Chapter 10 – The Truth
"Ben, Belle, Adam," Mal begins, knowing if she doesn't tell them now, she may never will and she's done hiding it from them, hiding him from them. She takes a calming breath as she holds his hand and then gets it out before she loses her nerve. "Hayden's my brother. My actual brother. My twin to be more accurate. Our parents, Maleficent and Hades, divorced when we were a month old and each raised one of us by themselves. They hate each other but didn't stop us from being a family on the isle. We never said it before as we were worried about how much worse people would judge us in Auradon when we first arrived as it'd be easier taking judgements for having one famous villain parent and not two. Especially not the two biggest, badest ones on the isle." She explains, surprising everyone including Hayden.
"I did say she's my sister in all ways but one." Hayden adds. "We don't live together. That's the one way we're not." They wait. Wait for the accusations, for the judgments, for the questions.
None come.
Instead, Ben just smiles at Hayden. "I did wonder why you're so protective of her. Now I see why." He smiles at them both. "You didn't have to hide anything, Mal, Hayden. You should never feel like that." His smile then drops to alarm as he realises something. "Oh god. Hades is going to be my father-in-law." Everyone laughs and Mal smiles at him as he quickly rushes out, "I mean, one day. Not saying we're getting married now or anything, not that I wouldn't want to marry you, Mal. I do love you and know you love me too, but I know it's too soon, that you're not ready and neither am I yet. Maybe one day we could and…"
Hayden sighs and puts a hand over his mouth, effectively shutting the boy up. "Ben, let me just give you a simple piece of advice. Stop. Talking."
Ben smiles sheepishly and takes Mal's hand, smiling lovingly at her. He then realises something. "Is that why your hair's purple? Because Hades' turns red when he's angry but is blue when he's calm and purple is what happens when you mix red and blue together so…"
Mal opens her mouth but is stuck for an answer, not realising this until now. "That makes so much sense." Evie gasps as Jay and Carlos realise this also, despite their shock at their family relation being revealed. Even Hayden's surprised as he realises this.
"So, we're okay?" Mal asks worriedly, glancing at Ben's parents.
"Well, we've gotten used to you for who you are, Mal. How much trouble can he be?" Beasty teases, smirking at her.
"You are welcome to visit us at the palace any time." Belle says to Hayden, surprising him as she moves over to him, holding his hands with a soft almost motherly smile. "You're family too, you know."
Hayden is stunned and looks at them, wondering why they're being so nice to him all of a sudden. Mal holds his arm for support, smiling softly at him as she knows he's getting a little overwhelmed. She gets Belle to let go of his hands, the woman watching Hayden with concern. "He's not used to comfort from heroes." Mal calls over her shoulder as she leads him away, letting him lean against the railing. He looks out at the sea, calming down after that strange experience and, seeing that he'll be alright now, Mal then turns to Ben, realising she's neglecting him after all this. She kisses him and everyone awws. Everyone but Hayden (and Harry) who does not aww. He will even deny that he's smiling right now. He shakes his head and looks back at the sea, jumping when a hand covers his own. Harry smiles softly at him and Hayden looks away, not moving away from him but not starting the talk that's coming.
"I don't know how to do this." Harry admits. "I'm…sorry?" He says, sounding unsure at the word as if it's foreign on his tongue. "I never wanted to hurt you. Uma's my captain. She's always been right, and I always followed her without question but…this time it was different. I…If I knew how far she was willing to go, I wouldn't have let her hurt you like that. I just want a life outside the barrier, not just me but for my crew too. Live free and sail the seas as the greatest pirate who ever lived. That's my dream, Hayden, and you shouldn't have been hurt in the way of it." He sighs, it all coming out once he got started. He looks down, waiting for the boy's hatred but he doesn't yell.
"Do you really just want me for sex?" Hayden asks, face void of emotion.
Harry smiles softly at this. "I don't know. You're cute, hot actually, and I want you. I really want you. I…I don't know if I'd ever be done with you either." He shakes his head, confused by his own emotions.
