Chapter 4 – Crashing and Burning but Mostly Burning

WARNING – This chapter does feature non-explicit abuse. It does not get graphic, but it does happen. Please see the endnotes for more details. It also features non-consensual drugging that does not end in happy snuggles, and while that situation does not end as poorly as it could - it does, again, happen.

-:-:-:-:-:-

In the beginning, Tourney had been a sort of expectation for Chad that he had learned to live with. Being that it was the most popular sport in all of Auradon and as a public figure, Chad had certain obligations to meet to confirm his own popularity, he was pretty much required to participate in the weird, useless sport. It wasn't that he didn't think Tourney had something to offer – tactics and coordination and teamwork were involved – these were just all things Chad thought could be achieved better through literally anything else.

So he resigned himself to Tourney, then resigned himself to being good at Tourney (because no prince could just warm the bench) and took comfort in the fact that Ben was also on the team and he got to watch him run around and be sweaty, which filled certain needs for Chad that he'd rather not discuss.

But then Jay and Carlos had joined the team, and things had actually gotten kind of fun. Because Jay liked winning, but he was also just so enthusiastic that it made the sport interesting, made practice interesting, and what was once an obligation with the occasional highlight of shirtless Ben and joking with Aziz soon became something Chad actually looked forward to on Fridays.

So Chad was actually sort of exited for the game when he went outside the stadium for his weekly pre-game selfie ritual (really it was just an excuse to check up on things in Sardinia so his mind could be at peace for the next few hours). There'd be the game and then fun times at the lake and then sundaes, and then he'd get back to work tomorrow, back to the expectations and the planning and always looking one step ahead. It was good. It was great, even.

"Chad," a voice called with a forced kind of cheer, causing Chad to blink away from his phone to find Audrey gliding toward him with an exaggerated sway to her hips. "Ready for the big game?"

"I was born ready," Chad drawled in response, tucking his phone away safely into the pocket of his uniform in case he needed to run. You never knew with Audrey. "And you? Are you ready to uh- cheer?"

"Always." Her smile was so forced it looked like it hurt, but she didn't let that stop her from pushing in close to Chad, trying to assert her authority despite being half a head shorter than him. "Have you been having fun on your practice dates?"

So that was what she wanted.

"Sometimes," Chad replied honestly. "It depends." Ben was sort of hopeless.

"Really?" Audrey asked, though it wasn't really a question, not when it seemed like she already knew the answer. "So he hasn't gotten into your pants yet?"

Chad wasn't sure why Audrey cared about this; she knew as well as Chad did that Ben was straight.

Chad forced himself to maintain an easy smile. "That's not the part of dating we practice, Audrey."

"Good," she murmured. "It's going to stay that way. Oops." Before Chad could move, Audrey faked a stumble into a kneeling position and with lightning reflexes, jabbed something into Chad's knee. It was brief pinprick, there and gone in an instant, and then Audrey was shifting back to her feet, smile spread so wide like a Cheshire cat. "Sorry."

"What the hell, Audrey?" Chad stared down at his knee, frowning at the spills of warmth he could already feel emanating from the injection site. Chad had developed an immunity for most poisons, so he shouldn't be feeling this much of a reaction, unless what she had given him wasn't a poison at all. "What-?"

"Ben thinks your special," Audrey hissed, dragging Chad forward by the neck of his jersey until she could talk directly into his ear. "But once he figures out what a slut you are, he'll realize the error of his stupid fake dating plan and come crawling back to me." She released his collar with a flip of her hair, fixing him with a victorious look. "Your public humiliation will simply be a bonus. Toodles, Chad."

With that, she left him, not that Chad could focus much on that when he felt the continued effects of whatever she had doused him with spreading through his body. He could feel his temperature rising, breath coming in short pants as his body seemed to- feel everything so much greater. The brush of the under-padding against his chest, the oppressive feeling of the thick tourney gloves against his fingers, his jockstrap-

Fuck, that was- he did not want to think about that last one, because all at once he realized what she'd actually hit him with.

"Aziz," Chad muttered as he slid back into the locker room, knowing he only had minutes before they'd be called out onto the field. "Aziz, you shit."

"What?" The Agrabah prince deigned him with maybe two seconds of annoyance before it gave way to concern. "Dude, what the hell happened to you?"

On reflex, the two of them ducked into a secluded area of the locker room, Chad keeping his gaze fixed to where the rest of the team was. "Audrey injected me with some kind of aphrodisiac."

"Wha-why?" Aziz settled on. "What the fuck?"

"I don't know, man," Chad hissed. "She had some kind of super villain plan about how she wants Ben to find out I'm a slut, or something."

"Everyone knows that." Aziz looked as confused as Chad felt. "How would Ben not know that? We specifically propagate those rumors."

"I don't know, okay?" And Aziz asking him to try and consider it with any sort of rationality at this moment was just unfair. "I think she was more excited about the public humiliation bit."

"How is this even affecting you? I thought you were immune to this shit."

"To poisons," Chad hissed. "I made myself immune to most poison, not to- aphrodisiacs."

