When Ben wakes, he's considerably less fuzzy. The warmth underlining his skin is still there, but it's a lot less of an urgent heat. He remembered most of the previous night, and shyly rolled over to find his bedmate, arm thrown over his eyes to shield him from the morning light shining through the windows.

Harry's sitting up, one arm tossed over his drawn up knee and the sheet pooled around his hips, covering everything from the waist down. He smiled cheekily at Ben before offering him a bottle of water and two small pills. Ben frowned, body stiff and sore as he sat himself upright as well. He took the pills obediently, using the water to wash them down and giving Harry a sidelong glare when he snorted at him.

"Didn't even ask what they were."

Ben huffed, unamused so early in the morning, "You wouldn't have given me anything harmful."

"Depends on your definition of harmful." Harry rebuttled.

"Fine." Ben grunted, "What were they?"

Harry pursed his lips and watched Ben carefully as he said, "Contraceptives."

Maybe it was the small moment of tension in Ben's shoulders, or the way his eyes narrowed offensively at the water bottle in his hands, but even without verbally expressing this thoughts Harry seemed to know what he was thinking. "Not the time. Even if it was, ya shouldn't be having mine."

"I think that's my decision, isn't it?"

Harry shrugged, "Have whoever's babies you want. Just not mine."

"You knotted me..."

"Ya fucking forced yerself down on it." Hook snapped back, "Nothing I could bloody do."

Ben winced, feeling something akin to shame and hurt bubble up in his chest, knowing Harry was that displeased to have knotted him. If he'd had to physically force himself down on Harry's knot, he could only imagine what that implied of his feelings towards Ben. Clearly, Harry was disinterested in having any sort of relationship with him, and whatever bond had formed subliminally between them aboard the ship had been entirely one sided on Ben's part.

Just like he'd figured.

"We didn't mate then." Bed said, rather than asked, already drawing his own conclusions.

"You were out of yer mind with it. Kept beggin' me to bite ya."

"But you didn't."

"Course not."

"Right." Ben scoffed, scooting himself closer to the other side of the bed unconsciously, "Of course not."

Harry glowered, "Hey. What's with the attitude?"

"Why would you sleep with me if you weren't interested in me?"

Harry blinked, laughed once, loud and hearty but lacking any humor at all, and shook his head, "Ya don't have to feel sumthin' to fuck someone, highness." he snorted once more before frowning at Ben's hurt expression, "Relax. 'M only messing with ya. I'll stick around fer the remainder of yer heat, then I'll be outta yer hair and ya can ship me back to the Isle."

"Oh, I wasn't planning to send you back. You can-"

Before Ben could finish, Hook rounded on him, pointed finger just inches from his face, "Ya will send me back. I've still got some unfinished business that I left behind."

"Uma." Ben huffed, leveling Harry with a look that let him know he wasn't intimidated.

Harry glared, "Aye. Abandoned my captain fer yer sorry arse. Last time I do any stuck up rich boys a kindness."

Ben paused to take in Harry. His hand absently drifted up to his neck, fingers fiddling with the protective charm laced around his neck as he stared at Harry blankly. He silently looked over his words. There was a hidden confession tucked away in that hard sentence, and Ben wanted very much to untangle it and bring it into the light, "You left Uma to come and help me?"

Harry cocked his head to sneer at Ben, but stopped short when he noticed Ben playing with the necklace. Whatever crude comeback he'd intended died on his lips before he could get it out. He sighed, brought a hand to the back of his neck and worried at the skin just shy of his hairline, "Aye."

"I-I can just send you back now then..." Ben blurted, suddenly feeling like he'd unfairly kept Harry too long.

If it was true and he'd pulled Harry away from his crew and ship, from Uma, then Harry was no doubt in trouble. He couldn't imagine Uma being very forgiving about being ditched, even given the circumstances. Ben hadn't meant to cause trouble for him. This was something he could solve on his own. He reached for the phone on his bedside table, ready to call up Fairy Godmother, "No sense staying here if you don't even want to be here. We should get you back. I can find someone else to... to uh... help with-"

"You will not." Hook growled before he could stop himself, catching Ben's wrist before he even had the chance to dial.

Ben felt a familiar ache in his bones when Harry touched him, the energy of a possessive Alpha looming over him like a sultry promise. He ducked his head instinctively, relaxing submissively and dropping the phone into Harry's lap. His skin tingled where they touched, and he could see the very moment Hook realized what he was doing, his nostrils flaring and his pupils dilating.

