Chapter 29 – Beauty and the Beast

-:-:-

They spent a weekend in Agrabah and it was a bit like coming home, at least when talking to Sultana Jasmine. Even if Chad didn't have the same work experience with her coordinating on the emergency reforms, she was still Aziz's mom – still super cool and level-headed, and it was nice to see her welcome each of the others into their family – temporary as it might be. Nice enough that Chad forgot she was also going to make an effort to make him feel welcome until it was happening.

"He was lost," she said, the two of them sitting side-by-side as Lord Consort Aladdin ran the others through a slideshow of 'Aziz's greatest hits', the prince blushing furiously the entire time. "And you found him. You didn't think twice of inviting him home."

"Aziz is a good guy," Chad said, shifting uneasily. "He deserves good things, and even if I wasn't the best suited for the job, I wanted to try. For him."

The queen's lips quirked up in a smirk. "One might argue you were the most suited."

On that, they agreed to disagree.

Things with Ben and Mal were… well, they were.

Uma was a force of nature and demanded the six of them be allowed time to settle on their own before the king and his future queen were allowed to make moves on them, starting with dates that involved all of them. They were easy things – like a picnic under the stars on the Auradon Castle Lawn or bowling, which had almost brought Chad to tears until Jay stealthily magiced the fire alarm to activate and everyone had to evacuate the building.

"Sorry," Chad murmured into his shoulder, Ben and Uma managing the press while the rest of them strategically hid from view.

"No apologies necessary," Jay murmured into his curls. "From now on – no more bowling. Do you want my hat? Here-" He took off his cap and slid it atop Chad's head, something he'd come to discover helped calm the blond. Just- he'd gotten used to wearing it in the other world, was all, it was comforting. "Have my hat."

"Thanks, Jay," Chad whispered, curling in close to him.

As crummy as the afternoon had been for Chad, Ben and Mal had seemed to learn from it.

"I want to apologize for our last outing," Mal explained when they – no shit – reconvened for a date planning meeting. "Our goal was to do unintimidating things that seemed fun or benign, but we didn't take into account your personal preferences. So, from now on, no more surprises. We want to take you on good dates, so…" She slid each of them a form. "Ben came up with these for you guys. Just fill them out, and then we can bond in a way that is most desirable for you."

Chad just stared at the piece of paper. "You're not mad?"

"At myself, maybe," Mal allowed. "At you though? Nope. Fuck Chad, I don't know your past. For all that I know, you had some kind of traumatic accident in a bowling alley – or even if you didn't, you deserve the right to pass on a location that might make you uncomfortable, so these will ensure we do that."

"Nice thought, Poser," Uma said, her lips quirking up in a smirk, and with that, the lot of them set to filling out their dating paperwork.

And that was how they came to have nice dates in locations with guaranteed security and privacy – locations that didn't remind the others of the dark alleys of the Isle or were any place that had been visited with Lonnie. Uma also made Chad write down his usual haunts for his dates with Audrey as things to be avoided, which Ben had actually piled onto, offering him a gentle smile that seemed less and less heart wrenching.

They started visiting the apartment more, deciding to meet them on their turf despite the fact that Ben had an entire castle at his disposal. They didn't seem to mind the commute – if anything they appeared to like the distinct separation from duty it provided for them, and while Chad was wary about sharing his space with the two of them…

Well, things seemed to be going okay. That was good enough for Chad.

-:-:-

Because of his commitment to give Ben and Mal an honest shot, Chad tried to throw himself as aggressively into his normal routine as he had before, trying to give their newest suitors the same consideration he would have allotted his current partners. As such, Chad didn't think much of tailoring dinner to a selection of Ben's favorite comfort foods when Cogsworth had alluded to the king having a difficult day during one of their planning meetings. It was something he would have done for any of the others, and Chad could always feign hearing about this stuff from Evie.

Besides, it proved to be a lovely distraction as he made a quick detour to pick up the specialty cheeses required for the meal along with a few other ingredients. He got some fresh air and a nice, semi-complicated project to occupy his time, so he thought nothing of melting chocolate for Ben's favorite dessert or grating cheese or peeling potatoes. He established a fair rhythm, same as he always did, and greeted the others as they gradually strolled through the door, each of them pausing to give him a hug or a kiss before they went to change into their respective comfy clothes.