"Well, fuck," Aziz summarized nicely. "Can you play sick?"

"My grandfather actually came to this game," Chad muttered, realizing this was likely why Audrey had waited to do this until now. "Even if I actually was sick, he'd make me play."

"For the record, your grandfather's a dick."

"Aziz." This was not information Chad did not know. "Any helpful ideas?"

"…I'll try to block for you?" He offered. "Maybe we can get you put on shooter."

"No," Chad sighed. "Taylor's too good at it."

"Well, between the pads and the uniform most of the um- side effects are covered, right?" Chad nodded. "Then keep your helmet on and try to muscle through until half-time. We'll regroup there."

"Fine," Chad muttered.

Honestly, he had done worse things. It didn't seem like it, in that moment, but he had done worse things.

It took every ounce of Chad's focus not to fall apart on the field. To pretend to give a shit and not flinch away any time Ben tried to pat him on the back, or when Jay carefully bumped their helmets together. It was torture running up and down the field with an aching pain between his legs, and more than once the um- friction and adrenaline would make him lose himself, though luckily he always managed to hide those moments until a celebration, or by staying down after he'd gotten tackled to recover.

By the time half-time rolled around, Chad mostly wanted to curl up in a small ball and die, but he settled on frantically making his way to the boy's bathroom so he could clean up some problems.

Of course by the time he got there it was locked. Which was how he came to rest his head pathetically on the restroom door, wishing the ground could swallow him whole. He knew at this point, Audrey was likely expecting him to be so desperate for a reprieve that he went to the girl's restroom, where some sort of ambush was likely waiting for him that would lead to a scandal and all sorts of very horrible things, so Chad knew it wasn't an option but Chad's genitals desperately wanted it to be an option, so.

"Hey."

Chad jumped at the sound of Jay's voice, flattening his back against the door to sluggishly blink at the other teen, who was of course, frowning. Why wouldn't he be frowning? It would just be Chad's luck for him to not be normal.

"What's wrong with you?" Jay asked, studying Chad's face with an intensity that made certain parts of Chad very appreciative.

"Bathroom," Chad managed, pressing his hands flat against the door. "Gotta- it's locked."

Jay considered it for a second, then held up a hand. "Hold on," he said, and then he disappeared back into the locker room.

When he came back a few minutes later, it was with Carlos and Ben in tow.

"What's with you, dude?" Carlos asked, motioning for them to crowd around Jay so he could- oh, he was picking the lock. "You haven't taken your helmet off all game, and you usually take it off as soon as you can because it 'ruins your hair'."

"Worried about um- head trauma," Chad decided, wishing it were less sexy for Jay to be breaking into a public space for him.

"No you're not." Carlos frowned. "Are you sick?"

Chad shrugged. "Probably."

"Chad." Ben was surging forward, and that was just- the last thing Chad needed him to do. "You shouldn't be playing if you're sick."

"Have to," Chad said, trying to bat away the stubborn fingers that were reaching for his helmet. "My grandfather's here."

"Your grandfather would understand you taking a night off, you've got a fever," Ben decided, despite the fact that Chad wouldn't let him get close to his face.

"Think I know my grandfather better than you, Ben." The Duke wasn't all that reasonable about these sorts of things, but Chad suspected it was mostly because he didn't like Chad. Or Chad's mom. "Look, it's fine, we've only got two more quarters and then I'll go pass out in my room."

"Got it," Jay said before Ben could argue again, and Chad gratefully pushed his way into the room, making a beeline for one of the stalls.

"This isn't fine, Chad." Of course, Ben would follow him in, and by the sounds of it, so did the other two. "You're not at your best and you could get hurt."

"I've been doing fine so far," Chad said, ripping off his gloves and tossing them on top of the toilet tank. "And not that I don't appreciate the company, but could you guys leave?"

"And risk you passing out with no one to help you?" Ben challenged. "No."

Ugh. Fuck Ben. He was the worst. Being so thoughtful and lovely and stupidly good looking in his Tourney uniform.

"Think you're stuck with us," Jay mused, which was just the thing Chad needed to hear as he eased his uniform shorts down, fingers shaking as they brushed against his jockstrap.

"When did you feel it start to come on?" Carlos asked, by the sounds of it, pacing up and down the length of the bathroom. "You seemed fine for warmups."

"It was- um- sudden." Chad bit down on his lip hard when he pulled his strap away from his groin, flushing at the liberal amount of fluid therein. He hoped they couldn't smell it. Fuck, this was the worst. He wanted nothing more than to touch himself but he couldn't because they were right there.

"The flu can strike fast," Ben said with all his wisdom of someone who had earned his knowledge from books and not firsthand experience. "Maybe we should cancel our visit to the lake tonight."

"Um no." What the hell was wrong with this guy? "There's no reason for you to cancel just- go without me. I'll sleep it off." And die of shame slowly.

"You shouldn't be alone," Ben pressed, and it was just- what Chad needed, listening to Ben be nice and considerate while he had to clean up the mess in his jockstrap and ignore the tellingly hard pain throbbing between his legs.

