Chapter 5
A/N: Okay so a reminder that this is rated M. I do have a bit of cursing at the end of the chapter and if you don't want to read it, then skip over the song that I have in the chapter.
Having a serious conversation with Mal is not what Hadley would consider a good time. The 14-year-old is pacing in the overly pink dorm room. Another teen was sitting at the table in the middle of the room. Her platinum blonde hair dangling in her eyes as she works on her pre-calculus homework. "Hadley, you need to relax. It's just a conversation," the girl says as she looks up and sees her roommate pacing a path into the floor. The blonde gets up from her seat and walks over to the younger teen. Resting her hand on her shoulder. "Have you ever heard of videogames?"
Hadley shrugs before sighing. "We had them on the Isle but they didn't always work," she says at she looks at her roommate, who she is pretty sure is named Elyse. She pauses in her pacing for a moment before starting to pace again. "Why are you asking? Planning on taking a study break?"
Elyse takes Hadley's hand when the younger teen passes and leads her back to the freshman's bed, the one closest to the fireplace. "I was thinking that it would be a good way for you to relieve stress. I just got a new multiplayer game and it could be a great chance for us to get to know each other better," she says as she sits down on the bed and pats the spot next to her. "Making a friend outside of the other VKs would be a good thing. It'll help you fit in more. Feel at home."
Hadley scoffs as she sits next to the ice princess. The idea of a friend is foreign to her. Yes, she had a gang, but the loyalty only went so far. "You probably have all the friends you need. Why would you want to befriend me?" she asks, not hiding her confusion. Everyone in Auradon seems to have an infinite number of friends. Hadley is just one of the new kids, who doesn't exactly get along with the other new kids.
"You and the others aren't the only outsiders around here. Let's just say that me not really interested in princes wasn't exactly… accepted by the more popular royals around here," Elyse says with a small smile shortly before there is a knock at the door. "Do you want me to stay or go?"
"You can stay. Mal and I's conversations normally turn into a fight," Hadley says before getting off the bed and going to the door. Groaning as she opens it to the purple-haired miniature dragon. Granted, Hadley isn't much taller than her sister. As all younger siblings do, she will lord that height difference over the older sibling. "We don't have long to chat. Herkie said he would help me with my homework," Hadley smoothly lies. Not wanting to spend too much time with Mal. Herkie is on his way over, but not to help with homework, to help with poison research. Every good lie has a nugget of truth in it.
"Never pegged you for a nerd," Mal scoffs as she pushes past Hadley to go in the dorm room. "How did you make your eyes glow? Hades can't do that."
"I also have dragon blood in my veins, it's just not as prevalent as it is for you," Hadley shrugs as she sits back down next to Elyse. Playing with the blue string on her threadbare black and blue hoodie. "Why do you care anyways? You made it clear when we were kids that you want nothing to do with me."
Mal sighs and closes the door before turning to her younger sister. "I need to know if you are still a threat to me and my friends. I know that Hades gave you a job. What is it?" Knowing her father's original plan, the leader of the Core Four figures that Hadley was given the task of overcoming Olympus.
"Nothing as evil as you'd expect. When I was a toddler, a magic based poison was used on me. After 14 years of searching, dad never found a cure. My job is to find a cure. To live. I only have one or two months before I die," Hadley explains, she had already filled Elyse and Herkie in on the plan the night before. Despite knowing that the adults are researching so Hadley can conserve her energy, the teen knows that Elyse and Herkie studied magic and can help her.
"You've known for 14 years and never told me? I'm your sister! I could have helped!" Mal exclaims. Shock and regret briefly appearing on her face. She had treated Hadley as a lesser being for years, only cutting her slack when Malice was around. "I'm sorry for the way I've treated you over the years. Can we start over?"
Hadley laughs when Mal apologizes for all of what occurred over the years. It is well known that Hadley holds grudges. With a smirk, she begins to sing.
What did I hear you say?
