Sweet Nightmare

by Kevyon, LittleKarma

Summary:

Hear a tale more twisted than any fairy godmother would tell of the Disney Descendants and Once Upon a Time. The isle, the Core 4 left for their freedom, will never leave the shadows of dark magic. It hides from parent to descendant and will follow until all the deals have been payed.

Notes:

Welcome to our world, we have loved the series since it came out.
This is a labor of love that we have worked on for years.
We were tired of the Malcentric story of the movies, so we took the first movie and decided everything after that could be thrown away.

Chapter 1: Aftermath of the Coronation (Mainland: March)

    Jay shook his hands out trying to get rid of the lingering feeling of power out of them. He had felt the power in that staff and it had responded to him the top glowing green. Which only meant one thing, he had been cursed with magic and that by itself was terrifying because magic was what had gotten his father in so much trouble.

    Mal held onto her mother carefully and smiled at Ben knowing she had chosen right, even if she wasn’t sure if she could live up to the promise of being good all the time.

    “What are we gonna do with her?” Evie asked, looking at the lizard.

    “Well she is still my mom, so we’ll just keep her I guess,” Mal replied, shrugging a shoulder.

    “What do we feed her?” Carlos wondered,

    “Bugs?”

    “Serve her right,” Evie shrugged.

    “I don’t know, I guess we’ll just figure it out,” Mal glanced to Jay, “You alright?”

    “Yeah I’m fine,” he gave her a quick smile, the only one he used when he didn’t want to answer any more questions about anything.

-*-

    “Sorry” Jane looked down, “I didn’t think it would... do that”

    “What did you think was going to happen you nearly got us killed,” Audrey snapped.

    “Jane, what were you thinking sweetie?” Fairy Godmother asked, holding her wand lightly as she looked mildly disappointed in her daughter.

    “I was just so tired of no one noticing me, of not being pretty like everyone else,” Jane whispered.

    “But... I noticed you,” Carlos looked at her.

    “After Mal fixed my hair”

    “Sweetie you are beautiful and anyone who can’t see that isn’t worth your time,” Fairy Godmother touched her daughter’s shoulder lovingly, “You don’t have to change yourself for people to like you.”

    “It's just... not fair, I’m always alone,” Jane shrugged.

    “Well not anymore, now you’ve got us. And let me tell you with me on your side the world will have to take notice” Evie smiled, taking her arm.

    “We all make mistakes, the important thing is that we learn from them” Ben chimed in.

    “Plus you’re hard to miss,” Jay grinned charmingly, fingers twisting a strand of her hair around.

    Fairy Godmother smacked Jay’s hand with her wand, fixing him with a hard look, “These are your friends Jane.”

    “Yeah, I guess they are, I should have listened to Mal about the wand being too powerful” she nodded.

    Mal gave her a weak smile, “It was too powerful, for all of us. But we made sure everything was okay.”

-*-

    Fairy Godmother nodded briefly finishing up the ceremony before she walked outside, needing to fix the damage her daughter had caused to the Isle’s barrier. Nothing on that Isle was allowed to leave without approval as there were a number of people on that Isle that were just as dangerous as Maleficent if not more so.

    Jay looked at all of them, “So we’re all good now? Can I still be neutral?”

   Mal laughed as they walked out of the building holding her mother in a glass vase, “Jay as long as you are mostly good I think we’ll be okay.”

    “Yeah that may be a small problem,” Jay muttered to the dark fairy girl turned good, “I’m still not that great at being good.”

     “You are doing just fine Jay,” Fairy Godmother smiled at her prized pupils, “Now why don’t we get your mother into something more comfortable Mal and let you all get off to the celebrations,” a swish of her wand and the glass vase turned into a small plastic terrarium, “I’ll take her back to your dorm room. Now go have a great time at the party.”
Mal nearly unwillingly let go of the terrarium and smiled sadly at her mother, “It’s for the best.”

    “Was that a dragon?” Penny asked as she was led in, “It was really cool... well from where I was it was; probably scary here... is this Mal, mom told me about her, she’s probably better than Audrey... well anyway hi” she rattled off at Ben who placed a hand over his face.

    “Princess Penelope, so good to see you. Are you supposed to be here, after all we can’t have both heirs in the same place for too long,” Audrey smiled, her eye twitching a little.

    “Special circumstances,” Penny shrugged, “And it's Penny. Oh... I like your hair” she moved closer to Mal looking at the purple.
Mal stared at the girl owlishly, “Um thank you,” she glanced to Ben for some help on who this was exactly.

    “Hi, I’m Jay,” he smirked oozing charm and sex appeal as he looked the girl over, dirty blonde hair, green eyes, and the same nose as Ben, “You wouldn't happen to be related to our new Crown Prince would you?”

    Mal stared at Jay, she could have sworn she told him before about not hitting on every girl he saw. It was one thing back on the Isle, where he could seduce them out of what little they had but Auradon had a different set of rules. Here that was frowned upon, hell they didn't even like girls and guys being in the same room unsupervised.

    “This is Penny, my little sister” Ben explained, “She’s attending Flora, Fauna, and Merryweather’s academy for girls.”

    “Actually I’ll start at Auradon Prep next week,” she added, “The headmistress's may have told mother that perhaps the academy wasn’t the best fit for me.”

    “Oh...” Ben looked at her, “That will be... interesting”

    “I know it's gonna be so much fun, Godmother is just trying to find me a roommate,” Penny nodded

    “Well we should move this to the party,” Evie suggested.

    Jay nodded slinging his arm over Penny’s shoulders, “So what brings you back to Auradon Prep then little princess?”

    Mal covered her face shaking her head, “So what year will you be in Penny?” She followed after Jay, Evie and Carlos as the group of them headed towards the party, “Did you know she was coming home Ben?” it was more of a curiosity as he had seemed surprised to see his sister.

    “I know she’d be in town for the coronation, and I figured we’d have a family brunch or something before she went back to the girls academy,” Ben shrugged, “It's weird for us to be in the same place for very long, it makes a pretty big target.”

    “I’m a year behind you guys,” Penny explained.

    “So you're the other student in the royal etiquette class my mother introduced for next semester,” Jane smiled while Penny pulled a face.

    “I suppose? I don’t get the point, a fork is a fork, no matter its size, and so what if I can’t walk with a book on my head in what world am I ever going to need to be able to balance a book on my head.”

    “It makes you walk regally, so that your future husband will be pleased,” Audrey told her.

    “I’m the Princess of Auradon; he should be pleased if I even agree to marry him,” Penny snorted.

    “Very true, us princesses are so misunderstood,” Evie chuckled, “but perhaps I could take the class with you, wouldn’t hurt to know how princesses are supposed to act.”

    “But, you're not a princess” Audrey looked at her.

    “And you're not very pretty but everyone tells you you look like your mother,” Penny blinked at her.

    Carlos laughed so hard he nearly fell over, and Jane looked at Penny owlishly.

    “Penny,” Ben hissed

    “What? Did I miss something?” she looked at Ben.

    “Be careful who you make friends with, Princess I would hate for people to get the wrong idea about you,” Audrey said briskly before walking away.

    “You hurt her feelings, ” Ben sighed looking at Penny, “You should apologize”

    “Why? She isn’t going to like me more if I do. Besides it's not like you're planning on marrying her any more”

    “That’s not the point, but I’ll have mom explain it to you later,” Ben shook his head before looking at Mal, “Want some punch?”

    Mal hid her laugh with a smirk, “I think it would be a great idea if Evie took the class with Penny. After all she is the daughter of a Queen. Punch would be great Ben.”

    Jay’s grin widened as he twisted a lock of Penny’s hair, “Why can't more Auradon princesses be like you? We’d get on better if that were the case,” he ignored the look of warning Mal shot his way, no one told him he couldn't live a little and this new princess was a perfect fit with them.

    “Cause if more princesses were like me these parties might actually be fun” she shrugged.

    “That might actually be true, but I mean look at all this fashion,” Evie gushed

    “You’ll have to forgive Evie, she loves clothes more than anything else,” Carlos pulled Penny over to him.

    “The fashion here is just so exciting all the materials,” Evie smiled, “Do you have a favorite designer. I bet you get to meet them all.”

    “Actually I don’t come to many of these, so not much reason to dress up. And well they just let me start picking my own dresses about a year ago. Normally I just had one waiting when I got to wherever it was. Not really sure who did this one, its ok a little scratchy,” she gave a twirl in her pale yellow dress with a blue rose fastened to the back like a bow. “Mostly I just wear my uniform, or whatever is comfortable. Unlike Ben I don’t have eyes on me all the time.”

    Mal smiled slightly knowing that she didn't care much about fashion either, “Evie will hook you up, she lives and breathes fashion.”

    Jay nodded in agreement, “She's the best there is, made all of our outfits for this thing,” he wouldn't call it a party, he had seen wharf parties in passing and this was mild compared to that. Not to mention the legendary parties Wonderlanders were supposed to throw, but he never got invited to those, thankfully.

    “Good to know, cause I get the feeling I’m going to have to make a lot more appearances,” Penny nodded.

    “Yes you will be,” Belle said as she came up to them.

    “Your Majesty,“ Jane looked at the floor quickly.

    “Relax Jane dear, Penny I see you’ve met Ben’s friends and Mal” she nodded to Mal with a small smile.

    “Yeah these guys are great, so much better than his other friends but then again that’s not hard” Penny explained

    “Ahh I see, would you have happened to have said something like that to Audrey?” Belle asked

    “Possibly” she crossed her arms, “Don’t tell me you want me to lie and tell her I’m sorry”

    “No, I don’t want you to lie.” Belle shook her head, “I want you to apologize and mean it. I would hate for her family to be offended on her behalf.”

    “I’d be more worried about offending Ben’s future dragon in law” Penny rolled her eyes. “That wasn’t offensive was it?” She shot a look to Mal.

    Carlos just looked at Penny like she had another head, she talked to her mother like that.

    “We’ll make sure it's taken care of Queen Belle, promise” Evie swallowed

    “You don’t have to do that” Belle started

    “But we want to... I mean we’ve seen a few sides of Audrey since we got here.” Carlos explained, “we know she’s hard to like.”

    “Not offensive, my mother is a dragon some days,” Mal flashed a small reassuring smile in Penny's direction.

    Jay folded his arms over his chest, “And we know she makes it hard to get along with her. Also that she doesn't always say nice things when she thinks you're out of earshot,” he had overheard her calling them some pretty creative names before, but considering they grew up on the Isle it wasn't anything he hadn't heard before.

    “Audrey just has very high standards is all,” Mal could tell where this was going, “Sometimes they are hard to meet is all.”

    “Alright I will let you all handle this yourselves, Penny I expect to hear you have apologized by breakfast on Sunday,” Belle gave her a look, “Let me know if you need anything for your room” she softened looking at her black sheep.

    “Of course mother” Penny nodded looking away.

    “Enjoy the ball” Belle nodded, “Mal please do join us on Sunday” she gave Ben a smile as passed her bringing Mal a glass of red punch.

    “So, mom was quick to find you guys” Ben said, “Say anything interesting?”

    “That you're a snitch” Penny shot at him, “Or is the term tattletail still right? I have a hard time telling which is right sometimes, don’t get to use tattletail very often”

    “I didn’t say anything Audrey told her grandmother,” Ben defended

    “Challenge accepted, if she’s going to cry about me I should probably give her a real reason,” Penny looked around the room for Audrey.

    “That was not how that was meant” Ben sighed

    “I want to adopt her, can we adopt her?” Evie looked at Mal.

    “It's like one of us just you know from here” Carlos smirked.

    Mal smiled at Ben, ducking her head slightly in thanks, thank you was still a weird saying out of her mouth, “Sure she is Ben’s sister. Wouldn't be right to separate a family,” her lips curled thinking about the crews on the Isle that consisted of biological brothers and sisters particularly the Gaston’s.

    Jay clapped his hands together and rubbed them with a wide wicked grin, “Wicked, been awhile since we did anything fun.”

    “Don't get us in trouble Jay. Nothing too impulsive,” Mal fixed him with a hard look knowing Jay could take things out of control in seconds.

    He made a face, “That was once, Mal, once,” it was more than once, between his deal with the Crocodile, the war with the pirates, and the angry adults he stole from he spent as much time stealing as he did having to defend himself from someone who wanted to beat his face in.

    “Just don’t go too far Penny, I think mom and dad are still apologizing for the eyebrow incident” Ben reminded, “and Audrey’s not that bad.”

    “I maintain that they have no proof” Penny pointed out, “fine, maybe I’ll spill some punch on her then I can say sorry not sorry” she chewed her lip thinking it over.

    “Well, her dress isn’t that great, but...” Evie looked at Audrey’s dress.

    “Couldn’t you just... I don’t know grin and bear it” Jane asked

    “I could but... well then she would think she’s won.”

    “She kinda brought your mom into this so she might have won this round” Carlos suggested, “but I don’t see you two not going a few more so maybe lose the battle win the war?”

    “That’s actually not a terrible idea” Ben nodded.

    “Think big Penny, we let her have this one, lure her into a false sense of security and pull the rug out from under her feet,” Jay chimed in happily.

    “Jay... behave,” Mal sighed looking the Agrabahian teen over, “Please.”

    Jay frowned ever so slightly, he didn't want to behave. In fact he would much rather go back to the old days where he could make arrangements to have people dealt with. But Mal would never have that here, the most she did with all her magic was style girls hair and help Evie make clothes.

    Mal could see the cogs working in Jay’s eyes as his face remained schooled in a passive expression, “A little being wicked isn't bad as long as you don't blow it out of proportion,” she ceded knowing he wasn't sold on Auradon's goodness.

    Jay shrugged indifferently, “So Penny what brings you back here to Auradon Prep?” he asked again having not actually gotten an answer the first time.

    “There was a... misunderstanding at my old school. It was decided that its would be in everyone's best interest if I was not invited back after the coronation”

    “If I heard correctly, there was something about trying to drown an older student,” Ben raised an eyebrow.

    “I have no idea how she ended up on that air mattress in the middle of the lake” Penny shrugged, “And I mean she’s the Princess of an Island how does she not know how to swim?”

    Jay and the others exchanged a curious look, “What's an air mattress?”

    “So why is it such a bad thing? I mean it's just a mean joke right?” Mal asked glancing at Ben.

    “It was, but it puts a strain on relations between different kingdoms,” Ben explained, “Yeah our parents all get along but in a few years it will be us that has to get along.”

    “It will be you and them that have to get along,” Penny chimed in, “I just have to do what I’m told.”

    “Cause you're so good at that” Ben snorted, “If there was an award for rule breaking it would be yours”

    “Thank you” she nodded.

    Jay snorted, “Sounds like you're definitely our kind of princess. We aren't always so good with the rule thing either.”

    “We are still learning and getting better at it,” Mal protested, “I think you’ll be great Ben, it's what you're good at, being personable and likeable.”

    “It's not just him, so mom told me that the class I mentioned earlier about princess slash royal etiquette well it was originally put in for you Mal,” Jane explained, “We all want to give you all the info you need to succeed as a queen. And if Evie’s going to take it too I’ll ask as well, then we could have little study groups and help each other.”

    “Is she always this perky?” Penny asked looking at Jane.

    “Yeah isn’t it great you can do anything and she’s got a good spin for it” Carlos sighed.
Mal stared at Jane, “Wait me? But I'm not a princess, and being a queen I don't, I don't think so.”

    Jay snorted, “You're dating the crown Prince, the fancy princess class might be a part of the deal.”

    Mal glowered at the Agrabahian boy, “Maybe you should go and take the class too.”

    “Nope, I'm not royal in anyway shape or form. I’m just-”

    “I told you never to use that word,” her eyes glowed for a beat before she pinched the bridge of her nose, “You are our Jay, that's all you’ll ever need to be.”

    “Come on let's go dance” Jane smiled grabbing Carlos’ hand.

    “Yeah sure” he nodded following after her.

    “Shall we,” Ben offered Mal a hand.

    “Sure,” Mal nodded taking his hand and letting him whisk her off to the dance floor, “Sorry about Jay. I don't know what's gotten into him today.”

    “From my short experience with you guys, I’ve learned that Jay is just Jay and he’s gonna do what he wants,” Ben shrugged.

    “That's a problem, because we are under a microscope here in Auradon. One mistake could send us back to the Isle,” Mal frowned slightly trying not to think about having to go back to the Marketplace and all those Villains who just watched her not destroy Ben like they wanted.

    “I won't let that happen to you guys,” Ben assured, “I know its a learning curve.”

    “I know you won’t but I still worry,” Mal bit her bottom lip, “I worry this is suddenly going to end.”

    “Sometimes I worry that I’m going to wake up and you’ll be gone,” Ben swayed gently.

    “I’m not going to disappear,” Mal smiled softly, “I’m never going to just vanish without saying something.”

    “That’s reassuring, and if you don’t want to take that class I can talk to Fairy Godmother an figure it out”

    “I don't think it's for me,” Mal shook her head, “I’m not really cut out for the princess thing.”

-*-

    Jay sighed and passed Evie and Penny a thin smile, “Did you want to dance?”

    “Sure no promises not to step on your feet though,” Penny nodded offering him a hand.

    “I’m going to see if I can get a better look at some of the dresses” Evie told him before heading off.

   Jay nodded and watched Evie slip away before taking Penny’s hand and guided her to the dance floor, “No worries I am pretty sure you’ll be just fine. To be honest I’m not much of a dancer, we didn't do much dancing like this on the Isle.”

    “What is the Isle like?” she asked tilting her head to the side, “All we hear here is the bad stuff.”

    Jay made a face, “Well it’s not Auradon. I mean it was hard, and demanding but it was home. Is home,” he frowned slightly, “But I don’t know how my dad would react if I had to go back. I know that didn’t answer your question but no one here really wants to know how it was there.”

    “Its ok, sometimes it's hard to explain things,” she nodded taking his other hand.

    “Sometimes it's very hard to explain things,” Jay agreed starting to dance with Penny, careful of her feet as they moved together, “So why exactly did you get sent back here? I mean it can’t have been that bad, I mean to me.” he was sure there was more to it.

    “She cut half my hair off so I may have slipped a sleeping powder into her drink at dinner and then floated her out into the middle of the lake on an air mattress in the middle of the night.”

    “Oh that’s nothing,” Jay snorted, “I’ve done way worse, even Carlos has done worse. But I guess that’s why people here act like you’ve done something bad,” he turned her slowly away from himself before pulling her back in.

    “Like I said I had no idea she couldn’t swim,” she smiled, “I may have also called one of the headmistresses a cow... they completely over reacted.”

    “That’s it, you just called her a cow. How is that a bad thing? I mean is that a bad thing here in Auradon?” Jay was confused because he had a litany of way worse things to call a person than cow.

    “These people just don’t get it,” she nodded.

   “I don’t get it,” Jay laughed with a wide smile, “I don’t get a lot of the stuff that goes on around here.”

    “Then maybe we can figure it out together,” she suggested.

    “You know I would like that,” Jay flashed her a white sultry smile, “You are much better company than the rest of the princesses here. I mean as long as you don't mind hanging around a street rat,” sure Mal hated that name but that's what his father called him more often than his own name.

    “I definitely don’t mind you're better company then probably all the princes around here” she smirked.

    “Maybe because I’m not a prince,” Jay whispered leaning closer to her, “I will just have to find a way to keep a princess like you entertained. Help you deal with your Audrey problems.”

Chapter 2: Pirates of the Isle (Isle: March)

Summary:

A little look onto the isle.

Notes:

Io Daughter of Rumpelstiltskin

     The Isle shook as the TV feed suddenly cut off with the magical blast. All eyes turned skyward to the barrier, the golden dome imprisoning them here without their magic. Magic that suddenly rushed into the isle. His eyes closed in ecstasy at the sensations rushing back into him, the power returning to his limbs. So many deals to be finished, so many prices to be paid. The girl looked at him with olive green eyes so much like his, watching his every move like a hawk. He would deal with her later, when there was less work to do.

     She rolled her eyes, he was too absorbed in his work to be bothered with her. For a moment that was tolerable, but soon as his body turned to smoke and he screamed in frustration. Clearly this was not freedom, not yet at least, but she would have her freedom soon. Her fingers brushed the silver locket around her neck as she left him for a moment. There was a deal of her own that needed to be dealt with while there was magic here.

     -*-

     The magic hadn’t lasted. As the TV feeds flickered back on the magic died away. Leaving only the hunger for the magic behind and the unshaking need to be free. She left for the ship, her crew would ease the hunger away, either them or the rum. Feet kicking in the open air as she sat perched on the main mast of the Jollyroger watching the fireworks of the mainland as the pirate crew danced and drank below her. It had been hours now since the Isle had gained and then lost it’s magic. Killian had told her to either clean or sulk where he couldn’t see her. Apparently the Isle having magic had brought up bad memories and he needed to drink it away.

      Harry looked up at Io as he leaned on the rail rum in hand Gil dancing around with the crew.

      Mimzy Mim the daughter of the Marvelous Mad Madam Mim walked up the gangplank and quickly looked around the dancing crew. She needed to check on the crew, make sure everyone was okay. Koga Khan, the son of Shere Khan, had been fine when she checked on him, sent her off so he and his dad could eat in peace. She spotted Harry by the railing and picked her way through the dancing and music making men to his side. Above her she could just make out her boss’ legs dangling from the main mast. Touching Harry’s elbow she leaned beside him, “How long has she been staring at the mainland like she’s about to slice into it?”

      “Since the Coronation ended,” Harry replied, sighing, “She’s thinking, just wish I knew exactly what she was thinking. Ye know it never ends well when she gets that look.”

      Mimzy patted his arm leaning against him, lavender hair drifting over his arm, “You could try asking you know, I think she’d tell you. I have news, not great news either. Want to see if we can bribe her to come down?”

     “I’ll see what I can do,” Harry sighed, pushing off the railing, “Hold this,” he handed off his rum before starting to make his way to their leader.

     She took the rum and nodded, “Sure thing Harry,” she smirked, turning around taking a sip of the rum enjoying the burning in her belly, “Good luck.”

     Harry pulled himself up into the crows nest, “I hate it up here,” he sighed sitting next to her.

     Io glanced at him shaking her head, “Then why are you up here Harry?” she asked, returning her gaze to the mainland, “What was so important you had to come to the one place you hate coming to?”

     “Cause yer brooding for one, and yer black witch is here with news,” he shrugged.

     “Our black witch,” She corrected, pulling away from him, “And I do not brood.”

     “Fine yer staring hard and darkly at the mainland, yer thinking and sometimes that don’t go as well as we hope,” Harry shrugged

     “I am planning,” she sighed, “Okay maybe with a side of murderous rage. We were this close to freedom,” she gestured, “This fucking close of getting out of this fairy made hell,” seething she leaned back into him resting her head on his shoulder for a beat, the contact seeming to ease the furious hunger for more in her chest.

     “We will get out of here, off this bloody isle, then we will make them regret ever trapping us here,” he nodded, “Let’s go see what the witch wants ta tell us.”

     Io nodded and pulled herself to standing, grabbing a rope, “Come on then, she’ll drink all your rum if we leave her alone too long.”

     “That’s me worry,” he laughed, moving to climb down.

     Snickering, she leapt off the main mast and swung down to the deck with a soft thump, walking through the men nicking two more glasses of rum as she headed towards Mimzy, “So you have news my witch?”

     Mimzy nodded and finished off Harry’s old glass of rum, “Not great news either. I checked on Koga, he and Daddy Khan made out okay through the blip. They were settling down for dinner so he told me to come back tomorrow.”

     “What’s this news witchy?” Harry asked as he finally made his way to them rubbing his hands together before holding one out to take a rum glass.

     Io handed Harry the second glass she had knicked, “Well out with it. Tell me.”

     “Maleficent is gone.”

      She stood there and tried to process the information. The fucking fairy was gone? She had left them here? 

     “Well isn’t that a kick in the nuts,” Harry sipped on his rum.

     “She is gone, what do you mean gone?!” Io roared making several of the crew looking at her.

     “Maleficent left the barrier when it blipped. The Witch of the Waste saw her leaving in a ball of green light headed to the mainland. But no one could warp out of here. I checked the whole alley, everyone who tried was sent back down,” Mimzy winced as Io’s eyes turned into electric blue suns. “I’m just saying what I know Crocodile, I swear.”

     Squeezing her eyes shut against the fury, “Ah am gonna skin da fairy when ah find ‘er. Leavin’ us ‘ere to rot...” she snarled.

     “Make yerself a dragon skin jacket,” Harry smirked, Io would make that fairy pay in blood and he was going to love the show.

     “Can I play with her, can I make her art?” Mimzy giggled bouncing on the balls of her feet.

      “Once I get her, yes.” Io grinned manically all teeth, “A dragon skin jacket is perfect for the Jollyroger Crocodile, and who am I to deny mine their deepest desires.”

      She bounced up and down happily, “I can’t wait, I can’t wait! I wonder if she bleeds the same as us?”

     “All things bleed it's just a matter of getting yer hook in a right place,” Harry licked his lower lip.

      “Or a claw, tooth or a needle.” Mimzy added as her arms curled over his hips.

     “Or a knife,” Io snickered, “Should I steal you more rum Mimzy?”

     “Maybe... I mean I won’t complain, we can all use a little drinking especially today.”

     “Aye that we could, for a moment we had the ghost of the sea air. Only ta have if taken away in a snap,” Harry nodded, he waved Gil over. The blonde thumped into his side with little grace, but he was Harry’s and Harry took him for all he was.

     “I had my magic ripped away,” Mimzy pouted looking between the boys.

     Io rolled her eyes, “We had freedom ripped all of us. But I am going to give it back to us, I will have this ship sail again on the seas.”

Notes:

Mimzy Daughter of Mad Madame Mim

All picture edits made by Kevyon; original works credited to their original artists.

Chapter 3: Chapter 3: Princess of Auradon (Mainland: March)

Summary:

Return to the Mainland After the Party

Notes:

The Core Four and Their Villain Parent

    Jay walked back into his and Carlos’ room just after the party ended. He was exhausted but that didn't stop him from noticing there was something on his pillow. Something he remembered from the Isle, remembered leaving it there. He swallowed hard, no longer tired as he carefully made his way over and picked up the silver locket. A quick flick of the latch and he felt the blood drain from his face. ‘You made a deal, Deliver.’ was all the small piece of paper inside said, but he knew who had sent him a message. The only way it could have gotten there was magic and that meant somehow, the Isle, no matter how briefly, had been free from its no magic and no murder laws. Jay turned and sat on his bed staring at the now closed locket in his hand. The Crocodile was dangerous without magic, with magic there was no knowing how powerful or dangerous she could become. And he couldn't warn his allies, because then he would have to tell Mal he had made a deal with the Crocodile after she had forbidden it when the girl suddenly showed up at school on the Isle.

    “Dude that was some party” Carlos said flopping down on his bed, “Princess is something else too.”

    “Yeah,” Jay’s hand closed automatically, “I think we could really get used to a princess like that around. Especially since she is clearly going to need our help with Audrey.” One quick move of sleight of hand and the locket was tucked into his pants pocket. He smiled at Carlos, “That and she was cute.”

    "Yeah she is, and I can’t wait to see her try and get even for one of Audrey’s little fits” Carlos nodded, “She’ll probably turn her hair blue or something” he laughed more to himself then Jay.

    "I think we can come up with something better than just dying Audrey’s hair blue,” Jay snorted, kicking his shoes off, “We did more fun stuff on the Isle anyway,” he stood and shrugged out of his jacket, “How long do you think this will last? This peace we’ve got with them now that Maleficent is taken care of?”

    “Until the next time someone thinks we did something and we can’t prove we didn’t” Carlos sat up, “But I mean Ben will believe us even if the others don’t”

    Jay ran a hand through his hair as he pulled the hair tie out, there was still things bugging him about everything. The magic he had felt running through his hands after he touched Maleficent's staff, the fact Mal turned her mother into a lizard, and the damn locket that was weighing down his pocket. “Yeah the big dope will,” he meant it about as affectionately as he could, “His sister probably too. I just, I just don't want to go home. After today what the Isle saw... I just don't want to go home.”

    “Me either, I mean I don’t want to have to give up all that I’ve learned here just to go back to old ways,” he agreed.

    “I was more worried about what our parents would do to us but that too,” Jay shrugged one shoulder as he dropped onto his bed, “Would be nice to be able to actually roof run again though, I do miss that. Tourney just ain't the same.”

    “Yeah I would hate to let my mom near a dog again” he nodded, “Plus you know dealing with the other kids.”

    “Our wars with the other gangs. I kind of miss the stealing, not the stuff I did for my dad but the stuff I did for us. Stealing all those parts you wanted from the pirates, or the jewelry for Evie and the blades for Mal. Not the same when there is no challenge to it,” Jay sighed, “I miss our hideout in the market.”

    “That was the best place on the isle, no parents no needing to be something we didn’t want to be just to keep up images” he nodded pulling off his shirt.

    “No worries anyone would find us or any of your projects,” Jay smiled closing his eyes as he thought about all those half working mechanical devices Carlos made out of the scraps Jay would steal and bring him, “You are crazy smart you know right? No matter what anyone says, you are a genius.”

    "Yeah well not much need to turn junk into tech around here” he shrugged pulling on his PJs.

    “No reason not to either.”

    “Yeah, you going to bed?” he asked.

    Jay nodded, “Yeah we might as well,” he yawned widely even though he wasn't tired any more, “Get some sleep.”

-*-

    The next morning Jay was pretty sure he hadn’t slept at all, his hands wouldn’t stop tingling and the locket felt like a boulder was sitting on his chest after he had affixed it there once Carlos was asleep in his bed. Despite that he got up and changed glad it was the weekend because he didn’t want another headache. But there was no tourney this weekend since they had their first match of the season just before Ben’s birthday.

    “Hey man, you as wiped as I feel. I don’t know, these beds are normally pretty nice. But last night I just couldn’t get to sleep,” Carlos asked heading to the bathroom.

    "You either?” Jay ruffled his hair before shoving the rats' nest up under his beanie, “Breakfast? I need coffee.”

    “Yeah, maybe the girls are up,” Carlos nodded, grabbing a shirt off the floor to pull on.

    Mal banged on the boy's door, hip popped as she stood next to Evie, “I swear if I have to come in there and drag you two out of bed.”

    “Jeeze are we sure she can’t turn into a dragon,” Carlos muttered after moving behind Jay at the sudden noise.

    Jay sighed, rubbing his face, “We’re up Mal, chill,” he rolled his eyes at Carlos wrapping his arm around the kid, “You good pup?”

    “Yeah, just wasn’t expecting the banging made me think of mom for a second,” he nodded.

    “Lets go get breakfast, boys,” Evie called through the door.

    Jay gave Carlos another squeeze, “I won’t let her touch you, promise,” he ran his hand through the curls before pushing the boy in front of him, “Breakfast time.”

    Mal sighed as the door opened, “Did you two stay up all night?” neither one of them looked like they had slept at all, but maybe they had just been restless like she had been with her mother within feet of her bed.

    “Just didn’t sleep well,” Carlos shrugged before letting Evie pull him into a hug.

    “You two could have called. I'm sure I could have come up with a milder form of the sleep spray from family day,” Evie smiled softly.

    “I don’t doubt it, but you know we hate interrupting your beauty sleep Princess,” Jay smirked, if he couldn’t get sleep again tonight he would just throw himself on the floor.

    Mal rolled her eyes looking them over, “Come on, let’s get some grub before it is all gone.” she walked in front of them guiding them to the cafeteria eager to get coffee and food before it was all gone.

    Evie pulled Carlos along with her, muttering with him about a few things from science class, leaving Jay to bring up the back and watch over them.

    Jay looked casually around them keeping his eyes out for danger as he winked and smirked at the few girls who were up. It had been months since they were in real danger but he couldn’t shake it, the paranoia that someone was going to try and jump his crew. Especially since Chad was still pretty much the biggest pain in their asses. As they walked into the cafeteria his eyes glossed over a shiny bit of a bracelet with dangling silver, emerald and amethyst. He moved closer to her just far enough from the crew but not too far, fingers flicking out giving him a shock as he tucked the bracelet away returning to his post as they made it into line.

    Mal glanced over her shoulder, she could have sworn she had felt a spark a magic, but there was nothing. All of her minions were right there where they were supposed to be. Looking back to the counter she passed out the trays, she must have imagined it. Carefully she selected all of their food, passing it down to them as they moved, fruit for Evie, pastry for Carlos, oatmeal for Jay and a breakfast sandwich for her. She passed black coffee to Jay taking one for herself before putting juice on Carlos and Evie’s trays. Satisfied hers were fed for the morning at least she nodded.

    “Come on, let’s go find a table,” Mal beckoned them to follow her.

    Jay spotted a familiar face sitting alone, “I see Little Princess, want to sit with her?”

    Evie smiled, she could always use a princess to be her friend, maybe she could help her get in touch with fashion designers, or find a prince. Well she had Doug now, but maybe they wouldn’t work out who knew.

    Carlos set his tray down gently next to Penny’s. He didn’t want to startle the girl, and Mal didn’t really seem to have a gentle touch right now.

    “Hi,” she looked up at them.

    “Hey, you mind if we join you?” Carlos asked.

    “Yes... I mean no... I... go ahead and sit down,” she nodded blushing a little, she was normally better with words than that.

    Jay plopped down across from her, “Been a while since people wanted to hang out with you?” he asked leaning forward slightly sultry smirk on his lips, “I mean you seemed pretty chill with us last night.”

    “Not very popular among the normal kids,” Penny shrugged, “Where’d you guys disappear to last night anyway? I looked up and it was just me and Mal.”

    “Mal and I,” Evie corrected without much thought.

    “Uh... right,” Penny chewed her lip looking back at the book propped up on her tray.

    “Needed some air is all,” Jay shrugged, passing Evie a sinful half smile before returning his attention back to Penny, grabbing the book off her tray and closed it, “I’m sure you and Mal were fine for a little bit.”

    “We were. She was telling me about her old school,” Mal smiled thinly, more like the girl had talked without stopping until Jay returned looking less on edge. Sometimes being around so many people made him want to pick them all up and move them where he could keep a better handle on the situation.

    “Completely fine,” Penny nodded, sagging a little at the look on Mal’s face. She hadn’t known what to do when she was alone with the older girl. It had just started talking and hadn’t really stopped.

    “Anything interesting?” He asked resting his elbow on her book, “I think you had some interesting stories about the girl you put in the lake.”

    “You think every girl’s story is interesting,” Mal deadpanned, giving him a look he ignored like always as he drank his coffee.

    Jay shrugged a shoulder innocently, “Maybe because I like hearing stories,” he did though, he learned more about a person when they told him stories made up or not.

    “Oh I'm not sure it's anything you would find too interesting,” Penny gave him a small smile.

    “Jay likes to hear about things,” Carlos assured her, she seemed kinda jumpy but not like him. It was kinda odd, like she was expecting something to happen but not sure what it was.

    “Well, I went to an all girls school, Merryweather’s is what it’s called for short. Girls get into fights, so I suppose it's not that different from other schools. Most of my stories just involve some of the girls... not liking what happens when people get... even,” she wasn’t sure how to phrase that, without maybe chasing these guys off.

    “Even?” Evie asked, raising an eyebrow.

    “Well sometimes bad stuff happens to people that aren’t very nice to me,” she shrugged innocently.

    Jay grinned widely shifting away from Mal’s elbow jab, “Oh those are stories I like. We’ve all done our share of getting even, but I mean villian kids, it’s just a part of the territory.”

    “We always get even,” Carlos nodded, “Is that way you’re so nervous? Are you expecting someone to get even with you?”

    “Audrey doesn’t seem to know the difference between getting even and whatever it is she does,” Penny shrugged again looking around.

    “She won’t fuck with you when we’re around,” Jay offered, “She doesn’t win fights when she picks them with me.”

    “I’m surprised she hasn’t tried to run you out of here then,” Penny tilted her head.

    “Jay, we don’t use those words around royalty,” Evie scolded, “Especially princesses.”

    He frowned slightly, “But I use those words around you, am I not supposed to use them around you? Audrey run me off, oh she’s tried, I’m just stubborn and know how to distract her.”

    “She probably won’t be that bad now that she’s not engaged to Ben,” Penny said, “I don’t really care what words you use.”

    “I’m an isle princess... it’s different,” Evie shook her head.

    “Did she... run you out?” Carlos asked her as he bit into his pasties.

    “But you're still a princess,” Penny looked at her, ignoring Carlos’ awkward question.

    “See this is the shit I just don’t get out here, why all the weird rules? People are people, I shouldn’t have to treat a mainland princess any different then I treat you Princess.” he complained working on his oatmeal.

    “Because this is Auradon,” Mal sighed watching him eat the gray gloop, “Seriously still don’t know why you like that more than this, that’s like glue.”

    “I used to make something like it on the Isle,” he offered not explaining further, because he rarely ate it there, it was always for his father.

    “You shouldn’t have to Evie’s no different than I am,” Penny blinked.

    “You are a real princess,” Audrey’s voice came from behind her.

    “Right... what do you want?” Penny asked with a sigh, turning to look at her.

    “You were supposed to meet me for breakfast, then I was going to give you a tour,” Audrey forced a smile.

    “Huh, was that today must have slipped my mind,” Penny rolled her eyes.

    “You really should have someone manage your schedule, you are after all the princess of Auradon” Audrey tried to keep her tone even, “It will help with making people understand that you are a true princess if you can manage your duties.”

    “I think you and I already covered my opinion of you telling me what a true or good princess is,” Penny raised an eyebrow.

    “I see, I would have hoped all those years at Flora, Fauna, and Merryweather’s would have helped you see I am trying to help you. After all my fairy godmother’s are very good teachers,” Audrey tried to keep her tone pleasant.

    “Mal, weren’t they the idiot fairies in your mom’s story?” Evie asked, faking confusion.

    Mal smirked, “Yes, yes they were. Couldn’t even manage to raise one child all by themselves according to mom. Grand Beastie,” she all but purred cupping her chin as she leaned on the table, “Surprised your mom let them anywhere near you.”

    “I have no idea what you are talking about,” Audrey humfed, “You should be careful who you hang out with, Penelope, I would hate for people to get the wrong idea,” she turned stomping off.

    “Are you alright?” Carlos asked Penny softly.

    “Yeah fine,” Penny nodded, “Audrey’s been telling me I’m not... whatever,” she watched her go, she ignored the look Fairy Godmother gave her from across the hall.

    “We get that all the time, just ignore them, I’m not allowed to punch them anymore.”

    “We know Jay, you don’t like it, hit it,” Mal snorted shaking her head, “So you still want or need that tour?”

    “I could always use one I suppose” Penny focused on her, “I haven't actually been here in...god, 7-ish years I think.”

    "We’ve been here 7-ish months,” Mal shrugged, “But we can show you around. I’m sure you’ll pick it up quick enough.” she didn’t like the way Jay was looking at the Princess of Auradon but she hoped he knew better then pick up his old ways.

    “Then we should explore together,” Penny nodded, “Who knows maybe together we can find the best places in the castle.”

    “That does sound like fun, but Mal aren’t you supposed to be meeting Ben?” Evie looked at the other isle girl.

    Mal looked at the clock, “Damn I didn’t realize it was that time already. Jay take her and the others around. Sorry Princess Penny, we’ll hang out some other time.”

    Jay blinked after her as she darted off with her coffee, “Sure Mal. Whatever you want Mal,” he rolled his eyes, “I know all the best hiding places in the castle anyway.”

    “Bye,” Penny watched her go, “You don’t have to take me if you don’t want to, I’m sure I remember most of this place,” she directed at Jay.

    “We want to take you or well go with you,” Evie assured putting a hand over Penny’s, “Plus you can tell me all about your dressers and what designers you like. Maybe we can share ideas.”

    “Like I said last night, I don't really know much about clothes. As long as it fits I don't tend to cause any problems,” Penny blinked at her, “But I'm sure we can find other things to talk about”

    Jay nodded, “I said we’ll take you, we’ll take you,” he finished off his breakfast, “How you feel about chemistry? That’s her other favorite thing next to clothes.”

    “Really? What do you like about Chemistry?” Penny asked as they started to stand to take care of their trash.

    “Oh, I love the fact that you can combine things to make something new,” Evie explained as they walked, she just seemed to talk about the science non stop for a few minutes.

    Jay rolled his eyes as they talked about the one subject he hoped to avoid, “Come on Pup before Princess drives Little Princess into the smile and nod routine.”

Notes:

The Beast Family

All picture edits made by Kevyon; original works credited to their original artists.

Chapter 4: We Welcome You Back to Auradon (Mainland: March)

     Jay guided them through the hallways occasionally letting Carlos or Evie take over. The three of them rotating around the princess trying to get her to open up a little. He knew closed down when he saw it. Something clearly happened between the end of the party and this morning, cause that Princess was not the one with them right now. This one reminded him of Jane, all quiet and worry.

     “So Penny, do you have a boyfriend or whatever it's called out here?” Carlos asked as he took Evie’s place next to her.

     Penny blinked at him for a second before she started to giggle.

     “Um... a... Evie did I say a word wrong or something?” Carlos asked

     “No, no its just the thought of some poor bastard being betrothed to me,” Penny laughed.

     “You’re the princess of Auradon, I would imagine many princes want your hand.” Evie’s brow furrowed.

     “If they haven’t heard horror stories from their sisters or Audrey. But, even then they don’t get anything if they marry me, Ben’s the crowned prince he and Mal get everything,” Penny explained.

     "So why don't they get anything?" Jay asked mentally checking the box that she was available for anything he wanted to do. His fingers started tingling again and he shoved his hands into his vest pockets. Cold metal, he could feel the cold metal against his fingers, but he was mostly sure he had just stole a bracelet today. He was glad the others were behind him as his jaw clenched, he really needed to get this impulsive stealing thing under control.

     “Ben and his kids, when he has them, will get the throne of Auradon, right now I’m second in line, but that will change when Ben has kids, I’ll be further down the line with every kid. So who ever marries me, gets me and a dowry, maybe if they ask for it. As well as a treaty with Auradon,” Penny explained.

     “Dowry is money they get for marrying you?” Evie double checked so that Jay would know the word without asking.

     “Pretty much,” Penny nodded

     “So they sell you to your husband?” Carlos asked, thinking of his mother threatening to sell him.

     “Not exactly, he gets both me and the money. But it’s suppose to be to help maintain my lifestyle. Whatever that means,” she gave him a small smile.

     “Kinda sounds like them selling you,” Jay offered, looking over his shoulder to them giving Evie a subtle appreciative nod for the clarification, “People did that on the Isle, they just didn’t call it dow- whatever it was you used. Personally doesn’t sound all that fun, being bought by someone else.” 

     His baba needed him to steal for the shop and his rent money otherwise he had no doubt the man would have sold him when he proved unable to be much use for anything but that. Jay’s eyes darkened at the thought and he turned back to the direction they were going, his feet moving them towards the library, the only quiet hole he had indoors. He was still driving himself to try and be smarter.

     “Do you even want to get married?” Carlos asked. 

     “Not really, but it is a princess’ job to do as she’s told and smile, ” Penny quoted.

     “Yeah and how is that going for you?” Jay asked teasingly, “Cause your conversation with Audrey didn’t make it seem like you were much for what a princess is supposed to do.”

     “Audrey and I don’t see eye to eye on anything. I don’t know what FG was thinking making her my welcome representative,” Penny shrugged, “When it eventually comes up for me to marry I’ll make it clear I’m not marrying anyone that won’t let me be me. That thinks I need to change to be better . Or I’ll try, chances are good after my last stunt at Merryweather’s I’ll end up at a convent”

     “What’s a con- convent?” Jay made a face forcing the weird word off his tongue.

     “It’s a place for women to all live together with no men, normally its religious,” Penny explained.

     “And that means what?” He really had no idea what she was talking about.

     “They don’t marry, they spend their lives praying and whatever it is they do,” Penny shrugged.

     “Huh weird,” Jay snorted as he pushed the door open. 

     “This is the library obviously,” Carlos turned in a circle, trying to lighten whatever tone was going on right now.

     “Yes, very... library-ie,” Penny nodded with a small laugh, “Mom is very big on books.”

     “Yeah we might have heard that somewhere,” Carlos teased.

     "I'm not so big on the books thing but this is the quietest place here. Which, since we just met, means I hole up in here sometimes. Was great when no one was here during the winter when everyone left for two weeks."

     “Sounds like Christmas break, I spent a lot of time in the library at Merryweather’s then too,” Penny gave him a smile.

     “You didn’t spend it with friends?” Evie asked

     “I’m back in Auradon because the other students think I tried to intentionally almost drown another student. I don’t really have friends,” Penny shook her head.

     Jay snorted, turning to face them, “Well you have them now. We Isle kids are probably more your style anyway, we don’t generally do the rule thing.”

     “You want to be my friends?” she blinked at them in shock.

     “Why wouldn’t we?” Carlos tilted his head.

     “Um I don’t know, just it never really happens,” Penny shrugged.

     “This one of those Mainland things?” He hummed before handing her book back to her, “Before I forget, this is yours. Is there anything else you want to see while we’re on tour the school mode?”

     “Not really,” she shook her head taking the book back, “Thanks,” her black book was probably her most guarded item, she hadn’t felt her normal unease when someone else had it.

     “Yeah, well I did grab it to get you to talk to us. Something interesting in it?” he asked as they headed back into the hallway. “Oh yeah, you know where your room is supposed to be? Princess should be able to tell you where it is,” he generally got into the girl’s side of the building via the roof.

     “I have a single on the 5th floor,” she nodded, “It's not hard to find, same floor as Audrey,” she made a sour face at that.

     “That’s the same floor as Mal and I,” Evie gave her a smile, “We’re in the corner room.”

     “With the big windows,” Penny nodded, “And the book is just my observations of people. You never know what might be useful.”

     “Everything is useful to someone,” Jay nodded knowing information on the Isle was, to some, better than all the gold and jewels he could get his hands on. Not to him though, it didn’t pay his rent.

     “People will do anything if you have the right info,” Penny nodded, “What do you guys do for fun around here.”

     “Tourney, Swords and Shields, climb,” Jay offered shrugging a shoulder, “The town isn’t exactly fond of me.”

     “Climb? What do you climb?” she asked, she wasn’t much for Tourney, never saw the point in going to any of the games that Merryweather’s offered a bus to see at a nearby school.

     “Anything and everything I can?” Jay snorted, “Mostly up and onto the roof, old habits from the Isle.”

     “That sounds like fun,” Penny tilted her head, “I use to hide in trees, it was quiet, no one ever looked up”

     “Or they were too big to follow you,” he nodded, “It is fun, for me at least.”

     “Maybe you can show me some time,” Penny smiled.

     Evie and Carlos raised an eyebrow at each other, that seemed like an invitation but, at the same time not.

     “Yeah maybe,” Jay nodded, she didn’t trust him, didn’t believe that he was planning on sticking around.

     “I could take you guys into town some time, I like watching grown ups loose their minds over stupid shit,” she smirked a little.

     “Maybe they’ll actually let us in the building with you around,” Jay smirked looking her over, “Gorgeous mainland girl like you, they’d never say no.”

     “More like Princess of Auradon, but yeah they can’t really tell me no about browsing with some friends,” she chuckled

     “They shouldn’t, you don’t seem like the type to take to people telling you no very well.”

     “I am told I’m not very good at listening,” Penny shrugged, “But you don’t seem like the type either.” 

     “I listen, it’s if I decide to take the advice or not really,” Jay slipped his arm over her shoulders careful not to make it more than friendly, “But most times I listen to those I know best, it’s better when people have your back.”

     “I’ll have to take your word for it,” she looked at him, “Maybe I'll have person experience one day”

     “We could do some actual shopping, I could help you pick some outfits out,” Evie said looking between the two.

     “I’m good on clothes Princess, but you wanna dress Little Princess have at. At least she’ll be able to pick what she likes. Not that I didn’t like the dress last night but... not exactly um... you,” he looked Penny over as they walked side by side.

     “I really don’t care for dressing up like that, so yeah it wasn’t really me. And yeah we could do that if you want,” Penny nodded.

     “I’m getting you clothes too, just a few things,” Evie assured.

     He gave his princess a look, “We have had this conversation before, I’m not having it with you again.” she and Carlos first, he was fine with what he had.

     “Fine I’ll just get the materials and make you a few things,” she stuck her tongue out at him.

     “I could buy the stuff if you tell me what you want,” Penny said

     “Oh would you, that would be amazing. I know Ben said he’d get us anything we needed but I hate to be a bother,” Evie smiled wide.

     “Not a problem, maybe you can make me something some time,” Penny nodded looking up as the main clock on campus banged out 1 pm.

     “I would love that,” Evie nodded, “I’m supposed to meet Doug in 15 minutes so this is where I break off,” she looked at Jay.

     Jay nodded to her, “You want us to walk you, or no?” he trusted she would get there safe really, nothing here on the Mainland was a threat to his Princess with her acid and scissors.

     “I have it handled” she assured hand resting on the purse, she may not have needed to use them since getting here but she still carried her scissors.

     “Have fun” Carlos called after her, “You two want to hang in the courtyard we could throw a ball for Dude”

     “Sounds good to me Pup,” he nodded guiding Penny along with them, “She will you know, make you whatever you want.”

     “I’m sure we will come up with an agreement of some sort,” Penny nodded, “I don’t mind getting her materials if she wants them.”

     “Be careful telling her that, she could empty the royal bank with material costs,” Carlos teased

     “Then that sounds like even more fun,” Penny teased back.

Chapter 5: Villain Groupie (Auradon: March)

     Mal shifted uneasily as they walked into the Museum of Auradon, they collectively hadn’t been back since they had tried to steal the wand the night they had first arrived. AKA the day Jay decided he was going to make his father proud by stealing the wand for himself. Not that Mal blamed him really, Jafar had gotten, well, out of control the last few months before they were told they were leaving. 

     Jay looked down at Penny, “So what is so interesting about this place anyway? It’s just a bunch of old stuff from before the Isle was made.”

     “It is history, if we learn from it, remember it, then maybe we won’t repeat it,” she looked at him, she was having a good time hanging around with them. Jay and his group made her feel safe.

     “I think that quote is in our textbooks,” Evie looked around.

     “Wait you’re actually supposed to read those?” Jay asked mildly panicked, the books were massive, there was no way he could ever hope to make it through even one of them before the classes were over.

     “Yeah Jay, you are supposed to be reading those,” Mal gave him a look, how had he made it this far into the year without realizing they weren’t just paper weights. “Honestly...”

     “You only have to read the parts assigned, if they tried to make us read the whole thing there would probably be a riot on campus,” Penny shook her head.

     “Some of it is interesting” Carlos shrugged as he looked at a replica of the magic carpet.

     Jay looked away from Penny focusing his eyes on the display they were standing in front of, Agrabah, "That's probably for the best really," Jay was not the best at reading and generally gave up when he gave himself a headache trying to sort out the words.

     Mal followed his eyes to where they lingered on the recreated lamp, "Jay I am stating this only because I know you. It's a fake, don't steal it."

     He looked up slow and murderously, "No shit Mal, nothing is going to fix what we did in the eyes of our parents. We are fucking toast if we go back."

     She raised a brow at the flickering red gold in his eyes, since when did her thief have magic. Mal shook her head with a slow smirk, "Like I said stating it because I know you. You know this story better than some museum too."

     "One of his favorites when I was growing up; 'I used to be an all powerful djinn boy, and now look at me forced to live in this squalor'," Jay recited rolling his eyes.

     “I never really understood that story, but I’m sure there are facts missing from the version we get here,” Penny looked at the lamp, “Personally I don't see the true appeal of a genie."

     "Djinn," Jay corrected automatically, "They are called djinns," he turned away from the display no longer wanting to see the recreated items from his Baba's stories, he was never going to be welcomed there. Not after what his family had done to the country, "I get it, all the cosmic power at your beck and call, but," he shook his head, "I don't like the idea of forcing someone to do what I want, djinns don't get to say no if you have their lamp."

     Mal tilted her head, Jay actually looked rather uncomfortable with the idea, "Then why were you always bringing him lamps?"

     "Honestly? It became a treat to crush his hopes, had to get something out of it," if he was forced to steal for the shop and pay rent for him and his minions to live in the man's shop, Jay was just vindictive enough to do that. He was smart enough not to push it, pushing it generally ended with him bruised and bloodied with at least one dislocated bone.

     Evie hooked her arm with his, she knew her Jay didn’t want to talk about the isle.

     “Why don’t we check out a different section,” Penny suggested looking at the VK’s.

     Jay nodded, "Where ever you want to go Little Princess." He rubbed the back of Evie's hand passing her a smile even when he wanted to do more.

     Mal shook her head, "We don't really what all is here so really where ever."

     “Oh... um did you want to do something else?” Penny looked at Mal, she really wanted her to be different than Audrey but it was starting to seem like it wasn’t going to happen.

     "No, here is cool, but you seem to have at least been here before. What's interesting? Or what exhibits did you like?" Mal tried to assure the girl.

     Jay glanced at Mal as she lied, "So Princess," he drawled looking at Evie, "How are things looking for this weekend? Come to the game, see Pup and I play?" His brain whispered, and then come experiment with me cause I'm not okay with going weeks without attention .

     “I’ll be there,” Evie nodded, “Nothing is more important than you guys.” 

     “Well, I like the Dark One exhibit,” Penny shrugged, “It’s a subset of the hall of villains” 

     “Huh I don’t think we went any further than the main room of that hall,” Carlos mused.

     "So you like villains?" Mal's nose crinkled,  "They are not the normal Mainland favorites." 

     "But we are related to some of them." Jay commented, "Thanks Princess, nothing more important than mine."

     “Like is a strong word” Penny said leading the way, “I find it interesting what people are capable of when they want something bad enough.”

     Jay eyes darkened, "I don't think that's the right word Little Princess."

     “I didn’t say it was the right word I said it was a strong word, or did I miss speak?” Penny chewed her lip thinking, she didn’t talk much but she normally was pretty good with her words.

     Mal looked at Jay she knew exactly what he was thinking of, "For us, it's not interesting of what people can be capable of it's... a living nightmare. Different mindsets I think," she bit her thumb, "Living through it is different than reading about it in the books you have here. "

     Jay licked his lips as they made it to the villain floor, "Okay, what do you find interesting about Mother Gothel?" He asked pointing to the small exhibit showing a small replica tower, a hair brush, a strange flower and photo of Mother Gothel herself.

     “That she got away with it for 18 years” Penny pointed out, “Maybe that says more about the kingdom then her. Maybe I phrased it wrong, they as people are not interesting, it is how people react to certain situations,” she tried to explain.

      "She is still doing it," Jay replied, "She has a daughter of her own, but is still doing it."

     “Why hide her own daughter?” Penny looked confused

     “Why do they do anything?” Carlos shrugged to her.

     "It ain't her daughter she is hiding," he huffed, "These people we lived with... they were dangerous and not exactly stable either."

     "They are just very different than from your stories," Mal shrugged, "But it's not like you knew. Right Jay, she just got here from being away for years."

     Jay looked away, "Yeah, you didn't know... we can tell you what your books or this place won't."

     “Right” 

     Mal smiled thinly, "So other than the Dark One exhibit who else caught your attention? Also who is the Dark One, they aren't on the Isle, at least I don't think so."

     “No one particular, he is just an interest cause I don’t understand why they call him evil. He was a deal maker, sure he asked for some messed up things but no one has to take the deals,” Penny explained in one breath.

     Jay tilted his head, "We have a Deal Maker. He is in a very bad part of the Isle and well... we don't ever deal with him."

     “Huh, I know they say he’s on the isle, but maybe he doesn’t interact with kids,” Penny tilted her head in thought.

     “That's a pretty dagger” Evie looked at it.

     Mal nodded in agreement, "Such pretty filigree."

     “Looks sharp” Carlos looked it over.

     "What is up with it though?" Jay refused to try and read the plaque, "I mean, what good is a knife in a box?"

     “It's supposed to have the ability to control the Dark One, and if you kill him with it you become the new Dark One,” Penny explained, “I don’t think it's the real one, but it makes people feel more secure if they think stuff is locked up. He is really the one I want to know more about, sure knowing more about anyone is useful if you know how to and want to use it, but him I just want to know about.”

     Jay exchanged a look with Mal, "Pretty sure it's the real one. I mean the security on shit here is way more than anywhere else. Everything is in glass and there are cameras everywhere."

     "Why him? I mean of all the villains what is so interesting about him?" Mal asked, "He sounds like a rogue genie, sorry djinn," she amended before Jay could, "Grants wishes for a price."

     “Not really sure, it's just like... something pulls me into wanting to know more about him,” she didn’t really know how to explain her interest in the Dark One, she hadn’t ever been able to explain it.

     "Huh," Jay knew what she meant though. His baba had a golden cobra bracelet with ruby eyes that had once drifted around the house before his baba traded it for something. But every time Jay had seen it he was drawn to it, wanting to touch it, but he always stopped before he could.

     Giving himself a shake he turned slightly looking over all the displays, the villain's collected possessions of evil. Out of the corner of his eye he could see a Cobra staff. But it looked... wrong.

     Mal went to smack Jay in the chest as his attention was drawn by some, no doubt, thing of perceived value, and was rewarded with his full attention back on her. He released her wrist silently, "Who knows, maybe it's an old spell? I mean this stuff in here is still pretty enchanted. Like mom's cursed spinning wheel, that will still put you in a death like sleep if you prick your finger on it."

     “Perhaps a compulsion spell,” Evie nodded in agreement.

     “Maybe,” Penny let them think what they want, they probably knew more about this stuff.

     Mal smirked, "Look E they have your mom's poisoned apple."

     “Why is it just out in the open?” Evie moved to examine the apple.

     “Probably the same reason the spinning wheel is,” Carlos shrugged.

     Jay let Evie's arm go and turned back to where he had seen the Cobra staff. He must have been seeing things because it wasn't there anymore. Frowning he moved back towards the others not liking the twist of unease rippling through him. He swung an arm over Penny's shoulders, "You okay Little Princess? I know we seem not okay with the villain stuff but we ain't exactly fans of our neighbors. It's cool if you are, they might as well be history to you mainlanders."

    “I’m more interested in knowing the facts so maybe whatever happened can be avoided from happening again. There are some like the Huns, they were just an invading army, they wanted a new home. That doesn’t make them evil, or Shere Khan, he’s a tiger for fucks sake of course he didn’t want people in his home,”  she explained.

     Evie turned looking at her at the curse.

     “Not everyone out here is good,” Penny shrugged.

     Jay snorted, "Yeah I got that. Chad is the poster boy of dick. But I think the Khan's got tossed on the Isle for being man eaters. Honest though, I've found that baba wasn't exactly wrong; the people holding the gold do make the rules and write all your books."

     “If he’s anything like his sister then I’ll believe that,” Penny nodded, “If you have the power, then you’re always right.”

     "His sister went to your old school? No point asking if she's available, if you catch my drift."

     "Why can't he be slightly more normal and not always flirt and or think with his dick?" Mal asked under her breath as she read over the description on the poisoned apple.

     “She’s more into girls that do what she tells them,” Penny snorted.

     “Well that's new,” Carlos chuckled, he was pretty sure he hadn’t seen any girls or boys together on the mainland.

     "Oh yeah? I know some people into that kinda thing back home." He was interested in all kinds of things, experimenting was fun.

     “So the same sex having a relationship is ok?” Evie asked turning from her place next to Mal.

     “Here it is, its illegal in few countries, like the Charmings,” Penny blinked.

     "Is illegal the thing meaning against the rules," Jay asked tilting his head.

     “Yes, depends on where you are for how illegal,” she nodded.

     Mal hummed, "What country is the least strict? Jay will need to live there."

     "Fuck you Mal." Jay huffed at his leader as she gave him that evil giggle sigh her mother did.

     “Agrabah,” Penny said, “it's hot there though” 

     "And it's out because Jay's story is there," She snorted as Jay groaned, "Next lax country?"

     “Here... depending on who you are, I’ve heard that the tribe lands are pretty open” Penny thought about it.

     "There you go, you can go to these tribe lands," Mal snickered as they shifted around the villain exhibits.

     "Except you won't leave Ben."

     “You guys don’t want to stay here?” Penny looked between them all.

     “Well we want to see the rest of the mainland before we decided” Evie answered tactfully.

     Mal shrugged, "Honestly, all we have ever known is an Island, I think we all want to see everything we can."

     “I’m sure Ben will take you to see where ever you want” she nodded as they wandered. 

     "I don't doubt it, but it would be cool if you were there too," Jay suggested looking down at her.

     “I would like that too” she gave him a small smile.

     Mal rolled her eyes at him and he flipped her off, "I'm hungry, you all want to go and get some food?" It was getting to be around lunchtime anyway.

     “It is about that time,” Evie nodded

     “Sounds like a good plan,” Carlos smiled as his stomach growled.

     “Did you guys want to go to the cafeteria or Mrs. Potts could make us something,” Penny asked.

     "Who's Mrs. Potts? The lady in the kitchen?" Jay asked as they headed back the way they came.

     "We can do the cafeteria unless this Mrs. Potts makes something special you like. We are not against trying new things," Mal offered.

     “Yeah that's her, nothing special unless you count cookies” 

     “What type?” Carlos asked eyes bright.

     “Peanut butter are my favorite, but she makes you eat real food first” Penny advised him.

     “Cafeteria then,” he sighed.

     Jay snorted, "Told you, you couldn't just eat sugar all the time Pup."

     “She makes a lot of good stuff, maybe next time,” Penny shrugged.

     “Maybe we can plan a lunch or brunch,” Evie nodded, “A girls day or something.”

     Mal crinkled her nose, "No makeup, no nail painting, and you can play with Jay's hair."

     "Why's it always got to be my hair?" Jay complained without bite.

     "Because if you're going to keep it that long you're going to let E do whatever she wants with it." She gave him a pointed look, "I don't tell you to sit through anything else."

     Jay sighed, "Whatever," really he would sit through anything his Princess wanted if it meant time with her at this stage. Maybe convince her to loosen up and have some fun with him like they used to have on the Isle.

     “Do you like having your hair played with?” Penny asked him ignoring the looks they were getting from a few of the students lazing about.

     “The girls like to play with it,” Carlos teased him.

     "I don't mind it as much as I used to," he shrugged a shoulder, "I'm not much into hair pulling but I can be up for whatever."

     Mal covered her face, "Hell Jay."

     “Um... there are people that like having their hair pulled?” Penny looked confused. 

     “Sort of don’t worry about it” Evie chuckled.

     Jay grinned widely pulling Penny closer, "Among other things yeah. I mean whatever you're into we can do." He could not help himself.

     “Um... I don’t know if I understand,” Penny blinked at him blushing a little.

     Mal glared at Jay's back, "That's fine, Jay is just asking what things you like to do."

     “Well I’ve always been on my own, so mostly I would find hidey holes and read. Maybe pull a few pranks,” Penny shrugged, she felt like Mal wasn’t telling her the truth but she didn’t know exactly what Jay was asking.

     "Right," Jay nodded slowly, "Books. Daughter of Belle, course you like books."

     Mal sighed crisis averted, she was going to have a very harsh talk to Jay about the shit he said to people. If anyone found out... no, he would behave. She overlooked his stealing and his flirting but this, this was too much.

     Evie looked between the two leaders of their group, Jay had maybe stepped out of line a little, but the look Mal was giving him spoke of harsh words if not more. She didn’t see what the fuss was, yes, Penny could have known what he was asking and have been offended. But she struck Evie as the type of girl that would have laughed it off not reported it.

     Jay felt his chest warm and he turned glancing on the burning green eyes. Oh yeah that was not a good thing. "Okay, chill Mal. Food time."

     “I’ll grab a table,” Carlos volunteered, he wanted away from this tension, “Penny, why don’t you come with me.”

     “Ok,” Penny let Carlos pull her along.

     "Princess go with them," Jay nodded after the others as Mal stood there arms over her chest.

     “If you’re sure,” Evie looked at him before following after the other two.

     "Not sure, but better you're out of the line of fire," he muttered before looking back to Mal, "Get on with it."

     "You are not on the Isle. I am telling you to stand down, whatever this is, you stop it. No more sleeping around I told you that," Mal hissed at him as his chin lifted defiant. "Jay I am not fucking around. You could get us all sent back, you want Evie and Carlos to go back to their mothers? You want to go back to him? Yeah I didn't think so. Think with your head Jay and not your dick, you know what's at stake."

     Jay looked away from the murderous green eyes, "Come on Mal... I-"

     "You nothing," she smacked his arm, "I mean it Jay. No more bad habits." She huffed walking towards the others.

     He cringed looking down as she left him there, he shoved his hands in his vest pockets a warm sick feeling building in his chest. Jay didn't know another way, not to mention he was getting an itch for it. He couldn't touch the girls who asked for it, they may lie and send him back. Swearing under his breath he followed after her, he had to watch her back, couldn't risk her getting jumped.

 

     “Are they ok?” Penny asked as Carlos sat her down looking at all the people.

     “Yeah, they are fine,” Carlos nodded, he didn’t like all the tension between Mal and Jay, “I have a question for you though,” he studied her, she was the same age as he was so he was a little confused as to why didn’t get some of the stuff Jay said.

     “Ok you can ask, I don’t mind answering a question or two,” Penny nodded as sat Evie across from them.

     “Do you guys like not learn about sex here? Or just not do sex?” Carlos said bluntly getting kicked by Evie.

     “Oh...um... well, it's up to our parents to explain,” Penny looked at her hands, face red.

     “Carlos,” Evie hissed at him in warning.

     “So, you don’t know about sex? Like anything?” Carlos looked at her shocked.

     “I know a little bit, but I... I don’t get it,” Penny shook her head.

     “You don’t get it?” Carlos looked confused, “Oww” he looked at Evie as Mal and Jay approached.

     “Talk about this later, you want Mal after you?” Evie hissed at him.

     “Ok, ok” Carlos looked away.

     "Want me after him for what?" Mal asked flopping down as Jay detoured and got them all food.

     “Nothing, to worry about,” Evie shook her head with a smile.

     “Carlos just asked something I didn’t know the answer too is all,” Penny shrugged.

     Evie raised an eyebrow at the younger princess, she recovered fast, that was something at least.

     Mal blinked, "Huh, he is our big brain."

     Jay settled the food on the table ruffling Carlos' growing hair giving them a smile he wasn't feeling, "Alright dig in."

     “Thanks” Penny gave Jay a smile before starting on her half a sandwich and salad. It didn’t escape her notice that she had essentially gotten half of the same of what Evie and Carlos where having.

     Jay nodded plopping down next to Evie, "I know it ain't your royal fare but, food is food for us," he smiled grabbing his sandwich.

     “I don’t care much what it is as long as it’s edible and not part of some diet to help keep a princess figure,” Penny nodded biting into the tuna.

     “What’s wrong with keeping a princess figure?” Evie asked alarmed.

     “Nothing, nothing's wrong with it if it's what you want,” Penny assured also looked alarmed at Evie’s alarm.

     Jay looked up slowly as did Mal, "You are perfect Princess. Honest."

     "I don't know what a diet is, but you better finish your food E," Mal leveled, "Good food is hard to come by and we aren't in the habit to let it go to waste are we?"

     “No Mal we don’t let food go to waste,” Evie nodded chewing her lip, as she looked down at her salad.

     Penny looked between the two girls, then over at the boys. Right she wasn’t actually part of this group they just let her tag along. She chewed on her sandwich looking back down, she wasn’t one of them and whatever she had said had been the wrong thing.

     “You’re perfect E” Carlos assured her.

     Mal looked at Penny, "E's mom was a monster about being the perfect royal."

     "And food was hard to come by at home. So we get protective about what we eat," Jay added thigh resting against Evie's, "You didn't know Little Princess. You look damn edible Princess," he gave her a sly half smile, eyes sparking mischief, "Just saying."

     “I’m sorry Evie, I didn’t mean to do... or cause whatever that was” Penny looked at her with big eyes.

     “Its not your fault, you didn’t know like Jay said. And I'm still learning what’s different out here” Evie assured her.

     "Damn your fucking adorable," Jay muttered under his breath watching Penny's expression. Maybe he could just... no Mal said no. But when did he start listening to Mal, he never asked her approval to claim someone. It was different here, the mainlander princess wouldn't understand what it meant. He knew that absolutely, she would think it was like dating. His lip twitched at the thought, yeah no, dating was definitely not his thing. No one would want him if they knew.

     Evie gave him a small nudge in the shoulder, she’d heard him. She had to agree the little princess was adorable, made her miss Dizzy a little.

     Jay gave Evie the side eye, Princess seemed like she was on board with the idea. Maybe he'd just claim Penny in secret, well without making a production about it. Like what he did with Princess. Pup needed the public claim, that had been one of the only ways to keep the kid safe from assholes like Anthony Tremaine with his better than everyone attitude. He popped the last of his sandwich in his mouth, eyes flickering to Carlos. Maybe he'd broach it with his if they ever managed to be in the same place at once.

     Mal could almost see the gears whirling in Jay's head, he was definitely plotting something.

Chapter 6: Practicing (Auradon: April)

     Blondie leaned against the bleachers next to Erica, her curly blonde hair pinned back in high pigtails. She twisted and pulled on a strand of her hair blue eyes on the Tourney practice.

     "So which one?" Erica asked looking at her friend.

      She looked over at the black haired daughter of Ariel, "I'm thinking of one of the VKs. But I don't know which one to try first. Carlos is smart but shy, very cute and his friends all call him Pup. So he might be the right one. But on the other hand there is Jay. Outgoing, athletic, actually charming unlike Chad, gorgeous, I mean him and Prince Aziz like dripping perfection." She groaned releasing the curl and let it bounce.

     Erica leaned into Blondie's hip, as they curled their arms around one another. "Fair, Jay may be just right for you. And I know Chad isn't Charming but he is, well, a Charming. It's a good match for now. But I mean I am not falling into bed with him, like he wants me to. Just because I enjoy it doesn't mean I can't be picky."

     Blondie giggled looking back at the team, her eyes lingering on the two boys in question, "He has a tiny little dick, you wouldn't get anything out of it anyway. I wonder if I could get a peak at them... see what their packing before deciding which to try."

     Erica snorted, Blondie was hard wired for things to be just right she swore, "Come on we better get over to the others before Audrey has a hernia. You can plot on how to get into the boys locker room later."

     "Like you don't want to know," she huffed pushing off the bleachers and headed arm in arm with Erica to the cheerleaders, "You're the size queen of the two of us."

     "Says the girl trying to find just the right size," she shot back.

     "Well it sure ain't Chad Charming. Hi Audrey, do something different with your hair? It looks good on you," Blondie gave the girl a large false smile batting her lashes.

     Penny sat in the bleachers with her black book, her eyes flickered over the cheer squad and tourney team.

 

     Jay shook his hair back over his shoulders shaking his hands out as the tingling and burning started up again. Ever since he had grabbed that damn staff, he kept getting these weird feelings in his hands. But he pushed it off and forced his attention back on the practice.

     "Come on guys, work together. Jay you are supposed to be passing, if they aren't guarded get the ball up the field as quickly as possible." Aziz coached as he paced back and forth, "Simon your shield needs to be up, you are a blocker. Block. Run the play again."

     Jay huffed, the Prince of Agrabah was such a pain. He didn't need their help, he could do this play on his own. It wasn't hard, plus with these guys, he might as well be playing with only Carlos and himself. Carlos was his backup, never asked questions just did exactly what Jay needed him to.

 

     Evie sighed leaning her chin on her palm, she didn’t care for how this prince barked out orders but he was nice to look at, and he’d be a sultan someday.

     Mal glanced at her, "Alright, what's the dreamy eyes about E?" They had all decided to watch practice, even if that meant also watching the cheerleading practice with the girls who took turns giggling and waving at the Tourney team.

     “Just admiring the Prince of Agrabah,” Evie looked at her, “Wonder if Penny knows him.”

     "Right," Mal smirked, "And you are interested if he has someone? Cause I doubt Jay is going to be okay with it, he looks about ready to punch someone."

     “Still nice to look at even if Jay doesn’t like him,” Evie smirked back, “He looks like he’s built well.”

     Mal lifted an eyebrow, “I thought you were happy with Doug, or is this just one of those eye candy things?” She had never understood it, she knew that people like Jay were attractive but she just wasn’t all that into them. Or really anyone. She liked Ben, more than most Mainlanders and she was more than embarrassed to admit that she felt bad about spelling him to fall in love with her. Not knowing what love was it was hard to handle, all Ben all the time.

     “I am happy with Doug, but that doesn’t mean I can’t look... can’t daydream,” Evie shrugged, she liked Doug, he was sweet and could be her path to happily ever after, maybe.

     “Daydream? Really now,” Mal laughed softly leaning back on the bleachers, “You and Jay always off in your own little worlds sometimes.” she cringed as Jay body checked a teammate, “That’ll bruise.”

     “You would think they would know to get out of Jay’s way by now,” Evie snickered, “and yes daydream, I like to sometimes think about how these mainland boys would be in bed or out of it depending on the situation.”

     “And what do you think of the Prince of Agrabah then? Would he be as good as Jay?”

     “I think he’d be shy, he looks like he’s had a few girls here or there but I think he’d still be shy about fucking,” Evie snickered.

     “Let me guess, you’ll teach him how to have a wild time.”

     “Very wild, teach him how to really fuck,” she giggled, “I’ll teach Doug eventually”

 

     “Sorry man,” Carlos winced offering the teammate a hand up.

     Aziz rubbed his face, “Jay, can you, I don’t know tone the aggression down just a little bit for us”

     “Can you tone up the aggression for me?” Jay shot back looking at the prince.

     “Don’t worry about it,” the kid smiled rubbing his shoulder, “I know we aren’t exactly the most aggressive team in the Tourney world. That would be the Olympians.”

     “Then Jay will probably be happy to play them,” Carlos chuckled.

     “If we can make it through the bracket, that’s the match up of games. But we one, never make it through the bracket, or two we face them early on and get our asses handed to us.” he sighed looking at Jay’s back, “I wish he’d work with us instead of against us...” he muttered.

     “I’ll talk to him...” Carlos chewed his lip, “Maybe if there’s a promise of an outlet.”

     “Outlet? You mean for him being all, tackle us and then snap back at Aziz. Yeah that might work, but he needs to learn to be a team player, he’s great at the game, but...” he trailed off as Jay moved back towards them looking frustrated.

     “I’ll talk to him” Carlos nodded, he was thinking more like talking to E about a different type of outlet, but maybe at least a day or two where he could knock a few people on their asses would be good too.

     Jay looked the kid over he had taken out, “You okay?”

     “Me? Yeah... a little bruised but I’ll heal up,” he smiled nervously at Jay.

     “Wicked,” Jay gave him a hopefully encouraging smile and watched as the kid jogged back to his team, “I’m not overly agro right?” he asked looking at Carlos. He was sure he had toned himself down for them, pulled his hits, or at least tried to.

     “Maybe a little,” Carlos winced, “But you know they are softies, maybe you should talk to E about some one on one time.”

     Jay sighed softly, “Man I thought I was being soft with them... Princess won’t go for it, she’s got Doug and I don’t want to screw anything up.” If Carlos said something that meant Jay needed to unwind himself a little bit.

     “You know she’d bend the rules for you, or I don’t know maybe she can think of something to help you.”

     “Yeah maybe,” he wasn’t going to ask, but that’s why he didn’t commit, “Come on, let's go run this play again. We really need to teach these guys some better moves.”

     “You could try it their way too, just once,” Carlos shrugged.

     Jay made a face, “Fine. But only cause you suggested it,” he hated having to play nice with them but what else was he supposed to do at this stage. Coach had told him to play nicer, and to stop giving the assistant coach, Prince Aziz, shit.

     “Thanks,” Carlos nodded, he understood it was hard to go easy on these guys.

     Aziz watched them run the play again, “They are getting better,” he offered the older man now standing beside him, “Are we sure Jay read the book you gave him with the rules?”

     “No? I am not sure to be honest. But I’ll make sure I go over them with him after practice.” Coach promised the younger male, “Come on Chad, you are supposed to intercept the ball.”

     Jay twisted over Chad’s back and chucked the ball to Ben who barely caught it in time, “Yeah Chad, intercept,” he teased the royal as Ben headed up the field.

     Carlos snickered watching the interaction.

     “Give other players a chance to play, Isle Rat,” Chad snapped.

     “I just did, or did you miss my side winning again? Not my fault you can’t keep up with us,” Jay smirked, itching for a fight, maybe he could unwind with a good old fashioned brawl.

     “Chad, you did choose not to be on Jay’s team” Ben said as he came over, “nice pass”

     “Nice catch Beastie boy,” Jay commented.

     “Why would I want to be on a team with him,” Chad sniffed walking off.

     Jay rolled his eyes, “Cause we win when I’m on the team?” he muttered looking at Ben, “Seriously though, that was a good catch. I was worried I winged it too much.”

     “Nothing I couldn’t handle,” Ben shook his head, “Did you want to go over some of the plays more later? We’re doing pizza as a team, I wasn’t sure if you had been told yet or not.”

     “No... No one told me anything about it. Maybe next time though, looks like the girls are hanging out on the bleachers,” Jay shrugged, “We can work out plans tomorrow. I mean if you still want me on your team.”

     “Of course I do, as long as you want to be on the team then I’m more than happy to have you on the team” Ben smiled.

     Jay thumped him on the back as practice ended, “Come on, FG would never let me quit, I’m too much for her if I'm not doing anything. See you later.” 

     “Well that was exciting to watch,” Evie giggled as she made her way to the field.

     Mal shut her book and followed Evie, “Yeah sure, watch Jay mop the floor with the mainland boys. Exciting.”

     Blondie bounced lightly on the balls of her feet, “Come on Erica, before they leave.”

     “Patients Blondie,” she rolled her eyes, “Plus anyway Chad is coming this way, we have to keep him happy remember?”

     “You have to. Him, not right for me, and if you listened to me, he’s very not right for you.” she huffed grabbing Erica’s hand pulling them towards Jay and the others hoping to catch up before they left.

     “Ben did well, at least there’s that,” Evie said with a shrug.

-*-

     Penny watched the older girls with narrowed eyes something was going on. She packed away her book and started down the bleachers.

     Jay smiled at her, “How’s it hanging Little Princess? You enjoy seeing a bunch of dudes run around?” he turned slightly ignoring the two cheerleaders coming across the field, he would flirt with them later.

     “Well you, Ben, and Carlos seem to play well” she gave him a smile.

     "Me and Pup are still learning, but your brother's a decent help." Jay smiled and beckoned her to follow them, "Coming to hang out? I've got homework to do, but you're more than welcome to come with."

     “If you don’t mind a study buddy,” she smiled coming to his side.

     "Not at all. Any time I can spend with you is wicked to me." He swung his arm over her shoulders.

     Mal almost groaned, she had told him to stop and clearly he was having problems either remembering. Or he was blatantly ignoring her order.

     “You’d be the first with that opinion ” she leaned into his side for a second.

     “They are just friends Mal,” Evie watched the two as she shouldered her bag next to the other isle girl.

     Carlos watched Jay with a sigh, he wondered if he should tell the older boy that Penny did seem to understand fucking, which in and of itself confused him.

     Mal looked at Evie and took her bag, "I don't think Jay understands what that word means. Because that doesn't look like he knows."

     “Trust me, he’ll understand. She kinda reminds me of Dizzy,” Evie sighed, if nothing else she’d pull him aside and explain that awkward half conversation with Carlos and Penny.

     "Thank you, because I already told him no twice. If I have to do it a third I'm going to hex him," Mal threatened softly.

     “He’s just feeling pent up I’m sure,” Evie nodded, “Hi pup” she let Carlos lean into her side as they started to move towards the boys room.

     “Hey, I’m glad he seems to finally have a mainland friend” Carlos mused, hoping that would help defuse Mal.

     Mal sighed, "Hopefully he doesn't try his old tricks with this friend."

Notes:

we are starting to find our groove... I think. let us know what you think.

Chapter 7: Homework Helper (Auradon: April)

       Jay pushed Penny into their room, "Go set up, I'm going to grab a quick shower."

       “Jay’s desk is by the window,” Carlos pointed as he set his bag down, “I want one after you Jay,” he called after him.

       “Thanks Carlos” Penny nodded going over and setting her bag down to unpack it.

       Evie sat down on Carlos’ bed laying back with a sigh.

      Mal plopped on Jay's bed and sighed put her and Evie's bag down as she heard the shower turn on. She hoped he would be quick about it. "How are your classes going Penny?"

      “They are going alright, I’m a little behind. There are certain things they just didn’t teach at Merryweathers” Penny explained as she pulled out her history of the seven seas book.

      "Sounds like us. Pretty much everything is new to us." Mal offered.

      “Yeah I figured, I didn't think they taught regular history on the isle” Penny nodded.

      “Horrible history” Evie supplied.

      "Chemistry here was our Mad Science or Potions and Poisons classes," Mal tried to keep the conversation going while they waited on Jay.

      “Huh, how do you do Potions without magic? I thought they required magic to actually be potions,” Penny tilted her head.

       “Not necessarily, it's more like... brewing without magic I guess” Evie thought about it.

      "Seems to be most like the chem lab portions. Jay got kicked out of his." He had too after everything kind of melted. "He's a disaster in a lab."

      “Potions or chem?” Penny asked, raising an eyebrow at Mal.

      “He’s not that bad” Evie shook her head.

      "I'm not that bad at what?" Jay asked toweling his hair, in his jeans and his vest partially zipped up.

      “Potions and chem lab apparently,” Penny supplied, she looked him up and down for a second before shrugging.

      Had he seriously lost his edge, most mainland girls would be at least blushing, "That? Um as long as I am not the one mixing shit together I do okay." He moved to his desk and plopped down on his chair.

       “I let him take a nap while I work,” Carlos teased.

       "I melted the table," Jay replied, "FG is the only reason he let me back in."

       “Huh, I guess I’ll find out when I take chem” Penny nodded, she couldn’t imagine melting a whole table.

       Jay snorted dragging his notebooks out, "I did warn him I was terrible at the whole potions thing. He didn't believe me."

       "Jay no one believes how bad you are at potions, not even me. I don't understand how you can be that bad," Mal shook her head eyes on her paper.

       “Some people just don’t have skills in certain areas” Penny suggested

       “Jay has skills elsewhere” Evie smirked.

       "Jay, I told you." Mal glanced up at him.

       "Not Mainland friendly skills," he carefully mentioned looking over the gibberish on the page, no matter how long he practiced or stared at the words, some days there was no sorting it out.

       “That's not true, he’s good at tourney, and cooking” Carlos supplied trying to be helpful.

       "Jay doesn't cook, he steals," Mal stated as the male rolled his eyes, "Staring at it won't make it done." She knew he was a slow reader but never this slow.

       “What class are you working on?” Penny asked leaning to take a look.

       Carlos and Evie shared a look, they didn’t agree with her but they weren’t going to challenge Mal.

       "Remedial Goodness," Jay shrugged looking at her with a smirk, "You come any closer, you're going to be on my lap."

       “Oh... sorry” Penny backed up a little bit, “You want any help?”

       Jay looked at her amused, "What do you want for it?"

       "Jay, you need help come here," Mal did not want him making any more deals. That was over, he could have them with the gang still, she wouldn't take that from him.

       “Um...teach me to climb better” Penny shrugged, “Being able to get up might let me escape princes better.”

       “Why would you want to escape a prince?” Evie asked looking a little horrified at the thought.

       “Not all princes are good guys” Penny shrugged again.

       "Deal," he smirked, ignoring the burning green glare, "Chad comes to mind. But that's just my opinion."

       “Yeah, like I said I don’t like Cindy so I doubt I’ll like him” Penny nodded, “how would you like me to help?”

       "Explain," he gestured to the paper, "I don't get it." More like he couldn't read it, but with his and Mal here he was not going to mention it.

       “Ok lets see” she took the paper looking over it, “Finish the sentence or answer the question with the correct good response,” she read the instructions, “While walking down the street you see someone drop their wallet, what do you do?”

       "Leave it so no one accuses me of stealing," Jay had lived through this already, "Or are you supposed to pick it up and give it to them?"

       “Normally you should pick it up and give it to them, but I think I like your answer better” Penny nodded, writing down his answer.

       "Well I get accused of stealing pretty much everything so I ain't touching anything someone here drops." He watched her closely he told her to explain it, but she decided to read the questions and write his answers down. He was not complaining, not even in the slightest.

       Carlos tilted his head at Evie, who nodded back. It wasn’t what Jay had asked for but it was more help so, might as well let Penny do it.

       “Right, you see someone choking on something, what should you do?”

       "Thump them on the back," Jay knew that, unless you were choking on something else but that was not Mainland friendly.

       Mal bit her tongue, Jay was supposed to do it on his own. But this was the Princess of Auradon, she wasn't going to say anything.

       “Well, actually, there is a technique here called the Heimlich, it's better than thumping people on the back. I think that thumping is acceptable though, it will let FG know she needs to go over a few things,” she explained.

       "Yeah I have no idea what that is."

       "Because you fell asleep," Mal replied from her place, "You're lucky you woke up before she realized."

       “I’ll show you later man, its pretty easy or it seemed like it was” Carlos added.

       “I don’t blame you just looking at this paper, I can’t imagine the class is very... lively” Penny decided on a word, plus she knew FG tended to me kinda dry.

       "Yeah... boring. Pick the least fun option and that's the right one generally. Thanks Los," he nodded to his pup appreciatively.

       “Sounds so boring, about like my royal etiquette class with FG. That woman is not a teacher” she shook her head.

       "She does fine, just forcefully bubbly," Mal shrugged returning to her work.

       “If you say so” Penny glanced at her, “Ok, last one. A member of the royal family introduces themselves to you, how do you respond?” she rolled her eyes, that seemed like a trick question to her.

       "Um... I am guessing I don't know them so I introduce myself." Jay shrugged. "But most times I let Princess deal with all the royal intros, cause that's safer and I don't get yelled at for doing it wrong."

       “I feel like that’s a loaded question anyway, there are different ways to respond depending on the setting, and who the royal is,” Penny rolled her eyes, “But generally introducing yourself is correct”

       “You do just fine with introducing yourself” Evie nodded.

       "As long as he doesn't immediately start flirting," Mal muttered.

       "Come on Mal, quit harping on that will you? I can't fucking help it," Jay groaned letting his head fall back.

       She rolled her eyes, "You always say that."

       “There’s nothing wrong with a little flirting,” Evie moved across the room to lean on the desk.

       Jay looked at her with a soft smile, "Makes people like you more. At least that's what I've found."

       “There is that, but you just have to make sure they don’t get the wrong idea,” Evie agreed, “What else do you have to work on?”

       Penny watched the two, they seemed so at ease together not like other people she watched.

       “Everything?” Jay shrugged a shoulder, “I don’t think anyone gets the wrong idea with me. I mean generally.”

       “You mean you haven’t finished any of your work yet?” Mal asked looking up lifting her brow at him.

       Jay tipped his head back and looked at Mal over Penny’s shoulder, “No... I’m working on it. See,” he gestured at Evie and Penny, “Working on it.”

       “I'll help him get it done,” Penny nodded

       “It will be fine Mal” Evie assured.

       Her eyes narrowed but she nodded, letting the topic drop, "Fine.”

       He rolled his eyes focusing back on his work, “I’m not too bad at the math stuff they have us doing, word problems don’t make any sense though.”

       “I can help with those,” Carlos said from the other side of the room.

       “I can as well,” Penny smiled nodding again.

       “Sure Pup,” Jay agreed, splitting his work between his, “You got any time to help me understand the science stuff Princess? I mean since you are so damn good at it?” As he asked he pulled out his last assignment and silently handed it to Penny.

       “All the time you need,” Evie put her arms around his shoulders.

       Penny looked at the worksheet, and then picked up a pencil and started picking out the numbers in the word problems.

       Jay slid his hands up his arms trying to remind himself that she was happy with Doug, that they couldn’t do their normal. Like Mal said this wasn’t the Isle, Ben’s party had been an exception because Evie hadn’t wanted him to leave. He tipped his head against hers, “You okay Princess?”

       “Yeah I think so, it’s just hard here sometimes,” Evie said softly.

       “Not the only thing,” he teased, “But I get it, things are different here. Mal needs us to be different, that’s the only thing we can do, try and be Mainland friendly.” Just because he knew didn’t mean he had to like it as her eyes focused on him once more, poisonous green. She wanted him to behave, to be as least like himself as he could get.

       “Maybe we can run some time,” Evie suggested, they could use an outlet.

       “The only place we can run is here, but I feel like she ain’t going to like it.” Jay shrugged a shoulder, “But I’m game if you want to run with me. Could use a real run... Maybe the woods?”

       “Over the weekend?” Evie nodded

       “I picked out all the numbers and underlined what you're supposed to do with them,” Penny pushed the paper back at him.

       “Thanks Little Princess,” he smiled at her kissing Evie’s arms with a smile, “Yeah over the weekend so long as I’m not taking you away from anything.”

       “Nothing that can’t wait” Evie shook her head.

       Mal shook her head, those two just didn’t know when to change their ways. But she figured after being able to screw each other whenever they pleased on the Isle, their habits would be hard to break.

       “I’ll be sure to tell Doug that,” he teased patting her arms, “Go finish your homework for me Princess?”

       “Fine I will go take care of that,” she rolled her eyes good naturedly, “Doug will understand.”

       He really hoped that Doug would understand but sometimes the Mainlanders just didn’t get them. The Mainlanders didn’t understand that sometimes they needed to feel like themselves again. Jay hunched over his worksheet letting Penny return to her own homework while he worked on the numbers. Money, it was all just money, he knew money. Add it together, subtract and multiply it, it was just like money.

       Evie moved away going to where her bag was to pull out her homework.

       Mal looked at her, “You are actually going out into the woods to run with him?” it was so unlike Evie but maybe they needed to relax. She was pretty sure she was fine but maybe they needed more.

       “Yeah I think so, it would be a nice change of pace for a little while.” she nodded.

       “I’ll go with you. We can all go on a run,” Mal nodded, they would all go, take Dude with them and have an Isle day away from prying eyes.

       “Are you sure? You might have something to do with Ben,” Evie pointed out

       “And you may have something with Doug,” Mal challenged eyes narrowing.

       “Don’t stress it Princess,” Jay interrupted pulling Mal’s attention back on him where it was safer.

       “Doug and I are looser with our schedules, you and Ben are not so much with him being the crowned prince,” Evie pointed out, “But I’m sure we can figure it out,” she didn’t think Jay would really unwind with Mal there.

       “He was a prince before, should be no different now,” Mal knew things were different now, but she was stubborn. Jay was after Penny, trying to pull her in, but Mal didn’t want anymore interlopers in her group of minions.

       “It’s very different,” Penny looked over at Mal, “But I doubt he needs Mal to hold his hand.”

       Mal nodded, “He doesn’t. I can’t help him with any of the royal stuff anyway.”

       “Except you're supposed to,” Jay pointed out blandly as he finished up his worksheet, “You know that whole date the prince thing. Pretty sure it’s part of the girlfriend duties.”

       “You’re a princess now,” Penny pointed out, “But if you don’t want to do something Ben wont make you, but dad might try.”

       Mal laughed shortly, “I am not a princess.”

       “Yeah and I’m a djinn,” Jay shook his head looking at her, at her horror, “You chose him, this is what goes with.”

       “You’ll be queen one day,” Evie pointed out as well.

       “But...” Mal frowned, “But I don’t want to be queen. I wouldn’t be a good queen.”

       “Don’t much matter, he’s dating you, the queen thing goes with.” he shrugged.

       “You’ll be fine,” Penny shook her head, “Besides Ben will be king, if you don’t want to be queen then you probably shouldn't have started dating him.”

       Carlos blinked at the Little Princess, that was ballsy to say to Mal.

       “Honestly I doubt she knew what she was signing herself up for,” Jay snorted putting the two completed sheets away.

       “Yeah I’m getting that feeling,” Penny muttered closing her textbook.