"I'm with Ben on this one," Jay said – Jay, who avoided feelings talk when he could. "It'd be hard to have fun while you're like, throwing your guts up."

"I'm not throwing up now." No, now Chad had different problems. "Guys, don't like- make me be the reason you miss a tradition. I'd feel bad."

Guilting them was the best option Chad had to go with because if he had to dealwith this for a second longer, he was going to explode. Literally. Figuratively.

"Okay, now I'm definitely staying," Carlos griped. "You're usually all over being catered to."

"Carlos," Chad whined for reasons that had nothing to do with sex and how the other teen's quick deductions affected him. "Please, just go. I'll be fine."

"I'm talking to coach," Ben declared, having had enough of this. "Can you guys stay with him?"

"Deal," Jay grumbled and that was- fine.

Chad finished cleaning himself up and flushed the remnants of his misdeeds away, stumbling out to wash his hands. If Jay and Carlos weren't there, he would have splashed water in his face, but as it was, he had to keep his stupid helmet on, lest they see how sweaty and flushed he was.

"Is this a macho thing?" Carlos asked. "Like, you've got to suffer and silence or else you're weak? I didn't think you did that in Auradon."

"This is a being practical thing," Chad snapped. "I'm not going to get magically better if you all crowd me. Let me wallow in misery by myself."

"No," Jay said, making a show of staring at his nails because he was actually an asshole.

Like, a sexy one, but still an asshole.

"Okay," Ben popped back in just as Chad was willing to give up on the world. "Coach is pulling you from the game. He's going to talk to your grandfather-" Like that was going to go well. "And he's gonna let Carlos escort you back to your room as soon as you get changed."

And that was just- a horrible idea. As Chad's padding was the only reason no one had realized his predicament, yet. Audrey hadn't been banking on that, but she also probably hadn't expected Chad's restraint, so the joke was really on her.

"Can I just- go now?" Chad asked, giving up on obstinance to be pitiful. "I'll return my gear later." After it'd been thoroughly cleaned.

The others shared a look that they didn't even bother to hide from him.

"Sure," Ben said eventually, and that was how Carlos and Chad came to slowly walk back to the Boy's Dormitories in their Tourney Gear.

Chad had kept an eye out for wandering cheerleaders until they could no longer see the stadium, didn't really breathe again until they were back in his and Doug's room.

"Finally," he groaned, tossing his gloves aside and making a beeline for the bathroom. "I'll see you later."

"Yeah, I'm not going anywhere," Carlos said, which was all the warning Chad got before the other teen just, followed him into the bathroom.

This was. No.

"Carlos," Chad whined. "I've got this. This part I can handle. I mean- I walked all the way here. Let me shower in peace."

"And what if you slip and fall and hit your head?" he asked. "Then I'm the villain kid who let some prince get hurt. How's that going to look?"

Especially shitty, and Chad had no real reasonable argument against this except for the truth of the situation.

So he went with that.

"Can you keep a secret?" he asked, hormones buzzing in a relentless fire that made it difficult to think.

Carlos perked up, indicating that he was as bad about gossip as Aziz and Lonnie. "…maybe."

"Gonna need a 'definitely', dude," Chad huffed. "I promise it's not something that will hurt your friends." He paused. "It's um- embarrassing."

Humiliating, was the real word for it, but whatever.

This seemed to settle things for Carlos. "Okay," he said. "Go on."

"Yeah, I'm not sick," Chad said it in a rush, yanking off his helmet and tossing it to the side. "I'm just like- really fucking horny. So if you could just-" He motioned out the door. "I can take care of myself."

Carlos blinked at him. "…what?"

"I'm horny." So horny he didn't have words for it. "And if you could get the others to like- go back to their original plans, I'd appreciate it."

"You're horny," Carlos echoed, like he didn't quite believe him.

"Yes," Chad hissed, shirking off his jersey. "It's awful. I hate it."

"You're- so horny that it's thrown you off the entire game. That it got you kicked out of the game," Carlos clarified.

"Yep." Chad kicked off his cleats, yanking off the stupid socks and just- not caring anymore.

"How could you be horny for that long?" Carlos asked. "Why haven't you taken care of it?"

"Because some people decided to follow me into the bathroom!" Chad snapped, struggling out of his long-sleeve under-padding.

"Oh," Carlos said, looking a bit lost. "That explains some things."

"You think?" Finally, Chad was able to free his torso, a bright flush spilling down his chest coated by a thin sheen of sweat. "Can I um-" He motioned to his shorts. "Fix that, now?"

"I mean-" Carlos blinked. "Sure."

There was a pause.

"Without you?"

Carlos flushed. "I could help, you know," he grumbled, looking at the floor. "You know, for practice."

There was a ringing in Chad's ear. He thought it was mostly disbelief. "What?"

"Practice," Carlos said, getting a bit more confident. "Mal gave you permission-"

"To kiss you, not to-"

"Well, you won't be doing anything," Carlos decided, shucking off his shoes. "I'll do um- stuff to you."