"I'm staying." he said with finality, "'Till it's over."

Ben whimpered, the authoritative tone doing things to his body that he would, in any other context, be ashamed to admit. "You can't tell me you don't want me and then get upset when I suggest someone who will comes and-"

"Finish that sentence," Harry growled out, low and dripping with warning. "I dare ya."

Ben fought with his body in order to square his shoulders and look Harry in the eye. He might be an Omega, but Ben was still a prince, a future king, and he could stand his ground. "Or what?"

The little pleased growl that rumbled up from Harry's chest was unexpected. Ben blamed that for being suddenly speechless when Hook replied.

"Oh, princess." he sang, leaning forward and sweeping the sheets away, the phone flying off the bed with them, "I'm going to make ye scream my name until yer throat burns and all thoughts of any other snotty Auradon Alphas completely leave that pretty little head."

Ben tried to go for something in cocky in reply, but his smirk was short lasted and his words came out in a gasp when Harry nipped just under Ben's jaw, "You're jealous..."

"I'm territorial." Hook corrected, and Ben shook. "Instinct, princess. I'm the one who knotted ye last night and I'm the one who hickeyed up that pretty neck of yers. It's mine."

"I'm-" Ben tried, cut off when Harry rolled over him, pinning his hips down against the mattress, "I'm not yours..."

"This," Harry snapped, tugging roughly on the little blue gem looped around his neck, "says that ye are. No other Alpha will ever be able to satisfy ye like I do." and Ben groaned, "Ye can deny it if ya want, but I'm not lying back there on the floor-this thing hasn't blown me away-so I know."

And Ben gave in, wrapping his arms around Harry's neck and letting the warmth flood into his veins once again without any further fight.


There's another day or two that goes by in a haze that consists of little other that Hook fucking Ben through his heat.

The fairies poof food in and the dirty dishes out every few hours, along with water and more little white pills that Ben's grown to resent just a bit. He wondered how Harry had gotten ahold of the fairies to give them instruction, because Ben certainly hadn't done it, but when he asked, Harry had simply smirked. He'd pulled Ben against his chest and reminded him all too enthusiastically how he'd coaxed the information out of Ben before.

"Maybe this time we'll see how long ye can hold out before ya give up n' tell me."


Harry wasn't in bed when Ben finally woke up completely lucid.

He felt antsy, finding himself uncomfortable with an empty bed even without the excuse of a heat thrumming through his veins. He'd liked waking up to find Harry smiling at him, hands fondling Ben fondly and ready to help him starve off the desperate need for affection that came with every heat.

Ben realized with a frown that he no longer had an excuse to call Harry back to bed, wherever he was.

The answer comes in the form of a toilet flushing in the ensuite bathroom. Harry poked his head out a few moments after, and grinned at Ben as he made his way over to a tray sitting on Ben's dresser. Harry was naked save for the towel wrapped around his waist and another draped around his neck. The dampness in his hair confirmed Ben's theory that he'd taken a shower.

"Looks like toast and oatmeal again." Harry said with a click of his tongue as he lifted the lid.

"It's the regimen required by the fairies... they've had a protein and vitamin rich meal plan for years. Bland flavors to help the Omega deal with it easier and not get sick. It's what they always send."

Hook raised as eyebrow as he scooped some of the oatmeal onto a slice of toast, dropping another serving into a bowl for Ben, "Ya seem to know alot about it, for yer first heat."

Ben shrugged and thanked Harry as he held the bowl out towards him, "I've been studying Omega biology and Omega history since I got back. It's all there in the textbooks."

Hook hummed around a mouthful of oats and toast, "Learn much?"

"I've had to change my entire course schedule almost. Being an Omega ruler is a lot different than an Alpha." he said simply.

"'M surprised there's not some stupid law against Omega's rulin'."

"There used to be." Ben smirked and took a bite of his oatmeal.

"When did that change?"

"Princess Jasmine's rule, then Mulan and Chang- they had this co-ruling thing that was a big hit."

Harry nodded, and sloshed a swig of water in his mouth to wash out the bland taste of his breakfast before offering the bottle to Ben.

When Ben took it Hook stood, stretched, then wandered back over to the dresser to pull the top drawer open.

"You're getting clothes?" Ben asked curiously.

"...Yer heat's over right?" Harry asked back, not looking up as he began rifling through the clothes there, "I can smell it."

