Hey Descendants!

Yay, I got the chapter posted on the right day! Anyway, here you go… and don't forget to check out Twisted's questions at the end of the chapter. We look forward to hearing from you. :)


The Next Friday

(Gil got in trouble and missed a week)

T sighs as he stares out at the ocean, at the waves as they crested before crashing at the shore. He pulls his legs to his chest, hugging them tightly as he rests his chin on his knees.

He so didn't know how to start these conversations. All he could do was pray that things played out the way he hoped; with Gil showing up a bit before Hyades. Sure, Deez already knew that he'd only recently learned to read- But still. He didn't like so many people knowing. It would lead to too many questions he wasn't sure he'd ever be able, or want, to answer.

He chews his lip nervously. He fucking hated how spot on Hyades could be sometimes. He wanted to know what she knew- As much as he wanted to remain ignorant to it. Story of his fucking life. If D wasn't even sure how it happened… There was no helping it really, besides being more careful around Deez.

He snorts. Yeah, fucking right. That ship had already set sail back at the well. He groans as he hides his face in his lap.

There was always room to improve. This just made it more challenging. Right? That's just how he was going to have to view this. As another challenge to overcome. He could figure out how to be more silent, more discreet. Could learn to school his features better. It wasn't like he was perfect, everyone always had room for improvement.

Hurried steps crunching in the sand, hardly audible above the crashing of the waves, begin to slow as they get louder. "Hey T."

"Sup?" T doesn't look up. Just takes a deep breath before letting it out.

"You okay?" Gil asks as he looks around.

"Carlos taught me to read a few years ago." He blurts out into his knees. "Just so ya know. So you don't think you're the only one… It's why I couldn't tell you anything about the tablets D use ta send with me for Uma… Couldn't read them." He picks his forehead up, only to rest his chin on his knees as he stares back waves.

"Oh." Gil sits down beside T and stares out at the ocean, "Cool."

"Yep." T nods, as he lets out a sigh. "Figured ya know, you should know- I know how discouraging it can be to learn new shit- But I also know if I can, you can totally do it too…"

"Thanks." Gil grins as he leans back, propping himself up on his elbows, "It does make me feel better, to not be the only one that didn't learn as a kid."

T grins, "No big…" He shrugs. "I'd ask you to keep it to yourself but that just seems redundant at this point- You're clearly capable."

"I won't say anything." Gil nods easily, "I know I don't like talking about it, and no one really needs to know right?."

"Yeah..." T looks away. Nail on the fucking head with that one. Though probably not for the reasons Gil was thinking. The last thing he needed was for someone to look into that detail too deeply. He was already upset three people knew at this point. Shit just snowballed on this isle. How long till Mal or Uma got their hands on that tasty tidbit? His nostrils flare as he exhales. He trusted these three to keep a secret, but he had plenty of personal experience of accidentally blurting shit out when the others talked about relevant topics. It was annoying, but he was usually so anxious to help, or be a part of the group- Shit just slipped through and ended up with him looking like a complete twat.

"Is that why Deez didn't come early? Because you didn't want her to know?"

"She already knows. But probably," T rolls his eyes, "Christ knows she knows everything the fuck else." He grumbles. "Probably knew I wouldn't want an audience even if they already knew… Though honestly, I think that one's a bit obvious…" He turns to Gil, "Don't know how you do it man."

Gil chuckles, "I live with Uma and Harry. I don't have a choice most times."

"Ugh…" T groans, "That sucks. I'm sorry…"

"Deez thinks so too… But I kinda like it." Gil shrugs, "It's nice to share my past with people I know won't judge me for it… That understand and assure me that it wasn't my fault I wasn't good enough- Wasn't enough of a man, for my dad… I mean, I forget sometimes, but they're always there to remind me when the past gets the best of me…"

T stares at Gil in horror. "That. Sounds. Awful."

Gil blinks at the tone. "What part?" He asks in confusion.

T drops his eyes, a shudder running down his spine. "Sharing the past with anyone." He mumbles. "Why would anyone willingly do that?"

"Because you can get stuck in it sometimes," Gil says with a furrowed brow, "and how is anyone supposed to help you get out if they don't understand?

T studies Gil for a moment before he looks away. Fuck. He'd never thought about it like that before. He and Faustina knew about each other's pasts, and worked well together… But he was positive what Gil was talking about was not the same thing. "Don't know." He admits with a shrug. "Never thought about it… But you're totally right- You three are proof of that, you guys probably have the strongest bond on the isle."

"Hopefully four…" Gil sighs, "Maybe five someday?"

T looks away from Gil. Who were they going to make the fifth member? His brow furrows. Did Uma have a Dizzy or Mimi of her own? "Huh." T blinks, whatever he'd sniff them out later. "She really is trying to get her shit under control- But she would need to freedom to come and go and that's not how gangs work-Then again, never thought she'd glow orange instead of blue or white either so… Ya know, crazier shit has happened."

Gil sits up excitedly, sending sand flying as he turns to T, "She can make her fire less hot now?"

T grins at the enthusiasm. "Control it too…At least way more now, then at the well. She really likes the time she spends with you guys, ya know?"

"Yes!" Gil calls out in triumph as he does a fist pump. "I knew she could!"

T chuckles, "Agreed." He smiles, "And it didn't even take me goading her…"

"Goading who?"