Uma made an immediate beeline for the pool after distracting Chad with a mini ravishment, further proving that Ben's hectic day had likely spread to her as well, and Gil and Harry had joined her after they had changed into proper lounging clothes. Jay and Aziz were out with Mal, the latter recruiting Jay's help to get the Agraben prince more at ease around her, which meant Chad was alone in the kitchen when Ben finally stumbled his way into the penthouse, looking distinctly worn around the edges.

"Hey, Ben," Chad greeted, nice and normal and not avoiding the other royal's eye contact because he was busy working on his truffle butter bechamel and that required a lot of attention. "You got here just in time; dinner's almost ready. It should be done by the time you get changed."

He caught Ben freeze in his peripherals, the king still adjusting to the fact that Chad was the regular chef in his relationship. "Is that aligot?"

Oh, he was just thrown by the scent of one of his favorite foods.

"Yep." Chad motioned towards the pot that held the silky cheese and potato mixture, the two blended until they were a perfect, seamless concoction. "Evie said you had a rough day, so I thought I'd make some of your favorites."

"Is that stuff for Croque-Monsieurs?" Ben asked, looking over the array of ingredients Chad had splayed across the counter, gaze fixating on the thick slices of homemade bread Chad had at the ready.

"With sautéed mushrooms," Chad agreed. "And a truffle butter bechamel; Mrs. Potts sent me the recipe."

Ben just sort of stood there, and Chad tried not to get distracted by that, tried to keep calm and cool because this wasn't a big deal.

"There's chocolate mousse for dessert," he said in a desperate bid to fill the silence that had claimed them. "Also Mrs. Potts' recipe. I thought she would be a lot more protective of it, but she said as long as I don't share it, she was totally fine with-"

Chad blinked when Ben reached over and turned off the stove – which was fine, Chad had just finished the sauce anyway but Ben didn't know that, but when Chad tried to explain this much he found himself pressed against the broad expanse of the fridge, Ben staring down at him with an unreadable expression, his cheeks tinged in a dark flush.

"You know my favorite foods?" Ben asked, because he might have indulged the occasional fluff piece interview, but during those he always had to give answers that were considered more regal. He couldn't admit to liking cheese and potatoes, as though such a combination would make him seem common.

"Our countries have the same foods," Chad said. "So I actually knew what you were talking about when we made those presentations in junior high."

"That was years ago," Ben said, and Chad fidgeted, because it wasn't like he could admit to making Ben's comfort foods with an alternate version of him, so this was the best explanation he had.

"Um." Chad chewed on his bottom lip. "I have a good memory?"

He looked up at Ben with hopeful eyes, pleading to the fates that the king would buy this excuse, and Chad supposed in a way he did, because in the next moment, he was kissing Chad.

In a way it felt like coming home, because it was Ben. And maybe it was a bit awkward – like how Other Ben had been in the beginning – but that didn't stop Chad from being receptive to it, immediately melting in Ben's hold and clinging to him because Ben was- Ben wanted- and he'd tried to fight it, to hold back, but he couldn't. He loved Ben in every form he could get him, and the king had been so reserved in his affections with the others, acting so proper-

Ben let out a familiar rumble that left Chad shivering, had him aching for more and blinking when the king pulled back with a dark flush.

"I'm sorry," Ben muttered, seeming embarrassed. "I'm sorry, I um- I don't usually do that. I'll just-"

"Ben," Chad said, and he'd come too far now, he was too lost, so he tucked a hand behind Ben's head and dragged the king forward until his lips were buried in the crook of his neck. "Do that again."

There was a pause, and then Ben let loose a tentative rumble, making Chad gasp as his body filled with familiar tendrils of warmth.

Oh, he wanted this. He wanted- he'd missed this.

Spurred by his response, Ben did it again, louder this time, and seemed to savor the way Chad shuddered underneath him, the blond clinging to him so that their bodies were pressed together. There was no way Ben missed the growing hardness between Chad's legs, the blond eagerly rutting against his thigh the way they used to, except this was their first time, really.

"You smell good," Ben purred, his cheeks flushing with the admittance as he nuzzled Chad's shoulder. "Feel good. Chad-"

"Don't hold back," Chad gasped, because he had a feeling that was what Ben was doing, the king trying to dedicate himself entirely to his human side, shoving his beast to the back of his mind. "You can- whatever you need, Ben."

