He shakes his head as he walks down the hallway to Cobra's office.
That wasn't embarrassing.
Being told by Carlos to leave.
His exasperated tone.
As if he were the only one having trouble separating.
No. Not embarrassing.
Not at all.
He rolls his eyes as he walks up to the door, his fist hovering over it.
Was he actually the only one still having issues with separating?
But, it had been his idea.
His realization.
His foot down.
They couldn't hide forever.
They couldn't skip counseling.
Or school.
They had a responsibility to be good role models.
Their job was to do everything they could to assist Ben in getting the others.
He was the one who pointed that out and argued that it was time they got back into it.
He was proud of them for agreeing so quickly.
For jumping on his idea that they all needed to get serious about training and practice again.
So then, why was he the one who seemed to be having a hard time?
He grimaces as he knocks.
"Come in," The low baritone greets.
"Hey," he greets as he opens the door.
Hmm. Maybe he should have mentioned to Cobra that he was going to come out for his session today.
"Hello," Cobra laces his fingers together as he leans forward.
"Yeah, I know," He chuckles nervously, "you hate surprises."
"This isn't a surprise." Cobra's lips twitch.
"Oh?" He shrugs as he drops his bag to the floor.
"I heard your gait from down the hall."
"Great." He nods as he rolls his eyes.
That meant he knew how long he stood outside the door too.
Fan-fucking-tasitc.
He clears his throat as he rubs the back of his neck, "So… session. Or training? Or I guess whatever this is both. You are you."
"You get me," Cobra stands and heads for the door.
"Starting to at least," he shrugs as he turns back to follow him.
"Progress is progress."
"We say progress not perfection."
Cobra turns to him, "I like it. Shows you understand no limit to growth."
He trips over his own feet at the sudden burst of laughter.
His own laughter.
He flings his hand out, trying to catch himself on the wall.
But misses.
Before he faceplants into the carpeted hallway he feels hands catch him.
And yet he couldn't stop laughing.
Hard.
The sound ripping from his throat as if it were escaping a cage.
Fuck.
He hadn't laughed like this in a long time.
Maybe ever.
It hurt his stomach.
Kept him from pulling himself out of the grip holding him inches over the floor.
It was all he could do to hold his stomach.
Even when he was set back on his feet he doubled over.
Uncontrollable.
The hands hold him by the shoulders, and the small part of his head that was still capable of thought realized it had to be Cobra keeping him on his feet.
When the laughter turns to strange hiccups, annoying but far more tolerable, he finds Cobra looking at him, glasses on the floor, an eyebrow raised expectantly.
No that wasn't right.
That was confusion.
Cobra was looking down at him in confusion.
Confusion and concern.
"That is what gets a laugh?" Cobra steadies him.
He takes a deep breath, forcing his shaking lungs to work.
Could lungs be exerted?
He swallows and wipes at his eyes.
Wait, when had he cried?
His eye twitches as he buries his palms into his eyes, forcefully removing any evidence.
He'd been laughing so hard-
But then why did he know the tears were sad?
"Sorry." He shakes his head, "That- that was weird."
"Yeah," Cobra agrees. "I've been trying to get you to laugh for days."
He snorts as he looks out between his hands before he drops them to his sides.
Fucking T.
His shoulder slump.
Explanation.
Explanation now, before he thinks you're insane.
"I-" He sighs, "It's not a saying I came up with. T did. And I guess the idea of T being that deep and self aware-"
Seriously?
Self aware?
T was many things, but self aware was not an attribute he would have put on that list.
"That was confusing." He admits with a sigh.
Cobra studies him before he nods and bends over to pick up his glasses. "I'm guessing T wasn't very- open. From both that summation and name."
He frowns, "He was when it mattered." he explains roughly. "But at the same time, no. I guess not."
Ugh.
Why was this so hard to understand?
He thought it was funny.
Knowing T somehow managed to understand something here in Auradon.
Unlimited growth.
It sounded more like something that would have been Deez's thing.
But T figured it out.
During sword training.
And then the phrase just trickled into the rest of their lives.
Why did the idea make him so fucking sad?
"Sounds complicated."
He takes another deep breath and nods before he wipes his hands across his face again. "T is complicated. It's like, everytime I manage to get a grip on growing up with him and the memories, I learn something else, or realize something new and everything changes."