Ben frowned and set his oatmeal to the side. He tossed the bottle onto the bed and came forward to stand near Hook, fiddling with his hands nervously, "I guess... but-"

"Probably lotsa people waitin' to see ya." Harry interrupted, and turned with a T-shirt in his hands and a pair of briefs tossed over his shoulder. "Arms."

Ben lifted them obediently and tried not to sniff at Harry when the material slipped over his head and Harry was right there, just away inches from his own face.

Close enough to kiss if he tried...

The boxers were next, and Harry held them open and suggested Ben use his shoulders for support to step into them. When Harry's deft hands slipped up his legs the realization of just how intimate Hook dressing him really was finally caught up with him. It was a display of Hook caring and providing for him if nothing else.

Harry's fingers traced along the hem of his boxers for a moment, then hesitantly settled on Ben's hips.

He's staring, Ben noticed, and looks like he wants to lean over and bite at the v-line that descends into Ben's briefs. Ben feels hard pressed for breath.

It's hard to get the words out of his mouth when Harry's eyes flicker back up to meet his, stare incomprehendable as he watches Ben, "Why didn't you..." he starts, feeling suddenly overwhelmed with nerves as he tries to force out the rest, "Why didn't you ever mate me?"

Harry let out a heavy sigh, like he'd been waiting for that very question-he'd expected it-and took a step back. He released his hold on Ben and returned to the drawer, rifling through it for something to wear himself no doubt, "Beasty... ye were outta yer mind with heat. Ya only still want it now cus it's fresh, y've only just come down. Ya don't want me to be a king, princess. Think about it."

"But we're bonded!" Ben tried desperately, coming forward to touch Harry gently on the shoulder.

He flinched back as if he'd been burned, and moved out of Ben's reach, "Because I saved ya." he grunted, "Ye.. latched onto me, or somethin', I dunno, but that was a fluke."

"You can touch me! Even with the necklace," Ben said, and caught Harry's wrist before he could back away, bringing Harry's hand up to his shoulder to prove the point, "If you can touch me then you know I want you," Ben lifted the necklace with his free hand so Harry could clearly see, "And that we're compatible! That means something!"

Harry shook him off, "It was my blood that cursed that bloody thing. How do ya know it's not just cus' of that?"

Ben was growing frustrated, he reached for Harry again but he was quick to dodge him, wisping over to the end of the bed to scoop up his pants, and slipped one of Ben's shirts over his head to replace the one that Ben had torn apart. "Ye think ya want me now because ya liked fuckin' me. It felt good." Harry said next, bitter and sharp, "Ya really think we'd have ended up here otherwise? I'm yer enemy."

"You're not my enemy." Ben bit back stubbornly, "Harry, I-"

"Ya don't want someone like me, highness." he grumbled, "I'm not good, and I don't care fer whatever self-righteous pet project ya think I fit into. Not all of us are sell outs like Mal and her little posse."

Ben felt like screaming. How could Harry not see that Ben cared? There was good in him, he knew it, he'd bet all of Auradon on it. No matter what Harry thought, there was good in him. Ben had seen it time and time again. He angrily yanked the charm over his head, holding it up to his face so that Harry was forced to look at it-to look at him. "This tells me you are. You have to be good. If you weren't good then you never would've-"

"Shut up!"

Harry crowded Ben back up against a bedpost, glaring angrily at him. The sudden movement and violent tone had startled Ben enough to drop the necklace, and Harry kicked it away in annoyance, maybe regret over having ever given it to Ben at all, "I'm not. good." he growled fiercely through clamped teeth, "Stop sayin' that."

Ben pushed at Harry's chest, forcing him back before glaring. "I don't care if you lie to me, but you've got to stop lying to yourself, Harry."

He turned away to stomp angrily out the door, stopping only after he'd wretched the knob back and was halfway out the door to add, "You're too scared to admit this could be something because you know I'm right. And being mated to someone like me would mean that you can't deny it anymore."

It was only when the door had slammed behind him, Ben already gone and stomping away, that Harry finally found the voice he'd been without when Ben called him out. He was scared. He knew it was true, but it had surprised him that Ben had been so perceptive. This relationship between them shouldn't be possible, not for someone like Harry.

He took a step forward, about to chase after Ben and apologize when his foot caught on the necklace. He stumbled for a moment, then reached down to pick it up with a sigh. Ben was too angry to talk to right now. Trying to go after him would probably result in more fighting and that wasn't what he wanted. Harry himself wasn't cooled off enough to have a level headed conversation, he could at least wait until he was calmer, surely. Harry decided to wander, clear his head and wait for Ben to calm down before he'd go find him and apologize.