"Need you," Ben rumbled, dropping to his knees in an easy motion before he dragged Chad's sweatpants down, mouthing at his groin in determined, fumbling movements. "You taste so good. I want- you're so-"

"Ben," Chad moaned as his underwear was dragged down too, and maybe he should be embarrassed to be this vulnerable in the kitchen, but mostly he was warm by Ben's attentions, the king letting out small whimpers as stared at Chad's groin, literally licking his lips before he started lapping at sensitive flesh.

Ben loosed a new rumble every time Chad pulsed, new beads of slick spilling out of him that Ben happily drank up. Eventually, the king worked the tip of Chad's length into his mouth, and he spent a lot of time swirling and doting upon that sensitive flesh until he seemed to need more, and then he was doing his damnedest to work as much of Chad into his mouth as possible. All the while, he kept rumbling, vibrations that sent direct strings of want to Chad's core that made his thighs shake, and this was Ben- Ben on his knees, Ben between his legs, and Chad wasn't his only friend, Ben could have anyone he wanted and yet he was right here.

"Ben," Chad panted, his hand curling loosely through Ben's hair as he stared, entranced at the sight of Ben's mouth stretched around him, the king seeming utterly content to lavish on Chad, drinking down all the had to offer until his length gave a distinct twitch of warning. "Ben, I'm gonna-"

Ben bobbed his head, hollowing his cheeks in a firm suck before his gaze drifted up towards Chad, half-lidded and sultry, the only warning he got before Ben fondled his sack, gave another pointed suck that left Chad falling to pieces in his mouth.

He guided Chad entirely through his release, leaving the blond panting helplessly until he had nothing left to give, Ben loosing another deep rumble that made Chad twitch with the promise of renewed interest, because apparently that was what Ben did to him.

The king didn't seem to miss this, pulling off Chad in a quick motion before looking up at him with something akin to wonder. "I um- I need- can I take you to the bedroom?"

"Of course," Chad said, because he couldn't deny Ben much of anything, and he must have let out a squawk because Ben discarded his pants and underwear and bodily carried Chad half naked through the apartment, bypassing the master bedroom so he could take Chad to the room that had been designated his and Mal's space.

The king wasted no time kissing up Chad's stomach, rucking his shirt up before pulling it off of him entirely, then sitting back to rake his gaze over Chad's form. The blond swallowed, his gaze inadvertently shifting to Ben's groin and flushing when he realized the king was only half hard.

Ben followed his gaze and shifted awkwardly, hesitating for a moment before he started stripping out of his own clothes. "I um- lost it pleasuring you," he explained and that was- yes, he'd made a mess in his underwear akin to Harry, whom they all loved teasing into such a soiled state, only this was Ben, and Chad hadn't even touched him.

Ben straightened with a flush, undeterred by the clumps of slick clinging to his groin before he moved to box Chad against the bed, letting out another low rumble.

Chad moaned again, felt his legs spread wide, and knew his length twitched with appreciative tendrils of want.

"You like that?" Ben asked, seeming pleased by this.

"Yes," Chad said, letting one of his hands card through the king's hair. "Please, don't hold back. I want you. All of you."

Ben and his beast, because they were one, and Ben didn't seem to miss his implication, the king letting out a dark growl.

"I was afraid of breaking you," Ben rumbled into his throat, making Chad moan again as Ben's hands aimlessly traced his body. "Afraid of breaking anyone. I can't lose control, I could hurt-"

"You won't hurt me," Chad interrupted, making Ben shiver in turn. "You're in control, Ben. Stop treating your beast like a separate entity. It's part of you, embrace it."

Ben let out a deep growl that seemed to resonate in his chest, making Chad arch up against him with a hopeful whine.

"I need you," Ben repeated, sucking at the curve of Chad's neck, alternating between bites and nips. "Mate, I need-"

"I'm here," Chad panted, lips parting wide when Ben started rutting them together. "I'm here, I'm not going anywhere."

"Lovely," Ben purred, pupils dilated, but Chad wasn't scared. Other Ben had gotten like this too, had gotten intense, but he'd never hurt Chad. Even though they didn't have the same bond here, Chad knew this Ben wouldn't hurt him either. "You smell so good, feel so good. Chad-"

"Ben," Chad gasped, and then the king was rumbling against his mouth, pulling him into deeper kisses while they rutted together at an easy pace, Ben wrapping Chad's legs around his waist, easily supporting him until they were both about to fall apart once more.

