Chapter warning: (mentioning of) abuse and hate speech
Gil stood in front of his dad, trying to hide this urge to run away. He knew that any sign of fear could end up in scolding or even a beat up. It had been a while since he had met up with his dad, but he never forgot how he always had to be tough. He always had to be strong. Gil took a deep breath, remembering Jay's smile as he did so. His charming smile and those caring dark eyes calmed him down. Maybe if they hurried up he could run back to the lake. Maybe if he was lucky Jay was still there. They could climb up the hill again and watched the sunrise like Jay wanted to. Gil slowly nodded to himself. He just had to deal with this for a moment and then he would go back to Jay again.
"How long have you actually been in this place?" Gaston asked Gil. "I must say, it seems really nice. I will have a good look around after I made Belle my wife and this will all mine. But tell me son, what's it all like?"
"Oh, it's been great," Gil answered his dad question. "You know, the food is really great and the water is fresh. They have leaves on their trees here. The forest is really great too and..." Gaston made Gil stop his rant with just a small gesture with his hand. He slowly turned to his other two sons.
"Didn't I tell you my boys?" Gaston said loudly. "The Beast has everything here, but as always he doesn't like to share. We have to take what's ours. Protect the citizens of the Isle and lead them to their freedom."
Gaston then turned back to his youngest son, who had to fight to keep his face straight. He didn't mean to fuel his dad rage, he actually tried to calm him down.
"Speaking of which," Gaston continued to Gil. "Where are your pirates friends? Don't they want to fight for their freedom?"
Gil felt a slight panic rising up in him. He had hoped his dad wouldn't ask and would be content if he showed up on his own. Gil had to be careful, knowing he had just one chance to turn this all around.
"Well," Gil said, unsure how he could bring the news to his dad. "Uma didn't think it was wise to stand up to Mal and Ben, so she…"
"What?" Gaston cried out in disbelief. "I always thought the pirates were fearless. I cannot believe what I'm hearing. Well, I'm sure they will join us eventually. They've send you after all."
Gil tried to keep a straight face. He definitely wouldn't tell his dad he actually went against his captain's orders by coming here. Harry even planned to ambush Gaston and would be furious if he knew Gil still went to meet his dad. Gil was certain of it.
Jay still sat behind the tree, listening in to the conversations. He felt another sting through his heart when he learnt Gil was willing to drop everything to side with his dad against Auradon. How could he have been so stupid and naïve to think Gil would be anything different. He was still a Villain Kid and a member of the pirate crew. But somehow Jay had put his trust in him. Somehow he had showed his heart to him. Jay shook his head. He had to concentrate. Every word could be important when he had to report this to Mal within a few hours. He could hear Gaston's voice again and Jay didn't even have to concentrate to hear Gaston's clear voice.
"Now tell me what you found out about the Beast." Gil also jumped up when his dad suddenly raised his voice to him again. He cleared his throat as he gathered his courage once more.
"The castle is really big," Gil answered quickly. "It has a lot of high walls. I honestly forgot how many there were. But Harry said we could look that up online. Even though I'm not really sure what that is."
Gil could see the unimpressed expression on his dad face and he knew the information he gave wasn't enough. He went through his memories, trying to visual all the rooms he had seen in the castle, when suddenly an important thought ran through his mind.
"I haven't seen any moving or talking furniture yet," Gil quickly said, remembering how it costs his dad much trouble last time. "Well, except for some fighting armour, but I don't think it was supposed to do that."
"Don't mock me, boy!" Gaston's hard voice silenced Gil, a glance of fear was seen on his face for a second. "Tell me what you know."
"They have guards," Gil quickly answered and he swore they could hear the panic in his voice. "Like living guards, not just pieces of armour. And a lot of them it seems." The expressions of the five men changed, when they all moved in a little closer. They were finally getting some useful information.
"Do they have any secret weapons?" Gaston continued asking, but Gil didn't have any more information. He looked up at the sky, trying hard to remember anything unusual he had seen in the castle.
"Oh, the queen can turn into a dragon," Gil suddenly said, a little proud of himself he had thought of something important. His dad frustrated sighed made him realize he had actually said something stupid.
"Tell me something I don't already know," Gaston said slowly, as if he was trying to control his anger.
Gil could hit himself on the head. Of course he didn't think of that immediately. It was common knowledge that Mal was actually a dragon. She was the daughter of Maleficent. And besides that, everybody had seen her transformation multiple times on their crappy televisions by now.
Gil tried hard to think of anything else, something his dad didn't know. He hadn't much time left, he could read it on his dad's impatient face. Once more he went back to the castle in his mind, knowing he was missing something. He remembered what he had seen in the gardens, when a sudden thought made him look back up to his dad. Something his dad didn't know, but could definitely be important to him.
"Belle really likes flowers," Gil slowly said. "And so do I."
