Chapter 14 – Keep it Cool, Keep it Casual

-:-:-

They seemed to have blurred the lines in the wake of Chad's support for Aziz and the pirates' casual relations. It seemed like that combined with polyamory created a definite shift in their friend group, until it got to the point that anytime Dizzy wasn't with them – the young Tremaine usually sleeping over with Lonnie or keeping Fairy Godmother company at her cottage – things got a bit more… heated.

"Here's the deal," Uma said when Harry and Aziz had been casually making out with each other for the past ten minutes. "Some of us – not naming any names – like to put on a show. And I'm thinking – just based on observation – that this would be a show we'd all enjoy."

"Get to the point, Uma," Mal said from her perch in Jay's lap, something she seemed to be doing more frequently, which took Chad by surprise, but hey, what was a little cuddling between friends?

Uma rolled her eyes. "My point is that we're all good-looking people who trust each other and seem to have a healthy appreciation for sex, and I don't know about you guys, but I wanna see Harry jerk Aziz off. Anyone have a problem with that?"

"It is okay if you do," Chad spoke up, because he knew how intimidating it could be to go up against the raging force that was Uma. "Just like it's okay if you want to watch. But um- if you don't, we can always just hang out in the study or something."

Ben tensed beside him. "Do you not want to watch?"

Chad felt himself flush dark. "I'd be both honored and um- enjoy watching," he said. "But I also don't want anyone to feel pressured or anything."

"I wouldn't feel pressured," Jane spoke up, her loose curls now halfway down her back and bringing on a deluge of confidence that grew every day. "You're worried about me, Doug, and Carlos, right?"

"Yeah," Chad admitted.

"Then we're good," Carlos said, curled around Doug's back, like he was using the dwarf kin as a sort of pillow.

"Okay," Chad said, looking to see if anyone else had reservations. No one seemed to. "Well, I think before we get started, it's important for us to hash out some rules." Mal let out a dramatic groan, but Chad didn't allow that to deter him. "We only have to do it once, but I think it's better to have an outline in place so we know we're proceeding in a manner that leaves everyone comfortable."

"Which is very thoughtful of you," Evie said, reaching over to give his bicep a few pats. "What did you have in mind?"

"Well, I think it's important for the participants to have a codeword, I guess, for um- if they want people to stop watching," Chad said. "Because sometimes this stuff can get overwhelming and personal, or it might not go how they expect, so they should have the option for privacy. And since this is casual stuff between friends, I think it's also very important to check in with your partner."

"Like the red light, green light system?" Aziz asked, flushing under their combined gazes. "Red means stop, green means go, yellow means slow down – it's just more codewords."

"I like this," Mal declared, her gaze thoughtful.

"Lastly, and um- I know this goes without saying, but I thought it would be better just to say it for the sake of clarity," Chad pushed on. "But anything that happens in here stays here."

"Obviously," Uma scoffed, but her smirk was tinged with approval. "For the record, we're not the only ones who can party here, you guys can do what you want as well."

"Assuming you are comfortable with it," Chad added. "And if you ever need to retreat or something, my study or the spare bedroom are always available for you."

"Is that everything?" Mal asked. "Because I want to see Aziz's dick in Harry's hand."

"And I want to get Carlos in Doug's lap," Jane added, making more than one person (including Carlos) startle.

"Just one more thing, but it's not pressing," Chad said, knowing he'd already thrown the word 'lastly' around, but this was important. "I think when we're done, it's important for everyone to um- review everything that happened. Talk about what you liked, what you didn't, what we could do better in the future. Which I'm sure we'll end up doing anyway, but I wanted to go ahead and state that much for the record." He tugged at the edge of his knit cap. "Does that work for everyone?"

"I think that's fair," Doug said, his smile fond while everyone echoed their agreement.

Alright then, looked like they were proceeding as responsibility as they possibly could.

"Yeah, that's everything," Chad said, and they all paused a moment before Harry shoved Aziz back into Gil's lap, making a show of opening up his pants while Aziz moaned brokenly.

Who'd have thought that the prince of Agrabah would have had an exhibitionist kink in him, but then again, Chad also hadn't foreseen Carlos writhing in Doug's lap, Jane very much dominating him and Doug both, biting at their shoulders and working Carlos' small, wet length in inexperienced but determined motions.

