Chapter 10 – The End
GENERAL WARNING – Mildly Dubious Consent in the first scene due to Ben's beast instincts taking over.
-:-:-
Doug, who'd been keeping a respectable distance on the armchair, slowly got up, approaching carefully because he wasn't sure where Audrey wanted him. Likely behind Chad, so he'd have support?
When he got close enough, Doug found himself yanked on top of Ben, Chad scooting back to accommodate him before curling around Doug's spine.
"This is your lovely dwarfling, Ben," Audrey hummed, running a hand through Doug's hair. "You have been fucking missing out."
"I know," Ben groaned, tentatively cupping Doug's cheek. "You're so- you're so great, Doug. So calm and collected and…"
Doug could um feel how much Ben seemed to appreciate him, but for all Doug knew that could have to do with the close proximity of Chad and Audrey, or Ben could have gone without sex for a couple of days and was likely to get worked up by anything.
As it was, that firmness brushed against Doug's thigh, making him shiver.
"Sorry," Ben whispered, cheeks heating with embarrassment.
Audrey perked up. "Did your beast get wet?"
"Ben can get worked up at the drop of a hat when he's with people he really likes," Chad whispered into Doug's ear. "Pretty sure he likes you, Douglass."
"Sorry," Ben repeated.
"Your affection is a gift, Ben," Audrey hummed. "As is this."
She ran a hand down Ben's chest before she cupped it pointedly between his legs, rubbing at the bulge that grew there. Chad pulled Doug back so he could have a clear view of it and yeah, Ben was big, of course he was, and he was whimpering, shifting restlessly when Audrey teased him.
"Come on, Doug," Audrey murmured. "Get your hand in here."
"He um- he doesn't have to," Ben whimpered. "If he doesn't-"
"I'd like to," Doug said, fumbling to undo Ben's belt. "But I'd like to rut you and Chad together more."
"Fuck yes, that is a good idea," Audrey said, and then they moved to do just that, the entire affair messy and rough and desperate but it was so good to see Ben and Chad curled together like that, flushed and seemingly holding on for dear life while Audrey worked a hand around their lengths. Doug spent his time mouthing at Chad's neck, rutting against the curve of his rear when he got worked up and even though the contact was nothing, Chad still whined as though Doug was fucking him in earnest.
Eventually they fell apart, ruining their outfits in a sort of majestic way.
"Fuck," Ben breathed, and then he was pushing Chad back into Doug's arms, licking his shirt clean before moving down and cleaning off his length as well.
"Down, boy," Audrey laughed when Doug passed Chad off to her, one of the princess's hands curled into her underwear as she sought her own satisfaction.
"Wet," Ben growled in a rough, beastlike tone, and that was all the warning Doug got before he found himself pushed back against the couch.
Audrey paused. "Wait, Ben-"
But the king had already yanked Doug's clothes out of the way, had already revealed his diminutive erection and Doug was terrified for maybe a second but Ben didn't hesitate, simply wrapped his lips around Doug and sucked on him with a vengeance.
"Ben!" Doug gasped, the king's hands seemingly everywhere, cradling his sack and teasing his inner thighs and his mouth so warm and tongue so determined. "Ben-"
It took no time for Doug to fall apart, but Ben seemed happy to drink up everything he had, happy to keep sucking and licking at Doug until he was hard again. Doug surged back into his arousal and Ben let out a pleased sort of hum, shooting Doug a happy look while his lips stretched around Doug – a king's lips wrapped around him while Ben continued to lick and suck and dote on him.
Ben worked him through two more orgasms until Doug had nothing left to give, and even then the king kept sucking on him, licking and nosing at Doug's member just to ensure he was absolutely finished.
"Yes," Ben breathed when he finally pulled off, his lips flushed and wet. "I've been um- wanting to do that for a while."
Doug, who was still dazed from the total ravishment he had just received, struggled to place meaning to the words.
Audrey figured it out first. "Did you know about how Doug?"