"Sweetness," Ben growled. "Lovely, I need-"

"I'm here," Chad reminded him, and it seemed like that was all that Ben needed to fall apart, the king letting out a furious rumble as he bit into Chad's shoulder, the shock of his release seeming to rock through him.

Chad followed not long after, spurred by the feel of Ben, and the king rutted them through it until they were both panting and breathless, and only then did he pull back to properly look at Chad's debauched form.

"I need to clean you," Ben said, panting. "With my mouth. I need-"

"Do it," Chad said, and the king got to work doing just that, working with an eagerness that left Chad gasping. He seemed to relish the taste of Chad, flushing when he was able to lap at his length, staring up at Chad with an almost bashful gaze as he took the blond into his mouth once more and sucked him clean for good measure, until Chad was letting out soft groans that made Ben shiver.

"I don't- I don't know what's happening," Ben replied honestly as he crawled up Chad's body, staring at him for a moment before dragging the blond to splay against his chest. He shivered at the close proximity, pulling a blanket over their legs before he just sort of cupped Chad's jaw, dipping low to trade easy kisses with him. "But this feels good. Your smell. Your- holding you, like this- the um- the skin-to-skin contact…"

"Is it something your beast needs?" Chad asked innocently, despite already knowing the answer.

"I'm not supposed to cater to it," Ben said, his cheeks flushed. "I'm supposed to ignore it. My dad said I was supposed to ignore it – people will think I'm unstable."

"Your dad broke the curse," Chad said. "I think anything that remains in you – that isn't the bad part of the beast. It's a gift. And you're not unstable for wanting to dote on someone or be in control or um- growl." He rested his head on Ben's pectoral, taking comfort in the familiar tempo of his heartbeat. "I like the growling."

"Chad," Ben rasped, and then he was sitting up, pulling Chad in his lap and burying his lips in the curve of Chad's neck so he could let out a few more furious rumbles that made Chad shiver. "You don't think this is weird?"

"Not at all," Chad said, leaning into the contact. "It's you, therefor it is not weird. We celebrate Uma's tentacles, why wouldn't we celebrate your rumbles?"

Ben's flush seemed to spill down his chest. "Uma's half mer-person, though, it's expected."

"And you're part-beast," Chad countered. "And it makes you feel better, right?"

"I… yeah," Ben said, wrapping his arms around Chad's waist and holding him close. "I would always sort of purr when I was happy, but my etiquette teachers trained me out of it. Now it only happens when I'm taken by surprise by a sudden happiness." He let out another low rumble, one of his hands idly petting Chad's thigh in a gentle caress. "It feels right, though, like I'm…"

"Expressing your appreciation to us," Chad finished for him. "You were just letting me know you care. You don't have to try and restrain yourself from doing that."

"But I- I was so forward," Ben said, pulling back to aim an apologetic expression at him. "Am so forward. I practically ripped your clothes off in the kitchen."

"I gave your permission to do that," Chad reminded him.

"That doesn't mean I should do that," Ben said, seemingly slightly miserable. "I shouldn't be that aggressive. You guys don't deserve me being that aggressive."

"You were barely aggressive," Chad told him. "You might have been forward, but mostly you were dominant. You knew what you wanted, you confirmed that I wanted it, so you set about achieving that in the most direct way possible."

"In the kitchen."

"Our kitchen," Chad said. "A private kitchen. Ben, I promise, this is okay. You didn't ruin my reputation or anything – the others have definitely had sex in the kitchen before. Uma has Aziz and Harry put on shows for us in the living room all the time. You don't even want to know how many times we've had sex out on the patio. My point is, this is a private space, and just because you diverted from your etiquette training in the privacy of our penthouse doesn't make you less."

"I was rough with you," Ben said, still seeming hesitant.

"You didn't even bruise me," Chad said. "Yes, you were in control, but I willingly yielded that to you, and I'm pretty sure if I'd had asked you to stop, you would have."

"I would have," Ben pledged, so fast he almost stumbled over the words as he started nuzzling Chad close. "I would have, sweetling. I would never- I never would have- I won't let anyone hurt you like that."

"Then please trust yourself," Chad urged. "And trust that I enjoyed what just happened, because I did, a lot."

Ben paused for a moment, mulling this over. "I do feel a lot better," he admitted. "Just- smelling you and taking care of you and making you feel good. Even this now, holding you like this, I feel more grounded, in control." He trailed off, a sort of sorrowful look on his face.