"Get it, Jane!" Mal catcalled, fanning herself while Jay teased between her legs, a light flush on his cheeks.

Okay, so this was- there was no need to panic. This was just friend stuff, there was no need to worry about solid relationships being permanently sabotaged. Doug would find his way to Evie eventually. Jay and Mal were bros, so this was- what they were doing was fine. It was all good.

Beside Chad, Ben let out a low rumble, and when Chad pulled his attention away from the others, his pupils were dilated.

"Are you okay?" Chad asked, watching as Ben's breaths started to come in rough pants.

"Sorry," Ben rasped, biting at his bottom lip. "The um- the smell…"

Chad looked down, and probably should have been less surprised that Ben was worked up. "I can give you a blowjob, if you want. Or we could go back to my room."

"I wanna taste you," Ben hissed, pinning Chad with a narrowed gaze while the blond shuddered.

Chad swallowed hard before shifting closer so he could whisper into Ben's ear in French. "I don't think they'd want to see that."

"What matters is if you'd want to show it," Ben countered. "I can say without a doubt that they most certainly want to see it."

Chad sighed, tugging nervously at Jay's knitted cap. "That's just 'cuz-"

"You're really sweet and really cute, and I want to taste you," Ben rumbled. "Taste and remind them they can't have you."

At that, Chad couldn't help but huff out a laugh. "Eventually, you're going to date someone you actually love, Ben. I can't be your safety net forever."

A rumble, and then Chad found himself splayed out on the couch, blinking as Ben nuzzled at his groin.

"Please may I suck you?" he asked. "I can take you to the bedroom-"

"It's fine, Ben," Chad decided, carding a hand through Ben's wild locks. He sort of wanted to watch the others anyway. Jay had worked a proper hand into Mal's pants now, and the expressions she was making were really pretty. "Just don't push my pants and underwear down."

"Okay," Ben growled before eagerly opening up Chad's pants, mouthing at him through the soft fabric of his underwear.

"Hey princess," Uma drawled, the captain sprawled comfortably next to Evie as they watched Harry really rock Aziz's world while Gil kissed up his neck. "You interested in a little pirate action?"

"Depends on the action," Evie hummed, a light flush dusting her cheeks.

"I'm thinking I shove a hand in your pants so we can give Jay and Mal a proper show," Uma declared, prompting a strangled noise from Mal. "That sound good to you?"

"That's um- agreeable," Evie said, and Chad never in a hundred years would have imagined the sight of Evie pulled into Uma's lap, the princess's legs pushed wide after Uma made a show of sliding off her panties, tossing them casually to the side before reaching up under her skirt and doing something that made Evie shudder in her grasp.

"Mercy," Jay said, his gaze seeming torn between them and Ben as he eagerly swallowed Chad down.

"Yeah," Mal gasped, her hips rocking eagerly into his hand. "We just found a better way to spend our evenings."

-:-:-

So orgies became a regular thing, Chad guessed.

Well, they weren't really orgies, more like friends doing intimate acts together in the same general vicinity, but it sort of felt like orgies. It granted Chad access to the vulnerable sides of his friends he'd never expected to see, and he felt a little guilty about that for like, five seconds until Uma set him straight with a knowing look.

"We gave you permission," she said, lightly smacking the back of his knitted cap. "Get past your Sardinia repression and appreciate us for five fucking minutes."

"Sorry," Chad said, blushing furiously, and she only let out another sigh before nudging him into Ben's arms.

It turned out, Ben really got worked up when watching other people be intimate, which almost always ended with him doting on Chad, seeming unable to help himself. He seemed to prefer that level of control rather than allowing Chad to pleasure him, which the blond had worried about until the third consecutive instance of Ben falling apart in his pants just from seeing to Chad's needs.

So he seemed to be getting something out of it as well, Chad guessed.

"Yes," Mal cheered the night Jay finally boxed Harry against the couch, the first mate snarling up a storm until Jay had his hand wrapped around his length, pumping the flushed member up and down in teasing shifts until Harry was whining hopelessly in his clutches.