Chapter 8: The Bakery Heist (Auradon: April)

     Jay opened the door as someone knocked. He frowned, he was pretty sure he didn’t have practice since tomorrow was game day against the Shang something or nuthers. He opened the door looking at Penny.

       “Hi, um if this is a bad time I can come back” she fidgeted slightly, “I was wondering if you wanted to go into town with me, or we could work on climbing if that's what you want.”

      Jay leaned in the doorway and brushed a hair behind her ear and tipped her head up, "No such thing as a bad time for you Little Princess, really."

      “Then do you want to go into town with me?” She asked, she smiled a little.

      “Yeah, sure. Come on in, I’ve got to grab my boots then we can head out,” he pulled back leaving her to come inside on her own, “Pup went out to the library, Mal is hanging with Ben, and Princess is doing her dress thing with Doug so it’ll just be us. You cool with that?”

      “That's fine with me, things are sometimes better without bigger groups” she followed him into the room.

      “Wicked, I was hoping you weren’t too opposed to some just us time, I mean, I know I can be a handful for you mainlanders,” he smirked at her as he crouched pulling his boots on, blade palmed into the back of his pants.

      “I’m a handful for most mainlanders” she shrugged watching his movements.

      “You? Princess of Auradon?” he gave her a teasing look as he tied his boots before standing, “I would never guess that. Guess it’s perfect that I’m no Mainlander, I’m all Isle Rat,” he purred fingers light on her cheek, “With the very best of intentions.” 

      “Isle rat huh, well we are all something” she took his hand, “Come on”

      Jay let her fingers wrap around his, the gesture too mainland for comfort but he didn’t mind really. She was just moving closer to him, maybe he would take her on, give her more than the mainland ever had. “Sure thing Little Princess. So where in town are we headed anyway?”

      “Just around, I need away from all the guards and expectations for a little bit,” she explained.

      “Huh, alright sounds good to me. I don’t mind wandering with a gorgeous girl, a perfect distraction,” He purred following her out the door barely stopping to lock the door. “I’m flattered you thought of me.”

      “You’re odd, I like odd.” She looked at him, “Besides you don’t expect me to act a certain way”

      “Odd?” Jay asked, that stung, he had always been charming, handsome, never odd.

      “Different, you don’t match the other guys.” She expanded on the word.

      “Well course not, only one Jay in the world,” He gave her a sly look, “World couldn’t handle more than one of me, trust me.”

      “I think it could use more odd guys, the only ones I’ve met are you, Carlos, and Furgus,” she flashed him a smile as they left the school grounds.

      “Who’s Furgus? Guy I got to worry about giving me a run for my silver?” he smirked.

       “Furgus McDungbar, he’s the son of Merida. He and his brothers are real wild, or they were, we write emails back and forth every few months. We haven’t actually seen each other for a while” she smiled wider thinking of the red head.

      "Okay I got about half of that. Who was her villain, I think that's more useful for me. And what's an email? Technology doesn't really work on the Isle."

      “Um... I think Mordoe...Moredue, it was a bear a big black bear” she tried to remember the name, “Email is a letter sent using the computer or your phone”

      "Big bear blind in one eye?" Jay had met him, and nearly unalived himself while he was at it. "Okay so like a text message..."

      “Yeah like a text message, I think he had one eye” she nodded.

      "Okay I know them sorta, figured he had to be someone out here's villain. We kids are the only ones there just cause of our parent."

      “It sucks that they just left you guys there I can't imagine they are great parents”

      "Some are better than others. My Auntie is a good mama." He shrugged a shoulder, "But it's cool, nothing I can do about it." He gave her fingers a light squeeze reassuring her.

      “Your auntie? I didn’t know you have an aunt” she returned the squeeze as they reached the main street of town.

      He hummed, nodding, "Yeah,  she's my baba's twin sister, Nasira. She has a daughter about my age, Jade." His look went a bit distant before he shook his head, refocused his attention on her, "You got an Auntie?"

      “No, both my parents are only children” she shook her head, “Might be nice to have an auntie or uncle.” 

      “When they weren’t fighting, yeah. Jade and I spent a lot of time together cause Auntie didn’t want us involved.”

      “Sounds nice to have someone to spend time with” she looked at a few of the windows of the shops.

      Jay shrugged, “Got harder the older we were actually. But it’s whatever. So where are we going Little Princess?”

      “There’s a bakery I used to go to with one of my nursemaids... maybe my mom, when I was little. I went there when I was older before I stopped coming home,” she remembered the taste of the muffins or breads.

      “What’s a nursemaid?” Jay asked, letting her guide him through the streets ignoring the looks they were getting considering no one liked him and he was currently holding the Princess of Auradon’s hand.

      “They are the people normally ladies hired to take care of royal children,” Penny explained, “I went through a few.”

      “And why was that? Or is this go with you're not a Princess, princess thing?” he asked glancing at the shop windows, “We can stop by that bakery if you want. I’ve never been to a bakery before.”

      “I couldn’t ever measure up to Audrey, I was never going to be good enough, so why bother” she shrugged, she didn’t really talk about why she stopped coming home.

      “No one measures up to Audrey, she’s got fairy magic on her,” Jay offered, “But I think you can show her up. I mean we actually like you.”

      “Of course she fucking does” Penny rolled her eyes, leave it to Audrey to be an exception to the rules.

      “Well she’s got three fairy godmothers, apparently it’s cool when it’s good fairy magic,” he rolled a shoulder, “Doesn’t make her immune to me.”

      “Sounds like the type of acception my dad would make” she snorted, “what do you mean?”

      “Talk her up, make her blush and be all embarrassed. Then she shoos me before one of her many mainland boys see,” he smirked.

      “That sounds right, perfect princess when everyone is looking but, willing to break the rules when it suits her. Here it is” she pointed to the bakery.

      “I’d show her a wicked time if I wasn’t sure she’d lie,” he released her hand and opened the door smiling at her, “After you your majesty.”

      “Thank you Jay” she smiled, “Lie about what?” she turned looking at him confused.

      “Her being willing...” Jay’s head tipped as he followed her in looking confused at her confusion.

      “Willing to... um never mind, Carlos got that look at lunch the other day,” Penny shook her head.

      Jay raised an eyebrow at her but shook his head, “So bakeries. What is good here, cause I don’t know what a bakery is.”

      “They make breads of all sorts, cookies, cakes, french bread... just about anything baked,” she explained watching the baker watch them out of the corner of her eye.

      “Huh, good to know. I didn’t know there were people that actually made that stuff. Also used to be kinda green by the time it made it to the isle. It was very weird when we got here and saw what color things were supposed to be.”

      “Green? That’s... gross, but I suppose you made do with what you had,” Penny made a face, “What type of flavors do you like? I’ve gathered that Carlos likes sweets, Evie doesn’t really do bread, what about you though?”

      “Evie... Princess likes her fruits and veggies. Pup really likes chocolate. Me, I don’t do sweet stuff, I don’t know just never really got a taste for it. Everything else, I’ll eat everything else.”

      “You might like bagels, or sourdough” she tilted her head thinking, “I was thinking we could grab a few cookies for Carlos, and anything else that grabbed our attention,” she turned to the case. 

      The baker straightened up still watching the two, “We don’t do business with his kind” he informed crossing his arms.

      “I’m sorry, what kind is that exactly?” Penny raised an eyebrow at him.

      “Thieves,” he rolled his eyes like it was obvious.

      “First off he’s never been here,” Penny pointed out, “But if that is your policy, I will be sure to inform Cogsworth, and Mrs. Potts that this baker doesn’t do business with the palace anymore. After all if the friends of the princess and the crowned prince aren’t welcome then neither are we.” 

      “Princess? No one has seen her in years, poor thing lost her marbles years back. Sad I heard she was pretty, would have made a good bride for a prince,” he chuckled.

      “I am Princess Penelope, that’s my picture with my nursemaid behind you.” she smirked, “Go ahead and take a look, I’ll wait”

      He blinked turning to look paling as he looked back and forth, “Your majesty I am so...”

      “Save it, I just want to get a few things for my friend and I, and by the way it's your highness,” she rolled her eyes, “See anything you want to try?” she directed at Jay.

      Jay looked at the things in the case, “Pup would like those,” he pointed to the triangles with what looked like glaze on it, “Um, maybe that?” he pointed to an odd looking thing in a wrapper and a large top looking slightly glossy. 

       “Blueberry muffin, they are very good.” she nodded, “We will take two blueberry muffins, four snickerdoodles, and two turnovers” she watching him gather and box what she asked for before pulling out her card.

      “No charge,” he shook his head.

      “Nonsense, we are taking product. I will pay so there are no more confusions,” she glared holding out her card.

      He swallowed but did as she instructed, he watched the two leave the bakery after that.

      Jay patted his vest pocket, there was something weighty in it, “So now you get why I don’t go into shops around town.”

      “I can fix it, just like I fixed him. I can’t believe Ben didn’t do anything about this already” she rolled her eyes.

      “Well Ben doesn’t exactly come with us on these wanders. I would appreciate it, it would be nice to see more than what’s in the windows here.”

      “Idiot brother,” she rolled her eyes, “I’ll be more than happy to fix it so you guys can shop without getting harassed.” 

      "Would be appreciated." He nodded as they walked beside one another through the streets. "I've got a game tomorrow, you going to come and cheer me and Pup on?" He asked, batting his lashes.

      “If you want me there,” she nodded, “I would like to see you guys play another team”

      "But of course, the more pretty girls cheering for us the better. Knowing you're there rooting for me would go a long way to make me win," he purred at her with an easy smile.

      “Then I will make sure to be there,” she smiled back before turning to look at a few of the window displays.

      Jay followed her gaze with a soft look, maybe she was like Crocodile, immune to his flirting. Cause there was no way she was that innocent. "Next to bakeries, what's another shop you liked?"

      “Book stores, but I don't think that's your jam. So how about the pet store,” she suggested.

      "Yeah not exactly my thing. But pet store sounds cool, I can bring Pup there if he needs more stuff for Dude." There was also a slim chance they would have red macaws, he was sure he could bribe Ben into buying him one. He'd be lying if he said he wasn't missing his minions. 

      “It’s this way” Penny pointed down the street.

      “Yeah alright,” Jay nodded letting her guide the way once more, “So you got a pet?”

      “I wish I did, I always wanted a dog or something,” she thought about it, she wouldn’t have minded even just having a goldfish, “How about you? Did you have any pets back on the isle?”

      “Minions,” he corrected, “My dad’s macaw and my eels. Pup had a cat and Princess a blue parrot. But we um, we had to leave them all there.”

      “That sounds painful, to leave something you care about behind,” Penny frowned.

      Jay shrugged, "There wasn't enough time. We couldn't find the cat before we left, he liked wandering. Princess’ parrot had been birdnapped by her mom for compliments. Baba wouldn't let me take what used to be his minion and, well my eels... there was no way to get them here without killing them when we left the barrier." He felt sick thinking about hurting his boys, they deserved better than his father looking after them.

      “What are their names?” She asked, she thought she remembered Jafar’s parrot's name but she wasn’t sure.

      “Beelzebub is Pup’s cat, Othello is Princess’ parrot, mine are Iago, Lagan and Derelict.” He pushed the door open to the pet store.

      “Iago is the parrot right?” She asked.

      “Yeah Iago was his enchanted macaw...” he smiled bitterly, “Can’t really talk anymore, but he’s still smart.”

      “So magic doesn’t work over there, even already in place magic,” she went over to the puppy pen.

      “More like it suppresses and kills magic,” Jay followed her looking at the puppies, “So these are more Dude’s.”

      “Yes and no, Dude is a mutt meaning he is a mix of a few different breeds. These are mostly pure breeds,” she explained picking up a Cocker Spaniel.

      “Okay so what kind is that?” Jay asked ruffling the dog’s floppy ears.

      “This is a Cocker Spaniel,” she smiled as it’s tail wagged happily.

      “It’s a cute dog,” Jay offered, “Seems to like you.”

      “Dad wouldn’t allow it though,” she scratched behind its ear.

      “Why not?” he looked confused at her, “I mean... does he not like dogs or something cause of his um beast thing Enchantress did to him?"

      “That's probably part of it. But I think it's more he doesn’t want an animal underfoot”

      "Well that's dumb," Jay commented, "None of our minions were ever underfoot."

     “Plus with me not being here until recently he probably didn’t want to deal with it crying cause I wasn’t here, ” she placed it back in the pen leaning to pet a shepard, “And the very real chance I'd train it to bite Audrey in her royal ass” 

      "Well if you're sticking around why not get one now?" Jay watched her and the small dogs. He liked them, but it just wasn't the same.

      “I can ask, maybe they’ll let me have a little one,” she nodded giving the shepard one last pet before moving further into the store.

      Jay followed her, eyes glossing over the tanks of small fuzzy rodents, rabbits, reptiles he'd never seen before, snakes, large fluffy spiders, and hundreds of different fish. "They sure have a lot in here."

      “This shop is considered one of the best, I think they have birds towards the back,” she looked at him.

      "Yeah? Wicked," Jay beamed her a smile and started in that direction, "Would be cool to see at least something like him again."

      “I know that red parrots aren’t very popular, but they might have one,” she stopped in front of the bird cages and perches.

      "Wouldn't really be the same," Jay laughed shortly standing close to the birds, "I remember playing Hide and Seek with him when I was real little. And he took forever to reply in anything that made sense, but he understood everything you said."

      “Sounds like fun,” Penny smiled, as a songbird tweeted at them from its cage.

      "I think it was," Jay shook his head, "It's hard to remember sometimes if I was ever a kid." Between the stealing for most of his life and his various real bad hits and injuries some things slid through his memory like water. Mostly words.

      “Grew up too fast” she reached out to a Tucan.

      "I guess so. I wouldn't do that," Jay warned grabbing her hand before she could touch the bird, "Birds nip, and if they don't like you broken fingers."

      “Thanks” she nodded looking at the black bird.

      Jay smirked, "Yeah no problem, figured you didn't want broken bones."

      “Be interesting to explain,” she smirked back.

      "Pretty sure everyone would try and blame me for it," Jay offered the back of his hand to a white bird who flashed him a crest of yellowish feathers, "You just have to take it slow, and hope they like the way you smell."

      “I wouldn’t let them blame you.” she shook her head, “I didn’t know birds could smell like that.”

      "Suppose to be able to smell their owners for miles, at least that's what Pup said." He smiled softly as the bird rubbed its beak on the back of his hand.

      “Carlos really likes animals,” she smiled, watching them closely.

      "Well he grew up around fur, I think he likes um better alive," he carefully rubbed the back of his knuckle over the bird's cheek, "If they rub their beak on you, they are cool with you petting them."

      “Bird expert,” she smiled, “I guess Carlos liking them better alive makes sense, its funny he proved that your parents didn’t make you like them” she tilted her head she had read something about Carlos a year or so ago, where an argument had been made that as Cruella’s son, it was in his nature to be cruel. It was some sort of council thing... maybe, she’d have to look it up again see if she could find it.

      "I got looked over a lot by an asshole Macaw until I was 8 or so, then I looked after him." He shrugged with a soft smile, "Can't be like him, not smart enough or evil enough, or really anything enough for him. But it's whatever, I'm damn good at what I can do."

      “I’m sure you're good at a lot of things,” she looked at a canary that landed on her shoulder.

      "Oh I am really good at a few things," he looked her over not minding the white bird's nibbling, "I could show you sometime if you're into that kinda thing."

Chapter 9: Game Day (Auradon Prep: April)

      Penny gave Jay a smile as she arrived at the field just as they were heading into the locker room.

      Jay motioned Carlos to go after the others as he jogged towards Penny, "Hey Little Princess, glad you could make it." He glanced back as Aziz whistled at him, "Alright looks like my task master won't let me chat for long. Cheer for me?" He slid his old beanie on her head with a sly smirk.

      “Definitely” she nodded with a smile pulling the beanie down a little further. She headed off to the bleachers.

      Evie waved Penny over to her and Mal near the top. She wasn’t sure about the other princess, she didn’t seem interested in much of the things other princess’ were, but she was nice to Jay.

      Mal watched as Jay rushed back towards the Prince and rolled her eyes, he did not know how not to get in trouble. She refocused her attention on the Princess now sporting Jay's red brown beanie. Apparently Jay was not planning on following orders, she told him to knock it off. But this was Ben's sister. 

      “Hi,” Penny waved at Mal as she sat next to Evie.

      “So are you excited to see the game,” Evie asked

      “I’m excited to see them play” she nodded.

      "Hi," Mal replied with a brief smile as she looked back to her sketchbook. Tourney was not her thing but two of her minions played and Ben so she would be here to support them at least. The Shanghai Wuxais were warming up across the field in their green and black uniforms. Mal could see Lonnie, the daughter of Mulan, talking to their coach. Her head tipped in confusion when Lonnie embraced the man before walking up into the bleachers to where the Agrabahian kids hung out.

      “That’s Shang Li, he’s the couch and headmaster of the school in China, he’s also Lonnie’s dad,” Penny supplied waching Mal’s line of sight.

     “Why doesn’t she go to that school then?” Evie asked 

      “Not really sure, it's probably some sort of contract” Penny shrugged.

      "Huh, that makes sense I think. Sort of like how Jordan goes to school here when there is a school in Agrabah?" Mal had learned about that through a nasty comment from Apple White to Jordan, not that the girl bothered to be offended.

      “Yeah I guess, the same reason I was sent to Merryweather’s sort of," Penny nodded.

      Mal nodded sketching some more details onto the Isle-ized Wuxai banner. She had already fixed , the Knights banner. Eventually she would give the collection to the boys when they eventually crushed all the other teams.

      “Do you always draw during the games?” Penny asked.

      "This is one of the first games they've had. Jay and Los like my work, so I am redoing the school banners."

      “That sounds cool,” Penny smirked, “I bet people would pay for your art.”

      “Do you like art? I use it to design all my clothes and get a feeling for color combos,” Evie smiled at her.

      “I don’t have any real skill at it,” Penny shook her head, “Can’t even draw stick figures really.”

      “Jay is the same way,” Mal smirked, “But I’m the one who did the Evil Lives tags all over school. So I am pretty sure they may pay me to stop.”

      “Or try and force you to take art class” Penny snickered

      “Ben suggested she take art class,” Evie nodded, “but that kinda takes all the fun out of it”

      "It really does. The point is to enjoy what I do, not follow the mainland rules for art," she smiled looking up as the team came back onto the field, "Now to watch your boys crush the other team, E."

      “There they are,” Evie clapped, her eyes picking out Carlos and Jay.

      “The other team doesn’t look too scared,” Penny looked over at them.

      “Just wait until Jay runs them over” Evie assured.

      Mal smirked, "Him and Los." She replied leaning over her book watching them.

      “Oh here we go it's starting,” Evie bounced

      Jay rolled his neck, hands tingling as he twisted the stick back and forth. He was going to win, these guys didn't look that hard.

      Ben glanced at Jay and the rest of the team, "Come on, we practiced this, we can beat them."

      “Lets flatten them,” Carlos nodded, looking a little nervous.

 

      “Ben looks good in that uniform,” Evie teased Mal.

      Mal looked at her, "You think Jay looks better." She snorted as the cheerleaders screamed in excitement. "And here comes your masterpiece to flatten them."

      “Masterpiece?” Penny questioned.

      “Jay is like a piece of art, the way he moves,” Evie explained not taking her eyes off him.

      Mal could understand the appeal, Jay was, well attractive. But she couldn't excuse his damn stubbornness, "And she likes watching him work."

      “Well he does have nice arms,” Penny nodded along.

      Evie turned to look at her for a second before she started giggling, “Nice arms, I will have to tell him that.”

      Penny blinked at Evie making a confused face, “Did I say something wrong... I swear it's just been a while since I've talked to real people.”

       “Normally girls aren't very focused on his arms is all” Evie assured.

      "Have him flex, they get better," Mal grinned, "Or flex anything else really."

      Penny tilted her head, she’s seen him flexing to show off to the cheerleaders across the room at lunch the other day. She supposed that did make his arms look nicer.

      “Nice hit Carlos,” Evie cheered as Carlos blocked and threw one of the other team off balance.

      Mal smiled, "And there goes Ben and Jay."

      “They scored,” Evie jumped up and down pulling Penny with her, “First goal is ours.”

      Penny giggled enjoying Evie’s energy.

      She shook her head enjoying the noise, she may not care about the game but at least they had Evie to cheer them on.

 

       Jay bumped fists with Carlos as they reset the field, "What do you think? They seem kinda flimsy."

      “Like running through Uma’s crew after she lost Gil,” Carlos snickered.

      "So easy compared to the Jollyrogers. You know we may be able to play with this. We can make the team play a little Isle like."

      “I’ll follow your lead,” Carlos nodded, he could get a little rougher with these guys.

      Ben looked at the two, "I'll let the guys know you have a plan. You do have a plan right Jay?"

      "Yeah totally," Jay nodded lying through his teeth. 

      “So what’s the plan?” Carlos raised an eyebrow teasing lightly.

      "Do I ever have useable plans?" Jay snorted, "But yeah I'll figure it out. Let's have us a loot run."

      “... do I have to be the distraction again,” Carlos sighed.

      "Nope Chad plays distraction. He's perfect for it," he smirked.

      “Oh this gonna be good,” Carlos laughed.

      Aziz watched them huddle, the looks of confusion. Sandstorms what were they doing, he had spelled out the plays. This was not the time to go experimenting on him. As they set up he looked at the older Coach, "What are they doing?"

      "Looks like Jay and Carlos had enough of our ideas," Coach smiled, "But it's fine, those boys are going to get it done."

      “What are we doing?” Chad asked, “Coach already gave us plays.”

      Ben smiled slightly, "Changing things up. Jay has an idea, I don't see the harm. We run one of his plays and see how it goes."

      Jay looked at them, he hoped they could follow directions better than an Isle kid. Cause well, his plans generally went out the window cause someone got cocky but he adapted. The team looked at him expectantly, "Okay Chad you're up front and center. Play like you have the ball. Ben and Simon take left, Chomper you guard um, Alex you're with me on the right with my normal back up. Happy and Isaac fire towards Chad until about mid up their side, kite it then cover our backs. If they try and pinch Chad will fall back so we can flip um out."

      Simon tilted his head, "Flip um out?"

      "Just follow my lead."

      "Ball is where?" Ben asked concerned.

      "With Alex. He's good at ball control without too much movement. If it gets dicey we play hot iron." Jay shrugged.

      "Hot potato," Chomper snorted, "It's called Hot Potato here Jay."

      “Why would someone throw a potato?” Carlos looked at Chomper, “Nevermind explain later”

      “Why would I act like I have the ball when I don’t," Chad looked at Ben.

      Ben knew why, but he treated it delicately, "For the same reason you act like you're going right before going left. We don't want them to know where the ball is. If you don't want to do it I will."

      “Ok I guess that makes sense,” he sighed.

      Ben nodded giving Jay a smile, he'd back the teen up. That's what friends did.

      Mal looked over the field, "Hey E, why does that look familiar? Because I am sure they've never practiced that before."

      “It looks like something, but no I don’t think I've seen them practice this one before,” she shook her head.

      "I wonder what the hell they are doing if they haven't done this in practice before. Doesn't look like your eye candy Prince is very happy about it either," Mal snickered looking at the older male who had an expression of displeasure and panic.

      “Looks like the boys are getting creative,” Evie said with a small smirk as her eyes tracked the movements.

      "Well this is Jay. He doesn't do rules. Or someone else's plays either." She watched Jay full body check an opponent and leap over his downed body. 

      “As long as it works, then it shouldn’t matter” Penny shrugged

      “That a very open statement” Evie glanced at her before going back to the game.

      “But not an incorrect one” Penny pointed out, snickering as Chad was dogpiled.

      "I remember this... this is a loot run. Jay is running a loot run." Mal blinked.

      “Now that is creative” Evie nodded seeing it now.

      “A loot run?” Penny asked.

      "Exactly what it sounds like," Mal smiled watching the game intently. Where was the ball, "There number 16, he has the ball."

      “What type of loot?” Penny asked, “Well of course he does, from here we can see how they are moving, and he is the least obvious, at least that’s how I see it”

      Mal's eyes narrowed slightly as her head tilted, "Okay, I guess it's an Isle thing."

      “Oh... ok” she nodded, guess it was hard to explain.

      "Happens. Your brother got used to hearing that from us actually. There are just some things we just do that doesn't match to Mainlander stuff."

      “Yeah I suppose we would consider different things loot, ” Penny nodded.

      "Today it's that ball," she smirked as Ben scored a goal.

      “Yes, yes yes,” Evie cheered

      “Maybe you should be captain of the cheer squad” Penny laughed with a smile.

      “Not enough time, plus those outfits... I don’t think so” Evie shook her head.

      "That and Audrey is the current cheer captain. She already hates us, so we won't poke that bitch." 

      “I would love to watch her get poked” Penny snorted. 

      “Not our area, you could try out” Evie suggested

      “Not really mine either," she shook her head.

      "Not surprised really." Mal commented, "We aren't cheerleader material. I mean look at them." Blondie and Erica were bouncing up and down.

      Jay winked at the cheer squad and they swooned like the girls in Whore's Hole always did for him back home.

      “That’s... kinda disturbing, I’m pretty sure at least one of them has a boyfriend,” Penny made a face.

      Mal laugh sighed, "He doesn't care, he's not doing anything harmful. Just being Jay."

      “I meant the girls,” Penny shrugged.

      “Well they aren’t very... royal girls,” Evie tried to find the best wording, sure a few of the cheerleaders were princess’ but she was sure that most of them were either noble ladies or second princess’.

      "And why is that a problem, there isn't any harm in it and he wouldn't do it if they said no."

      “I don’t trust most of these uppity girls,” Penny supplied, most girls she ran into like the cheerleaders were lying harpies anyway.

      "Neither do we," Mal watched the boys reset the team seemingly more excited than before.

 

      Carlos rocked on his heels with energy this was more like it.

      Jay leaned into the huddle feeling the familiar hum of adrenaline in his veins, "So wanna do another?"

      “What’s wrong with Coaches plays?” Chad asked, rubbing his shoulder.

      "Too predictable. How many times have you used them against your opponents?"

      “Fine but I'm not getting jumped on again” Chad crossed his arms.

      Carlos snorted, rolling his eyes; really, was Chad a prince or a princess? Evie could take harder hits than that.

      "Okay... volunteers for bait?" Jay asked, looking at the team with a teasing grin.

      “Well if Princess over there won't do it then I guess I’ll do it, ” Carlos rolled his eyes again.

      “Who you calling a Princess?” Chad snapped

      “Evie could take harder hits than that and then ask for more,” he snapped.

      “Fine, I got it covered. How we doing this?” Chad growled.

      Jay grinned and explained his next run with glee, this was working out better than expected. 

      “Too much?” Carlos snickered to Jay as they broke the huddle.

      "Nope, I like watching the bitch Prince get pounced." Jay smirked, rocking his stick as he waited for the ball drop.

      “That might be an insult to bitches” Carlos pointed out.

      "Maybe?" Jay snickered, bouncing back and forth with an excited grin, "But it means he does what we want."

      “Maybe coach will let you make some plays after this” Carlos bounced a few times before the ball was released.

      Jay liked Tourney better when he was making up plays on the fly. He did his best thinking when he wasn't thinking at all. He caught the ball from Ben and turned his body checking and rolling off an opponent as he moved. It was a full bum rush, and his teammates were wincing at blows. He needed to toughen them up seriously. A twist of his wrist and he winged the ball backwards to Alex who caught and threw the ball with everything he had at the goal. When the ball was caught and tossed into the air Jay was there fast as a snake strike driving the ball into the goal over their shoulder.

      Evie clapped again as the crowd cheered.

      “His plays are working very well,” Penny nodded.

      Mal smirked, "Not the first time he's done this. Maybe not Tourney, but these aren't the first time he's used these moves. My second is one of the best on the Isle. Hard headed, but he always delivers. And he never loses."

 

      Aziz stared at the team, the team he had been the captain of for a long time. They were winning. The Auradon Knights were a good team but they had never been this good. It made him want to unbench himself and be there on the field playing again.

      Coach was beaming, "They are doing a damn good job with the VKs on the team. We just have to keep it up through the rest of the game and the season."

      “How much are we ahead?” Carlos asked as he came to stand next to Ben as they reset again.

      “We’re up by six,” Ben grinned, “We’re doing great.”

      “Ok, so how much do we have to score to make them admit defeat?” Carlos nodded.

      “Well we play both halves of the game and whoever has the most points at the end wins,” Ben explained even though he was sure that had been in the rules Coach gave them.

      “Oh... ok,” Carlos nodded, he figured someone would have to admit defeat.

      “Did you read the rule book Coach gave you? It’s fine if you didn’t, you and Jay have been doing a great job.”

      “We were kinda interested in other things,” Carlos shrugged, “Besides we figured it would just be easier to wing it. You know learn by watching” that was more Jay’s thing but Carlos could roll with it every now and then.

      “Well you had all of us fooled into thinking you had read the rulebook so I think it’s worked out so far,” Ben assured him.

      “Wicked I would hate to think we weren’t doing an evil enough job,” Jay smirked shaking his legs out, he might be getting a little wound up but at least that last goal had stopped his hands from burning.

      “We should go score more points” Carlos smirked, “There are two halves, this isn’t even the end of the first” 

      “More points? Yeah alright, no problem, I am more than happy to beat their faces in some more,” Jay nodded, “We can do some more runs if you want, or play some of yours, I can make um actually work.”

      “Or we could play the plays that coach gave us,” Chad looked at the two of them.

      “Well could always call a timeout and get coaches opinion of the matter,” Carlos raised an eyebrow at the prince.

      Ben looked between the VKs and Chad, “Would you be opposed to trying one of Coach’s and Aziz’s plays?”

      “Like I said I’ll make um work. You guys seem to know how to wing it,” Jay shrugged nudging Carlos subtly, this wasn’t the place for fighting with Chad, “And as long as we keep winning I don’t care.”

      “Yeah I guess we could try a few of them,” Carlos agreed, if Jay was telling him to back down he would for now.

      “Good,” Ben nodded, “How about the one we practiced this week?”

      Jay nodded looking at Carlos, they could work that into something more effective. Wouldn’t be hard for them to wing it and get a goal.

      “We can do that, I think Jay and I have a few ways to play that one,” Carlos nodded back.

Chapter 10: Acceptable Blackmail (Auradon Prep: April)

Notes:

NSFW referances right at the start.
Picks up right where Ch.9 stopped

Sorry for the weird chapter breaks, we are bad at making chapters when we write.

      Jay leaned back against the shower wall closing his eyes. Mal, Little Princess, and his were all sitting in the other room. He had let Carlos shower first before he tucked himself in here while they celebrated. No matter what he had wanted to do he was too wound up, he needed to cool off a little, before he jumped one of his and broke his word to them. They had lives they wanted to keep seperate from their old ways. Jay understood, but he had habits he just couldn’t kick. The warm water helped his hand slide over his skin, listening to them, their talking and laughter. Only one of them wouldn’t be used to this, to what he needed, the others well they would at least understand.

 

      “Is he ok in there?” Penny asked as she spun in Carlos’ chair.

      “Yeah, Jay just likes to enjoy the hot water,” Carlos lied easily, he knew stuff like what went on on the field today normally got Jay ramped up.

      Mal nodded, “Hot showers help him calm down. He was probably about to go run a few miles even after the game.”

      “That’s a lot of running,” Penny chuckled

      “That’s how it was on the isle, always ready to run or fight,” Carlos nodded to her, “It’s easier here, no need to constantly be at the ready... even if we are most of the time”

      “Not like before but yeah,” Mal sighed hearing the water finally shut off, “It’s calmer here, but sometimes it still feels like we have to be on guard. Anything could send us home.”

      “Ben and I wouldn’t let them do that,” Penny gave her a smile.

      “Ben can protect Mal, but well the rest of us could be free game,” Evie shook her head.

      Jay slipped out of the bathroom in a pair of dark red sleep pants and a gray tank top that clung to his damp skin. He felt lethargic but settled down in front of Evie with a smile at Penny, “Which is why we are careful and stuff. You mind Princess?” he asked hoping she didn’t mind braiding his hair at least since he couldn’t touch her like he wanted to.

      Mal rolled her eyes at his antics considering she knew that he had jerked off while they were all only a wall away, “And I won’t let anything happen to them. That’s my job.”

      “Not at all” Evie smiled as she started running her nails threw his hair and sectioning it out.

      “Well if any one threatens let me know, every one always has something they don’t want getting out,” Penny nodded, she wouldn’t mind using some of her black book for them.

      Jay raised a brow, "You have blackmail and you'd use it?" 

      He knew about the little black book he saw, and never bothered to read. And he knew she people watched but blackmail? Aside from being a touch obsessed with the Evil Dagger in the Museum Jay never really thought of her having a dark side. Then again.... there was Chad. A shiver rippled under his skin as Evie's nails ghosted a particularly sensitive patch of scalp.

      Mal gave Jay a look over as goosebumps erupted over his skin and his somewhat noticeable nipple rings perked. She rolled her eyes, he may complain about his hair being played with but he liked it.  Readjusting her attention she shrugged at Penny, "We wouldn't want to get you in trouble. We can handle it."

      “If it’s useful then yes I’ll use it,” she nodded to Jay, “If they don’t want people to know then they shouldn’t have done whatever it was and then pissed me off.”

      “Wicked,” Carlos breathed looking at her.

      Evie smirked a little and started to weave the braid.

      Mal smirked slightly, “I like the sound of that. But isn’t that why you got sent here?”

      Jay rolled his eyes, “Ignore her, she all about long term whatevers. But the rest of us, we like living in the now. If you got a way to get rid of our enemies, I’m not going to stress the how as long as it gets done.”

      “So like everything you do? Think about the consequences later when you're in the shit of it?” Mal gave him a harsh look.

      “No I was sent home because I may have pulled what was supposed to be a harmless prank, and if it was me... well how was I supposed to know that the Princess of the Seven Isles didn’t know how to swim,” Penny shrugged.

      Evie bit her lip trying not to giggle.

      Mal rolled her eyes, “Well we get it all the time about harmless jabs. It’s a big double standard. Except Jay, Jay gets in trouble when he forgets he can’t just punch people he doesn’t like.”

      “So much easier when I could just punch them,” He sighed enjoying the feeling of her nails on his scalp, “Some of them deserved to be punched.”

      “I know, I can agree with that for some people” Penny gave him a small smile.

      “That's another mainlander on our side” Carlos smirked.

      “Always nice to have more... friends” Evie rang some of the water from Jay’s hair before continuing the weaving of his hair.

      Jay hummed, "See Mal, more people on our side."

      "Just don't go abusing her help," Mal sighed, "You have to behave some what. Make Ben and Penny work a little less to cover your bad habits."

      "I won't abuse anything," Jay huffed looking away from Mal. He tried not to at least.

      “I have seen no such bad habits” Penny gave him a full smirk.

      “I think you fit right in with us” Carlos put an arm around her shoulders.

      Mal snorted, "Just wait, he has more than a few bad habits. I mean aside from having every girl and a few of the boys falling over themselves for a smile in their direction."

      "Oh are my tempting ways too much for you Mal?" Jay snickered, "Never complained before."

      "Because it played in our favor having them eating out of your hand. But we don't have to do that now do we Jay?" Mal gave him an overly sugared smile and a head tilt that promised pain for wrong answers.

      He rolled his eyes smoothing a scarred bare palm over Evie's tight covered leg, "No Mal we don't need that anymore," he gave her a matching smile.

      “But if it's part of who you are, then why would you stop being you?” Penny studied him.

      "Because I'm not what the Mainland wants."

      “It’s ridiculous ” Penny snorted, “That people have to not be themselves in order to be what people want them to be.”

      “Speaking from experience?” Evie looked up at her as she finished the braid.

      “Some,” Penny shrugged.

      Mal looked down, "We can't be us here. We, even toned down, are too much sometimes for people here. Our scars, which none of us ever minded, they make people uncomfortable here."

      Jay looked at his scared palm, memories of scrambling away as a kid, dragging himself into the broken window even as the glass bit deep into his hands. He closed his eyes and squeezed his hand shut, it was over. "People want that from you too though, to be anything but you for them."

      “Pretty much, everyone wears a mask around here” Penny nodded.

      "No point in masks on the Isle. They don't need to hide, we all know they are likely to actually stab you in the front or back." Jay shrugged a shoulder letting his braided hair drip down his back as he rested his head against Evie's inner knee.

      Mal nodded, "We are careful. We leave the past in the past," she looked pointedly at her second as he seemed to mindlessly be rubbing Evie's lower leg out of habit, "We get the chance to do more than we used to do. Play Tourney, make more clothes, build electronics, that stuff. If we have to be someone else for those chances so be it. We can be liars if we have to be."

      Jay snorted, "You maybe, me all I have is my word. That's all I've ever had really."

     “And no one will ask you to break it,” Evie assured him as she gave Mal a look.

      Mal ceded, "That's why you don't go making promises you know you can't keep. Not that you've ever actually been known to do that."

      “That will be a change for the people around here, promises don’t tend to mean anything around here,” Penny studied Jay, “Be nice to have it mean something”

      "Always means something from me." He smirked at her, "Thanks for watching and cheering us on."

      “I’ll have to make sure to come to more of your games,” she gave him a smile.

      “Yeah, you can jump around with E,” Carlos smirked at Evie.

      “I do not jump,” Evie huffed as if offended.

      “A princess does not jump, she elegantly leaps, like a graceful doe” Penny snickered.

      "And squeals, visually devouring her boys running across a field." Mal snorted.

      "Princess? Squeal? You mean sigh happily?" Jay grinned.

      “She loves watching you guys play,” Penny added

      “It is very thrilling,” Evie put her arms around Jay’s shoulders.

      "It is very... exciting to play?" Jay was not sure if that was the right mainland safe phrase.

      Mal gave them a look of amusement, "I don't think you know what that actually means. Want me to give you two some time?"

      "No, but I'll never deny either of mine or little princess if they wanna pile." Jay smirked holding Evie's arm.

      “Pile?” Penny tilted her head.

      “Come on,” Carlos pulled her to Jay's bed as Evie pulled on Jay.

      Jay stood and turned easily picking Evie up off her feet as he looked at Mal, "You coming?"

      Mal opened her mouth to chide him but closed it and tried again, "Sure Jay." She closed her book and tucked it away before looking at the bed, just like home. 

      Jay kissed Evie's cheek as he carried her to the others, "Thanks Princess," he whispered against her skin before laying the both of them down with Penny and Carlos. Once Mal had tucked herself in with them, "This Little Princess is a pile. It's an Isle thing we always did, generally in our scrap fabric pile."

      "A mattress was hard to find," Mal explained resting her head on Jay's thigh.

      “Huh,” Penny shifted slightly so her head was on Jay’s shoulder, “We call it cuddling. This is nice” it was warm and it felt safe.

      “It helps us relax” Evie nodded slightly.

      "Helps us breathe," Jay added arm curled around Penny holding her close, "Home could get..."

      "Overwhelming," Mal completed for him when she felt him tense subconsciously, some words just didn't seem to stay with him, "And our parents added to it sometimes," she rested her hand on Evie's hip, "It's over now, but the Mainland gets the same way so we fall back into old habits."

      “Trust me, everywhere can be overwhelming if given the chance,” Penny agreed.

      Mal nodded, rubbing her cheek on the warm cotton, "Ben tries not overwhelm us, but he has no idea sometimes."

      "But he tries and that's what matters. I try and coax him around us, he accepts that Isle things are just Isle things. He accepts what is good for us isn't always good in their eyes." Jay added his eyes closing, "But we do it here or the girls room, hide it away from them. Easier and less questions."

      “Ben is pretty easy going, he doesn’t tend to pick fights,” Penny smirked a little, Ben didn’t like confrontation. She was honestly shocked he had gone behind their dad’s back to bring over these 4.

      "And so innocent," Mal's nose crinkled thinking about him and how much he just didn't understand.

      "I don't think that's the right word for Ben." Jay snorted, "He's too forgiving. You spelled him and he shrugged it off."

      "Well he ended up meeting mom so he knows what we were dealing with." She smacked his lower leg.

      “There is that” Evie mused, “But Jay’s not wrong he should have been a little mad about being spelled.”

      “Ben doesn’t like to make people feel bad, so he tends to just roll over,” Penny supplied.

      "I wouldn't-" he jumped at the sharp pain, "Ow you fucking bitch."

      Mal fixed him with a heated green eyed look, "You leave Ben alone. He is just fine the way he is without you involved."

      "That's not a good reason to fucking bite me," Jay huffed glaring back at her.

      Evie chuckled, “Evil Mal.”

      “It’s normal Penny” Carlos laughed.

      Mal smirked, "Damn right."

      Jay dropped his head back down, "I hate you."

      "All you have to do is listen to me Jay. I make the plans, you make it work out just like old times." She settled back watching him cede to her wants with a grumbled Fine.

      “You’ll make a great queen,” Penny chuckled, “Just make the plans and have everyone else follow them.”

      "I don't know about that, the Queen thing is more E's dream. I'm not sure what mine is anymore..."

      "Well being the next mistress of evil is off the table. Maybe you could just be happy with surviving your boyfriend's birthday and not getting sent back." Jay offered.

      "He's not my boyfriend," Mal huffed rocking her head on his thigh to stare at the ceiling.

      "You can call it whatever you want, but I am positive that's the mainland term for that thing he thinks it is. Me, I don't date, period. No one is going to accuse you of forcing them and people believe them. I'm not taking the risk." Jay snorted squeezing Mal carefully and gently between his legs before letting his unused limb fall back onto the bed.

      "Which is why you insist on making moves on everyone?"

      "Okay come on now, I can't fucking help it. I want people to like me enough not to send me back where they are likely gonna unalive us if we step foot there again." He growled at his leader, it was always like this with her. She was protected by everyone, he was the one everyone wanted a piece out of.

      “Forced into what? Unalive?” Penny asked, “Ben thinks you’re girlfriend... all of Auradon thinks you’re his girlfriend, ”

      “Sounds like you need to talk to Ben Mal,” Evie raised an eyebrow.

      “Don’t worry about it,” Carlos said, “He’s worried that girls will be like Audrey.”

       Jay ignored Penny's questions she didn't need to know. Safer if that stayed with them, "To Princess' point, why keep the ring if the two of you aren't, whatever you call it."

      Mal opened and closed her mouth before making a face, "I don't know... it's just... I don't..."

      "Okay the bad with words is my thing, get your own."

      Mal sat up with that and slapped his thigh as Jay full body cringed, legs pulling up around her, "Look I don't know what it is okay? I don't have a word for this feeling I'm, I don't know, connected or something with him. Oh quit being such a baby Jay."

      "That was the tip of my dick you bitch. I would punch you in the cunt if I didn't have bodies on me," Jay hissed through clenched teeth.

      "You'll live," Mal apologized without the words as she straightened his legs out.

      “Still not cool Mal,” Carlos rolled his eyes.

      “Sounds like true love, at least that’s what it sounds like in the stories,” Penny looked at Mal. “If you actually believe in that.”

      Mal made a face, "We don't know what love is, so hard no to the whole true love thing."

      "Pretty sure you'd need a heart too," Jay smirked, "You hit me again and I am kicking you in the face."

      "Asshole," Mal stuck her tongue out at him, "I have a heart, bigger one than my mom's at least."

      “Everyone has a true love, or that's the shit they tell us, but not everyone finds them” Penny shrugged, “At least that’s the story they tell us to get us to do what they want. That if we find our true love we don’t have to go through with what they want. That’s how Ben gets out of marrying Audrey or some other princess.”

      Mal snorted, "Your brother thinks I'm his true love. Yeah okay, that's stupid. My mother is the Mistress of Evil, your brother is the Crown Prince of Auradon. Not that I don't appreciate his, whatever, I am not-"

      "Then let Ben think whatever he wants Mal. If you want to be around him, be around him," Jay suggested, "Maybe while you're doing whatever you figure out what you think of him."

      “It doesn’t always make sense. I mean my dad was a monstrous beast and my mom an oddball book worm” she said, “Aurora had only met Philip once and didn’t know his name,” she wasn’t sure she really believed in true love but she couldn’t really admit that out loud. It would be frowned upon to say she didn’t think it was real, that she thought maybe some of these true love couples were just people looking to change their lives. Ella came to mind, she had lived a life of... being a slave/servant to her family and wanted out, Henry had been her way out.

     "I think people want an excuse," Jay sighed, "They use love way too much here..."

      “Its in everything, I hear people just say it” Evie nodded in agreement

      “It's an expression out here I guess. People say it and it means different things depending on how they say it” Penny furrowed her brow trying to explain it, “True love is suppose to be this magic fix all, but somes it seems like it makes more problems than it solves”

      “You don't believe in it do you?” Carlos asked raising an eyebrow.

      “I...” Penny turned her head to look at him, “I don't know, I believe in love but true love... I don't really know. It turned my dad back into a man, or at least that's what everyone thinks did it.”

      "Well you have an enchanted lake," Mal offered.

      "Your mama ever give him a dunking?" Jay asked looking over at Penny.

      “The way the story was always told to me, was that the enchantress worded the spell so that only true love could break the spell. Although I am unclear on what exactly they count as true love” Penny shrugged a little, “cause if you look up the real story of sleeping beauty and you really do have to look for it, Maleficent woke Aurora, not Philip."

      "Wait really, mom woke her up? But... why?" Mal bit her lip confused.

      “I’ll see if we have a copy of the book in the library. But, yeah she woke her, you’d have to ask her why.”

      "Yeah I don't think her mom is going to be talking anytime soon. Seeing as she is a lizard and all."

      "That and I don't think the Maleficent that woke up Queen Aurora is the same one that birthed me. Cause she is currently the size of the love in her heart," Mal sighed tracing patterns on both Evie's and Jay's legs.

      “Maybe write to Aurora then,” Penny suggested.

      “If she wants to talk to us,” Evie mused.

      "If she's anything like Audrey that would be a resounding no." Mal shook her head, "I will see if I can find that story though. Maybe find a different version of my mother."

      "Before she went evil? Pretty sure mine's always been evil," he liked it when Mal distracted herself, tried to work through problems, at least here on the Mainland.

      “Your mom?” Penny looked at Jay confused.

      “No his father,” Evie shook her head.

      "I have no idea who my mama is. He's never even mentioned her," that was a lie, but he was never letting any of them know.

      Mal smiled bitterly, "We only know our evil parent, the other, who ever they are, we don't know them. I remembered a conversation we had, that maybe Jafar was all of our dad's since he was the only one who could stand our mom's for long enough," she laughed softly looking at Jay, "But none of us look like him. Jay's the only one who looks anything close."

      “The thought of Jafar with my mom was so gross,” Carlos laughed.

      “I don’t know I think it would have been nice to all be siblings, but my mother didn’t consider Jafar good looking enough for her, ” Evie sighed. 

      "Or royal enough," Mal snorted head tipping as Jay started to look uncomfortable, "Mom complained about his greed. Honestly I agree with her."

      “So the story got him spot on then,” Penny rolled her eyes.

      “Probably got all of our parents spot on,” Carlos snickered.

      "What is the story they tell you on him?" Mal asked curiously.

      "He's evil, became a djinn and tried to destroy Agrabah when he couldn't be Sultan." Jay bit out, "That's the fucking story."

      Mal lifted a brow, how many times had Jafar told him the same story? "Come on you aren't curious?"

      He only replied with a glare.

      “I could lend you the story book, not all the stories are right, but some of them seem closer to the truth then others” Penny said.

      “That would be very nice,” Evie nodded with a smile.

      Mal nodded in agreement, "Yeah I think it would be cool. Jay may have heard it one too many times to enjoy it."

      “I’ll bring the book over later, I have a family dinner tonight” Penny agreed

      “Must be nice, mom used to make me sit with her while she ate,” Carlos mused thinking about eating as a family.

      "What happens at a family dinners anyway?" Jay asked hoping to throw attention back on Penny.

      “Well we eat, obviously. But, mostly dad talks to mom or Ben or they ask us about what we did all day. I actually haven’t been to one in awhile” Penny tried to think.

      "Huh," Mal made a face, "Sounds... boring. Its really boring isn't it?"

      “Yeah, it is. But mom insists on it. Says just because we are royal doesn’t mean we can’t have dinner together every once and a while” Penny chuckled

      “You’re mom doesn’t see herself as royal, does she?” Evie asked

      “Mom... I don’t know really, but she likes to keep things simple if she can” Penny looked at the other princess.

      Jay looked confused, "Isn't she royal? I thought she was royal."

      “My mom is the daughter of an artist/ inventor, they were well off enough with their little house in the town.” Penny shook her head, “There is a little club of sorts of the non royal royals so to speak, they don’t really talk to each other but they support each other.” 

      "I don't think I get it. I thought you had to be royal out here," Jay looked at her rubbing her back, "I mean like back then, royals only married other royals."

      “That used to be the rule, still is somewhat. There are places where that’s not the case, but no you don’t have to be a royal to marry one out here,” Penny looked at him.

      “Let me guess Auradon isn’t one of those places,” Carlos looked at her.

      Mal made a face, "Explains why he left Audrey. I mean aside from the whole spell and she's a bitch thing."

      “Audrey was important to securing an alliance,” Penny nodded, “Kinda of surprised I haven’t been dragged in to be told I'm marrying some prince to make an alliance or whatever.”

      "You think it's going to happen? I mean now that you're back here with us?" He tipped his head before deciding that she probably wouldn't be in danger of being married off, just like his Princess wouldn't either.

      “Depends on what their sisters have said. I might end up marrying Fergus just because no one else will have me,” Penny shrugged

      “The life of a princess” Evie sighed.

      "Son of hero with the half blind bear villian right?" Jay had forgotten their names, but names just weren't his thing.

      “Yeah Queen Merida, never married herself.” Penny smirked, “Quite the scandal from what I heard. She had triplets her first pregnancy, so she had heirs to spare but no king at her side” she laughed.

      “That certainly would cause a scandal” Evie giggled along with her.

      "What's trip... triplets?"

      "I am going to say twin plus one," Mal offered, "Twins we had but I am thinking you guys have more than that."

      “Sometimes, triplets is all I’ve seen actual evidence of, but I've heard stories of quadruplets, that's 4,” she added the last part, looking around at all of them.

      "The mainland is so weird," Jay yawned closing his eyes once more.

      Mal rubbed his leg, "You think everything here is weird. Finally relaxing from your big win?"

      "Our win. Not that big, but it's something,  Pup did an awesome job."

      “Wasn’t anything special,” Carlos shrugged curling a little more around Penny and closer to Jay.

      “Don’t tell lies pup, it was amazing. You two are amazing” Evie smiled laying her head down, “Nap time?”

      Mal sighed, "Yeah alright," she pushed herself up off the bed and flicked the light off before laying down between Jay's legs curled up to rest her head on his thigh, "You and Carlos did a great job today."

Chapter 11: Tidbits of Life (Auradon:April)

      “Your Majesty, I have a few things for you to look over,” Lord Farris closed the door behind him as he entered King Beast’s office.

      “What is it?” Adam looked up from the few concerns from other lords. The steward of the Le’Glum estate was requesting that one of Gaston’s heirs be brought over with the next group of kids brought from the Isle. As if he was going to let Ben slip that by him again, there would be no more kids from the isle.

       “Renewal of Trade agreements with Agrabah, and Arendell. Proposed increase in funding for our Military training programs,” Farris flipped through them, “King Eric has submitted a request from his wife that we change our shipping lanes.  Surprisingly a few inquires about the state of Princess Penelope’s betrothal.” 

       “Place the trade agreements in the basket, if you think the funding increase is needed then it is approved,” Adam sighed putting on his glasses, “Is there a reason for this request?” he reached to take those papers from Farris.

      “Some sort of ...concern for merpeople safety, coral life being damaged,” Farris tried to contain his snear.

       “I see, do any of the concerns affect our people?” Adam flipped through the papers skimming the scientific research.

      “There is a possibility of it affecting fishing, I suppose” he shrugged, “In the long term it could have a negative effect on our coastline.”

      “Have someone look into it then” Adam nodded, holding the papers back out to Farris.

      “Of course your majesty” Farris nodded placing the papers into one of his files.

      “The Betrothal inquires?” Adam asked resting his chin on his laced fingers.

      “The Charmings, The Wilhelms, a few of our own lords, my own son among them,” Farris listed, if he could get his grandson married to Penelope then he would be set to take more power.

      “While the thought of making you family through marriage is tempting. My little Princess deserves to be a queen, she is a little rough around the edges. But she deserves to wear a crown one day,” Adam gave him a small smile.

      “Yes well,” Farris ground his teeth, stubborn bastard, “Speaking of rough around the edges, there have been some concerns with the company the princess is keeping.”

      “Company?” Adam tilted his head, not unlike his son did; as far as he was aware Penny didn’t tend to enjoy other people’s company. Like her mother she wasn’t always understood and tended to stick to books.

      “Yes, I understand she is not one to spend time with people. So there has been concern expressed that she is spending quite a bit of time with the VKs. Not just Mal, which would be easily explained away, but with the Son of Jafar. At the tourney game last night, she was seen wearing his hat. Now it is my belief that the princess is just being welcoming, but I fear she is being taken advantage of or being set up to... not follow expectations. The amount of time she spends with him could damage any future negotiations.”

      Adam’s lips thinned as he listened, Penny knew what was expected of her. How to behave, even if she didn’t follow the rules to the T, this couldn’t be allowed, “I would like you to find a way to separate them, in fact. I want you to investigate all of them.”

      “And if I find anything...concerning?” Farris smirked a little

      “Bring it to me, if it is something we can use to be rid of them then I want to see it” Adam nodded, he trusted Farris with his life, he would do what needed doing.

      “Of course” Farris nodded, “I will begin the tasks”

      “Yes, you are dismissed,” Adam watched as the older man left the room with a bow.

-*-

      Aziz shuffled the paperwork in his hands distractedly as he headed towards the dorms. He was pretty sure he hadn’t left something behind, but he just couldn’t find that stupid trade document. He slammed into something, no someone, stumbling back as a hand grabbed his arm keeping him from falling.

      Jay bit his cheek, slowly releasing the person he had grabbed on years of instinct. The grey and teal trimmed shirt wrinkled from his grip, he was in so much trouble.

      “Sorry about that. I should have been looking where I was walking,” Aziz apologized looking at Jay with a soft smile, “I’d ask if you were okay, but I’ve seen you brush off a fireball.”

      He averted his eyes looking away, why wasn’t he yelling? He should have gotten out of the Prince’s way, should have never touched him.

      “Jay you are okay right?” he set a concerned hand on Jay’s shoulder and saw the flinch, the sudden near involuntary buckle of the others knees and tightened his grip, “No don’t do that. Really.”

      Jay looked up at the Prince confused, brain screaming to make it right, “I shouldn’t have touched you.”

      “Uh...” that was not what he had been expecting in the slightest and his hand lowered, fingertips brushing over upraised skin, “I’m glad you did. You saved some of my dignity at least. What are you doing this far from school and the dorms anyway? Curiosity only.”

      “So I’m not in trouble?” Jay was pretty sure the punishment for touching the royal family of Agrabah was lashes or losing a hand. 

      Aziz snorted, “No Jay, you're not in trouble. Why would I punish one of my tourney players who gives me heartburn, even if you win? Now seriously was there a reason you were out here? I don’t want to take you away from whatever you were doing.”

      “No reason you’ll understand...”

      “Try me.”

       “Can’t sit still,” he offered still avoiding the Prince’s eyes.

      “I get like that, but generally I don’t end up aimlessly wandering the grounds. Walk with me so I don’t run into anyone else?”

       “Why?”

      “Well I was hoping we could talk Tourney. Maybe some Swords and Shields since you did so good last year with it. I mean unless you enjoy wandering by yourself.” Aziz was banking that looking hopeful would be enough.

      Jay took a large breath, “Whatever you want Prince Aziz,” he held his hand out, when Aziz didn’t drop his bag or the papers into his grip he tipped his head.

      “You're a schoolmate Jay, not a servant. I am capable of carrying my own shit, and this is Council stuff so...” he shook his head at the blank expression, “Classified?” the look persisted even as the hand dropped, “Don’t worry about it, I got it.”

      Silently Jay followed after the Prince careful to stay a half step behind him and never close to the papers. Which apparently wasn’t right either and Jay was panicking, he was sure he was doing the right thing. Just like his baba insisted of him whenever they went to his Auntie’s house.

      Aziz stopped dead and whirled on Jay, “Okay no fucking seriously, what the hell happened to the VK that yells back at me on the Tourney feild and gives me grief at every turn while I am trying to coach?”

      “I... I don’t know what you want me to do Prince, I’m trying alright?” Jay shot back unnerved.

      “Why? Why are you doing this? Look just be you.” Aziz snapped in Arabic at Jay who shrunk back and he took a deep breath trying again in Common, “Look, just be you. I know the other Prince’s are on you guys about what’s proper, but I don’t care. My name is Aziz. Not Prince. Just call me by name, that’s all I want you to do. Just be you.”

      “You want me to treat you like a non royal?” Jay made a face.

       “Yeah, I would like to be treated like a person. I’m not asking much, am I?”

      He snorted, looking away from the desperate expression, “No, it’s what you want Aziz. I just... I just figured you’d be angry with me.”

      “Only thing I’m getting angry about is the sheepish ass son of Jafar I ran into cause I wasn’t looking. I like Jay, the shameless flirt and terror of the Tourney field better. So whatever you thought was going to happen can you just toss it in the trash? Please?”

      Jay sighed snatching the papers and straightened them out and rolled them up without breaking eye contact, “For the record I have no idea what class-whatever means. And this was all I was planning on doing since you didn’t want the papers out of your sight, Aziz.”

      He took them back and slid them into his bag, “Thanks. It means top secret by the way, classified.”

      “I won’t remember that but good to know,” Jay offered hands tingling once more, “Why do I give you heartburn, that doesn’t sound like a healthy thing.”

      They turned together walking towards the dorms, “I make plays, I make you practice them with the team and you personally throw them out on game day and make it up.”

      “I don’t make it up. I’ve run those plays before, just not here and not for a game like Tourney. Plus the guys trust me enough to just roll with it. Except Chad, but it was worth seeing him under a bunch of other dudes.”

      Aziz’s eyes narrowed looking at Jay incredulously, “I want your stories.”

      “Not happening Aziz,” he laughed, “Pup and I scare you Mainlanders enough as it is. You don’t have the stomach for our stories.”

      “Lies, you don’t even know me, I could.”

      “All the more reason not to tell you. I don’t know you, and I sure as hell don’t trust you. No offense.”

      It was hard not to be offended and feel stung by the fact Jay point blank told him that he didn’t trust him, “Somehow I forgot how brutally honest you can be.”

      “Would you rather I just flirt with you? Since you like that me best.”

      “No, talking is just fine,” he shook his head, “You can flirt with all the girls you want though.”

      “Finally royal permission,” he joked as they stepped into the building, “See you on the field Aziz.”

      “Where-” he turned but Jay was already gone, “-and you're gone. So much for maybe some late lunch company.” he sighed heading towards his room.

-*-

      Mal shifted her sketchbook once more as she sat outside trying to figure out where Jay had wandered off to after she had given him a firm ‘get your shit together’ after finding another flunked quiz.

      “What are you drawing?” Penny asked as she came up behind where Mal was sitting.

       She looked over her shoulder, “Working on something for E’s birthday. It’s in a few days and even if she doesn’t celebrate anymore we all tend to give her things all day.”

      “Why doesn’t she celebrate?” Penny asked sitting next to Mal.

       “Her mom kind of ruined it. The last public birthday she had, her mom tried to sell her off to one of the Tremaines. Day after Jay stepped in and claimed Evie so her Mom couldn’t sell her off,” Mal sighed setting her pencil down, “It’s a different life there. We have a better one here.”

      “Sell... like slavery?” Penny blinked shocked, there was slavery on the isle, that couldn’t be right.

      “No, like sell like to a person, you guys do it here with the arranged marriages,” Mal tipped her head confused. 

      “Oh that’s not really seen as selling but, yeah I guess it would look that way to you guys. I suppose some of the queens see it that way.” Penny tilted her head thinking about it, “Good news as far as I know no one wants to buy me.”

       “Like you would accept anyone trying to buy you,” Mal snorted, “Your parents wouldn’t try and sell you.” 

       “As previously stated the life of a princess,” Penny shrugged, “You never know, yeah our parents care about us, but to councils and shit we are only worth who we marry,” she’d understood this a long time ago. Back when it was thought she would marry Fergus, it had helped that she liked Fergus.

       “And yet you talk about marrying your true love,” she returned to the sketch in her book, it was from last night Jay sitting between Evie's legs as she braided his hair.

       “It's a hope, but really I don’t know if anyone in our generation has ever found their true love... well except for Ben” Penny studied Mal.

       “Like I said I am pretty sure I’m not his true love. But whatever your brother wants to believe is fine with me. Him thinking that doesn’t hurt or bother me at all,” Mal shrugged a shoulder.

       “You really should talk to him about it,” Penny sighed.

        “I have, but I don’t think he gets it. Not really.”

       “Well maybe you’re his true love but he’s not yours” she suggested looking around the grassy area.

       "Can that happen?" Mal asked looking up from her sketch.

      “There are only old legends about it, but I don’t see why it couldn’t” Penny looked back at her.

      “Like what kinds of legends?” Mal didn’t like the idea of some bizarre ‘true love’ triangle or whatever it sounded like. Mostly because it sounded super complicated, she wasn’t one for complicated things. She had enough issues with Jay and his issues.

       “They are mostly tragedies,” Penny shrugged, “Some think that some of the villains thats what happened to them, but who really knows.” 

      “Do these tragedies have any of the villains in them? I mean do only the good guys have true love stories and what happens if someone’s true love dies? I know people die here, so does it make the survivor evil, because I think that’s probably more painful than just being evil cause you wanted to be evil.”

       “I heard that FG had one and he died. I don’t think it really does anything just sort of makes you sad,” she shrugged thinking about it, “Well in a super old one there is a woman that sounds like Mother Gothel, but who really knows.”

        “I didn’t know Jane had lost her dad,” Mal was frowning once more, “There is so much I just don’t know about here. Back home I could tell you just about everyone’s name and story. I knew who’s crew they were, if they were under the watch of another villain, the whole gambit. But here, everything is secretive, they talk without saying anything like you are not a part of their private jokes,” She didn’t know as much as Evie on the royals, or Jay who had nearly memorized every street and Unclaimed on the Isle, but she had her minions in her back pocket and they supplied her what she needed.

      “Then learn because I'm pretty sure this is home for you guys now.” Penny gave her a small smile, “I think he died either right after or a little before Jane was born.”

      She looked at the sketch, and the expressions on her minions faces and closed the book, “That’s the only choice right? Learn because we can’t go back there. Not that we want to, here is better, so the only choice is to learn. Forget what we were and learn to survive out here in the mainland.”

      “You can’t erase the past,'' Penny shook her head, it seems like Mal didn’t really get it but maybe she just hadn’t understood.

      “No I can’t. But I can’t have us live there either. We fought hard to not be in their shadows and what did it get us? Nothing. Out here at least we don’t have to live up to their legacies, we can be better, be good. We have to be good, there is no place for us out here otherwise,” she was thinking of Audrey Grandmother, the woman that could only see her as a young Maleficent, if they were all good she could keep her minions from suffering a similar fate. Being called Jafar would shatter her second, even if he kept up his front and got angry, she knew it wouldn’t be what he wanted. To be compared to their parents out here, it would be more painful than prideful.

       “But you can learn from it, if you just try and push it away then you might forget,” Penny wasn’t sure how to explain, “The past is painful sometimes, you can either run from it or learn from it.”

       Mal stood eyes clouded, “There is no forgetting what happened Penny. No magic in existance can take that from us, no matter how much I wish I could help them forget. But I can make sure it never happens again, if your brother is a part of that path, I am okay with that. For them I can be okay with that,” she smiled softly, “I don’t see me kicking you out of your family either. So hopefully you're okay with me being around your brother, even if I’m the daughter of Maleficent.”

      “I don’t care who my brother marries or date or whatever as long as they don’t hurt him,” Penny sighed, it looked like she was going to need a new section in her black book. If Mal didn’t understand then she didn’t know how to explain it.

      “I can’t hurt him. If I hurt him I am no better than my mother, and I was the only one that could stop her. With some back up of course,” she smirked, “So maybe you can help me learn about these royals I seem to be stuck around? At least enough that I can make sure we’re going to be okay?”

      “Yeah sure” she smiled, “Anything for you guys.”

Chapter 12: White as Pitch (Auradon: April)

      Apple White looked at her slightly younger sister Rose as she closed their door. “You know I am sick and tired of hearing about Evie, daughter of Evil Queen. We used to be all they talked about aside from perfect little Audrey.”

      “Of course you're sick of it. She’s supposed to be our ‘villain’ and all mom is doing is her news coverage of these new kids,” Rose rolled honey colored eyes as Apple tossed long perfectly curled blonde locks over her shoulder. 

      “Mom had the nerve to ask me how Evie is doing, like we’re besties,” Apple hissed, not liking her sister’s lack of annoyance.

      “Or mom is looking for any reason to get her evil step sister back home,” Rose smirked, “You ever think of that Apple?”

      Apple paused her princessly walk down the hall and turned back to her, “No. Honestly no I didn’t. You know we can make that work, I mean Evie is evil, all we have to do is make everyone see what we already know.”

      “Now you're using your head,” Rose praised amused as Apple predictably perked up, “Now let’s get to breakfast.”

-*-

      “Have you ever thought about doing more reds?” Evie asked Penny as they sat together for breakfast, the boys it looked like were sleeping in.

      “I like red, but it's not a family color so I’m not supposed to wear it very often,” Penny shook her head.

      “Not supposed to... but it would be a good color for you,” Evie shook her head.

      Apple smirked, “Very specific shades of red are fine for royalty, but they are generally a mark of a loose life. Like that shade of lipstick you're wearing.”

      “Careful Apple, with that color hair, her evil may be contagious,” Rose snorted as the sisters walked by with their breakfast trays of small fruit plates and oatmeal, “I would be careful your highness, she may put a curse on your food like her mother did to ours.”

      “Huh, well if it gets me a break from bitchy little minded girls then I’ll take the spell,” Penny shrugged.

      “I would never curse Princess Penelope, or anyone,” Evie shook her head

      “Oh you wouldn’t?” Apple batted her lashes, “Didn’t you already put a sleeping spell on Chad Charming? Like Mal spelled poor little Jane into thinking she could be popular?”

      “Now Apple, that’s mean to Jane. She did become popular for a little bit. Even Audrey said she liked the new and improved Jane. Pity it didn’t last, but I guess all evil magic breaks under the force of goodness.” 

      “Jane’s confidence is what made her popular,” Evie narrowed her eyes, “And I was only defending Mal when I sprayed Chad.”

      “Is there a reason you are standing there?” Penny snorted as she stirred her yogurt.

      “We just don’t want to see you get hurt your highness incase she decides to ‘defend’ herself against you,” Apple shrugged a shoulder, tossing blonde hair back, “But we said our bit.”

      “You know she’s only looking for a new prince to marry so she can be a royal right?” Rose commented with a backward look as her sister headed off, “She already went through Chad, your brother may be next if she decides Mal isn’t good enough for him.” she walked off after her sister, just a little more and they would prove Evie was just as evil as her mother was.

      “I wouldn’t take Ben from Mal,” Evie assured Penny, chewing her lip.

      “I know, and the only ones that are going to need to defend themselves from me is them,” Penny snorted

      Jay yawned walking into the cafeteria with Carlos trailing behind him, Mal was nowhere to be found. But he caught sight of Evie’s blue hair and guided them to their table as he smirked at the female royals. Girls here were almost easier than the ones at home, no one had a hidden weapon here but them. Snatching up coffee and the pastries Carlos and he liked they passed the White sisters. Apple looking him over with pursed lips, Rose on the other hand batted her lashes at him with a sly smile. He plopped down beside Penny putting the movement out of mind.

      “Morning Princess, Little Princess,” he smiled charmingly at his royal before it faded, something was wrong, “What happened?”

      “The White sisters,” Penny snorted, “Love to dump some yogurt on their heads.” 

      “That is not very royal,” Evie smirked a little.

      “I don’t really care,” Penny shrugged with her own smirk.

      Jay tipped his head, “What happened with the White sisters? They seemed pretty normal when Pup and I passed.”

      “If that’s normal I’ll stay a freak thank you very much,” Penny rolled her eyes.

      “Wow, strong words,” Carlos looked at her with wide eyes not quite awake.

      “They came to warn Penny she should be cautious about who she eats with,” Evie shifted, “You know little jabs about my mom being evil. And who calls you a freak?”

      “Just about every other princess,” Penny raised an eyebrow at her.

      “Okay I am not awake enough clearly, what’s a freak?” Jay sipped his black coffee, “And I mean they have no idea about how evil she is, but we all know it. Doesn’t mean you are like her.”

      “I don’t know, maybe I need a makeover,” Evie twisted her hair.

      “If you want one, but I think you look good as you are,” Penny narrowed her eyes at her, “And a Freak is someone that doesn’t belong and it picked on for it.”

      “So... us,” Carlos nodded.

      Jay shrugged, “Not the worst thing we’ve ever been called,” he reached across the table and took up Evie’s hand thumb rubbing the claiming ring on her finger, “You are perfect just the way you are Princess. I can sit in with you if you want to play with your hair tonight, try that thing where you put all the curls in it. I know how much you like looking as flawless as you are, and you know I’ll tell you the truth.” he put his focus on his actual Princess as Little Princess seemed to have herself in order.

      “I think I might try that,” Evie nodded, “Maybe look at a few new shades of lipstick and eyeshadow.”

      Penny pulled out her book mindlessly flipping pages, she was not one to talk makeup and clothes. She stopped on a blank page behind the one she had started for Mal, and jotted down Apple and Rose’s names.

      “You don’t like the red? I like the red, works nice with your eyes, and doesn’t make you all pale,” Jay frowned slightly, “But it’s whatever you want Princess. I saw some make-up stores in town we could go to, maybe you could find the shades you're looking for.” he glanced at Penny, “I may or may not need you to come with in case we have another baker issue. You think that’s something we could work out?”

      “I don’t have a problem with it, I can even get us a royal escort this time,” Penny looked up at him.

      “An escort? I don’t want you to go through any trouble,” Evie looked at her with wide eyes.

      “No trouble... in fact probably less trouble, they were pissed I lost them last time,” Penny shrugged, “But I like the red on you, it suits you I think.”

      “Maybe just a few different shades” Evie nodded.

      “And what do you want from us for it?” He asked looking at Penny who was hunched over her book.

      “Um...” Penny blinked at him, well she could ask for dirt on Mal. But, that seemed risky, so what did she want?

      Jay tilted his head trying to read her scrawling letters, they were names. He made out an ‘A’ and an ‘R’, maybe it was on the White sisters? Would make sense since they were just talking about them and Penny didn’t seem to care much for them. He didn’t either if they were going after his Princess. His eyes flicked back to her face, “Well? I don’t have a lot but I’m sure we can work it out.”

      Penny glanced around the room trying to think, she’d do it for nothing but she had a feeling Jay wouldn’t like that. Her eyes landed on the announcement for the end of year dance, “I want at least 1 dance if we end up at a ball or something similar,” she nodded.

      Jay blinked at the odd request but nodded, “Yeah I can do that.” It was an oddly skewed deal in his favor but he could work with it, not like he wouldn’t dance with her if she asked. “Want to go on this shopping trip after school today?” 

      “I just have to put it on my schedule” Penny nodded

      “Are you sure it’s no trouble?” Evie looked at her.

      “No problem at all.”

      “Wicked,” Jay smirked at his Princess, “I’m sure you’ll find the shades you’re looking for.” he gave her hand one last squeeze before releasing it, “Want Pup and I to walk you lovely ladies to class?”

      “Sure, I have history of the seven seas,” Penny nodded, glancing over at Apple and Rose as she stood with her tray, “Let me grab yours too Evie.” 

      “Oh you don't have to,” Evie looked at her.

“But I want too,” she smiled..

      Jay looked at Penny and he shook his head, “I got it Princess,” he took both their trays, he wasn’t letting Penny make anything worse, “Come on Pup, walk and eat.”

      “Spoilsport” Penny rolled her eyes, “I wasn’t gonna dump it on them this time.” 

      “Come on,'' Carlos snorted picking up his pastry.

      “You don’t think mine get that look,” Jay teased, “I know trouble when I see it and in this case I am trying to keep out of it.”

      “Can’t say they wouldn’t deserve it,” Penny shrugged letting Carlos guide her out of the dining hall.

      “More trouble than it's worth though,” Evie assured her.

      “Very much so,” Jay agreed, coming back towards them as he dumped their trash and placed Evie’s hand on his arm, “But we’ll keep them from being... them. All we can do is stay out of their way.”

      “Just wish they would see that we aren’t them,” Evie nodded as they walked.

      “I know Princess, I know, but it’s nothing new. Here or home all we’ll ever be is in their shadows, no matter how hard we fight to pull away. But at least here, they aren’t watching us.” 

      “Always, but it doesn’t change that I wish it wasn’t so,” Evie nodded.

      “You and me both,” he nodded giving her a soft look, he’d give her everything if he could, but all he could promise here was safety from more of the same which wasn’t what any of them really wanted.

      Blondie watched them pass her by with narrowed eyes, what made Evie so special? She was with Doug so why was Jay escorting her around like she was actually his princess? Huffing she headed towards where she could see Chad and Erica. She was going to get a chance to try Jay out, once she dealt with his apparent entourage.

      “At least Carlos is breaking out of the mold right,” Evie smiled.

      “Yeah he is, then again he’d be hard pressed to be like her when he absolutely loves dogs.”

      “And he found the best dog” she watched as Carlos and Penny headed towards the history building, “What’s your first class?”

      “Math while you're taking that Chem class you are so damn good at,” Jay smirked ignoring the looks they received, “You want me to come and get you for Remedial Goodness after this or no?”

      “Yeah stop by we can go to goodness together,” Evie nodded, “Chemistry isn’t that hard it's just remembering stuff”

      “So my living nightmare,” he joked kissing her cheek, “See you soon Princess.”

      “Bye my masterpiece” she watched him go before going into the chem classroom

-*-

      Jay hovered outside the chem door waiting for Evie to come out. He may have slipped out of his math class early for her, but the teacher either never noticed. Or he didn’t care if Jay learned anything at all. He was banking on the second since no one seemed to give a shit here, if he managed to ace all his homework they would pass him with D’s and that was that.

      “Hi Jay,” Doug gave him a smile as he exited the class, “Evie is just packing up”

      “Thanks Doug,” Jay gave the dwarf a half smile and leaned into the doorway looking his Princess over before pulling back.

      “Sorry, I had to take everything out to find a pencil,” Evie smiled as she came over to Jay.

      “I got a pencil that’s much easier to find,” he teased automatically as they started down the hallway.

      “I know you do, it's always where I can find it,” she smirked taking his arm, “But for now I think it's going to have to stay tucked away.”

      “Sadly yes, yes it is going to have to. We’re in public and it’s not what mine need anymore,” Jay smiled, lying to himself that he was okay with that. This was for them, that wasn’t a lie, he would do whatever they needed him to do, and if that was to back way off so be it.

      “No it's not what we need, but we hope that if you need something you will say something,” Evie studied him as they walked down the hall.

      “You know I will,” that was a lie too, he would never tell them if he needed something of them, he didn’t want to ruin their futures here with his needs.

      “Hey you guys” Carlos waved to them from down the hall.

      “How was class Pup?” he asked as they met in the middle of the hall, Mal likely somewhere in the room already.

      “It was ok, History of the Kingdoms isn’t very thrilling,” Carlos shrugged

      “You should still make sure you pay attention,” Evie traced a nail over his arm.

      “I do” he rolled his eyes with a smirk.

      “More like sleep through it,” Jay teased motioning them ahead of him and into the classroom.

      “He better not be,” Evie chuckled as she entered the room going to take her seat next to Mal.

      “I wouldn’t do it if it wasn’t so fucking boring,” Carlos muttered to him.

      “Completely understand, but I can’t sleep in there, my grades are bad enough as it is,” Jay snorted plopping down.

      Mal looked at Evie and smiled slightly, “See Jay is up to his mothering ways again,” she didn’t mean anything by it, it was good to have him be focused on something not related to his bad habits.

      “He’s always going to be there for us, you know that,” Evie gave her a smile.

      “Oh I know he is going to be there. That’s what he does, he is always there for his,” Mal agreed looking at Jay as he tossed his notebook on the table, “Though we may need to drag him through school, cause he doesn’t seem to like making up for lost time.”

      “School was never his thing and he didn’t need it on the isle. We just need to find something for him here” Evie looked over at him as well.

      "Well he has Tourney and Swords and Shields. Math should be easy for him since his dad was big about numbers." Mal offered hoping that Jay just stayed away from the cheerleaders.

      “I know, I just want him to be happy,” Evie nodded

      “Welcome to class kids,” FG smiled as she stepped up to the board.

      "It would be nice to see, I know seeing you and Los happy makes him happy." Mal opened her book and looked expectantly at Fairy Godmother. They were stuck with this class until they graduated.

      Evie wanted him to be happy on his own as well as with them. She sighed pulling out a notebook. 

      Jay watched as Fairy Godmother paced and talked. He was only getting half of what she was talking about but he was good at copying. So he dutifully copied the letters and put the spaces in their proper places not bothering to try and piece the letters into words. He would sort them out later, just like all his classes. Sighing softly he shifted in his seat trying to keep his focus on her even if his mind was trying to drift anywhere but on the class.

      “I get the reasoning, but why do we have to keep taking this class if we decided to be good,” Carlos muttered.

      “Probably has something to do with living on an Island with villains,” Jay replied with a subtle look over to Carlos, “Either that or they think we are going to suddenly turn evil.”

      “Probably a mix of both,” Carlos sighed, there so many other things he’d rather be doing.

      “Something to share boys” FG looked at the two.

      “Not really,” Jay shrugged, “We were just talking about how wicked this class is,” he gave her a wide charming smile as he lied through his teeth. He hated getting talked at here. At least back on the Isle, when he had time to go, the teachers just ignored the whispers. Then again they also encouraged being late and leaving early.

      “Well then please a little less chit chat,” FG nodded, normally it was the girls she had to worry about whispering.

      Evie sent a little smirk, the boys way.

      Jay rolled his eyes when FG turned around. He thought they had the best amount of chatter. It was easy for his to just pass notes, him not so much. It took him ages to read their notes and they had trouble deciphering his. Hence talking was better than nothing.

        Carlos sighed and started to doodle in his notebook. It wasn’t like they didn’t already know most of this stuff, just don’t do what their parents did.

      Mal sighed as the bell rang, lunch time. Aka when she took over looking after Evie and Carlos so Jay could do whatever it was Jay did during lunch time. She didn't ask, just accepted that he normally made sure his had food and then vanished. 

      “Finally,” Carlos put his stuff away as Evie came to stand next to him.

      Jay tossed his stuff in his bag and nodded to Mal as the four of them trooped out towards the cafeteria. He needed to make sure they were all set before he headed to the library to try and finish his Literature homework. Sure Penny had been helping but, it didn't mean that he actually had her finish everything for him.

       “Wonder what they are serving for lunch,” Carlos leaned against Evie as they walked.

      Mal guided them into the cafeteria and noticed how the White sisters who generally avoided them seemed to watch their every move. She glanced at Jay, who gave her a leave it look. Rolling her eyes she headed to the line, if he wanted to handle it she'd let him handle it.

      “Hey guys,” Ben smiled as he approached them.

      “Hey Ben,” Jay nodded to the Crown Prince, “Pup make sure Evie gets to class safe,” he ordered before he headed back out of the cafeteria.

      Mal rolled her eyes, “Don’t mind him, he always goes wandering for lunch. How’s your day going?”

      “It's going, the royal guards are trying to find Penny. So I was able to slip away for lunch. It's amazing how she manages to slip them all the time,” Ben chuckled.

      “They are always looking for your sister,” she snorted selecting a table for the four of them. “They also enjoy chasing her I am sure, well she enjoyed at least.”

      “I think she likes making their heads spin” Ben agreed

      “We are still going shopping today, right?” Evie looked at Ben as she sat.

      “Yep, I heard her get it approved” Ben gave her a smile.

      “You’re going shopping for what?” Mal tipped her head, she had missed breakfast in favor of feeding her mother.

      “Make up, maybe clothes if I can convince Jay,” Evie smiled as Carlos brought over her salad.

      “As always feel free to charge it to my account” Ben reminded her.

      "Be careful saying that, E can shop," Mal smirked, "Jay going with you?"

      “I would never abuse that permission,” Evie gave her a look, “He’s supposed to.”

      “Penny will probably be happy to help you get anything you want. She has a budget she hasn’t really used in years. ”

      “I didn’t know what you wanted Mal so I just grabbed you a sandwich,” Carlos offered up the plate of ham and cheese. 

      "Appreciated Los," Mal gave him a pleased smirk, Jay had really done well in training his personal minions, "I know E, but I have seen you shop. If Jay is going with you, I know he'll keep your spending under control," she teased, "He is well versed in saying no."

      “I trust you Evie,” Ben assured, “Just have fun, Penny doesn’t or didn’t really make friends easily.”

      "They will be fine. You missed seeing Penny and E's bonding over Tourney goals," Mal assured Ben.

       “Over Tourney? Well at least she’s making friends, even if I’m pretty sure she’s plotting Audrey’s end,” Ben nodded, he understood Audrey was an acquired taste but the way her and Penny reacted to each other was something else.

      "Yeah over Tourney. As for plots, I know nothing about what your sister is plotting. As the four of us are still getting those looks of distrust from some people, we are staying out of whatever your sister is planning." Mal was pretty sure Jay would help Penny, which meant her finding a way to curb his want to help. Reminding him that anything could send them back tended to help.

      “What are your plans for the weekend?” Ben asked her, he would take care of any problems Audrey caused if Penny upset her.

      “Why do you have something in mind?” Mal asked with a smirk looking him over, “I am sure I can find some time for the crown prince.”

      “I was thinking of a picnic at the lake,” he gave her a soft smile.

      “If there will be strawberries I will be there,” she looked at him slyly.

      “There will always be strawberries, for as long as you want them,” he placed his chin on his hand watching her.

      She gave him a soft look, “What?”

      “Nothing, I’m just enjoying spending time with you” Ben shrugged

      Evie watched the two with a soft smile, it was so sweet.

      Mal shook her head, “You’re such a dork,” she said it with a healthy dose of fondness as she buried her attention into her sandwich, “When is your next game? So I can plan on watching your next victory?”

      “I think the victory belongs to Jay and Carlos. Those were great plays,” Ben laughed softly, “Next week.”

      “Please, you had some good goals too. I know Jay and Los, they never lose, so it’s nice seeing other people scoring,” she tucked her hair behind her ear, “Thanks, I obviously will be there with E and your sister.”

      “Maybe you could wear my jacket, make sure you are warm,” he snagged a chip from Carlos.

      “Maybe I should make you wear some purple and green,” she retorted, giving him a look over, “I think you’d look much better in my colors.”

      “Oh and where am I wearing these colors?” he smirked.

      “I haven’t decided yet,” she hummed drumming her fingers on the table, “You have a preference?” 

      “I don’t know, I could wear a pin or a tie tac,” he blinked at her, he had thought she was joking a little, but if she was serious then he could wear something purple or green for her.

      “A what?” her brow furrowed at the unfamiliar terms.

      “A tie tac is a little metal...um well it's kinda like a safety pin that holds a tie in place. And a pin...” he wasn’t sure how to explain that a pin was a pin.

      “It's a brooch for men, like that purple jewel my mother wears sometimes,” Evie supplied.

      “Oh, right those things,” she nodded, “I don’t think those are the right thing. I will think about it and see what I come up with.”

      “I’m sure whatever it is will be fine, just don’t change my hair green” he teased a little.

      “You would look terrible with green hair,” Mal snorted.

      “Purple hair might look good” Evie smirked

      “I think my dad would say different” Ben laughed 

      "Little purple streaks in your hair would be adorable," Mal laugh sighed, "But I will resist since your dad would be upset."

      “I appreciate that” he snagged another chip before Carlos just shoved the bag at him.

Chapter 13: Shopping Trip (Auradon Proper: April)

      Jay rolled his shoulders as they walked into the town with the royal escort. He was not exactly liking it, but it was necessary at least to get them through the town and the shopping trip.

      “Ok guys really, a little breathing room please,” Penny looked at the escort.

      “We were told not to let you out of our sight,” one of them mumbled.

      “Yeah well, I don’t think I’m gonna go poof if you give us like 50 feet,” Penny pointed out, “Unless you want me to poof on you again, what’s my record again?”

      “As you wish, your highness” the other pulled his partner back.

      “What record?” Evie asked her linking her arm with Penny’s.

      “How many times I’ve lost them in a day? How quickly I lost them? How long it took them to find me? Pick one, none of the stories end well for them” Penny snorted.

      “So what is your record on losing them in one day?” he asked looking at Penny as they walked into a store full of makeup and hair stuff.

      “17,” Penny smirked, “Would have been more but my dad had my nanny put me under house arrest.”

     “Oh there’s so much,” Evie looked around with wide eyes.

      “Have at it,” Penny chuckled, she was really out of her element here.

      “So do you have a lot of time, cause we could be here for hours,” he snorted looking around curiously.

      “I have plenty of time” she nodded, “Although I will admit I’m a little out of my depth here”

      “No girl should be out of her depth around makeup,” a clerk came over, “How can I help your highness?”

      “Whatever Princess Evie wants,” Penny motioned to Evie looking over different types of lip gloss.

      “Oh... I'm not sure...” she floundered looking at Evie.

      “What are you looking for, Princess?” a different clerk smiled at Evie. Evie smiled back and started listing what she was looking for.

      “She’s got the job,” Penny pointed, “Thank you for your time.”

      “Maybe next time sweetheart,” Jay flashed her a charming half smile.

     “They work on commission, this is gonna suck for her,” Penny smirked watching as Evie started putting stuff in the basket the clerk was holding.

      “What’s com- whatever?” he asked, eyes following his Princess through the store especially since there wasn’t anything here that he wanted to steal.

      “They get paid based on how much they sell,” Penny explained, “So like I said she’s about to have a bad day, based on how much Evie is putting in that basket.”

      “Yeah my Princess could shop for days. Wait till she goes into a fabric store,” Jay shook his head slowly following Evie as she shopped, “So why didn’t you ever get into makeup and all that?”

     “Never really saw the point, it's just extra work I have to do or I have to sit through every morning,” Penny shrugged, “I’m glad she enjoys it though.”

      “You’re going to enjoy it too,” Evie said grabbing her hand as she came over, “Come on”

      “Ok then” Penny almost yelped as Evie pulled her down an aisle.

      Jay grinned widely, stuffing his hands into his pockets and followed after the girls, “So glad I cut the line at my hair.”

      “I keep telling you a little eyeliner would look good on you,” Evie looked back at him as she started comparing colors for Penny.

      “No. Unless you’re letting me drink, no,” Jay snorted, giving her an amused look. He would let her do whatever she wanted if he had enough alcohol.

      “I’ll keep that in mind” Evie smirked at him, ignoring looks from Penny and the clerk.

      He hummed softly as the urges built up again, and he made a vested effort to push them back. His Princess had someone she wanted and he was going to keep himself to himself. "Looking forward to the day you decide to use that against me," he muttered under his breath looking her over.

      “What else do you two need?” The clerk asked with a smile.

      “Um... I think just eyeshadow,” Evie chewed her lip.

      “Great this way” she led them to a different aisle.

      Jay glanced at Penny's back, Little Princess didn't seem to like the shopping trip. But maybe it was from her not knowing what to do with makeup. He hummed softly to himself, maybe he could get them to the pet store. Little Princess liked the small dogs and Princess would enjoy it too. Then they could split off for their separate dinners. And he could spend some quality time with Princess while she gave herself some pampering.

       “Alright, will all of this be cash or credit,” the clerk asked, leading them to the register.

      “You can charge it to the castle under my name,” Penny supplied, “I trust that won't be a problem.”

      “Not at all your highness, I will just get it bagged for you,” she nodded.

      “How much is it all? I can...”

      “Don’t worry about it Evie, you can help me with getting ready for a ball or something if you want too,” Penny supplied her with.

      “Oh... ok, yeah I can do that,” Evie nodded chewing her lip.

       Jay stopped behind the girls, resting a hand on the small of Evie's back and the other higher up on Penny's. "All good?" He pretended like he hadn't heard them.

       “All good” Evie nodded leaning into his side.

      “Do you want me to have it delivered up to the castle?” the clerk asked, looking at the three kids.

      “Um... I think we can carry it, but it's up to you Evie” Penny looked at the older princess.

      “We can carry it, it's just a few bags” Evie reached out picking up one of them.

      Jay rolled his eyes and took both bags, "I've got them Princess. You want to go back to the pet store Little Princess and pet the dogs before dinner?"

      “Sure, I mean if Evie doesn't mind this is her shopping trip,” Penny looked at Evie.

      Evie blinked looking at Penny, she looked like she was expecting to be told no. So she wasn’t getting her hopes up. With those big eyes it was easy to see her and Carlos, as the same age. “I don’t mind” Evie shook her head, taking Penny’s hand as they walked.

     Jay smiled softly, "Cool, they have birds there," he offered as they walked heading towards the pet store. "I know Little Princess likes the small dogs."

      “We don’t have many dogs on the isle ” Evie said, “do you like all dogs or are there certain ones?”

      “I think it's all dogs,” Penny tilted her head as they walked. She ignored the escort walking behind them. They knew she wasn’t allowed a pet, but that didn’t mean she couldn’t look.

      "Your dad said no then to a dog of your own?" Jay asked, shifting the bags of makeup.

      “Yeah that went over like a bag of bricks. Maybe before I get married I'll be allowed a companion to take with me. Or once I’m out of school,” Penny snorted, it was all just ways for her dad to say no never.

      Jay hummed softly, “Well what happens if someone trades you for one?” he held the door for the girls watching them, at the disappointment on Penny’s face, “Well you’re always welcome to hang out with Pup and play with Dude.”

      “He’d probably make me give it back.” Penny smiled a little, “I like Carlos and Dude.” 

      “Well your dad sounds, yeah...” Jay made a face not trusting the guards, “Wicked, then you hang with them whenever you want to pet a dog.” He guided the girls to the pen of small dogs with a smile knowing both of them would like to play and pet them. He considered once more buying a new minion of his own but decided against it. Iago was special in a way Jay would never be able to replicate, a sad replacement for what he rather have settled on his shoulder. He really didn’t like missing his minions like this.

      “Oh evil they are so fluffy,” Evie giggled, picking up one that looked almost like a teddy bear.

      Penny smiled, picking up the cocker spaniel puppy again.

      One of the guards gave her a soft smile, he’d been part of her escort when she was younger, she always seemed to like the dogs.

      “I thought you would like them too Princess. Little Princess really liked that one she’s holding when we came here last. Sucks your dad won’t let you take it home with you, I think you’d be like Pup and Dude.” Jay contented himself with watching his Princesses cuddle the small dogs. They really did seem to enjoy this kind of relaxer, and it made him feel a little better too, knowing his idea made them happier.

      “Yeah we could walk them together,” she laughed as the dog licked at her face.

      “They are adorable,” Evie agreed looking at the puppies.

      "You can play with them Princess. If you want one, I'll get you one," Jay offered.

      “I don’t think Dude would like that very much. Plus I’m not sure I’d have time,” Evie shook her head at him, “but they are cute and fluffy”

      Jay nodded, “Whatever you want Princess. Offer is there if you ever change your mind. You know I’ll get you whatever you want.”

      “I know you will, you take such good care of me,” Evie smiled, “How about you do you want any?”

      “Wouldn’t feel right, plus I’ve got Dude in our room,” He offered, “They have birds here too if you’d rather.”

