Hey Descendants!
So... Thursday I tore my office apart... And in the middle of getting it all set back up I forgot what day it was...
Sorry.
You ever just have a great idea and then it worked out completely NOT that way?
Yep...
My office would be perfect if it was only six inches wider.
Anyway, back to the important stuff-
Like breathing.
You breathing?
We hope you are.
Lots of things are happening to our Core Four right now, hopefully you are enjoying the journey.
Let us know in the comments below, and don't forget to check us out on Pat reon. We've got lots of fun extras for you there, not to mention we stay a week ahead on posting.
Lots of Love!
-Dark-
He sighs as he drops his hands to his lap after losing a screw for what had to be the hundredth time.
No matter how much he tried to focus on the phones, he just couldn't.
He'd get a couple of things in place with no problems.
Feel like maybe he was getting in a groove.
Things were going to be okay again.
But then the hair on the back of his neck would stand up.
His mouth would go dry.
His fingers would feel numb.
Then his hands would shake.
That place.
That room.
The tools.
The patterns.
The smell.
And then the light ting ting ting of a screw skipping away from him would pull him back.
Back to his room.
Sitting at the table, surrounded by his pack, sweating and shaking as if it had all happened all over again.
Worthless.
It was her voice.
But she wasn't here.
She couldn't get him again.
He was safe with his pack.
He was safe.
Worthless.
"I'm not." He whispers as his cheeks burn.
He jumps when a hand settles on his shoulder.
"Carlos," Evie breathes softly, "Come on." She drops her hand to his and tugs gently.
"Come where?" He asks even though he stands without resisting.
He wasn't sure he could handle leaving the room right now.
"To the couch with us," She tucks him into her shoulder. "Jay just got back from letting Dude out, and it looks like you could use a break."
He bites his lower lip, "You guys have been making sure Dude goes out for me?"
Mal twists her arm over the couch as she eyes him, "Duh."
How had he not noticed?
"Now get your ass over here," Mal says with less force in her voice than usual before she turns back to the TV.
He tries to smile as he and Evie plop on the couch between Mal and Jay, but it felt like the best he could do was a half-smile.
Mal shifts in discomfort before she wraps an arm around him and pulls him to her side.
It was still new. So new. All of it.
Her hugging him.
Leaning against him or pulling him against her.
The protectiveness-
Well, actually that wasn't new, just how open she was about it.
He rests against her, laying his head against her shoulder.
"We've got you now, pup." She whispers just loud enough for him to hear as she starts running her hand through his hair. "She can't get you with us here. We won't let her."
His chin drops to his chest, "I know." He whispers back.
And he did.
He knew they, his pack, their friends, his ohana, none of them would let her touch him.
He knew it was true.
So it confused him that he was still scared.
And sad.
David said the next couple of days would be confusing for all of them.
Said it didn't matter how many times they'd been hurt in the past. Trauma was still trauma.
It still had effects.
It was different this time because he was with people who cared about him.
He'd already started on the road to recovery.
But, it would still hurt.
Be confusing.
And that was okay.
They'd talk about it when he was ready.
He didn't have to talk to anyone until he was.
Evie slowly leans into him on the opposite side, her arms wrapping around his waist as she rests her head against his shoulder.
Jay scoots closer as he throws a blanket over the three of them and rests his arm over the back of the couch.
It did feel better to have them close.
To know that they were going through the same thing.
Maybe even having the same thoughts.
But that hurt too.
Knowing the rest of his pack was in pain, hurt.
On the Isle, they never talked about stuff like this.
It just happened. Happened to everyone.
Different but the same.
But they weren't on the Isle anymore.
They were in Auradon.
And it was better.
But also scarier.
Because that wasn't supposed to happen here.
They were supposed to be safe.
Their parents weren't supposed to be here.
But then they were.
And magic worked here.
"Breathe," Mal whispers.
He automatically takes a deep breath.
"That's a good pup." Jay ruffles his hair gently.
It had become a pattern over the past few days.
Jay silently flips through channels looking for something easy going.
Most likely a cartoon.
"Wait, stop." Mal leans forward, pulling him with her.
He blinks at a strange view of the barrier.
He knew it was the barrier. He'd stared up at the yellowish-orange of it his whole life.
But this view was from above.
Evie stiffens at his side.
"Breath," Jay whispers gently.
When she takes her breath, he leans in and nuzzles against her, "Good."
But he couldn't blame her. It was a shock to see the Isle on the TV.
"After weeks of diligent work on several fronts, the barrier has finally been resealed." A news anchor states. "No sign of activity since the green and red smoke escaped." She reports. "The green smoke has been confirmed to have been Maleficent, but no details have been released about the red mist that flew through."
"Breathe," Mal sighs as she shifts behind him to squeeze Jay's wrist.
"Yeah," Jay nods as he takes a deep breath.
Mal nods in approval.
Evie shifts to lean against Jay and whispers something to him.
But the story continued, pulling his attention back to the TV.
"Several violent lightning storms have been reported by passing sailors and the national guards. Rough weather and earthquakes have also been suspected by experts, though the extreme weather was contained to the Isle. The bizarre weather is believed to be a side effect of Maleficent's escape when the barrier was initially damaged. Officials say that the side effects will dissipate over the next few weeks now that the repairs are complete. I for one-"
He blinks before a brick slips into his stomach.
The Isle.
Evie sucks in a breath as Mal stiffens and Jay curses softly.
"It- It couldn't have been that bad if the barrier contained it, right?" Evie shakes her head as the image of the Isle appears on the TV again.
"I'm sure they're alright," Mal shrugs stiffly, though the waver in her voice does nothing to calm his nerves.
Weeks.
It had been weeks.
Over a month since the ceremony.
Jay's jaw tenses as he pulls Evie closer. "They're pirates," He shrugs, "They can deal with some shit weather."
"And I'm sure Dizzy is with them by now." Mal adds, "They're fine. It takes more than some stupid storms and dumb waves to kill a rat."
"T and Harry promised to look after her." He adds as he takes Evie's hand and squeezes.
"Sorry." Mal shakes her head, "Change it. Shouldn't have made ya stop."
Jay sighs before he picks the remote up and starts clicking through the channels again, "We all wanted to know M, not your fault."
"Mmm," Mal murmurs in disagreement, but doesn't say more on the matter.
He looks up at her before he wraps his arms around her completely and hugs, "We did, I know it doesn't change anything, but we did want to know."
It was all he could do, the best he could give her.
It was the truth she wouldn't want to listen to, and a hug she wouldn't be able to ignore.
Mal gives a few short nods as she hugs him back. Her forehead knocks against his softly, eyes shut. "They're fine." She repeats.
Though if it's for him or herself, he wasn't sure.
They're fine, right?
Right?
This chapter was as ugly as it was foreboding.
Our pup can't focus, and it seems the others can't either.
Are you guys worried for the Core?
For the Rats?
This one was fucking rough to read, and I know what's happening on the Isle.
Which, ya know…
*Winces* Mmmph...
But yeah, what did you guys think?
Much love and appreciation,
-Twisted