That was- Chad did not need to hear those words, especially not now, never now, what the hell.

"Carlos," he said helplessly as the other teen began to strip. "Come on, man-"

"Just turn on the shower," Carlos ordered, and Chad, at a loss, did just that.

This was stupid, this was stupid, this was stupid-

But Carlos was already locking to door, stripped down to his undershirt and uniform shorts. He cocked a brow at Chad's half-dressed state. "You gonna take the rest of that off?"

"Um-" Chad flushed. "Just don't um- judge me."

He couldn't believe he was doing this.

Chad pulled off his shorts but didn't remove the strap until he was in the shower stall, conscious of the mess that fell out of it and spread across his legs.

Carlos, who had just slipped into the shower door, blinked. "Oh."

"Shut up," Chad hissed, but the feel of water against him was just- a lot, and it didn't take long for him to lose himself, to become a shuddering mess against the wall.

"That was fast," Carlos noted, though it didn't seem cruel. He was mostly watching Chad's abandoned jockstrap and the rekindled interest between his legs. "And that was fast."

"I told you," Chad gasped. "Super horny."

"Yeah, you did," Carlos said, and then there was a um- hand on him.

What followed was a horrifying cycle of Chad getting aroused very quickly, falling apart very quickly, and shuddering into the firm contact of Carlos' hand.

He was sore by the end of it, a bone deep ache that faded into stubborn tingles that Chad would probably be feeling tomorrow.

"That… wasn't natural," Carlos finally deduced. "Did someone drug you?"

"Maybe," Chad huffed, trying to catch his breath. "But their admittedly stupid plan didn't work, so go me."

Carlos was frowning now. "Was someone trying to get you to have sex with them?"

Chad laughed, and for whatever reason, it didn't seem weird to be naked in a shower with a half-clothed Carlos De Ville, which was a sentence Chad literally never thought would occur to him.

"Aw, man," Chad managed when the giggles died down. "Fuck, no."

"So they just wanted you to suffer," Carlos realized, which- wasn't wrong. "Who was it?"

"Doesn't matter." Chad waved him off, reaching for some soap. "I'm gonna clean up, unless- do you need?" He motioned to Carlos, hoping the other teen would figure out the word 'reciprocation' on his own.

Carlos considered this for a moment, then looked down at himself. "Nah, I'm good. Could use some soap, though."

Which was how Chad came to shower with one Carlos DeVille – though the other teen never took off his clothes, likely embarrassed by whatever scars they hid.

Chad, being a gentleman and one to pay back his debts, was the one who got them clothes. He figured that lending Carlos something clean was the very least he could do, and was rewarded for this generosity by getting to see his sweater hang off the other teen's shoulders, sleeves trailing past his knuckles and sweatpants gathering at his feet. So cute. Chad hid their dirty uniform clothes in a trash bag to get cleaned later and stuffed it in the back of his closet before joining Carlos for a satisfying flop onto his bed.

Fuck, Chad was tired, and naptime seemed like the most brilliant idea in the world.

If Carlos' sleepy expression was anything to go by, he agreed. "Wanna-" Cue an adorable yawn. "-rest our eyes until the others get here?"

"Yeah, that's-" Chad swallowed a yawn of his own, passing Carlos the soft quilt Jane had made him for his birthday. "-a good plan."

He thought nothing of it when Carlos curled against his side, seeing as the other teen had helped him out by not like, freaking out entirely. There would be hell to pay later with his grandfather, and planning meetings to figure out whatever the hell Audrey wanted, but until then, he wanted to rest.

This one time, he could indulge himself.

-:-:-:-:-:-

It just showed how out of it Chad was that he didn't register another person in the room until an insistent slam against the floor had him blinking into awareness, torn between struggling into the sitting position and protecting the warm body nearby, leaving him in a half-hunched position.

When his eyes focused, it was to the alarming sight of his grandfather posed right next to the bed, his cane digging hard into the floor, which was likely what had woken Chad in the first place. Of course he looked displeased, which was his grandfather's default expression when dealing with Chad, but there seemed to be an extra vexation when the Duke realized who, exactly, Chad was sharing a bed with.

Well, fuck.

"Chadwick," he began simply, allowing distaste to permeate his tone. "I'm glad to see you're doing better."

He didn't make an effort to sound genuine, since the effects of the aphrodisiac were mostly non-apparent, which meant he probably thought Chad had decided to play hooky.

"Grandfather." Chad settled for sitting up while attempting to block Carlos from view, who had woken about the same time as Chad did, if the tension in his body was anything to go off of. "My apologies for missing the game. I was hit with a sudden sickness."

"A sickness that seems to have passed," his grandfather noted, his steely gaze shifting from Chad to Carlos. "And who might this be?"

He knew very well who it was, but Chad played along well enough, plastering on his best smile. "This is my friend, Carlos De Ville. He's one of the transfer students from the Isle."

"Is he now?" his grandfather asked, shifting so that he could loom over them from the foot of the bed. "What a considerate friend you have, Chadwick."