"Yep," Uma agreed, plopping down beside Mal before she pulled the half-Fae into her lap. "We've got some good-looking boys."

"Who have some good-looking leaders," Mal giggled, flush darkening when Uma eased a hand into her pants, coaxing out moans of her own not long after.

It was difficult to decide where to look, because Aziz was making out with Gil and Evie was sucking a mark onto the curve of Carlos' neck and Jane and Doug were trading shy kisses and it was all so distinctly weird but Chad guessed that just sort of worked for them.

And then there were days where not everyone could make it, which normally wouldn't be a problem but Jane and Carlos were missing which meant Doug was hovering on the outskirts all on his lonesome.

"What is it?" Ben breathed against the curve of Chad's neck. "What's wrong?"

"Doug," Chad whispered. "He's alone today."

Ben paused, then let out a low grumble. "Uma will take care of it."

"Ben," Chad huffed. "Can't we just… you know?"

"What?" Ben asked. "Help him?"

Chad felt himself blush, because maybe he'd thought of kissing Doug a little bit when they were younger – with a natural, healthy curiosity. He never thought anything would come of it, but Doug was his bro, and he didn't want him to feel left out.

Ben let out a low rumble, then promptly got up, stalking over to where Doug was awkwardly watching from the outskirts of the make out session.

"Ben?" Doug asked, shifting into a small yelp when the brunette literally swept him off his feet. "What are you- Ben."

"Chad wants to help you feel good," Ben hummed as he settled Doug between the V of Chad's legs, letting him recline back against Chad's chest. "If you want it."

"Guys," Doug whined, shifting as though that could hide the telling interest between his legs. "Maybe it's um- better if we didn't."

"That's fair," Chad hummed, wrapping an arm around his waist. "But you shouldn't have to watch by yourself. We can cuddle."

"Right," Ben growled, flopping down so that he was mostly sprawled across Doug's legs, staring at his groin. "Cuddle."

Chad sighed. "Ben."

"He smells good," Ben rumbled, petting Doug's thigh. "I won't touch if he doesn't want it."

"Shit," Doug hissed, his hips rutting up almost reflexively. "Um- I mean, if you don't mind-" He gasped when Ben all but tore open his pants, the brunette wasting no time shoving his underwear down so he could get his mouth around Doug's twitching flesh. "Ben!"

"He likes to dote," Chad informed him, pressing a kiss to Doug's shoulder as Ben continued to lavish on him.

Across the room, Mal looked up from where she was mouthing between Evie's legs and let out a low whistle. "Hot damn, Benjamin. Didn't think you had it in you."

"Can the rest of us get blowjobs from Ben?" Jay asked from where he was pinned under Uma. "Asking as an idle curiosity, is all."

"You'd um, have to ask him later," Chad said, happy to run a hand through Doug's hair while Ben continued to rock his world.

Ben didn't stop until he had milked Doug of all he had to offer, swiping his tongue over oversensitive flesh while Doug shuddered in Chad's hold. "Ben… Ben."

"Don't get greedy, beast," Mal tutted, poking Ben's forehead until the prince pulled off with a low growl. "The rest of us want a shot at Doug too."

Doug let out a small whine. "You don't mean…"

"Buddy boy," Mal said, a smirk pulling at her lips. "If you think Carlos and Jane have been quiet about your dwarven stamina, you are damn wrong."

"Oh, me next, Mal," Jay panted, half-naked and mostly dazed. "Could I suck him off, please?"

"Well," Mal hummed, making a show of thinking this over despite having already made her decision because she never could say no to her crewmates. "I suppose you've been good."

"Thank you," Jay rumbled, then he was crawling onto the couch, pushing Ben out of position with a lazy grin before he started lapping at Doug's length which, sure enough, started to get hard again.

"Jay," Doug panted, the musician biting at this bottom lip, shuddering in Chad's hold. "Jay."

"Just like this, baby," Mal urged, coaxing one of Doug's hands onto the top of Jay's head, and they all just sort of watched as Doug was worked over a second time, and then a third, when Harry insisted on showing them all how it was done.