For a moment it was silent, when Gaston looked at him in surprise. Gaston Junior and Gaston the Third broke the tension, when they started laughing at the same time. They quickly controlled themselves, when they both noticed their dad didn't find it a laughing matter at all.
Jay carefully spied from behind his tree to the group of men. He had noticed the moment of silence as well. He could see Gaston staring intense at his youngest son, while Junior and Trip both tried to keep their faces straight. Jay wasn't able to see Gil's face, since he could only see him from behind. Gil sounded confident, Jay thought, as he could hear his voice clearly.
Though Gil didn't feel confident at all. He didn't even notice he was holding his breath, waiting for his dad reaction. His brothers still looked sinister, even though they were still smiling.
"What have you actually been doing the past month?" Gaston asked. His voice soft, but threatening. Gil wasn't able to hide the dread from his face anymore.
"Well dad, you see…," Gil wanted to answer.
"They told me you were close to the Beast's son," Gaston loudly interrupted. "You were able to talk to him right?"
"Yea, I have," Gil quickly answered.
"So what did he tell you?" His dad was just plain yelling, as if he wanted the entire city of Auradon and the Isle of the Lost to hear about his plans. Gil still couldn't immediately answer, even though he noticed how both his brothers leaned in again. Gil stared at them for a moment, even though he could hear his dad's impatiently snorting.
"Gil, my son," Gaston tried after Gil was silent for a moment. "I hope you understand why this is important. If I had known that I just needed to destroy that rose, I would've been able to rescue Belle. I would've defeated the Beast. So I need you to tell me what you know."
Gil didn't even hear his dad anymore. Many thoughts flashed in front of his eyes, immediately remembering the bright red roses he had taken to show to his friends, leaving a broken bush behind. He then suddenly thought about the moment when he and Belle stood in the castle gardens in front of the other rose bush. Remembering how Belle told him how just a little magic was left in the rose bushes, being the descendants of the magical rose.
"I already destroyed the rose bush," Gil said to himself. "It doesn't matter. Belle told me it will bloom again."
Gaston could barely hear his son's mumbling, making him frown in confusion. He saw how Gil thought very deeply, glad he had finally talked some sense in the boy.
Gil shook his head, remembering how Belle had put a hand on his shoulder and welcomed him to Auradon. How King Ben allowed him to walk through their gardens, not even assuming for a second that he was planning to spy on them. Gil slowly made up his mind when he looked back up to his dad.
"You know," Gil started, and he could hear his own voice shift for a second. "King Ben is actually not that bad." His dad's eyes grew wide from anger and disgust, but both Junior and Trip just frowned in confusion and disbelief.
"He wants to give us a second change," Gil quickly continued before his dad could interrupt him once more. "He actually said he was glad he could welcome all the villains."
"Have you've gone completely mad?" Gaston yelled back.
Gil wanted to take a step backwards, getting further away from his dad's angry voice, but he stood his ground. Behind the tree Jay listened closely, a frown appearing on his face, asking himself why Gil would suddenly be standing up for Ben. He wished he could go to Gil, asking him what he was thinking, but all he could do was fighting against his own emotions and listening in to the conversation.
"He must've completely lost his mind if he thinks the Beast's offspring is going to give us a second chance," Junior said to his twin brother, making Gaston nod in agreement.
"No, it's true," Gil tried to convince his brothers. "He gave me a second change too. And I even kidnapped him and tied him to our ship once. Harry even threatened to kill him and…"
"Enough!" Gil immediately went silent again, but he noticed how his two brothers secretly looked at each other behind their dad's back. A glance filled with doubt, checking if the other was thinking the same. Junior stared back at Gil in disbelief, but Trip looked a little different. A small glance of hope was seen in his eyes.
"Don't tell me I actually have to be ashamed of one of my sons," Gaston continued.
Gil heard the change in his voice. He sounded less angry, but more desperate. Gil didn't like where this was going and he couldn't stop himself from taking a step backwards.
"Don't tell me it's actually true." Gil got hit by confusion, when he wondered what his dad was referring to.
"No, it's not true," Gil quickly answered. "I'm not part of Auradon, dad. I'm just trying to…"
"It's not that," Gaston interrupted him again. "Your brothers told me something ridiculous a while ago. I refused to believe it, but now that I see you standing here I start having doubts." Gil glanced at his older brothers once more, suddenly both with a smirk on their faces. Panic started to rise up in his chest.
"What's true?" Gil managed to ask, forcing himself to look at his dad again. He could see his dad already shook his head. No matter what it was, it was something really bad.
"We've heard something about you and another guy, little Gillie," Gaston Junior started to answer.
"Yes, something about kissing each other and holding each other hands," Gaston the Third added.
"Yes, seems like you and the boy are getting along really well."
Gil's eyes grew big as he watched how his dad frowned back at him in disgust. He took another step backwards, no longer able to hide his fear. "How did you find out about Jay?"