"Good because I really like you too." Hayden smiles and puts his free hand over Harry's which is still resting over his other hand.
He kisses the pirate and smiles shyly as he pulls back, Harry leaning closer to try and steal another, but Hayden is already moving away. He sighs in defeat and walks after him, joining the others who were apparently waiting on them. Mal smirks at Hayden knowingly, nudging him with her shoulder as if teasing. Ben then thanks them for their help in his rescue and asks if there's anything he can do for them. Evie springs on this offer when she remembers a girl from the isle called Dizzy and asks if she can come to Auradon. Ben happily accepts. He even accepts her proposal to make a list of all the isle kids to try and bring more over who deserve a second chance.
Ben then turns to Harry and surprises him with what he says next. "Harry, would you like to stay at Auradon? There's a place for you if you want it."
Harry is stunned for a moment but knows what the answer is even though he'd like to stay. "Can't I'm afraid. There's a whole crew who'll be panicking right about now at our captain is gone. Hoping I won't be returning to a mutiny when I get there. They're my crew and you don't abandon your crew."
Ben nods in approval. "Well, I understand and respect your decision, Harry. Thank you for your help again with Uma."
"Is he normally this…soft?" Harry whispers to Hayden who giggles, and the others smile, even Ben, the king not taking offence.
"Yes, I am. I believe in second chances and you proved today that you deserved one. Even if it took you a few mistakes to get there. To second chances?" Ben says, offering a hand to the pirate. Harry hesitates, suspicious but then accepts it. Before Harry can lower his hand, Hayden catches his wrist with a raised eyebrow. He pulls the watch tucked away in it and gives it back to Ben.
Harry shrugs with a smirk. "Pirate." As if it explains everything and they laugh, Ben putting his watch back on.
"If you cannot stay in Auradon, then please, stay for the rest of cotillion. We'd love to have you here and it's such a long way back on your own." Ben requests and Harry rolls his eyes.
"Fine, fine. I'll stay." He then smirks and wraps an arm around Hayden's waist, pulling him close against him. "And I've already got my date for it." Everyone laughs at his boldness.
Hayden rolls his eyes at the pirate. "I haven't said yes yet."
"But would you deny me?" Harry asks knowingly, smiling at the boy. "I am so new to Auradon after all. Might get lost."
"We're on a boat." Hayden deadpans.
"Ship, love." He corrects with a smirk. "And I could fall off after becoming frightened by seeing the shocking thing known as kindness in the world. They have it everywhere in Auradon. Who knew?" He jokes and people laugh again, Hayden shaking his head in amusement at him.
"M'lady Mal, we found your spell book below deck. Uma had it." A guard informs, handing the book to her.
Mal seems unsure before deciding something. "You know, this seems like the kind of thing that belongs in the hands of Fairy Godmother. Fairy Godmother?"
Fairy Godmother springs to the front of the crowd with her usual joyful attitude. "That's me, thank you. Mm-hmm." She accepts the book as Mal hands it to her.
"This belongs in the museum." Mal says.
"It does, yes, and I'm gonna take it." Fairy Godmother agrees.
"Go for it. I'm not gonna be needing it anymore." Mal says and Fairy Godmother turns to leave until a small voice stops her.
"Can I have it?" Hayden asks and he hears the gasps of horror. "Please?" He takes a breath and decides to admit the truth to them. "I want…I want to show the world that not all magic is evil. I…I also don't actually have anything of mum, and I know she's evil and that I hate her but it would mean a lot to me if I could use what power I have of hers under a different light."
Fairy Godmother seems to think this over before handing over the book with a smile. "You were my toughest student in Remedial Goodness, Hayden, and I can see I was right that there is good in you. You just need help to find it. There's still a place for you if you want it."
Hayden is shocked at the offer. "What? In Auradon? After all this?"
"After you helped save us from Uma." She says firmly, reminding him of his recent good actions.
"I may have to talk it through with my dad first. I am supposed to be in the underworld right now, grounded until I'm fifty because of that one." He pokes Harry in the chest.
