Chapter 31 – Sunday Afternoon Board Games
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They ended up having a redo of board game night on Sunday afternoon – sort of a celebratory brunch, for all that the others did not know why they were celebrating. Uma had already earned promises from Ben and Mal for an outstanding proposal post-college, and Aziz had spent about an hour video chatting his parents later that Saturday afternoon, getting a regular dose of comfort and reassurance that he obviously needed when navigating the trickier, more emotional aspects of his life.
That time, they ended up hosting board game night at the penthouse, partly because Chad felt bad for being the one to steal Jay from the others (and Ben, Mal, and Uma, however briefly) on Saturday, and partly so Evie could finally show off her design skills to the rest of her friends.
"You let Jay take the lead on design stuff?" Carlos had asked Chad as they gave a tour of all the non-bedroom spaces.
"Um, no," Chad said, somewhat confused. "We both approved the designs."
"You wanted to have our colors prominently featured in your private space," Carlos deadpanned, his tone unreadable.
"Well, yeah," Chad said, feeling uneasy. "They're good colors."
Carlos' only reply was to narrow his eyes briefly, but otherwise said nothing as they retreated to the living room to partake in 'Sunday Funday' snacks and peruse the different board game options Doug and Carlos had brought along. Because there were so many of them, they would likely have different games running in multiple locations, but that was fine. Chad was sure one of them would take place out on the patio, and he looked forward to the prospect of soft summer winds that were slowly fading into the open arms of fall.
Everyone seemed to think Evie's designs were a massive success, though Chad could tell Jane was confused as to why her colors had been utilized at all.
"You're Chad's Fairy Godperson," Jay had explained. "Besides, all the accessories were approved by your mom."
"I like the pink mixer the best!" Gil chirped, earning a shy smile from Jane.
Because the group was mostly comprised of people he was dating, the overall atmosphere was jovial. There were a few that still seemed hesitant for some reason, but Chad attributed that to their own natural shyness rather than to any intent maliciousness on their part.
So when he saw Doug hovering sort of nervously by the breakfast bar, a glass of brunch punch clutched close to his chest, Chad couldn't help but be interested. The musician seemed to be casting a sidelong look towards where Uma was flirting with Jay, her hand brushing against his cheeks before moving to cup his chin, coaxing a light flush from the Agraben. Doug only risked viewing the sight for a few seconds before he looked away with a blush, making Chad slowly put the pieces together.
"Oh, right," he said, making Doug startle slightly, the other teen likely thinking he was alone. "Polyamory's popular in dwarf culture, right?"
He knew this from the Other World, but Doug still stared at him as though he'd grown another head, though he mostly seemed confused as to how this occurrence had come to be.
"You know that?" Doug asked, honestly confused.
"Sure." Chad shrugged, lifting his shoulders in a slight shrug. "You were my roommate for a long time. I read everything on dwarven culture I could get my hands on."
There wasn't a lot because dwarves were a notoriously private race, but King Thorin had been kind enough to allow for a cultural baseline to be offered to Auradon Proper so the outside world could get a better understanding of their race. There weren't a lot of female dwarves, so it wasn't uncommon for them to have multiple partners, though in such situations, each partner was loved and appreciated for what they brought by all parties involved, much like Chad's current relationship. It got to the point where such a thing was common practice for relationships that didn't have dwarrowdams, but no one really thought twice about it because one, it made them happy, and two, there weren't that many female dwarves anyway. It all worked out.
Chad was pretty sure Doug's own father was part of a polyamorous relationship, but he'd never been brave enough to ask.
He decided to move on since Doug was still just kind of staring at him. "Have you felt- what's it called, the longing?"
Doug flushed, something furious that spilled down his neck. "We're not supposed to talk about such things."
Now it was Chad's turn to feel bashful, and he could feel it heat his cheeks with a distinct tinge of embarrassment. "Right, sorry. I'm sorry, I wasn't thinking."
"It's fine," Doug dismissed, even if it really wasn't. "And um- I shouldn't feel it anyway, I have Evie."
Chad stood there, waiting for him to elaborate, and belatedly realized that Doug was not going to. "You're half-dwarf," Chad said. "That part of you is still biologically inclined to um- be generous with its affection. That doesn't mean there's anything wrong with you, or that you don't love Evie with everything you have."
"I heard my name," was how Evie cheerfully entered the conversation, making Doug close in on himself in a way Chad hadn't seen in a long time, which of course made the princess suspicious. "Is something wrong?"
