuine.
They genuinely didn't want to lie to him. Deceive him.
And he could take that as a first step.
Cobra pauses, "And I can assume that the range stays private."
"Like I can't talk about it at all to anyone?"
"Ben. Lonnie. Roy. Doug. Your pack. Their parents. Though I wouldn't suggest bringing it up to Snow or Janice."
"So, really the only people I talk to then. And a few I don't want to poke anyway."
Cobra's lip twitches, "You should work on that." He pauses, "Not the poking. Don't poke."
He holds up a finger, "The only people I like talking to then."
Cobra snorts. "Fair."
He takes another breath as they approach the building, "Since you're promising no lies, I can do that too. And not talking about the range. I'd actually feel better getting in a few sessions with you before I bring it up anyway."
Cobra nods, "It would be appreciated."
"Cool. And heard." He pulls his phone out again, "So, I'm gonna go find David. Meeting again on Tuesday, paper to parents, number in phone." He pats himself down until he finds the card and script again.
"Good first session." Cobra smiles.
He smiles as he looks up into Cobra's sunglasses, "Yeah, better than I thought it was going to go."
"Rule four, always expect the unexpected."
"Your rules are strangely in order." He purses his lips, "Are these new rules or something?"
Cobra's lip twitches, "Yes."
He blinks in surprise.
Was Cobra messing with him?
Huh.
Who knew dead ass terrifying could also troll.
"Okay, on that note, see ya later."
"Enjoy the beach."
The beach.
He grins as he tears up the stairs, already hitting his speed dial to see where David was.
He might have ended his session fifteen minutes early, but dammit, he was ready to go.
He still wasn't entirely sure what to make of Cobra Bubbles, but he'd kept his promise.
Time to go!
I fucking love writing Bubbles (Me and Dark share him. When Jay's on-screen it's me. When it's multiple, it's Dark.)
He's so fucking dry it's amazing.
What do you guys think?
Did I do him Justice?
I mean, Dark does an a-fucking-mazing Jay, so I hope I hit the spot with our version of Bubbles.
Jay seeing Carlos off was just adorable.
Oh, and before you guys get excited. We did not write the four-day vacay for each of these kids. We give lil' tidbits in conversation, but… Yeah, that's about it. Sorry if that's disappointing, but we were expecting this book to be at most 30 chapters, and it ended up being almost 80 because we don't know how to do short stories.
You guys seem to like it tho… So, there's that.
But, yeah, we already had so much content; it would be ridic to add so much extra fluff.
That being said-
We're o n, so if you guys ever really want to see something you can pop over there and suggest and vote for the thing you'd like to see.
Back to the chapter...
What do you guys think of Jay's reaction to Cobra?
What did you think of their first session?
About Cobra's rule?
About Roy's part farm being moved to the gun range?
Oh, duh, the gun range? Anyone have any feelz about that cluster fuck?
Dark just ran with me throwing in there in this scene, cause she's a boss?
Fave Quote:
"If you're going to do illegal shit, don't be obvious." Cobra states.
Much love and shit,
-Twisted