Laughing.

Deez was…

Laughing?

That was not a good thing.

Carlos looks around the clearing, but it was so hard to read anyone when they were all staring at Deez blankly.

Was he?

He runs his hands across his face.

No, he was pretty sure he looked scared.

And he should be-

They all should be.

Why weren't they?

And why were Mal and Uma still in each other's faces?

A blue and white fire Demi goddess was laughing.

And this situation was no laughing matter.

Not with the way her flames were starting to whip around.

He knew she was going to be upset.

Was pretty sure they all knew, on some level at least, that it was bound to upset her.

The flames were tied to Deez's emotions.

How often had Yensid explained that to them?

All those secret meetings with the Auradon hero turned teacher had started because of her.

Deez.

His first-

The first person to ever be nice to him.

To take an interest in his interest.

His original desk buddy.

When the Wizard offered to host private lessons for anyone who was interested-

Oh, he'd jumped on it.

Just for the chance that the man would be able to help Deez.

She just wanted to be normal.

They both did.

He shakes his head.

Focus!

Why was Deez laughing-

His eyes widen.

Why was she still laughing?

And why were the flames getting higher?

"Stop it!" Deez finally screams over Mal and Uma, who were still arguing with each other.

Not that it seemed to phase them.

If Deez full on flaming wasn't enough to alert them-

Please!

He wanted to shout, plead with Mal.

Please, notice Deez.

Notice she's not okay.

Notice the danger.

But he wasn't that brave.

"Just, stop!" She screams as she tugs the ends of her hair, the blue and white strands knotting with how tight her firsts were. "Both of you! I can't believe you're trying to force me to choose. And like this!"

"But-" Both Mal and Uma both snarl in response before they turn back to each other.

"Deez was trying to fucking speak!" Uma snarls, her eyes dark with unbridled emotions.

"Oh, fuck you," Mal rolls her eyes before she turns back to Deez, "You can't keep heading to her ship like it's not a big deal."

He steps closer to Evie.

This was getting bad.

Real bad.

The flames Deez hated so much-

The fire that ruined her writing and forced her to use stone tablets.

The inferno she feared within her.

-were slowly spreading.

He was used to seeing the darker blue and orange flames on her, they were the combination she was constantly slapping out on her arms.

But these flames were a range of blue, most of it so light it looked white.

Was it white?

Wasn't white the hottest natural flames could get?

"I haven't- Not that it's actually any of your business-"

"You know-" Mal interrupts.

"I said shut up-" Uma growls as she bumps her shoulder against Mal aggressively.

"Hey Bitch! No one asked-" Mal snarls back.

"You guys are asking though!" Deez shouts as her hair whips around her violently, "and not letting me talk at all."

"Asking you stupid. I ain't asking your bitch ass cousin." Mal spits out before she turns to Uma, "Gonna step bitch, then fuckin' step."

"Will you just let her fucking talk!" Uma growls back.

"Stop it!" Deez demands as her hands tug through her hair again.

As if she was trying to make it behave.

Like Evie did when it was windy.

Did Deez know how bad the fire was out?

His eyes widen as they drop to her feet.

Her small, bare feet were surrounded by thick-

His brain wanted to see mud.

Mud.

But he knew-

After seeing the way she could play with sand-

Turn it into a sort of glass-

He knew that wasn't mud pooling at her feet.

It was-

Lava?

Was Deez burning hot enough to melt the sand and rock in the ground?

Something-

Something was off-

Something wasn't adding up.

But he didn't have time to figure out what.

Lava was hot.

Lava was very hot.

And Deez hated hurting people.

There was nothing he could do.

Nothing else.

Mal and Uma pushed too hard.

Deez was-

Deez was not okay.

And they wouldn't be either if they stayed this close.

"Sorry E!" He whispers as he yanks her back with him.

No way.

He wasn't going to let Evie get hurt.

It was the one thing he could do.


Mal and Uma had always hated each other.

Or at least, as long as he'd watched them.

But, seriously?

What was wrong with the both of them?

They weren't idiots-

He knew that.

Liars, sure.

Cunning?

Most definitely.

You didn't earn leadership on the Isle by being stupid.

He'd stalked long enough to know that.

So-

T grimaces

-why weren't they stopping it?

Saving their gangs.

Sparing Deez the regret and guilt of that was sure to follow this mess.

He takes a deep breath.

Damn it.

He couldn't just stand here.

Couldn't let them get hurt.

Deez would never forgive herself if she burned anyone here.

Fuck only knew what killing one of them would do.