"I'd like to think so," Chad said, willfully ignoring the slight. He turned to Carlos before things could get ugly, the other teen still frozen in place. "Carlos, could you go check on the others? I need to talk to my grandfather real quick. Catch up, you know."

Among other things.

Carlos blinked out of his shock. "Are you sure-?"

"He is," the Duke interrupted, reaching near the end of his patience. "Though your concern is appreciated, young man."

He said this with an expression one might use on a wad of old gum stuck to the sole of your favorite shoe, and there was no way for Carlos to miss it, no way anyone could have missed it, not even Dumb Chad.

"It's okay," Chad assured him, squeezing his shoulder before nodding through the door. "Thanks, Carlos."

Reluctantly, the other teen nodded. "Of course."

He exited the room with silent footsteps, Chad conscious of the considering look his grandfather gave Carlos' borrowed clothes, knowing that they had to be Chad's, that they had ended up in Chad's bed, even though everything had remained (relatively) innocent.

The Duke was kind enough to wait for the door to shut behind Carlos before going over to lock it, and Chad took that time to slide out of the bed. If he was going to be dressed down, he should do it on his feet, even if he wouldn't end there.

"You're getting awfully familiar with them, Chadwick," the Duke said without buildup, cutting to the heart of the issue. "Too familiar."

"You know what they say." Chad shrugged. "Keep your friends close…"

And your enemies within range of your primary weapon.

His grandfather had been the one to teach him that, though he still seemed unsatisfied with the explanation.

"There are limits, Chadwick," he drawled, cocking his head to beckon Chad closer to him. "And appearances to maintain. Ducking out halfway through a game after such a terrible showing, making up some illness to debase yourself in such a way is not acceptable." He cradled his cane in his hands, indicating that punishment would be immanent, though Chad had already known that. "You were raised better."

"I know."

"If you know," his grandfather said slowly, turning the cane so he held it by the bottom, allowing the metal balled handle to hang low. "Then it is an especially heinous crime."

This was all the warning Chad got before the cane lashed out, the heavy metal catching him hard between the legs, pulling a broken cry from Chad's mouth. It hurt – fuck – with everything so oversensitive from Audrey's stupid drugs the blossoming pain erupted into something unmanageable, something so overwhelming that his legs refused to hold him, causing Chad to sink down to his knees.

"Don't cry, Chadwick." And it was then Chad felt the warm tears pooling at the corners of his eyes, a stinging reaction he couldn't fight because it hurt so much. "Your actions reflect on your father." Another blow, but this one was to his thigh, high enough so no one would ever see it. "On your kingdom." His other thigh. "And the way you follow Prince Benjamin around like a lovesick fool-"

"I'm supposed to-" He choked as another blow caught his hip. "-h-help Ben."

"From a distance." The Duke glowered, stalking around Chad so he could lay into his backside, strike the padded muscles of his rear until Chad couldn't even consider such distasteful intimate relations for the immanent future. "And yet you insist on inserting yourself where you are not wanted-" Chad lost track of the blows he received, only knew that his shaky grip on the bedframe was all that kept him upright. "People notice, Chadwick. And you still haven't found a future queen-"

"I will," Chad promised, but it was an old argument, one his grandfather had refused to listen to before and listened to even less now. "I understand my duty-"

"If you understood, you would perform it!" Another strike between his legs and Chad was sobbing, half crumpled and gasping for air to try and ride out the pain.

There was no concern for future reproductive capabilities as his grandfather had already acquired the necessary samples from Chad when he had hit puberty, which made this more or less a free for all.

When it was finally done, Chad could feel the dark bruises beginning to form, and his grandfather's chest heaved with exertion.

"Do you think I like doing this?" he asked, which was a bold lie because he'd always hated Chad, hated him and his blond hair that made him so markedly his mother's. "Do you think I enjoy having to discipline you, Chadwick? But there are standards we are expected to maintain." He lowered the rod so he could rest his weight on it. "Please strive to achieve them going forward."

This was the sentiment the Duke left him with, not bothering to so much as glance at Chad when he exited the room. The door locked with a menacing click, meaning he'd been locked inside once more, but Chad ignored that, focused on steadying his breathing again. It was difficult through the physical pain (the mental he had long come to condition himself against), and by the time the door clicked back open again, he was slightly less pathetic than before.

"Shit." It was Lonnie, clad in Auradon blue and yellow, clutching her first aid kit disguised as a purse. "He really did a number on you this time."

"Let's just say it's not the um- best day to be me," Chad managed through clenched teeth, tilting his face back so she could rub at his tears with a damp washcloth. She must have stopped by her room before coming here.

"Sorry," she murmured, tucking the towel back into her purse and returning with a cold compress to rest against his eyes, trying to cut down on the puffiness before they could swell too much. "I was keeping Mal and Evie distracted, didn't notice your grandfather had left the private boxes until Jane sent me a text."

"Nothing you could have done," Chad said, holding the compress in place with a shaky hand.

"Could have set off the fire alarm," she countered, wrapping his arm around her shoulders.