      “Just to look, I’d never be able to replace Othello,” Evie set the pup down watching it scamper over to Penny.

      “I know what you mean,” his hand settled on the small of her back again watching the younger girl play with the puppies, “We talk tonight without Mal around?”

      “Of course” Evie answered, her eyes tracking how Penny let the dogs surround her all asking for attention.

      He slid his hand around her waist pulling her into his side, “I wish I could give her one and they would let her keep it. She looks much happier around them.”

      “I think you’re helping her in different ways,” Evie said, the Penny Ben talked about wasn’t the Penny she saw when Jay was around.

      “You think so?” he didn’t think he was doing anything other than himself with her around, but maybe that was what she needed, just people to be themselves around her.

      “Yeah, you should hear Ben talk about her, she’s not that person. At least not with you around, this morning with Rose and Apple I saw part of that person,” Evie explained.

      “We really should be getting back,” the older escort commented.

      He hummed thoughtfully there was that spark in her, the fire that reminded him of a girl from the Isle. A particular girl, equally wonderful and terrifying. “The White sisters are going to be an issue, I know. Come on Little Princess, we’ll come back on our next trip so you can see them again.”

      “Yeah,” Penny sighed, setting down the puppy in her arms.

      “Perhaps a visit to the royal Kennels,” the escort nodded as Penny moved to Jay’s side.

      Jay looked her over, “Doing anything tomorrow?” he would come here again with her if he needed to. 

      “I don’t know, I probably need to work on some homework,” Penny shrugged as they exited the store.

      “Well you know where to find me,” Jay nodded looking at the guards, “Anytime is a good time for you Little Princess.”

      “I will be by at some point” she nodded ignoring the looks of some people as they walked through town.

      “We will look forward to seeing you,” Evie smiled.

      “Have a wicked night Little Princess,” He watched as Penny walked off with the guards, “Come on Princess, dinner and then we can sit and talk while you pamper yourself.”

      “Have a good night” Penny watched them over her shoulder for a second before turning forward and heading towards the castle.

-*-

      Jay pushed the door to Evie and Mal’s bedroom open, “Oh wicked, Mal ain’t here,” he eyed the lizard, “Sup Maleficent, you liking your new cage?” at the glare he smirked, “Could be worse, at least you're off the Isle and get plenty of time with your daughter.”

       “Don’t taunt the lizard,” Evie giggled as she sat at the vanity.

      “But that’s half the fun,” he settled down in a chair beside her resting his head against the wall as he looked her over, “But I’ll behave myself Princess. You going to tell me what the White sisters said to get you so flustered? It’s been a really long time since someone has gotten under your skin.”

      “I was giving Penny some advice on fashion and she was explaining that she’s not really... she didn’t say allowed but that’s what I got from it. To wear red since it’s not a family color. I pointed out she would look good in red. They decided to point out that red is a color of grieving or something like that.” Evie sighed leaning back looking at him.

      His brow furrowed, “Grieving, that’s like sad right? Not that it really matters, but I don’t get this not allowed to wear what you want. I mean we aren’t ones to talk, given you always wear blue, and I always wear this pretty much,” he gestured to his denim and leather, “But why would they bother? You know fashion and they... I don’t think they know what it means.” 

      “That is my opinion of the matter, but they kept talking. Telling Penny to be careful around me, that I might spell her,” Evie played with the end of her hair, “The thought that I could hurt her or anyone like that.”

      “Except you don’t have magic, Mal has magic. Can’t spell people without having magic,” Jay stated, “Not that you’d want to. You don’t want them to look at you like your mother, and you are nothing like her. You care about more than yourself, you’re not obsessed with being the ‘fairest’ in the land. Honestly, Pup and I think you are the fairest in the land, and so does Doug for that matter.”

     “I know but to think that Penny or any one would be afraid of me,” Evie started to unpack the bags.

      “I am pretty sure people are more afraid of Mal and I, than they are of you. You and Pup are the two least scary of us. People are afraid of Mal because of her mother. People are afraid of me because I have a bad habit of punching people, mostly Chad. No one is afraid of you Princess,” he assured her readjusting as he watched her, knowing she wanted to pamper herself better.

      “They brought up putting Chad to sleep on family day,” she started to brush her hair after laying out her new products.

      Jay scratched at his nose, “It was hot as hell,” he admitted giving her a sultry look, “I was just going to clock him but you beat me to it. He shouldn’t have touched what didn’t belong to him.”

      “That's what he does though” she snorted, setting her brush down, “He does whatever he wants cause he’s a prince.”

      “Which is why I do whatever I want to him on the field. Where I am allowed to hurt him. You know I won’t let him hurt you. He wasn’t the Prince you deserve, I will find you a Prince worthy of you if Doug doesn’t work out for whatever reason.” Jay swore to her, willing to give her everything he could give her.

      “I’m not a mainland princess, he couldn’t hurt me if he tried. And Doug is sweet, he’s better than any prince I’ve met,” she started cleaning off her lip color to try the new ones.

      “I know you aren’t a mainland princess, but... Chad belongs on the Isle. I am glad Doug is working out for you,” he smiled watching her clean her lips.

      “I get that feeling, I think he and Anthony would get along great,” she tossed the tissue on the trash before picking up a light pink.

      “I think so too. Chad doesn’t know what the word no means. Talks about it in the locker room,” he curled his lip in distaste, “Ticks me off.”

      “He’ll run into someone some day that will make him understand what it means,” she lightly applied the gloss looking at the color, “Too light I think.”

      One girl came to mind, “Maybe a whole crew of someones,” he snorted, “Yeah way too light for you, washes you out.”

      “Agreed, it would be a nice neutral tone, maybe for Jane,” Evie cleaned it off, picking up a sparkly bright red, like how she imagined Iago looked before the isle.

      Jay looked at her and smiled, “Yeah Jane would look wicked in that. Is that one shiney?”

      “It is, the clerk called it metallic,” she smirked before spreading it across her lips.

      “I like that one,” he hummed imagining what it would look like if they could redo Ben’s party, “Very you.”

      “I think it's more of a formal look though. I do like it, I’ll have to save it for parties,” she smirked, “It is also apparently smear proof so it won't leave marks.”

      “What makes you think I mind the marks you leave on me? Better that it won’t move when you simmer me down. Since I am not always the best for parties here on the mainland.” he leaned forward in the chair.

      “I know they make you feel... whatever it is, we are calling it. I don’t much care for them either once I've seen all the fashion at them. But, it is part of being guests of the crown prince and friends with Mal,” Evie turned to look at him.

      “Oh is that we are calling her now?” Jay rolled his eyes, “The parties here just... they really make me want to leave them. But I know we have to be... proper? Is that the right word for that?” he asked head tipping, really fighting his urge to kiss her and test how smear proof it is.

      “I know, and that's their word for allies,” she smirked, she turned back to the mirror. She could see the desire in his eyes and it was tempting to her.

      “Allies is a much better word. Today they are on your side, but who knows if they will be tomorrow.” He licked his lips watching as she wiped the metallic red off hers. “Which is part of why I am thinking about taking Little Princess on. Give her somewhere to belong, since she doesn’t really fit in with the royals here. But there is something stopping me, I can’t shake it, the feeling that she’s just like the rest of them.”

      “I think what it is, is that she’s not like us, she’s not like them, but she’s not like us either. She’s never been afraid of anything,” Evie looked down at her hands.

      "Which is dangerous to us. She'll never understand what it feels like to be afraid to lose everything. The fear all of us live with every day here. At home we knew how things worked, what to do in order to be safe. Here, all we have are empty promises. The only one that's ever going to be truly safe is Mal, because Ben lusts for her," he couldn't help the ugly snarl on his lips, the world revolved around Mal and he was expected to do whatever was needed to ensure the rest of them were protected.

      “I know you don’t do talking, but maybe talk to Penny. I think she could be a valuable ally, she just needs to be molded. And if today was any indication, she and I aren't on the same page. Which is fine, she wasn’t putting on a show or uncomfortable with me. I think she’s just used to other girls not being nice to her” Evie could tell Penny wasn’t putting on an act or trying to trick them, she honestly just wanted to help.

      “I do talk to her, but I don’t know.” he rocked back once more head resting on the wall, “She put Apple and Rose in her book after the way they talked to you I guess. What’s stopping her from putting us in there? Stopping her from using the book against us, I’ve got enough offenses already, and if any one finds out-,” he stopped short rubbing his face, “I want her on our side, but I can’t have us so open. I have to keep us safe until we all age out of the Wards of Auradon thing.”

      “Ask her to see it? I mean be straight with her, that's what you do best. If she says no, then that's that. You follow your gut, but if she lets you see it, well she’s exposing herself as much as whatever she’s put down,” Evie tilted her head.

      “You do realize you are trying to send me on a reading mission right?” He teased, “But I can see if she’ll let me. I know what our names look like so I will figure out if we’re in there. If we are hopefully she’ll tell me why without lying, but I doubt that.”

      “I don’t think she’d lie to you. Something about how she acts tells me that she’s not big on lying to people she likes. And she likes you” Evie moved to the bed.

       “Doesn’t feel like it. I mean, I flirt with her and nothing, no flirting back or blushing. Even people who don’t like me at least give me something.” he pushed himself up and paced back and forth briefly, “I need to teach her to climb, maybe I’ll get a feel for her then. Something different than what I’ve been getting from her.”

      “Carlos actually asked about sex, she doesn’t seem to know much of anything. So she could just not know you are flirting with her.” Evie chuckled.

      Jay’s mouth opened and closed before he groaned, “Ah come on everyone knows when I am flirting with them. I’ll add that to the growing list of directly asking.” sighing he flopped down next to her and stared at the ceiling, “Why can’t here be as easy as home?”

      “I don’t think she does” she giggled, “Mainlanders are weird about sex and attraction”

      “But why? I mean it’s just skin, you want someone, tell them and see if they want to have a round. I get asked all the time, but I can’t. I can’t run that risk here,” he looked at her, “At least you’ve got Doug wrapped around your finger.”

      “Doug doesn’t seem to know much either,” Evie laid back looking at him as she tipped her head.

      “Seriously? What is wrong with this place?” he sighed brushing her hair over her shoulder and cupped the side of her face, “He has no idea what he's missing out on.”

      “No one here really does,” she sighed, “Everything seems so backwards sometimes”

     “But this is... this is a new start for us. Someplace better where it isn’t so hard to survive in,” he thumbed her cheek wishing he could kiss her like he used to, help her be herself if just for a little while. 

      It was no longer what his wanted or needed from him, so he clung to the old touches, hoping his need for contact wouldn’t interfere with their new wants and needs. Jay let his hand drift to hers, holding her hand as he turned his body to face her. Holding himself still, he’d wait and see what she wanted of him, he’d give them whatever they wanted, so long as they were happy he would be fine. The unsettling memory of the golden eyed Prince came to mind and he pushed off the encounter, Princess didn’t need to know about how he screwed up bad enough to have Prince Aziz snapping in his baba’s language. 

     Evie laced her fingers with his, “Hold me for a little while?” she asked, she wanted to try and be a good girl out here and it seemed like good girls didn’t get laid.

     “Always,” Jay pulled her into his chest and tucked his face into her hair. He felt his entire body relax as the contact, he missed just being able to touch his.

 

Chapter 14: Horse Riding (Auradon: May)

      Mal sighed looking at her phone and pulled herself off the bed, Ben wanted to see her again. Not that she really minded but she had made plans to force Jay into studying since she had looked at his grades. Aside from Math and Remedial Goodness he was seriously going to fail his other two classes if he didn’t buckle down and start studying. She could understand he hadn’t really done school on the Isle, but that was no excuse now. Shaking herself she opened her door and started heading towards the stairs.

      “Hey Mal,” Penny gave her a small smile, “Off to see Ben too?”

      “Yeah, he text you too?” Mal asked, giving the girl a half smile, knowing how close she had Jay had gotten. The Princess of Auradon was always in the boy’s room after Tourney practice helping with the homework Jay never seemed to be able to do on his own.

      “Yeah he did. Wonder what he wants with both of us,” Penny tilted her head.

      “Who knows. I had plans to force Jay to study today, but it looks like he lucked out,” Mal rolled her eyes, “Does Ben text you a lot to hang out?”

      “Not really, he’d send me puppy pictures sometimes while I was at Merryweather’s,” she shrugged, “And Jay’s getting better at studying.”

      “You really like dogs huh?” She asked choosing not to comment on Jay’s abilities, because she knew he could do better. If he put as much effort into school as he had stealing on the Isle she was sure he could at least get C’s.

      “Yeah, I guess,” Penny shrugged with a little laugh. Puppy pictures made her feel better she guessed, but she really just liked all animals.

      “Me too, but I think Dude spoiled all of us. He’s much nicer than the cat, Los used to have.”

      “Kitten’s are good too, but there’s something about curling up with a dog... or so I’ve heard.”

      “So you’ve never had one of your own?” Mal asked confused as to why she would have been denied a dog if she wanted one.

      “No, no pets allowed at Merryweather's and dad... I don't think he likes dogs as pets,” Penny explained as they headed into the gardens.

      “I don’t know what to say. That sucks,” she sighed looking around them, “What is this place?”

      “The royal gardens, not many have access to it. There’s a green house not far from here that can be used to enjoy the garden in winter,” Penny looked around, “Never was big on the gardens but Ben likes them.”

      “I liked the enchanted lake, that’s normally where we go.” Mal shrugged a shoulder, “And picnics, so many picnics.”

      “I think he just likes relaxing with you and no one else around. It's hard to find places to do that... there he is,” she spotted Ben sitting under a tree.

      “I don’t mind, it's nice to be away from all the eyes on him,” Mal nodded as they headed over to him, “What was your favorite place to relax with him when you were younger?”

      “Huh, that’s a hard one. We never really got alone time, but I think we spent a lot of time in these garden’s when we could,” Penny thought about it as Ben stood up to greet them.

      “Well then I am glad to see what you liked about stuff here.”

      “Hey,” Ben smiled offering his hand to Mal, “I’m glad you both could make it.”

       Mal set her hand in his cautiously, she still was not used to these kinds of casual touches, "Well you did ask us here. Still not entirely sure why though."

      “I was thinking we could spend some time together, mom is going to meet us a little later. I just thought why not spend my free time with some of my favorite people,” Ben smiled.

      Penny rolled her eyes but smiled. Ben was so... something, but he was her brother.

      "Of course," Mal nodded, this was a Mainland thing spending time with people whenever you could, "Thank you for thinking of us."

      “Have you ever ridden a horse?” Ben asked

      “You want to go riding?” Penny raised an eyebrow.

      “Yeah I thought we could go out to the orchard” Ben shrugged.

      "What's a horse?" Mal asked brow furrowed, she wasn't sure she knew what one was, "Is that what the animals pulling your coronation carriage were?"

      “Yes, and I’m going to take that as a no,” Ben winced a little, “I can teach you.”

      "That would be a no. We didn't have horses on the Isle. Only if you want," she smiled softly at him.

      “I would love to teach you” he led them down the path through the garden towards the stables.

      Mal glanced at Penny, "Have you ridden a horse before?"

      “Yeah, not for a while but I’ve ridden before,” she nodded, “Glad I wore pants.”

      “Why? Do people wear dresses and skirts to ride horses, because I can tell you I can barely run in a dress, I don’t ever want to try to ride a horse in one.” Mal was baffled trying to imagine Evie riding a horse in her skirt, Jay would be all for that.

      “Some girls do, it's called side saddle. Instead of straddling the horse they sit on a special saddle that lets them sit sideways,” Penny explained, “It sucks I will never do it unless forced.”

      “So there is a special saddle. What’s a saddle?” Mal tilted her head in confusion.

      “Saddles are a seat we put on a horse’s back. If done right it doesn’t cause the horse any pain,” Ben said nodding to a stable hand.

      Mal nodded looking around the building, at the large four legged animals in the pens, “And we don’t want to hurt them.” she wasn’t sure she was going to like the animals but they didn’t seem to mind her unlike cats.

      “This is Butter” Ben motioned to a small tan horse.

      “Like the food?” Mal gave Ben an incredulous look and a short snort.

      “Exactly” Penny giggled, “Is Blossom still around?” 

      “Sorry Princess, Blossom was retired,” the attendant winced.

      “Oh... how about Red Wind?” Penny asked

      “Old Red’s still here, I’ll saddle him up for you” he nodded heading off.

      “Still in love with that horse?” Ben teased

      “Blossom is a great horse, and if he bit my guards that was no one but my business.”

      Mal looked between the siblings, there was a history there she would never know, but that was okay. All of her history would go with her to the grave if she could help it. She glanced back at the tan horse and offered it a cautious hand. It was a silly thing she had learned from Jay about birds, so she was just hoping that it applied here as well.

      Butter sniffed at her hand before nosing at her hand.

      “She wants a carrot,” Ben explained, and picked one up from the nearby bucket.

      Mal took the offered vegetable and jumped as the horse took a bite out of the carrot. Its nose was warm and soft like one of Evie's dark blue cloaks.

      “Most of the time they are pretty gentle. Looks like Butter likes you, would you like to ride her?” Ben asked her petting Butter’s neck.

      "I guess so?" Mal shook her head, she was the Daughter of Maleficent, half fae and leader of the strongest crew on the Isle. She was not going to be afraid of a horse. "I've never ridden one before, but I'd like to learn so long as Butter doesn't mind. Animals sometimes get a little weird around me."

      “I think Butter will be fine, Jane likes to take her out over the summer,” Ben nodded, “The stable hands will saddle her up and then I’ll help you,” Ben nodded motioning to the stable hand to start.

      "So reassuring," Mal teased watching as the younger male guided the horse out of the stall, "Hopefully then, Butter is fine with me. Can't imagine what an upset horse looks like," she eyed the large hooves, those would not be pleasant when kicked.

      “It isn’t pretty, but they are normally pretty calm here. Butter is very patient with new riders too,” Ben assured, “Penny tends to like the wilder ones.”

      "So horses to match her personality?" Mal meant it, Penny was wild, not Isle wild, but a mildly unpredictable wild. "I'd expect nothing less."

      “Exactly,” he agreed with a little smirk at her.

      Mal smirked in reply, "I'll keep that in mind while you two teach me to ride a horse."

      “The horses are ready Prince Benjamin,” the stable hand said coming over to them.

      She nodded to the stable hand letting Ben take her hand once more, guiding her and Penny to where the three horses stood saddled. They looked like they were rather content to just stand there with the man holding their leashes.

      Penny gently patted Red’s neck as she took the reins.

      Ben took Butter’s reins for Mal and came to stand next to her side, “So you're going to grab the front of the saddle where the horn sticks up, other hand on the back of it. Put your left foot in the stir up and pull yourself up swinging your leg over the saddle.”

      "Just like that?" Mal bit her cheek before giving it a chance, couldn't be any harder than climbing the side of a building. She was ignoring that Jay was far more versed than she was with such things. Butter moved. The tan horse sidestepping as Mal went to throw her leg over it's back. She swallowed the short sharp noise and felt her eyes burn to life in her sudden panic which caused Butter to shake back its mane even as Mal scrambled and righted herself on the saddle. Horse riding, not her thing she decided immediately. Ben and Penny could keep this tradition on the Mainland.

      “You ok?” Penny looked at her before pulling herself onto Red’s back.

      “See it's not so bad” Ben watched her.

      "Terrifying, at least the getting up here part," she laughed nervously.

      “But you’re ok?” Ben swallowed nervous that maybe this wasn’t such a good idea.

      "Yeah I am okay, it was just surprising," Mal assured him, "So now what?" She asked shifting slowly hoping that Butter had settled down.

      “Hold onto these while I get on Daisy,” Ben held out the reins to her. He patted Butter’s neck one more time before going to Daisy. He took his little chestnut’s reins swinging up into the saddle. 

      Penny moved Red over to Butter’s side, “Its not hard but it can be kinda scary”

      Mal held tight to the horse leashes, "Yeah this is a little more nerve wracking than riding a scooter." She gave Penny a tense smile, "Red is quite a big horse. I didn't know they could get that big."

      “Red is mostly for pulling carriages and stuff. I don’t know, I like these bigger ones then the smaller ones. Smaller ones are normally used for riding though” Penny leaned forward scratching Red’s ears.

      “Blossom was a Gelding, he was supposed to be a work horse until Penny met him” Ben explained.

      "Geldings are a kind of horse," Mal was guessing as she carefully leaned towards Ben and handed him the leashes back. "Do they like scratches like Dude?"

      “Yeah, they like pets and scratches,” Ben nodded, taking it back the reins for her, “I’ll lead for a while then you can try on your own for a little”

      “It's a process but, yeah Geldings are a type of horse” Penny nodded moving Red towards the path.

       Mal started, grabbing the saddle horn as Butter walked after Daisy, "Okay moving."

      “Just let me know if you're not ok,” Ben looked back at her letting Daisy follow after Red.

      "Of course," she lied, she was not telling him how not okay she was with this. But she was determined to get through it at least.

      Ben maneuvered Butter so she was next to Daisy as they walked. He reached over placing a hand over hers.

      Mal looked at him biting her cheek, "So how often did you and Penny go riding?"

      “When we were little mom would bring us out, some times dad would come. As we got older, we started riding on our own. When she went away, we went out when she was back, so I guess we don’t get out as much as we would like... or as much as I would like,” Ben looked at Penny’s back, “Thank you for trying this.”

      "Well now she's back you could go riding with her more often." Mal offered knowing that she did not really want to be a part of this thing in the future.

      “I hope so, I just have to figure out my schedule,” he nodded, “We’ll find our thing, it means a lot to me that you are willing to do this with us today.”

      “No apples yet,” Penny mused looking at the trees.

      “I think they came and harvested them last week... maybe the week before,” Ben shrugged.

      "Of course, you did invite me. And this is okay, different but okay." She looked around at all the trees, "Reminds me of E's place on the Isle, her mom had apple trees. But no one ate them, no one wanted to risk being poisoned."

      “That sounds terrifying, so probably don’t bring Evie here then, or would she like it,” Ben tilted his head thinking about it.

      "E likes apples, but she never eats the skin. Something about how the apple was made. Probably not bring her here or she'll worry there is a poisoned apple tree here too."

      “Noted,” Ben nodded, “Then maybe we can do a group picnic somewhere, all of us together,” he hadn’t really had a chance to spend time with all of them together.

      "Picnic would be nice. We as a group have never been on a picnic before," Mal agreed. "It would be enjoyable for all of us to have some time together again. It's been hard to catch up with the boys doing Tourney, and E making clothes with Doug."

      “I’ll see what I can do then,” Ben offered her a smile as Penny came to a stop next to an old knotted tree.

      Mal nodded looking the tree over, "So what's with that tree."

      “Couples used to come here and carve their names or initials in the tree when they fell in love. Mom and dad’s names are on there somewhere. I figured we weren’t there yet,” Ben blushed.

      "Your parents hadn't fucked yet," Mal snickered, "At least there is that, they did the um, love, thing first."

      “Oh... uh, well no they hadn’t had Sex yet. its  um....” Ben floundered turning red, “Its like a precursor to that.”

      “What did you say Mal?” Penny giggled looking at Ben.

      "Yeah okay you keep thinking that," Mal laughed, "Oh just simplifying your brother's explanation of when your parents signed the tree." None of the kids on the Isle had ever loved a single one of their bed partners.

      “Yeah, mom’s story is it was a few days before their wedding,” Penny tilted her head.

      “That’s what dad said too,” Ben nodded trying to get the red to leave his face.

      "Wedding?" Mal asked head tilting.

      “When they got married? It's a party in front of a bunch of guests” Ben explained.

      "So it is another ball? Isle doesn't do marriage or weddings. Or really anything love related," she shrugged.

      “Huh, we’ll just have to teach you,” Ben smiled squeezing her hand.

      Mal was pretty sure she didn't like the way he said it. Or rather the way he looked at her when he said it. But she gave him an uneasy smile and allowed him to keep holding her hand. "Yeah we have to learn so much still about Auradon."

      “And if you have any questions we're here to help” Penny smiled a little.

      "We know," Mal agreed, not voicing her lack of wanting to ask for help, they had always done it on their own before, "We're just stubborn about changing is all. Some of us more than others."

      “What are your plans for the rest of the day?” Ben asked Mal as they rode along the path.

      “I was planning on forcing Jay to study. With tests coming up I am trying to get him to focus a little more.” 

      “Which tests do you have left?” Penny asked, pulling a little on Red’s reins as he tried to trot.

      “We have a Goodness exam in a week, I think we can handle that one. My others are further out, not much but far enough I think I can handle them,” she smiled at Penny.

      “What do they even cover in that class,” Penny tilted her head.

      “Honestly, I’m not really even sure,” Mal snorted, “I think she is just trying to teach us not to steal candy from babies and that stuff.”

      “Huh, you guys actually do or I guess did that,” Ben smirked at her

      “I think that depends on who you consider a baby,” Penny snorted

      “I stole sweets from babies, Jay stole everything from everyone. But it was a different life,” she rolled a shoulder.

      “I thought it was just a... thing people said,” Ben mused as the path curved back towards the castle.

      “Oh no, it was a real thing on the Isle. Mom kind of encouraged it. I get the fact that it’s not a thing here, she was just, wow all the time.”

      “Well now you know,” Penny snickered at Ben.

      Mal looked at two, “Did you have plans after this?”

      “I have papers to go over... the boring part of being prince,” Ben sighed

      “I’m supposed to meet Jay a little before lunch” Penny supplied.

      “He really needs to study,” Mal leveled, “I know he doesn’t like it, but he needs to do it.”

      “I said we were meeting not what we were doing,” Penny pointed out, “Maybe its a study group” 

      Mal gave her a bland look, “I know Jay, it’s not studying he wants to do. Any excuse to avoid school work he makes.” 

      “We’ll fit it in, that’s our deal anyway,” Penny shrugged.

      There was something about the way she said it that had Mal bite her tongue against the heated words that all Penny was supposed to do was explain things to him. But she was a mainlander, she didn’t understand deals, didn’t understand anything about them. So instead she gave Penny a thin smile, “I’ll make sure he studies around his games then.”

      Penny tilted her head at her as they came back to the stable, Mal had more to say to that. But, if she wasn’t going to say it then Penny didn’t really care what it was. “We’ll study when we eat lunch.” 

      Mal nodded, “So how do you get off this horse?” She asked looking at Ben ready to be done and away with this whole interaction so she could get back to the dorms and keep Jay focused on school work and not fooling around with showing the Princess of Auradon how to climb.

      “I’ll help you, just a second,” Ben swung off his horse once a stable hand took the reins from him.

      Mal nodded, "Thanks Ben. Thank you for inviting me along."

      “Put your hands on my shoulders and swing your leg back over” he placed his hands on her waist, “You are welcome any time.”

      Mal followed his instructions and made sure she stepped slightly to the side as her feet hit the ground. She didn't want Ben to get the wrong idea about her. She wasn't some damsel.

      Ben gave her a soft smile, “I don’t want to delay you, if you need to get back, ”

      Penny smirked a little, Ben was absolutely smitten.

      "Thanks. I need to nail Jay's day down a little," Mal gave his shoulders a light squeeze, "I'll leave you two to hang out."

      Ben watched her leave before turning to Penny who was petting Red’s nose.

      “That was awkward,” she snorted.

      “I thought you liked Mal?”

      “I do, more than Audrey anyway. But I don’t think she likes me” 

      “She just doesn’t know you” Ben tried to assure.

      “Doesn’t really matter I guess” she shrugged before letting the stable hand take Red.

-*-

      Jay looked at Mal as she walked into his room, "Do I want to know?"

      "You need to be studying."

      "Right... look I've got a thing with Penny later."

      "I don't give a shit, you need to study. We have exams coming up and you need to pass them. Do you understand me?"

      Jay tsked looking away from her, "Yeah I understand you..."

      "Good. Then let's start with Goodness class. I am thinking you have math under control?"

      Jay nodded and pushed himself off the couch and sighed softly, "Yeah math is fine and I get the Goodness stuff."

      Carlos tilted his head at them from the couch, what had gotten Mal so high strung today.

      Mal gave him a thin smile and forced him into sitting at his desk as she pulled out his notes and stared at his handwriting, "What does this even say?" 

      "Goodness..." he snatched it from her hands embarrassed, he knew it was bad, he didn't think it was that bad.

      "If you say so. Look, you need to slow down, write clearer. I know you can do it, you just have to focus," Mal sighed leaning on the desk and looked him over. 

      “Why exactly are you studying for Goodness?” Carlos asked confused.

      "Because someone is about to fail most of his classes," Mal gave Jay a pointed look.

      Jay huffed, "Fuck off I'm doing my best okay?"

      “Everyone has their strengths,” Carlos pointed out, confused. Since when does Mal care about grades.

      "You need to do better, I know you can. If you fail classes they could take away tourney," Mal knew how much tourney meant to him.

      Jay licked his lips, "I know Mal, I am trying. I'll keep trying."

      “All any of us can do is try, right?” Carlos asked, looking at Mal as he came over to stand next to Jay.

      "I need you to do more than just try. I need you to actually focus on what we are trying to do," Mal sighed arms crossing over her chest, "I am serious, focus on school like I know you can."

      “Do you want to see my notes Man, compare them to see if you missed anything?” Carlos tried to help, he just didn’t know how to interact with Mal when she got like this.

      Jay nodded, "Yeah Pup. Look Mal I will study okay, just go, you're making my Pup nervous."

      Mal glared at Jay but she nodded and pushed away, "Get him to help you with your science homework."

      “We have science covered” Carlos nodded as he went to his bag to get his notes.

      Jay sighed rubbing his face once she was gone, "I hate school."

      “I know you do. What time are you supposed to meet Penny?”

      "Lunch? But if Mal wants me to do this stuff..." he leaned on his desk and stared at his notes, "It's going to be a while before I go and do anything with anyone."

      “I could go meet her if you want, or I could text E," Carlos suggested setting down his notes on the desk.

      "Yeah if you want to," Jay nodded knowing his would cover for him while he tried to sort through his issues.

      Carlos nodded and tapped out a text to Evie to see if she was available. “She’ll be here in a few minutes.” 

      "Thanks Pup," Jay gave him a half smile and couldn't stop himself as he rubbed his knuckles against Carlos' arm. The urges were getting out of control again, like the heat in his chest.

      “We've got you covered,” Carlos gave him a small smile, “Even if she doesn’t.”

      "Nothing new there. Just don't be so honest when Princess is around about that. You know how she'll get," Jay's smile lowered a little as he opened Carlos' notebook and mentally prepped himself for hours of sorting out words.

      “Yeah I know she wants Mal,” Carlos sighed.

      "I don't get it either," Jay shook his head as he read over the notes as best he could.

      “I guess she’s attractive... maybe” Carlos shrugged, “Hey E”

      Evie gave them a smile as she closed the door behind her.

      "Hey Princess. So I am supposed to meet Little Princess, but..." he gestured to the books in front of him.

      “Why don’t we work until lunch then we can all have lunch with her” Evie suggested pulling a chair up to sit next to Jay.

      "Yeah okay," Jay agreed with a half smile, "What do you want to help with?" He asked, "And what do you want in return?"

      “I want to play with your hair, and I'll help you with English” Evie smirked, “I can help with science too is you want”

      "For the small price of playing with my hair. Sounds like a deal I can handle." He brushed a hair over her ear, he forced himself not to do more despite the fact he wanted to kiss her.

      “Sweet deal then,” she gave him a kiss on the cheek before pulling the books towards her.

      Jay tried not to be disappointed, it wasn't what they wanted anymore and he needed to be okay with it. "Thanks Princess." He smiled as they settled into studying.

      “What do you think is the best way for you to remember this stuff” Carlos asked as he sat on the corner of the desk.

      Jay snorted, "I don't think that's going to happen. None of this stuff sticks, I mean math is easy and the goodness stuff ain't bad but science and Literature not my things."

      “We’ll work on it with you” Evie assured putting a hand over his.

      "I know Princess. I will do my best, all I can do."

      “And that's all I can ask” she nodded. 

      Jay hated it when he couldn't just figure it out on his own. He knew they never judged him but he tried not to bog them down with his issues. He rubbed her knuckles with his thumb and took a long slow breath. He could do better. He could try harder, be smarter. He had to get smarter so they didn't have to do as much for him.

      Carlos looked up from his book at the knock on the door. He went over and opened it to reveal Penny.

      “Uh... hi” she waved looking into the room, “Looks like Mal got her way.”

      Jay's head tilted, "Mal gave me orders. I follow those most the time. I know we have a running lesson."

      “I didn’t think you forgot, I just wasn’t sure she didn’t have you pinned down or whatever”

      "Her pin me down?" Jay laughed, "Yeah no. I am the one that does the pinning."

      “Good to know” Penny smirked

      “You saw Mal this morning?”  Carlos asked tilting his head.

      “Yeah we went for a ride,” Penny nodded

      Evie looked at her with wide eyes seeming to choke on her breath.

      “What were you riding?” Carlos asked 

      “Horses?” Penny tilted her head in confusion.

      "What's a horse?" Jay asked unfamiliar with the word but positive it wasn't a Mainland term for dick.

      “Large four legged animal it pulls carriages and people ride on their backs” Penny explained

      Evie let her breath out in relief. She didn't think Mal would do that but, well one could never be sure.

      "Huh that seems interesting," Jay shook his head and cracked his neck, "Wanna get some food?"

      “Yeah sure, let's grab some lunch” Penny nodded as Evie stood up.

      Jay stood and ushered them out the door. Sometimes he just didn't understand how Penny didn't understand his way of thinking. Then again, flirting and twisting words was second nature to him. Not so much to these mainlanders.

      Evie looped arms with Carlos as they walked, she didn’t get to hold him close very often.

      “I said something off again, didn’t I?” Penny sighed, it was easy to talk to people she didn’t want around, apparently talking to people she liked was harder.

      "Not off, just... sometimes you use words that we use to mean other things. So when you don't explain what you mean, we assume you mean it in the way we mean it and well that happens." Jay tried to explain, there was a word for it, he knew that, but it had slipped from his memory like so many words tended to do.

      “Right, I'll try to explain,” she nodded.

      “It would be appreciated. That way we know what you mean and you don’t feel like you said something wrong.” he soothed her, carefully not touching despite wanting to, “After we get food, we can work on your climbing.”

      “I’d like that” Penny nodded, he always seemed to say the right thing even if he didn’t know the right words.

      Jay smiled at the success of bringing her back to relative normal. Now if he could only get his Mal back from whatever the hell she was trying to do to herself.

Chapter 15: Olympians (Auradon: May)

Summary:

There is a mild solo sexual scene in this one, it is very brief.
~Kevyon

Notes:

Prince Aziz Son of Aladdin and Jasmine

All picture edits made by Kevyon; original works credited to their original artists.

       The Olympians were everything the team had hyped them up to be. They knew how to hit and Jay was happy to have it rough. It felt normal. He twisted off one and threw the ball with all his strength into the goal even as he took a hit. Trying not to tense up he hit the ground with a grunt anyway, feeling bruises forming on his ribs. The guy on top of him didn’t seem to mind the fact Jay’s body was, well getting a little out of hand as he pushed himself to his feet before hauling Jay to his. Looked like he wasn’t the only one that liked this game full contact.

       Erica huffed into her hand as Blondie shot her a look over her shoulder. Audrey had decided Erica needed some time to recover since she had broken things off with Chad, that and to hide the hand shaped bruise he had left on her arm. It was stupid, Erica had just told him she didn’t want to sleep with him. That she wanted to break it off so they both could see other people. Chad wasn’t entirely wrong that she just wanted a chance at Jay, but the younger Agrahbahian male was a 'all flirt and no hands on' game. She called Chad on his cheating and he had grabbed her, shaking her, telling her to keep her filthy mouth shut. Erica sniffed and looked away, she was here for Blondie. To keep Blondie out of trouble.

       Evie held Penny’s hand as they sat at the top of the bleachers. The boys were killing it, the other team was better than the last one though.

       Mal shook her head watching the match from the trees where she was camped out working on homework. This game was so much more intense, and she could tell Jay was enjoying every second of it. She would never admit that she liked seeing him happy, actually happy and not forcing it.

       Jay rocked back and forth on his feet, eyes focused on the ball, focused on the mission ahead of him. The Olympians were a great team but he was better, he wasn’t all bulk and power, he was quick and agile. All he had to do was keep focus, keep the team focused and win.

       “Good work Jay, we’re in the lead,” Ben smiled.

       “These guys are tough,” Carlos smirked.

       “They are fun,” Jay grinned at them, “All we have to do is keep the lead.”

       “I think we have that covered... any chance we can get them to dog pile Chad again?” Carlos snickered.

       “He’s still with the trainer after last time,” Ben shook his head.

       “Honest they hit hard enough to break something if you don’t relax before hand,” Jay shrugged a shoulder, “Which is super fun.”

       “You two are nuts in the best way,” Ben laughed, “Come on let's go show them we aren’t to be taken lightly again.”

       “Done,” he nodded firmly and prepped himself for another go around, he was going to make sure they won. Jay ibn Yahya never lost. 

       Evie jumped up and down as the team scored again. This was so exciting, she loved watching her boys at work... all sorts of work.

       Jay banged fists with one of the team, “Hell yeah, we keep this up and you guys will finally beat them.”

       “This is a rush man, and not in the normal ‘I’m gonna get un-killed’ sort of way” Carlos came to Jay’s side adjusting his helmet.

       “That’s a whole different kind of rush,” Jay snorted, “This is less, ‘Run before they catch you, cause it’s really gonna fucking hurt if they catch you,’ and more, ‘Run like no adult is chasing you.’ just more bruises.”

       “Yeah, yeah that sounds about right,” Carlos nodded.

       The team was giving them those looks again like they wanted to ask but didn’t really want to know. Jay rolled his eyes, “I can already feel the bruises from hitting the ground.”

       “And they are good bruises,” Carlos lifted his shield, “Let's end this with a bang.”

“The best kind of bruising,” he confirmed shaking his legs out, “Not the only thing I want to end with a bang,” Jay muttered as they went in for their last play of the game.

 

       “Our boys are killing it” Evie smirked looking at Penny as she held Jay’s hat in her hands.

       “Yeah they are,” Penny nodded, she wasn’t sure anyone had called them her anything before.

 

       Jay licked his lips as they scored, they had won. He had let Ben have the last score and grinned as they hauled the Crown Prince up and onto their shoulders. One of the other team thumped him on the back with a large smile and a good game. Slowly he followed after the others trying to wait them out because he had an aching problem that felt like it wasn’t just going to be ignored this time.

       Carlos smiled as he fell onto the bench with a thump, that was a good game. It had helped Jay, he could see how he was free and happy on the field.

       Aziz looked at Carlos, “You and Jay did a great job today. You and he have come a long way, there is a pizza party once we all get cleaned up. You two are welcome to come and relax with us.”

       “We’ll think about it” Carlos nodded, pulling off his jersey. He’ll see what Jay wanted to do.

       Aziz nodded and left Carlos to change as he headed back towards Coach. He was hoping they came, he wanted to speak with Jay again hopefully in a more public setting where the male would be less prone to be so... not Jay.

       Jay walked into the locker room and looked over Carlos’ pale freckled skin. He wanted to touch him, wanted to make the pale skin-. Jay slammed the mental door on that train of thought. Carlos did not want that any more, and they were in public. Unlike Princess, Carlos was not generally okay with the potential for getting caught in the open.

       “So, we got invited to pizza night” Carlos looked at him. He could see the wheels in Jay’s head turning on something, but he wasn’t sure what.

       Jay tilted his head, “So what did we need to do to get it?” he would solve that first then he would figure out the issue he had going on with his own body.

       “I think the whole team is going as like a celebration for winning or something,” Carlos shrugged, “Told Aziz we’d think about it.”

       Jay made a face at the name but nodded, “I need a shower then we can decide if we want to do this party thing,” he carefully pulled his jersey and padding off carefully and neatly putting it in his locker as he tried not to flash his scars. While he wasn’t ashamed of them, he had learned quick mainlanders were weird about scars. Half the reason he always kept his wrists and palms covered as more than a few had mentioned the scars on his hands with pitying looks.

       “I need one too be there in a minute,” Carlos called after him as he worked the rest of his clothes off looking for a towel.

       Jay tossed Carlos a towel before grabbing his shower supplies and closed his locker embossed with his cobra moniker. Mal had thankfully left the Evil Lives portion off the tag. He moved straight into the showers kicking his socks and shoes off at the edge of the area before he slipped into the shower and undressed the rest of the way. Once the clothes were safely out of the way in an area that would be dry Jay put the water on hot and plunged himself under the spray.

       Carlos glanced at Jay as he stepped under his own shower head, it was hard sometimes not to just curl up to his side when it was just the 2 of them. But they had all made a choice to stay and that meant following rules.

       Jay shook water out of his eyes and glared down at the angry pulsing skin. He huffed and started scrubbing himself clean. Ducking back under the spray he leaned on the wall hand dipping down to clean his skin. Hot coils rippled up his hips and his chin dropped to his chest. He knew better, he shouldn't be doing it here, where the team was so close, but he couldn't stop himself. Eyes fluttered close as he pulled his bottom lip in between his teeth, he could take the edge off. It was okay, he just needed to take the edge off again. He would be okay if he just took the edge off. Shoulders hunched Jay worked himself under the hot spray, the water loosening the tension in his back as his breathing hitched, eyes rolling under his closed lids as the hot coiling in his gut released. Jay stilled watching the mess wash away, and slowly released himself, he wanted more. Cracking his neck he rewashed himself and shut the water off. He could survive without more, he was lucky he didn't get caught already. Better if he didn't tempt fate.

       Carlos blushed looking away, he felt an odd heat flow threw him.

       Jay wrung his hair out, doing his best to get as much water out as he could before he grabbed his towel and dried off. Grabbing his normal clothes he made short work in redressing, shoving himself back into his pants as his belly gave a low rumble trying to catch his attention. Maybe the pizza party wouldn't be such a bad idea. His pup liked pizza and well the team wasn't too bad to hang out with. He glanced towards Carlos, at the fully bare pale freckled skin he could see and turned away grabbing the rest of his dirty uniform and special shoes back to his locker. Jay would behave himself, he was not what his wanted anymore. If he kept telling himself that he would eventually reteach himself that he couldn't touch them like that.

       “So what are we doing?” Carlos asked toweling his hair as he came out.

       "You want to go hang out with the team and eat pizza? I'm fine with it if you are, Princess said she had some dress stuff to do after the game."

       “If that's what you want, pizza is good after all,” Carlos nodded with a little smile.

       Jay tilted his head at his pup, "Do you not want to go? I mean we don't have to go if you don't want to. They have invited us before, more than once now."

       “I want to go, but I don’t want you to feel like we have too,” Carlos explained, “What you want is important too”

       "Then we are going. I don't mind really, I mean both Prince's invited us and Princess would have our ass if we didn't go at least once. Just let her know for me. My phone's in the room I think..." Jay shrugged as he finished tying his boots.

       “Dude, E is gonna tie that thing to you,” Carlos teased as he dressed.

       "She's tried," he snickered, "But hasn't managed it yet. I mean we survived without the tech, I don't really need it," he twisted his hair partially up before pulling his beanie on as he headed to the door.

       “Yeah but it makes things easier,” Carlos shrugged before texting Evie, “Did you give Penny your extra hat or is she some sort of sneaky un-thief and put it in here?” He liked the little princess well enough, she was good for a laugh and didn’t seem to judge them.

       "Gave her my extra for today. And it's called reverse pick-pocketing. She always gives it back next time I see her," that always bugged him but he chalked it up to some mainland bull. Jay guided them to the team meetup and took a deep breath unsure of how they were going to take his and Carlos' appearance.

       Aziz looked up as the door opened, Jay and Carlos hovering there looking unsure if they were actually welcome or not. He gently elbowed Ben, "They actually came." He stated under his breath before setting his pizza down and headed towards both of them with a smile, "Hi guys glad you could make it."

       Jay did his best to hide his discomfort at the welcoming golden eyed Prince, "Pup said you had invited us and I know Ben has before too."

       “And you are more than welcome” Ben said wiping his mouth as he came over, “Anything you guys prefer on your pizza?” 

       “We’re good with anything,” Carlos smirked.

       “Right then grab a seat I’m going to order a few more, the guys are still hungry,”  Ben nodded.

       Jay nodded to Ben, "Thanks," he gently nudged Carlos around Prince Aziz not really wanting more interactions with the male if he could avoid them.

       Aziz bit his cheek watching as Jay sidled around him. He was trying to be nice, welcoming and himself. He was pretty sure he hadn't offended Jay, their one on one        interaction the exception. Aziz just didn't want Jay to be, well, whatever it was he thought was protocol. There was no way of knowing what his father had taught him, but he was trying to treat them like normal people.

       “You good?” Carlos muttered as they sat at the end of the table. He pulled a few pieces towards them, if Jay wasn’t feeling this they could leave.

       "Yeah," Jay nodded grabbing the entire box, "I'm fine Pup," he woofed down a slice even if his eyes lingered on Aziz for a moment. He was a damn good looking guy, thick black hair the perfect length for pulling on. Jay shifted grabbing another slice, he was going to leave that train of thought there because he was never going there with the Sultan's kid. Getting executed was not his idea of a good time.

       “Everything ok?” Ben asked Aziz coming back over.

       Aziz shook himself and smiled at Ben, "Of course. More pizza on the way? I overheard one of the guys inviting the Cheerleaders to come celebrate with us." He would figure out what to do about befriending the VKs later he supposed. Maybe Jordan knew something he didn't as she and Jay seemed to get along.

       “Maybe I should have ordered a salad too then,” Ben chuckled.

       "They don't like pizza, they don't have to eat," Aziz grinned wryly, "They all know coach buys us pizza."

       Blondie bounded into the room with several of the other girls. Normally Erica would be with her but, she had an appointment with Evie in a half hour and bailed. Which was fine with her, now there was no friend to stop her from seeing if Jay was up for a different kind of fitting. Her fingers lit across her ring choker with a serene look to both Ben and Aziz, the handsome off limit Princes, as Ben was seeing Audrey up to recently and well Aziz was standoffish and always too busy for her tastes.

       "You did a wonderful job today Prince Ben. Just right coaching as always Prince Aziz," she chirped at them with a bright smile and gentle tug on her curly blonde pigtails.

       Aziz gave Blondie a touch forced smile, he didn't not like her, she just rubbed him the wrong way, "Thanks Blondie. You girls did a wonderful job cheering on the team."

       “It was a team effort,” Ben nodded.

       Carlos eyed the cheerleaders, he wasn’t sure what he thought of them.

       "Everything is a team effort at Auradon Prep," Blondie giggled, "I'm going to leave you Princes to chitter while I go congrats the rest of the team."

       Jay watched the cheerleaders invade the room. An eyebrow lifting at the ring collar around the blonde with pigtails' neck. Openly wearing toys was bold even for Isle kid standards. She was bouncing around the room, one male after another with a wide smile.

       “She’s perky” Carlos smirked with a chuckle.

       "Very perky, in more than personality," Jay smirked watching her tits bounce as she did.

       “Yeah” his eyes tracked her movements.

       Blondie bounced making her rounds towards Jay and Carlos. She was not oblivious to Jay's laser interest. Maybe he would let her try him on for size. 

       Jay looked at Carlos, "So I am pretty sure perky is headed our way. If you want bail I wouldn't blame you."

       “Yeah, we can go cause I think she wants to see if you are a little stiff,” Carlos snickered.

       "She could be after you," Jay retorted moving to stand when Blondie made it over to them and plopped in Jay's lap with a bright grin.

       "Hi I'm Blondie Locks. You two have been doing a great job in helping the team win games."

       Her big blue eyes batted at him and Jay gave her an easy half smile fingers brushing her curly hair over one shoulder, "Hi Blondie, I'm Jay and that is Carlos but I am pretty sure you knew that when you decided to sit in my lap."

       She smiled sweetly as she tipped her head into his touch, her own fingers dancing across his chest and shoulder, "Maybe," she smirked.

       Carlos raised an eyebrow at Jay, this girl was bold.

       Ben looked at the interaction unsure if he should intervene.

       Aziz blinked as Blondie seemed to make herself comfortable on Jay's lap, "I feel like I should be worried." He muttered under his breath before deciding not to get involved, maybe they were dating. It was flimsy at most but it settled the urge to go over and snap at Blondie about being a good example.

       Jay leaned back slightly as she adjusted on his lap. He really needed to get himself sorted, "So why are you in my lap again?"

       "To congratulate you and Carlos on that wonderful victory you had. You two have been amazing on the field," she inflected making a point to lean against Jay's solid frame. She couldn't wait to see him with his clothes off.

       "Right," Jay drawled letting her paw at him as he carefully made sure not to touch more than absolutely necessary and nothing that could be twisted into something else. "Thanks Blondie."

       “God Blondie, your standards have dropped. The mutt will probably give you fleas, and the genius ball hog will probably not be the right fit anyway” Chad snorted rolling his eyes.

       Blondie glared at Chad, "Well at least both of them seem to understand what the word No means unlike you." She seethed humphing as she turned back to look at Jay, "What?"

       "Some of you mainland girls are feisty. I like that," Jay grinned shamelessly as he settled a forearm on top of her thighs, "At least someone thinks I'm a genius even if it's Chad. Now are you planning on doing your pitch Curls?"

       She grinned leaning in close lips brushing against his ear, “Fine, maybe you and I can have some fun? I want to try you on for size, I think your dick would be just right for me.”

       He took a long slow breath even as he twitched with interest, hell he wanted to, wanted to forget that one wrong move could send him home to all that suffering, “Blondie... its tempting but no."

       She pulled back, "You don't like girls?"

       "Oh no I like girls. I just don't want anyone getting the wrong idea so..." she was pouting at him but sighed with an understanding nod.

       "Maybe I'll convince you yet because it feels like you'd be a very right kinda treat," she gave him a playful smirk and decided against bouncing back up.

       “Wow,” Carlos watched her, she was something else.

       Chad rolled his eyes, Blondie was probably going to get some diseases from those two, who knew what they had. But that bitch deserved it for teasing Princes.

       Aziz shook his head there was no question what Blondie had asked Jay. Especially since the look on Chad's face was pure disgust. But considering she wasn't dragging him off, Jay must have turned her down.

       "What?" Blondie giggled, "I'd ask you the same but I'm pretty sure Jane would be upset. Jay's the one without a girlfriend."

       "Cause I don't date. Now I hate to move you Curls but up off my lap. I've got homework that won't do itself." Jay was used to making up stories but it made him uncomfortable when he needed to use his pile of unfinished work to get out of situations where three princes were looking at him with varying degrees of dislike.

       “Yeah, I need to finish my english report” Carlos agreed, she was kinda weirding him out.

       Blondie sighed dramatically, "Fine, fine," she leaned in and gave Jay's cheek a kiss before bouncing up, "Thanks for letting me sit in your lap at least."

       "Anytime Curls, anytime," Jay shifted to his feet with a playful smirk as he subtly gestured to Carlos to start moving. When they headed back towards Ben, Jay gave him a warm smile, "Thanks for the invite Ben, Pup and I are going to scram and do homework."

       “We do one after almost every game so feel free to join us for the next one” Ben gave him a smile.

       Carlos nodded, he wouldn’t mind, maybe without the cheerleaders next time though.

       Jay nodded, "Yeah maybe. Thanks," he guided Carlos out in front of him and headed back towards their room.

-*-

       Erica took a deep breath before knocking on the door of the small classroom that Evie had set up as her dress making studio.

       “Hi, Erica. Please come in. I have your dress almost finished, we just need to fit it and you can decide if you want to add any sparkle or anything like that,” Evie gave her a smile.

       "Thanks Evie," she smiled at the other girl walking into the room, "So what do you need me to take off?" She was mostly used to the dress fittings from her dad's fancy balls. Obviously her mom, not so much since she bounced between her home kingdom, Atlantica and Caspian. 

       “I'll set up a screen if you can just slip the dress on, I can get a feel for how it's going to fit,” Evie motioned.

       "Yeah no problem, not my first dress fitting. Honestly you are much easier to deal with than my dad's dressers." She sighed as Evie set a screen up and she slipped behind it easing her clothes off, "They try and put me in big poofy dresses with the big puffy sleeves. So last century, I don't care if it's traditional and my mother wore it. I'd rather jump in the ocean and wear my tail and shell bra."

       “How does that work exactly? Do you just turn as soon as you're in the water or...?” Evie asked thinking about it.

       "Oh the mermaid thing?" She giggled taking the dress and carefully pulled it on, "Luckily for me, I only turn into a mermaid when I hit the ocean. Fresh water does literally nothing for me. I mean aside from the whole bathing and drinking thing." She slowly stepped out from behind the screen knowing the handprint bruise on her arm was fully visible.

       Evie tilted her head studying her, her eyes traced over the bruises, but quickly moved to the dress, “How does the fit feel?” she’d address the bruises in a second.

       "A little stabby," Erica teased, "You know from the pins and all. But its comfy else wise, tight but not too tight where I need a corset and a smaller set of lungs." She brushed down the emerald green fabric with its bits of purple sheen, "You really do amazing work Evie. No matter what shit people say, no one is bitching, moaning, groaning or complaining when it comes to the stuff you make."

       “I try to make things that fit to the people I am making it for.” Evie gave her a smile, “I can make you something to help with your arms.”

       She looked at her arm, "Stupid Chad. If you know of something yeah sure."

       Evie opened her bag going through it for a second before pulling out her container of Bruise balm, “Chad gave you those?”

       "Yeah... he didn't like it when I told him it was over." She could have told Evie more but girls liked gossip and well she wasn't all that sure about Evie as a person.

       “He... well I think I can make a potion to make his balls shrink if you want,” she offered, maybe she could make a sort of friend. It was a risk, but she could play it off as a joke if it didn’t go well.

       Erica snorted, "If Blondie is to be believed, he doesn't have much going on already. He isn't really worth the effort, anyone's effort. Chad Charming is an entitled dick, who thinks it's fine that he fucks whoever he wants no matter what they say." She vented glaring at the bruise on her arm.

       “I mean I know he was a dick to me, but I thought that was just because I’m from the isle” she tilted her head in thought.

       "What? No," Erica shook her head aghast, "No that is literally just Chad. He thinks he deserves everything."

       “Because he’s a prince, he’s already the heir to a major throne. I mean I guess if you go by what mother taught me, then he does deserve everything. But I thought everything mother taught was wrong,” Evie said, she had gotten the impression here that acting like you were owed something was a bad thing.

       "Just because he is a Prince does not excuse him for not being a decent person. Take Ben, Prince of Auradon, decent human being, excellent future King. Or Aziz, Prince of Agrabah, a little aloof and hands off, but nice respectful guy. Then there is Chad. I'm a Princess, Granddaughter of King Triton the Mer-king and King Eric of Caspian, and he did this because I told him I wasn't sleeping with him and I wanted out of a relationship where he is cheating on me."

       “I’m sorry he did this to you, but at least you’re free of him now. And you are going to look stunning at the dance,” Evie gave her a small smile.

       "You are too. Free of Chad that is. But you honestly are going to steal the show. You girl look good in flipping everything. How are you not beating your flirt monster friend off or is he not into girls?"

       “Jay is into all sorts of things, but he is my protector” Evie shrugged walking about Erica checking all lines and seams, “How's the length?”

       "A little shorter in the front would be good for me to have less dress kicking to do. But that is super sweet of Jay," Erica sighed, "Honestly we don't get many of them out here."

       “Yes, he... is one of a kind, a treasure to have at your side” Evie nodded, grabbing a few pins and kneeling to look at the front of the dress.

       "And he is unattached? I mean if that is something he would go for. Flings are fine," Erica asked innocently, "Unless he's off limits."

       “I believe he likes being unattached, but you can always check with him. I am not his keeper,” Evie shook her head, “How is this length?”

       Erica carefully extended a foot, "Oh yeah that is much better, thanks. Seriously thanks for all this, you're a cool chick by the way."

       “It's no problem, it gives me something to do.” Evie stood again, “Now did you want to add any sparkle or what is your guys word for it bling?”

       "Bling is an Audrey thing, I'm a pearlescent kind of girl. But no, I like it like this, with the little sheen to it."

       “Alright, you can change back then,” Evie nodded, “I should have it finished and ready for you in a day or two.”

       "Thanks Evie. You mind if I send a friend to you for a dress? I'll pay for it, but she needs something that fits her better." She asked as she headed back behind the screen.

       “Of course I am always willing to help with fashion” Evie nodded, starting to pack up her pins and fabric.

       "Awesome," Erica beamed as she redressed, "You'll love her, she is a real chatterbox."

       “I’ve known a few of those” Evie chuckled thinking of Dizzy in her constant chatter.

       "Yeah I can imagine. You meet so many people doing this. Here you go," Erica carefully placed the dress back on the rack, "I'll send her down next time you're working. Drag her if I have to."

       “I look forward to it, I should be back in here on Thursday,” Evie nodded, more work was a good thing.

Chapter 16: Magic, Shows and Needs (Auradon: May)

Notes:

Parts of this chapter will be NSFW. If you don't want to read or are uncomfortable with any of the warnings listed below, please skip the sections between -*-NSFW start-*- and -*-NSFW end-*-.

Warnings:
Voyeurism
masturbation (female and male)
Satyriasis (male form of Nymphomania)
unsafe improvised sex toys
references to sexual abuse and prostitution

      Mal rubbed her temples as she tried to help Jay with his Goodness homework. All it felt like she was doing was reading his terrible handwriting and snapping at him. The feeling of sparks on her skin was growing too, not that he seemed to notice that his eyes were starting to flicker with magic.

      Jay was beyond bristling. His head was killing him, the letters weren't sorting themselves out and he couldn't even read his own handwriting. The heat in his chest was a small inferno he could feel climbing up his throat. He needed a drink, but Mal had already yelled at him when she caught him drinking shortly after they came here. Considering her glare he really didn't feel like listening to any more of her yelling. The heat eased back slightly and he took a slow breath.

      Mal opened her mouth and nothing came out. Startled she tried again. Nothing was coming out and she bit her cheek nervously. What the hell was going on? She didn't understand why now of all times she had fully lost her voice.

      “You ok Mal?” Evie looked at her from her place sitting putting the finishing touches on Erica’s dress.

      Mal shook her head and pointed to her throat. Being unable to talk was super inconvenient. She didn't even understand how it was possible, unless... Mal gave Jay a sidelong look. Had he just spelled her? The gall of her second spelling her just so he didn't have to listen to her.

      Jay's lip curled in annoyance, "What Mal? You finally lose your voice with all the yelling you've been doing?" He couldn't help it, he was trying to pick a fight. He wanted one, to at least relieve the pressure, because he was way too wound up.

      Her eyes went green and Jay shifted facing her straight on, jaw set in defiance. She bared her teeth at him and grabbed the front of his vest. If he wouldn't let her talk she was going to put him back in his spot as second the old fashion way.

      "Go on hit me." Jay goaded as she manhandled him.

      And she did, punching him flat in the mouth. Jay replied by swinging the both of them off their chairs and onto the floor. He slammed Mal under him. It had been way too long since they had had it out. She twisted kneeing him hard enough he hissed in pain. When Jay moved to swing, she punched straight for the one place he yielded for instantly. Jay winced and crumpled to the side hand pressed to his ribs.

      "Fucking bitch," he groaned on his back beside her.

      "You're the one that wanted to fight," Mal croaked, her voice was back, but it hurt to talk like her throat had been seared. "Feel better?"

      “Guys” Evie stood setting the dress to the side.

      "Meh," Jay shrugged a shoulder rubbing his ribs, "We're fine Princess, honest." He glanced up at Evie with a half smile.

      “If you say so Jay. Are you alright Mal?” She looked the other girl up and down.

      "I'll be fine. Just a sore throat," she pushed herself to sitting, "Nothing you need to worry about E."

      Jay rolled his eyes, "I'm going for a run. Blow off some steam." He pushed himself to standing and sighed softly remembering that Penny would be over near dinner time.

      "You clearly need to since you think fighting me is a good idea." Mal waved her fingers dismissively at him, "Then I expect you back and studying."

      "You need anything Princess?" He ignored Mal's empty threat and looked expectantly to Evie.

      “No I’ll see you at dinner” Evie shook her head with a small smile.

      Jay smiled back at her, "Yeah see you at dinner." he headed out of the room determined to find a way to cool himself off because nothing was really working.

      Mal watched him leave and rubbed her throat as she pushed herself up and shuffled through the work he had left out. His letters were all sorts of not letters, scribbles with circles and lines, the ones that looked like letters weren’t even facing the right direction. Mal shook her head, it was only in patches too, no wonder his grades were so shitty. She tossed the papers in a pile and sighed before turning to Evie.

      “Okay E, let’s get you back to your dress stuff while I draw.”

 

-*-NSFW Start-*-

 

      Jay walked back into the building after a long run in the woods feeling a little less wound up until he heard something. Singing. There was faint female singing coming from the guys locker room. Jay glanced over his shoulder warily before stepping inside. Penny would be fine for a few minutes without him if she showed up. Pup should be back anyway to let her in if Princess and Mal had left.

      Heat and steam coiled through the room as Jay slunk across the floors as quiet as he could. Purple silk panties with scales on them, a matching bra a little further up. A pair of dark green leggings and a flowy white top. His eyes drifted up to the shower stall being used, the curtain was wide open.

      Wet black hair to her shoulder blades, creamy pearl colored smooth skin. Her forearms pressed against the tiles as she arched her back to present her hips. Her legs spread ever so slightly to expose her shaved bits.

      He leaned his shoulder against the wall eyes roaming over her, appreciating her skin, "You do know this is the guys locker room right Erica?"

      She tipped her head and looked at him with one bright blue eye, "Hi Jay, I hoped to catch your undivided attention."

      "Consider it undivided," he had no idea what that meant but at least he could parrot it back just fine, "Not sure what you want me for though."

      She shook her hips, "Didn't make it obvious?"

      "I don't just go for it unless asked. Skin is just skin unless everyone is on board," he replied watching as she shifted her weight and eased one of her arms over her back to finger herself.

      "Well?" She prompted biting her lip, "I've got a hole I want you to fill. I bet you're huge, we can see it sometimes when you leave the locker room. All those sports seem to get you all riled up." She was moaning faintly as Jay watched her play with herself.

      "Blondie probably told you I don't put out," but evil did he want to, he wanted to be buried in that clearly slick heat, fucking her until she was a puddle of well fucked Erica, "All it takes is one of you girls squawking I forced you to get me sent home and frankly I do not want to go back."

      "But I wouldn't..."

      "Don't care, but if you want to do that while I'm standing here watching, you do you. Literally."

      "Can you at least let me blow you when I'm done? I want you in me..." she whined her fingers spreading herself for him to see.

      Jay hummed thinking about it, those lips curled around him, "Tempting," he replied eyes fixed on her fingers, "Do this often to yourself do you?"

      She laughed breathlessly, "What can I say you get me all wet." She pressed harder against the wall trying to get a better angle.

      He shifted, pants uncomfortably tight as he watched. The water was a nice touch running down her body, pooling in the hollow of her lower back. Running down her spread legs as she fucked herself. He could see her slick dripping out of her, thick and sticky as she moaned and panted what sounded like his name. She was pushing her hips back into her fingers and he licked his lips as her head suddenly tossed back with a long stifled whine. Thick white cream oozed out between her fingers and Jay pushed off the wall.

      He slunk out of the locker room as she recovered, not wanting anything further to do with that. He couldn't let any of them know. All it would take was someone calling foul and he would be forced back onto the isle where he had to use his skin to pay rent. And if he got sent back for that, there was no knowing what his Baba would do to him.

 

-*-NSFW End-*-

 

      Jay took the long way back to the room trying to cool off once more not that it helped this time at all. He sighed pushing the door open and stepped inside.

      “Hey man you ready for dinner?” Carlos asked looking at him, he stepped up to Jay’s side putting himself semi between Jay and Mal.

      “Dinner... yeah dinner would be good,” he smiled brightly throwing an arm over Carlos’ shoulders, “You hungry Pup?” he was still a little out of sorts, the image of Erica arching near seared into his brain, but he was working on it.

      “Always” Carlos chuckled letting him pull him into his side.

      Mal gave Jay a look before rolling her eyes, “Really Jay?”

      “What? Let’s go get some chow. My pup is hungry,” He gestured to the door and guided Carlos towards it, “Come on Princess.”

      “Coming coming” Evie nodded coming to Mal’s side as they left the room.

      “Such a brat,” she huffed linking her arm with Evie’s as they headed towards the cafeteria.

      “Yes, but he’s ours,” Evie smirked

      “I know, it would be weird without him,” she looked at Jay’s back, “I don't know what we would do without him.”

      “We all need each other, we aren’t whole without each other,” Evie studied Jay’s back as well, sometime she thought Mal forgot that they were all pieces of a whole.

      “Didn’t stop him from vanishing for days at a time when we were on the Isle. I know he was getting stuff for his dad’s shop but still didn’t excuse my second just not being around. At least here the furthest he can run is the roof,” she smirked, “A place I don’t mind retrieving him from so he can do some homework.”

      “I think you need to try a different tactic with his homework, it's only going to drive you both madder than Madame Mim,” Evie looked to her now.

      “I am just trying to help him help himself. I know he can do it, he just... he just needs to try and sit still to do it. But he is just bouncing out of his skin these days.”

      “You know as well as I do that sitting still isn’t a thing for him,” Evie pointed out.

      "I know he doesn't like it, but he does it when it's necessary." She sighed, "I just want what's best for all of us. And that includes Jay sitting on his ass and studying to try to pass exams."

      “Then good luck,” she shrugged, “There’s Penny” 

      Penny gave them a wave as they approached.

      "I'm going to need it," she muttered watching as Jay gently pulled Penny in with a wide grin.

      "Heya Little Princess how are things?" Jay asked careful to keep it friendly only as he guided all of them to the line for food.

      “They’re ok. Stupid etiquette lessons, ” she gave him a small smile.

      "Ah, yeah that sounds like buckets of fun," Jay smirked at her and started passing out trays and food.

      “Don’t do this, don’t do that,” Penny rolled her eyes.

      "Which is different from every day how?" He asked sparing her a glance as he double checked that he had supplied them all with enough food. "Seems like the same thing they always go on about here. Be polite and then whisper about you behind your back when they think you can't hear. Mostly it should be smile and nod, listen to um and then ignore um. Parrot it back out if they tell you, you weren't listening."

      “Well mine is more along the line of talk like this, stand like that. Don’t slouch, don’t stutter” she shrugged taking one of the trays.

      "What's stutter?" Jay asked unfamiliar with the word. Though he was typically very bad with words in general.

      “Having problems saying words so you repeat the beginning or end of the word” she explained.

      “I do that sometimes” Carlos nodded taking his tray as they found a table.

      "I normally have issues getting a word I don't know out of my mouth." He offered, "We just liked to think about it like words got stuck in his mouth." 

      “That's a good way to think of it,” Penny agreed

      “Thank you Jay” Evie took her salad from him.

      “Sure thing Princess,” he gave her a playful grin and handed Mal her tray with soup and a pile of pasta.

      Mal nodded and gently gripped his chin moving his head back and forth silently before nodding and plopping down next to Evie.

      He rolled her eyes, she wasn’t really concerned she had hurt him. She was just concerned she had left a mark on him, which wouldn’t have gone over well here in Auradon.

      “Did something happen?” Penny asked watching the interaction.

      “Not much, we had a spat, she may have punched me in the mouth. Nothing terrible,” Jay shrugged as they sat down with the others. He was used to them fighting every once in a while. It helped both of them cool off from their issues with one another.

      “Wish we could settle things that easily between royals,” Penny smirked a little.

      “Please, you Mainlanders get all pissy about bruises. Us, we don’t mind, they don’t last long anyway,” Jay shrugged tucking into his own heaping portion of pasta.

      “Some of us. It heals, not like a bruise is around forever,” Penny shrugged.

      “Well it is a bruise, not like a cut or anything,” he woofed down some more pasta, “Bruises are much easier to make go away than cuts. Not that I like getting cut but not the worst thing in the world.”

      Mal gave Jay a look as he rambled, “Jay... stop talking with your mouth full.” she wasn’t going to tell him to shut up, but she was going to tell him to shut his mouth.

      He huffed but closed his mouth, maybe he was pushing just a little much today. Mal had already nearly lost her voice yelling at him to get his shit together. The fight and the run had only done so much to release the building pressure. Everything was just getting to be a little too much.

      Penny looked between the two of them before shrugging, she’d figure out whatever it was.

      “Are you going to the dance, Penny?” Evie asked, changing the subject.

      “I think so,” she  nodded to the other princess.

      Jay swallowed his food and smiled, “Guess you and me are dancing together huh?” he grinned at her, “Since I owe you a dance and all.”

      “Yeah, I guess we are,” she gave him a smile.

      “Um... so I don't know how to dance,” Carlos looked at the two princesses.

      “I’ll teach you a few things” Evie assured him.

      “You’ll pick it up just fine pup, you did just fine at Ben’s thing.”

      “More like I let Evie and Jane drag me around the room,” Carlos snorted.

      “You kept up with me just fine pup” Evie placed a hand over his.

      “Only thing you have to do is not step on their feet,” Jay assured Carlos before taking another bite of his food.

      “And don’t stick your head in the chocolate fountain,” Mal added with a smirk as Jay nodded with a gesture of his fork, of course she had a good point, this was Carlos.

      “It was once,” Carlos defended

      “You stuck your head in the chocolate fountain?” Penny laughed looking at him.

      “Once... it was good,” Carlos shrugged.

      “And now we have to watch him to make sure he doesn’t do it again. He was like covered in chocolate,” Mal shook her head, “Why do you guys always have a chocolate fountain there anyway?”

      “It's a thing, people like to put stuff under chocolate” Penny shrugged.

      “Huh. Guess it’s just a mainland thing,” she poked at her pasta, “You guys really seem to like your sweets here.”

      “Some people do, it's a big thing to put strawberries in the fountain” Penny looking at her.

      “But why...”

      “Don’t ruin strawberries for her,” Jay snorted, “She doesn’t like chocolate all that much.”

      “Chocolate is fine in small doses but not like Carlos eats it.”

      “It's good, we don’t have anything like it on the isle,” Carlos tried to explain.

      “Yes, fine, we don’t but I have seen you make yourself sick eating it.” Mal’s nose crinkled.

      “I took care of him after that, chill,” Jay snorted, “He doesn’t make himself sick any more eating that many sweets.”

      “I actually apologized for that” Carlos defended

      “We know pup, and you learned from it” Evie nodded.

      Penny looked between all four of them, it seemed like Mal held grudges. She wanted to point out every mistake they made.

      Jay gave Mal the look to back off and her eyes narrowed, “You got an issue with mine you take it up with me,” he growled suddenly in the mood for another throw down.

      Mal rolled her eyes, “Chill yourself Jay, no issues, honestly you get all worked up over nothing. Like Los said he apologized and learned from it, you could learn a thing from that and relax a little before we scare the mainlanders.”

      He couldn’t help the venomous hiss that released from his throat as he looked away. He knew she was right, “I’m just wound up alright, get off my back.”

      “May I suggest another run?” she ordered dripping with about as much patience as she could given she knew the context from him being wound up, “You just have to make it through exams and I’ll let you cut loose for a night.”

      That made him look at her, “And?”

      “And nothing. You make it through exams and I’ll let you cut loose for a night. That’s a fair trade,” Mal replied and Jay rubbed his face with a grunt of acceptance, “Now, question Penny. So last time we had these big exams everyone disappeared for a few weeks and we didn’t have classes, then the people came back and we had new classes. Is that happening again?”

      “Yeah, that was probably winter break, this will be summer break it will be about 2 months or so,” Penny nodded, filing away everything for later

      “Two months?” Mal repeated, what the hell were they going to do for two months by themselves?

      “Yeah, that sounds right anyway, I always stayed at Merryweathers,” Penny shrugged again before finishing off her sandwich.

      “So...” Jay started, “You are going to be here though right? I mean now that you go to school here, you’ll stay?”

      “I don’t really have anywhere else to go,” She said bluntly, it wasn’t like she had any friends to go visit.

      “Oh wicked then you and I can work on your running and hang out and stuff.” Jay grinned.

      “It will be great, some time to just hang out.” 

      “I can catch up on fashion, I can make us new clothes for the school year,” Evie smiled at the thought of making clothes for all of them.

       Jay shook his head, “You get a limit of one on me Princess.”

      “But, Jay,” Evie pouted, “Pants and a vest isn’t a whole lot”

      “But it’s enough for me thanks,” Jay made a face at her pouting, he rather she be doing something else with her mouth.

      “Fine, but I get to at least make you a nice shirt for the dance,” Evie sighed.

      “Fine, you can do that. One and only one,” he sighed submitting to her look, he hated having nice things. He really didn’t know what to do with nice things.

      “Good, now I just need to decide on a color,” Evie smiled at him, “You’re getting new clothes too pup.”

      “I figured,” Carlos nodded, his mother was all about fashion, didn’t care about him but she’d be damned if he looked like a ragga muffin with no fashion sense.

      Mal smiled softly finishing her food, it was good to have them mostly back to themselves again. Maybe the two month break would be good for all of them. 

      “And of course I will need to make Mal a whole new wardrobe, dating a prince means a lot of appearances,” Evie looked at the girl.

      “Yeah, lots of press. Have fun with that, I think they finally got over me being back” Penny chuckled.

      She looked at Evie, and then to Jay in horror as he started laughing silently, “Why a whole new wardrobe?”

      “You can’t just wear the same thing over and over again,” Evie rolled her eyes.

      “I am pretty sure Jay does, all the time.”

      “Don’t bring me into this. I’m not the one dating the crown prince.”

       Evie tilted her head at him in thought, of course the image of Jay and Ben was tempting. But, she couldn’t help thinking of Jay wrapped around or on top of a certain hot gold eyed prince.

      “E?” Carlos shook her arm a little.

      “Right sorry, Jay is right on this” Evie shook her head.

      Jay looked at her amused, "I am packing the wrong equipment Princess. And I don't date, but you can tell me later," he wanted to know what she had been imagining him doing.

      “For some princes maybe,” she rolled her eyes with a smirk, “Anyway Mal I need you to come in for measurements.”

      Mal bit back a groan but nodded, “Okay, okay,” she sighed, “Just try not to set Jay on anyone else. He already has too many lusters.”

      “I’m not setting him on any one,” Evie defended.

      “Yet,” Jay stated into his glass of water with a knowing smirk at his Princess, he always liked when she decided who needed his full attention.

      “Jay don’t-”

      “I am fucking behaving myself alright? For evil's sake Mal you know that.”

      She snorted, “I was going to say don’t go stringing anyone along, you have enough of those already. I am aware you can’t help flirting.”

      He huffed at her but nodded downing the rest of his water, “Like I said earlier-”

      “Your wound up, I know. Doesn’t mean I can’t prod you like always.”

      “Wound up?” Penny asked

      “He’s got too much energy,” Evie supplied.

      “That’s one way to put it,” Jay shrugged a shoulder, “I always have too much ‘energy’. It’s a serious problem.”

      Mal nodded in agreement, "It is a serious problem here. Not so much on the Isle."

      “Well once summer break starts you can run around all you want” Penny tried to be helpful, she felt she was missing something she just wasn’t sure what exactly.

      "That's my plan. I would have run during winter break but I don't like cold all that much," Jay made a face, remembering his bare feet in grey snow and ice, skin burning as he tried to stay warm.

      Mal snapped her fingers and Jay's unfocused look sharpened, eyes darting to her. "Winter here isn't Winter there."

      “Winters over there probably weren’t great were they?” Penny made a face in thought.

      "No. No they were horrible at home." Jay offered, giving Mal a quick appreciative look, "But we are here now and with luck we'll never go back there."

      “Maybe next winter we can do something fun,” Penny suggested.

      “Not outside?” Jay asked hoping for indoor fun things.

      “Yeah, there’s stuff we can do inside” she nodded, “Hot cocoa and cookies looking at the snow”

      He bit his cheek, “Do you know how to make cookies?”

      “Um... sort of, I tend to just eat the batter when I try,” she chuckled, “Mrs. Potts makes cookies for me.”

      Jay nodded slowly, so she didn’t know, “That’s cool,” he wanted to learn how since his Pup seemed to like them a whole lot.

      “I could ask Mrs. Potts to teach us one day if you want,” she looked at him.

      “Is she the lady in the kitchen? Cause I don’t think she really likes us all that much,” Jay made a face.

      “Mrs. Potts likes everyone, you probably just caught her after a surprise guest or something,” Penny tilted her head.

      “I think we broke into her kitchen too many times,” Mal shrugged a shoulder, “Jay was always raiding it over the winter.”

      “Well no one was here...” he rolled his eyes with a smile.

      “I’ll talk to her, worse comes to worse I’ll go to Chip,” Penny smirked Chip could get her to do a lot of things.

      “Who is Chip?” Jay asked tilting his head at her.

      “Chip’s her son, he’s a royal chauffeur now. He was the teacup in my parents story,” she looked at him.

      “A what now?” he looked at Evie, as she was his source of all sorts of royal knowledge.

      “He drives the cars for the royal family” Evie explained, “So he grew up normal, no side effects from the curse.”

      “Yeah, normal as far as I’m concerned,” Penny agreed.

      “Oh, okay,” Jay nodded, “What curse? I’m not all that familiar with your family story. The Gastons weren’t exactly allies, even on the on again off again kind.”

      “Dad didn’t let the Enchantress take shelter in the palace from a storm, because she was disguised as a beggar woman. She offered him a rose as payment, and still he refused. She tried to tell him not to judge things by appearances. When he refused again and had her thrown from the palace, she changed and became a beautiful enchantress, he begged her to forgive him, but instead she cursed him and the palace. She made his outside match his insides, turning him into a beast, and the people in the palace into items. But she gave him an out of sorts, the rose she had offered as payment became his timer to find a way to break the curse, when the last petal fell from the rose the curse would be permanent,” Penny explained, “Time passed, when it started to seem like hope was lost my grandfather found the palace in the wood. Dad locked him in the tower for trespassing. Mom came looking and traded places with him. Grandfather went back to town, begged for help getting mom back. Gaston was in love with mom, so he offered to help if he could marry mom.... Blah blah blah, mom comes home to take care of grandfather cause he’s sick the town finds out about dad. They storm the palace to kill dad, he and Gaston fight, it looks like dad is dying mom cries and confesses she loves him and poof everyone is human again.”

      “So you just memorized that” Carlos teased.

      “Just read it a lot” Penny shrugged.

      “Huh,” Jay nodded slowly, “So Enchantress is a neutral witch, which is why your dad hates magic. Because he didn’t treat a person like a person?” he really didn’t understand the no magic thing if that was it.

      “Pretty much,” she nodded to Jay, “I never could understand why he didn’t just let her stay. He use to say, he was just a stupid kid.”

      “Could have been.” Mal nodded, “Same thing happened with Mom. She would have never cursed Aurora if King Stephan had just apologized for not inviting her to the christening of his daughter.”

      “There are a few different versions of your mom’s story,” Penny mused, “Never sure which one was right.”

      “All of them, if she is to believed, mom can’t lie, but she likes making things hard to understand.” 

      “That’s a fae thing right? The not lying thing?”

      “Well yeah, fae can’t lie but that won’t stop them from twisting the truth to serve their needs.”

      “Sounds like most royalty,” Penny snickered

      “Very true” Evie snickered along.

      Mal frowned not getting the joke the two royals were in on. 

      Jay smirked, “And most villains.'' His father liked twisting words in whatever way benefited him. “Pretty sure twisting the truth ain’t just a fae thing.”

      “They just made it an art form” Carlos rolled his eyes.

      Mal sighed, it was pointless trying to argue with them about how evil her mother was. Everyone always viewed their parent as the most evil, except maybe Jay, Jay never generally said that his was the most evil on the Isle. It was unanimous in the gang, however, that Cruella was the most vindictive of all of them.

      “Well at least you guys can’t be tricked by smooth talkers,” Penny tried to look on the bright side.

      Jay snickered, "That's just from not trusting anyone but me to uphold their word."

      “I would argue but he’s right,” Carlos agreed.

      "As Jay puts it; All he has is his word." Mal agreed with a half smile at her second.

      “Being a man of your word is a good thing” Penny said

      “Most of the time” Evie agreed.

      Jay looked at Penny, she meant it, no one seemed to believe him here, but she did. He smiled softly, "I don't make promises I can't keep, and I keep my word because it was all I ever had."

      “So after this what is everyone doing?” Penny asked returning the smile.

      "Jay is going to go back to studying." Mal replied looking at him, "Right Jay?"

      "As long as you leave me and mine for the rest of the night."

      Mal gave him a look but rolled her eyes, "Fine, whatever you want."

      “I was thinking we could do a movie night one weekend” Penny suggested.

      "Yeah I would be okay with that," Jay looked at Evie and Carlos to see their opinions.

      “Sounds like fun,” Evie smiled, it sounded like a nice way to spend down time.

      “Can we do fresh popcorn?” Carlos asked

      “Yeah, all you want” Penny nodded.

      "Wicked. When Pup and I finish Tourney. We have our last game on Friday."

      “Wicked so Saturday night?” She asked.

      Jay lifted a brow at her use of his go to approval but nodded, "Yeah Saturday would work, Princess that good for your dress schedule?"

      “It will be fine, I can watch while I work if need be” Evie shook her head it was fine.

      "Then Saturday night our room, movies and popcorn," Jay nodded, "I'll find you chocolate Pup."

      “Going to be great” Carlos wiggled in his seat.

      Jay ruffled the fluffy monochromatic hair, "Settle down a smidge Pup the mainlanders can see you. Everyone finished, we have stuff to do now."

      “Sorry,” Carlos blushed stilling.

 

-*-NSFW Start-*-

 

      They had gone to bed over an hour ago but Jay couldn’t sleep. He had moved from his bed to the floor, curling up on his side trying to ignore the persistent ache between his legs. But the longer he listened to Carlos’ soft snores on the other side of the room the harder it got. 

      Sex, he needed it. 

      Carlos had always been so willing to help him before they came here, so had Evie. The three of them tangled together in the Hideout, the mere memory of those days had him rubbing his thighs together shooting pleasurable sparks up his hips. 

      He needed it. 

      But since they had arrived, his Pup had sworn off other guys in the pursuit of Jane the daughter of Fairy Godmother. His imagination supplied an image of Jane on her knees, mouth wrapped over his skin making him stifle a needy whine. No, that would get him in trouble.

      Evie had done similarly, swearing off him in favor of playing the mainland dating game or bedding a prince whichever came first. Her against him, breasts pressed to his chest as he took her against a wall on the Isle. The thrill of being in the open where it was dangerous, where either of their parents' henchmen could catch them.

      His entire body spasmed, a warm wet patch beginning to form on the front of his sleep pants. How long had it been? Ben’s birthday? No, he had jerked off some time after that. Had to, he couldn’t help himself, in the showers of the locker room after a match. Had it really been that long? It felt like it had been forever. Erica today had just been the sugar on top of the need already under his skin. The water dripping down her legs, fingers inside of herself.

      There was a steady throb now in his pants, and he rubbed at himself trying to just take the edge off. But his eyes opened and he looked towards Carlos’ bed, he could wake the kid up, surely he’d understand that Jay needed it. No. He couldn’t, it wasn’t what his wanted, he couldn’t take advantage of his like that. Which meant no Evie either. 

      He rolled onto his back, hand already down his pants pulling on himself. Sparks rolled up over his body, the warm and near comforting coils of pleasure. Jay stopped caring that this was Auradon and they probably had some rule against it. He needed it. He’d go mad if he didn’t get what he wanted. All day it had been persisting, the want building up, the need to feel the pleasure rolling through him. The need for those coils to release so he could shift tension off and feel just a little more human again. Shifting slightly he pulled the bottom of his tank top up to just under his arms and his sleep pants down under his sack before he let his head fall back again. 

      He ignored the sound of Carlos rolling over in his sleep in favor of the intoxication filling his veins. It wasn’t enough, his hand wasn’t enough. It took every ounce of his willpower not to make a noise of frustration. But his hand stilled and he took several long breaths as his chest jumped slightly to the beat of his racing heart. Forcing himself to let go he tucked himself away and got up walking stiffly into the bathroom, closing the door and locked it behind him. His eyes flicked over everything in the bathroom as he pulled his clothes off setting them to the side neatly piled up for the time being.

      Improvise. His brain was screaming at him as loud as his dick was at the moment, both wanting to get off as soon as possible. Jay knew what the problem was. He wanted to get pegged. He needed that bundle of nerves inside of him pounded into especially if he couldn’t be buried in his Princess. Either of them actually since Little Princess didn’t seem to know what to do when he tried to subtly suggest fooling around. His hand curled around himself as he worked through the bathroom on a not so Auradon friendly mission. 

      No, no, no, no... he ticked off things that didn’t peak his needs or just seemed impractical. The handle of his hair brush seemed the most promising if he couldn’t find anything else. Definitely in the bathtub, where he could contain the mess and it gave him the best leverage. His eyes landed on a bottle, looked to be about as thick as his own, would take a little effort to get in but at this point he was well past giving a damn. He needed it and he needed it now.

      Grabbing it up he used the thick fluid inside to coat his fingers as he climbed into the bathtub resting his bare chest on the edge. His legs were forced into an odd angle but he didn’t care as he needily shoved his coated fingers into himself. It had been too long, he had to work himself open. Normally he didn’t care if it hurt a little but with something like this he’d rather not tear anything. No amount of needing to get off was worth bleeding like a girl until he healed. His head hung, hair covering his face as he breathed heavy, yes, this, this is what he wanted. The pleasure was coming back and he forced himself to bend a little further, trying desperately to get deeper. He needed more of it, barely ready he pulled his hand away scrambling to coat the bottle before he pushed it into himself careful to keep a hold of it.

      The sensation flooded his body, yes, this is what he wanted, what he needed. His eyes fluttered as one hand shallowly drove the bottle in and out of him, his other hand jerking at himself. The bundle of nerves was firing hot coils of pleasure through his entire body, it felt so damn good, but his brain wanted more. Every flutter of his eyelids brought visions of darker skin, the sensation of a rough beard as lips pressed on his shoulders, strong fingers digging into his hip.

      Jay came with a hot rush and a silent scream, his brain having caused an absolute cascade of stimulation. He relaxed slowly resting back against the edge of the tub, improvised toy still inside of him as he felt his body flexing against the intrusion. A few moments later Jay forced his limbs into moving, pulling the bottle out with a slick squelch before he started cleaning up the mess he made. Languidly when he was finished and everything was back in its proper place he redressed and let himself out of the bathroom, the need a mere whisper in the back of his head once more.

       

-*-NSFW End-*-

 

      Carlos looked at him blurrily from his bed, “You okay Jay?” his voice was thick with sleep.

      “Yeah I’m fine Pup,” he moved closer to Carlos’ bed and pulled the covers back up and over his Pup’s shoulders before he stooped and kissed the kid’s temple, “Go back to sleep.”

      “As long as you're okay,” he nodded, eyes slipping shut once more, falling back asleep as Jay settled back down on the floor wrapping his own self in his blankets.

      Jay closed his eyes and finally slipped off into a silent sleep.

Chapter 17: MVP and Movies (Auradon: May)

      Aziz’s hands were clenched tight around the clipboard. This was it one more play, all it was going to take was one more goal and they would have the game. The Camelot Dragons were fighting hard to keep their spot, no matter what Jay seemed to throw at them. But Jay wasn’t backing down.

      Jay shook sweat out of his eyes breathing hard as the fire raged in his chest, his fingers tingling as he forced himself to focus. He came this far, he had to win. Ibn Yahya’s did not lose. His baba had given him enough shit over the years about being second rate, but Jay had shown him he was the best damn thief on the Isle. In the half chance word ever made it back to the Isle, he refused to lose when they were so close to being undefeated. 

      Evie had grabbed the normal seats near the top of the bleachers, was bouncing in her seat watching over her boys.

      Penny was chewing her lip, this was close the Dragons had come for a fight it looked like.

      “What now Jay?” Carlos asked, shifting his shield.

      “Don’t know. I’m thinking,” Jay shook his head again, noticing the team was looking at him, they were waiting for him to find a way through, “We have to get through. But these guys, fuckin’ evil they are like trying to run through the Jollyrogers.”

      “So what do you want us to do Jay?” Chomper asked shifting uneasily.

      “Dude come on, you’ve got to have something,” Alex added, “You’ve been having us run plays we’ve never seen before, we followed you then, just tell us where you want us. We got one play left.”

      “No pressure,” Jay muttered, taking a deep breath, he needed to win he couldn’t let them down, Alex was right he had dragged them this far. “Bum rush. Get me the ball and I will get it there.”

      “Good things there aren’t any Crocodiles here” Carlos muttered taking his place.

      “In this case I would be more worried about tigers,” Jay replied ignoring the confused looks. “Just try not to get hit Pup.”

      Aziz brought the clipboard to his mouth watching the play unfold in front of them. They were all rushing forward, ball flashing up the field, Jay slammed into Arty full force near flipping the smaller and younger Prince over his back. Alex leaping over Percy’s body as Chomper bowled him over. The ball was in the air, they were scrambling for it, both teams angling to get it when it just disappeared into the sack of one of the many sticks. No one seemed to know where it was but there was Jay, out the other side of the clamber. Aziz jumped with a yell as the ball screamed into the goal. The buzzer was going off seconds later. They had won. They had actually won.

      “We did it,” Ben pulled off his helmet, “You did it Jay.” 

      Evie jumped to her feet screaming with the crowd at the goal.

      Jay pulled his helmet off shaking damp hair out of his face as grinned at Ben, “I did say I’d get it there.”

      Chomper ignored the way Jay jumped as he heaved the other boy up into the air as the team pulled Jay up and onto their shoulders, “UNDEFEATED!” he bellowed as Alex pulled Carlos in closer to the group.

      Mal smiled watching them from the bleachers, Jay didn’t seem to care for being in the air but he was beaming. The boys had done a great job. She blew the last of the eraser dust off the stylized Camelot Dragon’s flag and nodded to herself, they had defeated all six teams and had never lost.

      “This is new” Carlos chuckled looking at the celebrating team.

      “That’s one way to put it. Okay guys no seriously put me down,” Jay appreciated that they were excited but he wanted his feet back on the ground.

      The team eased Jay back to the ground before heading to congratulate the Dragons as Jay and Carlos headed towards the bleachers to where Evie, Penny and Mal were.

      “You did it, you had an undefeated season,” Evie cheered hugging Jay.

      He squeezed her back, barely catching his instinct to kiss her, “You doubted I could do it Princess?”

      “No, but I thought the other’s might hold you back,” she teased him with a smirk.

      “The team? Nah, they were very eager little field minions for Pup and I. But that team man, they were rougher than the Olympians,” Jay complained, leaving his arms looped around Evie, the feeling of her safe in his grip tempering the heat and tingling in his limbs.

      “Yeah they did not want to lose to us,” Carlos snickered, leaning into Jay’s side.

      Jay released one arm from Evie and curled it around Carlos, “Too bad for them, I’m too stubborn to lose at anything I can win.”

      “Well then the next few seasons are going to be great” Penny smiled.

      "Yeah I am hoping so. I like this game," Jay grinned at her.

      “I do too,” Carlos agreed, “We should probably go change.”

      "Yeah probably. You girls head inside, we are going to get to back to the locker room."

      “We’ll set up the movie” Evie nodded watching the boys go.

-*-

      Ben smiled seeing Jay and Carlos come into the locker room. He was excited for his friend, proud even as he earned his new title.

      Jay did not like the look of this set up. Coach and Prince Aziz standing in the locker room with them. But Carlos shifting closer is why he staid.

      "Good we are all here," Coach rubbed his hands together, "You all have made me extremely proud this year. For the first time ever, we, the Auradon Knights, were undefeated. We had some amazing plays, crushing victories and some very close calls. Thank you, all of you. We couldn't have gotten here without you all."