He presses a hand to his chest.
No.
He'd already talked about this.
Worked on this with David.
But there was no denying the pain in his chest.
Cobra rests a hand on his shoulder, "That sounds difficult to roll with." He frowns, "But from the sound of it, you tucked every time. I'm sure he appreciates having a friend like you."
"I don't feel like a good friend."
"You don't have to feel like a good friend to be a good friend. The two are completely separate from each other. One is subjective, easily swayed by emotion. The other is objective, something that's constant. If you were a bad friend, you wouldn't currently be so torn. When information is withheld the average person rejects the friend. You didn't. It doesn't even sound like you judge him for keeping things from you."
He blinks, all thoughts of argument lost.
He was still a good friend even when he didn't feel like one?
Like how David always insisted he was a good kid?
A good person even when he didn't feel like he was.
"Feelings are complex, and even those born on this side of the barrier struggle with understanding them."
"Auradon struggles with a lot more than I thought they did." He sighs.
You'd think it wouldn't surprise him anymore.
But it always did.
Lonnie's situation.
The way the school treated Jane.
How people questioned the Crown.
Some of the stupidest things.
Things that weren't that big on the Isle.
It didn't matter who you were, if you were good at something, you were wanted.
Mal's mother was the ruler, and everyone wanted her favor.
And only people with death wishes questioned Maleficent.
And T.
"Rule six."
He glares at Cobra as he pulls out his phone and opens the rules notebook.
Not all things are as they appear.
"True.".
"I know." Cobra nods, "That's why it's so high on the list. Also, while you have your phone out, Rule ten. Progress not perfection. It's one thing to strive for perfection, but it's foolish for one to ever think they are perfect. There's always room to improve "
He bites his lip as he types the new rule in.
"Deez said something like that." He slips his phone back into his pocket, "Except it was more defensive."
Cobra's lip twitches, "Defending values always has the possibility of that."
He sighs as he crosses his arms over his chest.
It was that or admit his chest was still tight.
"It sounds like on a Isle where evil dominates, you found some insurgents. Like minds often gather." His lip tugs before he goes stoic, "Rule eleven."
"Brah, I just put my phone away."
"Rule four and five are closest to my chest."
He snorts as he pulls his phone out and adds eleven to the list.
But this time he stops before he slips it into his back pocket.
On average, three to four rules got added every time he and Cobra spoke.
He looks through the list, his eyes lingering the last entry.
Like minds often gather.
He'd never thought about it that way.
They were all so different.
Uma and Mal.
Gil and Carlos.
Deez and Harry.
Evie and T.
Yet, somehow, they all clicked.
His brow furrows.
Maybe not Mal and Uma, at least on the Isle.
But he could see it.
Knew it, from everything he knew about the two.
Not to mention how often Deez tried to convince them of it.
Those two were going to be fast friends once Uma and Mal didn't have to live under the Isle's stupid creeds.
Like minds.
Somehow they all were like minded.
Strangely like minded.
It just took his pack getting off the Isle to realize it.
It hurt to think of them.
Them and all the opportunities they'd missed out on.
Fuck, he even missed the stupid exchanges with Uma.
The stage he and Harry acted on when they fought together.
Fucking dammit.
They'd spent over a week in their room, hiding because of their parents and fear.
Hiding just like Deez always did.
He sighs.
How many times had he gotten pissed at her for that?
Fuck.
When had he become such a hypocrite?
He was so not okay with that.
He was supposed to be setting a good example.
Which is why it bothered him so much that they'd just stayed in the room.
Ben continued to go to the stupid counsel meetings.
Cobra, the newest member on this strange team working for the VKs, continued working with Ben and Fairy Godmother.
And still somehow managed to be available for his ungrateful ass and the rest of his pack.
Snow.
Fairy Godmother. Jane.
His parents and Carlos's parents certainly kept working.
David's desk was piled with the folders Ben used to keep notes and paperwork organized for each kid on the Isle.
Nani's desk was also covered when he dropped the girl's off at her office, not that he'd gone in.
Everyone was working for them and the Isle kids.
It wasn't just VKs on the Isle, and it felt weird to group them all together like that.
Or maybe they were all VKs, kids stuck on the Isle because of villains.