"What's wrong?" Chad asked, reaching up to thread a gentle hand into Ben's hair.

"I don't usually feel this way with Mal," Ben admitted. "Actually, our sex life is kind of… rough," he settled on. "We can cuddle and stuff, but when we get to the bedroom, I'm usually trying to swallow down growls and I want- I want to dote on her but she prefers being in control."

"You're both alphas," Chad surmised, coming to the sudden realization that Other Mal and Other Ben had never interacted with each other sexually without both of them focusing on a third person they could pleasure together. Chad had chalked that up to there being so many of them, or because Other Ben hadn't worked through his trauma yet to be comfortable with Mal's strong personality, but now it seemed like they were both too dominant for it to work out for them.

"I didn't realize," Ben said, blinking through the realization. "I've trained my whole life to be adaptable, amendable. There's a certain give and take with leading a kingdom."

"That's your job," Chad said. "That shouldn't reflect in your private life. You don't have to compromise on everything. You don't have to sacrifice your desires in the bedroom."

"But then Mal and I would never have sex," Ben said, seeming somewhat miserable about this.

"Sure you would," Chad chided, tapping Ben's cheek. "You just need to get Aziz or Jay between you. Give yourself a common goal and things will balance out."

Ben just sort of looked at him like he'd never seen Chad before, and then he was kissing him again – eager, tender things that left Chad melting into his chest, unable to do anything but cling while Ben purred and caressed his body.

"How did I miss you?" Ben rumbled into his shoulder. "We've been friends for years; how did I miss how smart you were?"

Chad shivered, letting out a happy sound when Ben started sucking a mark on the curve of his neck. "To be fair, I didn't think I was smart, so I mostly avoided talking."

"I'm glad you're not doing that anymore," Ben purred, one hand sliding between Chad's legs as he started to tease him once more. "Light, you feel so good."

"Ben," Chad whimpered, letting his hands curl into his soft locks. "I um- I like you a lot."

Ben paused, letting out a fierce rumble that seemed to shake through Chad's body. "I like you too," Ben murmured, sucking on his neck with renewed fervor. "Be mine, please? Or let- let me work for it, I can-"

"Yes, Ben," Chad panted, too weak to deny him. "Of course."

"Mate," Ben purred, and then he resumed his efforts, content to please Chad rather than allowing the blond to reciprocate, much like the Other Ben.

Some things, it seemed, were constant.

Chad wondered what else the two had in common.

-:-:-

Ben managed to tease Chad into a state of horrible bliss for about five more minutes before they were interrupted. The king seemed to delight in the clear slick he was able to coax from Chad without allowing the blond his release, leaving the blond prince whining pitifully against his chest while he made a proper mess of his groin.

"Well," Mal said from the doorway to announce her presence, making Chad and Ben pull apart from where they had been trading lazy kisses. "This explains why we found Chad's clothes in the kitchen."

"Sorry," Ben murmured, still teasing Chad in lazy movements that Mal tracked with narrowed eyes. "Chad helped me figure out some of my bedroom problems."

"You gonna stop swallowing those growls, then?" Mal asked with a quirk of her brows. "Because I told you those were hot, even if I don't want you all up on me when you do them."

"Yeah, that's part of the problem," Ben said. "I need to dote, and you need to dote, so we um- the others…"

Mal broke into a large grin, until the gaze she raked over Chad's form was nothing but appreciative. "Yeah, I think that will work," she said. "So, want to show your lovely off to me?"

"May I?" Ben asked Chad, who offered him an encouraging smile because he already knew he was done, there was no point in fighting it, and at the very least this finally afforded him some substantial contact that pushed him over the edge, Ben growling all the while.

"Hot," Mal declared when Ben splayed Chad across the bed, the king planted firmly between his legs as he took his time cleaning off the mess he had urged from Chad. "Feel better, beasty?"

"Feel great," Ben rumbled. "I'm… I'm sorry-"

"Don't apologize," Mal ordered. "This doesn't change how much we love each other."

At that, Ben's shoulders finally relaxed. "Thank you."

"Thank you guys for the show," Mal said with a wink. "Now, you should probably get out there before Jay has a conniption fit. I left him and Aziz in the kitchen, and they have concerns."

"Of course," Ben murmured, and then he was coaxing Chad into a spare set of his clothing, nuzzling the dark bruises he had sucked against his shoulder and sliding his hand into the blond's hopefully, holding out the other to Mal who took it with a wink.