      "Come on Coach get on with it! Name the MVP," someone called.

      "Alright, calm down," Aziz shook his head with a wide smile, "As Coach started, there is one player that helped make this year our best year ever. Who crushed every play and plowed through the other teams like they didn't exist. It's our honor to name Jay, this year's MVP."

      The locker room erupted in cheering minus Jay, Carlos and Chad. Jay looked rather unsettled by the attention and Ben took pity on the boy.

      "MVP means most valuable player Jay."

      "Oh," that was all he had, he had never been recognized as valuable to anyone but his before. Jay didn't even know how to feel but he gave them a bright smile feigning whatever he was supposed to feel.

      It took everything he had not to swing as the team hefted him up off the ground again. He hated it when they did this to him, but he refused to complain even as he took the small award Carlos handed up to him. His name inscribed in the fake gold plating took him off guard. This was his. He had never been given something that was unquestionably his.

      Coach looked at Aziz, "Kid looks like he's about to cry."

      "I think he's overwhelmed right now. He'll be running around in excitement once it sinks in I am sure."

      Carlos watched them with a small smile after he stepped back to watch the team praise Jay.

      Jay cleared his throat and ruffled someone's hair, "Alright put me down. I want a shower and-"

      "The girls are waiting?" Alex completed with a grin, "Ever the ladies man Jay."

      "What, they are girls. Little Princess wanted to watch movies all afternoon." Jay tossed the award to his pup who fumbled but caught it, "Now seriously put me down."

      “Come on shower time” Ben called trying to calm the team down.

      "Take all the fun out of it why don't you," someone laughed as the team lowered Jay back to the ground still clustering around him with congratulations, slowly peeling off to their lockers for showers.

      Aziz smiled watching, maybe he could congratulate Jay and Carlos in person once the boys had cleaned up.

      Jay pulled himself away from the team and yanked his jersey and pads off somewhat carelessly. Leaving himself in his burgundy sleeveless shirt soaked in sweat. He'd wash it in the shower anyway, go shirtless under his vest once he left the locker room. He tossed a towel to Carlos with a look over, "Come on Pup, clean up and then chocolate rewards for helping me out today."

      “Hell yeah” Carlos laughed pulling off his sweaty uniform.

      Jay grinned shamelessly, he knew exactly how to reward his. He headed into the showers and pulled the rest of his sweaty clothes off after making sure the curtain was closed behind him. Mainlanders were weird about privacy.

      Carlos was quick about his shower, even if Jay was close by being naked around people made him nervous.

      Quickly drying off Jay pulled his dry clothes on and twisted his hair up into a self holding bun. Taking his wet clothes and shower supplies back to his locker, tossing everything into his bag before he plopped down to pull his boots on. His eyes flicked up as a body stopped in front of him with an almost too pure smile.

      “You did a great job this year Jay. I’m really happy I had the chance to coach the team with you on it, even if you did pretty much ignore all my plays.” Aziz tried to keep his tone light, tried not to pressure the younger male especially after last time.

      “You have good plays, but they were too predictable. We weren’t going to win on predictable plays, so I fixed them,” Jay tried not to be offensive to the Prince he was sure didn’t like him.

      “Which is why we thought you should be the MVP. You saw a problem and you got the team on board to fix it. Maybe next season you and I can work together to flush out some of your plays?” Aziz was hoping Jay could take over coaching before he graduated, especially since Coach was going to make him the team captain of Swords and Shields the next season.

      Jay looked away from the hopeful golden eyes, “I’ll think about it Prince Aziz.”

      “Aziz is fine you know right? I don’t really like being referred to by my title, too stuffy for me.” when Jay looked back at him and cocked his head Aziz smirked, “What? I’m not Charming, I’d rather be treated like everyone else. I think you know what I mean.”

      Jay opened his mouth but closed it when Aziz was grabbed by one of the others and was hauled off. He really needed to figure out if the prince was just trying to stab him in the back or not. 

      “Well that was interesting,” Carlos said toweling at his hair.

      “I can’t figure out if he’s really like that or if it’s all an act,” Jay ruffled his hair and finished putting his boots on, “Let’s get out of here. We’ve left the girls alone long enough.”

      “Yeah who knows what they will get up too without us” Carlos smirked.

      “Princess would give Little Princess a makeover if we left them alone too long,” Jay grabbed their things and the award before the both of them headed back to the room.

 

      Penny sat on the floor in front of Evie as she braided a red ribbon into her hair.

      “I think Jay’s gonna like the ribbon,” Evie smiled ignoring the side eye from Mal.

      “I liked the color,” Penny smiled.

      “It's a very good color,” Evie agreed, it wasn’t quite the same shade that Jay prefered but it was close enough that on the Isle it would have gotten the second look before anyone messed with her.

      Mal rolled her eyes glancing at the clock, the boys were taking forever. Where the hell were they?

      Jay pushed open their room door and smiled at the girls sitting there. He and Carlos had slipped by the kitchen and nicked a bag of chocolate chips.

      “Hey guys we have the food” Carlos held up the bowl of popcorn. Jay had the chocolate to make sure it made it back to the room.

      “Great, I’ve got a few movie choices to start with,” Penny smiled motioning to the stack of dvds.

      Mal nodded, "I was wondering if I should send Dude to go find you two," she motioned to the dog in his little red, white and black vest at the foot of Carlos' bed.

      "We didn't keep you waiting that long," Jay rolled his eyes setting the bag of chocolate chips down on the table and glanced over the stack of DVDs looking at the pictures, "Whatever you think is good, Little Princess," he ran his fingers over the partly finished braid with a bit of red weaved through it. "Looks wicked Princess."

      Mal watched Jay prowl away and drop his bag on his bed where she was sitting. There was a bit of gold in his pocket. She reached out and Jay smacked her hand with a hard look. What had he stolen this time? She was surprised when he pulled it out and set it on his end table before going back to what he was doing before.

      “Why don’t we start with Homeward bound” Penny suggested as Carlos pulled that one out of the stack.

      Mal redirected her attention as Jay began sorting his clothes planning likely to wash everything so it could dry for tomorrow, "Sounds good, what's it about?"

      “It's about a group of animals that think their humans lost them so they go looking for them” Penny explained.

      "Huh sounds like a movie Pup would like," Jay nodded glancing at them, "Pup, share the chocolate with Princess if she asks for some. I'll be back shortly."

      Mal watched as he headed into the bathroom. Well at least she wasn't wrong he was going to wash clothes. Shaking her head she pulled herself up off the bed and moved to the couch.

      Carlos looked at Evie with big eyes as he held the bag of chocolate in his hands.

      “Put the movie in and sit,” Evie rolled her eyes at him with a chuckle. She tied off the end of the braid and pulled Penny up to sit between them.

      Settling down next to Evie, Mal leaned against the arm of the couch and watched Carlos. She had missed spending time with them, but they would have the entire summer to themselves.

      Evie reached over grabbing a few chips from Carlos. 

      He swacked at her playfully.

      Jay walked back out into the room and smiled seeing them, yeah he couldn’t wait till he could do this all the time without any of them having to going to class. Or really anything else. He flopped down next to Carlos, tossing his arm around his pup and run his fingers over Penny’s braid. 

      “So no one else can hear them talk?” Carlos asked looking at Penny.

      “They only talk to each other,” Penny nodded, “It would be too easy if they could just talk to everyone”

      “And we don’t like making things easy but just making them be able to talk to everyone.” Mal smiled.

      “They aren’t enchanted parrots Mal,” Jay snickered, “You can’t make people understand dogs without magic.”

      “And magic doesn’t exist in the world of this movie,” Penny added.

      “Well that’s unrealistic,” Mal snorted settling in to watching the movie.

      “I know but it is fun to watch,” Penny laughed as Chance ran from the turkey screaming.

      Jay tilted his head at the dogs and the cat, “Why aren’t their mouths moving?”

      “Cause they are not really talking, and getting animals to move their mouths doesn’t work like that,” Penny explained

      “Can they make the mouths move though?” Evie asked

      “Not easily,” Penny looked at her.

      “Not even with magic,” Mal asked confused why they wouldn’t just use the magic they had.

      “No one really uses magic anymore outside of Agrabah,” Penny leaned out a little looking at her.

      “But why not? Is it banned or something?” Mal asked.

      “You can’t ban magic, I mean fae are magic, same as djinns.” Jay frowned, pulling Carlos back into his chest as he relaxed.

      “Try explaining that to Dad. He doesn't like magic, it’s sort of illegal in Auradon,” Penny shifted.

      Mal stared at Penny, illegal, she was illegal just by being half fae? And Jay was starting to show the signs of magic too, she herself had been a victim of it already. If she couldn’t get him to keep it hidden, or make it so it didn’t get any stronger she was going to lose her second. People were just looking for excuses to get rid of them, she had to bring the attention off them, if she brought it to herself like on the Isle maybe they would leave her minions alone.

      “I don’t think he understands how magic works,” Jay commented, eyes refocusing on the screen. 

      “I don’t think so either, it's not the magic that is bad. I mean look at FG, it's how people use it,” Penny turned looking at him.

      “Exactly, and it’s not like I am using it for anything bad. I mean I don’t think so.”

      “You’re selling hair spells so Princess can buy fabric.” Jay mentioned.

      “I don’t think they really care... well FG cares but she’s got bigger issues with Jane grabbing the wand and all,” Penny shrugged, “And you’re not hurting anyone so I can’t see them getting super mad about it.”

      “I am surprised she grabbed the wand at all and it did that. I mean when I took it from her it didn’t... it didn’t do anything,” Mal sighed, “It should have reacted like mom’s staff did when Jay grabbed it.”

      “Maybe it not reacting means you're more good fae than bad fae?” Jay offered choosing to ignore her comment about her mother’s staff. He did a lot of things over the years but it still made his skin crawl, the way she grabbed his arm comparing him to the Gaston’s before green eye-ing him.

      “Maybe it's because she’s never shown signs of magic before, maybe it was just all bottled up and grabbing the wand blew the cork so to speak” Penny shrugged

      “She’s half Fae though” Evie looked at Penny, “She’s never shown any signs of magic?”

      “I haven’t really been here but as far as I know, no she hasn’t,” Penny tilted her head thinking about it.

      “Huh, Mal’s been green eyesing for years,” Jay snorted, “Maybe she got more fae juice than Jane?”

      “Maybe,” Penny agreed.

      Mal shook her head, “Who knows, she has it now at least and hopefully her mother is helping her learn to use it. Properly this time.”

      “You never know with FG, she seems helpful but I don’t know, it seems like she doesn’t always know how to help,” Penny frowned.

      “Yeah that we get, goodness class not really helpful,” Carlos nodded.

      “Not at all,” Mal shook her head, “We just assume the least fun answer is the right one.”

      “Being good isn’t supposed to be fun, hell sometimes it's not even right,” Penny snorted.

      “How can it not be right to be good?” Jay titled his head rubbing his cheek on Carlos’ head.

      “It was considered good to banish all villains and anyone associated with them to the isle, but it wasn’t right. You guys didn’t do anything wrong, the other kids over there didn’t do anything, but some of them have been over there so long that I doubt they would be able to be brought over. I just hope Ben didn’t start this too late,” Penny tried to explain.

      Jay made a face, “To be real, he did. But it’s whatever, he’s doing what he thinks is right, Mal will make sure he doesn’t do anything stupid. I doubt anyone will be brought over after us. No one really likes us here.”

      “It doesn’t matter, it's not right to leave them all over there if they don’t belong over there,” Penny sighed.

      “It’s not right, but they aren’t going to let them all go. It’s too risky. Even if we help Ben with making a list of not so evil kids, if your dad is that against magic, we couldn’t tell you who would have it since we all grew up with no magic at all.” Mal chewed on her thumb.

      “Except we all knew you were going to have it,” Jay stated, “You are the only fae on the Isle so I mean everyone else is free game.”

      “Not exactly,” Penny chewed her lip, “Farris and Dad keep a master list of all the kids I think, I know there is at least some sort of record, that’s how Ben chose you guys. In theory if we know who the parents are we would know whether to look for magic in them.”

      “There’s a list?” Carlos asked blinking.

      “Yeah, it came up a few years ago... I think around the time I was born that they needed to know how many kids there were and who was having them,” Penny looked at him.

      “So in theory you know who our other parent is?” Mal perked up even as Jay scoffed, “What you don’t want to know who your mom is?”

      “No. I really don’t,” Jay snapped probably more aggressively than he should have, but since he had turned 12 the only thing he had ever heard of his mother was that he looked like her, that he was pretty like she was. 

      “In theory, I haven’t actually seen the list.” Penny shrugged again.

      “In theory we could all learn who all our other parents are” Evie said

      “Well we can learn who they are and just not tell Jay since he doesn’t want to know,” Mal agreed, “It would be nice to finally know. Even if we don’t even meet them, at least knowing would be cool.”

      “Yeah, cause I need to know what type of crazy was willing to fuck my mother,” Carlos rolled his eyes.

      “Carlos,” Evie snapped at him.

      “It’s fine,” Penny assured the blue princess.

      “You don’t have to be crazy, just drunk,” Jay snickered, “Real drunk.”

      “With my mother?” Carlos raised an eyebrow at him with a snicker.

      “Never,” Jay shook his head, “Pretty sure she’d rather claw my face off. Also I was talking in general, everything seems like a wicked idea when you're drunk.”

      Mal snorted, “Speaking from experience Jay?”

      “Never,” he drawled innocently knowing drinking had an age limit here and he still wasn’t sure if Penny had a limit in things she would keep to herself before she used it against them.

      “Right then,” Carlos nodded, “Good to know.”

      Mal raised a brow at him knowing he had more than a few hangovers from drinking too much over the years. “Very good to know.”

      “So... how do they decide what rules will be rules?” Carlos asked, “Like who decided that we had to be a certain age to drink?” He ignored Evie’s look, he was like a hammer.

      “Oh well the drinking thing is because of science, something about brain development. But, we all sneak something at least once. I knew Ben got busted stealing from dad’s liquor cart.” she snickered, she’d heard about it from Chip when he’d come to drive her somewhere.

      “Ben drank, or drinks?” Jay hoped the latter because he could use a drinking partner since all of his usual drinking allies, used loosely, were still on the Isle.

      “I know he used to when they would have parties... most of these kids do. Even the girls at Merryweathers did on occasion. But I think how they drink is a little different then how you guys probably drank on the Isle,” Penny said, she hadn’t ever really tried it, maybe a sip of wine at dinner when she was younger but without any friends she hadn’t really had anyway to get any or a reason to go to any of the parties.

      “Oh and what do they do here? I don’t think the Tourney team drinks,” Mal was curious how the mainlanders partied.

      “They don’t, at least not to the few parties we went to.” Jay made a face, “Would have made them better to be honest, might have decided Blondie’s offer was worth the risk.”

      “My understanding is that Chad runs those parties. The ones you went too Coach pays for,” Penny shook her head, “Ben doesn’t go to them... at all, at least not anymore. Audrey used to make him go with her.” Ben had emailed her off and on, they had cold and hot moments in one of the hot moments he had told her about the parties.

      “Well that explains why we never heard of them,” Jay sighed, “Since he’s our number one fan and all,” he batted his lashes, sugared tone dripping sarcasm. 

      Mal snorted, “And explains why Ben doesn’t go to them anymore either. But at least we know he isn’t a big drinker.”

      “I don’t think any of these guys drink like you guys probably did, so I don’t think any of them are big drinkers” Penny grabbed some of the chocolate.

      “Yes, things are different in each place” Evie nodded.

      “Especially if they can get in trouble for it here,” Mal agreed, “There was next to nothing you could get in trouble for on the Isle. “

      “Well when it’s run by villains I can’t imagine there's much you’re not allowed to do.”

      “It’s run by mother, or was,” Mal shrugged nestling back into the couch.

      “You’re right there wasn’t or isn’t much that wasn’t allowed,” Evie agreed.

      “But if you pissed one of them off, they let you know it,” Jay shook his head.

      “In any way they could think of,” Carlos sighed.

Chapter 18: End of Year Ball (Auradon: June)

      Jay tugged at the sleeves of his dark rust red leather jacket. To say he hated sleeves would have been an understatement, but Princess had made it for him so he was going to wear it. He was walking Penny in, why because she had asked him to and he was more than happy to do it for his allies. Mal, Princess and Pup had all paired off with their Mainlanders leaving him with Little Princess who just didn’t seem to understand he wanted more.

     “They really went all out on the decorations in here. Jane did a nice job” Penny looked around the ballroom. She hadn’t wanted to enter alone, and she wasn’t exactly friendly with any of the princes, so having Jay around was nice. Sometimes he said things she didn’t quite get, but they made her face hot. She liked him, she wouldn’t mind dating him or something like it, even if her dad wouldn’t be thrilled with it, but she still wasn’t getting how it all worked. She’d tried to ask her mom and been told they would talk about it next year when she turned 16. That didn’t help her now, when it felt like everyone else understood what was going on but her.

      Jay gave her a reassuring look as they slipped into the room, “Yeah she really did, looks nice.” his eyes were roving around already looking for ways to escape just in case he needed a way out. He was hoping they didn’t but with this crowd it was always up in the air one way or the other if there was something that was going to go sideways.

      Aziz cracked his neck again, standing beside his roommate for the last eight years. Rufio almost never dressed up but he stood in his least worn leather pants and a bright red button down shirt under his black fringed leather vest. The three normally wild, red mohawks tamed into near perfect fans.

      “I know you hate these things Az, why come at all?”

      “I am the Prince of Agrabah. It’s a requirement I come to the balls and represent my homeland,” Aziz stated dryly watching the crowd coming into the door.

      Rufio folded his arms over his chest and leaned into Aziz’s shoulder, “So civic duty. Bangarang, then shake hands, make the rounds and let’s blow this popcicle stand.”

      “You didn’t have to come you know.”

      “Please, and miss seeing Blondie try to get one more cock fitting in before she goes home for the summer?” Rufio snickered, “Makes the button down worth it. Thinking of worth it things, the very sexy Fashion Queen has arrived. And she is toting her boyfriend and not her leather clad escort.”

      Aziz followed Rufio’s gesture and visually traced Evie’s figure in the tight floor length royal blue gown. She looked... perfect. Her mother, while generally known as the Evil Queen and little else, had been depicted quite often in the older story books as near fae like in beauty dripping in gold. Like this, with the roving lights glinting off the details in her dress and the red jewels in her hair, he could see the same beauty off of her. A small part of him wished he had gotten on better with Jay and Carlos, to at least be allowed to meet Evie in person. But Jay couldn’t see past the Prince or the Coach if they were alone, not that he hadn’t tried to connect. 

      Rufio elbowed him, “You okay Az?”

       “Can I ask you something more attuned to your recent study ventures?” Aziz asked looking back to his friend.

      “Yeah of course.”

      “There is someone I want to befriend, but-” 

      “Jay the son of Jafar? I mean I’m just guessing but I am thinking it’s him.”

      “Fine, Jay. When I’m coaching he’ll treat me like everyone else, but the few times I’ve interacted with him alone he’s just so withdrawn like he’s afraid of me.”

      “Probably because he is,” Rufio stated, “He has witnesses when you are at practice, people that will, he hopes, vouch for him if it comes to that. Alone... you are the Prince of Agrabah, first Son of Jasmine and Aladdin Badroulbadour, heir to the Agrabahian throne. The Prince of the county his father tried to take over by trying to forcibly marry your mother, and when that didn’t work used a djinn to wish himself into a more powerful djinn to take Agrabah by force and destroyed half your country. Am I painting a clear enough picture?”

      “But I would never hold him accountable for that. He wasn’t given a choice in who his father was.”

      “You may not, but the rest of these royals,” he gestured to the room, “They will. They do. Chad Charming goes out of his way to blame Jay for everything. Granted the kid is a klepto, and Jay knows he is, which is why there is a Lost and Found bin on their floor. He’s trying to fix it and that’s what matters to us.”

      “But people who want them gone are going to see what they want. So how do I prove I’m on his side, their side. I think it’s great they are here, they can be given a chance at a new life here.”

       Rufio sighed, “Knowing how people think doesn’t give me a manual on how to fix everything. In this case, I can’t help you. The Isle kids, they don’t trust us, and I don’t blame them, I don’t trust us either. Just be you Az. You want to be their friend, just be you.”

 

      Evie smiled letting her arm rest on Doug’s as they watched the entrance of who was with who. Luckily Doug found it just as interesting as she did and even offered a comment or two about this person or that person.

 

      Carlos nodded along as Jane talked about setting up and making sure everything was right. It sounded like a lot of stress, hopefully she could let loose a little at this party thing.

 

      Mal smiled politely as Ben took her to each of the other royals and talked, seeming to need to make the rounds while she would much rather be doing anything else. Was this what it was like? She didn’t much care for this if this was what it was like all the time.

      Ben squeezed her fingers reassuringly as they headed to the next set of royals he needed to thank and wish a happy summer, “It’s fine Mal, you are doing great I promise.”

      “Doesn’t much feel like it, but I will take your word on it,” She squeezed his fingers back and tried to get over her own unease at the whole situation.

 

      “Um... should we go... I don't think rescue is the right word, but should we go rescue Mal?” Penny asked spotting Ben and Mal. Mal was doing a good job of hiding it, but Penny could read it in her face that she was not into being paraded around like Ben had to.

      “I mean we probably should,” Jay shrugged a shoulder, fighting the urge to pull the jacket off, “But really it’s up to you. I am here for you since you want a dance or two out of me,” He gave her a charming smile as they walked around the room, slowly heading towards Mal and Ben to save his leader from the attention she was not capable of handling just yet.

      “Then maybe just divert Ben for a second,” Penny giggled, “Thank you for coming with me, I really didn't want to come by myself.” 

      “Well you said you wanted a dance with me for your help so here we are. I don’t make deals for things I can’t deliver,” Jay guided them to Ben, “I think we can manage to side track your brother for a few minutes at least.”

      “Hey Ben, you giving Mal the smile and nod tour” Penny teased him gently.

      “What? I’m not...” he looked at her and Jay’s expressions, “I am aren’t I?”

      “Just a little,” Penny nodded, “Doesn’t look like any more fun than the last time I did it”

      “I didn’t mean to, it's just-”

      “What you have to do,” Mal completed with a small smile, “I get it, which is why I haven’t complained. Not that I really want to do it but I understand.”

      Jay shook his head, “Why don’t you go and take her to dance Ben? Relax a little?”

      He looked at the crowds and back to Mal, “That’s not a bad idea, I think we could use a bit of a break.”

      “Then let's go cut loose a little,” Penny nodded, “Jay and I will even join you guys for the dance.”

       “Oh will you?” Mal asked incredulously as she looked at Jay.

      “What? I can dance.”

      “I am pretty sure your kind of dancing is not mainland friendly,” she snorted but let Ben pull her to the dance floor with them anyway.

      “Anything you can do is fine, we can just have them change the music,” Penny rolled her eyes as they followed after the two.

       Jay snorted looking at her, yeah he was sure at this point that she was just like Jane on the not getting it thing, “Not everything I can do should be done in public with an audience.”

      “Oh... um...” Penny stuttered feeling her face heat up a little bit, “Then maybe not do some of it”

      “That is my plan, leave a lot under wraps. Can’t give everything away,” He teased pulling her close as he mimicked Ben’s moves with Mal who reached over and smacked his arm with a firm look, “I’m behaving, mostly.”

      “She really needs to relax a little,” Penny rolled her eyes. Mal was acting like Jay was going to accidentally hurt her or something.

       “She’s always been like this. I never really fit into her minion box, but she needed me so she tries her best to keep a handle on me at least.” Jay shrugged as he turned Penny before pulling her back. “I don’t really mind, she is just trying to protect me.”

       “If you’re alright with it then it doesn’t really matter,” Penny smiled.

       “I am okay with it most of the time.” Jay offered looking at her with a smile, “I will be more okay with it when it’s just us Isle kids and I guess you and your brother all summer. She won’t be so uptight.”

       “Hopefully, and we’ll have more free time.” she nodded, she glanced over as Evie pulled Doug on to the dance floor.

      “The more free time the better,” He was hoping he could find a way to buy himself some more alcohol because his stash was dwindling after a year of him and Carlos using it to get some sleep after nightmares. “Maybe I can find myself something else to do other than sit and play video games with Pup.” his eyes flicked over Erica in the emerald green colored dress, she looked good with the expensive pearls around her throat.

      “Well we can work on my running, for some of it if you want,” Penny suggested, “Wow now that’s a dress,” she looked Erica up and down.

      “Princess out did herself,” Jay grinned, “And she made it fit like a glove on her. Your dressers really need to learn a thing or two from Princess.”

       “I think they still want me to look like the little princess not, someone who will be 16 next year,” she shrugged.

       “Really 16?” he looked impressed, “You going to have a big party?”

        “I don’t know maybe, I won’t get much say. For kids of the big royals it's really more of a chance to show off whatever it is they show off. Ben’s the crowned prince so his party was to celebrate that and let everyone know that he’s the next King.” 

      “Huh, well that sucks but at least you can spend your party hanging out with me,” he gave her a charming smile.

       “That will be a definite up side” she smiled back, she would like to be able to just relax a little instead of having to pretend to be nice to people she didn’t know or didn’t like.

       “A wicked change to having to be nice to everyone just because that is what you’re supposed to do?”

       “Exactly, I’m not allowed to be mean in public,” she nodded, “...for the most part.”

       “You mean? Never,” he laughed as the song ended, “You want to stay out here or do you want to do your meet and greet shit?” she had obligations same as Ben, just she didn’t have to do them the whole night.

       “I’m going to stay out here, I don’t want to deal with the smile and nod,” she shook her head, “Plus if we run into Audrey or any of her posse I won't be nice.”

       “Can we not get me in trouble while you aren’t being nice?”

       “I promise I won’t do anything you can be blamed for in any way shape or form,” Penny nodded, “Did Evie make Audrey’s dress?”

       “Yeah, Princess made most of the dresses and suits here. She and Doug work on it together, sometimes Mal helps out when she is feeling like Princess is behind. I help out when they need stuff hauled around.”

       “Maybe they will let her make mine for the next big party. If she has time,” Penny looked at the different designs.

       “What’s stopping you from just going to her and getting one?” Jay asked, tipping his head at her as they went back to dancing, his eyes flicking over the crowds.

        “Because this is my home kingdom, I have a full team of people that are incharge of dressing me. It's really annoying after like 10 years of being able to dress myself,” Penny sighed.

       “Yeah I don’t get it. I mean I’ve been dressing myself since I was a little kid, Princess only dresses us for events like this. Not that I enjoy dressing up like this, but it makes Princess happy.”

       “And you like to see them happy,” Penny nodded, “She’s prettier when she’s happy her face lights up.”

        “Them being happy makes me happy,” he admitted catching sight of Evie, “She’s always been beautiful to me. No matter what she says.” he would tell her how beautiful she was every day if he had to.

       “Probably the prettiest girl here for sure,” Penny agreed, “Everyone looks nice but some people it just... is, I don’t know how to explain it”

       “Some people look more attractive than others?” he offered, “Because I would agree with you, there are some very hot people here.”

       “Glad to know you agree,” she laughed.

       “Want to compare notes?” he smirked, easing them around the dance floor.

       “Maybe one day,” she agreed, “But for now how about some punch?”

       “Sure punch sounds good,” Jay almost groaned in frustration, he had been hoping for something more than a ‘one day’ reply. He was tired of getting pushed off by everyone he was next to positive wouldn’t scream that he forced them. 

      Erica cleared her throat, knowing better than to touch the jumpy VK, “Hi Jay. Would you like to dance? Just one, since I know you came here with Princess Penelope.” She knew just from talk he wasn’t dating the Princess so it really shouldn’t be a problem.

       Penny looked between the two of them, “If you want to dance with Erica I can do a few smile and nod stops. And no one will be able to blame you for anything” she wasn’t sure she liked Erica but, it wasn’t like she owned Jay’s time, if he wanted to dance with a curvy cheerleader mermaid then it wasn’t her place to stop him.

       Jay looked between the two and nodded, “I’ll be out here if you need anything Little Princess,” he offered his arm to Erica and smiled as she took it guiding her back onto the dance floor.

       She smiled at Jay, her cheeks flushing slightly, “Thanks for this,” she took into the calluses and scars on his bare palm as he held her hand firmly but gently, “I kind of wanted to apologize for coming on so strong a few weeks ago. I... I shouldn’t have tried to corner you like that.”

      “You’re fine, I’m not anything about it,” he shrugged, “And in case you're worried, I didn’t tell anyone about it. Figured our issues are our issues and no one else’s,” he felt her press a little firmer against him, she smelled of citrus and salt.

      “That’s refreshing actually. I was admittedly a little worried you had told your friends about it.” Erica liked the solidity of him, the way he seemed entirely unoffended by her actions, “I wish more guys were like you, that we princess’ could say what was on our minds without having to worry that it would be taken wrong. It also helps you’re very easy on the eyes.”

      Jay smirked at that tipping his head down to her ear, “I take a lot of things the wrong way, I just keep it to myself. Like the very wicked show you gave me. Wish more princess’ would be more forward with what they want, but I could never take the risk you know. All I got for you is flirting and eye candy, everything else is off the table.”

       She shuddered against him, her knees going weak and her pulse racing as he pulled back, the lights making his dark eyes look like red gold fireworks were going off inside of them, “Pity really, because I really would love to be a part of your world. But I will just have to deal with visually stripping you.”

      “Fine by me, visually strip all you want,” He lifted her hand to his lips as the song ended, “It’s been a wet treat dancing with you Princess Erica,” he lapped up the happy giggling noise she made before he released her hand allowing her to slip back into the crowd.

      “Not enough you have the most valuable girl at the party on your arm, you have to start sweet talking and stealing every other girl of any worth here,” Chad snarled coming up behind Jay.

       Jay turned to look at Chad lifting a brow at the male, “Little Princess asked me to come with her. And Princess Erica asked me for one dance while Little Princess was off doing her Princess stuff. Haven’t danced with anyone else. I mean unless this is you prompting me for a dance, in which case I’d like to tell you thanks, but no.”

       “As if I’d let your filthy hands anywhere near me,” Chad snorted, “You’ve got your blue bitch wrapping all the other girls around her finger. Planning to have her take out any girl that doesn't want to play” Chad moved a little unsteady on his feet, he might have put a little too much in the punch bowl, but what were they gonna do, suspend him?

      Jay’s eyes narrowed, “You watch your fucking mouth Charming,” he couldn’t find it in himself to care that Chad looked off as he stepped closer angry and ready to fight despite the venue.

      “Or what theif ? Going to hit me again? Please just give my father more reason to have you sent back. But then again if you’re sent back maybe your princesses will finally loosen up some. Could be fun” Chad snarled, “Maybe your blue bitch can get Erica to put out for a change.”

      “You fucking touch my Princess I will break your fucking arms Prince or not. She told you no, and that means no. You try and force my Princess I will bend you over myself and see how you like it,” Jay felt the red racing up his throat, the rage building in his chest as he got right into Chad’s face smelling the alcohol finally, “Your as bad as some of the villians back home, they didn’t understand no either.”

      Chad balled his fist and shot into Jay’s ribs, “There is not such a thing as no, it's all a game to them see if they can bag the best prince. That purple bitch took Ben out of line, so now they all come to me. Even yours came sniffing around. I’m better than any villain back at your home , because I’m exactly that I’m better.”

      Jay jerked back from the hit, feeling it graze his ribs, as he forcibly clamped down on the urge to rip Chad’s head off his shoulders, “Pretty sure no actually means no you dick, but maybe you don’t understand it seeing as you can’t seem to find yours,” there was too many people around, and he should be walking away but he was well passed thinking rationally considering Chad was acting as if he was going to force the Princess that belonged to him. Evie was his, and while he generally let her decide on who she went after, he would never let anyone force her. Not even on the Isle.

      A fist fight was not one of those things that happened at these end of year balls. But Aziz found himself shoving Chad back from Jay as Evie helped pull her friend back. Chad tried swinging and Aziz used the hundreds of hours of training his mother and father insisted he had to good use, and twisted the younger prince’s arm up behind his back.

      “That’s enough Prince Chad,” Aziz hissed, “What the hell has gotten into you?!”

      “He needs to keep his hands off our princesses, he had his hands all over Erica” Chad snarled.

       “Erica, the girl who dumped you?” Aziz was so done with this conversation and shoved the clearly intoxicated Chad away from him and into the open area around them, “Do everyone a favor and go home Chad, before you say something you’ll regret.”

      Jay let Evie hold his arm, not fighting her grip as he kept himself firmly planted between her and Chad, “I had one fucking dance with her,” He wouldn’t go after Chad, not with his Princess here and the Prince of Agrabah.

      “It's alright, we all know. He’s just drunk and making a dick out of himself” Evie assured, trying to calm Jay. She wanted to enjoy the way Aziz’s body moved, but right now she needed to focus on Jay.

       “Get off me, like I could regret anything I said to that filth,” Chad pulled his jacket shut, “Party’s lame anyway” he stalked off, maybe he could get a few of the cheerleader and guys to come party in his room.

        Aziz watched Chad stalk off with a disgusted look. This was why he hated dealing with the Charming family, entitled assholes the lot of them.

       Jay pulled Evie through the crowds and tucked them close to a corner, Mal tailing them quickly through the crowd. He was going to get in so much trouble for this, but he didn’t even care as long as Princess was safe under his watch. Mal could fend Chad off on her own, and he wouldn’t go after Pup.

        Mal pushed against Jay’s chest, “What the hell were you thinking provoking Chad like that? In front of everyone?” her eyes were on fire as he glared at the wall without a word, “Damn it Jay he could lie and say you hit him.”

      “Jay didn’t touch him,” Evie hissed, “And Chad approached him.”

      “And how many people are going to attest to that, or take Chad’s side?” Mal replied as Jay made a terse noise, “I told you to walk away from him.”

      Aziz turned heading in the direction that the Isle kids had made to make sure Jay was okay. Not that Jay couldn’t take a hit, it was just that he wanted to make sure he was okay. When he finally found them in a back corner of the room, Mal was hissing under her breath at Jay eyes bright green as he glared at the wall beside her shoulder.

       Aziz cleared his throat and received a sizzling look from Mal which he ignored in favor of Jay, “I know you can take a hit, but you are okay right?”

      “Yeah I’m fine, he swung and I tripped back over someone avoiding it,” Jay looked towards him, “Why’d you stop him?”

       “Cause I wanted to?” Aziz offered unsure suddenly, “I’m not entirely sure what you two were arguing about but I know Chad’s been a dick to you, just because of who you are. There are a few of us who don’t care about that. We just... I just want you to have a real chance here without someone doing everything they can to prevent that.”

       “Why? What’s in it for you?” Jay had to know, there had to be some reason, some motive.

      “Nothing, there is nothing in it for me,” he shifted uneasily under their sudden focus.

      “Then what do you want? No one does anything for nothing.”

      Aziz shook his head, “You don’t... you don’t get it. I don’t want anything in return for doing what I did. I do it because it’s the right thing to do, even if you don’t see it that way. I’m not Chad. I’ve been trying to get you to understand that I’m not seeing your parents when I see you. All I see is people being given a chance to have a different and hopefully better life. I didn’t come over here for anything other than my own peace of mind that you didn’t get hurt.”

      “Thank you for your help and concern Prince Aziz. It is appreciated,” Evie nodded, “ Do you want me to go get Pup so we can leave?” she asked Jay softly.

      “Of course. I am glad you are okay Jay,” Aziz took that as a shoo and ducked his head to Evie before leaving them be.

      Mal nodded watching him walk away back into the crowd before looking back to her second, “Care to explain what that was actually about?”

      “Nope,” Jay shot back. The Prince didn’t want anything from him, from them, he was sure that the male wasn’t lying either, “I don’t want to take you away from Doug. I know you like dancing at these things,” he wanted to leave but he didn’t want to take them away from their mainlanders for the night.

     “It's alright, he will understand. Plus I don't think he likes these things very much,” Evie assured, pushing a loose hair behind her ear.

      He nodded as Mal looked at him, “Jay take them and go. I’ll deal with things here. I can tell you don’t want E out of sight.”

      “Find Little Princess and tell her we headed back to the room.”

      “You go find her and tell her. I have more pressing things to handle than finding you the Princess of Auradon,” Mal snapped back watching Jay’s jaw flex in irritation.

      “Whatever,” it wasn’t worth it, fighting with Mal right now wouldn’t be worth the effort.

      “She’s with Ben” Evie motioned to where Penny and Ben were nodding along with whatever the person in front of them was saying.

      Jay offered Evie his arm, “We tell her we’re heading out and we’ll go grab Pup if he wants to leave Jane. If not...” he wasn’t sure what he’d do, he figured he would figure it out though.

      “Of course, lead the way” Evie took his arm, Pup would come if it was what Jay needed.

      Jay guided them both through the crowds to Penny and Ben’s side, “Hey Little Princess.”

      “Hey... you ok?” she asked looking him over, she wanted out of this conversation with the representative of the seven isles.

      “Okay enough,” Jay replied, eyes drifting to the curious male, “You want to get out of here with Princess and I? We’re going to see if Pup wants to leave too.”

      “Excuse me please, sir” Penny nodded to their onlooker, “I would love too”

      Jay nodded and extended his arm for Penny to take, “Let’s go find Pup.” he wanted out of this room as soon as possible. He needed to put as much space between him, Chad and his as he could.

      Penny took his arm, “Gods that man was insufferable,” she sighed.

      “Who is he?” Evie asked

      “The cousin of the girl that I might have been accused of pushing out onto the lake on an air mattress.” Penny explained, rolling her eyes.

      “And is he mad at you about it?” Jay asked, looking down at her as they slid through the crowds looking for Carlos and Jane. he really didn’t want to deal with any more angry people he couldn’t lay out.

      “He would like a public apology. I reminded him that there was no proof connecting me to that, and if he wanted to throw accusations around I had no need to listen to them,” Penny looked at him.

      “So no one is yelling?” he asked to make sure no one else was going to come after him.

      “Not if they are smart” Penny shook her head at him, “There’s Carlos” she spotted him and Jane standing in the corner.

       “Hey Pup, you want to get out of here?” he asked looking at him and Jane, “I’m taking Princess and Little Princess out of here.”

      Carlos looked at him and then to Evie who nodded gently, “Um... Jane?” 

      “I understand, I should probably start organizing a few things,” Jane nodded, she understood they worked a little differently than other kids.

      Jay smiled at her and nodded to Carlos, “Let’s get Pup.” at least he had all of his were in sight and near him. He could keep them safe from Chad. 

      “Right, I’ll text you tomorrow,” Carlos gave Jane a kiss on the cheek before letting Jay lead them out of the ballroom.

      Evie wrapped an arm around Carlos pulling him even with them.

      Jay could not wait to be out of this jacket and could not wait till everyone was gone.

      “When do you need to be back at your rooms?” Evie asked Penny.

      “I’m not sure, whatever time the party was supposed to end.” Penny shrugged

      “Right” Evie looked at Jay, she wasn’t sure how close he wanted them tonight, and if he was going to include Penny in whatever it was.

      “That’s fine Little Princess, I know you got to leave,” Jay smiled at her as he opened the door to their room.

      “We probably have a few hours,” Penny smiled at him hopefully.

      “Then let's get comfortable while we can,” Evie nodded, starting to let her hair down.

      “A few hours is good for me,” Jay smiled yanking his jacket off and took his hair down. Once she was gone he would let himself loosen up the rest of the way. He was very on edge, and he shook his hands out trying to get rid of the tingling.

      “I have some clothes you can change into,” Evie pulled Penny along to the bathroom.

      “What happened?” Carlos asked him as he pulled off his suit jacket.

      “Chad happened. Drunk Chad, I’m going to fucking snap his neck,” Jay grabbed his shirt yanking it off his back.

      “Wait there was alcohol?” Carlos asked pulling on a soft t-shirt.

      “I’m thinking he was drinking before the party,” he yanked a tank top on to hide the scars so Penny wouldn’t ask about them. “I just want eyes and hands on mine.”

      “Got it, well we are all here” Carlos flopped down on Jay’s bed. He looked over at the bathroom as Evie and Penny came out in sweatpants and tshirts.

      “Come on” Evie motioned Penny into Carlos’ side on the bed, “Come lay down Jay. Its rest time”

      Jay plopped down in his own bed not bothering to take off his leather pants. He made a point to pull Evie into his chest with one arm. With the other hand he rubbed Penny and Carlos' arm.

      Evie put her head under Jay’s chin, he was always so warm.

      Carlos shifted so his arm was across Penny to rest on Jay’s side, fingers bunched in the shirt.

      Jay sighed closing his eyes the tension in his chest slowly loosening. His were safe from Chad, Chad could never force his Princess if Jay had his hands on her. Soon, all of the Mainlanders would be gone except Penny and Ben and he could relax a little more. Neither of them would touch his if they said no. He hated that the word didn't mean anything here, at least it meant something back home.

      Evie smiled a little as she felt Jay relax slightly, it was good for him to let go of his tension for a little bit. She supposed it was lucky that Penny was a cuddler, as well she wasn’t fully part of them but having her here would help too at least she thought so.

      Jay tucked his face against Evie's hair and kissed it, "Doug was fine with you leaving right Princess?"

      “Yeah, he needed to finish packing. I guess he’s leaving before breakfast tomorrow. He just wanted to see all our hard work” Evie whispered.

      "You did an amazing job. I'm proud of you," he smiled softly into her hair, "I mean it, you showed all those prissy princesses you could make them look way better than their dressers could."

      “Thank you, did you enjoy your time dancing at least before Chad showed up?” she asked.

      "I did. Had a few dances with Little Princess and one with Erica. I liked the purple shiny parts you put in her dress."

      “I thought it was fitting and she liked it,” Evie smirked, “I’m glad Penny got to dance with you. Wish I had gotten a dance.”

      "Well when Little Princess leaves, you and I can have us an Isle dance." He smirked, wanting the press of her body against his. If he couldn't have her like on the Isle, he would make do with their clothes on.

      “Oh really an isle dance,” Evie rubbed her foot up his leg as she shifted.

      "Yeah an Isle dance," he shot back rolling his hips into her, "I miss my Wicked Princess. We didn't spend nearly enough time this year together."

      “No we have not, we will have to fix that this summer,” Evie rolled back. “We’ll have time to ourselves”

      "And no one else," he smirked, "I cannot wait."

      “If that’s what you want” she nodded some one on one time with Jay would be nice.

      "All I ever want is time with mine. And maybe to loosen up a little while. Mal has been riding my ass in no way I enjoy."

      “As if she would ride your ass any other way,” Evie rolled her eyes.

      “You know I wouldn’t be entirely against her riding me or mine,” Jay teased lowly, “Maybe we could get her to loosen up some finally.”

      “Wouldn't that be a nice change,” Evie nodded, she adored Mal, she really did but the daughter of the mistress of evil stressed her out. It had only become worse since they had arrived here.

      Jay shifted in place, “Yeah it would,” he could only wish that Mal would at least act like he was more than a minion for once.

      “Those two can sleep anywhere it seems like,” Evie chuckled glancing over at Carlos and Penny.

      “Yeah looks like it,” He rolled slightly and pulled Evie on top of him, “You looked amazing tonight, but I owe you a dance if these two are going to sleep.”

      “Then is that you asking me to dance” she giggled at him.

      “I’d ask you to do more than dance, but I don’t think your in the mood,” Jay pulled them both out of his bed and into the middle of their living area, “I didn’t ask if you had a good time at the ball,” he held her against him firmly, enjoying the press of her body against his.

      “I did. I liked seeing everyone dressed up. I liked seeing you all cleaned up,” she smiled, “Maybe another day this summer.”

      “I know you like dressing me up. Maybe over this summer I’ll let you turn me into your dress up doll,” he lowered his head to hers, mouth hovering over her, “I want to kiss you...”

      “Then you have permission” she leaned the rest of the way up, kissing Doug was sweet and soft; but kissing Jay was like trying to kiss fire, it was heat and passion. It was everything she hoped Doug would become later in their relationship.

      Jay groaned happily against her lips. He always enjoyed kissing, her in particular. The way she leaned into him, resting against his chest. Then again they had been kissing since they were 10. It was one of the old comforts, and when it came to the night he ended up with, there was no chance that Chad could hurt her while they were pressed together. He would take any blow for her.

      Evie sighed as she pulled back, “Better?” she asked, he had been on edge since Chad and she wanted him to relax a little more.

      "Worse," he joked, "At least for other things I want. But feeling better than before we got in here where I can keep my hands on you." He tipped his head down and rested his forehead on hers.

      “Let me see how this thing with Doug goes forward. Maybe I can convince him to let us play,” Evie assured, “Or maybe you’ll find someone, Erica seemed nice. Or... well, Penny seems a little dense on the subject.”

      "It's okay Princess, you and Doug have a thing. I don't want to screw things up for you. Want and need are different things, and here things are different," his eyes shifted to the bed, he wanted Penny to understand, to understand that she was wanted here with them, but she kept pulling back. He looked back at Evie with a bittersweet smile, "I can't touch any of them Princess. No matter what I want, all it takes is one of them squawking and I'll have to go back. It's okay, I can start over here. All I have to do is make sure you and Pup are safe, and watch Mal's back. I don't have to pay rent, or steal us supplies, it's easier here."

      “Surviving isn’t living Jay,” Evie sighed, “and Ben mentioned that his parents apparently felt the need to wait until 16 to explain anything. Maybe... I could talk to her, I mean it seems silly that she doesn’t know how it works. Carlos was absolutely baffled that she doesn’t get how boys and girls go together,” she just wanted him to have something here.

      "Surviving is all I know," Jay really didn't know how else to do it, "I offer and she tells me some day. I won't stop you, but I don't know if she is going to get it."

      “I’ll play it by ear then. I’ve missed having you close,” Evie rested her head against his shoulder.

      "Yeah I missed it too. But we can do plenty of this during the summer. You, me and Pup. Little Princess if she is up for it," Jay rested their heads together with a soft look, "Having us time..."

      “Us time, Mal can handle Ben on her own for a little” she agreed.

      "Damn right," he smirked, "He is her boyfriend after all."

      “Don’t tell her that” she giggled, “Need to wake Penny up in about an hour.” 

      “And send her back to her room while the three of us Isle Kids enjoy the start of an entire summer together without most of the Mainlanders watching us.”

      “It almost sounds like a punishment when you say it like that,” Evie nodded, she’d watched Penny, over the last few weeks. She only really hung around with them, and Ben. Some of it seemed to be her own doing, but Evie could feel... she wasn’t sure. But it was like magic or something in the air that made people avoid her, like something was protecting her and isolating her at the same time. It didn’t make any sense to Evie that someone would put a spell on her, not with all the villains locked up on the Isle.

      “Not so much punishment as much as... me not wanting to scare her off entirely. I want her to be one of us, but everytime I try she pulls away. I think it’s me.” Jay bit his cheek, “I don’t think that she likes me, but I know I haven’t made her pissed enough to put me in her book.”

      “I think it's actually the opposite. From her own mouth Jay, she’s admitted she doesn’t have any friends or allies, doesn’t seem like she’s ever really had any. I think she honestly doesn’t know what to do with an ally. I think she’s waiting for you to decide you don’t want her around,” Evie explained, “As backwards as it sounds. Plus... I don’t know sometimes I get the feeling there’s something getting in her way. I think she likes you more then an ally but doesn’t know what to do with it. So maybe start by convincing her you like her as an ally.”

      “I offered to compare people we found hot at the dance. She told me, maybe one day. Maybe we’ll figure out what’s holding her up over the summer? Cause I have been trying.”

      “She probably thinks you’re hot and in mainlader fashion doesn’t know how to say it to your face,” Evie teased lightly, “We’ll work on it.”

      “Well obviously. I’ve been prompted more than once already,” he smirked, nosing her jaw, “She can tell me anything she wants and I won’t judge. I’ve heard a little of everything over the years.”

      “Yes, you have. You had to hear all about my mooning over Mal for quite some time,” Evie turned her head for him.

      “Oh I know, and listened to my cousin mooning over her lusts too. I don’t mind. I’ll try and help you bag whoever you want,” Jay offered, “You and me have a good system.”

      “I know you will, it pays greatly” she smiled, “I think right now my focus is more on making sure Mal and Ben stay connected.”

      “I’m not worried. I mean you all put a love spell on him, and he didn’t send us home. In fact, he played pretend so we wouldn’t know that it wore off.” he shrugged kissing down her jaw and down her neck.

      “This is true, but eventully he and Mal are going to need to fuck, and you and I both know how she is with anything involving fucking,” she titled her head further.

      “A whole lotta nothing. Not that she hasn’t at least tried to jerk a guy, once, when we were kids. I don’t think I turned her off of it, but she’s always more into the rolling her eyes at our ‘human’ needs,” he rolled his eyes, hand squeezing her ass.

      “That is what concerns me,” Evie said, she wasn’t sure Mal would remember that Ben was human and had needs.

      “Well maybe he’ll be into that kind of thing. You never know, Benny boy might have some flavor.”

      “Right into blue balls... how many guys do you know that are into that?” she asked laughing, “I mean there has to be some right?”

      “At this point, I’m into blue balls as often as I keep getting them. At least at home I had you and Pup.”

      “Maybe Carlos can help you out? Or well I don’t know,” Evie sighed, she wanted to help him, she could feel the burn in her blood. But she didn’t want to be a cheater.

      “He swore off guys. It’s whatever, I got a hand.” he shrugged.

      “I should wake her up,” Evie pulled back slightly, “Then we can do... whatever it is we do now”

      It didn’t take Evie much to rouse Penny, she wasn’t sure about letting the sleepy princess go back to the castle on her own. But Penny pointed out that her escort was going to be around campus somewhere looking for her. If they had half a brian they were just down stairs.

      Jay watched Penny from out of his window, she had found her formal escort at least and was headed back to the Castle. He pulled his shirt off before changing into his sleep pants and flopped onto the floor. They were finally going to have some them time, even if that didn’t mean what it used to be.

      Evie grabbed a few pillows and brought them over as Carlos pulled the blanket with him. They laid down on either side of Jay putting their arms around him. Carlos putting his head on Jay’s chest while Evie put her’s on his shoulder.

      Jay tipped his head left and right making sure they both got a good night kiss, Evie on her forehead and Carlos on top of his head. With a large yawn Jay closed his eyes and settled into place holding his tight to himself. They were safe from the Mainland with him, he would keep them all safe.

Chapter 19: Start of Summer Break (Auradon: June)

      Carlos stood with Jane as they waited for the car that would take her and Chad home. They were talking softly about next school year, when Chad showed up, obviously hung over.

      “Please tell me he’s leaving soon. It's bad enough I have to ride with a half breed, I don’t need the smell of mutt,” Chad put his sunglasses on.

      “Dude, that wasn’t called for,” Carlos looked at him.

      “Chad, you know that wasn’t nice,” Jane defended gently.

      “Of course you’d defend him, he’s not even up your ugly skirts. But then you're not even really a half breed,” Chad snorted.

      “You take that back” Carlos growled.

 -*-

      Penny was on her way to the library when she overheard a few of the girls waiting for a ride to the train station talking about Chad fighting with Jay last night. Of course leave it to Chad to ruin a good night. She had been having a good time, then Jay had suddenly wanted to leave.

      She wished there was more time left she would have put nair in Chad’s shampoo or something. Speak of the devil, she spotted him going at Carlos and Jane. 

      She watched as Carlos moved Jane behind him. She moved closer, this didn’t look so great. And she didn’t like how close Chad was to Carlos, she knew Jay wouldn’t like it.

-*-

      “Honestly you stupid mutt, why don't you just go home and crawl under your mommy’s murder coats,” Chad stepped towards Carlos.

      Carlos sunk back a little, he couldn’t take Chad down. He was too big, but he could make sure he didn’t hurt Jane.

      “That’s rich coming from you,” Penny snapped, making Chad turn just slightly before Penny’s fist smashed into his chin. Chad’s teeth clicked shut, his teeth cutting into his lower lip.

      “You bitch,” he spit the blood out.

      “Go, the car's here, I’ll sit up front,” Jane urged Carlos to grab Penny.

      “Right... text you later,” Carlos nodded, as he jumped over and grabbed Penny who was shaking her hand.

      He pulled her along as Evie rushed over from where she had been sitting.

-*-

      “Ok that was epic, but... what the fuck?” Carlos laughed as they entered the boy’s room.

      “He deserved it” Penny shrugged.

      Jay lifted his head up from where he was laying on the floor trying to avoid Mal's hard look as she glanced over his final grades. It wasn't apparently good news. Seeing his enter the room Jay sat up worried.

      "What happened? We let you two go see your Mainlanders off..." Mal lowered the papers to her lap.

      “Jane was riding with Chad, he started running his mouth.” Carlos explained

      “So Penny punched him,” Evie finished as she sat Penny down on the couch and took her head, “with a closed fist”

      “I was hoping he’d bite his tongue” Penny made a face.

      “Well you got his lip,” Carlos tried to look on the upside.

      "You did what?" Mal gaped at the girl as Jay pulled himself to his feet.

      "Don't punch people with closed fists," Jay stated making his way over to them with a soft look, "But thank you for waiting until he was leaving to go home. What was he on about this time?"

      Mal watched Jay, he was being careful not to say too much. Not to give away the fact she could tell from here, he was already looking over Evie and Carlos making sure they were okay.

      “He called Jane a half breed, or well less than a half breed,” Carlos explained.

      “I think it's just bruised, I have bruise balm here” Evie looked over her hand.

      Jay glanced at Mal as she hissed, "I am guessing that's on Crocodile levels?"

      "Yeah it is. Fucking dick," Mal growled eyes blazing green, "Glad he's gone."

      “Well next time I’ll aim for his nose,” Penny took her hand back as Evie stood to get the balm.

      “I think you need to grow a few inches first,” Carlos smirked.

      Jay snorted and looked Penny's hand over, "Added to the list, I need to teach you how to punch properly."

      “It looked pretty good form wise, just needs to remember to keep her thumb out of her fist” Evie teased.

      “Noted for next time,” Penny nodded.

      Mal shook head, "There hopefully won't be a next time."

      “This will help” Evie spread the balm on Penny’s knuckles.

      “Thanks Princess,” Jay kissed the side of her head as she worked.

      “Well, she did defend our pup” she smiled gently, “there all done” she closed the container.

      “Thanks” Penny nodded, flexing her hand a little with a small wince.

      “It will hurt for a bit, but the bruises will be gone by morning. We use it a lot after tourney,” he watched her, “You make it back to the castle okay yesterday?” he was sure she had heard and was a little surprised she hadn’t already asked about why he wanted to leave.

      “Yeah, I made it. Passed by Chad’s after party” she rolled her eyes.

      “And what’s an after party?” Mal asked, “I mean I know what it is for us, but I feel like it’s probably not the same for mainlanders.”

      “Depends on who’s after party it is” Penny shrugged, “Chad’s seemed to be a lot a drinking and kissing”

      Mal glanced at Jay and he gave her a murderous look, “You compare me to him and I will hurt you.”

      “I said nothing,” she smirked at him, “But you have done your share of drinking and making out.”

      “Chad is creepy though, makes my skin crawl when he looks at me. Jay just makes me feel safe,” Penny shook her head at Mal.

      Evie raised an eyebrow at Jay with a little snicker, she told him totally mainlander not knowing how to explain how she felt.

      Jay made an interested face at Penny, if only he could convince her to at least loosen up with him. He would really be interested in that kind of thing, “Thinking of drinking...”

      “Not today, you wait until everyone is gone.” Mal stated firmly as he sighed but nodded.

      “Come on Mal we need to cut loose a little and everyone is practically gone,” Carlos whined at her.

      “You can wait a few hours. At least wait till after lunch, seriously,” she shook her head.

      “Drinking does us good every once in a while Mal,” Jay grinned at her, “You want one? I got some left over.”

      “After lunch. I swear you two,” Mal puffed looking at Evie, “No issues seeing Doug off?”

      “No, he was going on about finally having time to make me spreadsheets and customer lists so I can plan my pricing ahead of time next year” Evie smiled

      “Well at least some things are consistent.”

      “So... do we want to walk around town until the afternoon?” Jay asked eager to be moving one more, “We can take Dude with us.”

      “Go explore” Carlos nodded

      “That would be nice” Evie nodded, looking at Mal.

      “Sure let’s do that,” she nodded, “Get’s everyone out of the building and moving around for once.”

      “I’ll grab Dude’s leash,” Carlos hurried over to get the dog ready.

      “Anywhere we want to go?” Penny asked, looking between Mal and Jay.

      “Wandering around town,” Jay shrugged looking at Mal who nodded in agreement, “See if we find anything we want to do.

      “We can go by the pet store and see the puppies again” Evie suggested.

      "Yeah we can do that. And maybe hit up that bakery?" Jay asked as they all prepped, getting ready to head out.

      “Sounds like a good plan to me,” Penny nodded, she’d need to slip her escort but that shouldn’t be too hard it was more a matter of avoiding them.

-*-

      The group of them headed out of the building and into the street. Jay taking up the rear as Mal took point. Since this was a walk in the earlier hours of the morning there was no knowing who would be up and about. That and Jay had felt the eyes on him whenever he wandered alone. Not that he told them, as he wasn't sure if it was real or just his paranoia setting in. 

      Evie looped her arm through Penny’s as they walked behind Dude and Carlos.

      Penny smiled, this was nice. Being able to just walk and enjoy the sun, enjoy being around people her own age.

      Mal led her gang down all the streets and towards the bakery. It was hard not to like walking around the town without worry. On the Isle everything was dangerous, even walking together was dangerous. She and Jay were able to keep them safe but sometimes it didn’t really work.

      “You think we can get some cookies at the bakery?” Carlos asked, looking back at them.

      “Whatever you want pup, I’ve got some cash on me,” Jay nodded.

      “I have some in my purse as well pup,” Evie assured him with a smile.

      “And I can always just put it on my account,” Penny added

      Mal glanced back at her, “You don’t need to do that Penny. Jay or E has it.”

      “I don’t mind,” Penny glanced back at her, “I don’t even use half of my allowance.”

      “Not even half, how is that possible?” Evie asked, looking at her with wide eyes.

      “Don't really need anything” Penny blinked at her.

      “We appreciate it Penny, but I got it,” Jay shook his head at her. He liked her but he could take care of his on his own just like always.

      “Ok” Penny looked at him, if they insisted.

      “Jay likes spoiling his that’s all,” Mal explained to the girl who never seemed to be more than a familiar and sometimes bothersome outsider to the group.

      “And that’s fine, I was just offering,” Penny looked at the Purple haired girl.

      “I know,” Jay smirked at her back, “But you could offer something else,” he took the full brunt of the immediate green glare at him and felt his chest burning in reply.

      Penny looked at him, she got the fluttering feeling in her stomach again. She felt her face heat up as she smiled.

      Evie raised an eyebrow at Jay with a little smirk.

      “Just a thought,” he purred, maybe just maybe he could convince Little Princess to give him something to work with.

      “An interesting thought,” Evie nodded, she’d see what she could do.

      Jay felt the prickle of eyes on them but brushed it off, “Let’s see what the baker has in stock.” he ruffled Carlos’ hair and gave him a smirk.

      “Who’s gonna stay out here with Dude?” Carlos asked as they came to a stop outside the bakery.

      “I can,” Mal nodded extending her hand for the leash, “Watching Dude is the easy part.”

      “Thanks” Carlos let her take the leash before they headed into the bakery.

      Penny gave the baker a tight smile, before they started browsing the goods.

      Jay looked at everything in the cases despite the intense look over, “What you want Pup?”

      “A few sugar cookies dipped in chocolate,” Carlos chewed his lip, “Some chocolate muffins, and a few of those buttery bread things.”

      “Croissants,” Penny supplied.

      Jay looked expectantly at the baker as he pulled his wallet out of a hidden pocket, “You want anything Princess or Little Princess?”

      “I would like one of the fruit tarts” Evie nodded with a small smile, it was a small thing she could do to make Jay feel like he was providing for them.

      “Blueberry corn muffin,” Penny nodded taking her lead from Evie. She didn’t quite get this but it felt sort of right.

      The Baker nodded, collecting the items, “Anything else?”

      “No that’s everything,” Jay opened his cobra detailed wallet and pulled a few of the bills out, money was the one thing he had picked up faster than everything out here.

      “Thanks” Carlos took the bags, doling them out to the girls with a smile.

      Jay nodded taking the change before heading out after his, Mal looked him over curiously. 

      “Mal do you want a bit of my tart?” Evie asked her as they started walking again.

      Mal turned her head and smiled briefly, "Strawberries?" She prompted trying to inspect the fruit on the tart.

      “And a few other berries” Evie smiled.

      "Then yes," Mal nodded, she rather liked strawberries. 

      Evie offered her the tart while Penny walked beside Carlos and Dude.

      Carlos offered Penny a bite of his cookie as they walked. She leaned over crunching the bit between her teeth.

      Jay watched them sharing the sugary treats he supplied and smiled. He had provided for his and his extensions, something he could assure himself with.

      Mal watched Jay for a moment as she chewed the strawberry bit of tart. Good he was seeming more like himself. His grades had bombed a bit at the end of the year, but Jay had a limited amount of patience for anything not related to the ones he had claimed as his.

      “These are so good” Evie smiled, finishing off the tart.

      “We will have to go get more over the summer” Carlos agreed crumbs all over his face.

      Jay snorted, "Wipe your face Pup. But we can stop back here more often."

      “It would be nice to not be cooped up all summer” Penny smiled as Carlos ran a hand over his face trying to get the crumbs.

      "I don't do cooped up well unless it's winter," Jay commented as his eyes drifted over the streets and the quaint little shops. He really did like this better than home even if the people here were all dicks.

      "And even then it is risky with him," Mal agreed, "Remind me Jay, I have a thing for you and Los."

      "Thing for what?" Nothing from Mal was cause she wanted to.

      "For doing a wicked job at Tourney this year."

      “Well then we should all hang out in our room when we get back” Evie smirked, it would be nice to have the boys in their room for a change.

      Jay grinned, "Yeah I can get behind that," his eyes drifted up Penny and Evie's backs, "Get behind a whole lotta things."

      Mal rolled her eyes, Jay was a grab bag of hormones.

      Evie giggled at him with a smirk.

      "So pet store?" Mal asked not really knowing where that was.

      "Take a left by the building with the yellow and white striped thing," Jay told her.

      “Mal just wait until you see these puppies they are so cute,” Evie watched as Dude seemed to get more excited the closer they got.

      "Are they like smaller versions of Dude?" She asked looking back over her shoulder following Jay's instructions.

      “Yes and no, they are smaller dogs, most of them, but they are different breeds,” Penny explained.

      “All shapes and sizes of dogs,” Jay nodded gesturing with his head to the shop up the road, “That one there.”

      “Well Dude’s excited,” Carlos laughed as Dude jumped at the door.

      “Maybe he has dog friends in there?” Mal asked, looking at the jumping dog before opening the door for him.

      “Maybe” Carlos agreed, letting Dude lead the way to the puppy corner.

      “Either that or he wants minions all his own,” Jay snickered watching the small dog plow towards the other dogs, “You think we never take him anywhere.”

      “Obviously just not the right places,” Evie laughed as she reached down to pet a terrier puppy.

      Mal looked over the collection of puppies there in the pen, “Wow this is a lot Dudes,” she laughed surprised as the puppies clambered around trying to get attention.

      “Clearly not the right places,” Jay crouched down next to the pen and put a hand inside.

      “Um... I kinda want all of them,” Carlos smiled looking at the puppies as he let go of Dude’s leash.

      “We don’t have enough room in our room for all of them,” Jay shook his head, stepping on Dude’s leash before the dog could run anywhere. He wriggled his fingers, not minding as a shepherd lunged up and bit at his fingers.

      “Would be nice to have them right,” Penny smiled at Carlos as she picked up a lab.

      “Yeah, but Jay’s right, no room for all of them,” Carlos scratched the pups ears.

      Mal slid her fingers over the shepherd’s back as she leaned over Jay’s shoulder, her second not minding at all, “They are kind of cute though.” she mentioned as Jay glanced at her, “They are.”

      “Maybe you can convince Ben that, Little Princess needs a friend,” Evie nodded towards Penny and the pup, “After all Crowned prince and all.”

      “Or I could just help with Dude” Penny looked up.

      “I told you you were welcome to do that,” Jay nodded looking at her as Mal shifted her weight and he set a knee on the ground to keep his balance. 

      “I’ll see what I can do with Ben to get you one,” Mal nodded with a small smile.

      “Well you can play with Dude anytime you want” Carlos sat down letting a few smaller dogs crawl into his lap.

      Dude came back over to Carlos licking his face.

      Mal pulled back, “So what else do you like here? I mean since you’ve clearly been here before.”

      “Well Little Princess likes seeing the puppies, so I bring her here every time she and I come into town,” Jay rolled a shoulder, pushing himself up to his feet. 

      “There are birds near the back, kittens near the front. Um... lizards... you could get some things for your mom’s tank,” Penny suggested looking at the purple haired girl.

      “Oh yeah? Hm, yeah maybe I could find something she might like. You going to go look at the birds Jay?” Mal asked looking at him.

      “Yeah I was thinking about it,” he nodded looking at the girls, “Let them play with the puppies for a bit.”

      “We’ll be fine for a few minutes” Evie looked at him as she patted her purse. “You can take a moment to go see the birds”

      Jay nodded, “If you need me let me know. I won’t be too long or too far.”

      Mal watched Jay head towards the back of the shop where she could just make out the sound of chirping.

      He stopped in front of the cage of birds and sighed softly, they weren’t Iago but it was something at least. A large white bird moved closer flashing it’s feathers as Jay looked it over curiously. It really would be a pain in the ass to teach it, but it was still nice to look at.

Chapter 20: Afterhours (Auradon: June)

      Jay had always prided himself on mostly playing by the rules here in Auradon. But he would admit that he had a few... questionable ideas. This was one of them. He looked at the camera and licked his lips, flicking a rock at the device watching the camera pivot away from the back door. Taking a deep breath he quickly picked the lock and let himself in. He made sure to stay crouched, unsure if there were any more cameras inside the store.

      Slipping into the back of the store Jay lifted a few bottles of rum, whiskey, as well as a bottle of gin and a bottle of something with fruit on it. Double checking everything was secure in his bag and vest he tucked several bills under a bottle of rum. Quickly he ducked back out of the store and relocked the door behind him. Now all he had to do was get back to the room without getting caught.

-*-

      Carlos laid on his bed looking at Jay's empty one as he cuddled Dude close. He’d woken up to find Jay not there. It was startling, even here in the Mainland to wake up with him gone.

       Jay let himself linger in the woods near campus for a moment, quickly adjusting things out of his vest and into his bag to make climbing back up and into the room easier. He really couldn’t stay out much longer, his Pup may wake up, that, and the longer he was out the higher the chance he was going to get caught and he really didn’t want to get caught. He slid the bag on and slipped across the lawn quickly scaling the building back to the window he had closed but left unlocked. Just a little further, he coached himself, then he could hide all the alcohol and try and get some sleep.

      With all the carefulness brought on by years of stealing on the Isle, Jay eased the window open and slid the bag inside first before himself. Should anything be laying in wait for him, at least this way the loot got it and not himself. Loot was replaceable, he liked to think that he was not.

      Dude’s head popped up looking at the window, he let out a yap drawing Carlos’ attention.

      Jay rolled his eyes at the dog as he closed the window back behind him. Of course Dude would choose now to start yapping about his comings and goings. He headed back to his bed and undid his boots, tucking them neatly back where they belonged. His hands undid his pants as he changed for bed, even if he wasn’t tired in the slightest.

      “Where’d you go?” Carlos asked softly, his eyes tracking Jay’s movements.

      “Out,” Jay looked over his shoulder at Carlos as he let his hair down, “I couldn’t sleep, so I wandered. You have a bad dream?” he asked moving closer to Carlos’ bed ready to tuck him back in and coax him back to sleep.

      “Don’t really remember, just woke up and you weren’t here,” he shrugged, “Want to lay down with us?”

      “Yeah okay,” Jay nodded, “Scoot over. Maybe it will help me sleep.”

      “You are always so warm,” Carlos scooted over to the wall.

      “You think so?” he asked settling down beside Carlos, looping an arm over the boy’s body as he pulled the covers up over the both of them.

      “Yeah you give off heat, it’s nice,” Carlos nodded putting his face in Jay's chest.

      Jay smiled slightly, closing his eyes, relaxing as Carlos settled down and went back to sleep, “Night Pup, get some rest.”

      “You too” Carlos yawned snuggling up, he liked it when Jay was close, made him feel safe.

-*-

      Mal knocked on the boys’ door before letting herself in, the two were still in bed. One of Jay’s eyes opened, flickering red gold for a moment before it vanished once more. Maybe it was just a trick of the light.

      Dude jumped down from bed going over to Mal. He stood up on his hind legs whining at her.

      Stooping down, Mal pulled Dude up and into the air before seeing that Jay had seemingly drifted back off. Apparently the boys just wanted to sleep the entire day away, so she grabbed the leash, “Come on Dude, let’s go for a walk since the boys don’t seem to want to get up.”

      Evie sat on the steps of the dorm waiting for Mal and the boys to come out.

      “Those two are still out cold. So it’s just us and Dude.”

       “We don’t get to sleep in very often,” Evie pointed out standing.

      “I know but, well,” she shook her head as she and Dude headed down the stairs, “I just don’t see Jay in bed too often, most times he is already awake.”

      “I don’t think he sleeps well out here,” Evie looked at Mal as they started to walk across the empty campus.

      “Like he’s ever slept well to begin with,” she snorted, “I don’t know why he doesn’t sleep better here. I mean Jafar isn’t here, it’s just him and Los in the room, he should be sleeping better here than wherever he ended up sleeping on the Isle.” Jay was hard to find on the Isle, he had hidey holes everywhere and there was no guarantee where he would be on any given day.

      “That’s probably part of the problem, so many years of not sleeping well,'' Evie shrugged, she didn’t always sleep very well here, part of her thought it was just too quiet sometimes.

      “I guess so,” Mal ceded, Evie would know Jay’s habits better than her, “Maybe the extended break will be good then, get him to catch up on the sleep he’s missed over the years.”

      “We can only hope” Evie nodded, “You ok with the leash?”

      “Yeah, Dude isn’t much on the pulling department. But if you wanted to hold it I am fine with that too.” here on the Mainland Mal was more than happy to let Evie try whatever she wanted.

      “I’ll take him in a little bit” she smiled, “It is nice to have all this place to ourselves”

      “I am just happy Chad is gone. He turned into such a villain towards the end there. And that is saying something considering who we are.”

      “I know, you would think that there being not villains here could mean that everyone would be good” Evie nodded.

      “Clearly not. Looks like they are only good when they have to be.”

      “Or anything is good as long as they are doing it”

      “So exactly like home, only on the other side of the barrier,” Mal rolled her eyes, “Like nothing has changed except we aren’t supposed to be intimidating to get our way. We are supposed to say please and thank you.”

      “Because manners are the best defense,” Evie rolled her eyes.

       “They won’t stop anyone here from giving us shit.”

      “I agree, but there isn’t much we can do out here” Evie sighed, “we received freedom but are still not free”

      “In some ways I think this is almost worse than on the Isle,” she stopped when Dude did, “But at least our parents aren’t here to add to the misery. Lizard mom does not count in this case because she can’t do anything while she is a lizard.”

      “Except stare at us intently,” Evie snickered.

      “Being all silently judgemental about our not being evil.”

      “Oh yes the silent judgment of a lizard,”  Evie agreed.

      Mal laughed softly, "I think I am going to make her a little throne this summer. If she is stuck with me as a lizard, might as well make her feel at home."

      “She will probably enjoy that” Evie nodded with a chuckle, “Queen of the tank”

      "Queen of her plastic domain where she can be as evil as she wants and no one gets hurt."

      “We could get her a little tower at the pet store” Evie suggested reaching out to take the leash.

     BMal passed the leash over and made a face, “You know that’s not a bad idea. A tower, throne, maybe a little raven.”

      “Or a big stuffed one” Evie said, “we could set it outside the tank.”

      “I’ll see what we can find. As in when we are done walking Dude, do you want to head into town and we’ll see what we can find for Lizard Mom?” it had been a bit since it was just Mal and Evie together, Jay or Carlos were always generally around Evie. Not that Mal didn’t understand, it was E, she lived and breathed for the two boys, fashion, and being a princess.

      “Yeah it will be fun, girl time,” Evie nodded, “We don’t get a lot of us time.”

      “We really don’t have a lot of us time at all.” Mal agreed.

      “How are you and Ben doing?” Evie asked linking arms.

      "We are doing fine, I am pretty sure at least. He and I are fine, I mean he hasn't said otherwise right?"

      “He still looks at you with those moon eyes so I think so. But what about you? Are you happy?” Evie asked as they came to a bench.

      "I have no idea, but I know I am not... unhappy?" Mal shrugged, "Are you happy with Doug?"

      “Doug treats me like I’m more than a princess. Doesn’t make feel like I need to be stupid to be pretty. But... I, I want passion. I think he’s just shy but...” she shrugged.

      "But he is a far cry from Jay," Mal knew because Jay was everything the Mainland wasn't. And he had a horde of girls that wanted that, wanted him.

      “Yeah, that sounds awful doesn’t it” Evie sighed, “I want that passion. The heat that burns through my body.” 

      "I think you'll be hard pressed to find anyone who does it better than Jay. He's had how long to practice with you, on you, around you?" Mal knew the two had fallen in together years ago, they were eight when E had taught him to trade kisses for small items she made for him. "The mainland has a different kind of passion."

      “I am beginning to see that. Some of these kids don’t even seem to know what passion or sex is,” Evie nodded, she hoped that she could pull that passion out of Doug.

      "Unless you are any of the girls Jay has casually flirted with. They all seem to know what sex is. I am beginning to think he's got a sex magnet on him somewhere that attracts just about everything to him."

      “He’s just that appealing” Evie smirked.

      "I know he is physically attractive, but that's about it," Mal didn't put any stock in his seeming ability to seduce everyone out of anything he wanted. Then again she didn't really get the 'lust' thing.

      “You just haven’t been able to truly appreciate him at work” Evie chuckled, nothing but just watching Jay was like watching fire in motion, a moving art.

      "Only because I didn't want him getting any weird ideas." Mal rolled her eyes. That and she didn't like the idea of hurting her second when he was so... vulnerable on purpose.

      “He would let you watch” Evie rolled her eyes, “Doesn’t have to give him any ideas, just lets you be part of everything”

      Mal bit her lip, "I know he would, it's just... I don't think he'd want that. And at this point it's just him jerking it."

      “You were always welcome to play time even if you didn’t play.” Evie twisted the end of her hair.

      "It didn't feel right," she tried to explain why she staid away when they were all over each other. It wasn't like the sex bothered her, it was just that... she didn't want to be involved in that in any way. Jay and Evie were always so confident and secure in their own skin and how they used it. Mal just preferred to be feared and not wanted.

      “Well the offer is there if you ever change your mind. We could do an isle night,” Evie shrugged standing.

      "Well no one else is here, aside from Penny and Ben, so every night can be isle night. As long as they aren't around." Mal ceded that as long as no one could reprimand her minions they could do what they wanted.

      “We’ll see how Jay feels about it” Evie started leading them back towards the dorm.

      Mal hummed, "As long as he is allowed to drink I am sure he'll go for it."

      “Very true, but I could go for a drink myself now that we don’t have to be good all the time” Evie smirked, “let's put Dude back in the room and go explore”

      "Fair enough, I could go for some too," she nodded as they headed back, "See if your Boys are cuddling."

      “I’ll be right back” Evie nodded, taking Dude up. She quietly opened the door and looked at the boys curled up on Carlos’ bed. She smiled a little, putting the leash away. It was comforting to see Carlos curled into Jay, to see them both at ease here.

      Jay lifted his head up as the door opened, Evie creeping about the room. She must have gone with Mal and walked Dude. He lowered his head back to the pillow relaxing with his Pup in his arms. Not that it was helping with his morning wood.

      Evie moved over to the bed, she gently brushed Jay's hair away from his face before placing a kiss on his cheek. He didn’t get enough affection, so she would give it to him when she could.

      Jay snatched her wrist as she went to turn, gently pulling her back, careful not to pull too hard. He wanted to know why she wasn’t curling up with them like she normally did. He looked at her tilting his head careful not to wake his sleeping Pup.

      “You sleep, you need to catch up on it,” Evie smiled at him, “Mal and I are going to go into town and have some girl time”

      He lifted a brow at her and smirked giving her knuckles a kiss, "Alright Princess. You have a good time, wear her purple ass out."

      “If only she’d let me sometimes” Evie smirked at him before taking her hand back.

      "I'd lust to watch that," he muttered, returning to his full curl around Carlos.

 

      Mal looked up from her casual inspection of the Auradon/Beast family Crest, "The boys okay?"

      “Yeah, still asleep for the most part” Evie nodded, “Anything interesting?” she motioned to the family crest.

      "Of course they are, actually kind of pleased that they are still out. Since you were so insistent that Jay needs sleep," she smirked at Evie, "So where to first E?"

      “How about a clothes store then we can see from there?” Evie suggested, as they exited the dorm.

      "You and clothes," Mal teased as they walked heading towards the town, "So long as you don't take me into the makeup store, we can go wherever you'd like."

      “But Mal,” Evie teased with a laugh. She figured just getting Mal into a clothing store would be a win. She could get Mal to relax a little, maybe she could get her to... be more open.

      "Oh no, I will let you do your Isle Princess thing on me for all these stupid Mainland balls because I trust you more than them. But outside of that, no." Mal didn't like the way makeup felt on her skin but she tolerated it because otherwise E would whine to Jay and Jay would side with his everytime as long as they were taken care of.

      “Alright, but what if its just for me?” Evie batted her eyes at Mal, “plus all the shades”

      "You have Jay for that," Mal retorted, "He is a better judge of what looks good on you anyway."

      “Fine, just clothes then maybe lunch?” She suggested.

      "Yes to lunch, because you need to eat regularly," Mal didn't like it when Evie didn't eat, especially since Jay was always about his Princess eating food.

      “I eat, I just prefer smaller portions then some do” Evie looked at her, she had gotten better at eating with everyone else.

      "I am just happy you are eating in general," Mal sighed as they walked.

      “Well the food is better here so that helps” Evie nodded stopping to look at the window of a shop.

      "That is it. Like strawberries," Mal snickered, "Did you want to go inside?" She asked following Evie's eyes.

      “This store is a little too formal for what we are doing,” Evie looked at the gowns, “There’s a more laid back place down the street.”

      Mal gave her a look, "It scares me you know where all the clothing stores are here."

      “I needed to do research on how different brands looked and felt” Evie smirked.

      "I don't know E, I think it's just your want to outdo all the Mainlanders."

      “They have no creativity” Evie sniffed with a snicker. 

      "No Evie kind of creativity at least." Mal smirked as they kept walking.

      “Well when you have everything, you don’t really have a need to be creative” Evie nodded, “Probably why my dresses did so well for the dance.”

      “You mean aside from perfectly fitting every single person like a glove? E you do awesome work, you always have.” she guided the Isle princess down the quiet streets ignoring the occasional glances their way. This was her home now, they would have to get used to seeing them here.

      “I just know how to accent what they have,” Evie smiled directing them into a shop with jeans and t-shirts on display.

      “You mean like Jay’s ass in those leather pants,” she teased, “Or the sudden uplift of Audrey’s tits?”

      “She didn’t have much to work with but a little squeeze in the right place” Evie smirked as she browsed the racks.

      "Looked like she enjoyed all the attention," Mal tailed Evie as she shopped, "Saw Jay dancing with a princess from another kingdom and everything. Think he may finally get serious about finding a nice Mainlander of his own?"

      “Maybe, I think he’s worried about being himself with a Mainland girl," Evie looked up from the jeans.

      "You mean being horny all the time, and being a general smooth talker with everything with a set of legs?" Mal snorted flipping ideally through the hangers, "There are some mainlanders here that would adore that. That and everyone likes Jay, he's a people pleaser. Or mostly, I don't think Jay could charm Chad into liking us."

      “I don’t think FG’s magic wand could make Chad like us,” Evie snorted, “Yeah, I think he might want Penny, and before you say anything there are worse princess’ he could want."

      Mal pursed her lips shuffling hangers harder than necessary. "Penny is Los' age, and she knows nothing about boys. She is never going to understand what he wants. And he won't ever show her, that's not how he operates." She fixed Evie with an irritated look, "He could have anyone why her? What is it about her that he wants so bad?" She had watched Jay get hurt by people she could never stop. Stood and watched him walk into the situations no matter what she said. She would keep him from Penny because her whole body was telling her to keep her minions from this danger even if that danger was Ben's little sister.

      “I don’t know what he sees, but he... wants to protect her or something,” Evie tried to explain, “I tried to get him to just talk to her but mainlanders are weird about sex."

      Mal huffed, her second had always been an overly complicated ass, but he was useful and loyal, "I need to get him off that idea," she grumbled, "He's going to get himself hurt if he keeps it up."

      “We will try and sort him out over the summer,” Evie chewed her lip.

      "I think we can do it," she nodded, "I mean with a little magic and your know how with Jay, I'm sure we can sort him back out."

      “Don’t magic him Mal, that’s like taking away his will to sort himself out,” Evie shook her head.

      “It wouldn’t be anything too heinous,” Mal protested, “Just maybe a small little truth gummy?” 

      “Mal,” Evie warned, “He would never forgive you.”

      She gave Evie a bland look, “He never forgives me for anything. Villains don’t apologize remember? That stupid saying every time you told him sorry for something. But he doesn’t tell me the truth either.” 

       “We don’t do those things to each other though. Don’t make him hate you, you don’t want him to be your enemy,” Evie advised.

      “Pretty sure he already hates me,” she shrugged a shoulder, “Just not as much as he hates other people. We have a system, I’m not going to screw with it, just prod it a little so he gets on the Mainlander friendly program the rest of us are already on. You’re a lovely example of Mainlander friendly, boyfriend, great grades, fashion designer to nearly the entire school, visual knockout, and more Princess like then the other Princesses.”

      “Jay tries, you know he does. But school wasn’t his thing, twisting his arm to make him what you want him to be won't end well for any of us,” Evie shook her head.

      “I would agree with you if I hadn’t seen that he flunked his Literature final, and barely passed his science final. I know he is trying, but I wish he tired as hard at his school work as he does with tourney. I know he can do this stuff, he just rather play sports then sit still and read.” she shook her head, “Did you see something you wanted to try on? I mean trying clothes on is part of the girls day right? Not just bitching about the guys in our lives?”

      “I might try this blue top,” Evie held a shirt with loose flowing sleeves and shoulder cutouts.

      “Because why would it be any color other than blue,” Mal teased taking the shirt, “Well go on E, go find what else you want to try on so I can tell you how it looks on you.”

      “You should pick some things as well,” Evie urged her.

      “If I see anything I will grab it to try on,” Mal ceded with a smile.

      “You had better you could use more clothes,” Evie mock scolded.

      “You know who needs more clothes,” she gave Evie a look showing her a goldenrod tank top, “I mean he really could use a few shirts. That burgundy one might as well be a single layer of paint.”

      “I try to reason with him, but he keeps saying no. You know how he is,” Evie shrugged. She'd love to fill Jay’s closet full of clothes but he’d just be angry with her about it. Although he might punish her... no they had decided to be good.

      “Well what's a shirt here or there?” Mal asked, “You can blame me for it. Since he can’t do his normal here.”

      “If you want to get him something go for it,” Evie smirked, that would be a fight to see.

       “Only if it meets your approval,” she smirked in reply.

      “Just about anything will be fine. He needs clothes but won’t let me make them for him,” Evie looked around at a few things.

      “Because he doesn’t think he needs them. Is it wrong I want to steal all his clothes from him just so he has to get more clothes.” Mal imagined how Jay would handle that, “He’d walk around naked wouldn’t he?”

      “He would, and with no one really around there wouldn't be anyone to object or gawk at him.” Evie nodded.

      “At least not out loud,” Mal shook her head, “Except he’s gotten all weird about his scars since he started tourney.”

      “He doesn't like explaining them, or the looks the team give him,” Evie said, pulling out a few skirts.

      “I am glad that he is at least talking to you about these things still,” Mal nodded, pulling a few shirts out in his colors, “These are his size right?”

      Evie came over and checked the tags, “Yeah these are the right sizes.”

      “And you think he’d wear these colors?” She was sure he’d wear them, if only to have a few more shirts to go through.

      “They’re his colors,” she nodded, “What do you think of this?” She held up a purple jean dress.

      “Interesting... I will give it a try for you,” Mal nodded, keeping a hold of the shirts.

      “Thank you, I was thinking I could alter it if you like it. Make it like a dress or a cape jacket thing,” Evie smiled

      “Purple denim cape,” Mal raised an eyebrow but nodded, “Yeah I trust you, but we’ll see how it looks.”

      “I can’t wait to see” Evie smiled brighter as she handed the dress over.

      She took the dress as they continued to walk around the store, “I still don’t know why you like the shopping thing. But I like that it makes you happy.”

      “It's just... I don’t know what about it makes me happy, it just does” Evie shrugged she didn’t know how to explain the odd sense of peace she got while shopping for clothes.

      "Which is why I am cool with helping you with this shopping thing."

      “And I will take you anytime. I enjoy our time together,” Evie smiled pulling out a few skirts and jeans.

      "I enjoy the time we have without the boys hovering. Like we used to have."

      “As odd as it is to say sometimes I feel like we were freer on the isle.” 

      "I am pretty sure Jay would agree with you. He didn't have to do anything he didn't want to. I... I miss being mean when people deserve it. I hate always having to be nice."

      “Me too, I miss being about to hit people with acid if they deserved it, or if they messed with Carlos or me,” Evie nodded, “I'm going to try this on.”

      "Okay I'll come with, since you gave me a dress to try on and everything," she nodded following after Evie with her load of her shirts for Jay.

       “Same room?” Evie asked, looking at her with a smirk.

       "Not like I haven't seen you full buff before," Mal agreed, she had walked in on Jay and Evie more than a few times. 

      “And it is glorious,” Evie teased. 

      "For you," Mal shot back, "Way more of Jay then I needed in my life." She wasn't offended, he visually was appealing, so was Evie, she just didn't want what they liked.

      “Bodies are like art, not everyone appreciates them all the time,” Evie pulled off her shirt.

      Mal undid her jacket and her pants pulling her jacket off after hanging up Jay’s new shirts.

      Evie watched Mal’s movements out of the corner of her eye in the mirror as she slipped on the flowing top.

      She pulled her shirt off carefully as she shimmed the dress on. It may be Evie but she wasn’t all that comfortable out of her clothes.

      “What do you think?” she turned looking at her with her arms out a little.

      Mal looked at the shirt, “Yeah I like it, very summery.”

      “It is, it will be nice to show off at the start of the school year too,” Evie smiled, “Do you like the dress?”

      “You and showing off,” Mal teased, pulling the odd material around and looked herself over, “I don’t know, what do you think?” she asked, turning to look at Evie head on.

      “I think it hugs you in all the right places,” Evie looked her up and down, “Do you like it?”

      “It’s different.” she shifted again, “I think if it was blue it would look better on you.”

      “Well, I can get one too, I think I saw a blue one. But maybe we could dye the bottom black put your design on the back. Like I said I can alter it into a cape coat.”

      Mal glanced at the price tag and nodded, “Alright alright.” she was going to let E do what she wanted with clothes, especially since Jay would get involved if she resisted too much.

      “Thank you so much, it's going to look great,” she clapped, “Let me try these last few on and then we can hit another store before lunch.”

      She changed back into her own clothes and watched as Evie tried on her new potential outfits. This was something she had missed on the Isle, something the Isle couldn’t give them, a chance to have a peaceful outing for once.

      “Its nice to have a quiet and productive time out” Evie slipped off her pants and pulled on the skirts one at a time turning to see how they flowed around her.

       “Its also nice to not be harassed or threatened while we’re out. Or have the boys impatiently waiting.”

      “Alright” she pulled off the last thing and grabbed what she wanted.

      “Come on then, let’s buy this stuff and go somewhere else.”

      “Here I’ll take it all to the counter” Evie reached out for the dress and Jay’s shirts.

      “Sounds good,” Mal nodded, collecting up the unwanted clothes, “I’ll put these back, just wait for me and I’ll buy everything.”

      “Alright, if you want” Evie nodded heading towards the counter.

      Mal wandered back through the store and put everything back generally where they had found it before heading back to Evie. She smiled at the young male at the counter, “Just these for us,” she pulled her wallet out and waited patiently as he rang them up.

      Evie tilted her head watching the clerk, she thought he might attend Auradon prep with them, but she couldn’t place his name.

      Mal took the bag and swung it over her shoulder after paying, "Alright E, let the shopping continue. Then we get some food."

      “Let's check out accessories," Evie smiled taking Mal’s hand and leading her down the street.

      "Should I be worried?" Mal joked, "I mean I didn't bring Jay with us or his vest."

      “Only a few things,” Evie smirked, “I could always bring Jay later, get his opinion on stuff but right now I just want yours. Maybe get you a new bag while we are at it.”

      “Famous last words, just a few things. I know you better than that, but if you want my opinion I can help you with that. You don’t think I need a new bag do you?”

      “Well there’s always room for one more bag” she snickered leading her to a consignment shop she’d found the best accessories at.

      Snorting Mal pushed the door open, “Not when I live with you. You’ve taken over every available slot of closet space. I am waiting for you to expand into the boys room.”

      “They didn’t tell you?” Evie raised an eyebrow, “I took over Jay’s part of their closest halfway through the year.”

      “Of course you did. Jay only has like three shirts, two pairs of pants, and two vests to his name.” 

      “And another pair of boots, I insisted on those after we decided to be good,” Evie nodded, “This place is the best, it's like stuff we would find on the isle but in a little better shape.”

      “Oh did you because I thought he was wearing the same pair of boots still.” she looked around the store, “I can see why you like it.”

      “He doesn't like to wear them, I just might steal the others... might just surprise him,” Evie smirked, “We should go look at the bags in the back.”

      “He never does anything unless he doesn’t have any other choice in the matter.” 

      “It’s part of what makes him Jay,” she shrugged starting to go through the bin of purses and totes.

      “It’s part of what makes him annoying,” she huffed helping Evie go through the bin unsure of what she was even looking for any more.

      “Oh this is nice” she held up a faux leather black purse, “We could get you a paint bag”

      She made a face, “E, that’s not even close to a paint bag. You make better than that.”

      “True well should we see if there is any fabric to make it with,” she asked, tossing the bag back.

      “Fabric right,” she nodded looking at the pile of not ‘paint’ bags Evie had made, “Are you thinking of repurposed fabrics?”

      “I was, unless you want something new?” Evie tilted her head at Mal.

      “No, I prefer the repurposed.” 

      “Ok let's take a look around and see if we can find anything that works.” Evie clapped, going to start flipping through racks.

      Mal followed her around the store aware they were being watched by the shop owner. She could understand though, they were carrying a bag and that meant easy discounting. But she wasn't Jay, she didn't steal unless she had no other option.

      “What about this?” Evie pulled out a pair of coveralls made of canvas.

      She rubbed the fabric, "Yeah, the pocket is nice, and this should take to painting on."

      “How big a bag do you want?” she asked, “I was thinking a messenger size”

      "Same, that's more than enough room for all my art stuff and school stuff."

      “Alright, this should give me enough fabric, but maybe pick out a little color for pockets” Evie suggested.

      "Or I can paint them, whatever you think is best."

      “That works too, then we are going to need a little more of this type of fabric.” 

      "Then let's go find some," she nodded, taking the overalls.

      “You look over there I’ll look on the other side,” Evie nodded, turning to look at another rack.

      “Yeah okay,” Mal knew what she was looking for, it couldn’t be that hard to find right?