A dark blush blossomed across Ben's face. "A-Accident," he mumbled. "I um- I was visiting Chad and I- I thought he was in the shower so I used my key but it was Doug, and…" He nuzzled Doug's groin. "Light, I was hungry for you."
"Yes," Chad huffed, grinning maniacally. "I knew you were a great boyfriend. A great boyfriend with great taste-"
"I'm sorry I surprised you," Ben said. "But for the record, I think you're super fucking cute and smart and um- great, and would greatly enjoy giving you very many blowjobs."
"Get in line," Audrey huffed, but she was smiling. "You okay, Doug?"
"I think I'm great," Doug said, staring at Ben and Chad's brilliant smiles. "Yeah, I'm good."
"Great, then let's get in the bath," Audrey said. "I need cuddle time, pronto."
"Yes, Audrey," Ben, Chad, and Doug said at the same time, making them all pause, then break into helpless laughter while Audrey looked entirely pleased.
So. That was one way to acquire a partner.
-:-:-
The bath was a sort of reprieve, a calm before the storm. Doug managed to text Cogsworth to inform him that Ben wouldn't make it to any of his evening meetings and the butler replied with a generous onslaught of thanks and appreciation that he'd managed to get Ben away from his desk. Audrey nudged Chad into Ben's lap and instructed them to make out while she and Doug prepared a bath, something Ben seemed happy to do now that he'd come clean.
"I was so mad," Ben said, nuzzling Chad's shoulder as he fingered his courtship braid. "I wanted- I knew if we got Doug we'd have to wear braids and I wanted to be there when they got put in."
"Ben," Chad whimpered, clinging to him tight. "You could have been. I'm sorry."
"I'm sorry too," Ben repeated, kept repeating, as though he was afraid they would forget. "I wasn't going to make Mal my Lady of the Court. I was just- after enough time had passed we could organically drift apart, right? But I couldn't get you to talk to me, actually talk to me, and then Doug was dating Evie, and-" He cut off with a sigh. "I do love Mal, but I was trying so hard to believe things were okay – like if I did that enough they actually would be – that I didn't notice her falling apart until she was leaving and I didn't even think, I just followed, because I couldn't lose her too."
"Didn't help that you were adjusting to being king," Audrey murmured as the four of them eased into the tub, Doug flushing hotly as Ben glanced over his body with a look of open appreciation.
"No," Ben sighed. "I… it was okay for Mal to struggle, for the others to struggle, because this life – the one they should have always had, was new to them." A beat, and he tugged Audrey into his lap, letting her curl against him while Doug echoed the move on Chad, who became wonderfully flushed as he settled into place. "But this is my life. I'm supposed to be a point of stability."
"You're human, asshole," Audrey muttered, petting an aimless hand down his side. "You're just as capable of being sad and scared and messy as the rest of us. I know you can't afford that vulnerability given your profession, but ignoring it isn't going to stop it from existing."
Ben's cheeks flushed harder. "Yeah," he murmured. "I know. I know, I just- I wanted to be better."
"Being better and aspiring to unrealistic expectations are not the fucking same thing," Audrey hissed. "You know that. Chad and I had to battle with that way of thinking before we could get anywhere close to happy. It took me getting bewitched by a damn scepter and attempting to take over Auradon before I gave in and got the actual therapy I needed, got Chad the therapy his grandpa will never fucking allow, and got actually damn happy. Stop working towards what you think you should be and actually be your damn self for once. We all make mistakes. We all get low. Punishing ourselves for these natural transgressions isn't healthy, and you've got to stop doing it."
"Fuck, I missed you," Ben murmured, nuzzling the top of her head. "I love you so fucking much, Audrey. Chad-"
"I know," Chad said, reaching out to curl his hand around Ben's, raising it up so he could kiss the king's knuckles.
"You need therapy, Ben," Audrey said, her tone unyielding. "Now consent to having a neutral third party for you to vent to once a week or face my wrath."
"Okay," Ben said, a small flush dusting across his cheeks. "Okay, I'll- yeah, I'll schedule that."
"Can we also get him a better assistant?" Doug said. "Or army of assistants? We need people who can help him stay on track instead of getting wowed by the king thing."