"You." T tilts his head up to look at the bottom side of Hyades profile.

"Hey Deez. T was just telling me you can make orange fire now." Gil grins as he stands, throwing his arms around Hyades before he picks her up and spins her. "I knew you could do it!" He cheers before he nuzzles his head against her hair.

Hyades was blushing when Gil finally stops spinning and sets her back on her feet. "Thanks Gil." She grins up at him as she struggles to stay balanced.

"But I didn't tell him the other thing you figured out." T offers as clemency. "I was just so excited for you," Defensive? Excited. Same thing right? "It came up, my bad."

"What else can you do now?" Gil asks as he helps guide the dizzy Deez to sit next to T. "Can I see you make orange fire?"

T can't help the shit-eating grin, as he looks to Hyades expectantly. If he delivered it, it wouldn't be as exciting anyways. He'd just say something like 'we figured out exactly why you feel dumb' or something stupid like that. He could barely say the stupid brain disorder's name, anyway.

"I can show you my stuff later Gil, Fridays are supposed to be about you." Hyades explains, shaking her head as if trying to clear her head.

Gil pouts before he double-takes. "Wait? For me?" He asks in confusion. "I thought the reading was the surprise?"

T snorts, "Yeah two weeks ago." He shakes his head. "This one's new."

Hyades smiles as she turns, forming a loose circle with T and Gil as she faces them, "So, you know how you said some of the letters didn't make sense because they looked the same?"

"Yeah." Gil nods, brows furrowed. He turns to T, "But you said you did too."

T has the decency to look away. "I didn't want to think it was your fault or anything…"

Gil frowns at T, brows furrowed. "Oh." He smiles. "I get that…"

Hyades reaches out and takes Gil by the hands, drawing his attention back to her, "I went to ask Master Yensid about it because I wanted to make it easier if I could. And he knew exactly what I was talking about because he struggled with the same thing. It's called Dyslexia. Which just means your mind sometimes flips the letters on you." She dips her head, watching Gil's face carefully, "He was called dumb when he was younger too, but now he's the smartest adult I know."

Gil's silent for a moment, clearly deep in thought as he processed the information. "Yensid is Dis-lex-ia too?" He asks, tone full of uncertainty.

Hyades nods, "He gave me some books to help you understand what your mind is doing, and to help you train it." She lightly squeezes his hands, "He said it worked for him, and lots of other people."

"Really?" Gil asks in surprise.

"Yeah." T, turns to rummage through his bag. "I made copies of the workbooks for you, so we could use them til you figure this shit out." He carefully responds, not wanting to accidentally offend him.

"He wanted me to tell you some of the brightest minds in the world struggle with this. And because everyone's brain works differently it used to be hard to understand, but now they know more. It doesn't make you stupid. It just makes it harder." Hyades leans forward again, placing a hand on Gil's shoulder, "But not impossible."

Gil takes the books, his eyes downcast.

T quickly looks away when he sees the first tear fall, soaked up by Gil's pants. He understood. It had to have been difficult for the kid for so long. He knew from personal experience how inadequate and stupid you could feel for being illiterate. He wished he could ask the old man what the fuck was wrong with Faustina. He would never- But there was something wrong with her.

Without another word, Hyades wraps her arms around Gil, pressing his face to her shoulder so he could cry if he needed to.

"Thank you…" Gil whispers between deep breaths, as he hid his face in the crook of Hyades' neck letting her hair cover his face. "Thank you both." His voice breaks with the depth of emotion so potent in his words.

T's chest restricts at the sound and studies the ocean as if it were the first time seeing it. "No prob." He shrugs casually. If he was crying he wouldn't want anyone to acknowledge it. So he damn well wasn't going to draw attention to it. He'd nearly cried in front of Carlos himself. He understood, finally getting that final puzzle piece to fit. Like the first time he got a lock to pop open. Or the first time he slipped out and got away with it.

Hyades whispers against Gil's temple, occasionally pressing her lips against his skin as she runs her fingers through his long curly blond locks.

When it seems like Gil's had his last sniffle, T still waits another five minutes before he stands up. "You two ready to get this bitch started." He claps his hands together as if to clear the air. He wished he could have sat longer, but he was starting to get anxious and restless again.

"Yeah?" Hyades grins as she taps her forehead against Gil's and gently wipes his tears away with the tips of her fingers.

Gil clears his throat. "Y-yeah." He coughs, "I mean, yeah." He wipes his eyes one last time. "Let's get started." He looks up at Hyades with an ear-splitting grin. "Maybe I'll finally get this."

"Fucker you're getting it." T snorts, in an attempt to further lighten the air. "Whether I have to force it down your throat, or not." He teases. "I hate letting shit go."

"You've already got most of it." Hyades reminds him gently before she backs away.

"Right," Gil says his eyes much brighter at their encouragement. "Let's do this."

"That's what I wanted to hear." T punches him on the shoulder.


So, did this chapter give you the feels?

We know it made us squee rereading it. So what did you guys think?

Did you expect Gil's reaction?

Was it nice to see T finally acting somewhat human?

Was Hyades comforting Gil not the cutest thing ever?

Was anyone expecting Gil to cry when his friends told him what he had? And that it wasn't his fault.

And who the fuck is Faustina, and what the hell is wrong with her?

Much love and appreciation,

Dark and Twisted