      Evie flipped through the racks looking for any type of sturdy material. Most of this was flimsy and wouldn't do without being doubled over if not tripled over.

      “How about a pair of jeans? I have one with some designs on it,” Mal held up the dark blue material with white lace patterned to it.

      “Oh those are pretty,” Evie came over and looked over the material, “This will work yes, did you want the lace as well?”

      “It looks pretty,” she traced it, “At least I think so, it is nice right? I mean girly but pretty right?”

      “Very pretty, I can definitely work with this,” Evie nodded, “These should be enough for your bag”

      “Wicked,” she nodded, “Now what do you want?”

      “I’m going to grab some lace things for a few projects,” Evie nodded motioning to the area with dollies and other lacy things.

      “Should I be looking for goldenrod and burgundy or is this just a blue run?” she asked following after Evie.

      “Any color works for now, I can dye lighter colors” Evie shrugged looking at craftsmanship.

      “Well you have a whole lot of white options.”

      “The most popular color for lace,” Evie chuckled

      “Why is it such a popular color?” 

      “I actually don’t know,” Evie thought before shaking her head.

      “It’s just so boring, then again everything here on the Mainland is so boring,” she sighed.

      “It is,” Evie agreed grabbing a few well made pieces, “Alright, let get this paid for yeah”

      “Absolutely,” she took the last pieces from Evie’s hands and headed up to the counter, “So where are you thinking for lunch E?”

      “I was thinking there are a few places down here. There’s a diner that I think Jay will like, there’s a little cafe as well,” Evie suggested.

      "Want to try the cafe? That seems more like an E thing than the diner." Mal offered setting their things on the counter to be rung up. The older woman here smiling warmly as she worked.

      “That sounds nice, we can sit outside and enjoy the sun while we eat."

      "And toast my perfectly pale skin?" Mal never minded really this was what made Evie happy. The shopping and the sunshine, the seemingly natural grace the other girl always had to her own less delicate mannerisms.

      “We can sit inside if you want... we really should get you some sunscreen or something to stop you from burning” Evie blinked at her.

      "I'm joking E. I'm joking." She shook her head paying the bill and took the bags.

      “Well I don’t want to cause you any harm,” she smiled.

      “You aren’t allowed to throw acid anymore so I think I am safe.”

      “There may be exceptions made to that rule if Chad Charming goes after Carlos again,” Evie shrugged.

      “Pretty sure Jay may beat you to it,” she laughed, “I’m surprised that FG hasn’t done more than slap him on the wrist the few times he snapped and popped Chad. I’m also surprised he hasn’t pummeled Chad yet.”

      “I think she knows how bad Chad is but can’t do anything because he’s Cinderella’s son.” Evie explained as they walked, enjoying spending time with Mal.

      “But why not? Why can’t everyone be treated the same?” she shook her head, “So what if he’s a prince, doesn’t give him the right to be an ass. Especially not like he was to Jay at the dance.”

      “You know that’s not how the world works” Evie rolled her eyes.

      “That’s how the Isle worked; It was everyone for themselves unless they chose different.”

      “And apparently that’s how it works here once you see under the layers,” Evie took Mal’s hand in her own.

      Mal huffed squeezing Evie's hand as they walked. "Our way is so much better."

      “I know, our way is always better,” Evie agreed, “There’s the cafe” she pointed out the small white building with a small green flag outside and tables with flowers on them.

      "Oh that looks cute," Mal smiled nodding her approval at Evie.

      “I know, it's like the places we heard about on the isle.” Evie giggled.

      "It is and better than expected too," Mal guided them into the front of the shop.

      “It smells really good in here,” Evie looked around. It smelled of bread and soup, she could smell cut fruit.

      She took a deep breath and smiled, “It really does, at least shopping makes you work up an appetite.” 

      “It does do that” she agreed, “It can make a princess starving,” she blushed a little..

      “Good thing I am here to make sure that you eat.” Mal stepped into the line and looked over the menu.

      “It will be good to share a meal without the boys terrible manners” Evie nodded more to herself then Mal as she too looked over the menu.

      “It really would be. Los just doesn’t seem to know where his mouth is unless he is using his fingers.”

      “Makes sandwiches the best meal for him” Evie snickered, “Also I think that chicken apple brie sandwich sounds good” she chewed her lip.

      “I like the sound of the Chipotle chicken sandwich,” Mal nodded, “Your sounds good too though. Maybe get the veggie soup to share?” 

      “That sounds like a good plan” Evie agreed, “Do you want me to take the bags while you order and pay?”

      “Yeah go ahead and find a table for us outside. I’ll take care of everything here,” Mal nodded, the other would be fine without her.

      “I will do just that, see you in a few minutes” Evie took the bags heading outside.

      Mal ordered the food and stood waiting inside for the food to arrive. When it arrived she grabbed it and headed outside to where Evie should have been sitting and waiting.

      Evie waved to Mal once she saw her exit the cafe. She did take a second to admire the  way the sun hit Mal’s hair making it almost light up. 

      She made her way over to Evie and set the tray down, not oblivious to the look over, “Everything okay E?” Maybe the other girl had seen someone she liked the look of over her shoulders.

      “Perfect,” Evie smiled at her, “The sun enhances your features, makes you even more striking” she explained looking down as she took her sandwich.

      Mal stood there in confusion, it wasn’t like she didn’t take compliments, it was just she wasn’t used to them even here on the Mainland where every compliment tended to be backhanded her way. “Thanks E. Sunlight always makes you look brighter, makes your eyes kinda sparkle.” she was no good at good compliments.

      “Thanks, I didn’t realize that anyone noticed my eyes,” Evie blushed, looking up to give her a smile.

      Mal snorted, “Pretty sure Doug notices your eyes, he’s always staring at you. Just like I know you look at him like he is a prince.”

      “He is better than a prince,” Evie agreed before taking a bite out of her sandwich.

      “Not that you aren’t still looking at princes, like that one that coaches Tourney.” Mal gave her a knowing look, “But I know you rather it be real than forced.”

      “Real is always better,” Evie said, “But yes I do lust after a very fit prince, the one that couches tourney is very fit.”

      “And he’s pretty. Jay kind of pretty,” she had noticed the similar features in their faces, and figured that was from their shared heritage, even if Jay had grown up on the Isle. Now that she thought about it, Jay didn’t look terribly like his father, aside from having a similar facial structure. Mal would never admit to noticing things like that.

      “He is, he would be nice to play with even if only for one night,” Evie sighed, “Even you could have some fun with him.”

      Mal coughed, “No thank you. Knowing my luck he’ll be just as unruly as Jay, and I can only handle one of him in my life. He’d be all yours E.”

      “Unless the boys want some, of course it will probably never happen,” Evie smirked, “Nice to dream about.”

      “Pretty sure Jay would do whatever you want to get laid at this point. He’s been getting really wound up, but I think it will help not having so many candidates to jump. Hell you all are getting wound up with your Mainlander being all sheepish about fucking.” That was something she’d admit, the looks of longing they all gave each other when they weren’t paying attention.

      “It has been a long time since either of us have gotten much of anything,” Evie looked across the street, she felt the itch but she had pushed it off for the last of the school year.

      “Can I suggest doing what Jay ends up doing? I can leave you in peace for a day so you can work it out of your system?” Mal offered wanting nothing to do with that thing, it was bad enough she knew when Jay was jerking off in the shower.

      “I am fine without, no need to be so stand offish,” Evie pushed a loose lock behind her ear.

      Mal tipped her head, “I’m not trying to be, I know you always enjoyed it. So I’m happy to leave you be if you need to cut loose too.” she was trying to be understanding even if she didn’t have those kinds of physical urges. 

      “We should look into faes while we have time this summer” Evie looked at her.

      “Do you think there is something wrong?” Mal was now worried that she had said something really offensive to her longest ally on the Isle. 

      “I do not think so, it is just that it is better to know more about your lineage then we do. That way if something does come up we will perhaps know how to help it,” Evie explained her line of thought.

      “Oh, well yeah I think that a good idea. Mom wasn’t exactly forthcoming with the fae details,” Mal chewed on her straw before releasing it, “We should probably head back after lunch and make sure the boys haven’t spent the entire afternoon in bed.”

      “Those two will do just that if we don’t make them get up. Although I imagine Carlos’ stomach will get them up,” Evie giggled.

Chapter 21: Chillin like Summer Time (Auradon: June)

      Mal pushed the door open to Jay laying upside down on the couch while Carlos fiddled with some project, “Guess Los’ stomach got them up after all.”

      Jay lifted his head up from his near mindless gaming in some platform game Carlos said was good, “More like my bladder.” it was actually his morning wood when Carlos finally complained about it pressed against his hip.

      “Have you guys eaten?” Evie asked, setting down a bag from the bakery.

      “We nibbled, what you get us?” Carlos looked up.

      “Croissants and a few donuts,” Evie said, sitting down next to Jay on the couch.

      Jay tipped his head and pressed a kiss to her lower leg, “Have a good day Princess?”

      “We did” she smiled, “We shopped and had lunch, it was nice to enjoy girl time. Did you guys enjoy guy time.”

      “You mean did I enjoy entertaining myself while Pup played brainiac?” Jay rolled his eyes, “I’m happy you had a good time. Get out of my closet Mal.”

      “I got you some new shirts in your colors. Don’t complain or I’m cutting the see through ones off of you.”

      Jay made a face, “Kinky,” he grumbled, “Fine whatever you want ya purple bitch,” he commented louder and prepped for getting himself flipped off the couch, she delivered, magic kicking his legs up and over his head narrowly missing the coffee table as he hit the floor. Yeah he deserved that.

      “Be nice you two,” Evie looked between the two of them.

      “Ouch man, you good?” Carlos asked, looking at Jay as he pulled out a donut.

      “Yeah I deserved that. I’m good,” Jay laughed pushing himself off the floor cracking his neck.

      “So what do we do with the rest of this summer thing, cause sleeping in is nice,” Carlos smiled looking at all of them.

      “I am thinking this is actually all we have to do,” Mal shrugged nudging the bag by the window and raised a brow at Jay as it tinkled and thunked like glass bottles. She was not going to ask, especially as his eyes started flickering and his jaw clenched. Turning away she headed to his desk, “Maybe make Jay study a little for next year’s classes.”

      “No.” Jay growled ignoring the sound of creaking glass.

      “Carlos can help us look into Fae facts,” Evie suggested.

      “If I’m letting you cut loose, the least you could do is do some early reading. Especially since we will be there doing some research.” She shot back eyes going green at him, “You don’t mind helping out right Los.”

      “No, I don’t mind I guess” he shrugged, “As long as I get to play knight’s quest”

      “We will give you time to play Knight’s quest,” Evie assured.

      “I’ll make sure you can play your game,” Jay nodded.

      “Wonderful,” Mal beamed, “So then what do you boys want to do tonight?”

      “Whatever is good...?” Carlos grabbed another donut.

      “We should do a bonfire this summer,” Evie suggested, “Like we used to do in the trashcan on the roof”

      “That was cool,” Jay nodded looking at them feeling his temper pulling back, “Wicked idea Princess. Maybe Ben and Penny could hang, I mean there doesn’t seem to be anything else to do here.”

      “We can plan it all out, it will be fun” Evie smiled, “We can do a little party out of it”

      “Yeah Pup I’ll make sure their is chocolate,” Jay smirked as Mal gave him a look, “What? I’m going to raid the kitchen anyway. You want anything?” 

      “Strawberries.”

      “I should have guessed,” he shook his head grabbing his controller once more, “I’m going back to gaming. Wanna curl up with me Princess?”

      “I would enjoy that a lot,” Evie smiled curling into his side.

      Jay slung his arm around her and re-positioned so he could go back to his game of mindless platforming because it gave him something to do while everyone else was busy.

      “It is nice to spend time together,” Evie sighed, “Are you enjoying whatever your doing?”

      “Not really, but it’s something to do. I can entertain myself just fine.” he smiled at her.

      “You alright?” she asked looking at him. She was concerned about his twitchiness, but then again she was also twitchy.

      “I’ll be fine once I have some time with you and Pup. You um... you want to sleep here tonight?”

      “That would be nice, we can all pile up on the floor with blankets” Carlos smiled at him as he leaned on the back of the couch.

      “My thought exactly,” he smirked resting his head back against Carlos’ arms, “You can lay on top of me Princess since you don’t really like the floor.”

      “You make a perfect pillow, my prince of thieves,” Evie laid her head on his shoulder.

      “Well we can’t have my beautiful Princess laying on a cold hard floor,” he joked relaxing with them in contact with him. “It’ll be good to have you curled up with me again.”

      “I’ve missed being close like this” Evie smiled, she glanced over at Carlos as he fell over the back of the couch into Jay’s other side.

      Mal watched them, the three of them nestled together, leaning on Jay for support. Even here in the Mainland they made it look so easy to be together. Mal sighed softly, at least they had each other. That was the important thing here, they stuck together and protected each other.

      “Come sit with us Mal” Evie tilted her head looking at her, “Enjoy the calm.”

      She stood up and slipped onto the couch watching Jay’s mindless gaming. She could tell with a single glance, he had checked out to some other place, some other time, lost and out of touch of all of their ability to find. “Jay, you want to watch a movie?” 

      Jay looked at her slowly, blinking at her interruption, “Uh sure, yeah movie would be fine too.”

      Mal nodded as he closed the game before she dug through their movies and pulled one out sliding it in. At least this way he may have more distractions with the movie.

-*-

      “Someone want to help me get goodies from the kitchen?” Penny asked looking at the gathered group.

      Ben was making sure they were all set up at the fire pit.

      “You mean you want to help me raid the kitchen?” Jay corrected with a teasing smirk.

      Mal rolled her eyes, “Don’t get caught.”

      “I’m offended you think I’m that out of practice.” he resisted flipping her the bird as he slung an arm around Penny’s shoulders, “Come on Little Princess.”

      “We’ll be back with s’mores stuff” Penny assured Carlos as she went off with Jay.

      “This is going to be great,” Carlos laughed.

      “It beats sitting on a roof with a burning trash can,” Mal agreed, “At least this time we can have food while we chill.”

      “You had fires in trash cans?” Ben looked at her, “Was it to keep warm or... just some fun?” generally he would say they shouldn’t play with fire but this sounded like an isle thing.

      “Just some fun while we were on the roof,” Evie looked at him from her spot on the blanket Jay had laid out for her.

      “Sometimes warmth, but we had a bunch of old blankets for that,” Mal shrugged a shoulder with a smile looking Evie over, the firelight reflecting in her eyes. She made a pretty visual picture, a true royal.

      “And piles, those always helped with the warmth when we could do it,” Carlos added.

      “You mean when Jay could manage to slip away. He’s always been super warm,” she shrugged a shoulder watching the flames.

      “He is, he would keep us all very warm and safe” Evie nodded, pulling Carlos to her side.

-*-

      “Did you bring a bag for all our goodies or are we gonna just load our arms?” Penny asked Jay as she waited for him to open the door, really she could just ask for the door to be open. But he seemed to like doing it this way.

      Jay popped the lock and held the door open for her, “One I have pockets, two one of them has one of Princess’s bags in it. Three, you always have to think two steps ahead, or more. I am not the best at it, but I am good on the fly.”

      “So like a game of chess,” Penny nodded, going to the cabinet that held sweets, “Should we get healthy stuff for Evie?”

      “Chocolate, strawberries, and apples. Those are my have to grabs,” He said pulling the bag from his vest and unfolded it as he walked to the fridge pulling out several red berries and the apples. He always had a knife on him so he could cut the apple up for Princess. She didn’t like smearing her lipstick. “What do you want, Little Princess?”

      “I was gonna get marshmallows and graham crackers, so I could show Carlos a s’more,” she smiled, grabbing what she needed.

      “Yeah alright,” he nodded, looking the fridge over before deciding he didn’t need anything else.

      “He likes sweet things, plus you get to light marshmallows on fire,” she laughed.

      Jay closed the door and looked at her, “Why do you want to light them on fire?”

      “Cause then you get to blow them out and eat them on all their crunchy burned goodness” she smirked. 

      His head tipped in confusion, “But why? Burned doesn’t taste good.”

      “It's a thing, Ben and I will show you... well I will show you. Ben just browns his,” Penny shrugged.

      “Alright I’ll take your word for it Little Princess,” he smiled, tossing a few more things in his bag before grabbing what she had. 

      “This is gonna be a lot of fun” she bounced on the ball’s of her feet.

      Jay smiled guiding her out the room and relocked the door behind him. It was going to be fun. He slung his arm around her shoulders and smiled down at her, he only wished she would understand.

 

      “So what are the sticks for?” Carlos asked watching as Ben set 6 sticks to the side.

      “Marshmallows,” Ben looked at him, “You will like them Carlos, it's like candy”

      “Glad Jay is the one that has to deal with the sugar high puppy,” Mal snickered, catching sight of Penny and Jay walking back across the grounds, his arm around her shoulders.

      “Just for that, maybe I'll camp out in your room” Carlos looked at her with a smirk.

      Ben looked between the two with raised an eyebrow.

      “Oh yeah, camp out in my room with Lizard mom?” Mal asked, challenging him.

      “She’s not so bad when she’s that little. Just don’t put your hand in the tank” Carlos swallowed

      "Oh well then I can't wait for you to come camp out." She grinned, scrunching her nose.

      “Maybe I will,” he shrugged, “Oh thank evil your back,” he looked at Jay and Penny.

      Jay looked between Mal and Carlos, “Okay what the hell did you do to my pup?”

      “Nothing. He was just offering to camp out with me tonight,” Mal smiled at him, “Strawberries.”

      “How bout all the red berries, because you eat them too fast for me to know what they look like?” he shrugged, pulling out his loot, “You’re staying with me Pup.”

      “If you insist” he nodded, he could do it just to stick it to Mal. He was brave enough to hang out in her room with the lizard.

      “Ben was explaining that marshmallows are like candy” Evie added.

      “And Little Princess told me you're supposed to eat them burnt,” Jay made a face, “Here have your chocolate,” he settled down beside Evie and pulled his knife out of his boot sheath, “And apples for you gorgeous.”

      “Yes please” Evie smiled at him.

      “Don’t push your marshmallow beliefs on them. You eat marshmallows browned if not uncooked” Ben shook his head.

      “You don’t know what you’re talking about” Penny shook her head back with a smile.

      Jay started cutting the apple up with quick even strokes, handing her the peeled slices, “Go on Pup eat as much sugar as you want.” he was getting restless again and he could handle a sugared up Carlos for a night.

      “Oh goodie, bring on the marshmallow things” Carlos jumped up and over to where Penny was.

      Jay snorted, watching his jump around as he hand fed his Princess, “It’s good to see him happy.”

      “It is, you realize he’s going to be up all night. Until he sugar crashes anyway” Evie smirked before taking a bite sucking on his fingers to get the juice.

      “It’s fine, I haven’t really been sleeping that well anyway.” He shrugged eyes trained on the way her lips curled around his fingers.

      “And why is that?” she asked looking at him, “You ok?... that’s fire,” she blinked looking at the end of Penny’s sticks on fire.

      “I think so,” He shrugged, not wanting to bother her with his need for physical things. He looked at the flaming object, “What the hell is that?”

      “It's a marshmallow,” Penny smiled, blowing it out, she sucked off the charged outer shell of goo, and looked at the sticky underneath.

      “I don’t know if I believe you,” Jay looked at her.

      Mal laughed softly, “It’s just burned sugar Jay.”

      “This is so good” Carlos looked at them with goo around his mouth.

      “I will take your word for it.”

      “Put it between two pieces of chocolate,” Penny advised him.

      “Wait... that’s a thing?” Carlos looked at her with wide eyes.

      “Yeah come on” Penny grabbed his hand.

      Mal snorted as Jay shook his head, watching them with a soft smile, "So you like these things Ben?" She asked, popping a strawberry into her mouth.

      “They are alright, I’ll eat a few of them. I imagine that Penny and Carlos will eat quite a few more” Ben shook his head taking a strawberry, “It's funny she generally doesn’t like sweets, something about lighting marshmallows on fire though... I’m glad that hasn’t changed in all these years.”

      "We call those pyromaniacs," Mal teased, "But I get it. I'm not into sweets either but I like these. The perfect amount of sweet. Jay on the other hand, he just doesn't like any of it. At least nothing we've tried. E likes her sweets non messy, or right out of his hands as you can tell." She was pretty sure Jay had a thing about hand feeding his Princess just to make sure she ate appropriate amounts.

      “I can tell,” Ben agreed, maybe he and Jay could get Doug on board with the feeding thing. He was so.... Bashful surprisingly that it was hard to get him to do or talk about relationships.

      Mal looked Ben over curiously testing the waters, "They spent a lot of time together E and Jay on the Isle. We all did really. We just kind of clicked, Jay, E and Los especially. They get out of sorts here on the mainland sometimes. But this summer thing seems to be making things better. Less eyes on them, telling them they can't do things they grew up doing."

      “Perhaps we can create a place where isle kids can relax away from all the eyes, before we bring more over,” Ben suggested looking back at the fire.

      "You mean like another room? The boys room does well enough for us. We don't mind tight spaces, but every group has their own thing. Each one would need a separate space, that's why we just pick a room to be in."

      “Maybe a separate dorm?” he looked at her.

      “Oh that would be nice,” She nodded approvingly with a smile, “How bout that one no one seems to use on campus? We can take that over. Our own little Isle on the Mainland.”

      “I’ll work it out with Fairy Godmother, it may take a little time though as it will need to be updated and renovated to make it safe,” Ben nodded.

      “Please, it’s not about to fall down, it’s already safer than all the buildings at home,” she patted his knee, “And outdated is just fine for us.”

      “Unfortunately we have safety regulations, but maybe by the middle next school year, not long” Ben assured, he would love to let them have it now but it had to be inspected at the very least. He’d try and speed it up.

      “You mainlanders and your rules,” she rolled her eyes, “That’s fine, we understand really.”

      “I will try and make it go as quickly as possible” Ben nodded, picking up a strawberry, “want another” he held it up.

      “I’m not E,” she plucked it from his fingers with narrowed eyes, “You don’t need to hand feed me.”

      “No offense meant” he raised his hands, “It is a sweet gesture is all.”

      “Looks like my brother but his foot in his mouth” Penny muttered to Carlos watching the scene.

      “Can he actually get his foot into his mouth?” Carlos asked in wonder, eating another marshmallow.

      “You and sweet gestures,” she rolled her eyes taking another bite.

      Jay raised a brow at them and looked at Evie, “I think we are a bad influence for them.”

      “When aren’t we a bad influence” she smirked at him, Mal needed to let Ben have his moments. To bond with him, and let him bond with her.

      “Maybe I should teach him how to kiss next,” he grinned offering her another slice of apple, “Bet he’d be a quick study and would get him to loosen up a little.” 

      “Maybe give him a few drinks first,” Evie suggested taking another bite.

      “What you don’t think I could seduce him into it,” he snorted, watching the way she sucked the juice off his fingers, he really could go for a blow.

      “I think he needs encouragement,” Evie smiled, “This is nice”

      “He’s not the only one here needing encouragement here at our little bonfire.” he let her lean against him, “This is really nice. Way better than our roof can fires.”

      “Much better,” she nodded, “Penny still not biting.”

      “Not even a little bit,” he sighed, “I’m generally not bad with girls. I don’t understand what I’m doing wrong.”

      “I don’t think you’re doing anything wrong in this case. I think she’s like Gil dense on this topic,” Evie glanced over at Penny giggling with Carlos.

      “Fuckin’ hell,” he groaned, “I should have just taken Blondie up on her offer, bit the blade and prayed she didn’t squawk that I forced her. Or Erica. Or any of them.”

      “Maybe Carlos will want to play once he’s all sugared up,” Evie suggested, she wouldn’t mind but, at the same time good princesses didn’t do stuff like that.

      “He told me no, and I know you said no. No means no.” Jay sighed, rubbing his face. “Really I’ll figure something out.”

      “If you are sure? I have my moments as well, Mal even offered to give me alone time,” she snorted.

      "You should take it. Gotta take the edge off somehow. You and me get cranky without some relief every once and awhile."

      “I might, but for now I don't want to” she looked back, taking another bite.

      "Its not the same by yourself but it helps when it's too much," he offered, "You know where I am if you need anything I can help with." 

      “I just might move into your bed over this summer thing” she smirked. It had slipped, now might as well go with it.

      "You already moved into my closet, moving into my bed is just silver. Means you can curl up and let me keep you warm all night long." He replied smoothly 

      “Nice warm nights” she smiled sitting up.

      "You get too warm and you can strip." His eyes flicked over her, he missed seeing her bare skin.

      “You just want to see skin, I could agree to that... I think I need to try one of these marshmallow” she went to stand putting a hand on his shoulder.

      "I'll show you mine if you show me yours," he offered steadying her, "Go on, get some sweets Princess."

      “I thought we already had that deal” she smirked before going over to Carlos to steal a marshmallow.

      Jay leaned back stretching his legs out and slid his knife away munching the rest of the apple, core and all, sliding the seeds away into his vest. He really had missed doing this.

 

      “I do have to admit watching them burn is oddly satisfying,” Evie looked at the flaming marshmallow.

      “I know right, and they are delicious, ” Penny nodded making another s’more.

      “E these are like amazing. I think I want to eat these every night,” Carlos stuck three marshmallows onto his stick.

      “You are gonna have so much fun with Jay later,” Evie laughed looking at his sugar twitch.

      Mal shook her head, Jay could have put an end to it. Could have told Los that enough was enough but he didn't. He just sat leaned back on the blanket watching them with a far off look. Sometimes she wondered where he went. But she adjusted more to face Ben, her second was fine, he was likely just plotting how to spend his entire break. "So how often can we do this stuff? Its... familiar doing this kind of thing."

      “This, well you guys can have a bonfire almost every night if you want. Doesn’t hurt anything. I can also have more blankets brought out if you want to sleep out here some nights,” Ben nodded to himself more than her. He’d give her just about anything to help her and her friends feel more relaxed.

      Carlos finished off his marshmallows and plopped down next to Jay. 

      Mal tipped her head back to look at the stars, “Maybe. It’s still so weird to see the sky like this. We had never seen stars before we came here. The moon was never white, it was piss yellow, the brightest glowing thing we could make were glow sticks from chemical reactions.”

      Jay pulled Carlos into his side pressing a kiss to his temple, “You get enough sugar Pup?”

      “Yeah those are really good” Carlos nodded curling into Jay’s warmth.

      “I’m glad you like them,” he sighed enjoying the feeling of Carlos tucked against him as his almost two princesses hung out making s’mores.

      “I like this, it’s almost like home,” he nodded

      “Almost yeah,” he fell back dragging Carlos with him, “But home never had stars like this. You wanna lay on the roof sometime and look at them one night?” 

      “That could be fun, just don’t let me fall off.”

      "If you manage to fall off while I'm holding you we got issues," Jay snorted pulling Carlos' leg over his, "You cool with sleeping like this tonight?"

      “I’m cool with it” Carlos smiled, “I sleep better with you anyway”

      "Especially when you know I am not leaving the room without you knowing it." 

      “There is that” he laughed.

      Jay closed his eyes tossing an arm over his face, "If I pass out don't worry I'm just enjoying it out here."

      “No problem this is comfy, think E will join us?” Carlos watched the fire.

      "She might, told her she was welcome to curl up with us."

      “Then it really will be a pile” 

 

-*-Council Office-*-

      Enough was enough. Another night of the Princess staying out past her curfew and this time she had dragged the Prince along. It had to end, he had to put an end to it before anything else happened and sullied the good name of Beast.

      Farris passed his office as he read through the reports from his people. He needed a way to separate these brats from the princess. The king was concerned about how much time the princess was spending with them... or with the Street rat to be exact.

      Farris, himself, was concerned about it; the world was changing. The younger generation slowly growing into the powerful positions they would take over, the old dogs like himself were still in control. It would be hard to sell spoiled goods, to any of them, no matter what she brought to the table. The plan was to perhaps marry her to Chad Charming, he was a decent prince, would make sure the princess knew her place. Most importantly he would keep her out of the way.

      But of course none of that would happen, or it would be much more difficult to make happen, if that rat crawled between her legs. Or if that blue hair witch put idea’s in her head, or if that mangy mutt got too close to her. He needed a way to get them all to leave her be. He had watched them over the last few months trying to find a way to bring them down, send them back to the isle; undo the damage Prince Ben had done. 

      From what he had observed, it looked like the street rat was the way to controlling the others, or the others were the way to control him. So, if he took him out of the picture the others would be easy to roll up. The question of course was how? He had resisted almost all temptations, he didn’t bite at any of the girls' offers, not even the naked mermaid in the shower. Maybe he needed to try boys, he could be one of those... he wasn’t really his type but he was young and fit. Reminded Farris of a prince he would have liked to have under him when he was younger.

      He stilled as he came across something about earning money. He flipped back rereading as a smirked spread across his face, perhaps he could get his wish. After all if you sold yourself once you would do it again. The point though is that after you’d done it once, was your body really worth much. He had been with very many partners from the looks of it. Probably not worth the effort to take him.

      Then again... he had been here a while, he didn’t seem to be doing any work , it could be like the first time. There was nothing that Farris liked more than the first time the boys were under him, the way they reacted. Yes, it would be worth the effort. If he liked him enough he may even introduce him to the boy’s handler so he could continue his line of work.

Chapter 22: Making Messes/I Miss Her (Auradon: July)

Summary:

Sorry this got posted before the actual chapter 21. It has been corrected. Sorry for the confusion. ~Kevyon

Notes:

This chapter contains non-con between an adult and a student in the form of coercion. If you are uncomfortable reading that content, please skip the sections between -*-Non-con start-*- and -*-Non-con end-*-

Warnings:
References to past prostitution
underage drinking

      Jay shifted uneasily, it may have taken him the better part of two hours to decipher the note but there was no question he was in trouble. He didn't know for what either, but he went anyway. The building loomed in front of him and he let himself in. He would be fine, whatever happened he could handle it just like everything else. Tentatively he knocked on the door who's sign matched the symbols and numbers on the note.

      “Enter,” Farris called at the knock on his door, it was time to get these kids straightened out.

      Jay took another steadying breath, it was fine, he had this, he had gotten out of worse scraps before. He walked into the room with his easy going half smile and all of his paranoia bundled up in his throat. "You wanted to see me?"

      “Ah, Jay, just the young man I wanted to see. Please take a seat,” he glanced up at him. It was show time. He would steer the boy away from the princess of Auradon, and put him back in his place.

      Jay moved slowly closing the door behind him, acutely aware there were two ways out. The window with a three story drop and the door he had just walked through. He took a seat on the chair, eyes flickering to the fire place and the books, papers neatly filed on the shelves. Then he looked back at the man, Farris, who had brought him here.

      “Now I believe we have a few things to be discussed,” Farris shuffled his papers together.

      "Do we?" He asked still not sure as to why he was here. He had read, most, of the note and gleaned that he needed to go and see this Farris guy but that was about it.

      “The king has noticed you spend a lot of time with the princess. He has expressed some concerns” he watched the young man.

      "Are you not supposed to spend time with allies?" The word friend still felt weird, "She doesn't have anyone else, and it doesn't seem right to just... let her be alone." Jay was pretty sure this was like some off brand Goodness lesson, Farris was probably just trying to make sure he wasn't evil or something.

      “I can understand; wanting more allies on your side given you and your friends record. But with your history, I find myself concerned for the princess’ virtue. Even a whisper of impurity on her part whether true or not could ruin her,” Farris chuckled lightly, as if much more could make it harder to convince some one to marry that wild child.

      Jay frowned, he didn't know what some of those words meant, "My allies and I are just treating her like a person. Spend time with her, hang out. Do you want us to do what every one else does and talk shit behind her back and ignore her. Because I'm pretty sure no one will like what happens next." Penny would ruin all of them if she felt like they had betrayed her or abandoned her like the rest of the mainland.

      “Yes, it is terrible how she is treated. But making allies with a prostitute will probably not help how people treat her. As I’m sure you are aware prositution is illegal here in Auradon” he stood.

      Jay stiffened feeling the bottom of his stomach drop into cold sickening dread. He had been good, careful, he did everything he could to leave it on the Isle. He didn't have to use his skin to survive.

      “I did my research, you were profitable enough on the isle. And while you seem to have turned over a new leaf here, once a criminal... well I’m sure you know the rest of the saying. The king will not be pleased with these facts,” he smirked a little.

      Jay felt his chest start to burn unpleasantly, hands tingling, "Please... I was just doing what I had to, to survive. I haven't, I won't... I can't, I can't go back." If he got sent back to his father for the things he had to do for his father's payments, it would be his undeath.

      “We could perhaps work something out,” Farris moved around his desk.

 

-*-Non-Con Start-*-

 

      "Like what?" Jay stood abruptly putting the chair between them, maybe he could run? But there was something in his face, Farris wanted something from him that had nothing to do with the King or Penny.

      “You and I get to know each other better. And I will make these files disappear,” Farris stood once more.

Jay didn't have to be smart to know what it was Farris wanted from him. He didn't want to do this again, but what choice did he have? If it became common knowledge, he'd been sent back. He looked away, "No. You hand me the files and every copy of it," he would make sure they never came back to haunt him.

      “That can be arranged,” Farris nodded with a sigh. Up close he was very attractive, a little older than he liked. He picked up the file off his desk, “It is yours once we are done here.”

      "And there are no other copies of it?" He looked at Farris, his father was the best liar he knew. If Farris was lying Jay would know, Jay would never be doing this again. The heat pooled in his chest and he felt it climb across his tongue, "I did what I had to survive. I don't plan on ever seeing you or this information again after today. You aren't holding this over my head for me being nice to a lonely girl."

      “This is the only copy, as the king’s advisor I can't say we won't see each other again. But I won't call you here again,” Farris assented.

      "Deal," the word tingled but he ignored it, "Tell me what do you want." His expression went hard, this was business now, it wasn't enjoyable, it was what had to be done.

      “I want to feel you” he licked his lips.

      Jay took a slow breath and stepped towards the man. He had to do this. He didn't have another choice. Carefully he put a hand on the older man's wrist and guided the hand to his hip. Baby steps for the moment as he tried to get himself back in this mindset he never wanted to be in again. Sure he was horny, but not for this.

      “You are very pretty,” Farris said, running his fingers lightly over Jay’s cheek.

      He forced himself to remain still, to allow the hand on his face. The man wanted to feel him and Jay gave him a half smile, “Thanks.” taking his time he settled his hands on the front of Farris’ shoulders.

      “Shall we,” he motioned to his desk chair.

      "I guess you want to fuck me now?"

      Farris frowned, "You take all the enjoyment out of it. I suppose that is to be expected, this is simply like a business transaction to you. Too much to expect you reciprocate any semblance of enjoyment out of it. Suppose that's why no one seems to want you. Bend over the chair there."

      Jay's teeth ground but he took a deep breath and stepped back undoing his jeans. If there ever came a time where he could teach this old man a lesson he would take it in a heartbeat. He braced his hands on the seat of the chair and closed his eyes. There was barely a wait before Farris' hands pulled his jeans to his ankles and knocked his feet apart. But then there was nothing as the man hummed in enjoyment. Jay glanced back. The man's face was full of hunger and lust one hand still curled around himself as he carefully reached back and forth seeming to hesitate in his want to touch.

      "Rock back on your heels just a little," Farris breathed watching as Jay shifted his weight giving him a hard to place look, "Your a touch older than I expected, but you... you have such a perfect form," he explained finally touching Jay, fingertips glossing over exposed thick scars.

      His hand roamed over Jay’s backside testing the waters before he slid his thumb into the puckered hole. It must have been some time since the boy had been used, which for Farris was a good thing. Slipping a condom on he slowly pushed into Jay, appreciating the fact he didn’t make a noise and he kept his body rooted in place.

      “So quiet aren’t you,” he smiled brushing his fingers over the cobra moniker on the leather vest, “That is very good for me. I would hate to mar your skin with restraint marks.”

      “No restraints,” Jay growled fingers pressing into the seat of the chair not enjoying the feeling of Lord Farris inside of him. It was making his skin crawl and the searing heat in his chest to bunch up in his throat.

      Farris grunted slamming in deep hand reaching down to touch the boy’s flaccid skin, “I’m surprised you aren’t even a little interested, such a tight hole. It has been some time since you last whored yourself out?”

 

-*-Non-Con End-*-

 

      Jay saw red and felt lights explode around them before he could reign in the fury, but it had been enough as Farris jerked back stumbling to the floor. He slowly pulled his pants up and straightened before turning to face the man, “Don’t ever call me that. I did what I had to do to survive, because you decided no child of a villain was worth saving. I bled and starved because of you, I was forced to do whatever I had to do to survive just one more day, to keep mine safe. While you sat here in your comfortable life fucking boys because you liked the way they looked. You have no right to judge me for doing what I had to do because of your decision.”

      Farris stared up at the boy in fascinated horror as the beautiful gem like eyes shifted into snake eyes, his canines sharpened into curved venomous fangs. He tried to remain as still as possible as the boy seethed blaming him for being a whore. 

      “Now give me the damn papers, you got what you wanted,” Jay snarled.

      “But I didn’t did I?”

      “You wanted to feel me, I let you feel me, now we’re done. You give me what I am owed.”

      “No. I didn’t get what I wanted.”

      Jay stopped trying to control the destructive mass in his chest, he let it out in a raging fiery fury and stopped thinking, “Find every scrap and destroy it.”

      Farris screamed as the burning hot magic shot over his skin and around his room setting papers on fire without warning as Jay turned on his heel and walked away. The boy not even sparing a glance over his shoulder as he calmly walked away trusting his spell would deal with Farris. And it did as ash filled the air and the wood in the fireplace caught sending a rush of flame and ash up the chimney. No one would ever consider it was anything but an accident if he told them at all.

      Jay made it back to his room, Carlos thankfully out with Dude as he immediately raided his stash of alcohol and climbed up and out the window. He rubbed at his face as he flopped down on the roof of the dorm building and took a long drawl out of the whiskey bottle in his hand. How had Lord Farris found out? He could understand why Farris tried to use it against him,  he certainly didn’t understand or care there hadn’t been another way. All those good people judging him for the way he survived, telling him he was wrong for doing it while the man forced himself on others. He sniffed and took another long drink. There was no sense in feeling bad for himself, he had made the decision to sell his own skin, it was all he had to give in order to sate his baba’s greed. Sometimes even that wasn’t enough for the man. But he had chosen it and no one else. He was to blame for that.

      Jay squelched the urge to scream and throw the bottle, it wouldn’t do him any good. Not any more. He had lost control of the burning heat in his chest and it had lashed out. Magic, it was magic, no sense in him denying he knew what the thing was. But he could suppress it, he could hide it away, bury it at the bottom of the pit and never let it see the light of day again. He had to. If it got out that he had gotten magic from touching the dark fairy staff they would send him back. Hell there were a list of offenses that would send him back at this stage, if he couldn’t get his shit together he was going to get sent home. Squeezing his eyes shut he grabbed at the seething heat in his chest and shoved it deeper down, tried to pull it into the depths of the pit where all the unwanted things lived. The desires he didn’t want anymore but couldn’t shake. The kindness he hid away to protect it. He had to pull himself back into control.

      “So, you're hiding up here?” Penny asked as she made her way across the roof to him. She plopped down next to him, “What are you drinking?”

      He looked at the one person he didn’t want to see, but he squashed his want, and gave her a smile. He was not going to push her away like the rest of the mainland, it wasn’t her fault. “Whiskey. What brings you up here?” he asked taking another drawl from the bottle before offering it to her.

      Penny tentatively took the bottle, taking a swig from it. She made a face coughing and handed the bottle back, “Hiding, apparently it's time to discuss how my life will progress,” she looked at him, it was more like her being told she was imposing on their new citizens, it had been suggested that maybe they didn’t actually want to spend time with her and where just humoring her.

      “Sounds fun,” he snorted sarcastically as he took another drink before shaking his head, “In that way that sounds like bullshit. You should be able to live your life the way you want to.” he looked at her, “You know you can talk to me about this stuff right?”

      “Can I? Cause I just got a dressing down about how you guys are just being nice to me because I’m Ben's sister. Hell, that’s kinda why everyone is ever nice to me,” she played with her fingers, “I mean it makes it easy to burn their world down around them, cause they don’t think I’m really there. Maybe I’ll steal all my dad’s liquor bottles.”

      “Penny, tell me something. Am I nice to people?” he asked, turning slightly to look at her, there were some days she reminded him of someone else. A girl with a fire in her eyes, and ice in her chest, who demanded to be heard, and carved a bloody path to get her way. He wanted that girl more than anything he had ever stolen.

      “Um... I like you, but I like you cause you don’t act like anyone else,” she put her head on his shoulder, “I don’t like the world. I know things that don’t make any sense but at the same time seem like they are how the world works”

      He rested his head against hers, she was probably right, he wasn’t nice, “That’s the way it is everywhere. And for the record I generally don’t stick around people I don’t like.”

      “Good to know” she took the bottle making another face as she took a swig.

      They sat there in silence for a while as they passed the bottle back and forth. He was drinking way more than she was but he was pretty sure she wasn’t trying to get drunk. He was trying to drink away the feeling of Farris on his skin.

      “Do you like Erica, cause she seems like she likes you or she wants something from you. Did you know she sneaks into the guys locker room to watch the guys shower sometimes,” she rambled, she didn’t know what to say. She liked the bubbly feeling in her body, but she wasn’t sure she liked how her mouth just kept going.

      “She’s okay, but she wants something from me I won’t give her. And I know, it’s her business, to me it’s just skin. You don’t like her? Or you don’t like her cause she’s interested in me?” he asked, draining the bottle, “Do you want to go in? I got more liquor inside. Switch over to rum.”

      “Sure we can go in... that sounds interesting” Penny nodded, “as for Erica, I don't really know. She’s not mean to me out right anyway, but then she swims naked with people in the ocean... that maybe because of the tail. And well, I... if she likes you and you like her...I don’t know I just know you make me feel funny.”

      “She has a tail?” Jay asked trying to imagine her with a tail and cleared his throat, “Alright inside time, cause I’m telling you she and I ain’t happening.” he was firm, she was a nice girl, ballsy girl but she wasn’t someone he could trust. He guided Penny inside swapping out bottles and took a sip of the rum, so much better than Pirate rum. He offered it to her.

      “Does it all burn when it goes down” she coughed, “And I haven’t seen the tail only heard of it.”

      “Not as bad as the rum the Pirates make on the isle. This ain’t bad, takes more than a flask to make me tipsy so that’s a nice change too.” He tipped the bottle back, “You wanna talk?”

      “I don’t think you want to listen to me whine about people thinking you want to use me for something. Even though everyone is always using someone for something. They want me to marry some prince, but they are all so...” she shrugged, “The prince from Navie eats bugs which isn’t terrible I guess. Then there’s Chad, who... honestly I think I might stab if they tried to make me marry.”

      “I’ll likely beat you to it,” Jay snickered, “Rest assured I don’t want to use you for anything except someone to hang out with that won’t judge me. Helps you remind me of someone from home.” 

      “Oh is she special... like Evie?” she asked, taking another drink. She wanted to know about the Isle, “Do you miss your home?”

      “Miss it? No, I only miss the freedom I had there.” he avoided the question about her. She wasn't special like Princess, she was... lust embodied, a nightmare made flesh, she was everything he wanted. 

      “Freedom sounds nice, the ability to do whatever you want,” she curled into his side, she liked it here with him. No one was judging her here, no one was talking about stuff she didn't want to talk about, “You didn’t tell me about your ally, is she pretty?”

      “She’s not my ally.” he stated licking his lips suddenly having the urge to bring her up to speed on the kind of things she should be expecting from him. “Tell you what, you take two more shots and I’ll give you an answer.” 

      “Deal” she said taking the bottle and took two swallows setting the bottle back down, “Tell me about your not ally, who is she?”

      “Her name is Io, the Crocodile of the Jollyroger,” Jay smiled taking another bottle out and set it on the table.

      “Io... so she’s a pirate? I thought you guys didn’t get along with the pirates,” she looked at the bottle, “And how many of those do you have?”

      “Mal doesn’t get on with pirates, mostly not their leader. Me, I get on as well with them as everyone else on the Isle. Does not enough, count as an answer?”

      “I guess so, what’s she like?” she shrugged, “Who are her parents?”

      “That’ll cost you,” Jay replied half through his second bottle, the alcohol signing through his veins, evil he wanted contact, real actual contact.

      “Fine” she sighed, took the bottle from the table and took two swallows, “Well what’s she like?”

      “Who said the price was shots?” Jay snickered as he stretched and set the empty down, “Always remember to set the price before making deals. We didn’t have any money on the Isle so we traded and made deals with what we did have.”

      “Wait... uh... so what’s the price?” she looked at him, “So, if someone offers a deal make sure its set.”

      “Always make sure it’s set.” He nodded before throwing his better sense right out the window and kissed her flat on the mouth, “That’s the price,” he purred against her lips before pulling back, “She is a nightmare made flesh, You remind me of her sometimes when you're busy plotting and planning. I wonder what she’d be like if she grew up here,” he pondered the idea.

      “Sounds like how people talk about me behind my back.” Penny snorted, “That felt nice” she smiled putting her head on his shoulder.

      Jay pulled the bottle from her hand capped it and set it on the table before pulling her back, “She’d think it was a compliment. But probably a good thing she didn’t grow up here, I don’t want her to be anything than what she is.” the feel of her back against his chest, her cool skin on his lips, the sharp press of her dagger against his inner thigh, her lips against his cheek. Jay pulled Penny closer and kissed her again, just a quick peck.

      “I wear it like battle armor” she laughed dryly curling up against him, “She sounds like a great not ally. Do you think Ben will bring her over? I heard Evie had a list for him.”

      “Mal would never allow it,” he gave no further explanation, because Io was not a beast Mal understood how to deal with. Jay, would at least work with her

      “Does that make you upset? Maybe I can encourage Ben,” she suggested, “She seems important to you” she wasn’t sure what she was feeling about Jay, he made her stomach do funny things, seeing him happy with girls that weren’t her or Evie made her upset for some reason. But hearing him talk about this girl, Io, it didn’t bug her, if anything it made her feel warmer.

      Jay looked at her, "I don't know really, but its whatever, I don't think your brothers gonna pull it off." He tugged her back into him and kissed her again, she was not what he really wanted but her shock over the kisses was very familiar. He could pretend for a few seconds it was Crocodile.

      “Besides being a pirate what does Crocodile do?” She asked with a small smile.

      He shrugged, "Whatever Crocodile does. She ain't in my gang so I didn't keep tabs on her. Knowing her likely raising hell as usual."

      “Huh, I thought of you guys as more of a family then a gang,” she nodded, “She has her own gang then?”

      "Its... hard to explain to mainlanders. Mal is our leader, I'm her second. She considers all of us as her minions. I took things a step further and claimed Princess and Pup. Their mine," he shifted looking up at the ceiling. "Everyone has one. You don't have one, your free game and generally that doesn't end well."

      “Doesn’t sound like it does. So you protect them” she said, “Who protects you though?”

      "Supposed to be Mal, but I tend to just keep myself safe. Her big thing is I get into messes, I can get myself out of them too."

      “That doesn’t sound right” she shook her head cuddling into his heat, “so do you..."

      "Do I what?" He asked curling an arm around her to keep her fixed to his side. If she asked about him, it was easy to make her forget about Io. Io wouldn't much appreciate his talking about her, no matter the reason.

      “Do people make deals... how do you guys figure out who’s an Ally or not Ally?” She tried to make sense of it in her head, “Cause it just seems like you’d just pick people you knew couldn’t get the drop on you. But that doesn’t make sense cause I’m pretty sure Evie could put you in a world of hurt if she wanted to.”

      He shifted again, “You never know who’s an ally or not. Not really. You can’t trust anyone, not even when you claim someone. I got lucky, Princess and Pup need me more than they want to stab me in the back. I’ve seen whole gangs get it from just one member trying to get more power.”

      “Doesn’t sound like much of a life, so you don’t trust anyone.” That sounded really lonely, then again she didn’t really trust anyone either.

      “Neither do you,” he shot back kissing her temple, “It’s fine though, I’d keep you safe anyway. No one should have to be alone, not when I’m around.”

      “Promise?” She asked, sounding small even to herself.

      “I swear. As long as I am there I will keep you safe, no matter what,” Jay never went back on his word, it was all he ever had, “You’ll never be alone again Penny.”

      “Will you teach me how to protect myself?” She asked.

      “I can teach you a few things, but your baba is gonna skin me if he catches me teaching you.”

      “I should know how to protect myself. What if they send me away again?” she didn’t trust the council or her father not to try.

      “Then I will find you. I won’t stop until I find you and bring you back,”

      “You’re gonna be there” she turned a little to look at him.

      “I can be if you want me to be there,” he nodded turning his head away to yawn.

      “Be nice to have someone be there” she nodded, she never really felt like anyone cared to come for her. 

      He hummed drifting off, “I won’t stop until I get you back, no matter what happens.”

      “What do you dream about?” she rolled over to burying her face in his chest.

 

      Jay woke to a hangover and sun glaring in his face. He grumbled and looked down to Penny who was nestled against him still asleep. It had been nice to drink with her, and talk. He swallowed cringing, why did he tell her about Io? The girl wanted to bring her here and while that was the thing he was supposed to do he also wanted to keep the girl safe from Crocodile. Crocodile was unpredictable, and easy to provoke. Penny was too good at provoking people. He'd do the right thing, he'd make sure she understood.

      “Got lucky last night? You are both still wearing clothes so probably not” Carlos looked at Jay, “but she should probably go out the window”

      “Uh... what’s going on?” Penny muttered, not opening her eyes.

      "Nah just drank a lot and talked," Jay nudged Penny, "Its morning. We fell asleep talking last night. Penny," he waited until she tilted her head looking at him blurrily, "Whatever I said last night about Crocodile, forget it. The only thing I need you to promise me is that you will stay away from her and never under any circumstances make a deal with her. Never."

      “Why would I... I thought you wanted her over here?” she pushed her hair back looking at him as she sat up. She was confused, it sounded like he liked this person; why wouldn’t he want to bring them here.

      "Promise me you will stay away from her and never makes deals with her. Promise me," he gripped her arm firmly careful not to hurt her. No matter what he wanted he had to keep her safe from Io.

      “Ok... I promise to stay away from her” Penny promised, they probably wouldn’t ever meet if she never came over. So it seemed like Penny had nothing much to worry about.

      Jay sighed in relief, "Thank you. Now you should probably go before someone comes looking," he smirked at her, "See you later today."

      “Ok, I’ll see you later” she nodded pulling on her shoes giving Carlos a smile as she slipped out the window like he wanted.

      “So you told her about Crocodile? That’s interesting” Carlos looked at Jay as he slid the window closed.

      "In my defense I was drinking," he flopped back onto his back.

      “She wasn’t drinking enough if you both feel asleep wearing clothes” Carlos laughed.

      "I may or may not have kissed her and she froze. She has no idea about kissing either." He rubbed his face, "That stays between us."

      “Like I’m going to tell Mal, maybe Evie but never Mal. She’s... she doesn’t understand boys and girls it’s weird," Carlos shook his head sitting on the bed next to him, “Mainland girls are just weird period” 

      "They really are. They are either all in or all off." He tossed his arm over Carlos' lap with a smile, "You sleep okay?"

      “Yeah, Evie and I cuddled all night,” Carlos nodded, “You sleep good?”

      "I think so? I know I need to go find me some more alcohol."

      “You two went through all of that... from the lack of throwing up, I'm going to guess you went through most of it” Carlos sighed.

 

-*-Beast Castle-*-

     

      Farris sat across from Adam holding a cold compress to one of the burns on his wrists.

      “How did this happen? How could you let this happen?” Adam growled, “How did a fire start in your office of all places?”

      “It was a... bad stroke of fate.” Farris drawled he could blame the boy he supposed after all it was his wild magic that burned everything.

      “And how did this stroke of fate happen?” he raised an eyebrow, honestly now that Ben had opened the gates others were going to want to see the Isle records.

      “I was... entertaining in my office and an oil lamp was knocked over,” he moved the compress.

      “Entertaining... I believe we agreed you would keep your... entertainment out of the walls of the castle,” Adam snorted, “We must come up with a story for anyone that wishes to see those records. You do not normally bring me such a mess, and that is the only reason I am not having you thrown from the castle.”

      “I thank you, your majesty” Farris bowed his head, “A simple electrical fire or a candle, just a suggestion”

      “I will figure it out, you have caused enough problems for one summer,” Adam snapped, he over looked Farris’ need to fuck young men, if you could call them men. But if it caused him problems again then he might have to retire his old friend.

      “Of course your majesty” Farris agreed, he needed this foolish king to listen to him. But he couldn’t shape the kingdom and Prince Ben if he wasn’t here.

      “I will figure out what to tell anyone that asks, you are dismissed for now Farris” Adam ordered with a wave of his hand.

Chapter 23: Free Running (Auradon: July)

Notes:

To make up for the chapter mix up, I gift you another chapter.

      Penny stood on the roof of the dorm watching as Jay tried to find a good path for them.

      Jay looked around judging distances by eye and Penny’s normal stride. He had to make sure it was safe for her, he was fine with risking breaking bones but he’d prefer she didn’t. “Alright follow me,” he gestured with his head before taking off at a slow jog across the slanted roof. 

      Penny followed after him at an easy pace, she had a feeling she was going to give the guards a heart attack if they saw her.

      He leapt over a gap and turned double checking she was still behind him.

      Penny watched him leap the gap, she picked up her pace and jumped stumbling a little as she landed.

      Jay steadied her with a smile, “That’s it, just like that. You’re getting better at this.”

      “Thanks” she smiled back at him, she liked spending alone time with him. Her father wasn’t that big of a fan of it but as long as she was technically in a public place.

      “Ready to keep going? Figure after we put in some more roof time, you and I can head back to the pet store so you can pet the little dogs. I know you like doing that.”

      “That sounds like a great plan” she nodded, she did like the little dogs.

      He nodded to himself more than her happy he was doing a good job to make her happy, “Let’s go then, steady momentum helps you get over gaps.”

      “Right, don't stop just go” she nodded, “How far can you jump?” she studied him.

      “Farther than you,” he shrugged, “But it honestly depends on how fast I’m going. The faster I’m moving the further I can jump. Also for me, and you get there with practice, you don’t think you just act.”

      “Makes sense, over thinking can get in the way” Penny nodded in understanding.

      “For me it is a second guessing issue. If I give myself time to think I will get myself hurt.” he tried to explain.

      “I understand, I think,” she agreed, she didn’t always go with her first instinct and she could sort of get that that could be a problem.

      "But for the time being, we'll go around and I will tell you the jumps you can't make because your legs aren't long enough. I'll also let you know the ones you'll be able to make with practice." Jay tipped his head, gesturing her to follow him once more.

      “I hate being smaller than everyone” she followed after him.

      "You can't help that, no sense stressing over it," he offered giving the girl a glance over his shoulder as they moved.

      She sighed, well at least she was learning something. Maybe once she was a little taller she could learn more. “So we heading into town then?”

      "Yeah this is my general route that way," Jay was careful to keep his pace slow so then he wouldn't move on auto over jumps he knew she couldn't make.

      “I never thought about the fact we can get to town over the roofs” she admitted sticking as close as she could.

      "I do this when I can't sleep. Beats laying there staring at the ceiling and to be honest sometimes it helps me sleep."

      “Sounds like it can be tiring, I like the looks of the grounds at night. It's so quiet I lay on the roof above my room at the castle when I can’t sleep,” Penny smiled.

      "Has it always been so starry out here at night?"

      “Yeah, unless its cloudy. I like looking at them, they are an odd comfort” she nodded, she loved the stars. At Merryweather’s she would sneak out to look at them at night.

      He hummed, "We never saw stars before we got here."

      “You can’t see them from the isle?” she asked surprised, she couldn’t imagine not being able to see them.

      "Never, it was very dim on the Isle."

      “That's... that's just sad, stars are... I don’t know, they make me feel hopeful when I look at them” she shook her head, she didn’t want to even think about having never seen them until now. Stars were such an important part of a lot of the old stories.

      "I don't know about hopeful, but they... make me feel small. Make me wonder what else is out there other than the school, the town, and the Isle. My luck is I'll never see anything but that, mine won't want to leave the relative safety here," he took a jump and turned back ready to grab Penny just in case.

      “Maybe I can take you guys one day. Or Ben, I mean he’s going to have to take Mal on a tour of the kingdoms,” she pointed out, jumping the gap as she spoke.

      "That would be cool," touring kingdoms sounded like fun actually.

      “It can be depending on which kingdoms,” Penny giggled.

      “Any kingdom you and mine are in is fine for me. Except maybe Agrabah, I want to avoid that place.”

      “Probably a good idea, I’ve heard it’s super hot there,” Penny said, “Maybe we could go to Scotland and see the kingdoms between.” 

      "What's or I guess where is Scotland? Is it that far away from us?" Jay really had no idea how big anything was anywhere.

      “Far enough” Penny shrugged, “Probably about 5 days if we traveled non stop, and that more because you have to change from a train to a boat part way, or you could take a boat the whole way.”

      "Scratch that off the list too. I don't do confined spaces," it wasn't the space really it was the idea of being trapped. With his holes, no matter how small, he could at least get out if he needed to.

      “Could drive too, the drive  takes longer but you can get out anytime you want” she pointed out, “I’ve heard some people just walk all over, from kingdom to kingdom.”

      "Princess would never go for it, but I'd like that. More to see if you go on foot."

      “I don’t think it would be so bad to wander around for a few years, see things that others don’t normally,” Penny jumped after him.

      "I always liked wandering." He found a comfort in just moving without a destination in mind. Then again it was good for his runs too.

      “Sounds fun, I wish I could go wandering,” she often wondered what it would be like to just wander around not having to worry about guards or escorts. She got away with slipping them around here because it was home and close to the castle. Plus they didn’t allow escorts or guards on school grounds.

      “Well if you can get away you and me can go wander the woods. If I get too restless, I go there and run. Work on my climbing and flips and shit.” Jay knew they had a word for it, he just didn’t remember what it was.

      “Have to get better at slipping my guard detail then” she turned slightly to look at him as they slowed for a second, she hadn’t been expecting it and had nearly crashed into his back.

      Jay looked down at her, “You okay there Penny?”

      “Yeah, just wasn’t paying attention, wasn’t expecting you to slow down” she nodded, giving him a lopsided smile.

      “You always have to be aware of your surroundings, even if you think you're alone. Anyone can get the drop on you.”

      “Sorry” she nodded sheepishly. she was normally on her toes but with Jay she felt like she could relax a little.

      “It’s cool Little Princess,” he swung his arm around her shoulders, “I will keep you safe but you have to keep your eyes open and pay attention.”

      “I know, I just... I’m safe with you, it lets me relax a little bit,”  she explained.

      “You can relax and be observant you know,” he teased her as they stood overlooking the town.

      “Yeah I know I don’t know how to explain it,” she shrugged again looking at the street below them.

      “Ready to go down and pet some little dogs?” he was hoping she was understanding, while he would keep her safe she needed to keep herself aware, to not be a target.

      “Yep, I want to scratch all those little guys behind the ears” she smiled, she’d do better at this. She didn’t want him to decide she wasn’t worth hanging out with.

      “Alright then follow me down and watch your step,” he quickly descended the building they were on and looked up ready to catch her if she fell.

      Penny watched how he climbed down the drain pipe and got down. She slipped off the side grabbing the pipe and slowly started to lower herself down. Once she was down most of the way she let go landing with a slight tip backwards.

      Jay grabbed around her waist pulling her back into him, keeping her upright, “Careful there Little Princess,” he warned softly, holding her against himself.

      “Thanks, almost had it” she looked up at him with a smile.

      “Yeah you almost did,” he gave her a bright smile.

      “Next time it will be better” she nodded before pulling back so she could lead him to the pet store.

      Jay followed after her, hands shoved in his pockets as he kept an eye on everything he could. There were always people watching her and to be honest after the, issue, with Lord Farris, apparently the King's advisor, he wasn't taking any risks. He got it, he did, to them he'd be nothing more than a low life thief and a whore. He would never be worthy to even be associated with their shining innocent princess. But she liked him, so they tolerated his existence near her. Jay just had to be extra careful, nothing new really, he just had to go back to assuming everything was out to get him.

      Penny turned back, giving him a smile as she opened the door to the store, “You ok?” she asked, taking in his stance. It wasn’t off but at the same time it gave her a vibe or something.

      "Always," he gave her the silvered lie as easy as he breathed. He took the door from her, "Go on Little Princess the dog scratching waits for no one."

      Penny watched for a second before turning and heading towards the dogs. She felt like he had just sort of bs’d her but, maybe it was just Jay being Jay.

      Jay would give it to her for only half believing him. That was understandable really, she was very observant and she knew better.

      Penny sat down letting the puppies climb into her lap. She smiled giving ear rubs and butt scratches.

      Jay hovered watching her sit there with the puppies, they were cute he gave them that but he still preferred his eels and Iago. Beelzebub was cool too, the monstrously large cat had been a near constant menace on the isle.

      “Was there anything else you wanted to do in town?” Penny looked up at him.

      "Wander? I saw some electronics places that would be cool for Pup but I didn't want to piss anyone off. Unless you had someplace you wanted to go into."

      “We can go check them out, need a new charger for my phone anyway” she nodded, she didn’t mind wandering around with him.

      "You can buy new ones for that?" He in all of his ability to make things look untouched could not for the life of him remember where his phone and charger went.

      “Yeah, they break all the time or wear out” she smirked a little.

      "Huh, I should probably get Pup a few more. He's kind of the one in charge of all our tech," Jay explained.

      “Makes sense he seems to like computers and tech. He understands it all really well too,” she understood Carlos being a tech guy, it seemed like his thing.

      "I was always grabbing him broken mechanical and electrical stuff and he'd take it all apart and put it back together."

      “That is a real skill that. It's amazing how hard it is to fix some of these things, but some of them break so easily” Penny pulled a puppy closer to her.

      He smirked, "You'll never make money if it lasts forever." That was a thing he learned from his father. The words also came with the memory of a hand on the back of his neck and he reached down picking up a puppy and held it forcing the memory away, he did not want that anymore.

      “Capitalism at its best” she chuckled watching him, something was bothering him. But she didn’t want to push him, if he wanted to tell her something he would.

      "Makes the world run, at least if you go by villain standings. Whoever holds the gold makes the rules."

      “It works pretty much the same here” she nodded in agreement.

      Jay snorted, "Well at least that's one thing our homes have in common." He rubbed the puppy's belly as its paws curled over his wrist and it squirmed trying to nip and lick at his fingers.

      “Funny to think of things being similar between the two,” she watched him with a smile as she saw the puppy’s interactions, “You guys are all pretty good with animals.”

      "I grew up with a Macaw, and raised two eels since they were babies. My minions were always good to me so I've always been good to them. Pup raised a cat and Princess a macaw of her own, one of my Macaw's kids."

      “That’s right... I can never remember the name of the parrot in the story” she chuckled, “He had eggs with someone, well that sounds like it was... exciting?”

      "Iago," Jay supplied before frowning, he... he couldn't remember a female bird or the eggs, just that Iago had been in a fit about his feathered kids. "I don't... I don't remember." He shook his head, "I am sure it was entertaining at least."

      “Does he get to spend a lot of time with Evie’s bird?” she asked

      "He's never met Othello. I used to tell him about her when it was just him and I at baba's house. He seemed to like it," Jay let the puppy gnaw on his hand, not minding the sharp teeth in his skin.

      “Oh... that’s sad, but I suppose it happens. At least he knows where she is,” Penny nodded

      "Yeah telling EQ she's the fairest in the land after the woman birdnapped her from Princess' bedroom." Jay snorted remembering Evie's fury at finding her mother's doings.

      “Does that keep her safe?” she asked.

      "I think so?" Jay shrugged, "EQ is into the whole vanity thing."

      “I gathered from what I've heard of her”  Penny pushed herself back up to standing.

      Jay eased the puppy back down with the others, "I don't think all of them are like the stories."

      “I don’t think so either but some of them are” she wrapped her arm around his.

      "And some of them are worse," he mentioned holding her arm as they headed back towards the door, the store owner was used to them coming in just to pet the dogs.

      “Well then they are where they belong, and you are here with me” she let him guide them down the street.

      "Except there are plenty of people like me still there where they don't belong," Jay stated as they headed back onto the street.

      “We will work with Ben and get more brought over” she tried to be reassuring.

      "I'd appreciate that." He gave her a warm smile rubbing his knuckles against her hand, "Your brother is going to need help doing the right thing."

      “I think he has a good handle on the right things, but well its hard with people getting in the way” she nodded.

      “Kind of normal thing for us.”

      “Shouldn’t be normal for anyone,” she sighed, it was wrong. There were lines that needed to be made and punishing children for their parents' crimes was one of those lines to her.

      Jay pushed the door open to the electronics store looking at the odd upside down U’s, “What are those things?”

      “They are supposed to stop people from stealing the stuff,” she explained, “They go off if you go through them without paying.”

      “Good to know. Try to keep my hands to myself,” he joked as they walked through them. He instantly felt the eyes on him, they knew he was a thief, then again everyone in the town seemed to know despite the fact he was doing his best to not steal things from them.

      “Its ok” Penny assured him, giving a glare at the shop keeper.

      "I know I've got you, the sass of Auradon," he gave her a smile and looked around the store, "So where are these extra phone cords? I need to get Pup some spares."

      “They are probably over near the back,” she pointed towards where she could just see the sign for phones.

      "Wanna head straight there or wander around?"

      “Its up to you, this store isn’t a bad one,” she looked around them as they moved down an aisle. 

      "Not generally my thing, more of Pup's. I leave all the technical stuff to him. Give me stuff that doesn't move and I can make it look like new." Jay admitted as his eyes roved over the shelf around them.

      “Alright let's grab those cords and get out of here then,” she agreed.

      "Sounds good to me," Jay agreed looking back to her. There was something about her that kept his stealing impulses in check here.

      “There they are” she nodded to where the colorful cords hung on the racks.

      Jay removed his hands from his pockets, letting her arm go as he flicked through the hanging cords. He knew what the hole in the phone looked like so he could find the right cords that way. Making a face he twisted a plastic package trying to get a better view of the small plug. He was pretty sure this was the right one, but he'd rather be sure.

      “Do you know what type of phone he has?” Penny asked as she looked for one that she liked.

      "No. But I know what plug it needs, same as mine." He offered distractedly.

      “Like mine?” she asked, she wasn’t sure what types of phones Ben had gotten for them.

      Jay looked at her phone flipping her wrist so he could look at the slot, "Um yeah that's the same hole as ours."

      “Then I would recommend this brand then,” she held up the package with the rainbow cord she’d decided on.

      He nodded and flicked through the colors they had picking out their colors as best he could. Solid red for him, solid blue for Princess, and he found a black and white one for Pup. For Mal he grabbed a solid purple one. As the packages slid he tucked one half in his main pocket so he could grab his wallet and check how much cash he had on it. Looked like he had enough. Nodding to himself he rearranged the haul in his hand, putting his wallet back into pants before reaching to grab the package he had tucked away temporarily. 

      “You have one for everyone?” she teased, looking around as she felt eyes on them.

      “Well yeah,” he nodded, “If  I only get one the others bitch about getting left out. I got used to it on my hauls.” Jay sidestepped a hand coming for his wrist. 

      Jay eyed the man who tried to grab him as he pulled the other package back into his hands with the others. What the hell was this? He wasn’t even stealing anything, he had seen the cameras and with Little Princess here he wasn’t going to do anything to get her in trouble. 

      “Excuse you” Penny crossed her arms looking at the man, “Was there something you needed?”

      “Just on the look out for thieves. Turn out your pockets,” he stated looking at Jay, “Unless you want me to call the police.”

      Jay’s jaw clenched, “I’m not even stealing anything.”

      “So I should call the police then, give you a full pat down,” the man folded his arms over his chest glaring at Jay.

      “We haven’t done anything wrong, we just needed to grab some cords for our phones. If that is a problem we can take our business elsewhere,” Penny snapped at the man, “To add to that the policy here in Auradon is Innocent until proven guilty. If you are going to judge based on rumors then I would hate to see what rumors will do to you.”

      “There is an easy solution here. He turns out his pockets. I watched him put things in his vest, he turns out his pockets and proves he hasn’t stolen anything and I will escort you to the registers.”

      “He doesn’t have too, he has rights,” Penny growled, “It’s up to you Jay, you do have a choice.”

      “Doesn’t really feel like it,” he grumbled, extending the packages to the guy, “Hold these.” when the guy took them rolling his eyes Jay turned out his vest pockets, not bothering with his internal ones as the vest was fully zipped, “See nothing. I didn’t steal anything. I put it in my pocket, in plain sight, so I could check and see if I had enough money.”

      “Are you satisfied?” she raised an eyebrow at him in challenge.

      “Very,” he handed the phone cords back to Jay, “Come on, let’s get you two on your way,” nodding the man guided them to the registers. 

      Penny gave the man a nasty glare as they walked, she wanted to curl under Jay’s arm. To make sure he knew she wasn’t going anywhere no matter what these jack asses did.

      Jay shifted closer to Penny and rolled his eyes, “Never a dull day with you Little Princess.”

      “If this keep happening you guys aren’t going to want to come into town with me,” she sighed

      “It’s whatever. Chad likely told every soul in this town I was a thief on the Isle. Doesn’t much matter what I do now, just try to kick my bad habits is all,” Jay waited patiently in line with the annoying guy who made him turn out his vest main pockets.

      “Then I should have punched him harder,” she grumbled

      “I think I got him tackled enough on purpose in Tourney, but I can always do worse if you want when he gets back. As long as you swear I won’t get sent back,” He offered.

      “Depends on how much worse, there's only so much even I can get away with,” she sighed, she’d love to have his eyes pecked out. But that was too far, and she wouldn’t ask Jay for that anyway.

      “I could cold clock him.” Jay shrugged as he set his haul on the belt and pulled his wallet back out.

      “Might be worth it to see him with a back eye or two. Have to set it up right though” Penny shook her head.

      “Right in the middle of practice. I could claim he ran into my fist,” he handed the woman the cash and a warm bright smile as her cheeks flushed and she looked away, at least he hadn’t lost his charm.

      “What about his helmet? I’d hate for your fist to get stuck in his face mask” she snickered, handing over her cord to be rung up.

      “Please, like that’s going to stop me in the slightest.” he held his bag waiting for her.

      Penny ran her card and took her bag with a nod following after him as they left the store.

      “So where to next Little Princess?” he asked as they stepped back into the warm summer afternoon.

      “We could grab something to eat if you like, or we can head back” she looked at him. She wasn’t sure if he’d had enough of town today.

      “Food sounds good. I have enough money left to bring some back to mine.” He would make sure his got fed at least.

      “Sandwiches sound good?” she asked with a smile.

      “I’m pretty much a trash can. I’ll eat just about everything,” Jay snickered, “Most of the food I had on the Isle went to mine, so I eat whatever I can get.”

      “There’s a little cafe down the street” she suggested, it was new since she had last been home. But Evie liked it when they talked about it.

      “Lead the way,” Jay took her arm once more, “Also thanks for having my back in there. I’ll just be sure not to do anything that looks sketchy in there ever again.”

      “They shouldn’t treat you like that, you’re a person,” she looked at him, “I’ll always have your back”

      “I’m the son of a villian. I kind of just expect everyone is going to be like that in some way or the other. Saves me a whole lot of unneeded suffering in hoping for different.”

      “Waiting for the other shoe to drop, understand that feeling” she nodded as she stopped outside the cafe with him.

      "You really shouldn't know what that feels like. I mean you're the daughter of a hero, people should like you." Jay opened the door holding it for her.

      “You haven’t spent enough time around my father or the council... there’s always a catch, always another shoe” Penny shook her head, she could only imagine what he would have done to Ben if he had been younger and pulled his little stunt. “What type of sandwich do you want?” she didn’t... this wasn’t stuff she normally talked about. Her father was her protector, he wouldn’t let any harm come to her, but at the same time if she pushed too far he made it clear.

      "Sounds like dealing with the villains at home. You always had to be prepared to duck, because there was a punch waiting when you least expected it." Jay looked up at the menu, there were no pictures and he could only make out a few of the words as ones he recognized despite being jumbled up, "Don't know what's good?"

      “At least the parents here don’t tend to put their hands on kids.” she muttered, “Um... what do you think about roast beef?” she asked.

      "There is that," Jay nodded, "I like roast beef. Actually anything beef is good with me, and pizza. Pizza is good mindless eating food, as in the only thing after Tourney practices."

      “Pizza is pretty good as well” she nodded with a giggle, “Do you want to split a sandwich or do you want your own?”

      "We can split one. I don't mind."

      “Alright, we can get ours, eat, then come order for the others” she suggested.

      "Works for me," he nodded following after her to the order line. 

      Penny gave him a smile as they moved towards the counter. She gave the woman a smile and ordered their sandwich with the works on it.

      Jay's eyes darted around the store, he could see why people liked it. Dim, cozy, plenty of targets if he was still feeding some of his bad habits. But it seemed more friendly in here at least over the bakery.

      “Ok, we can grab a table they will bring it out” Penny turned to him holding the little plastic number.

      Jay took the number from her, "Lead the way." Wherever she picked he'd find a place to put his back to the wall.

      Penny looked around at the tables before deciding on one in the back corner.

      Jay settled in a chair, his back against the wall as he lounged back, "So what are you going to do after all this? School and everything."

      “You mean after I graduate?” she asked, it was still a few years out. She wasn’t sure what she wanted to do after that. She was pretty sure she wasn’t going to get much say in what happened anyway.

      "Yeah that? I heard someone in the grade above us talking about it. I don't know what that word means through." Jay admitted for once not worked up about not knowing things when his Baba had ridiculed him most of his life for not knowing things.

      “It means done with school that is required. For royals it generally means returning home to study more of what is expected of them, on how to rule their country. There are some, like Aziz, that stay to be part of the Council and to study further. If they are a second born child they have a few more options most of the time, can go to college if they want or whatever. Some travel for a year before going on to whatever they planned. For people like you, Carlos, and Evie you can really do just about anything you want.” she explained about Graduation.

      Jay made a noncommittal noise, "Yeah no one has said anything like that to us. I figured we were just stuck here, at least that's the impression I got from Ben."

      “Leave it to Ben to leave out the important parts. He hopes you will stay, but you don’t have to. I don’t know the exact wording. I could look it up for you if you want, actually I’m already looking a few things up that have to do with this to see how to help Ben. Anyway off topic,” she shook her head, “But the point is that if you find a home somewhere else you can do that, you can leave Auradon and live your life how you want after you graduate”

      "If you find the time to look into it, yeah I'd like that. I am pretty sure it's a bad idea to live the way I want to after all this is over."

      “I’ll let you know when I find the info and what it means. Those decrees are so wordy sometimes.” she nodded.

      "Better you than me then," his eyes tracked the young male coming towards them with food.

      Penny turned a little, giving the man a smile as he set down their plates.

      "Thanks," Jay gave him a charming smile and the male flushed nodding before darting off, "So you planning on wandering then before that col- whatever thing?"

      “It would be nice, but my father has... expectations. More than likely he will arrange a marriage contract for me, and I will be sent to whomever's kingdom I am to marry into. If I’m lucky I might get to stay here for a while, maybe visit a few kingdoms with ambassadors before he decided,” Penny looked at her half sandwich as she spoke, it wasn’t an adventurous future but, maybe her father might let her have some say in who she married. Or her mother would convince him to let her be for a few years, or maybe she’d get really lucky and meet her true love if that even existed.

      Jay just blinked at her, "So you, the girl who doesn't let anyone walk over her, is going to lay down and let someone else tell you who you spend the rest of your life with?" He snorted picking up his half, "Sounds like a bunch of fucking bullshit to me."

      “Never said I was gonna do it willingly.” She snorted, “see if I can bend this to what I want”

      "Or you could just leave. I mean you're a Princess, you should do what you want like the rest of them."

      “I would probably get locked on a tower if I tried, my dad... he’s... well he likes things his way. And if he wants something done his way bad enough he’ll make it so” she picked up her sandwich.

      "So just everyone else I've known all my life."

      “Maybe” she nodded, taking a bite. It was funny to think of her dad measured up against villains.

      "They are all like that. Think they deserve what they want. Do whatever they want to get it." His expression went dark and he buried the memories as he took a bite of the sandwich. "But I guess that's what made them villains, the heroes just did the same thing in a nicer way."

      “What do you think Evie and Carlos want?” she asked looking around the restaurant, “I imagine Evie probably wants a salad but I don’t know about Carlos.”

      "Chicken or tuna," Jay supplied, "He likes tuna melts. Princess likes berry salads, or something similar."

      “Well there’s a summer salad that has apples and blackberries on the menu, and there is a chicken salad sandwich” Penny suggested

      "Those sound like they will work," Jay popped the rest of his sandwich portion in his mouth and leaned back once more. Gone were those bits that reminded him of home. For now at least, but he liked her, liked the way he could relax with her for the most part even through he could feel the eyes on them. She was always being watched and Farris was always watching them, waiting for him to slip again.

      “I’ll go order them” she finished off her sandwich going to stand.

      "Here," he pulled money from his vest, "This should be enough."

      Penny took the money gently from his fingers. She wanted to point out she didn’t mind paying but, had he been insistent last time, and she didn’t want to push him away. She stepped back into the short que. She ordered and told them the number they still had before going back to the table. She held the change out to him as she took her seat.

      "Thanks Little Princess," he tucked the leftover over money away, "I know you don't mind paying, but I've been looking after Princess and Pup most of my life. I don't plan on stopping that even if I have to pay for things now instead of just steal them. Happy to get you whatever you need too."

      “I understand you want to take care of them, I can help if you guys need it” she said, “It's your choice and I won't argue with you on it”

      "We know, we just like doing it on our own for the most part."

      “Everyone has their own way of living” she nodded, she wasn’t going to let this bother her. He was her friend, and she would do what she needed to make him feel comfortable.

      He leaned on the table, pushing caution away for a moment and brushed a hair over her ears. "And that Little Princess is why we like you. You let us be us around you, well mostly us."

      Penny felt her face heat up as she smiled a little at him.

      Jay smirked pulling back, "You know blushing is a good look for you."

      “Oh... um...” she was saved from having to respond by the food arriving in a bag.

      Jay took the bag and stood, "Come on Little Princess let's go back."

      “Yeah, before they come looking” she stood as well following him out of the cafe.

      Jay looked back at her as he held both plastic bags and the food, "They know I come back eventually. More like get back and feed them. You don't mind right?"

      “Not at all” she shook her head.

      "Wicked. We can watch some more movies today if you want. That always seems like something we all enjoy."

      “We can totally do that, what do you want to watch this time?” she asked.

      "Don't know. We like the horror stuff though." He smiled backtracking through the streets.

      “Ok...um...how about Alien?” she suggested, she didn’t mind that series, not that she watched many horror movies.

      “Yeah that sounds good to me,” Jay nodded just glad to be watching something bloody, the last time they watched some movie with kissing in it and while Princess and Little Princess got all emotional he found it uncomfortable to watch.

      “It’s a whole series so if you like the first one I’ll see if I can find the others” she smiled.

      “That sounds good to me. Is it like those movies with the talking dinosaurs in it only bloody?” he was trying to remember what the 14 movies were called that he and Carlos watched while drinking. He was pretty sure he passed out before it was over.

      “These are for older people then the land before time” she explained, “Its got blood and guts.”

      “Cool, cause after fourteen movies, I was wondering if you guys even did blood and guts. I mean dinos, Pup said they ate each other. I was expecting, um, not that.”

      “Oh we do, it's just you guys have been watching what is called kids movies. If you want dinos with blood I have a movie, I can suggest. It's interesting, and once you know it's not really real it's not so scary.”

      “Oh, that’s a thing?” He asked as they walked onto school grounds and headed towards the dorm. “Also, Mal said something about maybe making an Isle dorm. If Ben can get more kids over here on the Mainland. Is that something that will actually happen?”

      “The dorm or bringing other kids over? Cause the kid thing we are all going to work on. The dorm... well actually I think that will be easier to do then most things once we start bringing over other kids” Penny nodded.

      “I think the separate dorm would be wicked. Mainly so Chad can’t just walk into our room to use Pup’s inventions.”

      “That sounds like his sister,” she rolled her eyes, she just didn’t get that family.

      “He has a sister? She go here?” maybe he could break his no dating rule just to piss the shit out of Chad.

      “Unfortunately no, but then again do you really want to deal with two of them and Audrey?” she snorted.

      “Please I am irresistible, I can handle Audrey. Chad... I might punch Chad right in his smug ass face.”

      “Just don’t get caught or you know make sure there are people willing to say he started it” she advised.

      “Tourney practice. I am pretty sure the guys will side with me.” he held the door for her and followed her down the hallway.

      “Right” she nodded

      “Did you guys have a good time?” Evie asked, looking at them from as she made her way towards the boys room. She had been planning on dragging Carlos off to see about food.

      “Yeah, brought you and Pup food,” Jay smiled at her leaning in kissing her cheek, “You have a good morning?”

      “I did, did a little sewing. Working on a wardrobe for Mal. Even got her to sit still long enough for a few measurements” Evie smiled, “thank you”

      “Evil did you tie her to the chair and not tell me?” Jay gasped at her, “I would have paid a whole lot to watch that.”

      “If only she would let me. I think she might actually enjoy it,” Evie smirked, “I was just on my way to make sure Carlos doesn’t play video games all day and eats.”

      “Good thing we brought the food then,” Penny gave her a smile.

      "She might. I know you would enjoy that," he smirked as they headed back to his room, "We're going to watch horror movies too, you cool with that?"

      “Sure, I picked one and Carlos picked the last one. It's your turn to pick” Evie smiled, “Nothing this place can call scary that we haven’t seen.”

Chapter 24: They all Return (Auradon: August)

      Summer break, known now as Isle time,  did not feel nearly long enough. Jay watched the chaos below him. Students and parents coming and going rushing about moving boxes and personal items back into the dorms. He wistfully watched the mothers and fathers with their children, smiling and happy, laughing and helping one another. His hands and chest burned with want. 

      “That looks like chaos,” Carlos leaned over looking at the crowd next to Jay.

      “You would think they won't be seeing each other again in just a few months,” Evie added.

      "It's like watching low key wharf parties," he commented, "People working together and not trying to stab one another."

      “Huh, yeah it is like that one time in winter where everyone was just too cold to fight on the barge,” Evie nodded.

      "Yeah, the winter no one did anything they didn't have to." That was the winter his baba decided to kick him out of the house without his boots. He hated winter. He shifted again on the roof, "Can't believe Mal willingly went to help Ben move people back in."

      “Well she’s their princess now” Evie scanned the crowd, “Speaking of princess where is Penny hiding today. I figured she would be front and center with Ben.”

      “She’s in the library,” Carlos supplied, she’d stopped by earlier when Jay was in the shower to tell the boys that was where she was going to be until she was supposed to meet with her father, “I forgot to mention it, she stopped by earlier”

      “I thought that was her,” Jay muttered having heard a female some one over the sounds of the water. “You want to go and find her or no? I was just going to sit out here for a while, try and stay out of the way.” His had come to find him when he had slipped up onto the roofs after his shower.

      “No, she just tends to pop up. So I was curious,” Evie shook her head. 

      "Keep expecting her to come up over the roof to be honest. She's been trying to avoid her dad."

      “I don’t think she can get out of meeting with him today” Carlos shrugged.

      "Probably not but we'll be here for her when it's over. All we can do is be there for her," Jay sighed and cracked his neck, "You two want to do something else?"

      “We can if you want, I am planning on meeting up with Doug tonight,” Evie laid back on the roof.

      "I should hope so," Jay rubbed her lower leg, "Same as Pup is meeting up with Jane tonight too."

      “Just for a little while” Carlos blushed.

      “Take as long as you need Pup. Both of you really. I know you two have been missing your mainlanders. I’ll be fine left to my own devices.” Maybe he’d go and bother Mal, it had been a bit since he and she just hung out. She was always so wrapped up with Ben these days he was beginning to feel a little abandoned by her, more so than usual. But she was counting on him to keep everything running smoothly for her, so the least he could do was update her and let her know everything was going okay.

      “Are you sure?” Carlos asked, “I don’t just want to ditch you now that everyone is back.”

      "It's fine really. Go spend time with them, you haven't seen um in a few months so go and hang. I can find something to do with myself anyway." He assured them, "Plus you all know where I sleep."

      “Alright, well then I guess I’ll go see how Jane is doing moving in,” Carlos shrugged, before glancing at Evie.

      “Doug and I aren’t meeting until dinner,” Evie supplied.

      “You know how to find us,” Jay nodded to his Pup, “Princess and I will hang out until she needs to head out for dinner.”

      “It's going to be odd not just being us again,” Evie mused after Carlos made his way down.

      Jay lay back beside her eyes on the clouds, arms behind his head, "It will be. But we can still be us in my room and yours. You never have to be anything but you for us. And I'll always be here to keep you and Pup safe."

      “I know you will. You're like my knight in shining armor” she smiled at him.

-*-

      Penny leaned back in the chair in front of her father’s desk. He’d sent an escort to make sure she made it to this meeting.

      “Do sit up, dear” Adam watched her, “I know posture was covered at Merryweather’s."

      Penny crossed her ankles sitting forward again, as she tried not to roll her eyes.

      “Good, now then I need to speak with you on an important matter,” he nodded, “As you are aware, with Ben finding his true love, we have lost our betrothal alliance with the Wilhelm Kingdom.”

      Penny raised an eyebrow, she didn’t think she liked where this was going. Why is it whenever something seemed to go right for Ben her life got messy?

      “As your brother is no longer on the table, it is time we started looking into your own options. Lord Farris assisted me in coming up with a few options to discuss with you”

      “And if I do not like the options?” Penny asked, picking at her nails.

      “There is of course some wiggle room. Although I will insist on one of the options you are presented with. I will of course give you the year to ... research” he supplied, “Stop picking your nails, you will make more work for your maids later”

      Penny sighed and dropped her hands to her lap.

      “The short list; Chadley Charming or Philip Wilhelm. For your mother's sake I would suggest Chadley as he is closer to your own age”

      “And the long list?” Penny snorted, she wanted nothing to do with Chad, and well if Philip Jr. was anything like Audrey she wanted nothing to do with either.

      “Do you really feel the need to hear that?” Adam folded his hands under his chin.

      “Well your shortlist has a few problems,” she crossed her arms.

      He raised an eyebrow at her, “Very well, but you will pick one of these. And I maintain that Chadley or Philip are the best options for the kingdom. There is the youngest son of Snow White, a year younger than you. Queen Moana’s son, Queen Ariel’s nephew, of course he is a mermaid so that would take some negotiation, Lord Farris did suggest his grandson, not really an option though, and of course the option that does not snub anyone so to speak but does not gain our kingdom anything is the Notre Dame Nunnery” he watched her face as she rolled her eyes at each option.

      “None of them, I know enough of their sisters or cousins to know that I want nothing to do with any of those options ” she huffed.

      “You will pick one or I will pick one for you. Your opinion of them does not matter, I am offering you the chance to have a say,” Adam snipped at her, “For now you are to get to know Chadley. As well as it is unseemly for you to be spending so much time with Jay of the Isle, I allowed it while there were no others for you to spend time with. Now that the school year is to begin you are to find better company or I will find new learning arrangements for you.” 

      “I don’t want to get to know Chadley. He is a bully and a pig,” Penny stood.

      “You will do as you are told” Adam growled, “Now do yourself a favor and make peace with your future. For you will do as I decided. What I decide is best for Auradon”

      “I see, is that all father?” she bit out, “I have studying to catch up on”

      “Yes, go” he waved his hand watching her go. Honestly she was infurating sometimes.

-*-

      Penny pulled herself up onto the roof of the library, she whipped the tears from her face.  She didn’t want to spend more time with other girls, other girls were boring and mean. On top of that she was expected once this school year started to spend time getting to know Chad. She just wanted to disappear, to run away. Maybe she’d do just that, she looked around before pulling off her dress shoes tossing them over the side of the building. She started moving across the roof heading for the first jump.

      Her landing was a little rough but she kept going. She needed to be free, to feel like she had some control over her life. She took another jump rolling forward as she landed springing back up. She took off taking the bigger jumps she could as she lost herself more into her head.

      Jay caught movement out of the corner of his eye, Penny. She was running without even looking. He stood and took off after her, aiming to get in front of her, spot her and be there in case anything were to go wrong.

      Penny stumbled as she landed, going for the next jump on her path. Maybe she’d just keep going, go to town and just keep running. She felt eyes on her but just pushed herself harder, the next jump looked bigger from the others. There was a nagging thought about this jump but she pushed it away. She leapt her foot just hitting the edge making her teeter trying to catch her balance. She was losing the fight with gravity, she was going to fall and that was going to hurt.

      He grabbed her arm hard. The odd thing about Princesses was how light they all seemed. Like dainty little birds. With a swift tug he yanked her into his chest, liking the way her body fit against his. If only this was any other kind of situation, he stepped back from the edge dragging her back with him.

      Penny wrapped her arm around Jay’s middle as he pulled them onto the roof fully.

      “What the hell were you thinking?” he asked loosening his grip on her, “Running without looking, not to mention me telling you, specifically, this jump was too big for you. Your legs aren’t long enough.”

      “I... I needed to be free, to be able to make my own choices,” she tried to make her head straight again.

      “And you nearly unalived yourself doing that,” he snapped in frustration, “I told you to stay away from that jump for a reason.” he was trying to protect her, keep her safe.

      “I’m sorry, I just... I wanted to just be me for a little bit. Not the girl being forced to be a good princess,” she hiccuped.

      “I understand you want to be you and not someone else, but I told you no and you did it anyway,” he held her firmly at arm’s length, “You don’t have to be anyone but you when you run, but know your limits and don’t do dumb shit.” he shook his head, “I am trying to keep you safe Little Princess.”

      “I know, I just... turned my brain off I guess. He wants me to marry some stupid prince,” she said.

      “Sounds like Princess’ mom, wants her to get knocked up by some ‘worthy’ prince. Shouldn’t have to live your life according to your parents' wants, it’s your life.” he didn’t want anyone to live like he had, ruled by a man who enjoyed causing him pain and misery.

      “He wants me to marry Chad ” she made a face.

      “He clearly does not know Chad,” Jay shook his head before pulling her into his chest, hugging her tightly, “What about your mama? Can’t she help?”

      “Maybe a little, but Ben blew up a betrothal contract with another kingdom. Now he’s trying to find another one,” she shrugged.

      “With the whole Mal thing? Come on seriously? Why does it have to be you filling in? I mean it can’t be Audrey, but Mal wouldn’t be against letting him be with some other chick so long as she approves it.”

      “Things would be a lot simpler if that was considered ok. But I don’t think anyone would be willing to sign their daughter up to be a side queen. Well expect my father... maybe,” she put her ear over his heart.

      “What’s a side Queen? Mal doesn’t want to be queen, but Ben’s hers.”

      “That’s the point, they would be Queen in name but Mal would be Queen in all the ways that matter” she explained.

      “I don’t think I understand what that means either,” Jay frowned, he really didn’t understand the difference, a queen was a queen.

      “It's hard to explain” she shrugged.

      “I think everything here is hard to explain.” Jay snorted pulling her into his lap as he sat on the roof.

      “Only every little thing” she snorted.

      “You want to head in, where I’m not worried about you unaliving yourself by falling unsafely off a roof?”

      “Yeah I guess that’s a good idea” she conceded.

      Jay sighed nodding, “Wicked. I know your baba wants you to get to know Chad but maybe you could just avoid him. Since you already punched him in the face, it may be for the best.”

      “His other main option was Audrey’s older brother,” she let him guide her to a window.

      “Is he nicer than Audrey? Because it won’t be hard to be a better everything than Chad.” 