Chad sighed. "I was just telling Doug-"
"Nothing," Doug interrupted with a flush. "I mean, we were um- complimenting your design prowess."
"You've read up on dwarven culture, right Evie?" Chad continued, because Doug really didn't need to feel bad for something that was literally an inherent part of him. "I mean, more than I have. Sorry, that was a dumb question, you've got this stuff on lock."
That, at least, was enough to earn a polite giggle from Evie. "I have," she said. "My mother taught me how to read Khuzdel, so I've had access to more information than the average Auradon citizen."
"Then you know about the longing, right?" Chad said. "I mean- we're not supposed to talk about it, I actually messed up with that-"
"I know about it," Evie confirmed, seeming to decide to cut off his babbling before Chad could run away with things. "Doug doesn't feel it, though." At that, there was no missing the way her boyfriend tensed beside her, and Evie froze, taking in his guilty expression with a careful blink. "Have you felt it?"
"I didn't mean to," Doug murmured, ducking his head. "I'm sorry."
"I was just telling Doug that you wouldn't care," Chad said. "Or at the very least, you wouldn't love him less."
"Of course I wouldn't," Evie said, plucking Doug's cup from his hand and setting it on the counter so she could claim those fingers for herself. "Doug, I love every part of you, including your heritage and culture. You don't have to feel bad for yearning for something that is built into your bones."
"You should be enough, though," Doug said, seeming miserable by this. "You're more than enough."
"Yes, she is," Chad agreed, trying to offer his own support. "Doug, having a heart that is open, that is willing to offer love and support and comfort to others beyond Evie – that doesn't make her less. It makes you generous. It's just like Ben and Mal. The need to take care of people is just kind of in their bones. It's the same with you, and you shouldn't feel bad for it."
"That does explain some things," Evie mused before turning her attention back to Doug. "But yes, what Chad said was entirely accurate. You don't have to be afraid to tell me these things."
"But um-" Doug ducked his head, as though that could hide the lovely flush dusting his cheeks. "It's impossible, though. It will never happen."
"You don't know until you try," Chad said. "Polyamory might be a relatively new thing in the public eye, but you'd be surprised how open people are to it once they give it a shot. Even Harry fought it for a little bit, and I'm pretty sure he's been in love with Uma and Gil forever. So maybe it will be a bit of a rough start, but it can't happen if you don't give it a chance."
"Just-" Doug shifted his weight uneasily, his bottom lip tucked between his teeth as he chewed on it in a nervous tell. "What if um- it's for an existing polyamorous relationship?" Doug asked, and then slowly, ever so hopefully, he looked up to check Chad's reaction.
Which was how Chad knew he wasn't referring to one of the other new groups that had popped up in the wake of their surprise announcement at the Young Royal Ball. He meant them. He meant- likely for Ben, of course, and… Jay? This was so weird, the Other Doug had been drawn to Carlos and Jane, he didn't know what their group had to offer his actual version of Doug, but he seemed so earnest, his gaze intent enough to leave Chad horribly flushed under the weight of it.
"You mean…?" Chad began, because it was best to be certain with these things. "Um."
He didn't know what to do. He'd felt competent for the first half of this conversation, but now that things were getting personal, he felt like the exact wrong person to handle this subject. It was what made it a bit of a relief when Mal prowled over to the kitchen, looping a lazy arm around his neck and nuzzling his shoulder with a pleased grin.
"I like that look," she murmured. "Why are we wearing that look?"
"Doug and I want to join your relationship," Evie said firmly, making Doug almost squeak beside her, her boyfriend staring at her with wide eyes.
Mal considered this for about two seconds before she let out a delighted purr. "Done," she chirped.
"Mal," Chad croaked, his face feeling unbearably hot. "Aziz literally freaked out over how fast we were going yesterday."
"Yes," Mal agreed with a hum. "But Aziz gets wet on the regular thinking about Evie and if you think Jay was quiet about your little crush on Doug-"
"You have a crush on me?" Doug asked, bewildered and hopeful all in one.
"You're very sweet," Chad rushed to explain. "And funny and talented and good looking. Of course I have a crush on you, I'm only human."
"That's what I like to hear," Evie said, her grin wide an unrepentant. "I get that you need to ask the rest of your beaus, but if you could consider us-"
"Hey guys!" Mal shouted, capturing the attention of everyone else in the room. "Evie and Doug want to date us. All in favor?"
Harry just stared at her. "Is this a joke? Why the fuck would they want to date us? They're perfect."