He sighs as he looks back up and realizes Cobra still had his hand on his shoulder.
And the pain in his chest was dulling instead of rolling into panic.
He blinks.
Cobra was touching him.
He still knew the man in front of him was a killer.
Had been a killer.
Knew that he was severely outmatched.
But the alarms weren't screaming.
The hair on the back of his neck wasn't standing on end.
He was breathing.
Because Cobra wasn't interested in hurting him.
He cared.
He was strange.
Hard to read.
But he cared.
He could finally not only see it, but feel it.
Head and heart, just like Lonnie said.
His lips quirk into a small smile before he blinks and looks around, suddenly remembering where they were.
Fuck, how long had they even been standing there silently as he worked shit out?
"Thanks." He breathes in easily, noticing his lungs had also finally stopped trembling.
Cobra nods, before he drops his hand. "Any time." He begins walking again. "Rule six applies to people as well." He states, vague as usual.
He snorts before he runs to catch up, falling into step beside Cobra.
Cobra glances at him, "Not that you didn't already know that. Sometimes it just takes a little time to remember."
"Reminders do help." He nods before he cranes his neck to look up at Cobra, "I know I asked if we could go to the range today, but could we do something else instead?"
Cobra looks down at him, "Whatever you like, this is your session."
"Well, yeah, but aren't you guiding me?"
"Rule twelve, there's a distinct difference between guiding and forcing. The range is there for whenever you want to use it. I have every bit of faith Li and Red can show you how to work with guns safely."
His brow furrows as he watches Cobra.
Even he could tell that was not a popular opinion.
Not that he could argue. Lonnie and Roy had already offered, and he trusted them.
It just sounded weird to have an adult agree that they could do it safely.
Without an adult.
Which was something he was still getting used to needing in the first place.
"I've known the Li's for years, and have caught several of Red's competitions. I always have my eyes out for talent."
"Competitions?" Roy did things like Tourney and ROAR?
He nods, "For archery and sharp shooting. Red likes his trick shots, but also has deadly accuracy. He's the youngest in his division. His father was banned from participating."
"I learned how good and fucking fast he was yesterday." He slowly shakes his head, the image of the arrow still vibrating from the impact and the orange slowly sliding down it made him smile.
And the guy had no fucking warning.
Respect.
"But I had no idea they had competitions for shit like that. Wicked."
"I think you would enjoy channel fifty eight." Cobra offers. "It will broaden your knowledge of what's considered competitions here. Some might pique your interest in joining when you finish school."
He shrugs as he makes a note in his phone, "That's fair. I was killer at tombs on the Isle- Wait, finish school? I thought we had a couple of years or something."
Cobra glances at him, "Two, and then if you pursue college, four to twelve."
He blinks as he slows.
Oh yeah.
Part of escaping the Isle meant that he had options.
Like an overwhelming amount of options.
Except he had no idea what that meant.
Or, what he wanted.
Or even what he was good at, besides tourney and ROAR.
"Career day is something I think you four might want to attend at the end of the year. It will give you some idea of what you can pursue if you choose." He pauses, "Though, personally speaking, I think you would eventually make an excellent counselor, if you so choose."
Huh.
Cobra thought he'd make a good counselor too?
"Your capacity for empathy is quite impressive." Cobra states. "It makes me further understand why the Kawani's were so intent on adopting you. They've never expressed an interest in being parents."
He looks away, dropping his eyes to the ground as a warmth chases away the last of the tightness.
Cobra could also see why David and Nani wanted him.
It felt nice. To be seen.
To be understood.
To be wanted.
Valued even.
Nice, but also weird.
"Though, I do picture you and several others of the Isle following Lonnie, after reading H's tablets. Or as I understand it, Deez's." His lip twitches.
Following Lonnie where?
"I already have plans for T if they choose to pursue it." He looks down at him, "As you know, I was in Special Forces. Where I served for thirty years with pride, before I pulled back to pursue my passion. Remember that."
Years.
Wait, thirty years?
His brow furrows as he watches Cobra. "You and David keep talking like you're old." He frowns.
"Never said I was old."
"Yeah, but David says he's old, and you like mentored him, which means you're older than him."
"That's because David still acts like he's twenty."
And that was a problem because…?