Jay could hear the shake in Gil's voice as his eyes grew big as well. He had no idea how the subject of the conversation suddenly switched so fast. He secretly glared at the group of men again and saw how Junior and Trip glared at each other in confusion.
"I thought his name was Harry," Trip said to his twin brother.
"Yes, I thought so too," Junior answered. "Harry, the little pirate boy."
"Indeed, the one running around with the hook." Both brothers stared back at Gil, both unaware how their dad clenched his teeth in anger. He couldn't care less about the boy's name.
"You've got two boyfriends?" Trip asked directly to Gil.
Junior already whistled through his teeth, not waiting for an answer. "Now I'm actually impressed."
Junior didn't even had time to react when his dad turned around and hit him against his cheek. He almost fell backwards, but he quickly recovered, straightening his back.
"It's not impressive! It's a disgrace!" His father yelled up to him. Junior simply nodded in agreement, not showing any sign of discomfort. Both twin brothers reminded themselves where they stood.
Gil didn't hide his disgust as he could see how the cheek of his brother already coloured red. It hurt, he knew it did, even though his oldest brother didn't show it. Gil understood well. Any sign of pain or weakness could result in another blow. He remembered it so well, before he decided to stay with the pirate crew.
"But it is true then," Gaston continued. He turned back towards Gil. He already looked a little calmer, as if he managed to take some of his anger out on his oldest son. It made feel Gil even more disgusted about the entire situation. "My own son is a wimp and a wuss. A disgrace; weak and unworthy! You and the other boy, disgusting and disgraceful."
Gil watched his dad's theatrical display, whining to himself in self pity. Gil had seen it before, had heard all the words before. He just stood there, letting it all wash over him. His thoughts brought him back to Jay, how he wasn't disappointed in him when he couldn't climb in the cherry tree the first time he tried. How Jay wasn't getting mad at him when he fell down even a second time. He remembered the warm glance in his eyes and the soft touch of his hands. He remembered how Jay stood in front of him with his jacket on, the light of the fire reflecting on his face. How Jay wasn't mad at him for dropping his clothes in the lake, but seemed proud to wear Gil's jacket instead. All of his dad's words disappeared in the background when Gil silently reached out for Jay. Not knowing Jay was actually really close by, hearing Gaston's rant as well. He wrapped the jacket closer around his body, as if he could feel Gil's arms wrapped around him by doing so.
"You put me to shame for the last time, boy!" Gaston suddenly yelled after a deep inhale. Both Gil and Jay looked up, due to the sudden change in Gaston's voice. "I'll make sure you'll never see daylight again. You and that other boy's disgusting behaviour ends here." Gil shook his head and he surprised himself by clenching his fists.
"You have no idea," Gil said silently to himself.
"What'd you say, boy?" Gaston yelled back.
Gil straightened his back, lifted up his chin and looked right back to his dad.
"You have no idea," Gil yelled back. For a moment father and son just looked at each other. Jay didn't notice he almost blew his cover by crawling closer to the scene. The urge to run towards Gil grew with every second.
"You have no idea what's going on between me and Jay," Gil continued, not planning to back down anymore. "If you ever saw us together, you would see how he walks up to me. How he holds me! How he kisses me, without fear. He isn't scared of me!"
"Enough!"
"You have no idea what it feels like!" Gil yelled even louder than his dad. He took a step forward, not allowing to get interrupted again. "When he holds my hand and smiles up to me. He cares about me. And he means a lot to me. In fact, he's the best thing that has ever happened to me! I have what you've been fighting for, for your entire life. You're chasing a woman who is happily married to another guy, they have a son together and she doesn't even like you. She despises you, dad. And yet you still believe you can have her."
Gil felt like he was out of breath, as he stared back at his dad. His dad could call him a weakling or a disappointment if he wanted to. He was probably right about that. But Gil wouldn't allow him to talk bad about Jay or Belle anymore.
"But yea, I will just agree with you that Jay and I are disgraceful," Gil finished his plea. His voice sounded calm again, but he still wasn't planning to back down. He could see his dad's neck turning into a bright red colour. His dad was really mad and Gil knew he was up for some punishment.
"You get over here! Now!" Gaston grunted to him.
Gil didn't care anymore. He had already lost this battle before he had even arrived. He knew he could never win from his dad. At least he said what he had to say. Gil took a deep breath, nodding to his dad. He would listen to him, as he always did. At least Jay was still there where he left him. Warm and cosy by the fireplace, having his jacket wrapped around his shoulders. He was safe. Just like the pirate crew, where the first of the squad woke up to the sunshine. Belle would be peacefully walking through the rose gardens a little later in the morning. He was the only one who was getting hurt. Gil painfully smiled towards the ground as he took the first step towards his dad.
It was alright.