Everyone else-

He eyes the pure white demi-goddess as the flames begin to whip her hair wildly.

He watches in frustration.

-seemed content to ignore the growing threat right next to them.

The hope that perhaps Carlos or Evie would step in and stop it quickly died, along with any chance of this ending well for them.

His eyes narrow as he clenches his hands by his sides, was he seriously going to do this?

He swallows as the image of her face filled with tears well up.

He groans.

Fuck.

What a pain in the ass.

He shakes his head as he crouches, muscles tightening as he wound himself up, readying himself to act.

When were they going to realize Deez was about to blow?

He's snapped out of his thoughts when he notes the way Deez bends over, her hair billowing in her heat as she let out a feral growl.

He lunges from his hiding place and darts across the open field as the others either run or stay glued to the spot.

It was like watching a shipwreck.

Or Cruella drive.

He feels the heat as he lands with only one objective in mind. He doesn't hesitate as he continues with his momentum, taking himself and Deez down the well.

For a moment, all he can feel is heat.

Burning hot heat.

As if coals and copper pokers were against his skin.

The bright white fire blinded him, leaving no shadows in its intensity.

Still, he holds the demi goddess close, instinctively doing his best to protect her from the fall.

He gasps in relief when water hits his skin, instantly dousing the flames licking at his clothes.

The relief was short -lived.

When Deez is ripped from his grasp by an almost physical barrier that shoves them apart.

He bites back a scream as he resurfaces, choking on a deep breath of thick, hot steam.

Fear turns his stomach as he watches bubbles roil on the surface of the water.

Hot.

Hot!

Still on fire!

Boiling!

He takes a futile breath and dives back under, hoping to escape the heat.

Shit!

Where was Deez?

He shoves the pain of scalded skin aside with only one task in his mind.

No.

Nope.

He wasn't about to lose her after that.

He'd have rescued them-

Only then to be murdered by-

Mainly Uma.

No.

He scans the dark well for the familiar white glow, only to be met with vast darkness.

Darkness.

A brick lodges in his already churned stomach.

Where was Deez?

He frowns as he frantically searches the dark depths for the fire princess.

He jumps when something tangles around his fingers. Hair? With renewed luster, he pulls himself further down into the cool water.

He clumsily collects what he hoped was Deez to him before his burning lungs demand he find some type of purchase.

The slippery, crumbling stone piled near the curved wall works well as a foothold. Thank god he didn't have to swim...

T breaks the water's surface once more, happy to find it a more bearable temperature.

He pulls tiny figure closer and quickly pushes her hair away.

"Deez?" He questions softly with a light shake and several prayers.

Not today.

Not Deez.

He breathes out in relief when she blinks spastically at him, her eye movements chaotic as she looks at him, around the small space, back at him, the water, back at him.

Her whole body stiffens, her fingers tighten around the loose layers of fabric floating around him.

When she starts to sink back under the water, her grip tightens and her eyes widen.

But nothing stops her blinking.

T's eyes widen, but he lets out a sigh of relief and pulls her closer, unfortunately, against his newly formed blisters with a low hiss.

"Who- Who-" Deez's muffled voice strains to speak.

"Uh, name's T," He explains as he shifts his hold on her.

"T?" Deez blinks.

Twice.

Three times.

And then her eyes widen. "T."

"Yep..." He responds carefully as he finally finds purchase to stand on and lets out a sigh of relief. "And you're Deez..." He reminds her, unsure if the girl had been knocked in the head. "You were bout to lose it," He sums up, "And now we're in a well."

"A well?" Deez looks down before her head snaps back up, "Well!" She screams in terror.

Shit!

His eyes widen as he looks around for a way to fix it.

He quickly ducks under her, pulling her on his shoulders in an ill-conceived attempt to get her screaming to stop.

He stands up straight again, this time leaning her against the algae-covered wall.

Why was she screaming?

He knew she wasn't harmed by water-

He'd seen the girl out in the rain plenty of times. She even seemed to prefer it.

So why was she shrieking?

At a deafening pitch.

His brow furrows.

Wait-

Shit-

Was this because-

He scowls.

He should've been there that day.

He always loved watching Deez interact with the pirates.

Mostly because of her.

How happy it made her.

But he hadn't been there.

He'd been too busy recovering.

Asshole.

He was such an asshole.

He should have followed up on that rumor.

He'd just laughed it off.

Deez.

Dead.

But he'd just seen her.

Of course he'd find out now.

Chest deep in hot water.

Literally.

While wrestling a demigoddess flipping out of her tiny little mind.

He should have died.

Why hadn't he died?