"Would have only delayed it." Though it could have potentially kept Carlos out of the line of fire, which Chad would now have to be on the look for. "He caught me and Carlos asleep."

"Damnit," Lonnie muttered, raising him into the standing position. "We'll worry about that later. Can you walk?"

"I'll manage." He didn't want to, but he realized he needed to get out of here before Doug or the others came back.

"That dick," Lonnie hissed. "That giant, royal dick."

"I'll say," Chad giggled, and then they made their very slow journey to the door.

"There isn't much time left in the game," Lonnie huffed, struggling to balance Chad's weight while she fumbled with the door. "Aziz will get here as soon as he can-"

Her voice cut off when the door swung open, though Chad could tell by her sudden tension that she hadn't been the cause of that particular development.

"What happened?" It was Carlos, his breath coming in light pants, as though he'd run all the way here. "What'd he do?"

"Is Chad hurt?" That was- it was Doug. Carlos must have run and gotten Doug from the stadium, though why he'd chosen Chad's roommate of all people was beyond him.

"We can't do this now," Lonnie huffed, her voice soft but unyielding. "I've got to get Chad to my room."

"Why?" Carlos asked, stepping inside. "Is his grandfather going to come back?"

"Doubt it," Chad gasped, feeling his legs begin to tremble, even with Lonnie's help supporting his weight. "Lonnie-"

"I know," she soothed. "Guys, we've got to go."

"No." If Lonnie was stubborn than Carlos was unmovable. "Whatever happened was my fault. I'm not just going to pretend it didn't happen."

"Does he- should I get a doctor?" Doug asked, worry clear in his tone. "He's sick, right?"

"Actually-" Carlos began.

"Secret," Chad hissed. "Please, just-" He felt his legs spasm.

Lonnie sighed. "You guys want to help, go get ice."

He could feel Carlos' confused blinks. "…what?"

"Doug," Lonnie turned to the other teen. "Go to the kitchen and get as much ice as you can. There should be a cart hidden in the small closet, use that." Chad felt her motion towards the door. "Go."

There was a brief moment of hesitation before they finally left, Lonnie locking the door behind them before relieving Chad of the cold compress. "Okay, change of plans."

"Y-you should- text Jane." And Aziz, but Lonnie could figure that much out on her own. "Distract the others-"

"I'm on it." She fumbled with her phone even as she half-dragged him towards his bathroom, navigating them both inside with the determination of a rising general. She was huffing by the time she sat him on the edge of the tub, but she managed it. "Try to take deep breaths now, okay? I'm going to give you some Advil, though it probably won't help much."

'That's- fine," Chad gasped, eagerly accepting the pills from Lonnie and swallowing them dry. "A-anything will- work."

"That fucker," Lonnie growled as she started filling the tub with cold water. "I hope he trips on that stupid cane and dies."

"Don't say that where people could hear you," Chad gasped. "Never know-"

"I don't need you to be reasonable right now," Lonnie muttered, then turned her attention on him. "Okay, arms up."

She disrobed him with efficient, practiced motions – the practical necessity of the situation cutting through any potential awkwardness. It wasn't the first time Lonnie had seem him naked and it likely wouldn't be the last, though the reasons would never be for recreational purposes.

He was trembling by the time she helped lower him into the tub, flinching away from the cold water, though he knew it would only get worse.

"I think they're here," Lonnie said, combing a hand through Chad's hair. "I'll be right back."

Despite the running water, Chad could still hear the conversation carry through the bathroom door.

"Is this enough?" Doug asked. "We can go back for more-"

"This is fine," Lonnie replied. "You've gotten more than enough. Thanks, guys."

"I'm not leaving," Carlos repeated. "I can't go-"

"You can if you want to help Chad." In her more extreme moments, Lonnie could be a terrifying force to recon with, and Chad had no doubt that she was unleashing the full extent of this ferocity to get the other two to listen quickly. "What happens here, stays here."

"Did-" Doug sounded shaken. "Did his grandfather-"

"Don't start something you can't finish, Doug," Lonnie warned. "This is going to be handled, but it has to be done the right way."

"And what's that?" Carlos asked. "What's the 'right way'?"

"Anything that doesn't involve Ben," Lonnie snapped. "Because if you tell Ben, then he will have to help. He won't be able to ignore this, even if 'helping' could come at the expense of his crown."

There was a tense pause.

Doug broke the silence. "You don't mean…"

"Chad's grandfather has a lot of power, but he rarely visits Chad. He won't see him again until coronation, if then."

"So that makes this okay?" Carlos asked. "This is Auradon, I thought things were supposed to be good here."

"Carlos," Lonnie sighed. "People are equally capable of good and evil no matter where they are. The difference here is that people are better at hiding it."

"This is bullshit."

"Yes," Lonnie agreed. "It is. But if any of us tried to do anything about it, it would only hurt Chad. So if you want to help-" A pause, and likely she took some menacing steps forward. "This stays here. As far as anyone is concerned, Chad got sick and you helped him back to his room. His grandfather visited him, and now I'm going to stay and help him feel better while you guys do your little lake tradition. I need you to be normal for the others, okay? That's what will help Chad."