      “I don’t really know, he’s in his 20’s I think, but other than that I don’t know anything,” she sat on Jay’s bed.

      “So he could be a decent guy? I don’t get why age matters really here,” he was pretty sure this was just some Mainland thing.

      “It’s not really that it matters in this case. It’s more along the lines of I would more than likely have to go live in his family’s kingdom. I just got home I’m not really in a hurry to leave again”

      “Oh.” Jay was at a loss with this Mainland stuff, “But why can’t he come here? I mean Chad is here, and Prince Aziz...” 

      “I don’t know I don’t understand how it works either” she shrugged.

      He ruffled his hair before throwing a beanie over his now tangled locks, “This place is so confusing...”

      “I’m very aware” she flopped back on the bed.

      Jay settled on the window sill watching her, "Can I take a guess and say your baba doesn't like you hanging out with us isle kids?" It would make sense, and considering that Farris had talked about it over the summer. He was aware of the eyes on them, the people always watching them.

      “No he’s not a fan. He wants me to find proper company” Penny snorted tipped her head up to look at him, “Other girls are boring”

      “I don’t find them boring,” He muttered, “Just off limits. Just like apparently you are. Won’t stop me from talking to you but it is definitely a thing.” Jay sighed moving off the desk to pace a little, “I get it if you don’t want to stay with us for your kingdom’s sake.” he tried to give her a soft out and smiled, “But I also completely understand if you say fuck it and stay with us.”

      “I’d rather stay with you guys. I don’t want you guys getting in trouble because of me,” she sighed, for the first time she didn’t feel like she didn’t belong. She didn’t feel like she was just waiting for something to happen, the fit didn’t feel exactly right but it felt closer than any other time.

      "Don't worry about us, we're villain kids. We're a sturdy bunch and don't take shit from no one. If you rather stay then stay, told you before, you're always welcome here." Jay flopped down next to her and dragged her half on top of him holding her tight.

      She curled into him relaxing, “You are the best” she smiled.

      Jay smirked, “The wickedest,” he corrected feeling some of the unease leaving him. 

      “Alright then the wickedest person I know” she corrected with a chuckle.

      “Are you going to be okay if I leave you alone for dinnertime? I need to catch up with Mal.”

      “I’ll be fine, I’m pretty sure word has gotten around about me punching Chad at this point,” she nodded, she was used to eating alone at Merryweather's plus, she could always eat in her room if need be.

      “Probably. I promise not to take too long,” he offered hoping that she didn’t feel abandoned by his need to at least do his job and report back to Mal.

      “It’s cool take your time,” she assured, “What time do you need to meet Mal?”

      “Soon... I was headed over there early when you decided to run with your eyes closed.” he gave her another look, it was a dumb idea, she should have known better.

      “They weren’t completely closed, but yeah probably not a great idea” she sighed, “I should probably go find dinner as well.”

      “Probably,” he tipped his head down and kissed the top of her head, “You get some food and I will go do my thing with Mal.”

      Penny nodded pushing herself to her feet, “Alright see you later I guess.”

      “You will,” Jay followed her to the door letting her out before he headed off to find Mal.

-*-

      “Finally, I thought I was going to have to get the guards to hunt you down,” Audrey snapped looping an arm around Penny’s.

      “Um... what do you want?” Penny tried to free her arm.

      “Your father and mine thought that you and I should try to get to know each other. After all you might be my sister in a few years,” Audrey explained, “I thought maybe I could assist you become a better Princess and a Queen one day.” 

      “Right... Well I don’t really plan on marrying your brother... let go please ,” she answered, shaking her arm as they got to the front of the line. She quickly grabbed a tray quickly to keep Audrey from grabbing her arm again.

      “Are you really going to eat all of that?” Audrey eyed her plate, “Plus maybe you should sit in the middle of... or I guess we can sit here,” she rolled her eyes as Penny sat near the corner.

      “I like to leave the bigger tables in the middle for the bigger groups,” Penny explained, “And what’s wrong with my plate?” she looked down at the potatoes and chicken then over at Audrey's plate with a salad and grilled chicken.

      “Your portions are a little... big,” Audrey explained, “Did they stop teaching posture at Merryweather’s?” she eyed the way Penny sat leaned back in her seat.

      “Um... well...”

      “Never mind, so you are planning on marrying Chad or do you have other princes lined up? Honestly...are you even listening to me?”

      “Uh huh,” Penny nodded, “I haven’t really thought much about it.”

      “You haven’t thought about it much? How do you not think about who you will marry? It’s a princess’ main job too... take smaller bites.”

      “I just don’t,” Penny put her fork down, “I’m... uh...”

      “Don’t stammer, tell me I bet you do have someone you want to... where are you going, it’s rude to...”

      Penny quickly fled the dinning hall to get away from Audrey. She didn’t need anymore people telling her what she was doing wrong and what was expected of her.

-*-

      Mal looked up at Jay as he slid into her room as she undid her braided hair. Rolling his eyes Jay batted her hands away and quickly pulled all the hidden pins and ties from her hair before he started to comb it out for her.

      “What do you want?” Mal asked, eyeing him in the mirror.

      “Nothing, I figured you might want an update on your minions is all. This just kind of worked out,” Jay shrugged looking up from her dark purple hair, he always liked the color of her and Evie’s hair. His baba was why he never went to get his changed to something more interesting.

      She relaxed slightly, “Oh... I thought you fucked something up and needed me to fix it.”

      That stung but he gave her a forced smile anyway, “I’ve been doing my best not to screw things up. Pup is out with Jane, has been for a few hours. Princess was hanging out with me up till a few hours ago, she was meeting Doug for dinner.”

      “They were okay over the summer?”

      “Yeah, it was wicked for all of us to just be us for a little while.”

      “Wicked,” Mal nodded and gave him a look over, “There is something bothering you.”

      “Nothing to worry about Mal. I can handle it,” he assured her stepping back before sweeping her brushed hair off her neck and unzipped the back of the dress for her before putting his back to her. She had a thing about being naked, he just took it as it came not wanting to piss her off really.

      “You want to get some food with me then?” Mal asked as she changed watching his back.

      “I’m fine with that,” He was careful not to turn feeling anxious with his back to her, but maybe she was finally going to claim him in more than word. He wanted her to, but she had never done it on the Isle and he didn’t want to bring it up.

      “Let’s go then,” She pulled her bag on, careful not to touch him, “You got everything you need on you?”

      Jay looked at her and nodded, feeling disappointed but he pushed it off, “Course I do Mal,” he smiled charmingly at her. “Let’s get going, I’m hungry.”

-*-

      Mal and Jay headed back to her room, him trailing a half step behind her as always when she spotted Penny, “Princess Penny,” she tried to be nicer, Ben had pointedly asked if she didn’t like his sister. And it wasn’t that Mal didn’t like her, it was just something about her that put her on edge.

      Jay looked over Penny sparing a glance at Mal before he moved forward, Penny was nearly his and it looked like she needed him, “What happened?”

      “Nothing to worry about, hi Mal,” she tried to give the other girl a smile.

      She looked between them, “If you are sure, if you need to take Jay that’s fine. He and I were just catching up.”

      He kept his face neutral despite the sting her words brought, “You sure you are okay Penny?” 

      “Someone told Audrey about this marriage thing” she sighed, “I got ambushed in the dining hall.”

      “Marriage thing?” Mal asked in confusion.

      “I’ll explain later,” Jay assured her pulling Penny under his arm, “Come on let’s chat.”

      Penny wrapped her arms around him, it was nice to have him there, “Are you sure Mal doesn’t need you?”

      “Yeah I’m sure,” Jay nodded to Mal before pulling Penny down the hall back to his room, “Tell me what Audrey did.”

      “Just her typical princess are this, princesses don’t do that, oh you’re going to be my sister so I need to help you be more... well just more” she sighed.

      “It’s nice she went with sister? I mean flip side here, she was all princess stuff before without the sister talk,” he offered walking them into his room.

      “I would rather she not use the sister thing, it's creepy. Plus she was just... I just get tired of people telling me I’m not enough.”

      He pulled her down onto his lap holding her, “Little Princess, someone is always going to tell you you aren’t enough. You don’t let that stop you. You keep pushing and fighting, no matter what.”

      “Just feels like everyone is just poking at me today” she sighed, between her dad and Audrey and who knows who else soon.

      Jay snorted and prodded her in the ribs, "I guess you can add me to the list of people poking you." He teased.

      “I like it when you poke, you are actually helping,” she smiled at him before blushing as her stomach whined.

      “Didn’t eat actually did you?” he asked giving her an amused look. “Am I going to have to raid the kitchen for you?”

      “Audrey kinda turned me off my appetite,” she admitted, “So yeah food is probably a good idea” she didn’t want him to have to go back out, it wouldn’t be the first time that getting chased from the dining hall had led to her being hungry for the night. But at the same time she got the feeling he wasn’t going to take that as an answer.

      “Such a waste of food,” he sighed holding onto her as he stood, “Stay here. I’ll go get you some food.”

      “Sorry,” she sighed rubbing her arm.

      “It’s okay Little Princess, with luck it’ll get to the Isle before it’s too bad. Just relax in here and I’ll bring you some food back,” Jay gave her a smile, “Really just stay here.”

      “Ok” she nodded sitting back on the bed.

      Jay slid out of the room and shoved his hands in his pockets as he walked. He was annoyed that she had let someone get under her skin and ran. He had plenty of people telling him what he should do, what he should be. Lived a life of never measuring up to expectations and being constantly corrected for it. But she wasn't him. She wasn't used to living like any day was the last. He was. He was used to fighting for everything he wanted. So he would give little princess what she needed, no matter how annoyed he was with her today. If she was his by claim he would have punished her bad behaviour, but she wasn't so he would do what he could. He would try and correct her, but he knew she'd ignore it. She always thought her way was better. Crouching he picked the lock on the kitchen with a quick twist and let himself in. With a sigh he quickly made her some dinner, wrapping the sandwich up in the foil before cleaning up after himself. He did everything he could to make it look like he had never been there, and left making sure he relocked the door behind him.

-*-

      Penny sat crossed legged on Jay’s bed. It seemed like she was just blowing everything up, she didn’t understand it every time it seemed like her life was finally going to be alright; that she was finally finding a foothold the world moved out from under her.

      Jay slipped back into his room and offered her the sandwich out from under his vest, "Here Little Princess."

      “Thanks, I don’t mean to cause so many problems for people.” She unwrapped the sandwich.

      “You aren’t causing problems,” he sighed sitting backwards on his desk chair watching her eat, “But you are letting people get under your skin.”

      “I try not to, it's just... some days it feels like they are all just hitting raw spots dead on.”

      “You know, you could just ignore them.” Jay offered, “I get harassed all the time, you have to get used to it.”

      “What you say makes sense and I manage it for a few days maybe a little longer then it all just sort of explodes.”

      “You say that all the time you know? Shit happens, just let it happen. People want to talk, let them, nothing you can do about it. You got me to listen to you get it off your chest whenever you want.”

      “Broken record” she finished off the sandwich, “Sorry, I’ll try and cut that out.”

      Jay smiled resting his head on his folded arms, “Don’t apologize. Really, it’s fine. Evil knows I don’t have the best record on letting things go. Difference is if I lash out here I get sent back. Leaving you and mine is enough of a deterrent of the things I would really like to do to some people.”

      Penny gave him a small smile as she folded the foil, it was just something she did. Wasn’t even sure why but she didn’t like just smashing it into a ball, she folded it into squares or as close as she could get. Plus it gave her something to do while her mind spun with the thought of Jay going away, she didn’t like that.

      He watched her silently, she was in her own head again and he could feel the irritation building again. She was supposed to talk to him, but no she didn't want to talk. She wanted to have a pity party for herself. About how she had to marry some prince she didn't know, and that Audrey was being Audrey and trying to help. Where as his every move was being watched like his baba was lying in wait ready to strike him at any sign of disobedience. Jay rolled his shoulders back, and counted to ten. She had led a pampered life compared to them, no matter how much she thought hers had been horrible. He wouldn't hold it against her. She would never understand. 

      "You done with that?" He held his hand out even as they began to burn. He shoved the feeling down deeper, he would bury his father's magic.

      “Yeah,” she nodded, handing it over her fingers brushing his, “I wish there was some way to make sure they wouldn’t send you away. I’d probably marry anyone they wanted if they’d stop trying to find a way to get rid of you,” she blushed, she’d wanted to say that but hadn’t been sure if she should.

      "You and I both know it wouldn't stop them. Just slow them down. Find some Prince you can stand, that will let you be you. Don't settle for anyone that won't let you be you." He pushed himself back and slung the folded foil into the trash can, "Would be nice to find a way to stay here with worry about being sent back."

      “Keep worrying I’m gonna wake up one day and find you all gone.”

      "Not if we can help it. Look, we do everything we can just to stay here. None of us want to go back there. Not for anything."

      “Just a fear I guess. I just... suppose that I am always just waiting to find out none of it is real.” 

      Jay snorted, "You're a princess, doesn't mean you are living in some story book. Real life doesn't have happy endings but it doesn't make it any less true." He shifted uncomfortably, "You and me are afraid of the same thing, just for a different reason. You are afraid of losing us, I'm afraid of being sent back without them and breaking my promise to them." He didn't mean Mal either, Evie and Carlos were his by claim and he swore to protect them. If he was sent back he would break one of the only things he had to give, his word.

      “Sometimes I wonder if any of those stories have any grain of truth to them, or if it was all just... lies,” she sighed, “But I suppose it doesn't really matter.” 

      "What stories?" His head tilted looking at her in confusion. 

      “There is a book that I think every kid in the mainland has at some point. It tells all the parents' stories, about how they got their happy endings. Some of them are so stupid that I doubt they ever happened, others are a little more believable” she explained.

      “You know any of them off hand? I don’t think I’ve ever heard any of them from your side of things.”

      “I know my parents, the Miller's daughter, but that one is a load of baloney, I know most of the beginning of Peter Pan and Hook,” she nodded.

      “The Miller’s daughter? What villain was that supposed to be?” Jay couldn’t think of any of the many villain’s he had met over the years that met that description.

      “Rumpelstiltskin, or the dark one. That story is one that I'm pretty sure is wrong” she explained.

      "Still don't know who that is." The name sounded familiar but he couldn't place it. Maybe Little Princess had mentioned it before.

      “Ok well the main point of the story is that he offers a Miller’s daughter a way to live up to her father claiming she can spin straw to gold but in exchange he wants her first born. She makes the deal but regrets it later when she is pregnant, in order to break the deal she learns his name and says it three times. Like I said I don’t really believe that story is anything more than a story, I’ll believe that there really was a Miller’s daughter but other than that...” she shrugged.

      Jay hummed, "Can't think of any villain from home that would want a kid, except maybe Mother Gothel. But," he shook his head forgoing trying to explain that while she had her own daughter she rather keep an unclaimed as her "daughter", "So what happened to the Miller's daughter then?"

      “She was married to the prince because of her ‘ability’ to spin straw to gold. They had a castle built from the gold, when she undid the deal it all turned back into straw. The prince still loved her so they lived happily ever after. I figured it’s mostly not true, there had to be a price for lying to the king and marrying the prince because of that lie,” she made a face.

      "Yeah I guess but you guys do that whole love and forgive thing," he tilted his head, gold... Mr. Gold. He had ventured too close to the bad side of the Isle and had glanced a sign that said something about a Mr. Gold. But given villains and gold he put it out of mind.

      “I think your own experience that the forgiveness only goes so far with some of some people.” 

      "Yeah but I'm the son of a villain. There is no forgiveness for me, I'm his son." He shrugged trying not to think about it.

      “It shouldn’t matter,” she sighed.

      "It shouldn't but it does to you mainlanders, to the Isle and especially to him," Jay stood pulling his beanie off and tossed it on his desk before grabbing his hair brush, "I just got used to it."

      Penny tilted her head watching him, she wasn’t sure she had ever seen him actually brush his hair. She assumed he did, his hair always looked good.

      "What?" He asked as he plopped back down looking at her. 

      “I don’t think I’ve ever seen you brush your hair. I mean I know you do cause you always look good... err your hair looks good,” she blushed as she tripped over her words.

      Jay grinned brightly, "Oh you think I look good?" 

      “I... um... yeah,” she blushed a deeper red.

      He hummed his approval, "I think you look good too. Just didn't think you were that into me." 

      “I like you, most of the time you make my thoughts stop spinning. I just... I don’t always understand” she chewed her lip.

      "You aren't alone in that. I don't always understand either," he started brushing the tangles out of his long hair, "But I try to. I work with what I do understand and go from there."

      “I’m not sure I understand much,” she pulled her legs up to rest her arms on her knees watching him.

      "You know I don't get you sometimes. You always feel so damn sorry for yourself, even though I've seen fire in you." Jay broke down snapping in exasperation.

      “Um... I wasn’t feeling sorry for myself... that time,” she defended, “And I don’t know why. About um... 6 months ago it started to feel easier to hide then constantly fight or constantly have people messing with me. I started to just get lost in my head more... most of the time you make not so lost in my head, you make it so I enjoy the now or at least focus on it more”

      "Well what happened 6 months ago to change things?" He asked starting to brush the snarls out of his hair as the nagging whispers started to eat at him. 

      “Don’t really know, I mean a little before the air mattress thing the headmistresses restricted me from events. I got blamed for stuff that wasn’t me, I wouldn't admit if it was but I didn't do half the stuff they said. Seemed like every other day I was getting a lecture on being more like a princess” she knew it probably didn’t sound right but she wasn’t sure how to explain it really. 

      "Right," Jay didn't know what some of the words she used meant but he got the context at least, "So then why aren't you like that now?"

      “I like being home... I like getting to see Ben, getting to be with you and the others.” she looked at him, “I know my parents care about me, but it's so easy to just send me away again if I step on the wrong toes. I guess I'm just sort of trying to figure out how far I can push and who I can push. My black book gives me some wiggle room but I don’t want to use it unless I really need to. It's how I got Cindy to back off a little”

      "They would send you away like us if we screw up?"

      “Yeah, I mean they have Ben. Having both of us in one place isn’t the best idea but my father tolerates it because it means he can keep an eye on me. And hopefully make a match for me. But if I screw up too much, well it's better for me to not be seen.”

      "Your baba is just as much of a dick as mine," he sighed as the snarls and tangles finally left his hair. 

      “I think he just doesn't like kids... I mean he likes the thought of being a father, but he’d rather have kids that did what they are told and didn’t question him”

      “I can’t think of one kid that does that willingly,” then again, he and his were pretty much on the follow parental orders without question under threat of physical violence so maybe that was different. Carlos did what his mother wanted because Cruella was bat shit crazy. Evie did whatever EQ wanted because her mother was obsessed and his Princess was desperate to appease. He did whatever his father wanted because when he didn’t it led to scars and he had plenty of those from simply not being good enough for Jafar. 

      “Ben was one of those types of kids before he brought you guys over. Guess he just sort of got use to it so he was blind sided when we both turned into... whatever he thinks we are”

      "Teenagers. You turned into typical teenagers," he set the brush down after cleaning it out, "He used to be one right? I mean Enchantress cursed him for a reason."

      “Depends on who you ask about that story, but yeah the general story is that he was being a brat and she didn’t care for the way he treated her. But having seen some of his... episodes I feel like he probably deserved it”

      “He probably did, and you mean beastly episodes?” he tilted his head confused, “Like Cruella’s fits?” 

      “I don’t know what Cruella’s fits look like, and he just loses his temper sometimes. Everyone gets mad sometimes” she shrugged, it felt odd to compare her father to a villian.

      Jay shrugged his shoulder, “Cruella would chase us around the house attacking us whenever she could. Just because she could.”

      “He smashes and throws things, he flipped his desk once. Mom normally makes sure we don’t see it, but we can hear it,” she studied him, “Its... scary I guess but at the same time its... like you can see how much damage he can do and that's just to furniture. But he’s not like that all the time, there are times were he really is just our dad.”

      Jay snorted bitterly, "Exactly like Cruella then. At least you had someone keep you away from him like that. Pup only had me when I knew something was going south."

      “He’s lucky to have you” she gave him a soft smile.

      Jay was taken aback by the comment, "I... I don't think so. I did my best to keep them safe though."

      “I think they are all lucky to have you, to have someone that cares about them,” she shrugged, she saw how he took care of them and how they looked at him in return.

      He rested his arms on the back of the chair once more and smiled slightly, “They are mine, that’s what you do when you claim someone. You look after them. If you don’t want to look after them then you don’t claim them.”

      “So you guys are a family,” she watched him, how he seemed so calm while talking about them.

      “I guess?” he shrugged a shoulder, “They are mine, I wouldn’t consider anyone but family as family. I don’t know how to explain it, Mal tells Ben it’s gang activity.”

      “Huh, okay” she nodded, everyone had their own way of looking at things.

Chapter 25: Can’t Help What I Am (Auradon: September)

      Jordan sniffed, hugging her lamp to her chest as she hid herself in a small nook, it was just like Chad to try and steal her lamp from her. He didn’t care that it was forbidden. When she told him she wasn’t interested he had grabbed at her lamp. She had ran, trying to keep herself together.

      “Um... are you ok? Or well you’re not ok obviously, but do you need help or something?” Penny asked, she wasn’t sure how to help the other girl but she didn’t like seeing others be tormented.

      She hastily wiped at her eyes, “Princess Penny,” she quickly bowed like she would have to her royal family.

      “You don’t have to do that,” Penny urged her, she just wanted to help not put the other girl on edge.

      “Sorry, I,” Jordan shook her head holding her lamp tighter, “It’s just been a rough morning.”

      “Do you want to talk about it?” she asked, “I know a thing or two about rough mornings.”

      “I don’t think you’ll understand...” it was always so hard to explain things to mortals, she was a djinn and some things did not translate.

      “Oh ok...well if you change your mind I listen” she nodded, “Did you transfer or are you just visiting?”

      “I’ve been going to school here for the last few years. I’m a year younger than Prince Aziz,” Jordan laughed softly, her grip loosening on her lamp, “I know you just came back last spring.”

      “Yeah, I’m still learning who’s who I guess” she smiled at the older girl.

      “Jordan Daughter of Genie.” she smiled at the Princess, “Prince Aziz and I are friends.”

      “I haven’t actually met him in person, he seems like a good coach to the tourney team” she nodded, “It’s nice to meet you Jordan, as it seems you know I’m Penny”

      “He is kind of in love with Tourney, but he’s too old to play so Coach let’s him coach at least.” she offered up, “You know you’re a lot nicer in person.”

      “I try to be... I just don’t like bullies,” she explained, “I tend to get even with them.”

      “Even people like Charming?”

      “I don’t care for any Charming I’ve ever met,” Penny shook her head, “I punched Chad in the face last year”

      “Oh did you, may have to see that in person. He needs to be punched again,” She stated looking at her lamp, she needed to keep it safe.

      “I can tell Jay, I’m not really supposed to punch him again... I might get away with it one more time though.”

      “No that’s okay. I don’t... I don’t want Jay to get sent away. He’s a really nice guy, and I wouldn’t want anything to send him away. Especially not because of me...” she fidgeted with her lamp, that last thing she wanted him to think was that she was out to get him or something.

      “I keep telling him that too,” Penny nodded as she tried to not stare at the lamp, she really wanted to ask questions. But at the same time she didn’t want to freak out a genie, she wasn’t sure what her magic would do. Then again a genie was magic so maybe it was just like a sense for her.

      Jordan couldn't help but notice the look at her lamp, and she pulled it closer to her chest. The rose gold lamp hummed in her tightened grip, after all she was still bound to her lamp unlike her parents. They would wish her free once she was 18 or at least that's what they told her. "What is it Penny?"

      “Sorry, I only know a few people with magic, and they don’t really use it. So I’m just... interested I guess. What does it feel like? Is it an extension of you or is it like a sense?” Penny rattled off, “I’m sorry... that was probably a little much”

      "That's because your dad banned the use of it here." She shifted uneasily, "Magic for me is very different than most people with it. I'm a djinn, I am magic bound to my lamp. I don't have a specific form, but I prefer to look as normal as I can because the purple skin is a little much for Auradon. But when I am home I hear the witches say that it's like an extension of themselves. That is warm and comforting as easy as breathing when they use it."

      “Then I hope that one day I get to see some of it. It sounds... wonderful,” Penny nodded, she hoped Ben would change the rules about magic once he was king.

      "We magic users think so, but your dad not so much. It's fine, I can deal with it. I mean I'm supposed to be protected by your father's laws. Doesn't mean everyone listens to it."

      “Just because it's a law doesn’t mean that people listen, or that it’s right in some cases,” she smiled a little.

      "Chad does not listen." She sighed holding her lamp down at her side, "Whole reason I'm over here."

      “Chad’s a jerk,” Penny snorted, “Actually that whole family is awful.”

      “Are they? I haven’t had the pleasure of meeting the others, but Chad just thinks he deserves everything he wants,” she wiped at her eyes once more feeling sick to her stomach at the thought of someone like Chad taking her lamp.

      “Cindy’s a me me me me person, might give the evil step sisters a run for their money.”

      “Well as a standard all men are more Charming than Chad,” Jordan snorted, “They all listen when girls say things, and they don’t go grabbing whatever they want.”

      “Oh yeah now I’m even more excited that my dad wants me to get to know him,” she made a sour face.

      “Clearly your dad has not actually had the pleasure of meeting Chad. He’d be singing a  different tune if he knew how willing Chad is to use magic.”

      “Depends on if it gets him what he wants,” Penny shrugged, “Are you coming to the party tomorrow night?”

      “I don’t think I should. I want to, but...” She shook her head, she hadn’t actually been invited because she was a djinn.

      “Its ok, if you don’t it's supposed to be Audrey and a few of the older girls presentation anyway, probably boring” 

      She bit her lip, “I... I wasn’t invited because I’m a djinn. Since Prince Aziz isn’t allowed to go for obvious reasons, I’m not allowed to go.”

      “Oh, sorry that sucks. Maybe you can come to the next one,” Penny sighed that kinda sucked.

      “I actually get passed every time they have it, and yet Mal and Evie got invited...”

      “Huh... I’ll mention it to Ben, or maybe you can be my plus one next time. After all not inviting everyone to a party is how Sleeping Beauty's story starts right.”

      “Yeah maybe,” Jordan smiled, “But I may be headed home when Prince Aziz graduates in the winter. He hasn’t decided if he wants to stay on to deal with the council or not yet. Unfortunately, I can only stay on campus if he’s here.”

      “That’s not fair, the school is suppose to be open to students from everywhere”

      “Unless you’re a djinn in Auradon,” she shrugged waving her hand, “Your dad isn’t a fan, and Sultana went around him by asking your mom if it was okay for me to be enrolled here with Prince Aziz.”

      “Sounds like mom,” Penny snickered, “She tried a few times the first few years to get me out of Merryweather’s, but Farris always seemed to get in the way. I’m glad he didn’t get in your way.”

      “Sultana outranks your father. And she has a tiger, and the entire magical community not banished to the Isle for evil deeds. Basically she bullies your dad when she needs to.”

      “I’m sure that goes over great,” Penny tilted her head, it probably drove him nuts not having everyone on the same page.

      “I think it goes over alright,” Jordan snorted rubbing her lamp.

      “Then I’m glad they have a balance” Penny sat on the steps.

      "I don't think I would call it a balance, but it does work. And that is the only thing we can hope for. But I am sure things will change when Ben is king, I just won't be here when it happens. I would like to be me, like I can be at home, but it just isn't going to happen. I don't know why I am telling you this, there is nothing you can do about it."

      “I listen, Princess Raj did it too until she found her group of friends. Why did you come here with Prince Aziz if you want to be your whole self?”

      "Because he's my friend and he asked me if I wanted to go with him. He's kind of a shy guy, and well I obviously agreed to it." Jordan shrugged. “Also I agreed before he told me there was no magic in Auradon, mostly because he doesn’t have it so he didn’t even think about it.” she sighed setting her lamp down beside her on a shelf, "Nothing you really need to worry about. I wouldn't change it. So what if I have to make myself look like everyone else? I can come here and be with my friend, learn new stuff, it's a good experience if you cut Chad out of the equation."

      “Yeah he’s not the best experience,” Penny nodded, “You know maybe you...”

      “There you are, Princess Penelope you are late for your final fitting” her... actually Penny wasn't sure what her title was, she was in charge of Penny’s schedule and making sure she was dressed appropriately.

      “Why can’t I just wear a dress from Evie?” Penny rolled her eyes.

      “Because you have your own designer that has your father’s guidelines” she explained, “Now come along”

      “I guess that’s the end of my free time” Penny sighed, “Hope I see you around” she waved to Jordan.

      "Yeah see you Princess Penny, it was good to talk to you," Jordan smiled, she had a minor bit of hope that the younger girl would have invited her along to the party tomorrow but at least she hadn't wished too hard. It would be fine she'd find something for herself to do while all the other girls were at the party.

-*-

      Penny huffed as the stylist placed the last pin in her pink dress. It was awful, she felt like she was 5 not 15. On top of being a horrid color it seemed like something she would have worn a few years ago.

      “You look perfect,” Adam gave her a smile as he looked over the work.

      “It's a little scratchy,” Penny motioned to the tule.

      “Maybe a little less next time,” he nodded, “You are perfect, I’m sure Prince Chadley will find it very endearing.”

      “I’d rather wait until after all this to...”

      “You will spend time with him, I thought we had an understanding about this,” Adam raised an eyebrow at her.

      “Yes, dad,” she sighed.

-*-

      Penny fidgeted with the jewel on her waist as she watched the presentation of the ladies on the court. She gave a small smile at Evie as she fawned over the dresses and styles. Penny was pretty sure that Evie had dressed about half the girls tonight.  Although a good designer like Evie still didn’t make up for bad taste like Audrey’s.

      Mal shifted in her dark purple dress, "So much pink, there is so much pink here." She looked at Evie, "Thank you for making me not have to wear pink."

      “I would never put you in that much pink, maybe a touch here or there but never that much. Poor Penny looks like they just dumped a bucket of pink over her head, poor girl” Evie nodded, “I also don’t understand Audrey’s instance on her dress being white.”

      "Hot pink accents," Mal smirked knowingly, "But yeah who wears white to an outdoor party? At least you and I both know Penny didn't dress herself."

      “I had a really cute design for her too. But they said no,” Evie sighed, “and it's not so much that its outside its just that she wanted something that looked more like a bad wedding dress. Its like she’s begging someone to agree to marry her.”

      "You mean she isn't desperate for someone to marry her?" Mal snickered.

      “She's very desperate to get another prince... I wasn't ever that desperate right?”

      "Never, you had your Prince of Thieves back home, and now you have Doug." She offered patting her arm.

      “Very true” she smiled, “Oh... that’s interesting” she looked over at Penny being dragged around the dance floor by Chad.

      "She looks so excited. Also he's a worse dancer than Los." Mal's lips curled in distant. 

      “Much worse” Evie agreed, “She does not appear to be enjoying it...ouch” she winced as Penny stepped on Chad's foot.

      "Where is Jay when you need him? He's the best dancer of all of us oddly enough." Mal sighed propping her head on her palm as they stood at one on the tall tables, "That's right, the boys weren't invited, and Jay doesn't crash sober parties."

      “What do you mean the boys weren’t invited?” Ben asked as he came over, “I mean sure this event is supposed to be mostly single ladies and gentlemen of the court and the host but I'm pretty sure I added them to the list.”

      "I can make you a short list, Jay and Carlos didn't get an invite and I don't see Prince Aziz here either. Unless he isn't single... is he engaged to Jordan? I see the two of them together all the time." Mal commented straightening.

      “Aziz doesn’t normally come to these things. Plus his parents don’t care who he marries as long as he’s happy.” Ben shrugged in explanation, “Want to dance?”

      "That's really unusual right? I mean you and he are the only ones who can do whatever with the dating thing." Mal could admit that Ben considered them dating, she wasn't so sure what she thought of the whole ordeal, "Are you going to be okay if I leave you alone E? I don't really want to deal with any princess or Chad issues this party."

      “I think the only one with a Chad issue at this party is Penny,” Evie nodded.

      "Fair enough," Mal nodded, "You know what to do if something happens. Alright Ben we can have a dance."

      “I hope more than one” he smiled, “Evie save me a dance for later.”

      "We can have as many as you want. You know Evie is always willing to have a dance with you."

      “Go on, go have fun you two,” Evie smiled watching them, it was nice watching Mal have fun.

      Mal smiled briefly at her and let Ben pull her onto the dancefloor, "So your sister isn't going to stay with Chad right? Because he is an ass."

      “I hope not, I mean he was one of my best friends. But, well I kinda messed up some treaties and alliances when I fell in love with you. I feel kinda bad but I think they are trying to restabilize using her,” Ben explained, “I am so happy I found you, I just hope that Penny finds her love too”

-*-

      Penny hid over by the snack table after getting loose from Chad. God that guy was like a leech or something.

      “You have a perfectly good prince that wants to spend time with you and you are hiding over here,” Audrey snorted sipping on her punch.

      “I’m not sure good is the right word for Chad” Penny snorted back.

      “It's what your father wants, as a princess it is your job to do as you’re asked,” Audrey rolled her eyes at her, “Honestly all that time at Merryweather’s and you’re still a disaster. And if you don’t want Chad, then tell your father you will have my brother.”

      “And be related to you,” Penny shook her head.

      “What’s that supposed to mean,” Audrey snapped at her, “I mean at least I’m not a VK.”

      “I like the VKs,” Penny picked up her own drink trying to get away from the conversation.

      “Right I forgot you and your brother are warped in the mind” Audrey sighed, “But really if you are going to monopolize Chad’s time all night I suppose you're better than that blue slut.”

      “You take that back” Penny turned with a hiss.

      “Why it’s true, it's pathetic how she hovers around like she means something hoping some prince will knock her up,” Audrey crossed her arms.

      “I said take it back” Penny stepped towards her.

      “Oh get over yourself, I will say what I want about that...aww,” Audrey jumped as the red punch hit her.

      “Ok... to be fair that wasn’t internally on purpose” Penny shrugged sheepishly before Audrey stormed off.

      “Penelope” Bella hissed hurrying over, “You need to go apologize”

      “But mom she deserved it” Penny defended

      “I don’t care, you don’t behave like that. Go” Bella gave her a look, she loved her wild child and Audrey probably did deserve it but she didn’t want to deal with the fall out. It was already taking a lot of effort to keep Adam from marrying her off. 

-*-

      “Princess Penny strikes again” Ben chuckled watching Penny head off.

      "Dress looks better that way," Mal commented, "You want me to rescue your sister, Audrey looks pissed."

      “Maybe not rescue but make sure she doesn't like, drown Audrey somehow,” Ben smiled.

      "That's fine, I will do my best to keep them from unaliving each other." Mal snickered and started making her way in that direction.

-*-

      “Really you are being ridiculous” Penny called after Audrey, “You said some things you shouldn’t have. I made you shut up. Your dress looks better this way” 

      “I do not understand what is wrong with YOU” Audrey screamed, turning to look at her, “Nothing you do makes any sense. You refuse to listen”

      “I listen... just not to you... ow... have you lost it,” Penny ducked as a book came flying at her followed by a metal statue thing.

      “Have I lost it? I had everything, but now it’s all laid out before you . You could have any prince you want. But you just want to ruin your life. You throw it away.” Audrey screeched picking up the next thing on the shelf, “Sometimes I just wish you would disappear off to where no one would think to find you”

      Penny blinked at the cloud of lavender smoke, “Jordan?” she looked at the genie.

      “As you wish... wait... Penny” Jordan snapped her fingers watching in shock as the Princess of Auradon vanished .

      Mal jogged into the room holding her purple dress, “Penny,” she froze seeing Jordan standing next to Audrey who was holding Jordan's lamp, “What did you two do? Where is she?!”

      “Oh, god Mal I don’t know. Audrey made a wish and...” Jordan just waved her hands.

      “You're the one with magic don’t blame this on me” Audrey snapped at Jordan.

      “Audrey, where did you wish her to?” Mal's voice was a low even tone even as her eyes began to glow showing her temper.

      “I don’t know” Audrey snarled at Mal, “I didn’t have anywhere specific in mind just away from me. I’m sure she’s off terrorizing some poor farm village.”

      Mal squeezed her eyes shut and pinched the bridge of her nose, “Audrey, you sent the princess of Auradon on a one way trip to somewhere. You realize how not good that is? What happens if you sent her to the bottom of the ocean Audrey, or the middle of a desert or somewhere equally impossible to get her back?”

      “I’m sure she’s been hanging out with enough bad influences that she’ll be fine” Audrey rolled her eyes, “but if you're so worried, Jordan I wish Penny was standing next to Mal”

      “As you wish” Jordan waved her hands only for a small spark to come out, “...um...” Jordan tried again.

      “Great just great,” Mal sucked in a deep breath, “Congratulations Audrey you now get to explain to the royal family what you did with their daughter and that we can't apparently get her back.”

      “I didn’t mean it, it's not like I knew Jordan was going to make her disappear” Audrey looked at Jordan in a panic.

      “Sorry, but I don’t know where she is” Jordan shook her head.

      “You picked up Jordan's lamp, Jordan is a Genie. If you used the word wish, Jordan is going to do what genie's do and grant your wish. How, how do you not know how this works?” Mal threw her hands up, “Come on you two, bring the lamp.”

      Jordan snatched her lamp back from Audrey with a dark look, she should have never trusted them enough to at least let herself listen to the party out there if she couldn’t be a part of it.

Chapter 26: Welcome to the Isle of the Lost (IoL: September)

Chapter by Kevyon

Notes:

Gaston II, Gaston III, and Gilford Le'Glum the Sons of Gaston

All picture edits made by Kevyon; original works credited to their original artists.

       Rumplestiltskin paused mid deal with Evil Queen, he could feel it, magic, djinn magic. He smiled softly taking the ring she offered in exchange for the vials of acids she wanted. Once she was gone he limped up the stairs where his daughter was tucked in her room weaving metal for him.

       “My dear, I want you and your crew to keep your eyes open for a new face on the Isle.”

       She tipped her head, “Baby or adult.”

       “Unknown, but they got here with djinn magic. And likely it wasn't willingly. Understood?”

       “Yes Papa,” she smiled at him carefully, not moving, “Now go back to the shop, still another few hours before dinner.”

-*-

       “Fuck, Jordan?” Penny pushed herself up off the ground looking around, “Jordan?” she tried to find something familiar in her surroundings in the dying light of the setting sun. She turned in circles her stupid dress fanning around around her. All the graffiti and garbage, this place smelled disgusting, there weren’t any street signs. She could feel the panic starting to bubble up in here, she tried to push it down and think. She just didn’t know this street; she was fine, she was the princess of Auradon. 

       She spotted a drain pipe on the side of one of the buildings, she just needed a different perspective. She'd know where she was once she could see it from above. She walked over and pulled on the pipe to make sure it was secure. She could do this just like Jay taught her, well not in these shoes, she kicked them off and started to climb. It took her a little bit and she almost fell twice but she made it pulling herself onto the roof of the building. 

       “That was harder than I thought” she panted laying on her back for a second before standing up being careful of the trash around her bare feet. She turned in a circle again stopping as she saw the lights off in the distance through the dirty smog...

       “FUCK” she just about screamed, “she wouldn’t dare, this is a joke” the tears starting this time, she knew Audrey wasn’t her biggest fan but she wouldn’t send her to the Isle. Penny looked round again, she needed to find cover whether she was actually on the isle or she had a head injury from Audrey actually hitting her with one of the things on the shelf, although she felt the Isle was more likely. She spotted Maleficent's Castle not super far away and then started to pull up the map in her head from listening to stories from the Core 4. Once she was pretty sure she knew where the hideout was she walked to the edge of the roof in that direction. Going back down to the streets would be suicide, but she’d never gone this far in the dark across rooves she didn’t know. She may be able to wait out the night here, but she didn’t like being out in the open, and once it was light there was a better chance of someone seeing her.

       After about 4 buildings and stepping on some broken glass, Penny started poking her head over the edge of the buildings looking for the Flying Rocks sign. She’d been at it about 2 hours when she made it to a marker she knew meant she’d gone too far.

       “God damn it this shouldn’t be that hard” Penny snarled to herself, maybe she needed to go closer to the Castle. She ran and jumped between another set of buildings looking around as she panted, she couldn’t do this all night. Maybe it was time for a new plan. As she sat she realized she could see a caged in fire escape on the building next to her. She went to the edge and spotted the sign.

       “Thank god” she breathed scrambling to get down from her place. She made it about half away before her hand holds broke off the side of the building and she fell the remaining 15 feet to the ground. She limped over to the sign wheezing from the wind being knocked out of her, she made quick work of knocking the sign back with a rock and hurried as best she could up the stairs. She fell on the battered couch, crying. She’d made it, she’d be safe here until they came for her. 

-*-

       Io pulled herself up and out of the skylight in her room. Easing it closed behind her as she crouched for a moment longer before racing across the roofs towards the Jollyroger. Hook never required any of them aside from his son to attend the near nightly wharf parties but she needed to see her crew. Needed to put out the feelers for their newest guest. 

       Sure, she wasn't ever clear in how they had gotten here, but she trusted her father. If he said someone had been sent, someone had been sent.

       “Crocodile? Wasn’t expecting ye,” Harry looked at her as she appeared.

       “I’m sorry, did I need an invitation?” she sneered at him teasingly, “And here I was thinking you and I had a long standing understanding of things.”

       “No invite needed, just wasn’t expecting ye. Ye want a drink or something?” Harry shrugged.

       “Or something, heard an interesting rumor I’m trying to see if there is any worth to. That someone from the mainland has gotten themselves trapped here via djinn magic. You’ll keep your eyes peeled for someone you don’t know right Harry?”

       “Course I will, even have Gil help me” Harry nodded, “We know anything else bout them? Boy, girl? What they did, are they gonna be fun?”

       “That was all I got out of them, new face, djinn magic, stuck here. Not much to go on, but we know everyone on this Isle. Worst comes to worst I’ll just have to send Koga on a little hunt to see if there is any stock in that rumor. Maybe just maybe we could all have some fun. Not much of a challenge when all the old timers rolled over after Maleficent took off.”

       “Aye, we’ll start pokin round in the mornin,” Harry said, “Can’t wait to hear what they did, ain’t been a newbie for years.”

       “Hopefully not another, ‘I was mean to my magical toys’. You have no idea how much joy it gave me to drag him to Shere Khan. Now then to other entertaining things, drinks and dancing?”

       “Read me mind Crocodile” Harry smirked motioning Gil over to him. Gil almost seemed to hop over to Harry’s side.

       “As long as I never have to walk in on you two fucking again. Bad enough I have to walk in on your dad and inform him to do his damn job,” she snorted looking Gil over, “Another fight with your brothers?” she noticed a bruise on his chin, “Or did Uma sucker punch you again?”

       “Oh um. A little bit of both, running away from Uma then my brothers caught me” he shrugged, “Doesn’t hurt much though.”

       “I swear,” she thumbed his chin gently moving his head to make sure it wasn’t anything worse before she nodded, “Do I need to send Koga on runs with you?”

       “No Crocodile. I can handle it” Gil shook his head

       “I got it covered Io” Harry agreed wrapping his arms around Gil’s waist.

       “Alright fine, but Uma comes at you again I will deal with the little fish myself,” she growled, “Now shall we? I think we’ve earned ourselves a few drinks.”

       “What crocodile says we earn we will take” Harry cheered.

 

       Io nodded to herself, leaving the two sleepy drunk males in Harry’s quarters before she headed back towards her home. She hadn’t been lying, over a whole year with the Big Bad Four’s  kids gone had made things rather boring on the Isle. She had no idea how Mal dealt with no opposition. Then again, while Mal had been happy to punch, Io was much happier stabbing, slashing, or generally causing bodily harm. Leaping across roofs she paused for a moment over the New Wonderland Warehouse and looked at Auradon where her opponents had gone and stayed. She would find a way off this Isle if she had to slash every old timer’s throat to do it.

-*-

       “Harry, look what I found,” Gil called running up towards Harry. He’d only left about a half an hour ago. Harry reached out taking the shoe from Gil’s hand. 

       “Where you find these?” He looked at the pink shoe with a jeweled heart on the buckle 

       “Down by the tavern,” Gil smiled, “this is what Io wanted right?”

       “Yeah Gilly it’s a start. Let’s take this to Crocodile then you show me where,” Harry said studying the shoes.

       Io looked up from the map she was working on in the New Wonderland Warehouse, she wasn’t quite sure why she kept using it as a proverbial hideout when her whole bloody crew knew where she would be. She could have used Mal’s old place but it still felt a bit like invading what privacy they were allowed on the Isle. Hands settled on either side of the near completed map she sighed, “Yes boys? Something important I assume that couldn’t possibly wait till my night check in with the drop off?”

       “Gil found something by the tavern” Harry held up the shoes, “looks like a little lady”

       “They’re really pretty aren’t they” Gil smiled, “and sparkly”

       Io pushed back and moved towards them. Gingerly taking the shoe and inspecting it, trying to imagine not only the girl wearing them but why she would be. “I'm going to go out on a limb and say she didn't likely get sent here because she was a bad girl. Let's go get the other shoe. I am sure we can get a nice price from Madame Medusa or Evil Queen for these.”

       “I’ll show you, it was really cool the way the sparkle looked when the light hit it” Gil turned to lead the way. It was a little used side alley near his dad’s tavern, “Why do you think she left her shoes?”

       “If me had to guess, we’re looking for a climber” Harry motioned to the drain pipe, “What you think Io?” he glanced over at the Crocodile.

       Io looked up the drain pipe, grabbing the other shoe before hooking both in her belt, “Well why don't we go up and have a look.” She took a hold of the pipe and started making her way up the side of the building. 

       If the girl didn't get caught immediately this close to Gaston's tavern, and knew enough to know how to scale a building, she was going to be worth finding. Especially since her shoes looked expensive at least. A trip to Evil Queen would give her a scope of how expensive.

       Harry groaned but followed Io up the building,  it wasn’t really in his skill set but he could manage it as needed.

       “I’ll wait down here” Gil watched them go up.

       “She coulda gone anywhere” Harry turned in circles looking at all the roofs, “But not many places have food. She’ll have to pop up eventually right?”

       Io hummed softly, “Depends. We have the following information: girl, fancy ass shoes, who knew to get off the street and knows how to scale a building and run rooftops. We already know she is holed up somewhere based on no one has tried to sell her off. Wherever she is, is abandoned.”

       She looked over the roofs palming the shoes checking for size. She guessed at the girl's height and jump ability, crossing out routes that would be impossible before leaning down over the side, “Gil head towards the bazaar in a general that way direction,” she pointed, “Look for anything, well pink. Harry head towards Maleficent's castle, keep an eye out for anything out of place on the roofs. Go about 4 to 5 blocks. We’ll meet back on the ship.”

       “Yes Crocodile,” they echoed going about their tasks. Gil going through side alleys and Harry going over the roofs.

       “Little girl, little girl where are you?” she breathed to herself before heading the opposite direction of Harry, looking for anything out of place on the roofs where only the kids would run. 

       Gil stopped looking around besides some broken siding he didn’t see anything and that was pretty normal.

       Harry looked around, he didn’t know what he was really looking for. He stopped for a second as a splash of color out of place caught his attention. He bent down looking at the brown on the broken glass, she was hurt.

 

       Io perched on the railing by the bow of the ship, Koga keeping Mimzy occupied as she waited for the others to swing back from their runs for Hook. She had come up empty looking for the girl but had an interesting talk with Evil Queen regarding the shoes. She figured she might as well while she was in the area. And the Queen was more than happy to chat to anyone about a proper lady's footwear. Hell if Io hadn't planned on doing a Prince Charming impersonation on this girl when they found her just to make sure, she would have traded the shoes to Evil Queen for more pages out of her grimoire. That was how badly the Queen wanted them for her Evie when she came home.

       “You find anything Crocodile,” Harry asked as he made his way up the gangplank.

       “Nothing,” she didn't offer up her talk with Evil Queen preferring to keep it to herself as future leverage. “You have better luck?”

       Koga looked at them, “Still on that damn rumor Crocodile?”

       “Yes, why did you smell something new?”

       “You're hilarious,” he growled fixing her with a dark look, “It's been over a week, pretty sure they would have shown up by now.”

       “Found old blood on one of the roofs. Looks like they were regretting leaving the shoes behind” Harry snorted, “Gil’s still down by the bazaar says he feels like something lucky is coming today” he rolled his eyes at his lover's silliness.

-*-

       Penny winced slightly as she put weight on her foot, that cut was healing but it sure was taking its fucking time. She’d ripped up a pair of Evie’s tights to make a bandage of sorts and used the questionable water that came from the sink to try and clean it. She’d stayed in the hideout for a little over a week, the ration bars were almost gone, even with her rationing them down. She was going to have to go out if she didn’t want to starve, of course she wasn’t looking forward to how she was going to get that food. Jay had taught her to be light with her fingers sure, but she’d never had a reason for practical experience and stealing from the baker wasn’t the same as what she would need to do here. 

       She’d been rifling through the clothes left behind to try and find something to wear, if she went out in this dress she might as well scream at the top of her lungs she was from the mainland. The problem of course was that none of the Core 4’s stuff fit her. She’d found an old pair of Mal’s boots and if she stuffed the toes would work for her, and Carlos’ jacket was fine if a little big, but none of the pants fit her. She was just going to have to risk it. She had ripped the tulle off the outside on her third day hating how it felt on her skin, and made it hard to sleep. She glanced at herself in the cracked and dirty mirror one last time, pulling Jay’s hat down further on her head and zipping up the jacket. There was dirt on her face already and she’d tried to rub some into her hair and the pink of the skirt. It was now or never, she nodded to herself she could do this go down to the bazaar and back.

       Gil leaned against a wall watching the people in the bazaar, sure it had been over a week since Io had told him to look but, he felt like today was his day. He was going to catch the girl for Io or maybe he’d get Harry to give him a BJ, maybe both if he was really lucky. He took in all the faces of mostly adults that passed him, none of them were familiar but they also weren’t wearing pink. 

       “MOVE” Penny yelled, pushing through the crowds as she ran, her foot was burning and so was her chest. This old guy was fast, the fuck he should have been an easy mark. The apples felt heavy in her pocket as she ran between two booths heading for an alley, hoping to find a way up the side of a building even if she had to ditch the boots. She glanced back to check on where the guy was only to run headlong into someone sending her crashing to the ground.

       “Sorry” Penny said, scrambling to get her feet back under her as she wheezed. Gil looked at the girl on the ground in front of him. He blinked a few times trying to make sense of what he was seeing, his ears perked up as he heard Mr. Sputain yelling about a thief and how he was going to gut them.

       “You stole from Mr. Sputain? That wasn’t very smart” he said, pulling her to her feet.

       “Yeah I got that part, move... please” Penny tried to get around the big blonde.

       “No one steals from... hey why are you wearing this?” he figured Carlos’ jacket, “You can’t wear this”

       “Look I really need to go” Penny again tried to push by him to find a hiding place.

       “Wait a second... pink” Gil looked at her shirt, Io had said to look for Pink. Gil quickly picked her up and put her in a trash can.

       “HEY” she yelped in a slight pain at the pressure on her ribs.

       “Stay quiet,” he said putting the lid on the can and sitting on it. Penny was ready to scream at him again when she heard the old guy talking to him, she sucked in a breath holding it. She wasn’t sure how long it was but the blonde got him to leave and let her out.

       “Thanks I guess,” she said, holding out one of the green apples.

       “Oh my favorite” Gil took it, “now you need to come with me” he grabbed her wrist pulling her along.

       “Hey let go” she stumbled trying to kick at him as he pulled her along.

       “No can do, Io said to look for anything Pink” Gil shook his head before turning and just tossing her over his shoulder.

       “Ow, damn it that hurts” Penny yelped, hitting Gil's back.

       “Oh, um.... well I’ll hurry and get you to the ship then” Gil said not sure if he should be sorry or not it wasn’t a word he used with anyone but Harry, “maybe if you're what she’s looking for Harry will give me a blow job” he hurried along.

       “What?” Penny tried to push herself over his shoulder to look at him.

-*-

       “Io, I found something,” Gil cheered as he neared the ship, Penny for her part was exhausted from trying to get out of his hold. She’d thought she’d done it right before the wharf, managing to grab a hold of the side of a building; all she’d managed to do was rip out one of her fingernails. Her ribs hurt, all she wanted was for this derp to put her down.

       Io looked at Harry so maybe she should have put a little more stock in luck as Gil and Jay seemed to have it in spades. She sighed softly, “And what is it you found Gil?” Koga moved closer to her back as Mimzy bounced excitedly.

       “A girl,” Gil smiled, swinging Penny off his shoulder once he was on the ship. Harry blinked, in a week none of them had found much of the girl. Gil decides to hang out at the bazaar and doesn’t find a clue he finds the girl.

       Penny swallowed crossing her arms around her aching ribs. This wasn’t good, how was she gonna get out of this.

       Io grinned, all carnal teeth, “Pretty little lamb.” she moved closer and removed Jay's beanie from her head, “Such a survivor aren't you?” eyes flicked over the jacket curled around her, Carlos’ jacket his moniker on her back like a brand. “Shall we see what we are working with? Koga take her downstairs, Mimzy take care of her if she tries to run.”

       Koga smirked, “Gladly Crocodile,” he moved closer to them hungry growls lifting from his lips at her scent.

       Mimzy gave Io an odd look but flicked her fingers a long slim needle pressing against the inside of her palm, “No eating her Koga. You know the rules.”

       “Killjoy,” he grumbled, crouching slightly to wrap his thick arm around Penny's hips.

       Penny’s eyes darted around, if she could make it off the ship. But, this cat guy had a pretty good grip on her, then there was the girl with needles. She’d have to bide her time until there was an opening.

       Gil watched them disappear, “So did I do good” he gave Io a smile. Harry chuckled only Gil could look that much like an eager puppy and be part of the Crocodile’s crew.

       “Yes, you did very very good,” Io purred fingers scratching under his chin playfully, “I'm sure Harry will give you a treat for doing such a good job. How big of a treat will depend on what kind of little lamb we have in our clutches.”

       Koga set Penny down and licked his lips as he snapped the hanging irons around her pretty little wrists before he threw the center chain up over the hook so she couldn't run off. He looked her over curiously, claws carefully moving the jacket open. It was Carlos’ jacket, old but the puppy's scent was still there. The dress she was wearing was worse for wear but everything was here.

       Mimzy sighed sitting on one of the crates, “I thought it was just a rumor.”

       “You know Crocodile, if it was a rumor she wouldn't have had Harry and Gil out looking,” Koga shrugged, finally pulling away as the door opened letting Io and the others down, “What are we doing about Captain?”

       “He will leave it alone. Remember the last one we had down here, he stopped asking questions. Decided that he didn't want to know what we were up to.” Mimzy shrugged, swinging her feet. “I made that guy such a pretty cage, he just didn't appreciate it as much as Crocodile did.”

       “Last one?” Penny asked eyeing Mimzy. She was not thrilled with the cuffs that would make escape pretty hard.

       “Oh look her dress has a sparkly like the shoes” Gil smiled

       “Aren’t ye just observant today” Harry laughed softly, “Stay by the door love”

       Penny looked down at the jeweled heart on her waist, she planned on ripping it off and seeing if she could break it apart when she got back to the hideout. Her eyes flickered between all of them, this wasn’t about her little jewels.

       Io grinned widely, “Well he should have known better than to use my alleys like that.” she slid the shoes out of her belt and crouched down yanking the boots off the girl's feet. Keeping a hold of one of the girl's ankles she slid the jeweled shoe on. “Two for two Gil. I have to say I am impressed. Now then let's strip off the lies and see what's left.” her blade flicked into view as she looked up at the girl.

       “Um... how about we leave the lies where they are?” Penny said, eyeing the knife.

       “Oh she’s got jokes, I’m assuming it's a she under all the dirt” Harry snorted, “Should I have someone bring some water and a rag?” he glanced at Io.

       “You know what they say about assuming” Penny quipt without thought.

       Nodding to Harry before saying, “She has lots of jokes clearly,” Io smirked standing and slipped the blade under the sleeve of Carlos’ old jacket. Bit by bit cutting the jacket off of her leaving her in the dirty dress and one glittery shoe, “Now then let's clean you up a touch and see that skin.” 

       Harry handed Io the wet rag, watching as the girl tried to figure out how to respond to the Crocodile. Not that he could blame her Islers didn’t know how to deal with the Crocodile, so why would this little mainlander.

       Io patiently wiped the dirt off the girl’s face and neck. She took in all the little details about the girl, the darker sandy blonde hair hanging in tangles, the defiant and yet cautious spark in her eyes. Most of all she noticed the breaths hitching out of the girl sharp with pain. It was a princess she was pretty sure, the lack of jewelry was enough for Io to know she wasn’t married off yet. She stepped back and clucked her tongue, mainlanders were a treat, all pretty smooth skin.

       Koga took his que and unhooked her so that her shackled hands could rest in front of her instead, “She smells cleanish.”

       Mimzy tilted her head to the side, “Does our new lamb have a name?”

       “Penny,” she said, pulling her hands and arms close to her chest.

       “Do you always turn up like a bad one?” Harry teased.

       “Depends on who you ask,” she sent him a sarcastic smile.

       Io hummed softly walked around the girl, “Curious and curiouser, such a smart mouth, I had imagined all you mainlanders would be like those nimrods on the television. Overly polite, no sense of humor. Tell me then Penny,” her fingers eased to the girl’s hips, “Where did a pretty little princess learn how to scale a building and how to steal?”she dangled one of the apples in front of her before tossing it to Harry. 

       “Are we sure it’s a princess?” Koga asked arms over his massive chest.

       “Nice clothes, fancy shiney shoes,” Mimzy shrugged, “Screams princess to me.”

       Penny’s mouth snapped shut eyeing Io, she let her gaze go over the group fleetingly trying to gauge what it was they thought they knew. She could lie say she wasn’t a princess but, she had a feeling the one in charge already knew who she was and was just toying with her to see how she would react, “Despite many peoples opinions Princess is still my title, and I want that back, I didn’t get chased halfway through the bazaar to feed some mangy Pirate.”

       “Mangy? Do me look like a dog to ye?” Harry snapped.

       “Well if the stench fits, but you know that could just be cat man” Penny tried to shrug, “And for the record I hate those shoes”

       “Well aren’t ye a smart mouthed little girly” Harry snorted, he couldn’t lie to himself he kinda liked the girls spunk.

       Koga growled and curled his fingers in her hair yanking her head back, “Careful Princess or I will make a meal out of you. I never had Princess before, so maybe I’ll just carve a little piece off here and there and tie you up with the rest of the family feed.”

       Io grinned wider, “I would watch what you say to him in particular Princess Penny, Koga is quite a man eater. The rest of us not so much,” she placed the tip of her blade against the hollow of her throat, “So then what does bring you here Princess...” she tipped her head curiously Princess Penny, Penny. 

       It sounded so familiar, hell she looked familiar. What was it, what was it? Expensive ass shoes, jeweled hearts, clearly knew how to get into the hideout that belonged to Mal, she had Jay’s hat, Carlos’ jacket, if she had to guess Mal’s shoes. That would lead to her knowing them, being close enough to be trusted with such valuable information. High royalty then, and not well liked high royalty.

       Penny swallowed, “So then that must make you one of those cannibal tigers I heard so much about” she gave Koga a forced smile, “No hard feelings I hope about the stench comment, it’s probably me anyway. And as for what brings me here well your blond Derp over there grabbed me. Although I have the feeling you mean in a more general sense, and that’s a long and dramatic story.”

       “What’s a derp?” Gil asked. Harry snorted looking at the girl, she had a way with words he’d give her that, she was probably used to talking her way out of things.

       “Um...” Penny tried to think of an answer before sighing, “It’s a brute so to speak”

       “Oh, well people call my dad that all the time” Gil shrugged.

       Io licked at her lips, the girl was good at trying to silver tongue herself out of a very quick pinch with Koga, “Koga, let her go for now.” she waited until he backed up, “Well I told him to keep an eye out for someone from the mainland. He’s a very good listener, and terribly strong like his daddy dearest. Honestly, we have all the time in the world so you might as well start talking. And I would avoid lying.”

       “Strong... son of Gaston I’m guessing, the pirate I’m guessing is Harry Hook, I’ve been told about Koga. so I’m gonna guess that would make you Io or the Crocodile. Great people I’ve heard so much about,” she winced, “Um...lets see, you know Mal is dating Prince Ben” she said chewing her lip, Jay had warned her once about the Crocodile even saying that if it ever happened that she was brought from the Isle Penny was to stay away from her and not make any deals, “Well before that he was dating Audrey, daughter of sleeping beauty, real bitch let me tell you. Anyway, she doesn’t like Mal for obvious reasons, and I don’t like Audrey because I’m Team Mal all the way. So I may have been a touch annoying...”

       “I can’t imagine ye being annoying” Harry chuckled.

       “Give me a day or two. Anywho, I may have pushed Audrey’s buttons a little too hard a week or so ago at the presentation Ball. Honestly I would never intentionally spill red juice on such a pretty dress. She has a melt down blah blah blah, my mom makes me go after her, probably regretting that now, we start fighting she’s throwing stuff at me. She picks up a genie lamp, I’m sure you get where this is going.”

       Io dragged the knife down stopping just between her breasts, splitting the pink dress open, “I warned you about lying, even the little white lies. You intentionally started a fight with her. And how is our dear Mal? Telling stories about us, I suppose. Clearly someone told you all about us and our dear relationship with them.”

       “Ok, honest I wouldn’t spill red juice on a dress like that Evie totally turn me into a pin cushion if I did, I was aiming for Audrey’s head and missed and I totally started that fight by calling her a bitch, she started throwing things, so no actual lie there” Penny defended, “And you know as much as I dislike this dress it is kind of my only cloths.”

       “Ye like to dance around questions” Harry observed, “How’s the great Dragon?” 

       “Hopefully roasting Audrey alive... but more realistically probably sitting in etiquette class.”

       Koga moved around Io, shifting closer to Mimzy warily, that slowly widening grin of teeth. He really did hate it because it never meant anything not bloody.

       “Why would I care if it’s your only clothes little lamb? I mean you don’t honestly need them. Pity to hear about Mal. She used to be so... so much better than sitting politely. And what of Evie then, still carrying scissors in that pretty little blue bag of hers?”

       “As a matter of fact she does, threatened to castrate some jock with them just two weeks ago. And as for the clothes, well they’re worth more intact if a little dirty,” Penny dead panned.

       Gil shifted closer to Harry giving him a look, he nodded back. Something in the little Princess had just changed.

       “Oh and what are they worth to you then?” Io asked ideally, the girl was interesting but she could see Jay’s expressions in her face. His ticks, same as Mal’s. Seemed her old toy had been talking quite a bit, she almost wanted to ask how much he had told her. But that was a line of thought for later. For now she had a decent idea that she may actually have the Princess of all of Auradon in the bowels of the Jollyroger. 

       “Well if you account for the jewels I would say a change of clothes and letting me go, in that order” Penny said remembering Jay’s words about Io that night he was drunk about playing a game with words.

       Io laughed, the girl had some balls, “No. You Princess Penelope are worth far more than your pretty clothes and all their jewels. And frankly I know not even Jay would tell you about this little home of ours. So I would get comfortable little lamb, you’ll be with us for a while. At least until I figure out why they haven’t come to find you. Koga show our guest to a cell, Mimzy darling, make sure she won’t be picking herself out of it. I don’t trust that the pretty thief didn’t teach her how to escape. And I will be taking that shoe back, after all you don’t be having a need for it in the brig.”

       “Keep the fucking shoe, its ugly anyway” Penny rolled her eyes, “and I landed here, even I’m sure-sure how much worth I’ve got. And would you at least take the fucking shackles off.”

       “No,” Io snorted bending and carefully removed the shoe, “They are gaudy as fuck, but everything is valuable here on the Isle.”

       Koga grabbed the chain, seemed like Crocodile had grown bored of the game for tonight, which did not bode well for the rest of the Isle. But it did mean he was getting fed.

       Mimzy gave Io a look, why wasn’t she using the girl as leverage. Why wasn’t she making demands, making deals? She shifted off the crates and followed after Koga silently, her long pink skirt flicking back and forth.

       “Don’t suppose telling you lock picking was next week's lesson is going to help my case” Penny looked at Mimzy.

       “Not really, because if you do escape and run. She will make you wish you had never ran when she catches you. Koga how many have actually managed to evade her?”

       “Zero,” he grinned wolfishly, “Only one she ever let run along was Jay. Should have seen the pretty mess she made out of one of Jafar’s men the last time they tried to run from her.”

       “You always get to see the fun stuff, she only lets me play with the ones she catches fucking in our alley’s,” she pouted at him as he pushed Penny into a cell and closed the door, “Patch locks?” 

       “Honest? I could bend the old steel down here, but she’d need Gil to unbend it if I’m not around.”

       “Works for me,” Mimzy smiled, slipping the padlock on the door as Koga grabbed an old broken sword and curled it over the bars, lashing the door and cage together.

       Penny blinked at the cage, great just great she was trapped on a pirate ship with a cannibal, a witch, a crocodile, a pirate and an idiot...it sounded like a bad joke. And she was still hungry, she laid down on the bench curling into herself as best as possible. Her existence had gone from bad to worse once again, she just wasn’t sure how to make it livable this time.

       Koga and Mimzy headed back towards Gil, Harry and Io. The smile was gone from her lips, leaving just the cold blank expression in place. “She’s settled in, patch locked the door just in case.”

       “Good. It sounds like Jay was running his mouth about us, given it is impossible to know how much she knows be on your guard. She has survived here a week by sheer dumb luck, so we will make sure she is kept under close guard. Most of the old timers will want to use her to make demands. I want to know why the Mainland hasn’t even announced they are missing the Princess of the Royal Family. Gil, you adorable lamb, do not let her out of the brig. No matter if she begs, pleads, or bats her pretty little eyes at you, do not let her out.”

       Io needed to keep this under close control, with the mainlander here she wasn’t sure if she had enough structure put in place. But she was if nothing else adaptable, she would figure out how to get the girl talking and answering. Until then she had some Grimoire pages to collect, and maybe even a few more from the heart jewel she had carefully pocketed.

       Gil looked back at the cell but nodded. He wouldn’t let her out, he didn’t want to make Io mad at him, cause then Harry would be mad at him too. But, maybe she could be his friend inside the cell; yeah he’d try that later.

-*-

       Once they had all left Penny opened her eyes and sat up. Jay may not have gotten around to officially teaching her about locks, but she was sure a hell gonna try to get these cuffs off. She reached up feeling around her head for one of the few bobby pins there were. She started working not really caring about much else, she couldn’t get out of the cage even with her hands free, it was really more about comfort.

-*-

       Gil came back to the cell once Harry had headed off to do something for his dad. He looked at her laying there cuffs off to the side.

       “Oh you got them off, not sure Io’s gonna like that,” Gil warned, Penny tilted her head looking at him before shrugging.

       “Not like I’m going anywhere even with them off” Penny added, “Did you want something or are you just checking on the prisoner?”

       “Um, well you're right you did steal these so they are yours took me a little bit to get the other one from Harry” He held two apples she had stolen out to her through the bars. Penny quickly snatched them up.

       “Thanks” she said as an after thought before taking a big bite out of one of them setting the other on the bench.

       “You really shouldn’t say that around here, lets people know you're not from here” Gil warned, “Don’t say sorry either”

       “Right be rude got it” Penny nodded eyeing the Son of Gaston.

       “What’s it like?” He asked

       “What’s what like?” 

       “The mainland” he tilted his head

       “Oh it’s, well it’s better than here. And I don’t just mean the cell” she tried to joke a little, “I don’t really know how to describe it.”

-*-

       Io sat at the spinning wheel pooling the wool making thread. Her eyes were focused on her task even as her mind was elsewhere.

       “So are you going to tell me what's on your mind?” Rumplestiltskin asked looking away from the stovetop at his daughter, “Or are you going to continue just sitting there glowering at your work?”

       She glanced at him and shook her head to clear it, “Sorry Papa. I found the mainlander, well Gil found her for us and brought her to me.”

       “Oh? Well go on tell me what's bothering you.”

       “It's the daughter of the royal family, first off. Second she has been spending copious time with Mal and her crew. Specifically Jafar's son from what I gathered. The boy has been running his mouth about me and the crew I keep. She knew who we were, and she twists words to suit her fancy.”

       Rumple nodded, “I see, you are worried about how much he told her about this place. Worried about not controlling the situation at hand.”

       “I can adapt Papa, you taught me how. It's more, I need her loyalty. At the moment the royal family has made no announcements that she is even missing.”

       “And they won't.”

       “Pardon?”

       He paused setting the pot to the side, “My dear they will never announce that she is missing. She isn't the Crown Princess, she isn't in the running to get a crown unless she is married into it. To admit that they lost a member of the family would be like opening a scandal. The media would paint her and the royal family poorly, opening them to possible dethronement via coo. Understand?”

       “So they will look for her in private. And if we don't make demands...”

       “They will never come here to look for her, and it will be business as usual. I trust you know she cannot be allowed to fall into any of the others hands.”

       “Seriously Papa?” Io replied dryly, “The old timers would make a cluster out of things. No offense. Do you think Cora has gotten word of her arrival here?”

       “Cora would have made a move on her already if she knows. You spend more time with her than I do, what have you seen?”

       “That you taught her a lot of things you taught me. She's playing a game, I entertain her whims because she believes I can be manipulated. I let her believe as she likes. Our visitor will stay on the Jollyroger. Killian for all his faults is a halfway decent man, he will do what is right and say out of my business.”

       He nodded dishing the thick stew onto plates, “You need to pull back on your aggressions. Assume the son of Jafar has painted you as a monster. Prove his words false, and for magic's sake do not let Koga try to eat her.”

       Io rolled her neck standing from the spinning wheel, “I know about Koga. I will take your words under advisement.”

Notes:

Koga son of Shere Khan

All picture edits made by Kevyon; original works credited to their original artists.

Chapter 27: Fruitless Searching (Auradon: September)

      Jay rubbed at his face, it had been two weeks since Audrey wished Penny somewhere that Jordan couldn’t get her back from. Jordan had even supposedly asked her dad to help and nothing. There was a twisting knot of worry in his belly that did not help the near acid-like feeling in his chest that was his magic.

      Carlos looked at him from over the laptop, “You know if you’re going to worry this much you could, I don’t know, work on your homework.”

      “And give myself a headache, no thanks.” he replied as the door opened and Mal came in with Ben and Evie, “Well?”

      Mal shook her head knowing that was the opposite of what her shield wanted to hear. Predictably he let out a string of swears before dropping back into his bed. 

      “My parents are widening the search,” Ben assured, “I’m sure they will find her soon.”

      “See, they are looking Jay,” Carlos gestured, “I am sure Ben is just as worried about his actual little sister as you are. You just need to be patient, remember what happened last time you weren’t patient?”

      Jay lifted his head up slightly off the bed and flipped his friend off at the less than subtle jab at his impulsive grab for Fairy Godmother’s wand earlier that year. “What if they aren’t looking in the right place?”

      “Jay, we are looking everywhere. I heard my father say he’s sending a party to the jungles as well as some to Swan’s harbor,” Ben said.

      Mal looked at Jay and took a deep breath, “Don’t even say it Jay. You’re just being paranoid.” 

      “I’m sorry paranoia has saved my life more than once thanks,” Jay huffed glaring at the ceiling, “But that’s fine just ignore my instincts.”

      “I understand that you think she’s on the Isle Jay” Evie put hand on Jay’s shoulder, “But Penny wouldn’t blend in there some one would have caught her by now even if she used all the tricks you taught her.”

      “Tricks...what exactly? She said she was helping you with homework?” Ben raised an eyebrow at Jay.

      Jay chose to ignore Ben’s question, “Well then show me I’m wrong. Use the mirror. If she’s not there the mirror would show us at least where to look.”

      Carlos rolled his eyes, “She was helping him with homework in exchange for him teaching her how to roof run, you guys call it free running,” he chose to leave out Jay teaching her how to pickpocket.

      “Why would Penny even want to know that?” Ben looked confused, “I mean what does she need to know that for?”

      “I think she just liked spending time with Jay,” Evie gave Ben a small smile.

      “She didn’t need it for anything other than she wanted to learn,” Jay shrugged sitting up on his elbows, “I didn’t see the harm in teaching her, or is this one of those Auradon things?”

      “Well I mean generally princess’ don’t learn things like that but if she asked I don’t see why not” Ben shrugged.

      “I think she was just having fun being not a princess. It is such hard work, and she did seem to enjoy getting down and dirty,” Evie said.

      Carlos snorted having seen Penny and Jay wrestling over pillows before, “Yeah Ben your sister wasn’t big on the princess thing. She liked that Jay didn’t treat her any different than anyone else.”

      Jay frowned, “Well I’m not all that clear on this whole what’s normal Auradon behavior. So I don’t see a point in treating her any different than I treat Mal or Evie.” that wasn’t entirely true given the things he had done with Evie on the Isle and every once in a blue moon here.

      Mal covered her face, “I’m sure Penny just wanted someone else to hang out with someone that wasn’t another Princess.” She almost didn’t want to know what Jay had done this time.

      “Um...actually Mal she doesn’t really hang out with any other princess’ not even really me” Evie chewed her lip trying to figure out why she hadn’t seen that before Mal had said something.

      “That’s not true she hangs out with.... um” Ben tried to think of anyone he’d seen Penny with.

      “Me, or me and Carlos,” Jay supplied, giving him a soft apologetic look, “Mal kept blowing her off for you. Evie’s too Evie for her.”

      Mal opened and closed her mouth before hiding a cringe, “I didn’t mean to...”

      “She stopped by a few times saying you’d agreed to do something with her” Evie nodded looking down, “I volunteered to do it instead. She took me up on it once or twice but after a while she didn’t even bother knocking. I saw her once from down the hall, she realized there wasn’t a light under the door so she just turned around the left”

      Carlos nodded, “She’d always come in here and just kinda talk with Jay. She stopped knocking here too, figured we knew it was her.”

      As Mal gave him a look Jay fought the urge to cringe, “She’d help me with homework and I listened to her vent. That’s all she wanted really, just someone to talk to. I kept Audrey out of her hair since if I flirt with Audrey she goes running off all pissy.”

      “Audrey did seem to be pretty mean to her but I mean I couldn’t really judge it” Evie said

      “Mean to Penny?” Ben asked, what had he not known?

      “Audrey would just say things it wasn’t like on the Isle where picking on someone was like physical” Evie tried to explain, “and Penny normally acted like it wasn’t that big a deal”

      Jay sat all the way up and nodded, “Except it was a big deal. I started dealing with Audrey when Penny came to me crying.”

      “And let it be known Jay does not do well with crying girls,” Carlos commented as his friend looked torn between screaming for Evie and beating the shit out of someone before he just kind of broke down and held her until she stopped crying.

      Mal frowned slightly, “But I mean before us, Audrey and Penny got along right?”

      “Not really” Ben shook his head, “Penny wasn’t Audrey’s biggest fan, since she transferred here. I think Audrey was trying to help Penny be more princess-like...proper. And Penny just wanted her to play with her. Things actually were getting pretty bad, I heard from Chad that Cindy told him that Penny didn’t come home on the holidays cause Audrey was here. Not sure if that was true or if she was just punishing mom and dad for sending her away to begin with”

      Mal blinked, confused, not sure what he meant by holidays, “I know Penny wasn’t like Princess’ princess, but she was more like Lonnie...”

      “So if this shit has been going on since before we got brought here, why the fuck hasn’t anyone done anything? Or is that another Auradon thing, just ignore it until it goes away? Cause I try that with homework and I can tell you it doesn’t work.” Jay was super not okay with this bizarre idea, on the Isle they would have had it out with one another, made a deal or hooked up with opposing gangs and dealt with their shit that way.

      “I suppose now that I think about it, Penny did try and deal with it. I remember Audrey had a black eye, can’t remember what exactly happened but I do remember them being pulled off of each other. Penny was sent to Merryweather’s not long after,” Ben looked off trying to remember, “That was a little after she started keeping that little black book she was always writing in.”

      “Her blackmail book” Evie nodded, “She explained it to me once after I caught her writing in it. Calls it her insurance policy whatever that means... what’s a holiday?”

      “It's a break from school. Normally kids go home and spend time with their families” Ben said, “and she was keeping blackmail on Audrey?”

      “Yeah lots of it” Evie nodded as she eyed the other’s her eyes saying it was a lot more than just Audrey.

      “So what are we supposed to do during these holidays of yours, cause I don’t think you really want us going home? Or is this like when everyone left?” Jay wanted to move this conversation very far away from that book he had been helping Penny with. He had learned a thing or two from Crocodile, by no means was he as good as she was, but he knew ticks and told Penny things he saw because frankly the girl said it was their bonding time. 

      “Similar, yes to everyone leaving. You all are invited to join me this summer as a tour of Auradon but, I know that Anita and Roger wanted to see if Carlos would like to come see them and the dogs for a little bit. They seem to really want to meet you. Um, I think my dad said Aladdin had expressed an interest in coming here to meet Jay. Aziz said something about a possible invite to Agrabah for everyone if that meeting went well” Ben said, “but if you wanted to go home I could arrange a visit for a few days over some of the shorter holiday breaks.”

      “Oh do you think he’d let me come to a fashion meet in Agrabah?” Evie asked eyes lighting up, she’d seen pictures of it and it looked marvelous.

      “Um, you could always write a letter asking” Ben suggested

      “Yeah hard pass on the Agrabah thing, and the Aladdin thing,” Jay shook his head he did not want to go to the place where everyone hated his father, “And I don’t think it’s a great idea to have us go home either.”

      “Yeah I am pretty sure your dad would chain you up in the shop,” Carlos shook his head with a shudder, “Detouring from that horror, why would Anita and Roger want to see me? I mean...”

      Mal looked at Ben and sighed softly, “Don’t take this the wrong way but if we went back to the Isle, I don’t think we would be able to leave it again. But a tour of Auradon sounds nice, give us all a little more information of where we moved to.”

      “Penny didn’t tell you?” Ben looked at Carlos hard, “she poked at dad and mom when she found out for days until they let her see the full transcript of the council meeting. Anita and Roger tried to adopt you when they found out Cruella had a baby, it was...you must have been like 2.”

      Carlos blinked, “What? I- no she um, she didn’t-”

      Jay was across the room in a heartbeat sweeping the monochrome haired boy into his arms protectively, “Breathe ‘los just breathe.”

      He grabbed at Jay’s back reeling, he could have been saved from all of it. He wouldn’t have cigarette burns, and scars from being hit with belts. He would have never had to make deals with the Gastons or be dragged into the wharf for his mother to make hers. He would have never met his friends either though, or her, as terrifying as she was, she always made sure he was safe when it was just him in the wharf alone. 

      “Why wasn’t he adopted?” Mal asked knowing if just one of them had been freed there may have been hope for all of them. Jay would have never had to stoop to doing what he did and still run the risk of beatings that took weeks to heal. Evie wouldn’t have scars from her mother’s acids, or thin lines from the blades Grunhilde used to slice into her daughter. Carlos would have never been subjected to any of the near random acts of violence Cruella dished out because she felt like it. And Mal, Mal wouldn’t have been forced to be evil and cruel when she just wanted to keep her allies safe. 

      “I do actually know that, Penny showed me the transcript,” Ben sighed, “It was deemed too cruel to separate parents from their children just because we didn’t agree with their life choices, it seemed like punishing them while they were already being punished. That was the council’s ruling, there were a few that voted against that but they need a majority to overturn and well 2 votes don’t do much when compared to 9. That was actually the last time the council was together as a whole, most of the time its just 5 or 6 reps mostly from here going over laws or global problems”

      “Too cruel...” Jay stated voice low and hard, happy his back was to them and only Evie would catch the murderous look on his face, “It was too cruel for them to separate us from our parents. You heroes are a bunch-”

      Mal cut him off as she saw spiderweb cracks forming in the windows, “It’s in the past. The council did what they thought was the right thing. They just didn’t plan on our parents, being like they were,” she gave Ben a tight smile, “They need to start looking at the Isle Ben. It’s not a good place to live, not even for our parents. Ignoring it won’t make it go away, and there are kids there suffering.”

      Carlos looked up as Jay’s fingers dug into his shoulders, and saw the flickering sparks the tense clamp of worry in his jaw, “I’m okay Jay, we can’t change it after all,” he turned his head rubbing his cheek in the taller teen’s chest knowing it would calm him down, “I wouldn’t have met any of you if I got adopted, and honest I would rather know you than be some prissy Auradonian, no offense Ben.”

      “None taken, but that was part of the reason why I wanted Mal to help me come up with a list of kids to bring over next year. I want to offer kids over there a better life” Ben explained putting his hands into his pockets.

      “It’s going to be a long list,” Mal snorted, “A very long list.”

      Jay pressed his face into Carlos’ hair and told himself to breath, “There are a lot of kids on the Isle. Probably more than us four even know about.”

      “We’ll figure it out I promise. I won't leave kids there to suffer,” Ben assured.

      “We know you won’t,” Mal smiled as the cracks in the windows seemed to vanish all on their own, “It’s almost dinner time.”

      “You guys go,” Jay smiled thinly, releasing Carlos and stepping back, “I’m going to try and figure my homework out.” That was a lie, but he needed to cool off, knowing that Carlos couldn’t have been saved all the pain and suffering he went through had really hit a nerve. That and the niggling feeling in the back of his head that was screaming Penny was on the Isle where it was dangerous.

      Carlos gave Jay an odd look, the guy never missed a meal, “Okay sure, I’ll bring you something back with me.”

Chapter 28: Join the Crew (IoL: September)

Summary:

Warning: Violence

      Penny sat cross legged by the bars watching at Gil tried to teach her how to tie knots that Harry had taught him. He’d slipped her some rope to follow along with. She’d made a bad joke about giving prisoners rope; he’d just blinked at her confused not getting it. 

      Gil had come down a lot since she’d been put in the cell, hell he’d even stuck his hand through the bars to hold hers on her first night. The more time she spent with him the more she could honestly say she liked him. In fact if she ever got off the isle she was going to offer to take him with her. The pirate wouldn’t like it, he fancied himself Gil’s protector or something.  He came down with Gil every now and then with the excuse of making sure she didn’t take advantage of Gil. Which made some sense Gil really was too good for this place, if she’d been any one else or anywhere else she would have tried to get Gil to let her out of here damn the consequences for either of them.

-*-

      Io came down the stairs rolling her shoulders, she knew about Gil and Harry's visits and frankly it was progress somewhere. Whenever she came down she got the stink eye. But so be it, she would win the girl over eventually. 

      “And how are you feeling today little lamb? Gil won’t be back till late, Captain sent him and Harry on a run. Figured I'd keep you company at least.”

      “Huh and I thought they got their orders from you,” Penny said sitting back, it wasn’t that she minded Io, but something just seemed off. Maybe it was knowing that Jay held some attraction to her or saw some of Io in her. Penny told herself she was over her little crush, and she was but it didn’t mean that she couldn’t be protective over the guy she’d come to see as another big brother.

      “Captain is still in charge of the ship, so we take orders from him. When he's not busy, “adulting”, else wise I'm in charge of the younger crew.” she made the finger quotes with a roll of her eyes.

      “Adulting... guess that’s something both places have in common” Penny laughed more to herself then anything, “Why do they call you Crocodile?” she was curious, sure Jay had said she was dangerous but well she didn’t seem in a hurry to hurt her.

      She shrugged, “Captain gave me the name when I joined his crew. Nowadays people think it's from my smile. Mal hated it,” she grinned, flashing the wide manic grin of teeth, “Mal hated a lot of things about me. Mostly because I never backed down from her.”

      “Yeah she doesn't seem to like being challenged much” Penny agreed, for all of her interest and effort to get to know Mal, she hadn’t actually spent a lot of time with the dragon. She was always busy with Ben or making appearances here or there. Truth be told it made Penny a little bitter, she’d thought maybe there would finally be a girl around that could understand what she meant about being judged and expected to be a certain way. Instead Mal seemed to bend to meet their every expectation.

      “You don't much like her either do you? Ironically as much as she hated me, I was rather fond of our rivalry. She was challenging and I liked seeing her eyes start glowing. I never understood what everyone thought was so intimidating about the look. It was,” Io paused head tipping back trying to think of the right word, “Tantalizing.”

      “I always just thought it was a little eerie honestly, but you know off the isle the look normally triggers something else” Penny shrugged, “and I don’t know, I thought she’d be easier to... get along with then Audrey... well any one is better than Audrey. But she just wants to show the world that she’s good now. Maybe I wanted someone to misbehave with... you know Jay made me promise not to talk to you,” she snickered.

      Io snorted at that, “Mal tried so hard to be her mother, she never realized what I was telling her. Now all she is trying to do is be anything but her mother. She never seemed to grasp the concept of being only as bad or as good as you wanted to be.” she leaned against the cage knife blade in view testing boundaries silently, testing the girls metal so to speak. “Jay just doesn't want you to know his secrets. I know pretty much all of them, or at least the ones he acknowledges. He was a smooth talker that one,” she trailed off smirking at memories of him fitting himself against her back to nose her neck, his hands braced under his chin as he lent over crates to flirt at her.

      “Secrets huh, well whatever they are he’ll spill eventually... if I ever get off this isle. Still can’t believe Audrey sent me here of all places, ” she snorted as she eyed the knife, she leaned against the bars next to Io running her fingers along the bars debating with herself, “I don’t think anyone will ever look for me here, so who knows maybe this is home” her fingertips brushing over the blade before she pushed off the cage spreading her arms wide palms out, “Think I’d make a good pirate? I don’t think so, not much for the water”

      “Not all of them. He rather hates that I know a few of them. I don't use them, those ones, I keep them safe for him.” she smiled, tempted but smart enough to know better, “Would you like that? This Isle of the Lost being your home? As for pirates and water, well this ship will never sail until the barrier comes down. That's why we have all the parties you hear, nothing worse than landlocked pirates.”

      “Well I’m certainly lost” Penny chuckled to herself, “I’m sure there are people that would be just as happy if I never came back, and they didn’t have to think about me again. But maybe that’s why I need to go back. After all I’d hate for my little black book to go to waste and it’s kind of hard to use it when I’m all the way over here. I heard about the parties they sound interesting, not big on the rum though if my experience with mainland alcohol is any indication,” Penny watched Io, she was playing with her while at the same time not, she couldn’t figure it out. She was testing her but to what end, it wasn’t like the knife would have done her any good in here anyway.

      “They are interesting if you like drinking, dancing, and very badly sung chantys. So curious, why do you have a black book? I am guessing it's in reference to people you don't much care for. But you're a princess, don't you mainlanders like your royalty?” Io stayed where she was leaning against the bars to talk, she could see why Jay would talk to her. She almost missed his flirting, but after she sent the locket back to him in those few minutes of freedom she had given up on him keeping his word to her.

      “It’s ...you have to see it to understand it really” Penny shrugged sitting on the bench, “and well I’m what they call a black sheep, I don’t do what I’m told the first time, question everything and could care less about marrying a prince. Plus I may have a problem with always making sure I get even.” She smirked a little thinking about Hans' daughter stuck in the middle of the lake.

      “Well then you ended up in just the right place. By your description, we are on an Isle of black sheep. Some blacker than others granted but what can you do?” she shifted her weight hearing deck boards above her moving, no one was supposed to be back yet. “So other than Jay telling you to stay very away from me, what else did he tell you about the Isle?” she wouldn't alarm the girl, not until she knew who was moving about on deck. She knew the step of a pirate from all her years on the ship, and she wanted to be sure her prize was safe from the Isle. In all reality nothing Jay would have told the girl would have prepared her for the real deal.

      “This and that nothing too specific, mostly taught me how to steal and run roofs” she shrugged, “Pretty adamant that he’d protect me from anything I couldn’t run from,” she glanced up before she looked at Io, she didn’t seem alarmed so it must just be the ship settling.

      “Fat lot of help that does you when he ain't here,” she commented, listening to the steps, cautious, wary, sneaking above her. “I need you to trust me for a moment dear, take this,” she sighed, shrugged off her jacket and eased it through the bars, “Use it to keep your dress covered up. And don't make a sound, no matter what you hear don't make a noise. There are uninvited guests on the ship, I'm going to go deal with them.”

      “Uh right,” she took the jacket pulling it around her, great attackers and she was locked in a cage. She was totally gonna ring Jay's neck next time she saw him for telling her not to worry about fighting.

      Io nodded at her, “Thank you,” she turned her gaze upward before walking to the deck to deal with the problem above her. She rolled her eyes seeing some of Lady Tremaine's men as she closed the hatch behind her, “Something I can help you boys with?” 

      They looked her over and grinned at one another, “Hello pretty little lady. Why don’t you come with us, we can show you a good time?”

      “Not interested. More curious as to why you are sulking about the Jollyroger without permission.”

      “What makes you think we need permission bitch?” another snarled out.

      “Easy, you aren’t crew or captive, so you are here to steal from us. And Captain let’s me deal with interlopers as I see fit,” Io grinned wide, blade flicking into view, “Well boys weigh your options, leave peacefully or you will be crawling off my ship when I’m done with you.”

      Another exchange of looks and some peeled off, running from the ship, the remainder ran towards her. Io was not gentle in dealing with them, gutting one, stabbing another in the chest just under his breast bone, and slashing the last across his back. When Hook stepped aboard he looked at the men and at his panting Crocodile.

      “Run off ye three before I hook the lot of ye for trying to steal from me.”

      When they were gone he moved closer, tipping her head up, “I’m surprised ye let them off so easy. Not getting soft-” he jumped at the blade on his neck, “No offense my dearest Crocodile, normally ye are a touch more violent.”

      “We have a guest Captain, I’m trying not to terrify her. I assume the fuck was worth it?” 

      Killian snorted, “Not worth her trying to steal from me. I’ll check for stragglers, ye just go make sure yer guest is alright.”

      Io nodded wiping the knife off on the bottom of her already blood stained shirt before slipping it away rolling her neck. She could only hope the girl didn’t scare easily.

      Penny had taken the butter knife she had from her bread and started trying to pop the hinges off the door. Once she heard the screaming, it didn’t sound like Io but she wasn’t going to leave the other girl alone against, whatever was up there. 

      “You're ok... you are ok right?” Penny jumped down taking in Io’s appearance.

      Io looked down at herself, “Oh, yeah I’m fine. None of the blood is mine.” She glanced at the butter knife in Penny’s hand, “Curious, what exactly were you planning on doing with that?”

      “Um... stick em with the pointy end... well in this case not so pointy,” Penny shrugged half heartedly.

      “Right...” she gave a soft laugh, “Well I will give you credit for knowing which side of a knife to use and wanting to help even after I told you to just stay put.” Io looked at her over once again, “You doing okay?”

      “I think so, are you ok, I mean I know you said it's not your blood but that sounded kinda... violent” Penny tried, “Well I suppose everything around here is violent but you know.”

      Io licked her lips and paused trying to come up with the best way to ease the girl into this, “So please note I don’t intend to make light of your concern, but stuff like this happens all the time, and honestly it wasn’t all that violent. Well as far as things here are concerned, it was a tinge on the pale side of violence. I appreciate that you're worried about me, but you really don’t have to be, I’m more concerned no one comes down here and hurts you.”

      “Everyone's always worried about me getting hurt,” Penny sighed, “Jay wants to shield me, Ben wants me to play nice with everyone, my parents want me to make friends so I’m not alone. But no one ever seems to want to teach me how to not get hurt.” 

      “Is that what you want? You want to learn how to keep yourself safe? Because this Isle is not a place to play games with, you have to commit everything you have to what you want. If you don’t this Isle will take everything from you.” Io could see the opening, she could see the goal opening slowly in front of her, but she wouldn’t initiate unless Penny was sure that was the path she wanted. 