He tucked the jewel away in his pant pocket with a frown and sat down to lace up his boots.


Ben kicked his bare foot angrily along the hallway carpet as he knocked on Evie and Mal's door. When it opened, he wasn't too surprised to be greeted with a soft slew of barely contained giggles.

"Ben," Evie chuckled, "You're- um..."

"I don't have pants, I know." he mumbled, "Can I please come in?"

She stepped aside and when Ben walked into the room and Mal finally spied him, she laughed too. He rolled his eyes and politely asked Evie if she had anything he could wear. She excitedly got to work pilfering through her many designs for something to match his bland, blue T-top.

"What happened?" Mal asked, conversationally, "We thought you'd still be shacked up with Harry-"

"Harry happened." Ben bit, and regretted it as soon as Evie and Mal's teasing expressions turned sour.

Mal glared as she started to look Ben up and down, probably looking for any signs of injury, "Did he do something? Are you hurt? I told him-"

"I'm fine." he replied, sitting down beside her, "Just upset."

"Did he say something?"

Ben sighed and propped his elbows up on his knees, head hanging loosely between his shoulders, "He won't mate with me."

Evie was the one to interject this time, holding out a pair of ripped jeans to Ben with a frown, "But-? I thought you two were bonded?"

"I guess it's just me..." Ben sighed, and gratefully took the pants.

Evie looked at Mal meaningfully, then reached out a hand to Ben's shoulder, "Maybe it'll just take some time, Ben. You know Mal-"

"Evie!"

"She told me how she feels about me."

Ben's eyes widened as he looked from Evie's pleasantly serene face to Mal's utterly sheepish one. "How did that go?"

"We're working it out." Evie answered before Mal could, "I still love Doug a lot, but I've always had a soft spot for Mal. I figured we could meet somewhere in the space between."

Ben smiled at Mal and she shyly nodded back in acknowledgement, "I'm happy for you." he said, "I hope it all works out well."

"And you?" Mal asked, "You think Harry will come around?"

Ben sighed. "I don't know." he admitted, "He's dealing with the idea of being good right now..."

"What a time for that," Mal huffed, "though, if anyone can convince a villain kid that they're good, it'll be you."

Ben gratefully bumped her shoulder with his own, "Thanks, Mal. I really appreciate that."

"If he's smart, he'll see what a catch you are and get his act together." Evie said next.

"Yeah, but don't count on Harry Hook's intelligence." Mal smirked. "You might have to make the first move."

Ben stood and stepped into the pants Evie had given him with a grin, "I think I'll go see if he's willing to talk again."

"Be safe."

"Don't let him take advantage of you."

Ben waved as he stepped out of the room, deciding outside would be the best option to start his search for Harry, maybe somewhere near the water. He doubted Harry was still in his room, cooped up wasn't his forte. He'd probably taken the chance to go outside as soon as he'd had it. Ben kept to the grass as often as possible, his bare feet not exactly appreciating the hot gravel.

His parents had a loving relationship, as did Carlos and Jay, and Evie and Mal were working it out... Ben just wanted to be as happy as they all were. He wanted to try and talk things out with Harry, maybe ask him out somewhere. A date would probably soothe whatever hesitations Harry had about Ben only wanting him because of his heat.

He'd made it to the lake before he knew it, the happy thoughts of reconciling with Harry spurring him on, but Harry wasn't there.

For a brief moment, Ben wondered if Harry had returned to the Isle. Maybe Ben really wasn't what he wanted, maybe he wasn't ready to accept that he had some good in him. Maybe he'd been too impatient to get back to Uma. Maybe Ben's words had just been too much too fast and he-

An arm slipped around Ben's waist and caught him off guard. Before he could yell or turn around to confront his assailant, a cloth was pressed tight over his mouth and nose. Ben was a little ashamed at how quickly he went into panic mode. He struggled against the strong grip, kicking a leg out and trying to wrench the hand away from his face, but whatever they'd forced him to inhale took the energy from his bones and made his head fuzzy. He was depending on the body behind him to keep him upright before he knew it, and losing consciousness before Ben could even try to call out for help.


Hook was taking advantage of Auradon Prep's well stocked kitchens when Carlos came barreling into him.

Any other time he'd give the kid a hard time, scare the pants off him, but right now he just wants to enjoy his sandwich in peace. It's not every day a guy can get something this tasty, and when he's inevitably sent back to the Isle he'll probably never have the chance again. He settles instead with a grunt, an amused snort, and asks, "Where's the fire?"