"Harry's right," Carlos said, seeming flustered. "You guys are perfect as you are, Evie. I know you love Mal-"
"You love me?" Mal chirped, seeming to preen under this knowledge, leaving Evie hopelessly flustered.
"Of course," Evie said. "How could I not?"
"With sweet talk like that, how are we supposed to say no?" Uma mused, earning a cheerful grin from Gil.
"Is this happening?" Jay asked, twisting his hands together. "I'm not just dreaming?"
"You are such a sap, Jay," Mal declared with a roll of her eyes. "Get over here and hug your princess."
"Only if Chad cuddles Doug," Aziz decided, grinning wide. "I want to see how bashful they can get."
"I am only human," Chad repeated, though this was cut off when Ben, of all people, coaxed Chad and Doug together, the two of them flushing horribly while Ben just sort of wrapped himself around them, giving them encouraging rumbles that left Doug whimpering.
"Please," Doug gasped, and Ben seemed to know what he was asking for, happy to lean forward and claim his lips in a soft kiss that left Doug whining.
So. That was one way to have a Sunday Funday.
"This is ludicrous," Carlos muttered, clutching onto a worried-looking Jane.
"You do know you guys are welcome too, right Carlos?" Mal purred. "You don't have to be all jealous on the sidelines. We'd be lucky to have you."
"Except we don't need this," Carlos hissed, offended for some reason. "Jane and I have each other and we're fine with that."
"Right," Jane said, shifting a bit uneasily.
"You don't think any of this is weird?" Carlos pressed. "Chad and Jay's sudden friendship? The way he decorated the apartment? Why the fuck would he want our colors represented when we've spent the past few years treating him like shit? And now he's dating most of you?" He rounded on Uma. "You said the whole polyamory thing was his idea, wasn't it? I mean-" He turned to Jay. "That's pretty much what he said with you and Aziz, right?"
"I told you that in confidence," Jay said, his cheeks flushed.
"I just don't get why none of you think this is weird," Carlos snapped. "How can Chad go from being entirely devoted to everything Audrey offered him one day and then terrified of her the next? I'm not saying it isn't unjustified, because it is, but we all saw what kind of shape he was in after she captured him, and he still went back to her. How did that change?"
For a moment, no one said anything, and Chad knew they were waiting for him to speak, because it was his presence that was the most insulting. His presence in the relationship that couldn't be neatly explained away under the umbrella term of good guy or decency because before a few months ago, those weren't the colors he'd worn.
"Just…" Chad said, trying not to duck his head. "She treated me badly."
"She treated you badly for years," Carlos said. "We've all seen the shit people are posting online about you guys – the way she belittled you in public and used you as a glorified servant. Why care now if you didn't before?"
"I um- found her diary," Chad said, because that was what started this all anyway, wasn't it? "I didn't mean to look- I was just cleaning her room, but it said um-" At that, he did hang his head, because there was no hiding the sudden wells of shame within him. "I was always able to brush off her behavior before," he said. "But reading it, knowing that was how she really felt, I couldn't date her anymore."
He'd just wanted to be good enough. And now he was good enough for people who were kinder, for people who genuinely liked him and wanted him around.
"Really?" Carlos pressed. "Is that the angle you're taking?"
Mal let out a furious growl. "There is no angle-"
"Chad isn't smart enough to plan those kinds of events," Carlos snapped. "You have to know that. He's probably just a mouthpiece for Audrey, and that fucking show at the ball, all of this shit is just another ploy to get her with Ben now that she knows she can't be his one and only. So he introduced polygamy, acted perfectly-"
"I'm not- I'm not dating Audrey, Carlos," Chad said, feeling a certain heat build behind his eyes that the other teen could think so little of him. "I'm not doing this for her, I don't ever want to be with her again-"
"It's the only thing that makes sense," Carlos pressed. "Nothing else adds up! You couldn't have that much character growth in such a short amount of time, and even if you did come to terms with her toxic treatment of you, that wouldn't have gotten you to so whole-heartedly work for the refugees' rights. And how did you learn to do all this shit anyway, because it certainly didn't reflect in your grades-"
"Holy shit," Uma drawled, her tone furious as she cut a path to the bookcase, rummaging through it until she could pull out the empty spell book and hold it up with a snarl. "I'll tell you how that all happened, and then you're going to stop being an absolute shithead about this."
"What is that, Uma?" Mal said, immediately perking up as she marched over to Uma's side, relieving her of the book with wide eyes. "There's magic in this."