"You act like you're not wowed by the king thing," Chad said, tilting his head back to give Doug a certain look.
Expectedly, Doug's face flushed with warmth at the direct accusation. "He's a king."
"He's also Ben," Audrey huffed. "The awkward string bean that loves books and corny jokes and came up with plans to woo Chad's teenage crushes. Allow yourself to love that guy instead of putting the firm wall of his position between you and him."
"You don't do that for us," Chad said, his brows furrowed in confusion as he seemed to ponder why that was.
"You guys sort of didn't give me a choice," Doug mumbled, wishing he was less aware of the fact that he and Ben were side-by-side, definitely naked, definitely close.
"Guess I'll do that, then," Ben said, and then he was turning Doug's chin to face him, leaning forward to capture his lips in an easy movement that left Doug whimpering.
"Yes, that's it," Audrey urged, and Ben shifted his other hand so he could properly cup Doug's face between them. "You're always so careful because you don't want to abuse your power, but you can't do that with Doug. No polite boundaries or he'll run the other way."
"Guys," Doug whimpered when Ben started nipping at his neck. "I'm gonna get worked up again."
"Hooray, dwarven stamina," Chad cheered, and that was how Doug found himself trading places with Audrey, Ben's hand working between his legs as he alternated between sucking Doug's lips and biting his neck, letting out deep rumbles all the while.
"So good, Doug," Ben growled, sounding more beastly than human. "You feel so good, sound so good, respond so good. Took care of my mates, love them-"
"Ben," Doug whined, his hips thrusting into Ben's attention, distantly aware of the hand Chad had worked between Audrey's legs, giving her some much-needed attention while they watched.
"Love you," Ben rumbled, and Doug didn't doubt it, not when his pupils were so dilated and his hold so true – somehow Doug recognized this in his bones, Ben's beast-like countenance responding to Doug's dwarvish nature with true loyalty that could not be denied. "Love you, Doug. Worked so hard, hurt so much when you left. Don't leave, don't leave again, please don't leave again-"
"I won't," Doug gasped, his body seeming consumed with want. "I won't."
"I'll make it worth it, I promise," Ben continued to babble. "If you get scared-"
"We'll address the problem together," Audrey said evenly, she and Chad pushing in close to steady Ben, who seemed close to falling apart. "Together, Ben. You're not alone."
"I'm not alone," Ben echoed, small tears rolling down his cheeks as he coaxed Doug to completion, then worked him right back up again. "I'm not alone."
Doug hadn't realized how isolating it could be standing on top of the pedestal Ben was forced to live on. How his need to be good and solid and not cross lines or ruffle feathers forced him into a box that was slowly suffocating him.
It wouldn't happen anymore, though, not on their watch.
Doug looked at Ben, happy and overwhelmed and devoted, and knew this was his one, knew his heart dared to call for the king of Auradon just as much as it demanded the princess of Hanover and the prince of Sardinia, the princess of Auroria and Ulstead and the Central Auradon Lady of the Court.
It was no small thing, and yet, he felt absolutely no apology for it. No bashfulness or fear of sense that he was not worthy.
He knew then and there that he was ready to talk to Evie. Maybe not tonight, but soon. The time had finally come for it.
-:-:-
"Is everything okay?" Mal asked when she stormed into the king's suite maybe thirty minutes after their bath, a concerned looking Uma trailing in behind her. "I heard that you missed your last round of meetings."
"I played hooky," Ben admitted from where he was cushioned in the comfy armchair, Chad curled in his lap while the two of them read and drank tea, eating the special cookies Mrs. Potts had made specifically to lure Ben from his office. "I broke rule number twelve."
"You break rule number twelve all the time," Mal huffed, but at least she seemed fond now, her worry mostly diminished to a small cape she seemed to wear around her shoulders. "So, did you guys work out your thing?"
Audrey looked up from where she'd been reviewing resumes on her laptop, a cup of tea perched by her elbow. "Did you know how much Ben loved us, Mal?"