"As you may have noticed, David is a different breed of counselor. I appreciate that about him. If you sensed judgment it was purely my tone."
He chuckles, "You have different tones?"
"No."
He rolls his eyes.
He was starting to get the hang of Cobra's humor, he just wasn't always sure how to respond.
And he thought Ben was dry.
He looks around again, grimacing when he realizes where they'd stopped this time.
Dangerously close to an entryway.
Why was Cobra so easy to talk to when they were walking?
At least no one had come in while he'd been lost in thought.
He shakes his head, not that he was ashamed of anything they were talking about.
He was still straddling that line between the Isle rules and Auradon.
"I think seeing a career thing might be helpful. I mean, C has his science and robots, and E has her fashion, but I don't know if Mal and I have ever really thought about the future as more than a few months away."
Cobra nods, "Understandable, their passions are more concrete and they've cultivated it for years. They knew what they liked, and were encouraged in it. I don't believe with you and Mal's positions you could afford to figure yours out under the weight of your responsibilities. Though, from what I've observed, there are many paths from which you can choose and excel."
He snorts before he walks over and holds the door open.
"Carlos's intellect is on par with Hiro's."
"Thank Kai our pup is more caution than Hiro." He shakes his head, "Or that would be worse than when T and Deez became friends."
Cobra follows him out the door, "So I've noticed," he says, sounding distracted as he stares at something in the distance. "I'd move if I were you."
He frowns before he catches what Cobra is watching, his back slamming into the door once again to hold it open as Hiro races past them.
"Arigato!" Echoes in his wake.
He sighs as he pulls out his phone to make sure he hadn't missed any calls or texts.
Nothing.
So then, what had Hiro barreling into the building like that?
He'd encouraged Carlos to talk about the nightmares he'd been having, had David suggested pulling Hiro in?
"Huh." He shrugs as he releases the door and rolls his shoulders.
His ribs were healed from the ceremony attack, but he was still sore from the ropes.
"Guess Carlos decided to talk about the nightmares."
"Looks like."
"I have a place where we parkour. It's not as good as running across Mal's territory or the red lantern district, but we've been gathering different things to practice on." He explains as he continues walking, "I also need to get a hold of some practice swords. Thankfully Lonnie said she'd see what she could do."
"Do you know how to drive."
"Carlos tried to show me once. He-" He closes his eyes.
That had been a bad day for both of them.
He swore the old bat had spies, not that the goblins would have dared get close enough to help her.
One dead goblin and a failed new coat was enough for them.
But she always knew when Carlos was doing something she could get angry at him over.
Always knew when to come back early from her spa trips.
Or maybe she just felt like she could beat him for everything.
He looks back over his shoulder at the window he knew was David's.
"It didn't end well." He finishes bluntly.
Cobra's lips tighten as his eyes narrow by just a fraction.
"She's a fucking bitch." He snaps before he can think.
The anger didn't surprise him, but the bitterness did.
"And a few more choice words."
He nods as he rubs the back of his neck, "I think I could figure out a normal car," He continues, switching back to the question, "I'm never touching Hiro's not-a-fucking-car car, and David's shown me how to use his car, but again, not a real car." He smiles, "Really fun to be in, but I don't think I want to drive that." He blinks before he twists and stares up at Cobra, "Is your car cool too?"
"Very."
"Can I see it?"
"Right now?"
"Yes." He nods enthusiastically before he furrows his brow, "I mean, I think I'm avoiding shit anyway. Why not ask to see another cool car?"
"You are." Cobra nods before he turns and starts walking towards the parking lot.
He tilts his head as he follows.
What was he avoiding though?
"What gave it away?"
"You being a teenager."
"Huh." He frowns, "What a thing to be normal about."
"Quite." Cobra glances at him, "Though if you'd like a more comprehensive list, I can compile one for you."
He shrugs, "Might help."
Cobra pulls out his phone as he continues walking.
He walks beside him in silence.
Why was he so all over the place today?
He knew he had to get stuff done for their first training session.
But he wasn't feeling anxious about it, he was excited.
Having not only his pack, but their friends and his Ohana all together was sure to be a great time.
And he would feel better knowing they were all working together. It was one of the hardest lessons he learned on the Isle.
You had to learn together, so you could find all the weak spots and make them stronger.