Carlos let out a huge breath and visibly relaxed, "Jane told me there was someone in the kitchen, I thought you might be Ben eating all of the chocolate."

"So ya ran here?"

"You've clearly never tasted chocolate before."

Harry shrugged, but contently took another bite of his sandwich.

Carlos grinned and made a beeline for one of the crates piled against the back wall. He produced a long, thin box and held it out to Harry, still smiling like the cat that ate the canary. "You've gotta try some."

Hook looked at the box, then Carlos, dubiously, but relented. He set his sandwich back onto the counter and reached forward to lift the lid. Inside were rows of little circles; black, white and different shades of brown. He picked one that had a zag of little white stripes over the top and sniffed it curiously before hesitantly taking a bite.

If it really was poison, Harry would be okay with going out this way.

His eyes widened as the sugar burst over his tongue, "Oh my god... it's so... sweet."

"Isn't it awesome?!"

"I understand why ye ran, now." he paused to grab up another from the box, "N' Ben likes em'?"

"It's like... the foundation of our friendship." Carlos grinned, "Well, that and Dude."

Harry frowned, mumbling around a mouthful of gushing caramel, "Dude?"

"My dog."

"Ye have a pet dog? Tha son of Cruella has a mutt?"

Carlos chuckled and took the box away before Harry had a chance to grab his fifth piece, "They're nothing like what she said. Turns out, a lot of things here aren't like what our parents told us."

Harry hummed and licked the last bits of chocolate from his fingers.

"So, how's it going with Ben?"

His eyes narrowed, "It's not."

Carlos frowned, set the box aside and jumped up onto one of the counters, clearly ready for the conversation Harry didn't want to have, "You just spent three days locked in a room together and things aren't alright between you two?"

"I don't have to talk about this with you."

"Well who else are you gonna talk with?" Carlos asked.

Hook sighed, stuffed the last few bites of his sandwich into his mouth and started towards the fridge to look for a drink. He hadn't swallowed all of it before responding, "He's upset cus' I won't give him my mating bite."

Carlos seemed confused, and Harry noticed him reaching a hand up to play with his own bite mark absently, "Why not?"

"Are ya serious?" Hook bellowed, because that had to be the dumbest question ever, "Besides tha fact that his... liking me only comes from tha little moment of weakness I had on the Isle, his lust is all heat related and he's a bloody king?"

"He hasn't had time to like you because of anything else. You only met the one time, but you bonded."

"He bonded-"

"Tell yourself whatever, Harry. Ben might not know how to use his nose yet, but I do."

Hook sneered, and pulled the milk bottle from the fridge door, staring pointedly at Carlos as he drank straight from it.

"You're probably indirectly kissing Jay by doing that, you know."

Hook nearly spat out what was in his mouth, unamused even as Carlos chuckled lightly.

"Ben's not a king yet either... and even when he is, I don't see how that's a problem?"

"I'm not cut out to be mated to a bloody king." he grunted, and at Carlos' curious pause, he snapped, "What? "

"...You sound scared." Carlos admitted, watching Harry carefully from atop the counter.

Harry was quick to round on him, bringing his hook up until it was level with Carlos' throat, curled just under his jaw, and growled, "I'm not scared. Harry Hook doesn't get scared."

"Hey!" Jay's authoritative voice called from the kitchen doorway, "What's going on here?"

He practically leaped from the door to Carlos' side, shoving Harry's arm away with a warning growl and a displeasured baring of his teeth. Evie and Mal were right behind him, Evie watching with a simple curiosity as Mal flatly glared at Harry. She looked ready to say something, maybe insult Harry in some juvenile way like their days back on the Isle, before Carlos interjected.

"Tell him what you're thinking, and listen to what he has to say." he said simply, and Harry watched the faces of the other VK's fall into looks of curiosity.

Harry decided he liked wearing 'upset' better.

"What are you talking about?" Jay asked hesitantly.

"Harry won't give Ben the mating bite."

Mal tossed her head back to groan at the ceiling, "You still haven't worked that out yet?" she nudged Evie's arm, "He never made it to Harry then. We need to keep looking."

Harry caught Mal's arm before she had the chance to turn and leave, "And what do ye mean by that ? Ye can't find him?"