"More like the memory of magic," Uma said, waving her off.
"No," Mal countered. "No, just memories." She opened the book in a lazy motion and pressed a glowing hand to its pages, her brows furrowed in concentration. "Our memories."
"Poser-" Uma said, but whatever spell Mal cast had already taken root, the energy seeming to permeate through the entirety of the book before it exploded out into the room, blinding them with a brilliant whiteness before each and every one of them was caught in the resulting blast wave.
The next moment felt like eternity, and with a blink, Chad found himself taken back to Sardinia Castle, Queen Snow waking him with a cheerful grin. Everything sifted past him so quickly, but he understood all of it – the drive to Auradon Castle, meeting Ben, the breakdown, the cuddles. Helping Other Ben get cleaned up and fixing his edicts, inviting the VKs over. He relived the entire year he'd had in Other Auradon, up to the point where Ben was lunging for him with that same desperate look on his face, one that spoke of terrible heartache and suffering.
When it was over, Chad slowly blinked himself back to the present, discovering that he – like all the others – had collapsed into piles on the ground.
"Chad," Ben rumbled, and then the king was pulling Chad into his lap, turning his head so he could claim him in desperate, heated kisses that made Chad whimper. "Fucking- Chad."
"Holy fuck," Uma mused from across the room, her and Mal using each other to help sit up. "You may have undersold a few fucking things, you asshole."
"What was that?" Carlos asked, his voice tinged in panic. "Did that actually happen?"
"Yes, asshole," Uma snapped. "All that shit he talked about at the Enchanted Lake was true."
That meant that they, they remembered everything-
"Chad," Carlos croaked, and then he was stumbling beside where Ben was protectively holding the blond, tears in his eyes. "I'm so sorry, I didn't- I'm so sorry." He let out a weak sob. "You almost died for me and then I called you stupid-"
"To be fair, I used to be pretty stupid," Chad offered, which only made Carlos weakly sob again.
Ben growled, and then he scooped the young De Ville into their hold so they could cuddle together, the king letting out constant rumbles that helped Chad feel centered.
"I love you," Ben growled into the curve of Chad's neck. "I love you so much. I can't- don't make me live without you."
"I wasn't going to," Chad said, feeling flushed.
"But I didn't know," Ben pressed. "You had everything you ever wanted, you had the entire world in your hands, and you spent the entire time feeling guilty that you stole it from me. Your cried over my mom's loss, you almost had a breakdown at the thought of the VKs dying. You fought so hard to make that world a better place despite the fact that you were working on a way to undo it the entire time, and it would have been easier not to. I mean- you did better than I ever could have dreamed of-"
"I was just enacting the shit you already did," Chad insisted.
"Stop using that excuse," Ben growled, nipping at Chad's jaw. "You took my ideas and improved them. You improved everything, and we never would have known about it if Mal hadn't released our memories, and I can't- I need-"
"We all fucking need," Mal snapped, and then she was dragging the rest forward until they were all a chaotic pile. "Evil, you gave a better first impression than Ben ever could."
"No, I didn't-"
"You got me and the boys off the Isle," Uma said. "Dizzy off the Isle, Ben didn't do that."
Chad flushed. "That was King Eugene's idea, though."
"But you pushed for it," Uma said. "And then you interrupted our quest to the museum with a damn night hike, of all things."
"It was the best excuse I could think of!" Chad said. "I just- I didn't want you guys to get in trouble. I wanted you to see what we could do together."
"Fucking hell," Mal groaned. "That shit you said the day we met, about how you would support Ben in pursuing romance elsewhere or whatever-"
"I hated that," Ben growled, hugging Chad close. "I hated that a lot."
"You were trying to pave the way for our relationship," Mal said.
"And that was why you wanted to fake date me and Doug," Evie chirped. "You were trying to set us up."
"But it wasn't working," Chad said, somewhat miserable. "Nothing seemed to be the same."
"It didn't need to be," Ben rumbled, nipping his earlobe. "Because there, and now, we didn't have just one and only. We needed everyone. We needed each other."
"Yes," Jane said, moisture sparkling in her eyes. "Carlos, I'm sorry."
"Don't apologize," Carlos croaked, hiccupping quietly. "I can't- after I've lived that, experienced that, I can't live without you guys. We had everything with each other, and you never made us feel weird for that. You only ever encouraged it."
"You're the best people I know," Chad said, flushing helplessly. "How could I not want you to have each other?"
"I'm gonna marry you," Ben purred into the curve of his shoulder. "Please, Chad. Please."