"Ow!" Harry mocks, rubbing the spot where he poked with a playful glint in his eyes and then raises an eyebrow at the prince. "And it's not my fault. You're so good looking it's irresistible." He winks and Hayden blushes.
"Well, that's new." Fairy Godmother says in surprise at his hair flaming pink.
"Yeah…" Hayden agrees, looking down in embarrassment.
Mal smiles at her brother then becomes mischievous as she decides to distract everyone from his embarrassment and splashes Ben with the water on deck. Everyone gasps with amusement. She smirks at him, daring him to retaliate. He does. Everyone laughs and she tilts his crown, and they kiss, a kiss of true love and one that is only getting stronger with every passing day.
Descendants
Hayden smiles softly, at peace and happy, holding onto the ship's railing as he hears the slow music playing around him. The party's pretty much finished now and they're heading back to shore. He feels an arm wrap around his, the girl smiling at him as she feels the final strands of joy from the party. "Hey."
"Hey Mal." He says, smiling softly at her. He doesn't let his guard down around many people, but Mal isn't people. She's family.
"You seemed to enjoy yourself. You and a certain someone. I'm surprised you're still standing after how many times he spun you around the dance floor." Mal smiles knowingly, teasing him.
"Harry is very handsome." Hayden admits, biting his bottom lip as he looks down with a shy smile, knowing he can't lie to her, a faint blush heating up on his cheeks.
"And just how much should I threaten him to not take advantage of you?" She offers, a dark glint in her eyes.
"Well, dad was already furious at him stealing my first kiss so…" He shrugs, smiling at her. "He probably is just waiting for the day he can send Harry to an early grave."
"Not too early I hope." Harry says softly behind them, smirking at Hayden jumps.
"Stop doing that!" He growls, hand over his heart and Harry laughs.
"Never, love. You're cuter when you're worked up like that." He winks and Hayden blushes.
"Hello Harry. I'm Mal." Mal introduces despite seeing each other before.
"I know who you are, love." Harry chuckles.
"Yes, but now you know who I am to Hayden and let me make this very clear." She steps into his personal space, narrowing her gaze at him. "You hurt my brother and you will feel all the power of the future Queen of Auradon making you regret that discission. You will be hunted down and I will take full pleasure in stringing you up by your ankles in the dungeon, leaving you to rot with the sewer rats that'll feed on your very being until not even your ashes remain."
"Ooo, do you like bondage too?" Harry smirks, turning to Hayden who rolls his eyes.
"Harry, shut up." Hayden says, biting back the urge to smirk at him.
"What did he do now?" Ben asks, joining them.
"Oh, hey kingling. See you've managed not to get kidnapped again." Harry grins darkly at him.
Hayden slaps him on the arm. "Hey, be nice."
"This is nice." Harry then winks, smirking suggestively at him. "Though I do have a bad side and it's very keen on seeing you." Hayden sighs, knowing Harry just never stops and puts on a smile at Ben, though still not comfortable around him like the others are. Seeing his discomfort, Harry wraps an arm around his waist, trailing small circles on his hip which relaxes him.
"So, um, I do have one question actually for you two about your lives." Ben begins, looking between the twins, noticing tension rise instinctively in Hayden. "Who's older?" He asks curiously.
"I am." Hayden and Mal say simultaneously, matching smirks flashing on their faces.
Harry chuckles as Ben looks confused, taking a second to realise that this is probably some kind of game they're playing. Shaking his head, he wraps an arm around Mal's waist, holding her close as the music relaxes them after such an eventful day. Looking around, Hayden sees a few people still on the dance floor, others sitting down on chairs they brought out and some stood at the railings. Everyone's having fun and smiling away, and he can't help but smile along with them, knowing that despite everything, despite the truth now being out, they'll be alright. Just let the world try and stop them.
The end and thanks for reading. Hope you enjoyed Hayden and the Pirate Thief. Up next in main series (One-Shots not included) "Hayden vs the Queen of Mean". Featuring more Hayden/Harry moments and Hades/Mal moments. Until then,
Happy reading :)