      “Yes that’s what I want, it's what I’ve wanted since I can remember. I’m not some princess that stays in a tower and lets others save her,” Penny said, crossing her arms as she watched Io.

      She hummed softly seeing the fire in her eyes, “Full commitment to the road because there is no turning back once you take that step.” she would give her an out if she chose to take it. But if the girl wanted to learn, there was always one more place in Io’s pirate crew for a new pet. Someone to take Jay’s place for the time being, it would give Io a chance to really help the girl do something other than sit in a cell. Not to mention it would stop Gil’s puppy dog issues.

      “What do you want in return if you teach me?” Penny asked, “Nothing’s free here.” 

      “Fair enough. There is nothing free on this Isle unless you steal it. In this case,” Io pondered the wording for a moment, “You want to learn, I will teach you to be a pirate, because being a pirate is all I know. But you in turn will strip off all the pretty little princess for me, there is no room for a princess in my crew, only pirates, tigers, and black witches. I won’t be an easy task master, but I am nothing but fair when fairness is needed, and I am cruel when cruelness is called for. That’s the arrangement. You leave the princess behind and in turn you learn to be one of my crew.”

      Penny studied Io, this was a deal that she needed otherwise she was going to be stuck in this cell forever, but Jay’s warning rang in her ears; don’t make a deal with the Crocodile. But Jay wasn’t here, who knew how long she would be stuck here, everyone needed someone to watch their back, “Let's hope I’m a better Pirate than Princess.”

      “Oh Dearie you will be,” Io grinned wild and ferocious, “Jacket please. Let me go get Koga to undo your cage, then we begin.” 

      Penny shrugged out of the jacket passing it through the bars.

      Io slipped it back on buttoning it under her bust and headed topside, “Killian, I need clothes for our guest. She’s ready to come out. Tell your son and Gil to head down below when they get back. I’m going to collect Koga and Mimzy.”

      Killian gave her a bland look lifting a flask to his lips, “Crocodile me the one who gives orders remember?”

      “Oh do you?” Io smirked at him, “I hadn’t noticed my dear handsome pirate Captain.”

      He sighed, “Sometimes girl, sometimes when me think me've forgotten who ye are, ye always seem to find a way of reminding me why me stay on me ship and let ye deal with the whole fucking Isle by yerself. Go, ’ll take care of things here.” he waved her off watching as she flipped off the side of the ship as graceful as an alley cat, “If ye were anyone but ye, me would be beatin ye into my deck for shit like this,” he muttered under his breath heading to his son’s room to collect the smallest pirate gear they had on the ship.

-*-

      Io knocked on the back door of Madame Mim’s home, “Mimzy time to go!” she called inside waiting patiently as the other girl raced down the stairs.

      “Isn’t it early for a wharf party?” Mimzy asked as she threaded their arms together happily falling in step with Io. 

      “Not going to a wharf party. Not yet at least. First Koga and then back to the Jollyroger.”

      “He’s at Ursula's,” Mimzy supplied, “Uma said something and he felt the urge to remind her she’s on land.”

      Io tilted her head, “He’s... you know what I’ve decided I don’t need to know.”

      She giggled leaning her head onto Io’s shoulder, “He is a guy Io, even if he is half tiger even he gets urges.”

      Koga stepped out of a side alley and looked at the girls having heard part of their conversation, “Come on Crocodile just because you don’t want it doesn’t mean the rest of us don’t.”

      “Is she at least still breathing?”

      “That smart fucking mouth of hers will be sore for a while, but yeah she was still breathing when I left. Why are you coming to find me anyway?”

      “Need you to undo your patch lock. Our little lamb made a deal to learn to be a pirate after some of Lady Tremaine's idiots came aboard.”

      Koga purred, falling in line with Io and Mimzy, “So I can play with her then?”

      “No, she is still not your chew toy. Rather she’s mine, so you are aware not to touch right?”

      “Fuck not another Jay... Come on Crocodile, at least let me chase this one.”

      “You know she will skin you right. Anyone she gives her protection to is to not be touched. Not even by us.”

      “Oy, Crocodile, what's this about ye letting the little mainlander out?” Harry asked, spotting her over the side of the ship.

      “She made a deal,” Io shrugged a shoulder, “Gil down below?” she asked, spotting the clothes in his hands.

      “Aye, he headed down almost as soon as he heard wouldn’t be surprised if he already let her loose” Harry said offering up the clothes.

      “For your sake he better have left that cage alone,” Io purred leaning in towards Harry taking the clothes, “We are doing this my way, and you know what happens when your pretty little doesn’t follow the rules.”

      “He’s just excited and wants to make her excited,” Harry tried to defend, “Besides not like she’s goin’ anywhere.”

      Koga nudged Io towards the hatch, “You know she doesn’t like it when your dipshit fucks up her carefully laid plans. Remember that fiasco with Shock, Locke, and Barrel?” that had been a shit storm with the trio of Halloweentown natives. What was supposed to be a simple deal turned into a bloodbath, Mimzy had gotten hurt and Harry had taken the lashes for Gil. Io had delivered them herself, and frankly Koga hadn’t seen her so worked up since the day she had to intervene with a dock fight involving the Hun kid.

      “Don’t call him that, it’s cause of him we even got her” Harry said as they headed down to see Gil sitting cross legged outside the cell yammering at Penny about the ship and Harry.

      “Can I let her out now” he looked at Io with big eyes.

      Io sighed pleasantly surprised he had listened on this matter, “Any problem if he does it Koga?”

      “No Crocodile. Watch your hands on the edges kid,” Koga coached leaning against the crates. Mimzy quickly moved to his side bouncing happily up and down.

      “Go ahead Gil, do the honors. Then if you would Penny platform and will get started,” Io stated perching dead center and waiting.

      Gil smiled standing up, he grabbed the bars and bent them back into place. Once the door was open, he swept Penny into a hug swinging her off her feet.

      “Thanks Gil” she patted his shoulder as he set her down. Harry shook his head, his boy was infatuated with the mainlander.

      Io watched them curiously, taking in Gil’s infatuation and Harry’s surprising lack of possession with the matter. Koga cleared his throat and gestured to the small raised platform where Io tended to put their prey on display for the crew to see. It was a small wonder none of the older villains wanted Io’s head on a platter. But clearly the innate fear of not knowing what manner of monster had spawned her was enough to keep them at bay. 

      Penny nodded stepping out of Gil’s hold and up onto the platform. She had a feeling she probably wasn’t going to like this. But a deal was a deal and she was going to do what she had to.

      Io waited until Harry and Gil were at her side and she smiled softly, “Let’s begin then. Let’s start by stripping off the past then. Go on then strip.”

      “What?” Penny asked, that was not what she was expecting.

      “Strip. Unless you need help, in which case you have your choice of helpers,” She extended her hands to either side of her and gave the girl a toothy grin, “Like I said there is no room in my crew for princesses.”

      Penny’s eyes flickered between the crew, she had to make a move. She needed Io to survive here, but she didn’t want any one of these guys pawing at her. She took a deep breath as she heard Carlos in her head ‘just survive somehow’. She released the breath and reached back pulling the zipper down the dress falling in a ring around her feet.

      “All of it dear,” Io smiled, almost enjoying the strip tease, but not as much as she was going to enjoy putting the girl in pirate gear. 

      Penny blinked before squaring her shoulders, she undid her bra and slid her underwear down her legs.

      Harry watched her with a raised eyebrow, she wasn’t bad to look at. He studied her harder as Gil looked at him.

      Koga purred looking over her flesh, “Damn, don’t get skin that clean on this Isle.”

      “Good girl,” Io smiled, standing finally moving close to Penny touching her arm softly, “It’s good to see you Penny without all the distractions in the way. See there is no modesty here on the Isle, we’ve never had such luxuries. In fact most of us have to earn the clothes we wear, in the same way you have. Today dear darling Penny, you're my new pet Pirate project,” she handed the girl the clothes, “Put these on. We’ll find a special place to put your past.”

      Penny nodded, crossing one arm around her chest as she took the clothes. She didn’t like being on display like this, it was harder to get away with mischief when she was under the spotlight, not that she’d be getting up to much mischief here.

      Harry turned to look at Gil, he had chased away anyone that looked at Gil, the way Gil seemed to look at the girl. Then again Gil had never really acknowledged anyone but him before. The princess could be fun maybe, maybe it was just a passing curiosity on Gil’s part.

      “Don’t be so modest darling, you are perfect just the way you are,” Io ran her fingers down Penny’s spine before letting the girl start dressing, “A perfect blank slate to teach, we will make a wonderful pirate out of you.”

      Mimzy smiled, “I will sew up your dress for you before we put it away. You are right, it is too nice to leave in such a state. How are you feeling, anything need fixing? Think of me like the crew doctor, my mom is Mad Madam Mim, so if need anything to perk you up just ask.” 

      “Uh, thanks. I’m pretty sure it's just bruises,” she nodded looking down at her green and blue ribs.

      “How’d ye get those by the way. Ye were a little tender when Gilly brought you in” Harry asked tilting his head.

      “Fell off a roof” she chuckled dryly

      Koga straightened, “Crocodile?”

      “Go ahead,” she nodded, “Elbows out Penny.”

      He moved close and carefully ran his palms over the bruises checking for bumps under her skin, “Nothing feels broken or cracked. Just knocked the wind out of you when you landed?” Oddly enough Koga knew more than any of them the anatomy of a human and could by feel tell when bones were cracked, particularly ribs, but that could have been from his choice of diet.

      “Yeah, twisted my leg too, but my foot was the main thing on my mind” she explained, she quickly pulled on the off white shirt that fell to just past her butt.

      “Harry’s clothes look good on you” Gil said giving her a smile.

      “Which foot?” Koga asked already crouching down to make sure she didn’t have an infection, “The one you wrapped up with...” he plucked at the fabric, “Tights?”

      “I used what I had on hand,” she shrugged

      “That blue bitch might just skin you if she finds out you destroyed her clothes” Harry chuckled

      Koga extended one claw and sliced through the fabric before picking her foot and checking the sole, nose twitching, “Foot’s infected, rum?”

      Io nodded, “Mimzy.”

      “Got it,” she smiled hoping down and pulled a small sewing kit out of her skirt, snatching one of the flasks off the hook, “Just lean on Koga sweetie, we’ll get your foot all patched up for you. No unattended injuries on this crew, that’s a rule. Looking after one another is one too. Since your Crocodile’s little pet project, you now fall under all the rules.”

      “Don’t worry, I’m not allowed to bite unless you ask me to. I’m pretty sure a girl like you won’t be asking me for that,” Koga purred looking up at the half dressed girl licking his chomps anyway she still smelled good despite not having bathed in a bit.

      Penny nodded, she wasn’t sure what she thought of the Tiger kid. She leaned against his arm as Mimzy went to work.

      “Harry, can she stay with us?” Gil asked

      “Ye think that's a good idea?” Harry chuckled, ok so maybe his boy was interested in the princess. The question was, was the princess interested back, he found he was oddly ok with it if she was. She made him think of a...well he wasn’t sure, but he felt the need to maybe protect her like he did Gil.

      “It would be best if she stayed here on the ship,” Io nodded turning to the boys, “Safer here with the Captain than anywhere else on the Isle. He’s kept her presence here quiet so far and he is not in the habit of talking when he’s been drinking.”

      “Whatever ye think is best Crocodile” Harry agreed, his eyes flicking up and down the girl, “oy, girly you and the thief close?”

      Penny looked at Harry trying to gauge what he was after, “We’re friends, he teaches me stuff” she nodded

      “He teach you to fuck?” Harry asked with a smirk, as red went to her face and she looked down.

      “Harry” Gil reprimanded

      “What it's a good question, want to know if she has bad habits” Harry shrugged.

      “I can tell you flat out she ain’t got his bad habits,” Koga snickered.

      “Particularly not that flirting habit of his,” Io added.

      “I liked that one,” Mimzy retorted, “Especially when he was drinking his dad’s wine. Such a sultry smirk on that boy’s lips when he’d play with your hair.”

      “Well he’s certainly something else when he drinks” Penny agreed, “And no, he didn’t teach me that,” she fixed Harry with a look.

      “Oh good, something for ye to learn here” Harry smirked at her as he looked her up and down.

      “You wish” Penny snorted rolling her eyes at him.

      “Harry please don’t make me tell you to keep it in your pants or I’ll cut it off,” Io gave him a dry look.

      “Promise Crocodile, won’t touch until girly asks, she can learn from an observation point so to speak” he held up his hands.

      “Does that mean I finally get my good job blow job?” Gil lit up

      “Oy, me gave ye one the other night” Harry acted like he was put out.

      “That was a regular one though” Gil tried to reason

      “Gil...I think a blow job is a blow job” Penny said, “not that I have experience in that area but if the girls in the locker room are to be believed”

      “Koga got a good one before we found him,” Mimzy teased giving their massive half tiger a grin, “I’m sure he’d love to give Harry some practical pointers of the difference for you Gil.”

      “Don’t bring me into this...”

      “I don’t know Koga, I’ve heard from Gil you’ve literally licked Jay before,” Io prodded the tiger.

      “To fucking shut him up. Fuck Io, the kid wouldn’t stop talking and I had to do something,” he rumbled, growl rumbling out of his chest.

      “Well let me show you around” Gil took Penny’s hand once she had the loose plants on, “Can she walk on her foot?” he asked Mimzy in concern.

      “Gilly ye caught her running on it me things walking is probably fine” Harry said, he wanted out of the room where Koga and blowjobs had become a thought.

      “Yeah she’s fine to walk on it,” Mimzy nodded, “I put a bandage over the stiches.”

      Koga looked at Harry, “I want nothing to do with teaching you anything regarding anything. And you,” he gestured to Mimzy, “Stop trying to give that boy ideas, and no Io I don’t like your fucking thief unless it’s me wrapping my jaws around that pretty throat to rip it out.”

      She watched as Koga stormed above deck, “Looks like we rubbed his fur the wrong way.”

      “Come on I want to show you everything,” Gil pulled Penny up the stairs.

      “Well at least she seems less excitable” Harry sighed following after them, he didn’t think Koga deserve a response, it wasn’t like was going to suck the fuzzballs dick. Not for all the prizes in the world, he had standards unlike some.

      Mimzy looked at Io, “What is the plan? I didn’t think teaching her to be a pirate was in the plan.”

      Io scooped up the dress and licked her lips, “Don’t worry about the plan my dear black witch. I need this to be controlled, she needs to be handled delicately. It’s a very delicate thing trust, and I need to have her trust me. Because eventually someone will come for her, and we need her to be on our side when that happens.”

      Mimzy bit her lip but nodded, “I trust you Io.” 

-*-

      Penny nodded along as Gil dragged her all over deck explaining what somethings were or what they were for; Harry would occasionally chime in with a correction. Other then that Harry mostly watched, he noted that Mimzy was going to have to take those pants in or the girl was liable to lose them. And for now she was Gil’s and Harry would make sure she stayed that way.

 

      Io watched them for a beat longer, tucked into the shadows hidden from sight. Controlling the situation would be sticky, the girl was willful like Mal but easier to deal with like Jay. So Io would play her cards slowly. Nodding to herself she rolled over the side of the Jollyroger and took off into the wharf taking to the roofs. Her father's shop would be closed when she got back and she and he needed to talk. His suggestion had gotten her this far already.

      Rumple smiled as he heard the soft thump above his head of his daughter arriving home. She was later than usual but there had to be a reason for it. When she came down the stairs she was dressed in a long black shirt and a pair of loose gray pants, seemed she had a messy day. He patted her hands as she hugged him pressing her cheek against the back of his shoulder.

      “Welcome home dearie. How was your day, bloody?”

      “Lady Tremaine’s idiots on the Jollyroger. In other news our dear esteemed guest has decided that she wants to be a pirate. Your suggestion of being less aggressive seems to have actually worked out. And now I have a better idea of what the thief told her.” Io rubbed her cheek against his shirt enjoying the moment with her father.

      “You know I don’t give you suggestions for the fun of it.” he chided giving her a gentle nudge to release him. “But I am glad to hear she warmed up to you. I assume the issues above deck helped move things along?”

      “Papa you didn’t...”

      “Lady Tremaine wanted something of Killian’s I told her where to find it in exchange for the jewels now in the vault. You just happened to be in the right place at the right time.” Rumple defended, he would never intentionally put his child in any danger. At least not any that he believed she couldn’t handle.

      "You are the worst some days Papa,” she sighed moving to set the table as he finished dinner.

      “Hardly dearie. I have quite a bit of faith in your capabilities.”

-*-

      Penny laid on the small bed that was mostly a pile of old clothes. Gil and Harry had gone to bed a few hours ago, she could hear Gil snoring and Harry’s soft breathing. It was quiet on the ship, not as quiet as home but definitely quieter than the hideout. She rolled over pulling the coat Gil had laid over her tighter.

      “Go to sleep Princess” Harry said softly his eyes going over the girl, she was quiet at least he’d give her that.

      “I’m trying” she said rolling over to look at him through the dark, his hair tousled from Gil’s hands.

      “Well try harder, Io won’t have patients for ye being tired,” Harry warned.

      “I know” she whispered, rolling over again. Harry rolled his eyes, before standing up and going over to the girl, “What are you...” she cut herself off as Harry picked her up with ease and tossed her into the bed with Gil. Gil just rolled over in his sleep wrapping his arm around her waist.

      “Don’t wake him up girly. Now go to sleep” Harry whispered in her ear as he laid down behind her.

-*-

      Io banged on Harry’s cabin door the next morning, “Come on you three, Jollyroger won’t clean itself.”

      “What time is it” Penny muttered sitting up a little as Harry sat up all the way.

      “We coming,” Harry yelled reaching over to shake Gil, his boy could sleep through a hurricane.

      “Uh what’s going on?” Gil asked blinking at Harry.

      “Its morning time to do the crocodiles bidding” Harry rolled his eyes, before getting up all the way. He grabbed a shirt, “Oy princess let me see ye pants.”

      “Um...” she looked at him in confusion

      “Now” he snapped, she slid them off and handed them over  as she stood up. Harry eyed her for a second before folding part of the waist in and pinning it in place with an earring, “it will do for now”

      “Right” she took the pants back and pulled them on. They sat a little low on her hips but it was better than before.

      “Now get” Harry motioned her out the door and into Io.

      Io caught Penny and held her upright, “Careful there Penny. Are you ready to start learning about being a pirate? Granted I am starting you where Harry and I started but that’s for the best. After we’re done I’m going to give you a bath, you're getting ripe even for Isle standards.”

      “Yeah it’s a little bad” Penny agreed, “Let's get started.”

      “Step one checking the rigging,” Io smiled moving toward the knots she needed to check. This ship's upkeep was one of the first things Killian Hook had ever taught her, told her that when the barrier came down they would ride the waves of the seven seas again so they had to be prepared. Prepared, that was everything Io did really, she prepared, prepared for everything that might come their way. “I know it feels pointless but this ship staying sea worthy is one of the most important things to the Captain. We under no circumstances piss the Captain off on matters of this ship.”

      “That makes sense you don’t make the boss mad, and well routine is a good thing,” Penny nodded watching what Io was doing recognizing some of knots Gil had taught her.

      “Yeah as much as we get away with, that man can be a cruel bastard when he wants,” Io snorted having spent some of her childhood running away from getting hooked. But defused him with aptly named Crocodile tears whenever she got cornered. Not that it worked any more, but violence sure did, “If you're comfortable with the knots, since Gil taught some to you already go ahead and check the other side of the ship.”

      “Will do, Crocodile” she nodded going to the other side of the ship.

      Io nodded and glanced back at the door Harry and Gil were still behind. Well clearly those two needed to have a talk otherwise they would have been out here helping. Rolling her eyes she moved to the main mast where she didn’t honestly trust Penny to go. At least not until Io taught her how not to fall off buildings like Jay had clearly skipped over in his lessons.

Chapter 29: What Gil Wants (IoL: September)

Notes:

Warning: Violence

      Harry made his way across the deck adjusting his vest as he came over towards the Crocodile. Gil wouldn’t give him a straight fucking answer on what he wanted from the girl. Harry tried to call him on it, but Gil honestly just seemed confused saying that he was Harry’s boy why would he want anyone else.

      Io looked at Harry, hands stalling on starting her trek up the mainsail to check the bindings, “Do I want to know?”

      “Probably not” he shrugged glancing at her, “Gil being Gil I suppose”

      She took a deep breath and turned leaning against the mast arms folded over her chest, “Go on, your Crocodile is all ears.”

      “He won’t give me a straight answer about our newest recruit,” Harry sighed, he sometimes found it odd that he felt he could talk to Io about this, but she was a constant in his life, like a sister.

      “And since he is yours, you are getting cranky about it. Don’t give me that look,” she stated to his narrowed eyes at her word selection, “You ever stop to think that our adorable dobe has no idea what he actually thinks about our newest member? He’s strong, he’s handsome, he’s persistent, but not so much going on upstairs about some things, you and I both know that, but he makes up for that with everything else. Plus I’ve seen the way you look at her, just the same way he looks at her. Cut your boy a little rope, when he figures out the right words for it, then he’ll say something. Till then give him time to sort things out.”

      “Normally when I ask him about this stuff he knows the answer, and it’s always he isn’t interested. And I do not look at her like some lost puppy” Harry huffed.

      Io snorted, “Right, you look at her like a lost pirate.” she set her hands on his shoulders, “Well then maybe he wants her as a friend?”

      “Right, I’ll take that under advisement,” his eyes flickering over to where Gil now stood with Penny, helping her tie one of his yellow bandana around her head.

      She followed his gaze and turned his head back to her, “Harry, now if you're done having a sea sick stomach, go up to the bow and check the rigging for me dearie. Unless you want to climb the mast and check the sails?”

      “Aye, Crocodile I’ll check the bow” He nodded heading off.

 

      “So, why exactly are you giving me one of your bandanas?” Penny asked Gil as they worked side by side.

      “Cause it will help keep you safe.” Gil explained, “Well at least on the ship.”

      “Keep me safe? Gil it’s just a piece of cloth” she raised an eyebrow not getting it.

      “Yeah it is, but it's mine. That means the others won’t mess with you for the most part.” Gil tried to explain not getting that she didn’t understand.

      “I know that it's yours, so what it marks me as off limits or something?”

      “Yeah off limits, cause its mine and I’m Harry’s and Harry will hook any one that hurts me, and Captain will hook anyone that hurts Harry... well accept the Captain or when he thinks Harry needs a thumping” Gil nodded.

      “Wait... you belong to Harry? Like a slave, cause that’s not what it looked like last night” Penny said slightly alarmed

      “Oh no, Harry would never think of me as his slave, he and I are...um, well we...I don’t know what the mainlanders call it. But he protects me and takes care of me, and we fuck” Gil tried assure Penny everything was ok.

      “You fuck and ... you're dating,” she said.

      “Yeah is that not how it works on the mainland?”

      “Well, for some people I guess. But people don’t... it's not considered appropriate to claim a person like they are property,” Penny elaborated to Gil, “Owning a person is considered bad.”

      “Oh well Harry doesn’t own me, I’m just his. I want to be his.”

      “That’s good,” Penny nodded, she had a few things to learn about the isle. That she had known but claiming people wasn’t something she was expecting; well as long as Gil was happy.

      “All good you two?” Io asked as she dropping back onto the deck, she took note that Gil had made sure the girl had his bandana on. That was raising all sorts of flags but she let it be for the time being, let the boy have his crush, she was nothing but tolerant of assine signs of affections.

      “Yep, all good here” Penny said turning to look at Io.

      “And he explained to you what that means?” Io asked hoping that he had actually explained that her wearing it meant that she was his property.

      “He tried to I think I get the gist of it” Penny looked at Gil who nodded at Io, of course he explained.

      “So, you know that you wearing that means your his right?” Io asked, “Not clear on how quote on quote protection works on the Mainland, but here if you're wearing someone else’s mark that means you fall under their protection and are theirs. Which is why all pirates wear the Jollyroger insignia, means we are crew and fall under the protection of Captain Hook.” 

      “Yeah he explained that in a roundabout way, that it marks me as his and he’s Harry’s so,” she nodded she'd followed that much of their conversation.

      “Good,” she looked at Gil and ruffled his now bandana-less hair, “Good boy. Now next part of the lessons. Scrubbing the deck.”

      “Right, so where do we start with that?” she asked looking around the ship, as Gil perked up under the praise. He need that after his fight with Harry, he didn’t know how to explain to his Harry what exactly Penny brought out of him, but he had seen Harry looking too.

      Io smirked, “Gil since you are doing such a good job today do you want to show Penny where to get the supplies?” She was also happy to cater to her crew’s odd needs, Koga’s need to eat flesh, Mimzy’s need to mutilate flesh to make art, Harry’s well Harry’s need to keep Gil safe, and Gil’s need for praise.

      “Yeah I’ll show her,” Gil nodded taking Penny’s hand, “Come on we can race mops once we get set up”

      “He’s gone bonkers,” Harry blinked from his spot near the mast having checked over the bow.

      “If I am right, he has a crush. She’s from the mainland, so obviously they, well let’s be honest, they are clearly fucking nicer than us lot of Islers. He’s got a crush on the mainlander girl who treats him the same way you do. Also about last night’s conversation, I’m stating for the record, those words we used in the same sentence I didn’t think would ever be in the same sentence. And I would rather like to avoid ever using them in a sentence again.”

      “Sorry what conversation? The one about blowjobs or...” Harry tilted his head. 

      “Yeah that one. I would like to keep thinking of him as my man eating half tiger. And nothing else,” she grumbled despite full knowing he had made more than one reference to eating things other than throats and organs.

      “Understood Crocodile, I don’t want much to picture him as anythin' else either” Harry nodded.

      “Good. So, new rules with my pet. She’s not to leave this ship without being covered and with an escort. Just in case one of the fucking old timers recognizes her. I know she won’t like it, given how adamant she was about leaving the ship the first time she came on board, but we’ll deal with it. Scratch that I will deal with it when it eventually comes up.” she looked at Gil and Penny with a patient expression, “These two...” 

      “So, we fill the bucket with water and then put some of this powder in it. Then we use the mop to mix it till its all bubbly” Gil showed, “Then you take this one, I’ll take the other one” he handed her the mop. She took his watching him with a smile, he was acting like this was best thing ever, she actually couldn’t wait to see what he did next. 

      “Ok now what?” she asked, as she put hers in place at the base of the stairs on one side.

      “I’ll go to the other side,” he pointed to the base of the other stairs near the wharf, “Then when I say go we mop as fast as we can until we meet up the person that does the most of the deck wins.”

      “They really are going to mop as fast as they can...”

      “Its Gil, of course they are” Harry said almost fondly watching as Gil took his spot. Penny watched Gil waiting, Gil started and then said go.

      “Gil you cheater” Penny laughed starting, she wasn’t very fast at this but the deck was starting to look clean, at least the blood spots were disappearing.

      Io sighed, moving to sit on the railing so she was out of the way. “Your boy is ridiculous.”

      “That he is” Harry agreed the tension finally easing after their little spat this morning, so what if Gil like the girl. Harry wasn’t sure he didn’t like her, and well it wouldn't hurt to help keep Io’s new pet safe. He joined Io on the railing laughing as Gil slipped and landed on his butt giving Penny a chance to catch up.

      “You know I am pleasantly pleased with the results of yesterday. I got to gut a few idiots, had a lovely chat with our new crew, she made a deal to be crew, we got to see her naked as the day she was born, and now Gil’s happy as Tic Tok when Ursula takes pity on him and tosses him fish.”

      “I’m glad he’s happy” Harry nodded, “And well the girly certainly was a sight to behold, wonder if she ever agree to tattoos?”

      Io snorted, “You want her inked? Harry you are terrified of needles. I get my kicks whenever you have to get sewed up. I don’t think we are going to convince her to get tats, plus anyway scars have better stories.”

      “Aye yer right scars do have better stories, just have ta wait and see what the stories are” Harry nodded, “And sewing me up is different.”

      “I got sewed up at Madame Mim’s. You get sewed up on the Jollyroger. No one is trying to use you as their lab rat here.” Io had never been amused by the crazy black witch’s attempts to find out her lineage. 

      “Ye point made” Harry nodded watching as the princess stopped for a second to work on a rather large spill.

      “You know she tried to get out and help me yesterday with a butter knife. She was worried that I was hurt or something after all their screaming. She didn't seem to mind the blood. Odd considering the theoretical lack of violence on the Mainland.” it helped sometimes to talk to Harry about details that were bothering her. Mostly because he didn't think like her, he saw a different angle while she was busy zooming in to details and out again to check on the big picture. 

      “What was she gonna do with a butter knife?” Harry laughed, “She’s been hanging around those 4 maybe they made her... use to it? Or maybe the mainlands not what it seems.”

      “Her words, ‘Stab them with the pointy end, or in this case the not so pointy end.’ I don't know what to think, I'm not sure if they taught her more than the basics of stealing, things Jay would know. You know that one was more fight with fists and not with weapons. Maybe the Mainland has brawls or something,” Io bit the inside of her cheek mulling the idea over. She supposed even heroes with no villains would be hard pressed to have no violence in their lives.

      “Well at least she has jokes” Harry said, “wonder how long that will last” he mused be looking over at the two again, Gil had caught up again.

      “That depends entirely on her moxy,” Io stated looking them over, “Despite all his flaws and damages, the thief still had jokes. Some days that was all their puppy had too. This place will rob you blind if you let it.” 

      “And how much moxy do you think she has?” He questioned before snorting as Penny seemed to have caught onto the learning curve, and had sloshed the bucket into Gil’s side making a small puddle he had to go back too.

      “Not nearly enough. What served her well on the Mainland won't be enough to help her here. I could see the fire in her, but its brief and flickering, a candle in the wind. So we'll just have to keep her safe until she learns how to hold onto her fire.” Io smirked, “Come on Gil, pick up the pace. Going to let my new pet beat you on day one of training?”

      “Yes, Crocodile... er no” Gil stopped trying to think of the correct response. Penny crossed the half way point and started into Gil’s space.

      “You were correct the first time, you let her beat you on day one,” she chuckled leaning back on the railing, “Well keep on mopping Gil, don’t let me distract you too much.”

      “He is like a puppy, all effort no follow through” Harry shrugged, “He’d probably do anything you asked but hell if he does it right”

      Gil went back to mopping, quickly taking up the rest of his space.

      “Your boy does do everything I ask. The beauty of him being slightly more terrified of me than you,” she nudged his shoulder, “What do you want to do about the barges tomorrow? You or me pulling the short straw of collecting our haul then playing the sword of order?”

      “Don't know you still feeling blood thirsty after yesterday?” Harry asked. 

      Io giggled flashing a murderous smile, “You have known me long enough to know I am always in the mood for carnage. I have the most fun when I’m making someone bleed.”

      “Then you go ahead, Da’s been in a good enough mood probably alright if Gilly and me hang around the ship as long as we look like we doing something.” 

      “Well then I am taking Gil with me and then sending him back with the haul. That way you and he can teach Penny where it all goes while I am busy cracking skulls together.”

      “Course you are, just you know try not to terrify him this time.” Harry sighed watching as the two finished up and put the supplies away.

      “Oh come on it wasn’t that bad,” she sighed, “It’s not like I’ve ever made him go on fresh meat runs with Koga. The worst he’s ever subjected to is Mimzy’s male art projects.” 

      “Yes and it makes him question how things work,” Harry said 

      “Your just being sensitive. I think she makes lovely sewn in cock cages.”

      “I’ll take yer word for it, I don’t need to be seeing” Harry shook his head there were some sights even he didn’t need to ever see.

      Io grinned, “Let’s see, ropes, sails, deck, we did scraping yesterday so that doesn’t need to be done till the end of the week. Checking the rum distilleries?”

      “I can check the ones here teach girly to do it, but by yer own rules ye have to do the ones off the ship.”

      “I know I know. Because Gil nearly blew up the wharf the last time we let him do it on his own. You take Penny, I’ll take Gil?”

      “I wish ye luck I think I got the better end of that deal,” Harry nodded.

      “Oh you did, but don’t worry I will take the very best care of your sweet precious boy,” she teased sliding off the railing to the deck, “GIL RUM RUN!” 

      “Cool” Gil smiled, “Rum runs are pretty fun depending on who you go with,” Gil explained to Penny.

      “Penny, Harry will show you what to do,” Io gestured to Gil, “Come on puppy time's a wastin.”

      “Pin can’t come?” Gil looked at her with sad eyes.

      “Pin?” Harry narrowed his eyes at Penny in confusion, she shrugged she had no idea where he came up with it, “No she’s goin to stay with me. Now get ye don’t want to keep Crocodile waitin”

      “Gil, do I need to find you a leash to drag you along?” She teased, “You know she will be just fine with Harry. Captain is still on board so she is safe, two Hook’s have always been better than one. Now come.”

      “Ok” he sulked a little heading towards Io.

      “Oy ye kicked puppy, she’ll be fine. Go have fun, ye know ye like going with Crocodile.

      “Go on Gil, I’m sure Harry and I will  be fine” Penny nodded.

      “Well if you're sure” Gil nodded brightening up.

      “Come on you,” Io wrapped her arm around his hips and dragged him along after her, “Your going to make me upset that you don't want to be around me.”

      “I don’t wanna make you upset. I like time with you” he said leaning into her as they walked.

      “Well that is wonderful to hear,” she gave him a half smile, “Because you and me are doing the barge run together tomorrow. Though since you don't like all the violence, we'll go early collect the haul and send you back with it. And she will be fine my pet, she's a determined little thing, she won't go down just like me.” she held him tight knowing he had seen her bruised and bloodied before. He had seen her have that long line of stitches pulled out of her hip.

      “You really think she be ok? Cause she’s nice to me, doesn’t treat me stupid... I know I’m not smart like you and Harry, things don’t make sense to me. But she don’t seem to care” Gil said looking at Io.

      “I know she will be. She was on this Isle for a week before you saved her. We just have to teach her our ways and make sure none of the older villains find her. But you my dear are perfect just the way you are. Sometimes it is better not to be smart like Harry and I, we all have our specialities, yours is strength and having a heart big enough for all of us.” she ran her fingers through his shaggy blond hair feigning the loving gestures her father had always given her. She was good at making herself seem believable at least.

      “If you say so Io” he nodded, “I trust you, you know better ” 

      She snorted as they walked into the small building filled of glass bottles and pipes and barrels, “You are on the tasting. If anything is off I will work on fixing the equipment.”

      “Yeah, I can do that” he said heading off to start on tasting the rum, it was probably one of his favorite jobs.

      As Gil worked on making sure everything tasted normal Io checked the fuel sources and that none of the glass was cracked, “So... you are fine with doing runs with me right?”

      “Yeah, I only really like going with you or Harry. Think Koga wants to eat me” he agreed.

      “Koga doesn't want to eat everyone. Our darling tiger is terribly picky about his fresh meat,” she mentioned adjusting a nozzle, “I know we keep you out of runs with Mimzy, but if you want I can have you two do a money run and see how you like it. I will make sure not to team you and Koga up unless someone refuses to pay the Captain. I like the two of you watching each others backs.”

      “I could try doing a run with Mimzy... just don’t let her stick me with the needles” he said, “This doesn’t taste to bad.”

      “Only if she is stitching you back together, deal?” Io asked nodding as she marked which barrels were cleared to move to the ship.

      “Deal Crocodile” he agreed, “When are we going to go on barge run tomorrow?” 

      She sighed softly, “We will be in place just before they arrive. That way we can get everything the ship and our crew needs first. I have some requests from the Huns to fill too. I'll get you up so try and remember to have pants on before you go to sleep. Not that I mind seeing you and Harry naked, but Harry doesn't like me seeing you like that.”

      “We had pants on this morning” Gil said, “but I’ll tell him.”

      “Good to know,” she smiled slightly, “Alright come on then this batch is all marked out for the runners. One more building then back to the ship.” 

      “Right” he nodded following along like a loyal dog.

      Io slowed as they came around to where their other store house was. Something felt off. She stopped Gil with an arm as she looked around cautiously. Normal traffic, normal faces, no one seemed to watching too closely but all of her senses were on high alert.

      Gil looked at Io in confusion for a second before he saw her eyes drifting about, something wasn’t right. If Io was on edge then it was time to get ready for a fight.

      Where was it? Where was the thing putting her on edge? She shoved Gil away from her twisting away from a vial that flew at them. There. Her blade flicked into her palm and she darted back to Gil standing in front of him. Harry would be pissed if his darling boy got hurt on her watch. “You good Gil?”

      “Yeah, I’m good. Should we get them sorted about throwing thing?” Gil asked rolling up his sleeves. He didn’t like violence very much, normally left the fighting to Harry and the others; but if someone wanted to mess with the crew he’d stand up for them.

      “Oh very much so sorted,” Io growled lips curling in irritation, “Do try not to get hurt dearie.” she swept the next vial out of air not minding the heat that flashed into her palm at the contact. “You lot are going to regret that.”

      “I’ll try” he nodded moving off to the side to see where the vials were coming from, it wasn’t much of a fighter but with his strength he didn’t need to be.

      Carelessness was not one of the words in her vocabulary when it came to fights. But she did what was needed to ensure her crew was safe from harm. Twisting Io dodged another vial and rushed towards the opening she could see the vials coming from. The only ones stupid enough to come into her wharf and opening attack her during the day with this kind of dodgy bull were Underlanders. Not saying that she didn’t get on with most of them it was just sometimes they came topside and did whatever they wanted for a fix of ‘wonder’. Sadly the pirate rum distilleries were prime picking.

      Gil saw where Io was looking and headed that way hoping to get behind the person. He pulled the twitchy looking guy into a bear hug from behind, taking them off their feet.

      Io grabbed the wrist holding the vial keeping him from dropping it as she drove the blade up under his ribs, “Very, very foolish of you attacking in the daytime. Now then did someone send you?” she asked as Gil continued to hold the man she had stuck. 

      The man shook his head wildly, near mewling whines leaving his lips as she finally extracted the vial from his hand. He was strung out on something, pupils blown wide, cold sweat running down his neck. The pale skin she accounted to two things, one living underground and two she had stabbed him and the grey tinge to his skin was likely shock. 

      “What do you think Gil, send this one to the Captain or let him crawl back to New Underland?”

      “Well you didn’t get your answer so should probably send him to Captain” Gil said adjusting his hold slightly.

      Io yanked the blade away smiling coldly as the man shrieked, “Of course Captain hasn’t had a good hooking in a few weeks, maybe this one will provide him some entertainment. Take him back to the ship, I’ll be quick about finishing our rum run.”

      “Yes, Crocodile” Gil nodded halling the slightly flailing man off towards ship.

 

      Harry watched as Penny polished the wheel, he looked up as Gil dragged someone along the dock. He knew it wasn’t Io, she’d probably stab anyone that tried to handle her like that.

      “Io sends this to the Captain” Gil called as he dragged the passed out body up the gangplank. 

      Penny looked up at Gil her eyebrows raising at the sight.

      Killian frowned stepping out of his quarters and looked at the limp bleeding body in Gil’s arms, “And what did the poor sod do to evoke our dear Crocodile’s ire?”

      “Threw a bunch of vials at us full of weird stuff” Gil said, “He wouldn’t tell her why.”

      He sighed and nodded, “Brig, I’ll get it out of him. She finishing up the rum run?”

      “Yes, Captain” he nodded lugging him off.

 

      Io jogged up the gangplank a few moments later, “Gil made it alright?”

      “He’s seeing our new guest to the brig. Ye finish?”

      “Yes Captain,” she almost rolled her eyes at Killian, “The barrels ready to go are marked. Looks like he was waiting for help to move our operation. I am not one to tell-”

      “I’ll see that the men move everything to a new location. Ye hurt?” Hook gave her a quick once over and noted the blood on her hands, he didn’t know why she even bothered washing up when she was nearly always covered in someone else’s blood.

      “A tad singed but fine. I took the remainder of the vials to Madame Mim. She’ll figure out what they are filled of,” Io rolled a shoulder as he nodded and patted her shoulder before heading towards the brig. “How did she make out Harry?”

      “She’s fine, probably have some blisters come morning, with how red her hands be” Harry shrugged, “But she ain’t complaining”

      “Good, good,” Io purred, “Your boy did good today, made a deal to go with Mimzy on money runs so long as I tell her she’s not allowed to needle him unless it’s to stitch him up.”

      “No anatomy lessons neither” Harry nodded, “It's good for him to go out with others... as long as they understand anything happen and I’ll hook em.” 

      “Koga is the only one that gives anatomy lessons,” she rolled her eyes, “And Mimzy knows your boy only bats for you, no amount of flirting on her part has ever made him interested. Thinking of hooking, where are we with the chores? Since you are the only one here in danger of taking your father’s hook if we’ve forgotten something.”

      “Almost done, just need ta do the mast and crows nest” Harry shrugged.

      “Good,” Io nodded moving to the bucket of water they kept for cleaning up in. As in the bucket the Captain kept on deck for her to mostly clean up in as she was the one notorious for needing to clean up all the time.

      “You going down?” Harry asked his eyes flashing over to Penny briefly.

      Io glanced at him curiously, “What is it?”

      “Nothing just making sure no one gets any ideas, ye know how it is even if Gil deciding for himself that she’s ours” Harry said, “Some of the older ones been looking curious”

      She sighed, “They won’t be looking if they value their limbs in one piece come tonight,” she flashed a toothy grin, “She is mine first and foremost.”

      “I’ll make sure to tell that to Gilly, shall I,” Harry chuckled

      “I’m sure he knows it already, but tell him if you feel the urge. You know I won’t do anything to the dear lamb, I hurt him, then you get all riled up and then I have to put you back in your place and we both know how much your daddy hates that.” she teased dipping her hands into the off color water.

      “Done Harry,” Penny called gently wiping the polish off her hands with a wince.

      “Well, get down ‘ere” Harry called up with a slightly fond smirk on his lips, “What you think Crocodile should we send her up the mast?”  

      “Considering she fell off a roof, we sure that’s actually a good idea?” she asked rhetorically, “Ah fuck it. Alright pet one last place to check on. Crow’s nest, all you need to do is make sure we don’t have any roosters.”

      “Like the chicken?” Penny asked confused a little, since when did roosters live on ships.

      “Roosters, as in nesting birds,” Io explained, “Sometimes they like to use the Crow’s nest as their homes. If we were on the open sea it wouldn’t be an issue but here in full dock, they don’t get that the ship isn’t to be used for roosting.”

      “Oh, ok. So just scare them off then,” Penny nodded, “What if there are eggs?”

      “We eat em,” Harry said.

      “Nothing here on the Isle goes to waste. We don’t have much, so we take what we get,” she didn’t like the way the princess’ nose crinkled in dislike of the thought of eating crow or seagull eggs depending on whatever bird decided to stick around and nest up there.

      “Right makes sense” she nodded, she wasn’t sure how she felt about eating a random birds eggs but she got it.

      “Just be careful of your footing. You fall and it’ll hurt like hell.” Io advised having slipped off the mainsail once resecuring it in a bad storm. Landing on Smee was the only reason she hadn’t broken anything.

      “I don’t normally fall off things, just wasn’t expecting the building to give way” Penny defended.

      “Advice: Assume everything is going to give way here. No one is in charge of building upkeep or whatever you had back home. Everything here is basically falling apart.”

      “Yeah I figured that the hard way” Penny nodded as Harry offered her a boost up to get started.

      Io watched the girl’s progress and grinned toothily to herself, “Maybe this will work out, she at least learned something from the thief.”

      “Wonder what else she learned, cause it obviously wasn’t to pick her targets. I mean she stole from Sputain” Harry chuckled looking up.

      “He told her about me, or at least what she needed to know. Told her to never make a deal with me. He told her where the safest place to hide was, and she did succeed in stealing from Rasputin. Might have been a terrible idea in marks, but she did manage it. But I don’t imagine any of them told her about this Isle, the real Isle that pretty Mainland ignores.”

      “Don’t think anyone over there much cares bout what happens here” Harry shrugged

      “Hey there aren’t any birds up here,” Penny called down as she looked around, she could see the outline for home through the smog around the Isle.

      “Good. You see anything interesting up there?” Io asked head tipping back as she called up to the girl. 

      “Not really” she called back before pulling herself out of the nest to shimmy back down.

      “Oddly the mainland seems terribly quiet all things considered. Not a peep about anything.” 

      “I know, ye’d think we would have heard about a missing princess” Harry agreed.

      “It is odd, very odd. Something else must be going on that we don’t know about there. Particularly if the Isle wasn’t the first place they looked.”

      “She said she was wished here... won't the genie thing know where she is?” Harry asked looking at Penny as she tumbled down onto her feet.

      “In theory yes, but it’s not like we’ve got a convenient genie to ask. I mean unless you want to risk a chat with Chernabog. Cause personally I would rather go to New Wonderland.”

      “What about the thief's da?” Harry suggested, “Ye still chummy with him?”

      “Define chummy?” Io grinned wider, “Cause last time I saw him I stabbed him. I rather enjoy stabbing him if we are being honest. But you have a point, he is a better option considering he used to be a genie.”

      “Chummy as in he does what ye tell him and yer not gonna stab him without the thief to care for him,” Harry said slipping an arm around Penny’s shoulders as she came to stand next to him.

      She rolled her eyes, “Oh he does exactly what I tell him to still, and thief or no thief I’ll stab him if it keeps him in line. You know when necessary and all that shit,” she gestured vaguely to appease Harry’s look. “You know you take all the fun out of things Harry.” 

      “And I think ye’ve been spending far too much time with Khan,” Killian stated wiping his hook off, “I dealt with our visitor. One of you will be taking him back to the underground, so reel your violence my dear Crocodile, or I’ll make you fish bait.” 

      “Fine Captain,” she grumbled feigning obedience for Penny’s sake.  

      “Whats the underground?” Penny asked Harry in confusion.

      “Not someplace ye are never going” Harry supplied

      “But what is it?” she asked again

      “Somewhere dangerous that only the Crocodile goes,” Harry said

      “Mimzy goes there too you know for her mother. Mimzy is actually the one who showed me the underground when we were kids, Harry was always too scared to go.” she teased minding the hook as she felt Killian tip it ever so slightly to curl point towards her shoulder, a very real warning, “But it’s a very very not safe place. Honestly there are a lot of those places here on the Isle.”

      “Yeah well Mimzy is on the slightly crazy side” Harry snorted

      “I got that vibe from her” Penny said

      “Well at least she got that,” Harry laughed, “Come on girly let's go see what can be put together for dinner.”

 

      Io watched them go, “What Captain?”

      “Take the guy back to New Wonderland and go home. Barges come in tomorrow.”

      “I know. Gil is coming with me, we’ll be out there collecting the haul as soon as the barges come in. I am staying out there to keep the peace and sending Gil back.”

      Killian nodded, “I’ll make sure Smee meets ye out there with some of the older men, give ye back up so we don’t have another near bloodbath like last month.”

      “If you insist,” she nodded accepting his terms, “I’ll grab our little trespasser and head out. I will be back for the party tonight. Cement who she belongs to.”

      “Then I expect ye to stay on the ship,” he patted her shoulder, “Now go.”

      Huffing Io went into the bowels of the ship and collected the half gutted prisoner. She shoved his guts back into him and tied his shirt as tight as it would go before hauling him up and dragged him out passing Penny and Harry in the ship kitchen.

      Penny blinked looking after Io and the man, “Was he dead?” she asked Harry.

      “Naw, be surprised if anyone ever died here” Harry shook his head as he smelled at a piece of jerky.

      “That was a lot of blood,” she looked at Harry.

      “People don’t die here, ye just get to suffer,”  Harry shrugged nodding to himself before handing her the jerky to hold onto.

      “Harry” Gil said leaning against the side of doorway staring at Harry. Harry glanced up Gil, looked a little pale, he didn’t deal well with violence.

      “Come here Gilly,” Harry held out his arm pulling Gil to his side trying to soothe any shakes left in him.

 

      Rumple sighed seeing his daughter cleaning up in the sink, “Another bloody day?”

      “Only for an idiot of a Underlander,” she shook her head and nodded to the stove top, “I started dinner while you finished up in the shop. I am spending the night on the Jollyroger, Killian wants me under close watch for some bizarre reason.”

      “Because he thinks you are spiraling out of control. Killian is attempting to reel you back in my dear,” he replied limping over to check the pot’s contents, “Humor the Captain. Tell me how did the day with our new pirate go?”

      “Decently well, we ran her through the ship’s upkeep. She did well, though she made inquiries into our dear underground. Seems the Mainland neglected to inform its population where they had shoved all of the supporters of the Red Queen and Queen of Hearts.”

      “So it seems, but that works to our benefit. We have to be careful.”

      “Curiosity?”

      “Go ahead,” he nodded stirring the pot.

      “Wouldn’t a genie know where they sent their victims?”

      “Depends on if the wish maker was specific. If not the djinn could have gotten mixed signals. Not to mention the whole saying, be careful what you wish for. Because a djinn, much like a Jin, can, if they choose to, can twist a wish into something the wisher didn’t intend. Now why the curiosity? The lack of movement from the mainland?”

      “Precisely. Something is going on but I can place it and frankly I don’t like it.”

      “You never like anything you can’t puzzle out dearie. Knowledge is its own kind of power, and we are cursed with an insatiable lust for power.”

      “I like how you refer to it as a curse.”

      “Well before I became what I am, I was only a man. Reverted to that man it does feel like a curse, because I still want what I am not being allowed to have. Which is why I have to keep you from everyone my dear, I can not allow anyone to use you against me.”

      “I wouldn’t worry about that Papa,” Io smiled at him drying her hands, “Your happiness is all that matters to me. I will do whatever I must to ensure you are happy.”

 

      “So you just curl up with Harry and Me tonight” Gil said to Penny as they split the jerky and least stale of the bread.

      “That's ok, I’ll be fine on my little pile of cloth,” Penny tried to assure Gil.

      “Ye sleep on the bed with us, won’t have ye tossing an turning keeping us up” Harry shook his head.

      “Besides Io said I have to be wearing pants in the morning” Gil added

      “And if I was just on the other side of the room... you wouldn’t be wearing pants?” Penny looked at him hard.

      “Probably not,” Gil grinned

      “Um...you know I could sleep somewhere else maybe,” Penny suggested

      “Ye stay in the room with us, it's safer. I know the Crocodile told ye we don’t get much privacy” Harry fixed her with a look as he ground the jerky between his teeth.

      “No one here on the ship does,” Killian interrupted, grabbing a hunk of bread from the shelves, “If Crocodile comes back tonight she is sleeping in yer room Harry. She can keep her newest crew mate comfortable. I’ve been hearing too much restlessness on the Isle recently and I rather ye all be together looking after each other.”

      “Sure, da I’ll make sure we’re all together soon as she comes back,” Harry nodded, Penny studied the villain out of the corner of her eye, he didn’t look evil; but then maybe she wasn’t the best judge of that. To her though he just looked sad, she could see the odd sort of longing when he looked at Harry, like he was missing something. Penny tried to think of what could make what was suppose to be one of the baddest pirates around look like that, then it clicked. Harry had to have a mother, but Penny hadn’t seen any sign of another girl on the ship besides Io. So where was she, maybe the Captain was missing her.

      “Good lad,” Killian smiled slightly knowing the princess was watching them closely, “Something the matter lass? I know it ain’t much, but we have another shipment coming in so I am sure if ye let Crocodile know what yer missin from home she’ll grab it if it’s there.”

      “Nothing the matter, just trying to put pieces together,” she shrugged.

      “Great another puzzle solver,” Harry said dryly.

      “I don’t like puzzles Harry” Gil shook his head.

      He bit into the hard bread and gave her a half smile, “No wonder my Crocodile has been so waspish since ye came on board. Ye two have likely been spending all that time staring at one another without a damn word. And then ye spent the rest of the time unable to get this one to stop talking,” he gestured to Gil with his hook.

      “Gil likes to tell me things I’ve never done” she shrugs

      “Do I talk too much?” Gil looked at Harry in alarm.

      “Hush Gilly yer fine” Harry assured, “Can’t say what went on while girly was in the brig but, now Crocodile says do and she does”

      “She stared I stared back” Penny supplied, “Wasn’t in much mood to talk to her.”

      “See it’s like I raised her or something,” Killian snorted, the irony of raising the daughter of the man whose wife he stole before she gave him a son. 

      “Far as I remember ye did,” Harry laughed sucking the rest of the salt from the jerky off his fingers.

Notes:

Harry Son of Captain Killian 'Hook' Jones

All picture edits made by Kevyon; original works credited to their original artists.

Chapter 30: Wharf Party (IoL: September)

      Io slipped aboard the Jollyroger and hauled herself up the mast perching in the crows nest. Sure she was earlier than she should have been, but she was restless. So she kissed her father good night and slipped into the night like a phantom, stowing away in her second home so she could look at the mainland. Why hadn’t anyone come looking for the girl? Who ever sent her must have done it, on accident? That was the only explanation and Io really didn’t consider it a good one either. Who would send a princess accidentally to the Isle? No matter how much she wasn’t liked it didn’t make any sense. She growled irritated by the nonsensical information and shook her head going back to the Underlander mentality, eliminate all the false truths and whatever is left, no matter how unbelievable, must be true. 

      “Oye, Crocodile” Harry called up to her, he’d learned all her little ticks so to speak and when she wanted to think of something she normally hid in the crows nest, “Da wants us all bunked together tonight.”

      She sighed rubbing her face, of course he did. But it was better than the alternative of her sleeping in Captain’s quarters. That was where she and Harry had slept as kids until they were 14 and he made Harry his own room and she stopped spending the night there. She pulled herself out of the crow’s nest and walked across the main sails’ arm full knowing Harry hated it when she did things that put her in danger of falling. Grabbing one of the ropes she swung her self down to the deck and landed with a thud. 

      “Fine fine,” she grumbled.

      “Why ye always have to do that, huh?” Harry asked looking at her as he crossed his arms.

      “Because I know how much you absolutely hate it,” she shrugged, “Honestly though I just like the view from up there. Side tangents, given the fact Gil is basically living with you, you two just do whatever it is you two do early so I don’t have to hear it or see it when we eventually go to bed.”

      “Ain’t doing anything, Princess sleeps in our bed,” Harry shrugged, “She moved around too much on the makeshift bed.”

      “Are you getting attached Harry Hook?” Io smirked at her first mate. He never let anyone in the same bed as Gil no matter what the circumstances.

      “She was just making too much noise to sleep so I figured she hold still if she was in the bed” he said, “So you coming?”

      Io hummed not believing him for an instant, but knowing him well enough to know that he likely hadn’t realized he was attracted to her, “Of course I am. Our little lamb ready for her first wharf party?”

      “I think we are about to find out” Harry chuckled, “But I don’t think anyone is ever ready.”

      “Particularly not when the men are caterwauling shanties like a bunch of badly tuned alley cats when they’ve drank too much,” Io snickered. “But that is when we have the most fun after all.”

      “Not sure it's her idea of fun” Harry smirked.

      “Come off it, it’s everyone’s idea of fun. And honestly we’ll show the mainlander how to really party like a pirate,” Io purred with a flash of a crocodile smile.

      “Well then we should go get them” he nodded towards his room.

      “Wait you left them unattended in your quarters?” she jabbed at his jealous side, why? Because he made it easy and she liked watching him get all riled up before realizing she had done it on purpose.

      “Gilly knows better and well she’s a goodie goodie mainlander,” Harry gave her a look did she really think Gil was gonna try anything or that the princess would even realize what Gil was hinting at if he did.

      “She can’t be all that goodie goodie if she was learning from the thief,” Io shrugged her shoulder, “Sure you can make her all sorts of baddie baddie. As long as our little Gil doesn’t get her first.” they headed towards his room.

      “And I thought she was yours” Harry said, “it could be fun if the thief hasn’t gotten there first”

      “She is mine, but I have very little interest in fucking. You on the other hand...” she trailed off giving him a once over, he was in the same brand as her old toy just a different model. “But what do I know, I leave all that nonsense to you and Gil.”

      “That’s good to know not sure this crew could take more of people like me and Gil”

      “You know I don’t. Plus the word is Jack rabbits,” she replied pushing the door open, “Party time lambs.”

      “What type of party?” Penny asked looking a little surprised

      “A wharf party, they are really fun. You’ll like it promise... just stay close to Harry or me” Gil assured

      “I’m beginning to think you don’t trust me Gil,” Io commented giving him a bland look as this was not the first time he had mentioned only himself and Harry would keep her safe in a roundabout way.

      “Course I trust you Crocodile, just you know maybe you doing other things” Gil said trying to sooth her even if he wasn’t entirely sure why he was so ruffled.

      “It’s like you don’t want me around our dearest new crew mate. My newest crew mate,” Io placed a soft hand on her chest, “Are we not friends Gil?” now she was just fucking with him because she was their leader and she really did not like this sudden shift in attention. 

      “Course we are, I just thought you’d be hanging out with Captain like you normally do. Not sure how Captain feels about Pin.”

      “Not tonight my dear,” she smiled widely, “Someone has to make sure the rest of the Jollyroger knows where the boundary lines are. Don’t you worry your pretty little head about the Captain, I’ll deal with him if he voices any complaints just like I did when Harry brought you into our little crew way back when.” she clapped her hands once, “Now then, Penny darling you are with me. Don’t you worry about what the boys say, safest place to be is next to a Crocodile.”

      “Cause you bite?” she asked jokingly.

      “Oh I most certainly do,” Io grinned wider one of her wild toothy grins.

      “Good to know” Penny nodded, “ And did you just call me Pen?”

      “Yeah, but I said Pin like a stick pin, you need a cool pirate name,” Gil nodded.

      “Also safer if we don’t use your real name,” Io grabbed a cloak and tossed it around Penny’s shoulders, “There will be drinking, so drink if you want, but don’t feel obligated. We never force anyone to drink who ain’t in the mood.”

      “Last time I drank with Jay led to us both waking up in his bed with headaches,” Penny shook her head.

      “Oh you and the thief had some fun did you” Harry asked raising an eyebrow

      “We had our clothes on if that's what you mean” she rolled her eyes, “Why is everything about sex with you Islers.” 

      Io passed a look to Harry, “Have to say I am actually impressed Jay managed to keep his clothes on.”

      “He’s gotten better at that from my understanding. Although some of the girls seem to think they can entice him so they can go slumming” she shrugged adjusting the cloak.

      “He’s not hard to entice,” Io rolled a shoulder knowing how much he nearly craved contact with her, “But you can tell me about these girls trying to catch his interests as we walk, since you don’t seem to much care for them I am curious. Also about this ‘slumming’ thing.”

      “They want some one from the other side of the tracks, someone that they see as below them,” Penny explained, “And this brings up why I don’t like them.”

      “Why would they thief be below them, though I’ll admit being on the bottom has it’s appeal” Harry mused.

      “Um... I didn’t need to know that... I think. But below them in social standing,” Penny made a face.

      “Does that mean I get to be on top some time” Gil asked looking at Harry hopefully

      “We’ll talk bout that later Gilly” Harry assured

      “Social standing?” Io pondered it, “Well I guess that Anastasia was “slumming” it every month. And Evie... but I think we have a different idea in what social standing means here. But I suppose it's one of those complicated things. Here you're a Hun, a Pirate, a bazaar rat, or an underlander. Bazaar rats are the grab bags here on the Isle, most because whatever was considered the Big Fours,” Io sneered at the title, “Turf is considered to be the bazaar. So we aren’t much about who’s got more technical authority here.”

      “It's more about who’s parents are who. Jay and the others being the kids of villians makes then the bottom of the barrel,” she explained, “And they think that makes them worse then them or something.”

      “But doesn't that make you at the top,” Gil asked confused.

      “Yes and no, I don’t care about pecking order so that makes me an outcast” 

      “Well the bottom of this barrel clearly knows how to have more fun than the mainland. We don’t bother with that complicated shit.”

      “I can tell it's nice not having to worry about all that, not that I ever really did.” 

      “Getting back to the thief and not the confusing social constructs,” Io shook her head, “Any of these girls actually manage to bag him? Or is it all gossip boat and giggles behind their hands?” she had seen enough of that at the brothels.

      “I think one or two, since he’s said that mainland girls are boring. But other then that I think it’s all giggling.”

      Io glanced at her but kept her comment to herself, mainland girls had to be boring if not even Jay would fuck them. That boy from her experience rather enjoyed physical pleasures, considering he spent quite a good amount of time using his own skin for deals. They neared the party listening to the men and their rhythmic singing to the instruments they had either made or fixed. This, this was the reason she had become a pirate in the first place. There was a kind of power in the moments like this hearing them all signing at once to the songs they had once sang to the sea.

      “Nearly there Pin,” Io smiled, “Then you can tell me what is better the wharf parties or your mainland ones.”

      “Wharf parties are better than any party,” Harry said, “You’ll see Pin”

      “Wasn’t allowed to go to many before,” Penny shrugged.

      “Well then we will just have to change that now won’t we,” Io smiled pulling the door open and giving Penny a full view of the wildness she had fallen in love with. 

      Smee stood close to the door and looked the kids over pushing his red beanie up higher, “Ahoy kiddos. Crocodile been a touch since I seen you here, come to play with us again?” 

      Io smirked at the rounded man with his short brown beard and battered fleece collared jacket, “You know I can’t resist drinking and dancing with the crew Smee. Captain isn’t piss drunk yet right?”

      “No ma’am, Captain has actually been waiting for you kids to get ‘ere. Want me to let ‘im know?”

      “No Smee, that’s alright. Go have a drink and enjoy, I’m keeping my eyes on the others tonight.” Io waved him off with ease as she double checked her blade was tucked out of sight, sure they were all armed, but she preferred them thinking she never came to these things ready to defend her crew if needed.

      “Huh he looks younger than I thought” Penny commented watching Smee head off.

      “Well not everything is as we expect it is it” Gil smiled, “after we check in we should dance”

      “Yes, that sounds like a lovely idea dearie,” Io took Penny around the waist and walked they through the crowd of singing drinking pirates to the one place she knew the Captain would be. 

      Killian spotted them from his place on the second floor. Good his Crocodile at least covered the girl up before bringing her here. He smiled heading down the spiral staircase and stopped at the bottom waiting for them to arrive in front of him. Never wanted to seem like he was too eager to keep his eyes on his son and the Dark One’s daughter. Especially since the two terrors had picked up an assorted bunch of allies. 

      Penny looked around at everything, this was nothing like anything she had ever seen on the mainland. She’d heard stories of parties like this at Swan harbor. But she never thought she’d get to see one for herself.

      Io stopped in front of Killian, “Captain.”

      “One, two, three, four,” Killian counted the kids, “The other two of ye?”

      “Not in attendance,” she replied.

      “Noted. Off ye four run then, try not to get too plastered. I don't feel like calling Yzma here or dragging four drunk teenagers back to the ship.”

      “It was one time da.” Harry rolled his eyes really the only time his da had to drag him back to the ship drunk off his ass was after he and Gil had a huge fight and he thought it was going over. Ok, and he may not remember how he got back to the ship on his birthday either.

      “Come on Harry,” Io smirked, it had been more than once. 

      “I’m sticking to that count” Harry crossed his arms, as Penny giggled a little bit.

      “Come on Pin, let's dance” Gil said pulling on her hand.

      “Io?” Penny asked looking at the older girl.

      She looked at Gil and patted his cheek, “You be a good boy and bring her back to me in a few songs. Harry and I will get us some drinks.” she knew there was no winning when he was stuck on something.

      “Promise” Gil nodded dragging Penny off with him towards the other people dancing.

      “Can’t decide if I love that he’s obsessed with her or am jealous as hell, ” Harry watched them go  before turning to grab some drinks.

      “I absolutely hate it,” Io growled lips pulling back in a snarl before it smoothed away, “I liked it better when he was only obsessed with you. Then all I had to worry about was finding you two in the middle of a fuck.” they walked towards the large barrel of rum and she grabbed four dented mugs handing one to Harry.

      “Well we could fuck after Da goes to bed before you come in if that make you feel better.” Harry snorted taking the mug, “but weren’t ye the one telling me earlier that he was just stuck on her being a mainlander and not treating him differently” 

      “That was before he decided to state she was only to stick to you and him. He might not understand the words coming out of his mouth, but I have been around you lot long enough to know when someone decides not to trust me. Not that I have ever steered any of you wrong before,” she huffed filling the mugs up. 

      “Ah, I’ll have a talk with him shall I. I mean she is...  well ye did start acting a little oddly since she came” Harry nodded, he’d have to tell Gil that he wasn’t to talk much around Crocodile for a while.

      “Because the thief has been flapping his fucking jaws. In order for her to trust me, I have to be different then he described me. You think I enjoy playing benign? Your father's men have been looking at me like I've lost my edge because of one bloody mainlanded,” she seethed all of her normal ferocity at him. “Until I root out the rest of what she know or something drastic happens, I am forced to play this stupid game. Shockingly I am beginning to miss Mal, at least she wasn't god damned coy about shit.”

      “Pot calling the kettle I think” Harry snorted taking a large drink, “offer her a deal, she spills and you don’t, I don’t know, sell her to Gaston” 

      “The pretty boy told her never to make a deal with me. It took Tremain’s fuckers to get her to make the first one to get out of her cage.” her eyes narrowed dangerously at him, “You have any other brilliant ideas?”

      “Give it a little while, I don’t think she’s holding the thief in high regard the longer no one comes looking for her. She told Gilly while she was that cage that he promised to protect her and well lot oh good that promise does when he ain’t here,” Harry said getting a refill, “Besides Gilly makes deal with you, let her see the others making deals. Ye don’t ask for crazy stuff anyways”

      “Of course not. You lot are more valuable to me alive and in one piece than mangled,” she rolled her eyes downing her rum in one swift shot, “But fine. If you think it will do any good. And I told her the same, his word ain't worth a damn thing. He did better making deals with his skin than his lip service,” was she pissed at her toy? Oh she was very pissed with him, if he was on the Isle she would have already sent Koga to hunt him down and drag him to her.

      “Give it time, let the act bleed away. Don’t know her very well but I’d say she ain’t gonna scare easy. I mean she just sort of looked at the near dead guy ye sent back with Gil earlier and asked if he was dead.” Harry shrugged, “Have a drink relax, maybe have a dance with the pretty”

      “You mean have a few drinks?” Io rolled her neck, “It is disconcerting when you give me worthwhile advice.” she set the full mugs down shooting back her second rum, “Dance with me?”

      “I wasn’t the pretty I was thinking but ok. I’ll be yer pretty, and don’t worry by morning I’ll be back to putting me foot in me mouth” Harry smiled. 

      “You'll always be my first pretty,” Io purred at him dragging him into the sea of bodies, “But I know you were referring to our newest pretty. However until Gil is done dancing with her, we will just be forced to entertain one another.” she grinned toothily, all false pretenses of being soft and gentle often vanishing as her hands gripped his skin taking the lead as they moved with the others.

      “Be as rough as ye like, Crocodile,” Harry grinned letting her move him around the floor, Gil wasn’t firm enough for stuff like this. But Gil was what he needed most of time.

      “No problem there,” she snickered, her hips pressed hard against his moving him through the crew on feather light steps. “Honestly we need to do this more often. You're dad is not nearly as fun to dance with.”

      “Yeah, da doesn’t seem to much like the dance the older we get” Harry nodded, “Oh he seems to think that you and the pretty are alike”

      “I know his version of dancing on my birthday was trying to get me sauced off my ass and have me doing spins under his hook.” she made a face, “Pretty and I are alike?”

      “She said she was putting pieces together and one of us called her a puzzle solver. He said called you wasps since she got here” he chuckled.

      “I haven't- okay I have been pretty wound up...” she admitted, “And I don't do puzzles, I make observations and make deals for information.” she leaned into him for a moment before pulling back and swung them about, she did miss the contact with all of them.

      “And I think that’s what she does, the observation thing anyway, she’s always watching” Harry said pulling her close for a second, “I just don’t think she knows what to do with what she sees. Never had to use it before”

      “Probably not,” she sighed resting her head against his collarbone, “I remember why we stopped dancing together. Gil didn't like seeing us this close.” she grinned, “Can't fathom why he got so flustered.”

      “Well he gets to dance with the shiny new pretty, I will take the shiny crocodile” Harry smirked, “and I actually know who’s leading” he chuckled watching Penny drag Gil around the floor.

      “You'll always have me Harry Hook, since the first day I saved you from that hook I told you that. You're always going to be my first mate,” she purred glancing to Penny and Gil, “I almost want to save your pretty boy. Almost...”

      “Na, he earned what he’d getting” Harry laughed harder, “Teach him a lesson”

      “It will teach him a lesson, always drink before dancing with dominant dance partners,” she snickered pulled her head back with a soft kiss to his skin, “The urge to manhandle you.” she licked her lips, “Good that I'm doing the run tomorrow, so I can properly attend to those urges. I have missed properly dealing with our opponents.”

      “Somehow I don’t think it's gonna take long before you're back to normal on the ship,” Harry smiled.

      “I will do my best to speed the process up.” she could just go spend some time in New Underland, that always seemed to get her out of a proverbial funk.

      “You be you crocodile... what the fuck is in that rum I sound like a bleeding mainlander” Harry made a face, “I think me needs to drag Gilly off somewhere dark and do terrible things to him.”

      “I think we all soften up for the sake of putting the pretty at ease. Now she is a pirate, we can go back to normal. Go get some more rum, pour it down your pretties throat and fuck him into a wall. That will get you sorted. Me I'm going to get my pretty trashed and see what fish guts she feels like spilling for me,” Io gave him a toothy grin.

      “Sounds like my type of plan” Harry gave her his own toothy smile, “Shall we switch dance partners”

      “Yes, switch and drag. Drink and dancing for me drink and fucking for you.” she swung Harry out towards Gil.

Chapter 31: Talk to Me (IoL: September)

      “Sorry cutting in Girly” Harry nodded to Penny as he snatched Gil away, Penny blinked as they disappeared before she turned to looked at Io, “so...”

      “Come on dearie,” she grinned looping their arms together, “We get some more drinks and then more dancing. Enjoying yourself so far I trust?”

      “Yeah this is something else, way better than the stuffy parties I was sometimes allowed to go to,” she nodded letting Io lead her along.

      Io guided them to the rum barrel and filled up Penny's mug before doing her own, “The parties there are stuffy? That doesn't sound very party like, then again I am partial to this kind of party.”

      “I don’t think they were very party like either” she shook her head as she took a sip coughing, damn no wonder Jay could shoot the stuff back home this was like straight gasoline.

      Io tossed back her shot, patting her back, “I thought you and the thief drank together? Or was he drinking that piss water again?”

      “I think anything we have on the mainland is piss water compared to that,” she said, “although he did say this stuff was strong.”

      “Pity,” Io grinned handing her another shot, “Captain has a bottle of old spiced rum from the sea faring days. That shit is like syrup compared to this, but we make due. As for his piss water I was talking about his wine drinking. I never understood it, but again partial.” she grinned lifting another to her lips.

      “Find it hard to imagine him drinking wine” she giggled a little before taking a breath and tossing back the shot. She made a face shaking her head.

      “I have never seen him drink it, but I have seen him afterwards. All he ever drank around me was this stuff,” Io smiled toothily, “I may have kept handing him the flask till we were out.”

      “He steals the good stuff out there but, well I think it all tastes the same. He said that it all goes down smooth compared to this stuff. I believe it now. I don’t think he’s happy over there, too many rules not enough rule breaking” she tilted her head thinking about Jay, he wouldn’t be happy with her, but fuck him; not in the literal sense... Or maybe. She shook her head, she didn't care what he thought or who he fucked, he wasn’t here with her so what she did was none of his business.

      Io grinned toothily at that giving the girl a third drink, “Not enough rule breaking, now that is interesting.” she filed it away for later, finally a chink she could exploit once she found a way off the Isle, “I suppose they told you there were rules here they broke all the time? They did tell you something about this place didn't they?” once Penny had finished that shot she would give her a breather, take her to dance then get her to drink more.

      “He did, Mal and the other not so much. Said it wasn’t something I needed to know or worry about. He said it was dangerous but I wouldn’t need to worry cause he’d cover me. Told me everything cost something, and to always make sure the price was set, ” she shrugged turning the drink in her hand a little, as she looked down at it.

      “Well he is very good at making promises he either can't or doesn't intend to keep. As for the cost of things, yes quite a bit of things cost something. But things like now, they are free because we have worked for them. Now drink up, then more dancing my dear.”

      “He break a promise to you?” she asked looking up before tossing the shot back and making another face, and putting the glass down.

      “More than a few,” she offered without detail, “But the past is the past, forgive and forget,” that was a flat lie but it didn't matter as she guided the girl back to the floor and gripped her hips firmly as they twisted and turned with the others. “So they didn't tell you about the Isle because they were protecting you from what? The truth? Because this Isle has quite a few secrets, they would likely not want you to know.”

      “Everyone thinks they have to protect me from things. I think it's more dangerous for me to not have all the facts” Penny shrugged moving with the different tempo, “But then I don’t think any of them counted on crazy Audrey sending me here.”

      “If they wanted to protect you, they wouldn't have let Audrey be in a position to do anything like what she did. I will keep you safe from the things I know you cannot handle at the moment. But I am more than happy to fill in gaps if you tell me what it is they did inform you about,” Io extended the offer as she kept her grip firm on the girl even as several of the men glanced at them confused.

      “They asked about not having enough food. Carlos really loves sweets says he never had any before” she shrugged, “Evie is super excited about not having to steal supplies. But Jay he talks about this place like it was easier to live here then at the school. They don’t really like to talk about here. I mean occasionally Jay and Carlos will talk about payment and things not being the same, but that more Carlos reminding Jay.” she tried to make sense of everything that had come from the core 4, “Carlos told me that here that he lived by ‘just survive somehow’. Jay talked about stealing for his dad.”

      “Here on the Isle, you never find sweets, all the food we get comes on the barges. When I think you are ready I will show them to you. For Jay living was stealing, all day every day. Stealing ensured he survived and had a place to live. Carlos’ mother is a crazy woman to put it simply. When she dragged him here to my wharf, I made sure he got patched up. But she lives up to her name Cruella.” Io supplied understanding that the princess in her arms had no idea what else Jay had done here to ensure he wouldn't incur his father's wrath. Or the punishments Carlos had been subjected to. The twisted things she had seen from afar that even Grunhilde did to her prized daughter. Mal had suffered the least of all of them.

      “I don’t understand why they leave all the kids here. Especially Carlos Anita and Roger asked to adopt him before he was even born. I don’t think any of the big bads would care if they hadn’t had to keep their kids, ” Penny shook her head. When she’d found out about that case she’d been so angry for Carlos, he didn’t have to live on the isle at all but they had made him, she hadn’t have the heart to tell him. She wasn’t entirely sure why she was telling Io this.

      “Oddly enough, Shere Khan would have cared. That beast adores his son, whenever Koga gets hurt, rare but happens, Shere Khan comes out of his home and ravenges the offending party. Some of the big bads, as you call them, do care. The Captain is another who comes to mind.” she glanced over Penny's face, “I wasn't aware that his quote on quote heros cared. Or that any of them care about us or this Isle.”

      “Aladdin doesn’t like the Isle, from what I've evesdropped on. But for the most part yeah the hero’s don’t care. But Anita and Roger fought pretty hard said that Cruella was willing to kill puppies for fur what the hell would she do with a baby. At least that's what the records say that I read through. The council wasn’t having it though, said it was unnecessarily cruel to take their kids as well as imprisoning them.”

      Io pondered the idea, though considering her father was super closed lipped about her mother and only two, maybe three people on the Isle knew who she belonged to, it was possible not even the Mainland knew she existed, “Does your council keep records of the kids here on the Isle? Is that how those four were allowed to leave?”

      “They don’t keep a very good record. They knew about Mal and the others cause they are from what’s considered the big bads. They were known and only children. Can’t really just take one sibling” she thought about it, “But there’s not really a who’s got kids and who doesn’t list.”

      “So then they really have no idea how many people they are trying to at least maintain here,” the words were growled out, at the knowledge that her Isle was starving because no one bothered to keep an eye on a population of people who couldn't die. “It's a wonder they even bothered to keep the records of the older generation.” she was careful not to hurt Penny even as she spun the girl out before slamming them back together.

      “No, this is one of those things that they are not proud they did so they would rather forget they did it” Penny winced a little, “Mal and the others are supposed to be helping Ben come up with a list of the kids. And in theory anyone they forget will be remembered by someone else that comes over so they can be on the next wave. But just looking around I feel like it's going to take more than a few waves of 5 or 6 kids to get all the kids off the Isle.”

      Io took a deep breath reigning back her anger, “It would take much more than that yes. Particularly since Mal doesn’t know about two thirds of the Isle. Your brother would be better served consulting with the thief on who is on the Isle. Pity really, because it will take much more than they think to fix this place,” she ran her fingers down Penny’s spine a silent apology for the treatment the girl wasn’t used to. 

      “Well when I get off the isle, you can help me get everybody that needs off the isle” Penny said leaning into Io.

      “Good to know,” Io purred looking down at the pretty princess in her arms, “Doing alright there Pin or do you need some more drinks?” she wanted the rest of the information out of the girl but she didn’t much feel like giving her a hangover either.

      “I feel fuzzy... I like fuzzy” Penny smiled, “Maybe no more drinking” Penny felt like her feet weren’t there, it was kinda like when she had been drinking with Jay.

      Io watched an odd look pass over her face, “What are you thinking about dearie?”

      “He kissed me when we drank...the night he told me about you. He kissed me...” Penny’s thoughts drifted to what else she had found out that night.

      “Oh? What else did he tell you that night?” she ran her knuckles down the girl’s back all of her attention narrowing to the pretty little bird as she finally started singing.

      “He loves you....well he says lusts cause you're unobtainable. That you were cruel and protective, possessive and driven....there was another one I don’t remember now. He misses you. Said I make him think of you... maybe he just kept me around cause of that”

      “Maybe he kept you around because you were good at learning what he had to teach,” Io nearly preened at knowing her toy actually missed her, she knew what he wanted from her which was why she let him comfort himself with at least being able to be in contact with her. “Did the others stay around while you drank or was it always just you and he?”

      “Just us the others were worried about getting caught... though Carlos freaked out when he found us in their dorm room” she giggled remembering Carlos’ face.

      “Are they all apart there on the mainland? They were always together here, nearly attached at the hip,” She embellished because Carlos and Jay were the easiest to separate from the pack.

      “Mal and Evie share a room and Carlos and Jay do too. But Mal’s busy being everything they want her to be, and Evie’s designing fashion. But the boys still spend time together... well they play tourney. Carlos spends a lot of time with Dude.” she shrugged.

      “And Dude is?” the name didn’t ring a bell but the sudden separation of the group was nearly heartwarming. It meant that once she was off the Isle they would be easy picking, and she already knew exactly what she was going to do to Jay for leaving her here.

      “Dude is a dog, Carlos thought he was going to eat him at first” Penny laughed at the thought, “thought Ben was trying to kill him” 

      “You should have been here to see what Carlos did when Koga walked by at school,” she snickered, “That boy is a scaredy animal about animals, but at least it seems the mainland cured him of that. The girl who sent you here, how does she fit in all of this?”

      “Audrey... she’s the granddaughter of sleeping beauty... she was dating Ben... I didn’t like when she dated Ben.... couldn’t go home when she was there... you know what that’s like right? Not really having a home... but you have the ship... maybe not” Penny rambled she didn’t like talking about Audrey, maybe she’d stick her with the pointy end next time she saw her... Io could help... yeah like a bonding thing for them... like some girls go on trips. 

      “Aurora,” Io corrected, “Her mother’s name is Aurora. And yes I know a thing or two about that. I have a place to sleep that isn’t the Jollyroger, but it is in the worst place on the Isle aside from New Underland. Homes are what you make them, as I imagine you found their hideout. I’ve been there a few times checking in on Jay after he traded me some information in a deal. The scars on his right arm,” she offered the information up in exchange for everything she was getting from Penny. “Which of them did you spend time with the most or was it mostly just you and him?”

      “Mostly just us... he made Audrey leave me alone. The others didn’t know how to react to her picking on me... were afraid they’d be sent back.” Penny shook her head before putting it on Io’s shoulder, “you won't let her be mean to me right? Let me stick her with the pointy end maybe?”

      “Dearie I will gut anyone who dares to be mean to you on the mainland. You find a way of getting your new crew off the Isle, and I will make sure no one is ever mean to you again. Deal?” Io asked point blank tipping her head to rest against Penny’s forehead. No sense in not having a back up plan.

      “Not supposed to... but I don’t care bout his rules, deal I get you off and you make sure Audrey is very sorry... maybe never be seen again,” Penny hiccuped.

      “A deal it is dearie,” Io grinned wide and wicked, “Did he ever tell you why he made a rule like that in the first place?”

      “No never said just told me he’d deal with you if it came to it. Kept saying I needed to be ready for what’s coming... what does he things coming?”

      “His father for one,” she muttered easily, “Things here are always in flux, always shifting like the tides. Eventually enough pressure is going to build up and it’s all going to go to hell,” she was referring to the barrier keeping it’s grip over the still growing power of her father and all the others in the shadows biding their time. “Our dear boy is looking far into the future where you brother let’s loose the wrong person off this Isle and brings the full house crumbling down.” she chuckled, “I should get me another few drinks. Then you can ask me things since you have been so delightfully patient with my questions.”

      “How what can I ask?” she looked up at Io as they headed to grab her some more drink.

      “How about this, you ask me questions. If I don’t want to answer or don’t have an answer I’ll tell you to ask me another. Deal? And to make it a touch more in your favor, if I avoid five questions I’ll take another drink.”

      “But you like to drink” Penny said still having some of her senses as she still swayed a little to the music.

      “I do, but I do plan on walking back to the ship without gutting anyone, so I do try not to drink too much at these things,” Io shrugged sipping at her rum aside from shooting it back like she preferred, “Unless you prefer double shots for five unanswered questions.”

      “So a single is fine, but I can ask anything right?” she sat on one of the stools.

      “That’s the deal dearie if you take it,” she smiled toothily, sometimes when she was drinking it was like her father was talking out of her mouth. Io really wished she could curb the reflexive pet names she used.

      “You make me think of a story I read once when you talk like that” she giggled, “and deal” she wished she could remember the story now.

      She was really going to need to curb it, immediately, “Well then ask away.” there was too much risk to everything if anyone else found out, hell even her plans hinged on no one else finding out who she was.

      “Does it have to be about you? Or can it just be general?” she asked putting her chin on her hand.

      “Your questions can pertain to anything here on the Isle, as this place is all I know. Questions regarding me directly I suggest you avoid, I’m rather volatile while drinking as you’ll find out depending on what questions you decide to ask.” She wasn’t going to lie about that, she was terribly quick to anger.

      “Why does no one here seem to have more then one parent?” Penny asked nodding, she didn’t want to make Io angry.

      “Hm, from experience, Captain’s wife passed away, Koga’s mother same story. I’m not entirely sure if Mimzy was birthed or created. Gil’s mother is here on the Isle, it’s a question of which of the three Gaston fucks. The others, well most of us would tell you knowing one villain parent is enough.”

      “Yeah but I mean like Mal’s dad or Carlos’ wouldn’t they have been better off with them” Penny mussed. “Does Harry look like his mom?”

      “Don’t know. Harry’s mom passed before the barrier went up. Honestly Mal’s mother isn’t exactly what I consider dangerous considering the no magic thing and pretty little fairy’s run on magic. Carlos’ da, no idea the deal there either. Carlos wasn’t big on the talking to Pirates when I patched him up.” she sipped more on her glass, “Even if their other parent was on the Isle, zero of them are announcing who they fucked and knocked up before Black Magic Alley started producing potions to keep us, well, non reproductive.”

      “Are there more people with siblings? Or is it just Gil?” she asked watching Io as the watched her.

      “Oh there are plenty of siblings on this Isle, it’s just some of them don’t know they are related. That whole don’t talk about who you may have accidently knocked up.” 

      “Right then, do villians love? Or do you know that? They make it sound like villains can’t love on the mainland” she pondered.

      “Love, I’m sure some do. Love their vices. But Jay told you this, lust is more the Isle’s specialty.” her father loved her as much as he loved power, that she knew from the blip in the barrier. Then again it was the same for her, she loved her father and she adored her allies, but she would choose him over the whole of the Isle in a heartbeat.

      “So love isn't really a thing here,” she tried to continue of her thought as she started to get drowsy, “I know its bad here but, are there things that are really bad? What is this underland Harry talked about?”

      “Underland is one of places no generally sane person goes to willingly. That place is a whole bucket of complications. Only one of your friends that ever dared to venture there was Jay, and only because things up here get slim pickings for thieves just before barge day.” Io watched her head droop, “Do you want to start heading back to the Jollyroger?” she moved closer to the girl polishing off her drink before doing to the girl what Jay did to her, covering the girl’s back as more than a few of the men started looking at the drowsy girl like she was slim pickings.

      “Yeah that’s probably a good idea... do I have to sleep between the boys again?” she asked letting Io guide her around.

      “Like I would let you sleep in their bed while I am there. No you are sleeping next to me.”

      “And where are we sleepy? The pile of clothes was comfy... just too quiet last night” Penny yawned, she was so sleepy. That rum stuff was so strong, she hadn’t felt this sleepy after drinking with Jay, maybe she hadn’t had as much then.

      “Clothes, and don't you worry about the lack of noise. Rum will knock you out like a light,” she smiled feeling the girl fading fast.

      “Leaving so soon Crocodile?” a voice drawled behind them.

      “Harrison dear, do you want to bleed tonight?”

      He backed away slowly as she flashed the blade at her hip, “See ya get some rest Crocodile. Take your pretty little and have a good night. Captain's boy and his brat headed back a few moments ago. Both looked thoroughly fucked.”

      “I was aware. I told Harry to get it out of his system. Come on Pin, nap time my dearest lamb.”

      “Yeah, sleepy we go see Gilly? He’s warm... Io you're warm too” Penny nodded choosing to ignore what is going on around her, Io would protect her she would be better than Jay.

      “Yes Pin, we are off to see your Gilly,” she cooed walking them out into the street as she eased the girl's hood back up, “So tell me love, am I like what Jay told you I was? Since you were so wary of deals with me, have I proven that they are not all that bad?”

      “I think there is something you don’t show me, something dark in your eyes. But Jay didn’t want me to know about some things he did what I told him not to, he kept secrets to protect me” Penny explained, she hadn’t really meant to say all that but whoops too late.

      Io smirked slightly, the girl was very observant after all, “Jay did quite a lot of things here, some of those things he is not very proud of. Some of those things he wishes I didn't know about, wishes no one will ever know about. But he's not here to protect you, I am. But I will keep you safe from the harm I can, keep secrets to protect you, only when I know you will not be able to stomach the truth.” she squeezed her gently, “How much do you hate him for his version of protection? I can tell by the way you say it...”

      “He lied to me, it was only lying by omission but I asked him not to lie and he did. I’d push him off the roof next time I saw him, not kill him but it would definitely hurt” she said, “I just wanted him to not treat me like a weak little flower... I wanted someone to see me not just Ben’s little sister,” she sighed sadly.

      “Well you are starting over here on the Isle, Pin. You leave the pretty thief to me, I know all the ways to make him scream without killing him. And you will find I have no patience for weakness, so you will not disappoint my trust that you are not a weak little Mainlander?” Io guided them up the gangplank, her steps silent on the deck.

      “I’m not weak, I can prove it” Penny nodded, “Just need to learn, no one ever lets me learn. Do you like that I see things others don’t?... He said it made me like you but... I didn’t use what I see right he said.”

      “I do like that Pin. And I want you to keep at it. Tell me what you see when you do an I will make you another deal; I will make sure you learn how to be strong, if you do not lie to me. I find out you lied, because I always know when someone lies to me, and I will take it out of that pretty skin of yours.” Io would have to give Harry a reward if this all worked out, his drinking advice had actually been rather useful.

      Penny tilted her head thinking about it, “Ok I’ll take that deal, no lying to Crocodile.”

      “A deal it is then Penny,” she grinned, Harry was getting that reward it seemed. She pushed the door open and walked inside glancing at the bed, “You two all settled?”

      “Aye, Crocodile we’re good” Harry answered running his fingers through the sleepy Gil’s hair.

      “Good,” she nodded and quickly undid the cloak around Penny, “You darling go lay down,” she gestured to the pile, “Before you fall asleep on your feet.” Once Penny moved away Io lent over the bed and settled a hand on Harry's bare chest before kissing his cheek, “You darling of mine earned yourself a reward.” she purred against his skin, voice low, “After the barge run we'll have a chat.”

      “It worked then did it” Harry smirked at her. “Find anything interesting out?”

      “That she had a crush on our pretty thief before he shot himself in the foot by not telling what she wanted as a way to keep her safe. Oh and Mal has lost control of her crew, Jay has been the only one still trying to be the Isle thief we knew. And now she and I are three deals in and she finally decided Jay's word isn't worth much,” Io pressed another kiss to his skin, “All I have to do is make sure she learns how to be strong so she can prove to me she isn't a weak little Mainlander princess. That is why you earned a reward.” she pulled back digging her nails lightly into his chest grinning wildly for the first time since Penny had arrived on the ship.

      “Told ye there are something different bout her, mean what type of princess manages to hide for over a week” Harry yawned, “I think she maybe our key... your key”

      “Ours Harry, ours. I need you with me, who else is going to inform me I've caught the Red Madness. But we'll continue this later, sleep my darling Hook,” her fingers trailed over his cheek adoringly.

      “Sleep sounds good” he nodded letting his eyes drift closed, “night crocodile dream of nasty evil things”

      Io turned slowly looking at her rum drunk crew, she would get off this Island. She would get free and she would become the nightmare Jay was so concerned about. At least that's what all the rum in her was telling her, soak the mainland with blood and shatter all the stupid fairies who dared to trap her and her father here. She gave herself a shake, she needed to get off the island first. Io rubbed her face, she needed stay away from New Underland for a few more weeks, the madness down there was seriously starting in on her. Swallowing she dropped down on to the clothes and pulled Penny into her chest, letting the other girl's weight pull her head away from slaughter. “Good night Princess, I'll keep you safe while you sleep.”

      Penny murmured mostly asleep, she felt it was a little odd but she did feel safe here. Safer then she felt in a long time, if she was honest with herself she hadn’t even felt safe at home always ready for her home to be taken from her by Audrey. But Audrey couldn’t take this from her.

 

      Io stirred the next morning and eased the Princess off her chest. Her hand touching Gil's leg giving him a gentle shake as she stood slowly cracking her stiff neck. It was barge day and she needed to get them there soon.

      “Uh...what?” Gil sat up from his place on Harry’s chest, making the pirate mutter in discomfort.

      “Barges. Come on and keep it down so Harry and Pin can get some more sleep. He didn't fuck you hard enough you can't walk right?” she only asked because Harry had done that a few times when he had been drinking heavily. That had been an awkward conversation between the three of them. 

      “No I’m ok” Gil whispered pushing himself up. 

      “Bring Pin over here Gilly” Harry muttered not bothering to open his eyes.

      Gil looked over at Io, Harry had given him a tongue lashing last night before the fucking about how Pin was Io’s and Io would take care of her. But Io was ok with Gil laying claim as long as he remembered who she really belonged to.

      Io flicked Harry in the nose, “He’ll wake her up. Plus we are running late. Gil get ready. You owe me something for this Hook,” she knew he was getting a reward but this was a different deal as she eased the knocked out girl up and onto the mattress with Harry. Sure she wasn't as strong as Gil or Koga but she could manage.

      “I’m sure we can come to an arrangement” Harry nodded putting his arm around the princess as she curled into his side seeking the warmth.

      “No fucking her,” Io growled in warning before she grabbed Gil, “Come on precious time for the run.”

      Gil followed Io out of the room a confused look on his face, “Do you think Harry really wants to fuck Pin? He didn’t seem very happy with me for claiming her last night”

      “I doubt he wants to, but I like making sure he knows what I will not tolerate. And he wasn't happy because you were making him jealous while simultaneously irritating me. But you know now right?” she looked at him smirking, “So I don't have to give you any sort of talking to about the subject do I?”