It ended with Doug having to stay the night, he was so exhausted, but Uma was more than willing to help him take a bath that might have turned into more sexy times, the half-merpson taking advantage of Chad's large bathtub and transforming into her squidmaid form so she could tease Doug clean with her tentacles.

Chad didn't know about that later of course, hearing it from Mal who had stuck around to watch.

"That was fucking hot, Uma," she said as the two of tucked a mostly unconscious Doug into Ben and Chad's bed. "Can we all take a ride on your tentacles at some point?"

"Get me in an ocean and I'll really show you what I can do," Uma bragged.

The next weekend, Ben arranged for them to stay over at Auradon Castle – organizing a lot of Mrs. Potts and Dizzy time so they could make those wishes come true. Chad hadn't realized that was the intention until Ben was leading them down to a private cove that Jay and Mal worked together to test out privacy charms for, and then they all sat back and watched Uma really stretch her tentacles in the clear, sunny waters, so to speak.

"Alright, my lovelies," she said, her hair seeming to glimmer with magic. "I think I'm going to start with my boys, but then the rest of you can take turns, if you like."

"We definitely like!" Mal called before they teased Gil and Harry out of their swimsuits, catcalling them all the way into the water until Uma greeted them with enthusiastic tentacles.

The end result seemed very… pretty, Chad determined. Gil and Harry pressed tightly together as they moaned their appreciation, Uma making a show of parting Harry's cheeks and rubbing the puckered side of one of the appendages between that sensitive area until he let out pitiful croaks that left him falling apart rather beautifully against Gil, who followed not long after.

Of course Mal and Jay followed next, the two of them forever relentless, and Chad spent half that time covering his eyes because he'd never even imagined Mal naked before and now that was a thing he could see and he didn't feel worthy of it, and it was kind of embarrassing to watch Uma grind a tentacle between her legs while she jerked Jay off on her other side, but it was also very pretty so the end result was definitely conflicting.

"Light, Chad," Aziz muttered, ducking his head bashfully as he watched Uma finish the other two off. "Have you never seen a naked girl before?"

"Audrey didn't like it when I touched her," Chad replied honestly, making Ben growl all over again.

"Audrey was a fucking idiot," Ben rumbled before dragging Chad into his lap.

"You're allowed to look," Evie said, her voice kind as she undid her swimsuit wrap, her delicate fingers folding it into a neat square before she tucked it into the bag Chad had made for her. "Mal would have kept her suit on if she hadn't wanted to share this."

"It's just- it feels different," Chad admitted, staring at the sand. "I have the same stuff as the guys, but you ladies are… I dunno, it's like you deserve better than me being all weird and gross and ogling you."

"Is that what Audrey called it?" Evie asked when it seemed like Ben was going to growl again.

Chad tensed, but eventually nodded. "Yeah," he admitted. "I didn't mean to stare at her, she was just- she was really pretty, and I didn't mean to embarrass her."

"Chad," Ben rumbled, burying his mouth in the curve of Chad's neck. "You're allowed to stare at your partner. You're allowed to appreciate how they look. You're allowed to have normal teenage reactions, and you shouldn't feel bad about it, especially since we all know you would never have been intentionally obvious or gross about it."

"Audrey wasn't a supportive partner for you," Evie said. "It's natural to appreciate your partner's looks, that's part of what drew you to them. Half the human experience is aesthetics, and that she actively shamed you for that… I mean, did she ever ogle you?"

"Sometimes," Chad said, shifting uneasily. "When she was really low, I mean. She didn't like me to touch her, but sometimes she'd touch me to like, remind people we were together."

Chad hadn't minded getting his butt squeezed in public or having Audrey tuck a hand up under his shirt to stroke his stomach because he'd been pleased to get any attention from her, but in hindsight, he knew it was kind of pathetic.

"Okay, that is what we call an unbalanced relationship," Evie said, and despite her having grown up on the Isle, Chad didn't doubt that her information was correct because she spent so much time reading whatever books she could get her hands on, reading articles and watching TED talks and acquiring every piece of knowledge she could. "Audrey liked being in control, but she didn't treat you as an equal. She didn't see your needs as important as her own, so instead of working together to hold both of you up, she pushed you down to elevate herself. It wasn't healthy, and you shouldn't hold onto any of the stuff she conditioned into you."