"Ben," Chad said, helpless tears trailing down his cheeks. "I love you so much. I'm sorry-"
"Don't apologize," Ben growled, and then he was kissing Chad again, letting out delicious rumbles all the while, gasping when he pulled away. "Don't apologize for embracing who I was at my worst. For never being afraid of me. For loving and supporting me and holding me up and only wanting the best for me. The best for us." He pressed his forehead against Chad's, making it so the blond could look nowhere but him. "My beast settled out so much faster because I had you. My mom- she only helped with my patience, my restraint. You helped me embrace myself, and without that constant struggle, I can sleep easier and think clearer and love more passionately, and I- Chad," he croaked, broken up just like the rest of them. "You changed the entire world for the better and never once thought about keeping it because you felt like that wasn't fair. You could have lost your soul for that, which is why I never suspected you were working on another book, but you did it anyway, because you thought it was the right thing to do."
"It's no wonder you know how to help with all the reforms," Carlos sniffed. "You already invented those programs in the other world."
"And before you say you were just copying Ben," Evie interrupted. "You're the one that actually flushed out the groundwork, that worked with me and Uma to create actionable plans."
"You really are the nicest person ever," Gil spoke up. "You walked in on us doing hanky panky with Aziz and you didn't even get mad that there were so many of us."
Chad flushed. "In dwarf culture-"
"We're not dwarves," Uma pointed out.
"Well, you deserve each other anyway," Chad pushed. "And if you were happy and wanted each other, who was I to judge you? You're all amazing people, why shouldn't you have each other?"
"Agreed," Jay growled, moving so he could snuggle up next to them. "Except change that to 'we', because you are definitely included in that."
"Fuck it," Mal said. "We're all dating now. Anyone who wants to argue that can take it up with my fist."
"You're not going to get any objections from me," Aziz sniffed, cradled in Harry's arms. "I remember, now. I remember everything, and I-"
"Love ye," Harry murmured against his lips before pulling the prince into a kiss that left Uma smiling brilliantly.
"I love you, Chad," Carlos said, making the blond blink. "I know I was an asshole, but please, I- you were so nice to us, even though we treated you like garbage."
Chad shrugged. "I was-"
"Don't justify it," Doug hissed. "Please. You didn't deserve that. You never did. We're the ones that failed you, and we don't want to do that anymore."
"Fuck no," Ben growled.
"You remember now, don't you?" Mal purred, a cocky grin aimed at Carlos. "How eagerly Chad beat you off until you accepted his affections?"
"I think," Uma began, her lips pulling wide in a wicked grin. "We need a repeat of that. You know, to punish Carlos for being a little shit."
"Guys," Carlos whined, shuddering helplessly, but Ben only let out another rumble that left the young De Ville gasping, an obvious bulge growing between his legs. "I remember, now."
"But you're going to doubt it because it happened in another world," Mal declared, crawling over to him with a pleased smirk. "Because you are frustrating like that, so I think you need a dose of sex magic."
"Mal," Carlos whimpered, but he didn't duck away from the glowing hand she pressed against his torso, the shimmering light transferring through his entire body until he was left distinctly aroused.
"Douglass," Mal declared, motioning the dwarf kin over. "Would you and Jane get us started?"
"Gladly," Doug growled, gathering Carlos up in an easy movement before he and Jane took him over to the couch, Carlos moaning all the while.
"I think we're all going to need some of that magical stamina, Poser," Uma said, wrapping herself around Evie's back while the princess flushed. "We need to get properly reacquainted."
"So my lady wishes it, so it will be done," Mal hummed. "Chad, you okay with that?"
Because she remembered, and even though they'd talked about his demisexuality and comparatively lower sex drive, she had that memory now, and maybe Chad found himself touched, though unsurprised.
"Yeah," he managed, grinning wide. "I- yes, please, Mal."
"I love you," she said, leaning forward to capture her lips in a greedy motion he eagerly reciprocated. "I love you and we are never letting you go."
"Please," Chad gasped, and the room filled with Mal's magic, a comforting warm blanket they soaked up as they turned to each other, reaffirming the love they'd built in a completely different world, entirely on accident.
-:-:-
Endnotes:
Ayyyyy – a lot of you guys probably saw this coming, but this really was the only way to have them all on an even playing field.
Story notes:
Khuzdel is from Tolkien's Middle Earth – and in the private language of dwarves, known only to them and the select few known as dwarf friend.
Until next time :)