"I don't like this," Doug said, voice unnaturally quiet. "This is wrong."

"This is life," Lonnie offered sagely. "It's the hand we were dealt with."

"And you're not going to tell anyone about this?" Carlos pressed.

"They'd bury it." They would, so deep no one would ever find it. "And then they'd ruin anyone linked to the investigation. Chad's grandfather was king. And Chad's not the most popular prince. Some might think he had it coming."

"Bullshit," Carlos repeated with a vehement hiss.

It was kind of him to fight for Chad, as little as it was warranted.

"Yes," Lonnie agreed again. "It is. Now you need to get going before the others start to worry." A pause. "You know how Ben gets."

"…Yeah," Doug said eventually. "Okay. I- okay."

"Bullshit," Carlos repeated one last time, but then there was the sound of the door slamming shut, so he must have left.

It wasn't long before Lonnie bustled back into the room with the ice in tow, and Chad spent the next five or so minutes crying into his shoulder while she filled the tub up with ice.

"I know," she soothed, offering his head errant pets while she unloaded the ice with one hand. "I know it hurts, but this will help in the long run."

"Shit, shit, shit-" he hissed in a familiar chant, tears burning at his eyes, feeling his core temperature drop and the bitter sting of his aching muscles scream with pain. "Fuck."

"Guys?" It was Aziz who popped in next, still sweaty, as though he hadn't bothered to clean up before running here. "Shit."

"We have to take him to the doctor," Lonnie muttered. She pulled on a pair of gloves so she could more easily handle the ice.

"No," Chad gasped, tears streaming down his face. "No doctors, Lonnie-"

"Hush," she ordered, tone leaving no room for argument. "He could have left permanent damage, this time. You need to see someone, though obviously we can't just go to the hospital."

"Then where should we go?" Aziz asked, sliding into place behind Chad. He combed his fingers through Chad's curls carefully, offering Chad was little comfort he could to distract from the pain. "Any place that sees this is going to want to contact the authorities."

"I know a guy," Lonnie said, indicating she had planned for this inevitability. "An Imperial City doctor working on some kind of research program here in Auradon. He'd be willing to see Chad under the table."

For her, she did not say, but there was a distinct list of benefits that came from being the daughter of Fa Mulan and Li Shang, and eternal loyalty of any Imperial City citizen was one of them.

"Can we go tonight?" Aziz asked. "After the swelling's gone down?"

"We'll have to," Lonnie said, and then further conversation was interrupted by Jane's silent appearance.

"I cleared the cameras," she murmured, and though she likely couldn't see the damage through the layers of ice, her expression still fell to one of sorrow. "I have to go change to try and corral the others to the lake, but is there anything you need before I go?"

"Rental car," Lonnie said. "Untraceable. We'll need to sneak out tonight."

"Was it that bad?" It wasn't a question asked for caution, but concern, Jane's brows furrowed furiously. "Lonnie-"

"He caught Chad and Carlos in bed together," Lonnie interrupted, nonjudgmental, but firm.

Aziz cursed. "Shit, that's-"

"They were just sleeping," Lonnie continued. "But we'll need to keep an eye out for anyone who targets him."

"And in the meantime, the Duke bruised Chad up so badly he won't even be able to think about sex," Aziz muttered.

"P-probably the p-point," Chad gasped, shivering helplessly in the waters. It hurt. It hurt so damn much.

"I hate him," Jane muttered, soft but vehement, an old slogan. "I hate him so much-"

"Control the controllables," Lonnie reminded them. "We've got this, Jane. You should get going."

"Okay." A sad nod, and Jane was gone, leaving Chad to his frozen pain.

-:-:-:-:-:-

It was dark by the time they snuck down to the nondescript rental Jane had arranged for them, the young fairy periodically sending them updates on how the others were doing. Ben had raised a minor fuss about wanting to check on Chad, but between Jane, Carlos, and Doug, they had managed to shut it down.

For the trip, Chad had the minor benefit of exhaustion on his side, because while pretty much everything hurt, it was a pain he had become accustomed to, making their trip through Auradon City all the more manageable.

The building Lonnie brought them to was nondescript and secluded. She strategically parked them away from any security cameras and guided them into the back of the building, meaning she'd staked the place out before.

A night nurse was waiting for them by the door. She locked up behind them before taking them to an examination room, where Lonnie's doctor was waiting for them.

There were – scans. A physical inspection. The doctor commended Lonnie for the ice bath and recommended minimal activity for Chad, declaring there had been no permanent damage – this time – before sending them away with a few ointments, some prescription pain killers and an injection for immediate pain management.

By the time they'd gotten back to the school, Chad was a little out of it. But in like, the best possible way. Which was why he was happy to see Carlos melt out of the shadows when they meandered through the parking lot. Well, he meandered, Aziz tried desperately to herd him.

"Carlos!" he whispered, grinning with delight at the other teen's cool ninja skills. "…you're here!"