You had to watch out for each other.
You had to learn from more than one person.
You never knew when an unexpected move could save your life.
So then why had he opted to not take Cobra up on the range today?
He blinks when he nearly collides with Cobra.
Why was he walking so close to him?
He looks back over his shoulder, but the building was blocked by trees now.
He'd thought he'd take Cobra to the practice area and ask if he'd join them.
And now, here they were walking to the parking lot.
He was all over the fucking place.
Cobra stops in front of a sleek black car as he slides his phone back into his pocket.
"This is your car?"
Cobra nods, "Rule six."
"No fucking kidding. This is- this is wicked."
It didn't look like David or Nani's car.
It looked more like the ones Ben called the royal motorcade.
Except this car was gorgeous.
Cobra's lips twitch into a smile. "She is."
"And it's-" He smiles, "She's not like a normal car?"
Harry always said ships and cars were girls.
You had to treat them nicely.
"I prefer to be more subtle."
He looks back over the car and slowly starts circling it, "I don't know about subtle."
"I'm not without taste."
"Obviously." He puts his hands behind his back at the first urge to touch the silver detail work.
Cobra nods, "Want to check the interior?"
His eyes shift from Cobra, to the dark tinted windows keeping him from seeing the inside, and then back, "Yes."
The car beeps.
He closes his eyes, hoping they could just ignore the way he jumped at the sound.
Cars beeped.
He fucking knew that.
He takes a deep breath, wraps his hand in the corner of his vest, and carefully opens the door.
Cobra's lips twist in amusement.
"I don't feel like testing you on fingerprints today." He explains with a shrug.
"Fair, however-" Cobra walks over and pulls out keys before he takes one and swipes it with intent against the door.
He jumps away from the car, too afraid to see the damage as his stomach churns, "What the-"
"-they're my Ohana as well."
He narrows his eyes before he walks up to Cobra, staring at the open door before his jaw drops.
There wasn't even a smudge.
He tilts his head to the side before he lays a finger against the warm black paint and pulls it away.
The car couldn't have cared less that his palms and fingers were clammy.
Was this seriously a self cleaning car?
"Carlos needs to know about this." He looks up at the man, "And Evie."
Cobra chuckles, "I would imagine the two would appreciate the ingenuity behind it."
"Carlos is going to research the shit out of that until he can make it." He rolls his eyes.
"He's lucky his father is Hiro then."
"Well, yeah." He grins as he presses his whole hand to the car and pulls it away, "You'd think they'd have used that on their ship by now."
"They prefer their aesthetic."
He shakes his head as he walks back to the opening, crouching down to get a better look. "How the fuck do you get in and out of this?"
It was so low to the ground.
"Carefully."
He shakes his head.
Carefully.
The interior of the car was just as beautiful as the outside.
He carefully reaches out to touch the cream seat, only to marvel at how soft it was.
Oh, Evie was going to die when she saw it.
"You have the coolest car."
"You haven't even looked at the panel."
He shifts to stare at the dashboard.
In Hiro's ship it looked complicated. Flashing lights, buttons, knobs.
No fucking thank you.
David's car looked more unassuming once you sat in it, other than the seat belts and the gauges that helped with flying.
But Cobra's car.
Sleek.
Like a cellphone before you turn it on. Just a smooth black surface with a few areas outlined in the same silver used on the detailing.
But again, it looked like a car. Like the limo that brought them over.
Just, a sleek one.
Cobra walks around the car and slides into the driver's seat before a smooth hum of the engine purrs.
"Wicked." He breathes out in awe.
"Very." Cobra nods. "You can sit in it, you know."
"I did not." He bites his lip as he stares at the perfect and spotless interior.
He had not even fathomed.
"Hiro gets me." Cobra offers, "Nothing stains this car."
"Twist my arm." He chuckles as he slides into the seat, "Can we go for a drive?"
"Twist my arm."
"Yes!" He reaches down to find the seatbelt straps before he has to hunt.
"You're leaning against it." Cobra demonstrates as he pulls his own strap and buckles it.
"Oh." He purses his lips as he pulls the buckle down from above his shoulder.
Cobra nods when the buckle clicks.
And then the car starts gliding.
Gliding.
Out of the spot.
He carefully watches Cobra. The button he pushes, the way he turns the wheel.
