Even in Auradon, people claimed territory and defended it…as much as anyone could on the mainland. Sit in someone else's spot and they'd spend the entire class glaring. Nothing else. Just glaring. It was funny to watch. Especially because on the Isle it would've become an all out fight for the seat. If they didn't hate Philosophy so much, Jay'd be more than happy to steal a different seat each time just to watch the reactions. But the safest seats were in the back where the professor was more likely to forget about them. So, even though the class could rot on the Isle for all they cared, they made sure they were early since everyone wanted the seats furthest from the front. That was their territory and Jay wasn't about to give it up.

When they walked into the room, Jay was slightly surprised to see their professor already there. Normally, he didn't arrive until just before class started. He'd even written a question on the board already.

Professor Maguire just glanced at them and made a note as they claimed their seats. Probably something about attendance; that was part of their grade in this class right? He was pretty sure it was. Easiest grade ever…and he needed it. Besides, Evie would never let them skip class without a good enough reason. Like Carlos panicking in class and bolting.

Sighing, he led his pack to their spot. While the others got out their notebooks–though Mal's was only dedicated to doodles. Why bother wasting perfectly good paper on this class?–and Evie checked her mirror, he glanced at the board. What shit would they be dealing with today?

'If death is inevitable, why bother doing good?'

That was a stupid question. It might as well ask why they should bother doing anything. Everyone was going to die, and yet they were all still here wasting time in a stupidass class with a stupidass professor.

That was a better question: why was he sitting here and not doing something more fun? It'd be a short class too since he knew the answer. She had blue hair and was a stickler about following the rules.

There.

Class over.

Time to go.

Instead, he sat there until everyone finally showed up, sat down, and the professor closed the door before going back to the front of the room. He cleared his throat and, unfortunately, began to talk.

"By now you should all recognize the format for the class. Is there anyone who would like to start the discussion?"

Everyone started whispering as they tried to figure out their answers. Whether or not they'd actually share with the class was another matter. No one liked speaking up and he didn't blame raised her hand first and Jay braced himself. Gods, this was going to be a long class.

"Well of course you should do good even if you are going to die," she smiled. "It's good. You should always do good."

Yeah, this was going to be a long class.

Fuck.

"Yes," Professor Maguire sighed and Jay smirked. Audrey's brainless princess act annoyed more than just his pack and it was fun to watch. "But let's focus on why we should be doing good."

And that felt a lot like the one from the first class. Something about motives and kindness? This just proved there were always motives.

"Because I can?" another student finally said. "If helping somebody doesn't hurt me and helps them why wouldn't I?"

Another successful run. A really successful one this time. He managed to score half a loaf of bread and even an only slightly rotted apple. It had been a few days since they'd last had fruit and he could already picture Evie's excitement.

Now he just had to get back to their place before anyone jumped him and took what he'd rightfully stolen.

Turning down the side path that would take him back to the main street, he paused. Up ahead he could hear grunts and the all too familiar sound of fists hitting flesh coming from one of the alleys. Fuck. Careful not to make a sound, Jay crouched and inched his way forward. If this was just some stupid fight he could get on with his life. If not, well, he just had to try not to bruise the apple too much.

As he got closer, he cursed when a kid bolted out in front of him, tears streaming down her face, trying to hold her torn shirt closed. When she saw him she froze, eyes wide, before she glanced back towards the small alley. Another grunt and this time he was close enough to recognize one of the voices.

Gil.

Looked like he was going to have to risk the apple after all.

"How many?" Jay asked her.

"Th-three," she stammered.

"Including the guy who helped you?"

She shook her head.

Okay. Three people against him and Gil. Those were good enough odds. "Go," he told her. No point having her stay. She'd be safer if she ran.

That was enough for her and she took off down the street. Bracing himself, Jay drew his knife, took a breath, and sprinted around the corner into the alley. Gil thrashed in one man's grip, his opponent's arms looped up and under his armpits, while the other two took turns hitting him. There wasn't time to make anything else out before Jay collided with the man holding Gil, plunging his knife into the man's side as they fell to the ground.

As soon as the man's grip loosened, Gil kicked backwards and rolled free. The man's knee crunched. Satisfied that he wasn't going to get up anytime soon, Jay scrambled to his feet. Just in time to take a fist to the face. Staggering, he ducked and narrowly avoided taking another hit. The world spun for a moment as he stumbled to Gil's side. Careful, Gil steadied him, and, together, they faced the remaining two thugs.

"How bad is it?" he whispered to Gil, blinking as the world stopped spinning.

"Not that bad. I can still fight."

Good; he'd made it time. Now they just had to finish this fight. And luckily, he was the only one with a knife.

"On three?" Gil asked.

Jay smirked. "Three."

They charged. Wide eyed, the thugs tried to duck away, but Jay and Gil were faster. A few quick jabs and Jay was through his target's guard, driving the knife deep into his chest. Blood coating his hand, he turned just in time to see Gil take a vicious punch to the face.

Gil dropped, and, before his opponent could finish him off, Jay lunged. Hand closing around the thug's neck, Jay stabbed him in the back, once, twice, before dropping him.

For a few seconds, Jay just stood there, gasping for air, waiting for the bastards to get up. When nothing happened, he offered Gil a hand.

"Thanks," Gil rasped, taking Jay's hand and letting him pull him up.

"Don't mention it."

Jay frowned. That…he knew that kind of thinking. He'd seen it before. On the Isle actually. It was how a lot of them thought actually. To some degree at least. It never applied to the adults. Gods no. Even if helping an adult wouldn't fuck over him or his pack, Jay wouldn't do it. The adults wouldn't do it for him so why would he do it for them?

But the other kids? They had a code. Probably not a very good one by mainland and Ascendency standards, but it worked for them. Don't kill each other over stupid shit. Don't fuck someone who wasn't interested or couldn't say yes and step in if you see it happening whether or not they're in your gang. No one could exactly share food and other resources, but if there'd been a way to make sure all the kids were fed they'd have done it. The best they could do was maybe make sure everyone had some kind of skill or usefulness to earn food. And Evie did what she could if someone was injured and could owe them a favor.

Why? Because life was already hell on the Isle. Unlike their parents, they didn't need to make things worse for each other. And a lot of the adults hated that kind of thinking. If Maleficent ever found out about the unspoken code that even Mal and Uma followed…

Jay shook his head, fighting the urge to scratch at the curse carved into his collarbone. No. He wasn't going to think about that. It didn't matter now anyway. They had other things to worry about.

But as class dragged on, he couldn't help but think that maybe they weren't as bad as the Ascendancy thought.