Say it to my face
It's not even worth the fight
Waiting for you to say
What's got you so afraid?
I'm not gonna waste my time
Hadley gets up from her seat on her bed and stalks towards her sister like a lion stalking her prey. Stopping just short of the smaller girl.
Yeah, the bigger they are the harder they fall
Yeah, I got so sick of feeling so small
I leave you alone to build up your walls
What did I hear you say?
How did we become so numb?
We just let it come undone
And I just started giving up
But that won't save us
Maybe we were born to fight
If we wanna make it out alive
We gotta let the anger die
'Cause that won't save us
As Mal goes to take Hadley's forearm, the younger sister backs away while shaking her head. Not willing to trust the fact that Mal seems to hold regret.
And now we're so far away
But we talk every day
Something there, it just ain't right
I'm sinking under the weight
It's like I could break
I never let you hear my cries
Well, the duller the knife, the deeper the scars
I don't need a light to see in the dark
I know what you're like, I know who you are
What were you gonna say?
How did we become so numb?
We just let it come undone
And I just started giving up
But that won't save us
Maybe we were born to fight
If we wanna make it out alive
We gotta let the anger die
'Cause that won't save us
Hadley moves closer to Mal, backing her older sister against the wall. Blue flames licking the younger teen's arm. Coming dangerously close to burning Mal.
Are you proud of what we've come to be?
We're sorry, but that won't save us
We fucked up and I'd give anything
If only that could save us.
Elyse quickly rushes forward to reach the sisters when she sees the blue flames. With a quick grab to Hadley's shoulder a thin coat of ice begins to cover Hadley. The flames slowly die down and begin to steam. Hadley doesn't even notice that she is covered in ice.
How did we become so numb?
We just let it come undone
And I just started giving up
But that won't save us
Maybe we were born to fight
If we wanna make it out alive
We gotta let the anger die
'Cause that won't save us
What did I hear you say?
Elyse slowly peels Hadley off Mal. The short, blue-haired girl curls up into Elyse's chest. The ice princess wraps her arms around Hadley to support her and rests her chin on the top of Hadley's head. "Herkie and I can help Hadley. It sounds like you burned your chance with Hadley a long while ago."
Mal nods and slips towards the door. "Don't tell anyone that I offered to help," she says before opening the door and slipping past Herkie. Rushing to her own dorm to meet Evie.
"What's her rush?" Herkie asks as he has seconds to dodge the rushing dragon. He closes the door behind him as Elyse leads Hadley to the closest bed and sits them down. Keeping Hadley firm in her grip as steam comes up from the 14-year-old. "Is Hadley okay?" the senior asks as he rushes to be at his cousin's side. Putting his hand on her forehead to check her temperature.
"I'm fine. Just got a bit annoyed with Mal and flamed up. Elyse was able to keep me from hurting Mal," Hadley says, starting to blush when she realizes that she is still wrapped in Elyse's arms. "Were either of you able to get any ideas on a cure from your families?" she asks as she pulls away from Elyse. Trying to hide her blush from her roommate and cousin.
"My mom suggested the rock trolls. She is looking at everything in her library. I'm heading to Arendale this weekend. I can take you to see the trolls," Elyse says with a smile, having noticed the blush. She decided not to mention it, at least not while Herkie is around.
"My grandparents and Athena are looking into it. They haven't found anything yet and will let me know if they make any breakthroughs," Herkie reports as he sits on the bed next to the girls. Towering over the younger teens. "We're getting you that cure, cuz. Now lets just relax for a while!" the red-head grins and slings his arm around Hadley. Making the godling look even smaller.
"I just got the newest Mario Party. Let's introduce Hadley to working videogames," Elyse grins before going to set up the game. She never wanted a roommate, but she is starting to enjoy the fact that Ben talked her into it. Having friends makes school much more enjoyable.
A/N: Song rights belong to Against the Current. It's their song that won't save us.