Cobra reaches out and pokes one of the silver lined squares before the dashboard shifts to reveal a panel.
There were the buttons.
But at least these were organized.
"Woah." He leans closer to read the tiny writing under each one.
Some things he recognized.
Like cruise control.
Window wipers.
A/C.
Blinker.
But there were others that he'd never seen before either.
Defense.
Offense.
Guns.
Cappuccino.
"Capuci no?" His brow furrows, "Is that a weapon? Like a not gun weapon?"
"Better." Cobra hits the button as a cup holder slides out before a cup expands in it, along with a- his eyes narrow, faucet? "That's what offense is for."
"Oh."
He watches in confusion as the car makes a drink, like the ones he'd seen some of the other students dink in the morning.
It even did the weird hissing thing.
He sniffs cautiously when the car dings.
"It's caramel."
"Like candy?" His eyes widen.
"Mixed with coffee."
"Can I try it?"
"That was the point."
"Oh." He picks up the mug, the solid weight warm in his hands as he carefully breathes in the steam, "This doesn't smell like coffee."
"It's expresso, two times more bitter, twice the amount of caffeine."
His eyes widen before he takes a careful sip.
He wasn't sure what this was, but there was no way coffee was used in it.
One, it tasted like candy.
Liquid candy.
Frothy, creamy, caramel candy.
With a hint of something bitter, mostly in the aftertaste.
"That's bitter?" He asks as he takes another sip.
"By my standards."
"Brah, Isle coffee would kill you." He smacks his lips, "This is a drink, not a sludge."
Cobra's face pulls in disgust, "That, is an abomination."
He sighs as he stares at the mug in his hand, "I don't miss the food." He admits before he takes another sip.
Felt guilty that the others were still having to scavenge for food while he could eat like a king every day, but he didn't miss it.
Cobra glances at him before he nods. His hands tighten around the wheel. "They'll be here soon. 'Til then," He frowns, "The pirates have a ship, correct?"
"Not a working one. It's attached to the dock while Uma's crew works to get it repaired." He frowns, "Not that I'd feel safe with it moving. The barrier might be magic, but things break if you throw stuff at it."
Cobra nods as his eyes narrow in thought.
"You're not acting like anyone else when I talk about the Isle." He eventually breaks the silence after he finishes the cappuccino.
Cobra glances at him, "Thirty years in special ops will do that to you."
"Well, sure, if you weren't reacting." He shrugs.
Cobra's lips thin. "Coffee should never be described as sludge."
He laughs, "Yeah, it didn't taste too good either." He cups the mug between his hands before he continues, "But some people try to not react, or try to look away. Hiro walks out of the room a lot."
"Hiro is a hot head."
"David tilts his head back and stares up until he takes ten slow breaths."
"Even your father, as laid back as he is, has his limits."
"Lilo listens pretty well, and asks questions, but eventually she leaves the room too."
"Lilo is lolo, and a hot head."
"Nani hides her mouth behind anything in her hands."
"To hide her silent cursing."
He snorts.
"But you're not trying to hide it."
"I like to be an open book."
"Oh yeah, I can see that." He rolls his eyes before he watches Cobra drive, "It's easier to talk to you about the Isle though."
"It's hard to empathize without experiencing a level of understanding."
He tilts his head to the side, "David said he was pretty sure you'd be able to understand our situation on a level he might never be able to."
"That's because your father gets me."
"So being Ohana means getting each other?"
"Part of it. Learning to read each other is the only way we've survived each other."
He frowns.
Kind of like him and the others.
Especially him and Harry.
Those first few meetings had been stiff as hell.
Both of them on edge.
But both of them also worried about Deez.
It was a truce that led to a lot more than just a friendship.
"What's the other part?"
Cobra's knuckles whiten around the steering wheel as he glowers at the road, "No one gets left behind, or forgotten."
He drops his eyes to his hands in his lap.
"We'll get them over." Cobra states with unshakable certainty. "The right way… Or-"
His brow furrows as he look up, "Or?"
If the right way was Ben's way.
What could the or be?
Had Cobra and Hiro been plotting?
He was the only other person to say something similar.
Just one word and he'd get them out of Auradon, and would get the others as well.
But the way Hiro said it made it sound illegal.