"Of course I did," Mal said, her expression neutral. "Or, I thought I did, and then I broke that and I didn't care because I was evil – or trying to be evil, at the time. But then…" She shifted her attention to Ben. "The spell broke, and you were happy with me. You weren't upset or heartbroken, you've never seemed that way, so I thought maybe I'd just misread the situation. They don't exactly teach us how to read interpersonal dynamics on the Isle."
"Or how to understand love," Uma scoffed. "That might as well be functioning technology, considering how often that was found on that garbage heap."
"But you did love them," Mal pressed, beginning to look troubled all over again. "Why didn't you say anything?"
"I assume he didn't want to undermine his own authority," Uma drawled, making Mal blink. "Admitting that he'd gotten spelled by the kids he invited over would have cut his plans off before they ever began. Forget getting the kids off the Isle and redoing the prison system, it never would have happened."
"So you kept dating me," Mal said, her eyes beginning to get a little wet. "I mean- I always sort of knew-"
"For fuck's sake, Mal," Audrey snapped, shoving to her feet in an irritated movement. "Loving us doesn't mean he doesn't love you. And yeah, you guys had a rocky start, and yes, he did stay with you out of obligation at first, but he wouldn't have fucking asked you to marry him if he didn't actually love you. It's Ben. His mom raised him on stories of true love and romance winning the day over civic obligations. Now stop being weird and come cuddle with your boys."
"Unless you don't want to," Chad said, his cheeks heating up in a flush. "Because I get that I'm obnoxious-"
"You think I don't know a thing or two about masks?" Mal prompted, quirking an unimpressed brow at the blond. "I could write a novel on the shit I had to work through to get to Jay. I know you're not actually dumb, Chad. The others wouldn't love you so much if you were."
With that, she stormed across the room in her queenly glide, settling herself on the other side of Ben's lap before cupping Chad's face between her hands and pulling him into a deep kiss that left him whining.
"Mal," he whimpered when she seemed determined to eat his face. "Mal."
"Come here, precious," Mal purred, her voice not sounding entirely human as Ben happily wrapped an arm around her waist, beaming at the way his two loves seemed to come together.
"You might want to take them to the bedroom," Uma offered with a smirk, and that was how the rest of them got a taste of Ben's beast strength, because he picked up Chad and Mal in an effortless movement, the king pausing to shoot them a cocky wink like he knew it was impressive before he marched them into the depths of his bedroom.
"Finally," Uma huffed when they were gone, the captain moving to flop down beside Audrey. "Could I have some of those cookies?"
"You got it, captain," Audrey murmured, running a hand through Uma's braids. "Thanks for getting her here."
"Thanks for being a badass," Uma countered evenly, making Audrey grin in that especially pleased way that flooded Doug with warmth, because things were okay, things were good, and they were getting there together, instead of someone getting left behind.
It was honestly more than Doug could hope for.
-:-:-
It was inevitable for there to be a standoff between Evie and Chad, though Doug was grateful that it happened in the best possible condition, when their mass relationship was mostly stable and everyone an active and enthusiastic participant.
"Look," Chad began, pressing his hands together as though he were leveling with Evie. "I'm not gonna lie and pretend I didn't, on some small level, hope you would fuck up with Doug, because I very much hoped and did not hope for this thing. Because on one hand, great, I get a chance to woo my Doug-o, but on the other hand he would be entirely crushed and heartbroken which was the last thing I wanted, so… yes, I stayed a presence in his life, bugging him with texts and lunch dates and sleepovers because at the very least I wanted to be a part of his existence, but I didn't think you guys would actually break up."
"And when we did, there was no way you could pass up the opportunity," Evie surmised.
"Oh, boots the house down," Chad agreed, making Evie blink as she struggled to understand that was a confirmation. "At the end of the day, I wanted him to be happy, but I also wanted to kiss him. I just wanted you to know that I understood these things were not necessarily compatible when we took Doug in, we just got like, super lucky."
"You did," Evie agreed, making Doug blush. "And I have come to a decision."
"You have?" Chad said, perking up with a few blinks.