"Yep," Carlos frowned in confusion but easily slid against Chad's other side, helping bear his weight. "…did you drug him again?"

"Good drugs," Chad giggled. "Consensual drugs."

He heard Aziz sigh. "It's just painkillers."

"Don't sound so-" Chad frowned, unable to remember the words 'put upon' for the life of him. "Whatever. Hi, Carlos."

"Hi, Chad." Carlos shot him a weird look.

"Why are you here?" This was an important question; Chad was confused why Aziz hadn't asked it yet.

"Because someone decided to get himself drugged," Carlos grumbled. "Twice."

"Consensual druggings," Chad reminded him, then blinked. "Wait, did someone else get drugged?" A horrible thought occurred to him. "Did Carlos get drugged?"

"Carlos is fine," Aziz assured him, but Aziz had been with Chad the entire night so what the fuck did he know?

"I am literally right here," Carlos muttered, and- oh, yeah, he was. "Why would I be drugged?"

"Because the Duke is a tool," Chad muttered, letting his head slump with relief. Keeping it upright was hard. He wanted a nap. And some cuddles.

"That's what he calls his grandfather," Aziz offered, and belatedly Chad wondered where Lonnie was. Oh, probably dealing with the car. What a peach. "Don't take anything he says too seriously," Aziz continued, just wounding Chad's honor while he was right there. "He'll be out of it for a while."

"You should always take me seriously," Chad sniffed. "I'm a serious guy. Super serious. Hey-" He squeezed at Carlos' shoulder. "Tell him I'm serious."

"I'm…" Carlos did not seem to know what to do, when Chad had already told him what to do. "No?"

"Carlos," Chad whined, slumping into his space. Oh, this was a good idea. Carlos was all cute. And not a traitor like Aziz. "Come on. I'd do it for you. Or Jay. Wait, no I wouldn't. Jay's only serious when he's brooding."

Carlos gave him a strange look. "I don't think Jay broods."

"That's what he wants us to think," Chad drawled, swaying as they dragged him up the stairs. "He wants everyone to think he doesn't care so he smirks and steals things and flirts with everyone-"

"Ignore him," Aziz pressed. "Chad, shut up."

"But," Chad continued, because he had things to say. "Deep down he cares a lot and that-"

"Hey look," Aziz cheered. "It's your room. You can go to sleep soon."

"Can I?" Chad blinked. "I think I'm- I'm really tired."

"That's because you are," Aziz hummed.

Chad's room was a lovely sight for sore eyes and also Doug was there in his adorable PJs hovering by his desk like he'd been waiting for them. How cute.

"Doug," Chad grinned, because he was happy even though Doug seemed sad. "Heyyyyy, good lookin'."

"Ignore him," Aziz said again, being the worst bro of all time because he knew how much Chad liked Doug. "He's on painkillers."

"But not abusing them," Chad giggled. "Which is more than can be said for some royalty, eh Aziz?"

"Don't know what you're talking about," Aziz muttered – liar, because Aziz was the one who told Chad in the first place. "Ready for bed?"

"Fuck yes, please," Chad huffed, staring at his bed as if it could provide the salvation to all he held dear. Somehow. "Hey Doug, want to join me?" he asked, trying wag his brows in a suggestive look of sexiness. "My boat is currently broken and sad but-"

"No one's sailing tonight, blondie," Aziz drawled, herding Chad onto the bed with a weary sigh. Like he'd done anything tonight.

"Obviously," Chad scoffed. "But like, I promise, I could make you feel great-"

"Please stop trying to proposition Doug," Aziz hissed, trying to stifle Chad's words with blankets and pillows.

"Propo-" Carlos sputtered. "Was that what he was doing?"

"Yes," Chad groaned, batting away pillows. "Have you seen Doug? I hate him. It's unfair."

"Ignore him," Aziz repeated. "He doesn't actually hate you."

"But I want to," Chad huffed. "It'd make my life easier."

"Chad." Aziz was petting his hand through his hair and Chad took back every mean thing he ever said about him, this was great. "Just go to sleep, you idiot."

"Okay," Chad said, then let his eyes fall closed, drifting into a painless sort of sleep.

-:-:-:-:-:-

Endnotes:

WARNING – To be specific, the non-graphic abuse takes place after Carlos and Chad's nap.

Thanks to everyone who reviewed the last chapter! I always enjoy answering questions about my little corner of the Descendants universe, so if you have any, please feel free to ask them :)

Story notes:

For the record, I don't actually hate Audrey. For the purposes of this story I needed someone to play the antagonist, and she drew the short straw. I also don't have anything against the former king of Sardinia, who like, ranges from canonically harmless to kind, but again, I needed another antagonist.

Based on the very brief research I did, the few monarchs that retire from being King sort of resign themselves to whatever their previous status was, so in this instance Chad's grandfather is a Duke.

Literally one of the best pieces of advice was 'control the controllables'. It's easy to get worked up about things that are beyond our control, but in this instance, they had to focus on what they actually could do, and let the anxiety relating to anything else drift away.

Until next time :)