"So, long story short," Jane spoke up, because at some point they'd sort of all drawn together – even Harry and Gil paying half attention from their spots nakedly sprawled across their giant beach towels. "You should not feel gross for appreciating the female form – especially our forms, because the only reason we're here and doing this is because we all trust and support each other."

"And you already gave us the tools we needed to pull back if that was something we desired," Evie pointed out. "So please, don't feel bad about this. We all find each other sexy – that's a thing to be celebrated, not something to feel guilty over."

"I… okay," Chad said, nodding his head slowly. "Okay, um- that's… those are accurate points." He twisted his hands together nervously. "Sorry for being such a downer."

"You don't have to apologize for having trauma," Carlos spoke up quietly. "We all have our baggage. It's nothing worth judging people over, and if we don't have to apologize for it, you don't either."

"Now, I think they're about to come back," Evie said, looking out onto the water where Mal and Jay were trading lazy kisses, Uma grinning like a loon behind them. "So I think I'm going to go out there." She started sliding out of her one piece – Carlos and Jane cheering all the way, a light flush building up on her cheeks. "You have my full permission to watch, Chad," she said, giving him a gentle smile as her swimsuit bunched around her waist, leaving her topless.

"Damn, Evie," Carlos said, his cheeks painted in a dark flush. "You look amazing."

"Thank you," Evie said, puffing up with pride as she pulled her shoulders back. "I know."

"Yeah, you do," a bedraggled Mal said as she hobbled out of the water, melting into Jay's side. "Fuck whatever your mom said to you – she's a jealous piece of shit."

"You are perfect, Evie," Jay said, and Chad realized that he really wasn't the only one with baggage. Which – duh, obviously, it was just different seeing it like this, to intellectually have some idea of the body image issues Queen Grimhilde had forced upon Evie versus seeing her actively overcome them, rising into the confident, dignified princess he knew her to be.

"Thanks, you guys," Evie said as she pushed her swimsuit the rest of the way down, stepping out of it to their cheers and hollers. "Aziz, would you like to join me?"

The Agraben prince flushed dark, seeming to have the same issues as Chad when it came to respecting a ladies' privacy, and actively startling when he was addressed. "I'd be honored."

"You'll probably need to get rid of these, then," Carlos hummed before deftly yanking Aziz's swim trunks down his legs, revealing a hard length that immediately bobbed against his stomach.

"Looking good, slick," Jay slurred before he and Mal collapsed next to Gil and Harry.

"Go get 'em, tiger," Mal offered with a weak pump of her fist before Evie was dragging Aziz into the warm water, Uma waiting for them with a brilliant smile.

That time, Chad gave into temptation and allowed himself to watch them from the comfort of Ben's arms, and while he still felt the tiniest bit guilty seeing Evie in such a vulnerable state, a greater part of him felt honored by her trust.

"Those tentacles are no joke," Mal groaned as they watched the exchange. "You interested in taking a ride, pup?"

"Not yet," Carlos admitted, ducking his head lightly. "Do you think she'll mind?"

"Everyone goes at their own speed," Chad said. "This might be something you're never ready for, and that's okay."

Mal quirked a brow at him, still very much naked, though it was less distracting now. "You going to take those tentacles for a spin?"

"Um- no," Chad said, feeling embarrassed. "No, I don't think I'm ready for that either, yet." He tilted his head back to look at Ben. "Do you wanna give it a try?"

Ben tensed, seeming surprised by the question, as though Chad couldn't feel the distinct hardness rutting up into his rear. "You wouldn't mind?"

"Not at all," Chad assured, giving him a gentle smile. "Uma's our friend. If you want to share this with her, I support you."

"You're too good to me," Ben rumbled into the curve of Chad's neck, giving him a few contented nuzzles. "I think I'd like to um- try it."

"Me too," Jane said, making Doug blink in surprise. "But I'm going to keep my swimsuit on, if that's okay."

"It very much is," Chad assured her. "Your body, your rules."

"Could I come with you guys?" Doug asked. "I'll keep my swim trunks on too, I think."

"Sure, Doug," Ben said, and it seemed to time out well because Aziz and Evie found their releases with pointed gasps, their backs arching and expressions melting into twin looks of dopey pleasure.