"We thought he might be with you." Jay offered coolly, still glaring at Harry as he protectively helped Carlos off the counter, "He's probably just out walking-"

"I already checked where he goes to think." Mal snapped bitterly, "He's not here eating all the chocolate and he's not with you-"

"Ya don't know where he is?" Harry growled, anger and worry slowly rising up in his chest, "How long has he been missin'?"

"A few hours we think." Evie said, despite Mal's frown, "He came to see us after you..." she trailed off and gave Harry a weary look.

"After you told him you wouldn't bond with him." Mal finished, the end of her sentence tying off with a tight snip.

It was intentionally mean, laced with something close to hatred-maybe just outright disincentive-and Mal's glare hadn't lightened one bit since they'd come into the kitchen. Harry wasn't ignorant enough to believe Ben hadn't spilled the whole story to her, and he tried to bite down on the little pang of jealousy the knowledge sent up his spine. They'd always been close. She'd been Ben's girlfriend for three or four months even, their relationship was something Harry had cleary come between, and Mal looked as disenchanted with him as he was with her. It was hard to fight the angry grumble rolling up from his chest as he returned her icy stare, "Did you try his room?"

"No. Obviously I'm an idiot."

Harry cocked his head and offered her a wry smile, "You said it, I didn't."

With green flashing eyes and her fist raised Mal made a move towards him, stopped only by Evie and Jay, wrapping their arms around her to hold her back.

"Guys!" Carlos tried, standing between the two of them with arms out, "Just chill. I'm sure he's alright, he's got that protective charm."

And like that Harry's beef with Mal fell away like it was nothing.

His eyes widened and Harry suddenly felt extremely pressed for breath. He scrambled with his pocket, eagerly trying to assure himself that he was wrong, he hadn't actually picked Ben's charm up off the floor this morning and Ben was still wearing it; he was still safe. When his fingers finally caught the string, he let out a shaky exhale and prepared for the unavoidable rage of Mal. He pulled the jewel out from his pocket slowly, scared to see it in the light-scared to accept that Ben was really somewhere out there, out of reach and completely unprotected. The Vk's expressions drop almost in synch as the glittered little gem dangled between them, not safely wrapped around it's owner's neck like they had all hoped.

Mal was the first to break the silence, bursting out of her friend's arms to slap Harry hard across the face, "This is your fault! Why didn't you just bond with him? Why'd you let him leave without that stupid necklace? Do you know how vulnerable he is right now ? Oh my gosh, he didn't even have shoes!"

Evie was there in an instant, pulling Mal back gently and rubbing over her arm as soothingly as possible. When she whispered soft assurances into Mal's ear and brushed her hair back, Harry was reminded that Ben wasn't there to give him any similar reassurance. Ben was missing. Missing and without protection because Harry had been an arse, too afraid to talk about his feelings.

"I... I don't..." Harry tried, gulping down the words threatening to tumble out of his mouth before leveling the four of them with a hard stare, "I'm a villain. He's the bloody prince of all princes. He's all... light and- and hope, and I'm..." he shook his head, "I'm not. 'M not meant to be a king or a king's mate. I'm a first mate. Not a captain. I don't.. don't know how to do this."

Mal scoffed, but her glare seemed to loosen just a tad, enough to surprise Harry at least.

Evie was quick to look sorry, looking up at Harry with something like pity, "Did you tell him that?"

"No." Mal answered for him bitterly. "It's hard to tell Ben something like that. He doesn't understand the pressure of being good."

Her tone had softened considerably, Harry noticed with confusion, and though her arms had remained crossed, her shoulders had lost a bit of their tension. She seemed... almost understanding. It confused Harry more than anything. He narrowed his eyes, but the action brought pain to his face.

Hook lifted a hand to where his cheek had begun to sting, and offered Mal an only slightly impressed raise of his eyebrow. The little firebreather had the nerve to look satisfied with herself, even preened just a little bit before Harry snorted and let his hand drop once again.

"If we can't find him... and we've really looked everywhere, then Ben isn't here." Carlos elucidated.

"You don't think he's in Auradon?"

"Well, Auradon kids wouldn't have done anything to Ben." Evie said, "They're all too-"

"Good." the five of them said simultaneously, clearly all in understanding.

'Good' kids wouldn't need to hurt a prince. 'Good' kids would tell someone if they'd seen anything suspicious. 'Good' kids weren't responsible... but a villain kid...

"So, you think someone from the Isle got to him? How is that even possible?"

Hook scowled, tightening the fist around his Hook, "Not entirely sure how she did it... but three guesses who."