In their absence, it seemed like Uma had urged Gil into the kitchen to finish dinner prep. That was one point of normality for them, but there was no hiding the way the others had been obviously waiting for Ben and Chad's return.

Uma, for the most part, chose only to raise a pointed brow at their entrance, her focus entirely on Chad. "You okay?"

"I'm great," Chad admitted, a certain heat building behind his cheeks, and he was pretty sure it was that response that kept Ben from growling at her. "We had fun."

"Surprise fun?" Uma countered.

Chad gave her a wink that he knew nine times out of ten amused her. "The best kind."

There was a moment, and then her expression softened, the captain seeming to determine that he wasn't in over his head. "Get your clothes out of the kitchen, dinner's in five."

"Yes, captain," Chad said, giving Ben another kiss before he moved to follow her orders, trying not to flush horribly when he collected the discarded clothes and likely failing.

It wasn't much of a surprise when Jay followed him back to their room, the Agraben's brows furrowed together in concern. "You really are okay, right?" he pressed. "You're not just saying you're fine? I know you were worried about being with Ben."

"I was," Chad said. "But I also sort of realized that my attraction to him is kind of inevitable, and if he wants to be with me like that, there isn't really any point in fighting it, seeing as it makes us both happy." He discarded his clothes in the hamper and offered Jay a comforting grin. "Sorry if I worried you."

"It was a bit concerning," Jay admitted, the Agraben pulling Chad into a hug the moment he was able to. "He really marked up your neck."

"It doesn't hurt," Chad assured him. "I actually like it. It's like he staked a claim."

Which was exactly what Ben did, but there was no point in getting into that.

Jay didn't seem entirely comforted by this. "As long as he knows to be careful."

"He does," Chad assured, giving Jay a soft kiss that he melted into. "Don't worry, we're going to be alright. Now, let's get out there and help with dinner. I'll feel bad if Gil has to do all the work."

"You literally did eighty percent of it."

"And now I wanna help with the final twenty!" Chad chirped before they were back into the main room, and this-

Yes, this was good.

-:-:-

Things changed after that, naturally.

It started after dinner, with Ben holding Chad in his lap while they both addressed their specific tablets, trading easy kisses not unlike they had in the other world. They drifted apart at some point to address the others, but Ben found him again just before they were turning in for the night, the king seeming bashful but determined.

"Could you um- would you-"

"Do you want me to sleep with you?" Chad asked, making the king flush. "For cuddles?"

"Yes," Ben said, seeming to appreciate the clarification. "If you don't mind."

"I don't," Chad confirmed before turning his attention to Mal, who'd been watching the exchange with narrowed eyes. "Could you cuddle Jay for me? He likes to be held, and dominated in the morning."

At that, Mal's brows rose. "And you know this how?"

"Trial and error," Chad said. "He's just sort of always liked that."

"Evil," Mal murmured, but the shiver that followed seemed to be an appreciative one. "You're fucking blue steel, blondie," she said, but she left with a smirk on her lips, so Chad figured it was okay.

"Do you want me to shower with you too?" Chad asked Ben, because that had helped his counterpart even out some. "If it helps-"

"I'd like that," Ben said, the words coming in an embarrassed rush, though he was determined to get them out. "You can- yeah."

"Yeah," Chad echoed, and that was what led him to get boxed against the wall of Ben's shower, the king doing his damnedest to cuddle Chad while also cleaning him, which inevitably led to him getting worked up with a bashful flush. "It's okay," Chad soothed, letting the king rut them together with growls that got steadily deeper. "Ben."

They slept shirtless on Chad's suggestion, the king plastered against his back, letting out comforting purrs before they drifted off to sleep.

"Fuck," Ben said the next morning when he was kissing his way down Chad's chest, nosing at the blond's groin hopefully. "That's the best sleep I've had in ages."

"Because you've embraced yourself," Chad said, moaning after he gave a nod of approval that left Ben eagerly ridding him of his clothes, hooking Chad's legs over his shoulders so he could swallow him down properly.

They continued like that for the next few days, Chad surprised by the familiar domesticity of it. He thought he'd feel worse, considering all the trouble he'd accidentally caused Ben, but Chad had set the world back to rights and this Ben – his Ben – wanted him, and if that was the case, who was Chad to argue with him? It was surprising how few panic attacks or guilty spirals he had when he returned to what had been his old normal. Waking up with Ben against his back, sharing baths and kisses and cuddles with Ben – it was grounding for Chad too. He tried not to be open about his adoration and affection for the king, but he didn't know how much he was succeeding, especially when Ben was so determined to coax every ounce of affection from Chad he could.