"Absolutely," Evie pushed on. "I've made the decision that together, we can take care of Doug better than we could apart. Or at the very least, rock his damn world."
Slowly, a smile spread across Chad's lips. "That is the best idea," Chad admitted. "Honestly, you should have pitched that to me when you first came over. Half of the reason I was an asshole to you was because Doug had a crush on you and Ben and Audrey were being so weird and I just burned instead of- damn, I should have just asked you to help me woo Doug. We could have done amazing things."
"We will do amazing things," Evie declared, her smile bright as she hooked her arm through Chad's. "Now, help me ravish our dwarf."
"Yes ma'am," Chad said, and then they descended upon Doug.
-:-:-
"Are you ready, Doug?" Chad asked when he and Evie were both gloriously naked and Doug was down to his slacks. They'd discovered that he was entirely susceptible to the sight of them making out, Evie grinning at the needy sounds Doug couldn't help but create and feeling comfortable since Chad let her be in control.
"Wanted this," she murmured into Chad's neck as she stroked the flushed length throbbing hard against his stomach. "Jay talked about how pretty it was when you guys changed together-"
"Evie," Chad whimpered, blushing furiously when Evie coaxed his hands onto her breasts.
"You did me a favor because I got Doug," Evie continued. "But I didn't just want your crown, Chad, I wanted to dominate you."
"Fuck," Chad panted, writhing in her arms.
Since then, they had moved onto torturing Doug, Chad sure to keep his hand between his legs while Evie bit up his torso, his shoulder, sucked on his lips and urged him to touch her in turn.
"Please, please, please, baby," she panted. "I just- whatever you can give me-"
"I can't fuck you," Doug said, his voice strangled. "I want to-"
"Quitter's talk," Chad muttered. "And irrelevant. Now, are you sure-"
"I'm sure," Doug panted, because Evie's expression communicated nothing but want, because maybe he wasn't a prince and maybe he wasn't an athlete but his mind and talent were impressive and for once, he wanted to strut.
"Outstanding," Chad chirped, and then he was dragging Doug's pants and underwear out of the way.
"Oh," Evie said, dazed as she looked upon him. "Could I blow you?"
Chad laughed. "That seems to be the common reaction upon seeing our sweet boy."
"You can," Doug said. "But I-"
And then she was going down on him, the same way Audrey and Chad and Harry and Uma had all willingly gone down on him without laughter or mockery or belittlement.
"Oh," Evie gasped when she pulled off him after he'd come once, her lust-filled gaze watching as he stirred to life once more.
"Sorry," Doug gasped. "Dwarven-"
"Stamina," Chad finished, ducking in to give Doug's length a lick. "May I blow him, Evie?"
"I encourage this," she said. "And then we're getting that bad boy inside me."
"Evie," Doug whined. "It's nothing."
"You are not nothing," Evie hissed. "And more importantly – Doug, the most effective stimulation doesn't come internally, it comes from the clitoris," she explained with a huff. "You should know that. Size literally doesn't matter."
"Um…" Doug flushed, and Chad lost a moment staring at him in wonder.
"You didn't actually know that, did you?" Chad said, seeming in awe. "That wasn't judgement, you're just- you're so smart-"
"I didn't think sex was happening for me!" Doug insisted, feeling that heat spread down to his torso.
"Well, it definitely is and it's definitely staying that way," Evie decided, coaxing his hand between her legs. "Now you get to stretch me while Chad gets you off again."
"This is the best day ever," Chad declared, and then the two of them proceeded to wreck Doug completely.
-:-:-
With Evie aware – with everyone mostly aware, Doug felt better coming clean to the rest of them about his body.
"You know I could probably spell this bigger if you wanted," Mal mused as she watched Carlos go to town on Doug, the future queen pleasing herself with a look of want as she got worked up from watching Carlos and Doug together. "At least temporarily. Like, if it makes you that uncomfortable, but for the record, we think it's awesome."
"Fuck, fuck, yes," Carlos groaned against Doug's thigh when he pulled off. "You're so sweet, I've wanted- I get so hard thinking about you."