Chad offered Ben a careful kiss before he eased himself out of the brunette's lap, waving him on with Jane and Doug as they made their way into the water, passing an exhausted Aziz and Evie that wasted no time collapsing against the others rather than taking up beach towels of their own.

It left Chad and Carlos waiting awkwardly, so after a beat, Chad motioned for Carlos to sit in his lap, one hand awkwardly tugging his knitted cap low in a nervous tell.

A blink, and then Carlos scrambled to appease him, seeming slightly graceless about the thing before he eventually melted into Chad's chest.

"Thanks," the young Deville said, a light flush claiming the bridge of his nose. "I noticed you don't always um- get aroused like we do."

Chad tensed, but he supposed that was a fair enough observation. "I kind of have to be in the right mindset," he said. "It's not that you guys aren't very pretty to look at, because you are, but I'm used to holding myself back, so…"

He shrugged, because there really was no way to explain that he could stay calm and cool when an orgy was happening around him but still get rock hard after sharing a bath with Ben for three seconds.

He shifted, eying the bulge growing against the groin of Carlos' swimsuit. "That doesn't mean I don't want to help you out," he said. "May I?"

"May- you?" Carlos sputtered, eyes going wide. "You don't have to."

"I wouldn't have offered if I didn't want to," Chad said. "But if you'd rather wait for one of the others, or even just take care of it yourself-"

"He wants your hand down his pants," Mal called from the pile of naked bodies. "Trust me on that one, we've all heard about it."

"Mal," Carlos hissed, blushing furiously, but Chad only laughed.

"It's okay, Carlos," Chad assured. "I'm honored."

Did Chad ever imagine giving Carlos a handjob? No, but he'd already done it with Ben enough times that it was easy to translate such a thing, easy to work his hand into the confines of Carlos' clothing and work him up and down until he was a throbbing mess.

"Oh, Chad," Carlos panted into the curve of his neck. "Chad. Chad. Ben's going to kill me."

"If anything, Ben's going to lick you clean," Chad hummed as he got to work satisfying Carlos.

Turned out he was right too, because no sooner did Ben stumble out of the water than he immediately crawled between Carlos' legs, pushing his swim trunks down and eagerly licking him clean until he was a whining mess.

"Ah, yes," Uma said as she strolled out of the water, both arms hooked around Jane and Doug's waists. "That's a lovely sight to come back to."

"Light," Carlos croaked before he fell apart again, Ben letting out a happy hum as he eagerly drank down all he had to offer.

-:-:-

That evening somehow led to all of them collapsing in Ben's large bed, though for once the brunette wasn't territorial about it, seeming eager to welcome them in so long as he was the one curling around Chad's back.

That happened a lot now, sharing their bed. At least, it seemed to happen more often after they'd let Doug stay over. That seemed to release the floodgates for the others, because then it was like they took turns invading Ben's suite, visiting in pairs or individually. Most of the time they seemed to only be present for cuddles and platonic affection, but there were times when Ben's early morning hunger had things growing into something else.

It was how Chad got a look at Harry's length up close when Ben pinned him against the bed and ravished him senseless, or how Carlos looked writhing face down on their sheets as Ben kissed down his back, tugging Carlos' clothes down and parting his cheeks so he could eagerly lap at his entrance because that was apparently a sex thing Chad hadn't known about, but if Carlos' response was anything to go off of, it was a pretty great sex thing indeed.

"Sorry," Ben would try to apologize later, but Chad always waved him off because this was their way of friendly bonding in this world, and who was Chad to judge it? Besides, for every one sexy occurrence there were like, fifteen platonic ones, and Chad loved those just as much.

"Benjamin," Uma would drawl when she had stayed over with them, quirking a brow at Ben until he was crawling between her legs, nuzzling her groin hopefully. "That's what I'm fucking talking about."

Chad didn't always engage, but he did like to watch, and they let him, so overall it was pretty nice. Weird, but nice.

And definitely not something they needed to think too hard about.

-:-:-

Endnotes:

We came here for sexy times and accidentally stumbled headfirst into trauma, whoops. Classic Paisley.

Until next time :)