He'd come back to the penthouse after a long day at the capitol and immediately make a beeline for where Chad was curled up on the couch, the blond finishing up one of Doug's book recommendations while Gil and Aziz worked together to cook dinner.

"Sweetheart," Ben rumbled as he pulled Chad into his lap, wasting no time purring into the curve of his neck, one hand sneaking under the hem of Chad's shirt so he could start caressing his stomach.

"Hard day?" Chad asked, letting his fingers pet random patterns against Ben's scalp.

"I've had better," Ben purred. "Missed you."

He pulled Chad into an easy kiss that the blond happily reciprocated, though it left him painfully aware of Jay sitting on the far side of the couch, the Agraben playing some sort of hand held video game Carlos had made him, though Chad doubted it held his focus now.

"I missed you too," Chad murmured, getting a happy look from Ben.

"Do you think we could share a bath before dinner?" Ben asked, his hands lazily tracing Chad's body. Chad had a feeling that since it had taken him so long to sate his beast – two years longer than the Other Ben – he was trying to make up for lost time, desperate to get in the touch-contact and cuddles and purrs the Other Ben had never fought with Chad.

"I think so," Chad hummed, hating how Jay tensed in his peripherals. "Could Jay join us?"

If the Agraben was trying to be subtle, it sort of failed entirely when he gave an awkward jerk, almost dropping his game.

Ben tensed, his pupils seeming to dilate. "I um- don't know if I could share you right now," he said in French.

"You misunderstand," Chad replied. "Jay wants cuddles too."

Ben froze, his gaze slowly turning towards Jay, who seemed to be trying (and failing) to will away his flush. "May I pleasure you, Jay?"

"Fuck, Ben," the Agraben said, running a distracted hand through his hair. "Of course."

Chad wasn't entirely sure what he'd been expecting, but it hadn't been for the king to simply pick him up and carry him to Jay's side of the couch, depositing Chad in Jay's lap until they were splayed out chest-to-chest.

"Ben," Chad said, blinking in surprise, only to be interrupted by a heated kiss that left him gasping, there in one moment and then transferred to Jay in the next, who whined against Ben's lips.

"I must ravish my pretties," Ben growled, the beastial rumbles rocking through Chad and Jay until a distinct warmth was bolstered deep inside them, leaving them hard and gasping between one moment and the next.

"Ben," Jay whimpered when the king pushed their clothes down, wrapping a determined hand around their lengths before he pumped them together. "Ben. Ben."

"Just like that, sweetling," Ben rumbled into the curve of Jay's neck, nipping at it pointedly. His hands wandered everywhere, grazing their hair, Chad's shoulders and rear, working them together with eager fingers. "So pretty, for me."

"Ben," Jay whined, reaching out to the king, and Ben obliged him, doting him with kisses that steadily became more filthy, until Chad was shivering at the feel of every twitch and pulse of Jay's length against his. "Ben, I'm gonna-"

"Can you wait?" Ben purred, slowing the hand that worked them together. "I think you can wait, precious. I think you can stay just that pretty while I suck Chad dry."

"Ben," Jay croaked.

"And then I'm going to get my mouth around you and do the same thing," Ben pressed, his voice determined. "You're going to flood my mouth and release every delicious whine. Can you do that for me?"

"I can," Jay panted. "But Ben-"

"I'll eat you out, if you can wait," Ben said, cutting Jay off with a fantastic whimper before he turned his attention to Chad.

With promises like that, it was no wonder that Chad didn't last very long, though he liked to think of himself as thoughtful, the blond not wanting Jay to wait longer than he had to.

By the time Ben got to Jay, the Agraben was wetter than he'd normally be and biting down hard on his lip, making an obvious effort not to fondle himself.

"So good for me," Ben purred, making Jay whimper. "I can't wait to taste you."

"Ben," Jay croaked, something that worsened when the king swallowed him down in one smooth motion.

True to his word, he rocked Jay's world, and when he was finished, he didn't think much of stripping off Jays pants and underwear and bending him over the arm of the couch, the king still purring when he parted Jay's cheeks, leaning forward eagerly to lick at that sensitive area.