"Fuck, Carlos," Doug whined, his length twitching back to life, but how could it not under that genuine honesty?
"Seriously, we're freaks," Mal continued. "I don't know why you thought we would have cared. The important part is you, Douglass."
"And now we can have sex with you," Carlos hummed, stroking Doug's length. "Hey, if Mal temporarily made this bigger, can I ride you? Or could I ride you anyway?"
"Carlos," Doug moaned, and that was how he learned Mal could magic his length bigger and Carlos could enthusiastically work himself up and down Doug like it was his damn job, Mal tugging on his hair and murmuring filthy things into his ears while she teased herself just from watching them, which was apparently one of the things she preferred to do.
"Me next," Mal had declared when Carlos was done, and then Doug was inside her, felt so much more real estate, felt so much more pointedly, fell apart and the spell wore off but he didn't despair because Evie had taught him well, so he fingered Mal to her own release until she and Carlos were just as spent as he was.
"I love you assholes," Mal declared when she tried to curl herself both all of them. "And I love all those assholes, and I- I'm so happy I frankly think this can't be my life."
"But it is," Doug said, because he'd felt the same before, and it was nice and awe-inspiring that Mal felt that way now. "It is and it's going to stay that way, because we have a system."
"Open, honest communication," Mal recited. "Lots of check ins. Lots of hugs."
"Lots of giving Doug blow jobs," Carlos muttered.
"Oh, without question," Mal agreed. "Can we make that a rule?"
"Guys," Doug moaned, trying to bury his face in Carlos' shoulder so he could properly hide it but Mal wouldn't let him, demanding kissing and giving him head scratches she knew would destroy him.
"It's a rule," Carlos declared. "I second this."
And Doug- he just surrendered, because what else could he do?
"Who added this rule?" Ben asked the next day, because it might have been written in with Mal's marker but the handwriting was definitely Carlos'. "Because it's a great rule."
"The best rule!" Gil called from the sitting room.
"This is my new phone background," Chad declared, taking a photo of Mal posing by the rule, and Doug…
He just held Evie closer, the princess looking radiant with the new courtship braid woven into her hair, the engagement ring Ben had designed for her safely on her hand, mimicking the one Doug had on his, nestled next to his Masters ring.
"Yep," Evie hummed, tilting her forehead against his with a look of utter fondness. "This is way better than just surviving."
"Tell me about it," Doug said, looking on his assortment of partners and the braids woven into their hair, looking on the small groups split out from the bigger one and knowing, without question, that they would all be together at the end of the day. That any trial they faced would be done together.
That in itself was surviving, but it was doing so in a way Doug had never thought possible.
Which, in the end, was what made it so very perfect.
-:-:-
Endnotes:
Realistically, marriage/engagement isn't going to solve all their problems and with a group this big, they're probably not all going to feel the same amount/type of connections with each other but that said, this is an escapist fairytale fantasy so everything is good and lovely and we all exchanged high fives. It was great. Ten out of ten, team ;)
Thanks to everyone who stuck around for this one! All the comments are greatly appreciated, and I'm deeply grateful for all the support this concept received. I didn't expect it to do too terribly well, but the idea was strong enough for me to finish a full draft, and it's really awesome to have an audience that's willing to run with my crazy. Thanks, team ^_^
Next up will be a Harry-centric fic (complete with sequel!) that I will be posting on Wednesday. Hopefully, I will have a name picked out by then (the sequel has one, just not the first one, because of course). If you're in the mood for pre-Descendants Harry Isle dumb angst that-could-be-solved-with-communication-but-obviously-won't-be, this one's for you :)
Story notes:
I will be honest, I have no idea if I used the phrase 'Boots the house down' correctly. It just felt right in the moment, so I ran with it.
Until next time :)
-:-:-
'I'm never gonna be the cool guy, I'm more the one who's left out. Of all the characters at school, I am not the one who the story's about. Why can't someone just help me out? And teach me how to thrive… Help me do more than survive.' – 'More than Survive' from the musical 'Be More Chill'.