And as much as he wanted the Isle kids safe, he didn't want to turn them into actual criminals.
"-ohana way." He glances at him. "The rest of the year. That's all they get to sort out this shit."
"Seriously?"
The rest of the year?
It was May.
He'd lost track of days while they were hiding in the room, but he knew it was May.
And they'd come over in January. So like five months ago.
So, seven months then?
"The utmost."
Seven months.
If nothing happened.
If the council continued to stall.
If every chance was blocked.
Seven months.
December.
The tightness in his chest vanishes.
There was an end in sight.
Cobra Bubbles was in special ops.
Hiro was a world leader when it came to tech.
Lilo gave no fucks about how to protect those she cared about.
She'd even threatened to learn magic so she could actually curse people.
And Nani and David?
They were his back bone.
The support he needed to find the better version of himself.
He still wasn't sure what Stitch was, but dude could shoot six alien guns and pick up cars like they were toys.
And the rest of his Ohana that he hadn't met yet?
They all used alien weapons.
And all that power was currently being directed at saving the kids from the Isle.
His friends.
Innocent kids.
Assholes too, but there were already plenty of those in Auradon, so what was a few more.
Harry.
Deez.
T.
He gasps when he realizes he'd stopped breathing.
His eyes were burning, and everything around him was blurry.
His throat was tight.
He was crying.
Hard.
And he didn't care.
They were a weird mix of tears.
Happy and sad.
Painful and cleansing.
Cobra doesn't say a word. He just reaches over and squeezes his shoulder with surprising gentleness for a man his size.
All this because David and Nani were called in to help them.
Because he jumped into counseling, from day one trusting David to keep him together as he fell apart.
Because of Doug falling for Evie and trying to help him and Mal when they were worried and clueless.
Because Roy really wanted friends.
Because of Deez and her letters.
Because Ben cared enough to read them.
One of the world's most powerful families-
His powerful family-
Was willing to do whatever it took to save the Isle kids.
Because ohana means family, and family means no one gets left behind.
Or forgotten.
So many feelz of varying range in this one.
The end tho, that shit hit me in the gut.
Fucking Dark.
Cobra adding Progress not Perfection to his rulez was priceless tho, and I seriously couldn't stop myself. It's just, I mean, it's a good philosophy I picked up from one of my many, many counselors, so I just thought it made sense Cobra would like it.
This scene was a blast to write, and I'm not sure why I love giving Cobra so many odd quirks but man if I'm not fucking loving it. That, and Dark isn't stopping me. I fucking love writing him so much more than I thought I was going to.
Like, sooo much more.
I guess I just really love writing counselors. Who knew? I certainly didn't.
And Jay in this chapter? Dark did such an amazing job with getting his shit on lock, even if Jay's shit is fucking far from locked.
Kid'z definitely all over the place in this one, but can you blame him? The last few weeks have been a whirlwind for him and his pack.
As Beta, which come on LoLz, it's his job to make sure the pack stays safe.
How the fuck were they supposed to guess it was going to be just as hard in Auradon as it was on the Isle?
Deez is going to be so disappointed.
Cobra's car is dope tho, ain't it?
Real secret agent man shit.
Anyone surprised by his love of cappuccinos?
Or how well Jay has adapted to him?
LoLz Cobra's reaction to Isle coffee.
Which thanks for that description Cruz.
Godz those books put so much in this world which, funny/concerning on the surface just gets worse with every layer you peel back.
7 months.
Think the kids on the Isle can handle that?
Survive that?
I mean, I don't know bout ya'll but I'm worried AF about the Sea Fam and the others that were left under their care.
Shit went down in Cracks in the Mask and so far in Defending the Mask.
You guys prepped for Burden of the Mask?
Cause, yeah, hopefully that sounds as foreboding as it's going to be.
Fave Quote:
"Very." Cobra nods. "You can sit in it, you know."
"I did not." He bites his lip as he stares at the perfect and spotless interior.
He had not even fathomed.
-Jay
Ha! This one was definitely fucking Dark.
I'm not a complete asshole… I just like my LoLz not feelz. And this shit had me snorting like an idiot.
(AAAAHHHHH, I made it into the Twisted hall of fame. And it only took me 66 chapters. -Dark)
What was yours?
Much love and shit,
-Twisted