"Ben!" Jay shouted, caught off guard by the stimulation until he trailed off into nonstop moans, the Agraben getting terribly hard again while Ben eagerly fucked him with his tongue. "Ben. Ben."

The king jerked him once, and Jay came with a terrible croon, one that left him rutting back eagerly into Ben's mouth until Ben had finished guiding him through it.

"…shit," Jay said when it was over, Ben content to strip him of the rest of his clothes and cradle him in his lap. "I um- I've never done that before."

"Me either," Ben chirped, seeming entirely unbothered by this as he pulled Chad into Jay's lap, until both of them were cradled close. "Sorry if I got intense."

"You really don't need to apologize," Jay said, his cheeks flushed dark as Ben started mouthing at his neck.

"Yeah, it was a good show," Gil agreed from the kitchen, reminding them they were not, in fact, alone, and that a terribly flushed Aziz was standing slightly behind Gil's broad back, the blond grinning widely. "Could you do that to us sometime? Or at least Aziz. Aziz really likes butt stuff."

Ben let out a pointed growl that left the Agraben prince squeaking. "Take care of each other," he murmured to Chad before he left Jay and the blond curled together on the couch, the king stalking a direct path to the kitchen.

"You um- don't have to do anything if you don't want to," Aziz said in a rush of words. "I haven't done that either yet and- Ben!"

A few moments later and Aziz was moaning, braced against the breakfast bar while Ben ate him out, Gil trading happy kisses with the prince when he managed the coherency to do so, and Ben didn't even growl at Gil when he moved to jerk the prince off, which was probably some kind of progress. At the very least, Ben had more people who would willingly play with him now.

"Light!" Aziz croaked when he came, and Ben considered this release with narrowed eyes before he seemed to decide that Aziz needed a second ravishment that led to him getting fingered while he was pressed against Ben's front, the Agraben babbling nonsense all the while.

"Good boy," Ben rumbled when Aziz had made a mess of his shirt, the prince blinking dazedly before Ben deftly picked him up and carried him over to the couch, letting him curl up with Jay and Chad.

And then there was Gil.

"I um- should probably finish dinner," Gil said nervously, twisting his fingers together.

"You finished it ten minutes ago," Ben rumbled, boxing him against the fridge the same way he had with Chad that first night. "What would you like, sunshine?"

"Um… could you jerk me off, please?" Gil asked, immediately falling into moans when Ben moved to do just that.

Suffice it to say, there were four very wiped out partners cuddled together on the couch when Uma and the others returned home, and conversely, Ben was entirely peppy and at ease from his spot in the kitchen, watching over dinner and making sure everything was ready for them to eat.

Uma drew to a halt in front of the couch. "He figured out that all of you would volunteer as tribute, didn't he?"

"Maybe," Chad allowed, as though half of them were not naked.

The captain rolled her eyes. "No dressing up for dinner," she said. "You welcome us with a teasing picture like this, you eat naked." Aziz buried his face in his hands with a broken moan. "Like you don't love that," Uma scoffed, motioning for Harry to move on behind her, Mal looking on the lot of them with something akin to pride.

Uma was entirely right, of course, and as a reward to Harry, she let the first mate climb under the table and swallow Aziz down when he inevitably got worked up, something that seemed even more pointed under the group's joint attention.

"This is the best idea you ever had," Ben informed Mal sagely before picking up a blushing Aziz from the table.

"Damn straight it is," Mal agreed before she drifted off to go harass Harry, who would play hard to get for two minutes and then be rewarded for his obstinance by coming in his pants two or three times.

Chad had learned to buy his underwear in bulk, was his point.

"Yeah," Uma said, watching a bashful Gil ask Jay for kisses. "I think he might actually be right."

-:-:-

Endnotes:

Harry pretending he's better than them as though he would not willingly fling himself in Ben's direction at the first growl.

Story notes:

To quote, Aligot is 'Humble potatoes and cheese are beaten together with crème fraiche until they form silky, smooth ribbons of pureed potato.' I have never had it, but it looks delicious, and the epitome of a comfort food.

Both Beauty and the Beast and Cinderella are based in France, which is why Sardinia and Auradon both have the same foods.

Croque-Monsieurs don't generally have mushrooms, but I found a recipe for one on a list of French comfort foods and I thought that was unique enough for it to be a favorite Ben didn't get very often.

Until next time