      “No Harry explained that I was putting my foot in it” Gil shook his head.

      “That's a good boy,” she purred as she launched herself off the side of the ship and rolled onto the cobblestone street. She was going to a lovely bloody day, a bit of fun she hadn't had since the girl had arrived here. It would be good to stretch her proverbial wings. “Come on Gil before the others get there.”

 

      Killian watched from his door as his Crocodile took off. The wild look in her eyes and the mad grin of teeth had finally returned. Which he hoped was a good thing. The silent passive Crocodile had put him on edge, it made her too much like her father and that never boded well for anyone. Something clearly changed the night before, but then again he did see his son and her talking in depth as she lead. When she was with the Princess he could see the rigidness that she held herself with, the caution she used. That must have been it, the relationship between his Crocodile and the Princess must have shifted, into what he didn't know. But so long as his wild blood thirsty Crocodile was back to terrifying the wharf and the rest of the Isle, he was fine with it.

 

      Harry yawned handing Penny half of a piece of salted pork that hadn’t been too bad when it came in on the barge. Penny took it without a word she’d seen enough at the market and heard enough off had comments from the core 4 to know that food was food here. Although with what she had seen she had to wonder if anyone ever got sick or like got scurvy, there wasn’t much fruit that was good that came in it looked like. But, she didn’t think Harry was probably the person to ask.

      “Let me see yer hands” Harry said as he through his own peice into his mouth. He’d give it to her she didn’t complain as much as he had expected a mainlander to. Maybe life on the mainland wasn’t like they imagined it. He took her hand in his looking at the blisters that were mostly just starting but a few had busted.

      “They’re fine” she muttered pulling her hand back. That got his attention, while she wasn’t complaining he didn’t expect her to try and brush it off.

      “They hurt?” he asked grabbing a few stips of cloth.

      “Nothing I can’t deal with” she said with a shrug.

      “Give me yer hands, and don’t fight with me” he snorted taking one of her hands and wrapping, when Mimzy got here maybe she’d have something to help with the healing.

      Killian looked at the teens, “Crocodile not back yet?”

      “Not that I’ve seen Da” Harry shook his head before moving to Penny’s other hand.

      “When did she leave anyway. I don’t remember her leaving” Penny asked

      “That be because ye had a touch too much Rum” Harry chuckled.

      “So did ye,” Killian snorted, “Only she’s not used to functioning on Pirate rum.”

      “I walked back to the ship” Harry pointed out.

      Killian smiled, “I think Gil half dragged ye here,” he teased his son.

      “It was a mutual dragging,” Harry shrugged.

 

      Io patted Gil's cheek, “Alright off you go, straight back to the ship.” she had rooted through the barge and pilfered the best of the supplies she could find. Out of habit she pocketed coils of metal and jewelry she spotted through her supply search. Coils of metal for her father who arrived just after they had to get what he and she needed. The jewelry to keep the more vain villains, Jafar included, simmered down so she didn't always have to resort to violence. 

      Rumplestiltskin watched the boy for a moment adjusting the hood of his cloak. He knew he and his daughter didn't look too physically similar but there was no sense in taking such risks.

      “Yes Io” Gil nodded with his dopey smile before he headed off.

      She glanced at her father, “You know I can do it myself right?”

      “You know the rules,” he replied softly despite her eye roll as she moved to the barge sidewall to watch for others coming their way.

      “Too many cogs in the machine. Lucky I don't mind greasing it with blood,” she replied blade flicking in and out of her hand, “Six on the approach Deal Maker, take yours and leave.”

      He nodded not minding her attitude, knowing it was for others and not himself. Collecting the rest of what he wanted he left, vanishing down the alleys of the wharf to back home.

      Io watched him from the corner of her eye, seeing the backs of his followers behind him guarding him. She reverted her attention where it belonged as she crouched on the barge wall like the gargoyles of Frollo’s home.

      “You pull the short straw today Crocodile?” G3 asked looking up at the girl.

      “There is never a short straw when the Captain let's me loose to play. You cause trouble Gaston the Third and you will be bleeding.”

      He shuddered at the wild smile on her lips, “Right...”

 

      “Hey Gil’s back” Penny pointed to Gil making his way across the docks.

      “No Io though” Harry observed.

      “She must still be on the barge dealing with the rough housing,” Killian muttered, “Will be good for her, get her back to normal.”

      “Normal Io would be nice, she’s a little scary when she’s not normal,” Harry nodded.

      “She’s a little scary all the time,” Penny rolled her eyes.

      “Oh she is scarier when she isn’t threatening bodily harm,” Killian grinned thinking of her recent behavior, “Because there is no knowing when she will blow off her cork and what she is going to take it out on.”

      “Hey you guys are up” Gil smiled at them as he came up the gangplank.

      Killian nodded, “Aye, yer run go well?” 

      “Yes, sir” Gil nodded, “Io will be back with she’s done”

      “Good,” Killian nodded glancing at the overflowing packs, “Tell me the barge was full of more than electronics this time?”

      “Yeah, there was some cloth and some fruit that didn’t look too bad. Oh I grabbed this not sure what it is but...” Gil shrugged holding out a short braided rope of sorts that had shells hanging off of it, to Penny.

      “It's a shell bracelet made of hemp it looks like” Penny said. 

      “From the Islands,” he added digging through the supplies they had picked up, “Ye girl, take the food down to the mess. Harry, ye know where to take the rest. Gil, get yerself some breakfast.”

Chapter 32: Leave the Ship (IoL: October)

      Io rolled her neck, she and Harry had been taking turns going to school recently not that it honestly mattered but when she had to keep deals rolling school was the easiest place to do it. Walking up the gangplank she saw Penny and Harry on the deck staring at the ocean beyond the barrier. 

      “I don’t remember ever being sailing or even really out on the water” Penny said, “I remember the beach a few times but...” she shrugged

      “Never been sailing either the ship can’t leave dock not enough distance to the barrier” Harry supplied, “Don't really have beaches here...at least not what ye described”

      “I guess not.” she sighed putting her chin in her hand.

      “Ye good to finish up the evening chores while I go get some more supplies and check on where Gilly is?” Harry asked pushing off the edge of the ship.

      “Can’t I come help find Gil?” she asked, “I’m stuck on this ship with nothing to do.”

      “Don’t let da hear ye say that he’ll find something for ye to do” Harry snorted, “And Io says ye stay so ye stay”

      “What's she so afraid of? That I’m gonna run off? Where am I gonna go huh?” Penny snorted, “I just want to help find Gil maybe stretch my legs a bit.”

      “Ye mean that flipping about ye did earlier on the rail wasn’t enough? Near gave me a heart attack” Harry shook his head.

      “No it wasn’t” she rolled her eye and crossed her arms, “I’m sick of it, all I get to do is scrub the deck and tie knots, I can do other things I can help.” 

      “Is my darling pet bored?” Io teased having overheard the conversation as she approached on silent booted feet, “Caring for this ship is terribly important, especially since some of us have runs to do.”

      “I’m tired of not being allowed off the ship” Penny looked at her, “Feels a lot like hiding. What is so bad out there that I can’t even go out with one of you?” 

      Io grinned a wide toothy grin that had most people attempting to backpedal faster than Ursula’s eels, “You want to see then? Want to see why we keep you here on the ship where it is safe?”

      “Crocodile?” Harry looked at her, their little Pin was just a little ship crazy no need to scar the poor mainlander.

      “Yes I want to see what’s so bad. I lasted more than a week out there, the worst I got were some bumps, bruises and a cut.” Penny said she wasn’t backing down, she recognized the look that normally had Gil whining and Harry backing off, but she wasn’t one of the boys.

      “Wonderful,” Io nearly purred, “Harry go fetch me the cloak. If our dear darling pet wants to see the Isle, I will show her the Isle .” She didn’t have any honest business on the Isle left for today, but if Penny, the pretty little mainlander could handle one of the maddest places on the Isle then she would be inclined to start letting her go out on small runs around the wharf.

      “Yes, Crocodile” Harry sighed sending Penny a look as he went to get the cloak the girl was in for it now, no one talked to Io like that. Once he was back he wrapped the cloak around her shoulders as they had done for the party and left the rest to Io.

      Io flipped the girl’s hood up and pulled her under her arm, “Your boy is at the tavern, I am having Koga go and get him after he’s gotten himself some food. Finish whatever is left to do, we’ll be back later tonight likely.”

      “Of course” he nodded turning to get what he needed, maybe the girl would scare early enough that he could still get help with the rest of the chores. He snorted to himself Pin wasn’t the type to admit defeat so this was liable to be a painful process for her and possibly Crocodile.

      Penny adjusted the hood slightly and let Io lead her off, well at least she was getting off the ship, even if she did have a bad feeling about this.

      Io guided them through the wharf at an easy clip, taking the streets rather than the roofs. She headed straight to her old hideout, and paused opening the massive hatch, “In you go. Fair warning stay close and don’t stray.” 

      “I won’t wander promise” Penny nodded swallowing she could do this, she headed through the hatch.

      Io followed her down, closing the hatch behind her and slipped her arm around Penny’s waist. The dark pooled around them the same as the stench of New Underland. It was hard to get used to, but then again it was a mixture of bodily fluids, sex, and unwashed flesh on top of heavy rot. Not one of those things was something Io had gotten used to as her nose crinkled unhappily.

      Penny made a face and coughed a little at the smell it was awful. She wanted to cover her face with her sleeve but didn’t want to give any sign of weakness.

      She guided the girl down the long hallway and out into the dystopian New Underland, “Welcome to New Underland,” Io grinned wildly gesturing to the lopsided hovels, and cracked windows. The flickering neon signs and dark shops not inspiring comfort or familiarity. To Io however this place might as well be another playground for her. Here the madness was welcome as it’s starving tattooed occupants took whatever they could to find their wonder again.

      “Underland like Wonderland?” Penny asked softly looking at the dim lights and dirty buildings, she didn’t understand how anyone could live here.

      “Exactly like that,” Io nodded, “It’s complicated here,” she snickered stepping them around a near skeletal woman standing in the street staring blankly at a flickering sign. A scream echoed down another alley and she squeezed Penny’s hip, “Best be careful, they may not be terribly lucid, but they are pretty feral.”

      “Why live down here? Why not up in the streets at least there is sun” Penny asked leaning a little into Io.

      “Because this is where your mainland trapped the Queen of Hearts. She built all of this for all her subjects and gave them their Wonder. Though most don’t come here as there is a madness down here that is almost contagious. At least that’s what Harry keeps squawking about,” She giggled as they walked letting loose the wildness in her carnal grin. 

      “So, she’s trying to take care of them?” Penny was confused what she had read about the red queen didn’t sound like she would do that type of thing. She jumped at another scream moving a little closer to Io, this place was freaking her out a little not that she was going to say that. She could feel her hands shaking a little bit, so she curled them into fists as tight as she could feeling her new callouses to remind herself she was stronger then she was before. She let her broken and blunted nails dig into her palm.

      “But of course. She is the queen and they are her subjects, hers to take care of,” they paused for a moment by a massive building with a glowing sign that sparked out the words Jabbawockeez Bottles, “I have always wondered how your mainland managed to fit him in there...”

       “No insight into that you’d have to ask someone from Wonderland” Penny shrugged.

      “Pity,” Io rolled a shoulder as the Jabbawockeez trapped inside let out a scream that shook dust from the ‘ceiling’ above them. The lightning inside illuminating the hundreds of small bottles filled of various colored liquids. “He’s a feisty one Jabba.”

      “I’ll take your word for it,” Penny said, “What is this place, exactly?”

      “A wonder supplier,” Io didn’t know what else to call it as she guided them towards the castle, they might be early enough to catch some of the games. She kept her hands on Penny feeling the trembles of the girl shaking, “I give it to you, you are terribly stubborn to get through this. Harry didn’t make it past the hatch, smell did him in.”

      “He does seem to have a delicate nose,” Penny mused, “What do we get from the wonder suppliers?”

      “Nothing anyone on the topside wants to take. Well Jay did once, it did not end well.” Io remembered the vile grey color that he vomited up over a side alley, retching up everything in his stomach and then some. He had admitted the high he had for 20 minutes was not worth feeling like he was dying. “It is what makes them like this,” She gestured to another blissed out Underlander.

      “But I’m guessing being like that is better than living life without it for them” she said glance over them, “or at least they think so”

      “Well it ain’t no real Underland here,” she shrugged guiding them to the rust red rose hedge maze that smell of blood and rot, her eyes flickering over the massive fluorescent lights that illuminated the castle grounds. The knights weren’t patrolling which meant that the games were ongoing.

      “What exactly are we doing down here? You won’t have brought be down here for nothing” Penny asked the smell getting worse.

      “Because I like it here, I am rather fond of it’s madness. But honest, the games are on and I thought you might like some entertainment.” Io snorted as they eased around the side of the castle grounds and to where there was a crowd of cheering underlanders.

      “What type of games exactly?” Penny wasn’t sure she liked where this was going.

      “The only kind we ever have here on the Isle,” she supplied as they stood on the fringes of the field. There was a man standing there bleeding from cuts as Anastasia and Regina aimed their bows at him the target painted on his bare chest, “The bloody kind.”

      Cora could see Crocodile appear across the field, the wild smile painted on her lips as she held onto a slight hooded figure. Now that was curious, she had heard rumors of a new face aboard the Jollyroger that the topside Queen was keeping hidden. Seemed those rumors had some weight after all. 

      Iracebeth turned to look at her predecessor, the Queen of Hearts, her face shielded by a crow mask, “What is it? What do you see?”

      “I see an opportunity,” Cora smiled soft and polite looking at the Red Queen, the woman wearing a simple domino mask, “An opportunity to risk escape.”

      “Gil sort of explained that people don’t die here but what happens if they hit something important?” Penny eyed the target with some sympathy.

      “They go to Yzma, Falcifer, or Dr. Frankenstein to get put back together. The ones with the biggest damages get looked after till they heal up. If there is permanent damage, irreversible kind, Frolo takes them into his ‘Church of the Damned’. I know a few that Dr. Frankenstein had to give hearts, and Shere Khan has gotten better about keeping his food mostly functional.” she didn't mention she had done in a number of them herself.

      “Well at least there’s that I suppose” she hummed, “Is there a reason why the ladies are staring at us?”

      “Officially we aren't Underlanders, most times we need invitations to come down here. But they won't do anything to disrupt the games. Anastasia, the blonde girl, would have a fit and no one wants her having fits.”

      Penny studied the blonde one for a second taking in her appearance next to everything else. She looked like a spoiled brat.

      Regina and Anastasia fired the arrows, Regina's striking the man in the arm and Anastasia missing all together. The later stamped her feet as Regina pulled another arrow and loosed it, catching the man in the throat. He clutched at the bolt as Anastasia shot another arrow and the arrow lodged into his hip.

      “Point to Regina!” Duchess yelled clapping her hands, “Next target!”

      “She doesn’t look very happy about that” Penny watched the action she’d seen enough temper tantrums to know what one looked like starting.

      “Oh she is not,” Io grinned seeing the hard line of the blonde’s lips, “I wouldn’t be surprised if she didn’t turn and stab her cousin with that arrow.” her eyes flicked over the younger gagged male struggling against the Rusting Guard as they lashed this one to the giant hooks in the ground. Clearly he had pissed one of the of the royals off.

      “So she’s a... I have no idea how to even phrase what I’m thinking” Penny finally gave up, the girl made her think of a few of the princesses back home who would throw anyone under the bus to get what they wanted, though she had a feeling calling someone a mainland princess what not a good idea.

      “A royal prissy brat?” Io supplied, “Those armored things, are the Rusting Guard. Do not under any circumstances piss them off unless you fancy being a literal target.”

      “Not high on my list, was enough a figurative one I don’t need to be a literal one. And yeah pretty much” Penny nodded her eyes tracking what was going on as she tried to keep her calm. This was a little... ok a lot fucked up and it was freaking her out.

      “A figurative one from your old life?” she cocked her head a bit and watched as the ‘cousins’ turned the squirming and screaming male into a pincushion. There was something to be said about rage making a woman aim better. For Io it was more a case of making them bleed more. 

      “Yeah old life I can safely say that happened before I landed, which was one of the only times I was a literal target and most mainlanders can’t aim well” Penny winced watching the blood, it wasn’t so much that that was bothering her it was the obvious pain people where in and how it was being inflicted making her ease closer to Io until she was practically hip to hip.

      “Too much too soon dear? We can head topside if you’ve had your fill of Underland for the time being. Plenty more to see of the Isle after all.”

      “Yes” Penny nodded the smell was starting to worm its way into all her senses and she really thought she might throw up if she saw anyone else get shot down here.

      Io nodded, one point for her, “But of course.” she guided the princess back the way the come and eased them up the otherside of the castle to the bazaar hatch. Pushing it up she collected the girl close and eased her the half broken ladder, even if someone was waiting at the top, Io was more than experienced at close quarters combat.

Chapter 33: The Red District (IoL: October)

      Penny flopped into the dirt taking a breath, and she had thought up here smelled, this was fresh air compared to what she had just been in. Part of her knew Io was up to something with this but, part of her really didn’t care, she needed off that ship before she went nuts. She could handle this, Underland was a little extreme for her though how had no one ever even mentioned there being a city under the Isle. Did no one know? But that didn’t seem right they had been sent there just like everyone up here.

      Io hauled herself up and closed the hatch down that popped them out next to the brothels. One of Jay’s favorite stealing haunts once she told him they were pretty easy pickings. Her eyes glossed over the girl laying on the ground, she seemed no worse for wear on the outside at least.

      “Come on Pin, you can lay about later. We have a trip down Black Magic Alley to do, once we get through the District.”

      “I thought there wasn’t any magic here” Penny was confused now why would there be an alley for just magic if there wasn’t any magic on the Isle, “What district?” 

      “Just because we don’t have magic, doesn’t mean the practitioners have stopped doing what they do best. They all clustered up to exchange knowledge, so we call it Black Magic Alley. It’s also the place where all the anti kid potions come from. Which pretty much everyone on the Isle takes.” Io pulled the girl to her feet and straightened the hood out, “You know the District... Or is that not a thing where your from?” 

      “Um... I’m gonna go with not a thing” Penny shook her head trying to remember if Jay or any of the others had ever said anything about a District.

      Io shrugged a shoulder and walked them out of the side alley around to the main of the brothels where several well endowed woman stood in skirts pulled up on one side to expose large expanses of leg. They would flutter their lashes and flash a little more thigh, or dip forward showing a healthy dose of cleavage. A thin woman hovering in the doorway with a long cigarette and a slinky red dress tossed her short red hair back looking down at them.

      “Crocodile!” she called making Io turn slightly, “That Captain of yours planning on coming around again?”

      “Madame Medusa, let it be know I do not keep track of his fucking schedule. But if you need him buried between your thighs again I will let the Captain know you are in need of a good Hooking.”

      The women at the door hooted out laughs as the thin woman curled her lip in distaste, “You are a truly vile little thing, it’s no wonder Hook sends you out on all his little errands. Wonder if you swallow him as well as you dish out his will.”

      “Careful dearie,” Io purred smile going murderous and the women at the door shifted away, “I would hate to stain that pretty silk with your blood. I am nothing but effective in dealing with problems.”

      She swallowed looking away, “Just let him know or I will be sending Brutus.”

      “You send your Gator and I will have my tiger devour him. I’ll let Captain know you need his services,” she all but purred as the Gator who had moved into view at his name shuffled back. Tugging Penny into her side she kept them moving away from the brothel.

      Penny opened and closed her mouth trying to process what had just happened... they were talking about... sex she was guessing. She didn’t know much on that topic how did one... she shook her head nope not going there, she probably was better how not knowing how Hooking played into sex, cause Harry used the term as a threat Io had just inferred it was something else. She was kinda of wishing her mother had let her take the sex ed class at Merryweather now, cause she felt like she had just fallen off the counter and rolled across the floor into the fireplace.

      Io guided them past one of the seedier buildings flashing the blade at her hip as a tall thin man straightened from the wall. She did not have the patience to deal with Snatchers and frankly they all should have known her by her moniker if nothing else. Infamy was if nothing else a double edged blade here on the Isle. A young half dressed boy a few years younger than her stopped in front of them and she gave him a bland look.

      “I can help you girls with whatever you want...” he tried for charming as he thumbed the band of leather around his throat. 

      “Boy, I’ve had a pretty thief trying to get into my pants for years, you certainly won’t manage it,” Io replied gesturing for him to wrap up his pitch.

      “Sorry Crocodile... I know you hate it when I do it, but Dad’s well,” he glanced over his shoulder at the portly man watching them.

      “Here lamb,” she pressed the coin under his collar, “Now shoo, before I do something unpleasant to your keeper.”

      He grinned bowing as he backed away, “Pleasure as always Crocodile.”

      “The pleasure will be mine when I slit that pig and feed him to Tic Tok,” she growled under her breath as they continued moving through the district.

      “I’m guessing this is an area for sex but I’m not sure I quite understand” Penny muttered watching the boy head off.

      “It is, ask your question,” she stated glancing at the girl who clearly had never heard of such places existing. 

      “I’m not even sure what to ask cause I don’t really know much about sex other than a few little things like what a blow job is and that sex makes babies but, not really much else. I listened to gossip up that all it really was, I went an all girls school not exactly many boys to talk about or do anything with” Penny fumbled

      Io tilted her head, she never really found the idea of sex or really anything related to the topic interesting, but she knew a lot about it. On the Isle it was hard to avoid, and she had seen quite a few sex acts in her life here. Only a few really pissing her off enough to put an end to it. “Why do you assume it has to be with a boy? Here on the Isle there is not much thought to what’s hanging or nestled under your belt line, all that matters is the point of it. Frankly I don’t find it all that appealing but I tend to be the oddity here.  As for babies, yeah not here, again people take potions here that make it so they can fuck all they want and no one gets knocked up. Not like the Mainland ships up whatever it is they use to keep people from having babies.”

      “Birth control that I know, its given to you by a doctor,” Penny supplied, “And I feel like that was a flaw in planning. I know that girls can do girls in theory and what not but it's not something that’s talked about a lot.” 

      “Why not? Sex is supposed to be enjoyable,” She gestured to the alley they passed where a younger male was positioned between two older men, “Shit like this happens all the time. Hell most of the kids here have knocked someone’s boots at one point or another. The bigger problem we have is during the night time, when the Snatchers are around to collect the ‘strays’ and bring them here to do this stuff. Also with drunks forcing others, we have protrols in the wharf to keep most of that attended to, but we can’t catch it all.”

      “I suppose that I... they don’t talk about sex much on Auradon it’s private or suppose to be. I think I remember hearing a story about someone trying to force a Queen and being killed for it. So it should make sense that it happens here but that just sounds... fucked up” Penny said.

      “It is but that’s most of life here. There is nothing fair or not fucked up here,” she used the girl’s own words, “But this place ain’t so known for privacy either...” she shifted her weight with a shrug, considering her lack of experience in these matters, this conversation should have been a lot more awkward. But she guessed having known Jay had be useful for something.

      “I get that, I got the not fair thing from Jay” she nodded adjusting the hood a little further forward.

      “I am pretty sure he pulled the short straw of all the kids, but damned if he wasn’t determined to make the best of it. He was one lucky bastard, one of the crew was always unintentionally helping him whenever he got into a pinch.” she snorted knowing Jay would not want anyone knowing about anything, “Almost out of the District. Then we are in Black Magic Alley, on a scale, it will be a bit of New Underland light.”

      “So shooting people for fun? Or smells like dead people or both” Penny asked raising an eyebrow.

      “Slicing people open, smells like death warmed over mixed with herbs and animals. Oh don’t scream at Dr. Falcifer’s talking heads, Dr. Frankenstein did something to them for him since the Voodoo King can’t make proper shrunken heads or something along those lines. I don’t pretend I know anything about what those two make happen.”

      “Talking heads?” she asked that seemed like it could be interesting, horrifying but interesting.

      “Yes talking heads,” Io decided to leave out the part they were from beheaded Underlanders. “I don’t ask when it comes to Dr. Frankenstein and his experiments. That stuff is out of my wheelhouse.”

      They came out into the shops and she glanced at the massive school gates you could see between the buildings. There were half broken magical every things in the shops, some of which Io wasn’t sure if it had been magical at some point. The potions house was as always teeming with business, with young and old pouring in and out. This place was always stock full of people as she paused by Dr. Falcifer’s shop front where the gasping heads were encapsulated in a large tank of questionable origin.

      “Wow...that's busy” Penny looked at all the people

      “Potion’s house. Yzma’s place actually, you just got to be careful about her son, he’s a tad... Out of sorts.”

      “Aren’t most kids here out of sorts?” Penny asked.

      “Not really like him,” Io stated cautiously, “I may have my moments but he should be in Underland for good.” there was no nice way of terming the kid was bat shit crazy.

      “That bad, and I’m getting the gist that most parents around here don’t care what happened to their kids. There being a few exceptions to the rule” Penny looked around. She was getting how the Isle worked, she had learned from Jay talking while he was drunk or just not thinking a few things here or there. She knew this place wasn’t safe, and the darker part of her mind even knew why. But the part that had been sheltered and protected, lied to so that she wasn’t affected by the truth was still trying to come to grips with it, to combine everything she was learning.

      “Yeah, pretty sure Yzma gave her kid potions to test when he was growing up. Well they care, sort of, it's dependent on what said parent cares about. The minions well they just accept their fate and don't make fuss about their kids. Maleficent made it so her daughter was quote on quote protected.” Io shrugged she was more protected than any of them. Under the Jollyroger, the Khan's, Cora, and her father. Io made her way by carving out her potential competition. “So it is not like your Mainland stuff.” she shrugged as one of the head let out a silent scream.

      “So with the no death thing are the head still alive and the bodies are elsewhere or...” Penny looked at the head it was disgusting and slightly horrifying like she had thought but well she was odd as to what she found interesting.

      “Yeah they are alive, the bodies are with Dr. Frankenstein so... we just don't ask about it. In reality all this barrier did was give us an actual fate worse than death, permanent torture.” Io's nose crinkled in dislike.

      “I don’t think it was meant to do that. But, it is ironic that Fairy Godmother managed to find away to torture villains” Penny mused almost to herself.

      “Fairy Godmother... the one who Bitty Boppity Boo’d Cindy?” Io had known it was fairy magic, but never who’s fairy magic, “Probably it was meant to make them give up killing or so you didn’t have an entire Island of rotting corpses and nowhere for them to go.”

      “One in the same, although Cinderella's daughter's name is Cindy so...” Penny shrugged just managing to contain her sneer at the thought of her self appointed rival at Merryweathers.

      “And you hate her almost as much as you hate, what was her name, Audie, August, Allie, Audrey... definitely Audrey.” Io nudged her further down and noted that Mimzy was standing at the counter of her mother’s shop which sold pretty much everything you could make for healing on the Isle. Half the reason Mimzy was like their personal doctor.

      “Cindy is an... acquired taste. Plus she thinks she hot shit cause her family is next in line for the Auradon throne disregarding that for them to get it my parents, brother and I have to die without having any kids,” Penny rolled her eyes, “That and I wouldn’t be her friend not that she actually wanted to be my friend, back stabbing bitch. I got even though with her and her posie. This is where Mimzy works?” she asked.

      Io would have laughed at the fast topic change but instead she nodded, “This is Madame Mim’s place. She’s kind of like the one stop shop of healing remedies. But not a woman you want to be one on one with, her tantrums are wild.”

      Mimzy wagged her fingers, “Crocodile!” she whined at the girl outside the shop.

      “Come on, she drives me to drink when she whines,” Io grumbled gesturing her inside, “Don’t touch anything. What’s actually safe in this store is questionable.”

      “Right not touching anything” Penny agreed.

      “Oh you let our little darling out?” Mimzy giggled leaning on the counter to batt her lashes at Io, “You don’t want to lean too close to that sweetie, the leaves can melt flesh off just a touch.”

      “What did you need Mimzy?” Io asked dryly giving her second longest friend a look of annoyance.

      “I need some more of the Hoplin you rustled up last month, chance you can make magic twice?”

      “Don’t tell me, your mother used it all trying to make a magic potion.”

      “Yeah you know momma, always with the potions and songs and hair pulling.” Mimzy sighed softly, “Pretty please?”

      “What do I get out of it?”

      “Well I would tell you we could roll around, but I already know the answer to that,” she nibbled her lip, “How about I make you some more of the blood stop? I mean since you are notorious...”

      “How bout the scar gone? Bleeding I could give no shits about.”

      “The one on your hip still giving you trouble?” Mimzy frowned slightly.

      “Just in the joint, it pulls weird. Scar gone for Hoplin, that’s the deal.”

      “You are the best I could kiss you,” Mimzy grinned, “You get yours when I get mine.”

      “As always my darling black witch. Just remind your mother to use it for actual useful shit this time.”

      “Aye Aye Crocodile,” she beamed at Io.

      Penny watched them go back and forth, as they hashed it out in less then a few minutes. They had work out product and payment in a way that the governments could learn from, “What exactly does one do with... never mind isle full of villains” Penny shook her head

      “Oh no I want to hear this question of yours,” Io snorted guiding them back out of the shop and into the street.

      “Flesh melting leaves... what exactly are those used for besides the obvious,” Penny asked.

      “The flowers are for clearing up coughs,” Io offered up, “It’s a big seller in the winter. We don’t have jackets really here on the Isle.”

      “If I ever get out of here I’m gonna have a good screaming at the council,” Penny shook her head, this was down right wrong even villains were still people... or people like and should be treated like people.

      “We function, in our own ass backwards kind of way.” Io shrugged, she didn't know of any way but the way of her Isle, “We live by the blade and the ship, that's the pirates only way.”

      “So does that mean I get a blade at some point?” Penny asked with a small smirk, “After I learn more then stick um with the pointy end.”

      “When I know you can handle the moment after you ‘stick um with the pointy end.’ Let me be clear about that. Wielding a blade is one thing, knowing how and when you use it is another,” Io was firm because a knife on this Isle was just an opening for someone to try with something bigger.

      “I figured you’d say that” she sighed, “but I can live with that.” 

      Io nodded walking beside the cloaked girl as they made their way back towards the wharf. As they passed Ursula's chip shop, she felt her hair stand on end. There was something off, something not quite right.

      Penny moved alongside Io wrinkling her nose a little at the smell of the chip shop. She was about to ask if Ursula was as scary as she sounded when she felt the hand wrap about her arm through the cloak. She had a split second to yelp as she was pulled from Io’s side, she tried to pull her arm free digging her heels in.

      Io whirled blade in hand, fucking bastards that was her pet. She was quick, moving towards the man struggling to drag Penny away. She recognized the mark on his wrist, Snatcher. In a fluid motion she had a hand on his wrist, nails digging deep into the reflex of his wrist. When he opened his hand Io was stepping in curling herself into a mock hug across her own chest and slammed her blade up under his ribs.

      “That one belongs to the Jollyroger,” she seethed all wrath and violence paying no mind to the Mainland girl who was likely not used to this.

      Penny stumbled away and landed on her butt watching with wide eyes as Io dealt with the man. She hadn’t been expecting that, which was stupid on her part. How many times had Jay flicked her in the ear for not paying attention to what was going on around her. He explained it as while he was there to protect her she needed to be ready to run not in lala land. She’d made the same assumption about Io that she had her covered and had let her mind wonder things other than watching what was going on around her.

      Io whirled out of his grip as he tried to tighten it, keeping a hold of his wrist and heard his shoulder pop. Dragging him towards her he stumbled as he reached for his own blade intent on doing some damage to her. Not that she let him as she swiped the bloody blade across his eyes. He screamed as she finally released him trying to hold onto his face as she cleaned her blade on his shoulder leaning down to his ear.

      “Do not touch what is mine dearie.” she straightened and looked down at Penny, “You good Pin?”

      Penny could only nodded still trying to process that someone had tried to grab her. 

      “Good,” Io nodded sliding the blade away before she reached her hand down for Penny to take. She never minded the blood, that was just her role on the Isle, a weapon.

      Penny reached out with a shaking her hand letting Io pull her back to her feet, the hood falling down around her shoulders. She flipped it back up to hide her pale face, she sucked in a deep breath and stilled her nerves again.

      The brief moment Io saw her face clearly, she knew Penny would not be ready for a while, “Come on my little lamb,” she purred gently easing her arm around the girl so she couldn't dwell on the now blind and bleeding man. “I believe you have had enough of seeing our Isle. Now you understand it is dangerous here.”

      “I know it’s dangerous, I just let my guard down. Stupid” she muttered letting Io pull her close again.

      Io gave her a patient look, it was more than letting her guard down. Even if the girl didn't realize it now, when it all sank in, she would. The black and gold haired girl knew it too because she had seen the look, had seen the ticks, seen what she needed to see. Io had proven her point at last, the ship was safe it was guarded and protected a haven on the Isle for those under its flag.

      “Then see you never do it again. I told you, this Isle will devour you if you aren't on guard.”

      Penny nodded going quiet, as Io lead them back towards the ship. She kinda just wanted to sit with Gil in the bedroom. He’d developed a habit of playing with her hair when they laid down. She had found it oddly soothing, it let her think. She just wanted to have that odd sort of warmth Gil gave off.

      Io guided her up the gangplank and saw Harry standing guard with Gil at his side, “See Koga got your boy here relatively safe.”

      “Aye he did...” Harry watch Penny out of the corner of his eye as she moved towards Gil. And Gil helped take the cloak off her, he pulled her into a hug letting her relax into his side. After a few seconds he led her off towards their room, “How’d it go? Ye where gone longer then expected” he finally asked once they were out of sight.

      Io took a deep breath her face going blank, “As expected to be honest. I will give it to her she is determined. Took her to the New Underland games until she couldn't stomach it any longer. Eased through the District, remind me I need a chat with your father. Found out the Mainland is very hush hush about sex. Girl knows basically nothing about it, I would go as far as saying I know more about sex than she does. Then took her out through Black Magic alley and back here. She let her guard down drifting around thoughts, and got hooked by a Snatcher. I fixed the problem.”

      “So she’s gonna be stuck to Gil’s side for the rest of the night”  Harry mused, “So what ye want someone to explain how it works? Cause ye know ain’t no one on the isle that has much skill in that.”

      “At least no one we would trust long enough for that,” she shrugged, “She is terribly curious about everything though. Asks quite a lot of questions about why we do things.”

      “So ye want maybe Gil to try explaining? Boy understands sex.” Harry suggested, “Her confinement to the ship stands then” Harry leaned back against the rail, “least she made it to the games, I still don’t know how ye stomach the place.”

      “Carefully,” Io snorted, “Not even I am used to the stench but split intestines smell worse.” she pondered it for a moment, “If she wants to know yeah have Gil explain it. See how she is once it all sinks in, then we try again in a week. See if she has learned to keep aware of her surroundings. I'll see if any of the older crew feel like keeping her on her toes while she works. Got to try and train her senses somehow.” 

      “I think Gilly can get her calm enough to explain, I mean she’s gonna have to know. Still surprised her and the thief weren't knockin’ boots, or that he didn’t tell her how it goes. But I’m thinking that she probably needs more explaining then da's warning to me about eels and caves” Harry shrugged, “I’ll see if I can’t get the drop on her.”

      “You too?” Io made a face, “Considering his history... Yeah I think your dad was more embarrassed about it than I was. You could see him sigh in relief when I told him I wasn't interested in any of it. Still haven't figured out why he wanted to make sure I knew about it. Thinking of eels I should probably pop in on Jafar tomorrow. He's late on his payment.” she shook her head, “Chores finished?” 

      “Finished em before Gil got here” Harry nodded, “Still don’t understand yer aversion, least he was embarrassed with you, asked me if I wanted him to hire me a whore. Course he was on the bottle a little hard that day.”

      “Maybe I just don't fancy anyone touching me like that. You let em get that close, they start asking questions. And I rather like it when my clothes are on,” that was mostly true, summers came and she'd spend her days on the ship in her breast binding and the most breathable pants she had. “You make use of his offer? Evil knows I've seen you walk out of the deal room after a worse for wear thief at least once.”

      “Once or twice, he was very good at what he did pity ye couldn’t get him to change crews” Harry mused, “But don’t hold a candle to my Gilly even if he is a little star struck by the princess.”

      “It is isn't it,” she smiled as if she hadn't managed to make him hers, once they were free she was going to make sure he remembered who he gave his loyalty to. “I will take your word for it, you're the one with the experience here not me. And you're a little star struck with the Princess.” she commented as Killian eased out of his cabin, “Captain.”

      “What?” Killian growled at her.

      “Careful there dearie,” she warned grin widening, “Madame Medusa wants you to go fuck her again. She's got a longing to have you sink that hook of yours into her hip.”

      Killian opened and closed his mouth before smirking at her, “I doubt the hooking, but if she's gotten ye making sex references I'll do me best to deliver. Don't butcher anyone while I'm gone, either of ye.”

      “No promises” Harry shrugged, “and I am not, just don’t want Gilly getting hurt over her”

      Killian waved the kids off as he strode down the gangplank and headed towards the District.

      Io watched Killian for a minute and shook her head, “I am sure that's all it is. But don't know why she'll hurt him. She agreed to get us off the Isle ‘member? We just have to keep her alive that long. Should be relatively easy so long as she doesn't do anything stupid.”

      “She’s a mainlander, it’s kinda hard to stop that” Harry snorted, “and I just worry about Gilly”

      “Your a damn mother hen you know that?” she teased looking at the Mainland, “If we manage to get out it's going to be boring.”

      “I’m starting to think so” Harry snorted, “Hush hush in sex, it’s natural” he looked over at Gil headed to the galley.

      “I know, I’m the weird one for not wanting it,” Io snorted following his gaze, “Do you want to go check on him and see if all is well?”

      “He’ll come get me if he needs something” Harry shook his head, as Gil came back out with a green apple in his mouth and a small piece of slightly moldy bread. He headed back to the bedroom.

      She sighed softly leaning back over the railing, to look up at the mainsail above her, “You know before she got here, I would have never hesitated in gutting an outsider. But there is something there in her that makes things messy. And I hate messy,” she growled, “But at least things here on the Jollyroger have settled down. You’re dad’s crew seems to have realized she ain’t leaving any time soon.”

      “Yeah there’s a betting pool on various things with her” Harry nodded, “Ye think she’s gonna sleep tonight? Or she gonna just lay there ya think?”

      “She’s going to lay there. I saw her face after the Snatcher, she doesn’t know it yet, but I traumatized her a touch.”

      “Not a fan of violence then” Harry nodded neither was Gil, difference was Gil could protect himself for the most part.

      “Not yet at least.” Io shrugged looking at her oldest friend, “You think I pushed hard enough?”

      “No idea, depends on what happens tonight” Harry said, “Want to go check on em?”

      “Yeah alright if we must,” Io ceded, they were her crew. She was supposed to care for them. That was the pirate way, you looked after your crew because they were all you had on the sea. But she couldn’t shake the cold away, so she slipped her arm in Harry’s and felt the contact finally click in familiarity, like her body remembered what it was supposed to be doing.

Chapter 34: Aftermath Of Wonderland(IoL: October)

      Gil took a bite out of the mostly good apple before handing it to Penny who was sitting cross legged on the bed.

      “You ok?” He asked softly sitting behind her.

      “I... don’t know” she admitted softly to Gil.

      “Eat something it will help. I hope, it helps me” Gil started to run his fingers through her hair, even after her time here it was soft to the touch.  

      Penny nibbled on the apple knowing better than to waste food here, although she may have turn down the bread she wasn’t sure she’d be able to stomach it.

      Gil started to separate sections of her hair, and weaving it together. He wasn’t sure how he knew how to do this he just did. 

      “Gil is... do you think I’m weak?” she asked 

      “No, why?” he asked taking the apple from her and taking the big bite before handing it back for her to keep nibbling on.

      “I feel weak...that snatcher guy would have dragged me off if Io wasn’t there” she leaned back towards him. Gil gently nudged her to laying down as he finished the braid.

      “You're just different, that's not bad though” Gil assured.

      “I just...never mind” she held the rest of the apple out to him. He took it  and finished it off before laying down next to her.

      “You just what?” Gil asked, “You can tell me, won't tell no one promise” of course no one didn’t include Harry or Io but they were supposed to know everything.

      Penny rolled over so her face was in Gil’s chest, “I just want to actually belong somewhere, I don’t even care where just somewhere,” she said softly, “And I feel like I fucked it up today.”

      “Its ok, you belong here, you belong to Io, and to me and Harry” Gil assured again looking up at the door as it opened silently. He kept running his fingers up and down her back.

      Harry watched the two quietly, he listened as the princess seemed to drop off into at least a shallow sleep under Gil’s hands.

      Io leaned against Harry looking at them, “You didn’t fuck anything up Dearie. You are still learning, we’ll try again next week and we will keep at it until nothing get get the drop on you aside from me. Harry can tell you, I’m hard to catch even for him and we grew up together. If you had actually managed to get taken, that would have been a fuck up. Honestly, you did pretty damn good for a Mainland Princess who basically only learned how to pickpocket from an Isle thief.”

      “Still did something stupid” Penny muttered

      “I do stupid stuff all the time” Gil said with almost pride making Harry laugh a little.

      “I’ll get ye in shape for the world princess I promise to Gil” Harry snorted, “Ye got something in ye. If the crocodile thinks ye can do it then you probably can better than most”

      “Don’t we all know it,” Io muttered not minding Harry’s elbow of warning, “You got comfortable under my guard. You did the right thing and let me know something had happened. No one has ever taught you how to protect yourself, because everyone does it for you. You learned the quick way, even comfortable here means on guard at all times,”

      “We’ll start tomorrow” Harry reached out a little as he sat to play with the braid Gil had made, “You staying tonight Io?”

      “Want me to?” She asked directly at Harry, because most times he wanted space away from her to be with Gil.

      “Doesn’t really matter just asking” he shrugged

      “We could have a cuddle puddle” Gil smiled

      “I’m gonna pretend you didn’t say that” Harry shook his head as he made a face.

      “Oh is that right Gil?” Io asked undoing her boots and setting them beside the door before stripping off her jacket, “Well I simply can’t ignore a request like that, now can I Harry?”

      “I know I’m gonna regret this” Harry sighed looking down, “I’m guessing ye want the outside?” He asked standing up to move around to the other side of the bed. He had to wonder how his da had known he’d need a big bed when he’d made the room, it would be a squeeze with all 4 of them but they would fit.

      Io grinned toothily unhooking her blade belt and slid the knife under the pillow, “You know it,” she eased herself down behind Gil and squeezed his hip, “Comfy darling?”

      “Yeah, you're warm” Gil nodded not taking his eyes off Harry as he hung up his coat and pulled off his shirt tossing it to the side. Harry laid down behind Penny looping his arm over the small girl so his hand rested on Gil’s hip. Gil gave him a lopsided grin.

      Io smacked the light switch casting the room into darkness. Her father was going to be worried sick but he would understand she hoped. Of all the villains on the Isle he was one of the more laid back and understanding.

      “Rest well my darlings,” she purred at them curling herself around Gil's larger frame arm draped over two of them as her hand remained under the pillow around her blade.

      Penny listen to all of them seem to settle in for the night trying to turn her own mind off at least a little, she knew she should sleep. 

      “Yer safe here” Harry said softly, “Crocodile and I won't let nothin get you here. Nothin comes on this ship without a fight” he placed a gentle kiss on her temple, Io was probably right about him having a soft spot for the girl but he’d never admit it.

      Io squeezed Penny's arm gently, trying to reassure her. This ship was their fortress and not a one wouldn't defend it.

      Ok so maybe they weren’t all asleep, she mused pressing her face further into Gil’s neck as he let out a snore.

      Harry snorted a little, his boy could sleep through anything, he could feel the tightness in the princess’ back start to relax a touch. He reached up a little bit with his hand starting to play a little the end of her braid the way Gil would play with it when it wasn’t braided and felt the tightness ebb away even more. He’d file that away for later use that she liked having her hair played with like that.

      Perhaps she could have been a touch less, well everything. But she had been out to prove a point, that Penny hadn't been ready. Honestly if she hadn't commented that the Isle wasn't that dangerous Io would have avoided taking her through the underground kingdom. Would have kept her up in the light and they could have avoided the whole Snatcher thing all together. Rounding her shoulders Io pushed the thoughts away and let her body drift into a half sleep. She was the closest to the door just as always. If she reached further under the pillows she knew she would brush Harry's hand where he kept it curled around the hook his father gave him.

      Penny dozed in and out listening to Gil’s snores as she counted the movements of Harry’s from fingers threw her hair and over her back. A tune she use to hum to herself after she went to Merryweather’s came to her mind as she drifted between awake and sleep.

 

      Killian opened the door just a sliver and looked in on the kids piled on his son's bed, Io included. “Just me checkin in love,” he whispered seeing her stiffen. 

      He closed the door and headed to his own quarters. She must have really shook the princess up if she had stayed on the ship.

 

      Penny fisted her hand in Gil’s shirt as he started to pull away.

      “Come on Pin time to get up” Gil said 

      Penny sat up eyes still closed letting Gil pull her the rest of the way out of the bed.

      Io mindlessly checked over the ropes keeping her ears perked for danger. Sleeping in a bed with 3 other people didn't have her sleeping really.

      Penny came out of the bedroom pulling on her boots as she looked around to see where Io was.

      “How you feeling darling?” Io asked not turning, the benefit of pet names for her entire crew meant she didn't ever have to actually have to identify which was which as Harry and Koga had relatively similar walking patterns. Not that she would ever dare mention that tidbit of information to either party.

      “I’m fine” she said watching Io check the knots.

      “Good, grab some breakfast then come help me with the chores. It's Harry's day at school.”

      “Harry actually goes to school?” She knew there was a school but from Jay's description it didn’t seem like a place to waste time with.

      “Yeah, he and I trade off in which one of us is going. Not required, but the piracy classes from Barbosa are pretty decent. He doesn't much care for us since we fly a different flag but since he doesn't have a ship anymore it's a mute point. I'll have to see if the Captain is fine with me teaching you the Jollyroger’s Shanty. We sing it on the Captain's birthday.”

      “There’s a whole class on piracy?” She blinked, “and I had to take princess etiquette,” she huffed grabbing a half spoiled orange. Gil popped up taking it from her hand to start peeling it.

      “Yeah... Black magic basics, thievery for dummies, evil 101, potions and poisons, you get the gist? Basically just take all your classes and make them evil versions, that’s the most likely translation.” Io shrugged, “That class on Thieving was the only one I ever saw Jay coming out of.”

      “Ok that’s not just not right,” Penny shook her head, “I would have done really well in a thieving class” 

      “She forgot Vanity my brothers do really well in that class” Gil added handing her the cleaner part of the orange

      “Maybe once? I doubled down on Black magic basics and Potions and Poisons. Dr. Falcier teaches it back to back in the same room. I only skipped one P and P class to selflessly rescue Carlos from your brothers when Jay wasn’t around. Only so many times I can listen to the puppy screaming or choking before I snap.”

      “You rescued Carlos?” She hadn’t thought Io really interacted with the core 4 besides Jay. 

      “Yeah, his mother used to drag him here to the wharf. So I looked after him if there wasn’t any of the others to make sure he wasn’t ganged up on. Don’t get me wrong he can get himself out of a lot, but the twins are annoying persistent. But I let most of it to the others, I’ve interacted with all of them before you ask, just on different levels. Mal and I always fought, Evie and I, well I only ran into her a few times in the bazaar.”

      “Really, I figured you and Mal didn’t get along Jay said so but I didn’t know about the others” Penny sucked the orange down

      “Well they would have never told any of the others about encounters with me. Particularly if it was going to rile Mal up, they tried their damnedest to stay out of our spats. Which is generally what you do on the Isle, stay out of personal beefs. Unless you're in the Jollyroger crew, personal beefs become pirate beefs. I asked the others not to be involved between Mal and I, she was never much of a threat, more of entertainment for me. As Smee informs me a bored Crocodile is a temperamental Crocodile.”

      “That sounds familiar” Penny said, “Although I think it was a different animal.”

      “You want to scrub or polish?” Gil asked

      “Scrub,” she said, “That polish smells bad.”

      “Yeah that’s because of what we make it out of, and no I won’t tell you. I wish I could forget, which is why I don’t ever polish,” Io shook her head.

      “I’ll start on the wheel then” Gil shrugged heading off to pull out the supplies.

      “I don’t even think I want to know” Penny shook her head before following after Gil.

      Io smiled to herself going to the last knot on the deck, yeah the princess was going to be just fine. She had bounced back quick enough as long as she was distracted, and there was nothing but distractions here on the ship. Humming under her breath she finished the knot and headed up the mainsail. She had told the girl a week, and a week was what it was going to be.

Chapter 35: The Crocodile (IoL: October)

Notes:

WARNING:
-violence ahead
-dismemberment as torture
-references to cannibalism
-references to rape

      Penny hummed to herself as she scrubbed at the deck trying to remember the words to this song, she knew it was from some movie about being who you were but she couldn't really remember it. Gil was working on a few knots by the gang plank, it was just them right now, Killian had headed off towards the red district with a few of the men, and Io had taken Harry and Koga with her to deal with some sort of issue and well Smee was off doing god knows what. Io had promised they would try going off the ship again for Penny tomorrow, but for now Penny was to keep her ass on the ship or she wouldn’t like what happened when Io found her.

      Penny didn’t bother to look up as she heard boots on the gangplank, it was probably just one of the crew having run out of money or embarrassed the Captain.

      “What you guys want?” Gil asked seeing the group of men come onto the ship, this wasn’t right no one was suppose to come onto the ship when captain was gone.

      “Well we heard that there were some pretties on board and they might be a tad bit board” one of the men gave Gil a leer.

      “Snatchers, you aren’t aloud here. Crocodile will skin you when she hears about this” Gil warned, as Penny looked up through her hair wishing she’d had Gil braid it back now. 

      Penny didn’t ever want to hear let alone see a Snatcher again after last week. She glanced back down while they were still all focused on Gil, she grabbed the scrapper Killian had let her have this morning with the promise that she wouldn’t stab any of the crew with it, and would only use it to get crap off the deck of his ship. She turned it so the blade was against her wrist like she had seen Io do with her dagger.

      “Keep him still boys, he tries anything run him threw” the leader said before his boots came into Penny’s line of sight. She gasped as he grabbed her hair pulling her up to her feet, “oh aren’t you a pretty one” he whistled looked at her slightly dirty face “And what’s yer name love?”

      “Pin, she don’t talk got no voice.” Gil thought on his feet for once

      “Really? That true love, you got no voice?” he smirked changing his hold on her to her arm as his other hand wondered her body, she bit her lip to keep from making a sound.

      “Leave her alone, she ain’t yours to mess with” Gil snarled trying to rush forward to pull the man away from her. He stopped as a knife was placed under his chin.

      “Never thought I’d see the day a Le’Glum was defending a woman, instead of ravishing her. But then you always were a bleeding disappointment to you father,” he turned to chide Gil, “Besides this one pretty as a mainlander you really think you could keep her here away from us. I might even pay for a go after her break in time or before.”

      Penny took the opening he gave her, teach him to underestimate her, she turned into his hold as she spun the scrapper in her hand and slammed the dulled edge into his arm. He stumbled back looking at her in shock and then at his bleeding arm.

      “You bitch, maybe I’ll take my turn now” he slapped her across the face, Penny went to the ground her sleeve ripping off in his hold. He snarled reaching down to grab her again, this time she went for his face. She felt the warm blood hit her arm and parts of her own face as he screamed, she looked to see she’d taken his eye. She quickly scrambled to her feet dodging around the other man trying to grab her.

      “Pin go get Io, and Harry.” Gil yelled, she stalled slightly looking at him. She wasn't allowed off the ship, she didn’t know where they were, “Near where we met” Gil said. She nodded dodging again one of the men catching her in the arm with his blade as she grabbed a rope and swung over to the dock. She stumbled nearly going into the water before she got her footing again and took off. She could hear someone behind her as she pushed her way through the people, trying to get up onto the roofs. She still clutched the scrapper in her hand, she wasn’t going to let go of her only weapon. It took her a second but she’d managed to get up and was jumping as fast as she could to get to the bazaar. She thought her lungs were going to burst any second, but Gil was in danger. She’d left him alone with all the snatchers, all though she was pretty sure the leader wasn’t getting up anytime soon. She looked down trying to see the flash of red that was Harry’s coat. She stopped to breath she couldn’t run anymore, her chest was on fire, that’s when she saw them.

      “IO” she screamed at the top of her lungs not sure she could get enough air to be loud enough to be heard over everything else.

      Io whirled towards her name, Penny. First was fury at the girl disobeying orders, second was rage at seeing the state of dress she was in, “On my bloody fucking ship,” She seethed, “Koga haul ass to the Jollyroger, devour any who don’t belong.”

      Koga nodded, “My pleasure,” he grinned all fangs as he took off at a dead run bowling over people in his way.

      Io on the other hand hauled herself up to the roof of the building, “How bad are you hurt?”

      “I don’t think most of its mine, they only got me once,” she shook her head trying to calm her breathing down as she felt her hands shake a little bit, she’d found the others Koga was on his way with Harry to stop them, but they could be hurting Gil still.

      Io nodded looking the girl over before running her hands down her arms, “You’re okay, the boys will get to Gil. Don’t worry, Gil can hold his own. Breathe just breathe and tell me what happened.” 

      “I’m not sure, I heard them come up the gangplank thought it was probably just part of the crew since they headed off towards the red district with Captain. But then Gil was talking to them, and the leader said something about pretties all by themselves. When Gil called them Snatchers I just grabbed the scrapper, Captain told me not to stab anyone with it,” she glanced down at her hand still holding the bloodied tool, “The leader came over and started...” she shook her head she didn’t want to go there right now, “Gil told him to leave me alone. But he wasn’t paying attention to me so I stabbed him in the arm... then the face. Gil said to come find you,” all the details were jumbled in her head plus she didn’t want to start trying to put the conversation she had had with Gil about what exactly went on in the district and all that into context with what the leader had been trying. Io was starting to look a little blurry in front of her, and Penny shook her head she was not going to cry. She was fine, she was. She’d made that bastard sorry he’d ever come to their ship and Koga would make sure he never came back.

      “Good girl,” Io took it in and recognized that the girl was overwhelmed, pulling her into a hug, “Hush, you're okay. Any of them touch you? When we get back to the ship we'll get you all cleaned up.”

      “Gil made him stop before he went too far” she said softly the scrapper finally falling from her numb fingers.

      Io scooped the scrapper up slipping it into Penny's belt, “You show me which one and I will make sure he never touches anything ever again,” she curled Penny under her jacket, physically branding her with the protection she could deliver.

      When they arrived at the ship there were chunks of something splattered with blood up the gangplank and over the deck. Harry was cleaning Gil up while Koga licked blood off his fingers and claws. The tiger teen gestured to the pile he had made of man.

      “No one is edible,” Koga shrugged, “I tried each and everyone one of them just to be sure.”

      “They conscious?”

      “Mostly,” he straightened noticing her jacket was around Penny's shoulders, “Boss?”

      She held her hand up, she did not want questions right now. She did not want concern, what she wanted was blood. Someone dared to touch her pet, her crew, here on her ship. She had lost herself to the storm once with Jafar, whoever touched her pet would suffer the same wrath.

      Koga shifted uneasily, that was not a good smell rolling off of Crocodile. He almost wanted to interfere, but he really didn't fancy being skinned alive. And guessing on the jerking in her hands she was leaning in that direction.

      “Pin, please stand next to Koga. Koga-”

      “I will maw anyone who thinks they are touching her tonight.”

      “Very good. Harry how is Gil?” Io asked because she wanted to add to the fury so she could get it out all at once.

      “Bout as expected, most of these idiots were more concerned about Pin getten away. Guess they thought she was gonna get Da, that’s how she out ran em” Harry shrugged motioning Gil over next to Pin, “Those that weren’t decided to try for some fun.” He pulled his hook out while shrugging out of his coat. He dropped it around the small girl’s shoulders, every one already knew she was the Crocodile’s and Gil’s, he wanted to spell it out for the morons that she was also Harry’s. They’d managed to piss off both leader and first mate. 

      Gil wiped some blood off his chin from his busted lip, he was pretty sure one of them had knocked out a tooth or two. But then he had bitten one of the bastards who’d thought they could make him blow them. Only person he gave anything to was Harry, just about everyone knew it was a quick way to get the gentle boy violent was to try something. 

      Once Harry had dropped his jacket around Penny’s shoulders he had moved closer. She tensed at his touch at first, at his touch but relaxed a little before curling into his side when she realized it was him.

      Koga was careful about his claws, was careful not to crowd them. He knew he still scared them on some level, but he didn't mind. He sniffed softly, the sweet scent on her skin, virgin blood. Shifting his weight he kept his hands on Harry and Gil's shoulders, of all of them in Io's little crew he was the last stand.

      Io looked at them, two bleeding on her ship. Turning she moved through the men, “You came here looking for pretties, looking for people for your needs. Tell me was it worth it? Because I'm going to eradicate you for daring to touch what doesn't belong to you.”

      “That stupid mute should have just taken it like a bitch and we would have been gone before you even knew” the leader snarled, hand still over where Penny had stabbed him in the eye, “course should of figured there was something fishy when that boy told us where to find the pretties” he spat at Io’s feet.

      “I just cleaned that” Penny muttered ignoring all the blood that was also all over her once clean deck.

      “Shh, don’t worry da will understand ye weren’t slacking” Harry shushed her.

      His one good eye snapped to them at the noise, “Not so mute after all. Now I wonder why lie about that,” he smirked well maybe that boy with the info was right, he’d said there was a mainlander on the ship, he’d assumed the boy was wrong.

      “Why indeed,” Io purred her eyes going cold and hard. “Mr. Smee since you've decided to finally come back,” she had heard his shuffling steps, “Do retrieve the Captain from the District. I would be quick about it, or I may not leave more than pieces for him to play with.”

      Smee swallowed hard looking over the bloodied deck, “Aye Crocodile...” he turned quickly feeling sick.

      “Now then,” she clapped her hands in maddened glee, “Shall we see how many of you I can dismember before the Captain comes home?” she would search for the traitor later, she would deal with that after she dealt with them.

      Her blade flicked into her palm and she kicked the leader hard in the chest before stepping on his breast bone as she leaned down over him, “Scream for me won't you Dearie? I so love it when they scream,” she grabbed one hand twisting his arm around to trap it in place before sinking the blade into his wrist joint. A wiggle of the blade and the joint popped open like a clam and she ran her blade around cleaving the hand off like a butcher.

      Penny turned her face into Gil’s chest as he pulled her closer. Harry turned slightly to block both their views, neither of them needed to see this, the princess was still splattered with blood, Gil looked like he’d gone a round with his father. If he couldn’t help with the skinning then he wanted to take them below. 

      “You wanna help Harry? You always enjoy a good hooking,” Io asked wrenching the other hand up, “Good shot Pin, I'm proud of you me dear,” she grinned seeing the gouged eye as she did the same to the man's other hand. Next would be his tongue to keep him from talking. If she was feeling randy she'd take his other eye as well.

      Harry tilted his head a little looking at the damage done to the man's face, “Good job Pin” he agreed, “ Gilly ye close yer eyes if ye want” he rolled his neck before fixing his sights on the one Koga had pulled off Gil. 

      Gil looked where Harry’s sights were set once he turned from them. He wasn’t squeamish he wanted to see these guys pay but, he knew, like Harry knew, he had a hard time sleeping after seeing a blood bath. He looked down burying his face in Penny’s hair.

      Penny for her part just nodded at Io and Harry’s approvals she’d just wanted the man to leave her alone and Gil too.

      Io grinned dropping the second hand, easily prying the half conscious man's jaw open she delicately cut his tongue out tossing the offending object overboard where no one would be getting it back. “Such good little Snatchers,” she sneered raking the bloodied blade through the other eye before moving to the next man.

      Harry dragged the pleading man forward by his hair before swinging the hook down hiking it around the collarbone and pulling until he felt it snap and pull thru the skin. He wasn’t like Io he didn’t feel the need to play with these fuckers. They’d tried to take his Gilly, if he was willing to stand up to Gaston for him then he was definitely willing to tear bones from their bodies for daring to touch him.

      Koga slid his thick arms around both Gil and Penny, holding them close to his chest. He was definitely not getting involved when Harry was ripping bones out and Crocodile was happily dismembering living bodies. His nose crinkled as she split one open from the base of his throat to the seam of his pants, the scream ringing in his ears.

      “Ye like touchin what ain’t yers,” Harry mused with a hiss, “Have to fix that” he ground the heel of his boot into his fingers until he felt the fingers pop out of the place. He swung the hook down on the other side of his collarbone.

 

      Smee huffed a little as he banged on Madame Medusa's door. This wasn’t good, Captain was gonna spit nails when he saw the ship, the fact that the kids had been targeted was even worse. He shifted from foot to foot wringing his hands, “Captain, Captain we got a problem” he yelled through the door.

      Killian pulled away from Medusa and fixed his pants, if Smee was banging there was nothing good happening. He jogged down the stairs grabbing his belt off the rack and slid it on before opening the door, “What happened?”

      “Looks like a group of Snatchers tried to grab Gil and the little one off the ship. Captain, Crocodile’s got em but it’s a bloody mess on deck” Smee shook his head, “Crocodile looks like she may hack them all into pieces.” He wrung his hands.

      Killian felt the blood draining from his face, “Bloody hell...” He let out a loud short whistle alerting the crew they needed to wrap their lays up as soon as possible. “Sometimes that girl is madder than a bloody hatter,” he started running for the ship because he knew Crocodile would do whatever it was she pleased until he got there to put an end to her carnage, “Was Harry or Koga with her?” it was a slim chance either of them would stop her, but maybe one of them would interfere at least.

      “They went after Gil captain. Normally, I’d say Harry would stall for ya. But he looked ready to do some hooking” Smee said following after the taller man.

      “Gets better and bloody better,” Killian seethed, “I want to know why they even tried it. Not that we'll find out if those two decimate everyone on board me ship.” he could hear faint screaming and moved faster, it was going to be hell getting there fast enough to stop his kids.

      Smee winced at the screams sounds like Crocodile was getting into her revenge.

-*-

      Killian saw the state of the gangplank and knew exactly which one did that, “Koga's on board clearly,” he muttered jogging up the bloodied ramp and onto the blood soaked deck. One sweep over the setting was enough for him. Koga Kahn bloodied muzzle hugging both Gil and Penny to himself as the softer of the kids held one another not looking. His son looming over a man hook thrust through skin yanking bones to the surface as they shattered. The Dark One's daughter soaked with blood standing between bodies that could only wish to be corpses as she popped joints and severed limbs bit by bit.

      “THAT IS ENOUGH YE BLOODIED BEASTS OF MINE!” Killian bellowed watching as Io lifted her eyes to meet his and savagely twisted the blade dislocating another joint before straightening blade in hand.

      Harry finished pulling the bone he was working on before pulling back. He wanted to cut this fuckers dick off and shove it down his own throat, he wanted it sucked so bad he could suck it himself. He let the dripping hook fall to his side, turning slightly to look at his Da.

      Io licked at her bloodied lips, “Hello Captain, welcome home.”

      Killian’s jaw clenched, “Not a word out of ye girl,” he hissed pointing at her, “I assume I have ye to thank for me plank Koga?”

      “Yeah. Crocodile told me to devour. They ain't edible,” he shrugged a shoulder not letting go of the ones in his arms.

      He made a face but nodded, “Pin, Gil ye two hurt?”

      “Pin-” Io started.

      “I SAID NOT A BLOODY WORD!” Killian roared at his Crocodile watching her grip tighten on the blade as she scoffed looking away, “Now Gil, Pin are ye two hurt? And if either of ye two would like to tell me exactly what happened.”

      “Pin” Gil nudged her as he looked up, “nothing hurt more than normally would if I gone home for a few days” Gil said watching the Captain. Penny pulled her face out of Gil’s chest, she glanced around and quickly took her eyes from the mayhem. 

      “Not hurt too bad just some bruises and a cut” she said looking at her boots.

      “I tried to keep em off the ship but, there were a lot of em” Gil said with a wince.

      “I may have stabbed one of them with the barnacle scraper” Penny added

      Killian laughed weakly rubbing his hand down his face, “Good girl, that's good girl.” he moved closer carefully taking Gil's chin and looked him over, “That's alright Gil, ye did what ye could do. I don't expect ye to be like those two animals,” he ignored the rumbling growl of Koga's annoyance. “Now which of ye would like to explain why there is a bloodbath on me deck?”

      “I went and got Io after I got them to let go of me” Penny said.

      “They were touching on Pin, and you know how Crocodile feel about touching without asking Captain” Gil explained, no keeping secrets from the Captain was like rule number 2 after no keeping secrets from Crocodile and Harry. Penny’s face flushed as she pulled Harry’s jacket tighter around her.

      Killian nodded slowly, “I assume they were touching ye too?” he asked gently.

      Io looked at Harry and stepped silently across the deck easing her blade into his free hand her lips against his ear, “You want to finish dearie? I’ll keep him quiet and take your dad's wrath.”

      “Made the first one regret it” Gil shrugged, before Harry it’d been his life getting a grab here or there some more daring tried more, but with his strength most backed off after one or two hits.

      Harry’s eyes flickered to his Da, as his fingers curled around the blade. For Gilly he’d risk a beating. Hell he’d take it willingly if he got to finish with this lowlife that was trying to make Gil choke on him. He nodded silently flipping the blade in his hand.

      Io nodded stepping back and grabbed the man's head, holding his head back as she pulled a lock pick out of her boot and drove it through the man's voice box silencing him. And people asked why she enjoyed spending time with the Khan's.

      Koga could see the two behind Killian moving, if they were willing to get a beating they were well into the deep end.

      “First one?” Killian frowned but shook his head, “Did they say anything before these two started going to town?” he gestured behind him where he hoped the two were behaving.

      “Said someone told them we’d be alone” Penny said her eyes tracking Io and Harry’s feet as they moved.

      Harry kneeled down and pulled the man’s pants open, and got to work carving his dick from his body.

      Io leaned over watching what Harry was doing, she had never actually seen a dick before. Stabbed more than few but never seen one. She wasn't terribly impressed, especially considering how much Harry talked up sex. But she guessed it was different because that didn't seem to be the same state the dicks she stabbed had been. She made a note to ask Harry later after giving him a few drinks to ease his discomforts. Her eyes flicked up making sure Killian was still distracted. As long as she was back across the deck or at least in the mid ground with her blade their Captain wouldn't be the wiser, and she wouldn't mind taking the blow back of giving her first mate what he wanted.

      “Someone told them they would be alone? Did any of them recognize ye?”

      “Don’t think so, kept saying I was pretty as a mainlander” Penny shook her head, “don’t really look like a...” she shrugged, keeping her expression the same as she watched Harry.

      “Told them she couldn’t talk so they didn’t hear her talk until after Crocodile got back” Gil added, he knew Penny talked funny compared to the others on the isle.

      Harry smirked as he finally severed the last bit of skin and pulled the dick up with the same hand holding the dagger, his other prying the mans mouth open. He shoved the dick past the barely conscious man’s lips. He passed the dagger back to Io standing.

      Io took the dagger and yanked the lock pick away slipping it into her boot before slinking back across the deck to her general position from before. Mission completed.

      “ye do look a touch like one. But stay here long enough and ye'll look more like us.” Killian nodded looking at Gil, “Quick thinking... good... good. Crocodile ye get out of them who let it slip or were ye too busy butchering?”

      “A boy,” Io replied, “I'll-”

      “Find out who Captain,” he mocked turning to look at her, “Maybe next time ye could try the inquisition before ye do all of this.” he gestured to the deck, “He conscious enough to talk?”

      Io looked away, “Conscious wouldn't be the problem in this case.”

      He strode across the deck, “What did ye bloody do?”

      “Want the list?”

      Her head snapped to the side before he realized he had even worked up enough stupidity to hit her.

      Io popped her jaw, “I see.” she gave him a hard blank look, “He will have a tough time communicating as I finished blinding him, cut his tongue out and cut his hands off.”

      Harry’s eyes widened his Da may be rough with him but he didn’t easily put hands on Io, “He was the one that got all handsy with Pin. Doesn’t deserve to have hands no more” Harry said

      Penny glanced over at the man, and then away, he deserved what he got, he should have backed off the first time she cut him.

      Killian nodded stiffly, that was not a look he wanted on him, “Great of course ye did. One thing I can always trust ye to do, make sure they can never say a bloody word, never half ass it.” he rubbed his face, “Ye reign it in Crocodile, this is the last warning.”

      “Or what?” she asked in a dangerous dark tone that had Killian’s insides freezing.

      “Or yer off me ship Io. I love ya like yer my own, but ye are out of bloody control,” he said it softly giving her an apologetic look, “All the time with Cora has infected ye with the madness, and I'm tired of havin to pull ya back before ye become no better than Shere Khan.”

      She frowned lip curling at the scolding, “You want me to just let them hurt my crew without recourse?”

      “No, I want ye to use that bloody brain of yers,” he thumped her forehead lightly with his hook, “Now ye made a mess of me ship.”

      He stepped away from her and looked at his son, “Find the boy. Tear the Isle apart if ye have to but find him. And keep yer sister under control. Smee help me get the bodies me terrors didn't get to. Koga, get yer witch to patch them up. Gil, Pin down below deck. Neither ye to help them clean the mess they made.”

      “Yes Captain, ” Gil nodded moving Pin along towards Harry’s room, he’d get some water to clean them up in a little bit. Penny looked at Gil slightly alarmed, he couldn’t send Io away.

      “I’ll find him Da. Ye know I will” Harry assured watching Gil take Penny below.

      Koga looked at Io, “Boss?”

      “Go, it is fine my darling. I appreciate your help.”

      He nodded slowly but did as she asked, “You touch her again Hook and I'll rip your fucking throat out my Captain or not.”

      Killian looked at the tiger, “Then do more than stand there watching while she butchers like your father.”

      “You think I want to be skinned? Better those idiots for touching what they should have never touched than me.” Koga snorted walking away.

      “Hooligans and savages. My son is in a crew of hooligans and savages,” Killian sighed dropping the man he had dragged off the ship.

      “Sure it was wise to threaten the crocodile Captain?” Smee asked, he didn’t think Captain was wrong but the Crocodile frightened him.

      “No. It is unwise and I will likely be reaping the fruits of that decision for a long while. But there was no reason she needed to do all this.”

Chapter 36: The Kids are Not Alright (IoL: October)

      Io cracked her neck, jaw clenched to keep the fury in her chest, “You feeling better?” she asked looking at Harry as she kicked the limbs into a tidy little pile.

      “Not really, ye know I don’t like it when he’s mad at us. Maybe I went to far?” Harry asked kicking a few chunks off the side of the ship, “any ideas who our rat is?”

      “You were fine my dear,” Io offered, “He's mad at me not you. Better that way.” she shook her head trying to clear the anger, “He said boy, means younger, someone close to the ship. Since this is where she always is, has to be from the wharf.”

      “Too many of those hanging around off the bat,” Harry sighed grabbing the bucket and trying a rope to it before tossing it overboard to get water for cleaning the deck.  It wasn’t to clean but, it would work for getting the blood off.

      “True, but we can start near the ship and work outwards,” Io shrugged kicking arms off the deck.

      “Alright sounds like a plan but we better get this cleaned today before Da decides to hook us both” Harry said throwing the water onto deck. 

      “He touches me again today I’m stabbing your father, I hope you know this,” she huffed grabbing a deck brush. Leaning into it she paused, “He called me your sister.”

       “Well ye sort of are,” Harry shrugged, “We grew up together... and maybe wait till he’s drunk if yer gonna stab him.”

      “Yeah well obviously, he’s slower on swinging his hook thing when he’s drinking. Yeah but, he like never calls me your sister, then again he’s never threatened to kick me off the ship either. He fucking slapped me, I did kind of deserve it, but he fucking slapped me.”

      “We both did, he just didn’t slap me. Probably get mine when ye go home” Harry nodded

      “Fine we are both terrible misbehaving children but I was under the general... Nevermind, Killian is the one who let a bunch of 10 year olds kick the shit out of him all the time. He is trying for Dad of the Isle isn’t he.”

      “Um... well he’s better than what I hear about most” Harry said, “At least he makes sure we gets food.”

      “Yeah because we control the Barges, I can’t believe they thought we were all going to survive on one barge a month. And I know he’s a better dad than most.”

      “Who knows how they think over there” Harry shook his head grabbing a scrub brush.

      “We have one here, but I am pretty sure she thinks like we think,” Io scrubbed a clear spot on the deck and then cleaned the bottom of her boots before standing in the cleaner patch so she wouldn’t track blood everywhere, “Who knew you could get this much blood out of yellow bellies...”

      “I know, can’t believe that none of em are edible for Khan though seems a waste,” Harry chuckled.

      “Apparently cannibalistic tigers are picky on an Isle full of options,” Io rolled her eyes glancing up as she heard footsteps.

      “No I just don’t feel like picking up a disease,” Koga snorted coming on to the deck with Mimzy who looked worried, “Try Harry’s room. I’ll help them clean up here, I helped make the mess.”

      “You remember where the soap is?” Io asked ignoring his eye roll as he went to grab the rest of the supplies, “Mimzy stand by the door to below, leave Gil and Penny a little more time to calm down. We’ll go together.”

      Mimzy nodded looking over the mess as she skirted around the blood, “Sure thing Io.”

      “Koga go grab a mop would ye,” Harry said scrubbing a wider section.

      Koga tossed the bottle of soap to Io mop already in his paws, “Way ahead of you Hook. Faster we can clean up the faster we can check on the kids.”

      “Something tells me she ain’t bouncing back from this one like the last one” Harry said getting up to get more water.

      “She wouldn’t. This shit is normal for us, her not so much I feel like. I could feel her shaking with every scream you two wrung out of em,” Koga snorted mopping up the excess blood and water as Io scrubbed the deck clean.

      “Odd you would be so protective over her.”

      “Well she smells like you, was wrapped up in both your jackets, and I don’t know, you were acting like Dr. Frank over there. Much for me as it was for them, to keep outta your way.”

      “I should have taken them below” Harry shook his head, “she smells like Io?”

      “Don't ask,” Io grumbled knowing exactly what he was talking about, “Don't eat her.”

      Koga grinned, “Make me a deal.”

      “Don't eat her and I won't slit your throat.” Io growled.

      “Come on Koga one pretty lamb isn't worth it...” Mimzy pouted.

      “Joking Crocodile, I was joking.” Koga cringed.

      “Good cause I’d kill you if she won’t,” Harry eyed Koga, “after all this nobody’s taken that girl from us”

      “Good thing I ain't nobody,” He growled black lips curling in dislike, “And I ain't gonna eat her unless she asks, that's the rule.”

      “Damn right it is,” Io muttered as they finished scrubbing the blood and bits off the deck. “Alright down to our lambs. Mind if I borrow a shirt Harry?” she looked down at her soaked one, it looked like she had been swimming in blood alright. Cleaning up downstairs was clearly a must.

-*-

      Gil sat Penny on the bed running his fingers through her hair for a few minutes, “You sure you're ok Pin?” he asked

      “Its funny, I couldn’t remember the words to the tune in my head for the last few days. But while he was... groping at me the words came back to my head.” she said blinking.

      “I know I think of weird things when I don’t want to think about what’s going on” Gil assured, “I’ll go get some water, so we can get cleaned up” 

      “Ok...he won't really send her away will he?” she asked Gil as he opened the door.

      “Captain says things some time when he’s mad or when he’s had too much to drink. Io been around as long as harry I think” Gil assured he wasn’t really sure what the Captain would do, but he would take care of Pin even if Io did go away for awhile.

 

      Gil couldn’t seem to make it out of the room to get what they needed to clean up. But he figured someone would bring it down eventually, Penny had crawled into Gil’s lap after he’d tried to leave. He knew she wasn’t ok but after that first few comments she had gone silent.

      Mimzy knocked on the door before opening it, “The others will be in soon, Io's washing up a touch with Harry. They are bringing some clean water for you two.” Koga eased behind her and settled down on the clothes pile.

      “See told you captain wouldn’t send Io away” Gil tried to smile at Penny. She gave him a twitch of a smile before hiding her face in his neck. He sighed and started playing with her hair absentmindedly.

      Io and Harry eased into the room a few minutes later, the latter setting a bucket down while Io pulled her shirt over her head. Koga dug around the pile and tossed a shirt at Io. She pulled it on, not caring it was white. A gesture behind her and Mimzy silently started wiping the blood off Penny and Gil with the rag on the bucket. 

      Mimzy started humming softly under her breath as she worked not liking the tense silence filling the cabin. She smiled softly as Io and Koga started humming along. As Io and Koga hummed she sung the words softly, she couldn't remember where she heard it, but in quiet like this it was the only one that came to mind.

      Penny flinched a little at Mimzy’s touch, before stilling at her eyes focused on Mimzy. 

      “You're ok, promise” Gil said as Mimzy wiped his face off. He offered Harry his dopey smile trying to be reassuring.

      Harry nodded at Gil cleaning himself up, he pulled on one of his shirts from the floor. “Koga see if there's a new shirt for princess in that pile somewhere” Harry requested moving over to stand on Gil’s side watching Penny’s face.

      Koga nodded rooting around for a moment before he pulled out a black shirt, “Here Harry,” he tossed the fabric at the male and leaned back as Io moved closer to her soft lambs.

      Mimzy smiled softly, “It’s alright sweetie, it is all over now. It’s all over and not a one of them will hurt you or Gil again. May I look at your arm?” 

      Penny nodded as Gil helped her slide both jackets off her shoulders. Harry held the shirt out to Gil, he wasn’t sure how the princess would respond to him getting to close right now.

      “Pin...Harry got ya a new shirt” Gil tried to get her a say something.

      Penny nodded looking at her hands were they sat in her lap, “That’s good,” she mumbled.

      Mimzy looked at Io, at the cold blank mask she wore, a shell of the Crocodile when the madness had run its course. Turning away she slid her hands in Penny’s and held them softly, “Did you know I met Io when we were 11? It took me a few years to realize she and Harry weren’t brother and sister, because the two of them just worked so well together, like pieces of a clock. By the time I realized they weren’t siblings I realized I was a part of that proverbial clock, Koga and Gil were pieces too. We all moved as one, depending on one another to keep functioning properly. When you came here that clock fell out of sync, we stuttered and choked, fighting one another in the effort to keep moving. But today all those pieces suddenly came back together, because of you Penny. It was by far not ideal but you put us back together. And I know when all this is a distant memory your going to realize that this place, this damaged world we live in, this is the place where you came together with us. You bled for the crew, and that makes you family. For all our faults, and madness, we are family.”

      “Haven’t been a real part of one of those for what feel like a long time” Penny siad , “What part of the clock am I?” she let her mind drift a little similar to how she had been bedazzled by the dragon at the coronation.

      “You're the...um” Gil looked at Harry for help.

      “She’s the ...second hand?” Harry looked between Mimzy and Io.

      Mimzy giggled, “Io is the heart of the clock that keeps us all moving, Harry is the Hour hand, Koga the Minutes, Gil is the piece that makes the birdie sing, I’m like the little winding bit, so yeah Penny is the perfect second hand.”

      Io snorted, “You are definitely the winding bit alright Z...”

      “Only cause I’m not much help unless someone needs a pick me up,” She shrugged not minding the looks, “So that means you’ll have us then Penny, you’ll have us all as family?”

      “It's a very different family” Penny nodded looking at each of them, her eyes stopping on Koga, “What with brother fluffy over there” she tried to joke. Gil gave her a laugh, as Harry rolled his eyes.

      “Didn’t want to scare you pipsqueak,” Koga grumbled eyes narrowing as he unfolded himself from the pile and came over dropping down onto the bed, “Did we have to get such a scrawny little sister?” he poked her shoulder with a knuckle not sure she would like the claws this soon after what happened.

      “Beggars can’t be choosers,” Mimzy brushed his hand away to look over the wound, “And you are choosy enough about your food.”

      “Never stopped our Crocodile from finding me food, or forcing me to eat some cooked shit.”

      “Full raw diet may work for your dad, but you are half human, suck it up,” Io rolled her eyes, “Mimzy wrap her arm up then let’s get our Stickpin into something clean.” 

      “What exactly...” Penny tilted her head trying to put together what she was trying to ask.

      “Trust me Princess ye don’t want the answer” Harry shook his head, even he didn’t want to know what Koga ate more of the time.

      She rubbed some thick yellow paste over the wound on Penny’s arm and wrapped it up in some pink fabric finishing it was a tidy little bow and a wistful smile, “So pretty... right clean shirt, Koga, Harry, Gil be nice boys and cover your eyes.”

      Koga shook his head, “You remember we’ve all seen her naked right?”

      “That was different,” She flicked him in the nose, “Now cover your eyes or your my next art project.”

      Gil covered his eyes with both hands acting like a goof of purpose... at least Harry thought it was on purpose as he closed his own eyes. 

      Once all their eyes were covered Penny slowly lifted her arm to pull the one sleeve off tossing the shirt to the floor off the side of the bed. She winced a little as she pulled on the new shirt, she had hit a few people a little hard on her flee though the crowds earlier.

      This shirt of much bigger than the other one being for Harry now as opposed to Harry a few years ago, it pooled around her waist.

      “Can I look now?” Gil asked, “Or are we playing a game?”

      “You can look” Penny said softly.

      Io gathered the shirt all to one side and tied it shorter, “Thank you Mimzy.”

      “Sure thing Io,” she smiled softly, “Harry?”

      “What” Harry asked as he played with Gil’s bandana trying to get it on him right... or at least that was what he would claim.

      “You mind if we all curl up on your bed? I think Pin and Io could use family time at least until bedtime.”

      Family time was what Mimzy called it when she wanted to make sure everyone was going to be okay. Family time had lasted almost an entire day the last time Io had snapped, but Mimzy had seen the mark on her cheek. They all knew Io was leaving for home at night fall, give everyone on the ship to cool their heels.

      “Yeah it fine by me” Harry nodded pushing on Gil’s shoulder. The blond flopped down in the middle of the bed pulling Penny with him. She squeaked at the change of position and then flicked him in the nose. He smiled at her with a laugh.

      Koga grunted as Gil’s head thumped into his belly, “Brat,” he huffed lifting his shoulders as Mimzy slipped under him, “Come crawl in Crocodile.” 

      “Get settled and I will find a place to fit,” She looked over them possessively, cold emotionless eyes scouring over the tangle of limbs on the bed, they were hers all hers and she had done what was necessary to make sure this Isle knew that they belonged to her.

      Harry watched Io for a second, he wanted to hold Gil right now, but he’d settle for just holding his hand if she wanted to cuddle him again. But, he got the feeling she probably wanted to be close to the princess this time. He sat down pulling his boots off before curling up being Gil wrapping an arm around his waist.

      “You know you're skin is kinda soft” Gil told Koga.

      Mimzy grinned, “You should pet him, he’s all fuzzy.”

      “Like a cat only bigger” Penny nodded.

      “Gilly if he bites off yer fingers for petting him like house cat I’m not helping ye get them back” Harry muttered into Gil’s neck.

      “Yes Harry” Gil nodded yawning a little.

      At Koga's gesture Io crawled into the bed pulling Penny to her chest as she rested her head on Koga's chest. His thick arm pulled around her and his hand settled on Penny's waist.

      “We're all safe now Io,” Mimzy smiled seeing her settling down with them.

 

      Gil let his hold on Penny slack as Io pulled her close to her. He felt her catch his fingers and offered her small smile with his eyes closed. He liked times like this where they were all together.

      Harry reached down the bed untangling Io’s jacket from his own. Pulled her jacket up and leaned across Gil to put it over the crocodile and princess.

      Io gave him a small smile at the gesture. Hers, her little cluster of family was okay. Eventually she would be okay too, no matter how long it took. She let herself hold them tight until the night started to fall. Most of them were fast asleep, and Io pressed a kiss to Penny's forehead as Koga lifted his arm letting her go before settling it back in place on the princess.

 

      She eased across the deck and up to the roofs of the wharf a silent wraith in the gathering shadows. As she eased into her room her father was sitting on the bed cane between his knees.

      “I heard the screams,” he stated, “Saw the bodies Killian and Smee dragged off, or what was left whole of those men.”

      “Snatchers came on the Jollyroger while it was just Gil and the Princess on board. They touched what is mine, tried to defile my crew,” the words were savage from the lingering rage in her, “So I put an end to their touching. Someone close to the ship told them about my princess, when I-”

      “You'll do what? Savage them as well?” he stood slowly and tilted her chin, “One of them hit you?”

      “Killian when I was being lippy. He threatened to kick me off the Jollyroger.”

      “He did what? Hitting my daughter,” her father seethed and Io saw the familiar flickers of rage in him, “I should take his other damn hand from him!”

      “And you were just chastising me about my anger issues Papa,” Io lifted a brow at him.

      Rumple’s mouth closed and he took a deep breath, “Yes dearie, I suppose, I suppose you did get that from me. Come here my dear.”

      Io went into his embrace pressing her face into his neck desperately trying to feel, “I'm sorry I upset you Papa.”

      “It is alright Darlene, you did what you thought was necessary. But make no mistake you will be staying here, a slip here and there, but the bloodbath you made today was too much, too far. Do you understand? I want you here, with me, until you are back to yourself.”

      “You also want me away from Killian.”

      “You're damn right I do,” he huffed into her hair, “Disciplining my daughter. Now into the shower, clean up and go to bed. I want you weaving metal and spinning wool all day tomorrow.”

      “Yes Papa...”

-*-

      Penny sat on the steps leading up to where the wheel was, Gil sitting behind her running a mostly broken comb through her hair. He wanted to try and twist it into braids like the rope on deck.

      “Lot of help ye lot are” Harry wiped sweat from his face.

      “Sorry Harry but Captain said you have to do the chores on your own if Io ain’t here” Gil shrugged, “If we help you and he catches us you have to do them all again and you have to stay in his room again. I don’t think you want to sleep in your old bed again”

      “He won’t know, how about you Pin? Help poor Harry out” Harry asked looking at the girl. She was still so quiet, where were the never ending questions or her chattering with Gil.

      “Seems like a bad idea” she shook her head looking off at the gangplank hoping Io would appear.

      Killian looked the kids over the Dark One’s daughter hadn’t appeared yet and there was a part of him that worried he was the reason behind that. He knew his words had been a hard pill for her to swallow, and his actions were mostly justified, but that did not make him feel any less guilty about it. All she knew was this place, no matter how hard he and Rumple tried to keep raising Harry and Io like they were normal kids on a normal island it was clear they were fighting a losing battle with the girl. She had all of her father’s vices and then some, the cold monster behind the wild grin of teeth was a ruthless heartless thing. That was the thing he had found on his ship, a heartless beast using pain inflicted to her crew as an excuse. His son focusing his anger on just one man who had tried to force himself on Gil. 

      “Back to work Harry. If our Crocodile isn’t planning on showing up today ye do the work for both of ye’s,” he stated loud enough for them to hear as he spun an orange in his hand to relieve his own tension.

      “Da come on the decks spotless, can’t I be done for the day,” Harry asked looking at his father, he never thought he’d be stuck doing all the chores, where the hell was the Crocodile.

      “Sure decks are clean, are the rest of yer chores and hers done?” Killian asked trying not to let his son know he was just as concerned that she wasn’t here yet.

      “Decks scrubbed and swept, crows nest is cleaned out, ropes are checked and tied off” Harry listed.

      “You didn’t polish,” Gil said without much thought.

      “Gilly... shut yer gob,” Harry’s eye twitched he hated that polish.

      “Well looks like Gil is right. Now get ta polishin me ship.”

      “Gilly you can sleep on the floor,” Harry muttered as he passed him to get the polish.

      “But Harry it’s cold on the floor,” Gil pouted looking at him.

Chapter 37: The Run (IoL: October 31st)

      Io rubbed her face taking a deep breath as she perched on the roof of her New Wonderland warehouse. Despite things being all up in the air from their current issues on the ship from the traitor to the flag, nothing stopped the Run. The morning of the Run the Isle descended into silence. There was no one on the streets, as those with children talked them through what was happening that night. She had lucked out. Her deal would hold the line, keeping her wharf safe from the Isle’s actual problematic big bad. It would help keep the princess safe, protect her from the real horror here.

      Koga landed softly on the roof beside her, “We should get to the ship. Our black witch is headed that way already.”

      “Yeah we should, come on then,” Io nodded pushing herself up to standing, “Shere all good?”

      “Dad? Yeah he’s fine, will be better when this is over.” He followed after her as they dropped onto the street heading towards the ship.

      “There ye two are, da’s all in a tizzy” Harry nodded to them from his place sitting on the dock.

      “This doesn’t surprise me,” Io sighed.

      Killian stood on the deck looking down at the kids, he hated this day of the year. There was nothing he could do to protect them. 

      “Been making me do all yer chores as well as me own,” Harry glanced up at the deck before looking back at Io, “How are we doing this tonight? Ye think think our newest little one will be able to handle herself”

      “Well your dad and I needed some cooling off time,” she shrugged looking him over, “You look fine. As for our lamb, no. She isn’t ready but there is no choice. The only positive is that the wharf isn’t going to be invaded this year. At least not by them. I make no promises about the H-towners.”

      “Evil those kids are creepy,” Harry crossed his arms with a sneer, “Do ye have a plan fer dealing with them?”

      “With them, best to not try and figure out a way to deal with them. Especially since they start arguing about whose idea is the best.”

      Koga shifted and looked over his shoulder, “We should prep her at least. Especially since she just recovered from your butchering episode. Mostly at least.”

      “Aye, she’s trying ta not let it bother her. But I suppose she can’t be use ta that much blood shed. Gilly manges ta calm her sleep enough she ain’t keeping us awake,” Harry scratched at the back of his neck.

      “With luck there will be less blood tonight. But there will be screaming, lots of screaming.” Koga shook his head looking over his shoulder, “She’s here.”

      “Are you back?” Penny looked at Io as she followed Gil down the gangplank to Harry’s side. She had missed the certainty that the other girl seemed to bring with her, she didn’t like not having her around.

      “For now yes,” Io watched her, she had no idea what was going on.

      “I have a full stock with me, and setters just in case,” Mimzy rushed as she tucked herself to Koga’s side.

      Koga rubbed his knuckles on her arm, “I won’t let them touch you little bird.”

      “Excellent, with luck we won’t need the setters but glad you brought them anyway. Just in case we run into kids that need it.” Io nodded.

      Penny looked between all the others, something was going on. They were all acting odd, when they acted odd nothing good happened.

      “Are we gonna hide this year?” Gil asked softly.

      “We can try. My warehouse is safe enough, but with our new lamb we won’t be patrolling the outskirts of the wharf like usual.”

      Koga sighed, “Better than patrol.”

      “I don’t mind patrol, means I have all sorts of customers tomorrow.” Mimzy beamed up at him with a smile.

      “What’s going on?” Penny asked finally in confusion.

      “It’s the Run,” Harry looked at her, “Ye lose track of days?”

      “The Run?” Penny looked at Io.

      She raised a brow, “Well clearly you have never had the pleasure. The Run happens every year on the last day of October.” 

      Koga looked at her, “Seriously you don’t have the Run out there? That’s bullshit.” he growled in annoyance, “We have about six more hours before we have to really worry.”

      Mimzy bit her lip, “So, basically we get chased by legit monsters from dusk till dawn in the most high stakes game of tag imaginable.”

      “Oh... huh, we tend to just mark the end of October with candy and costumes” Penny nodded, taking Gil’s hand.

      “Candy? Costumes, we have ta fight fer our lives and they are having a party,” Harry rolled his eyes.

      “Fucking figures.” Io grumbled, the more she heard about the Mainland the more she wanted to claim it. Free her crew and her people from this fairy made hellscape.

      “So what exactly are we doing besides what sounds like a terrifying night,” Penny winced, the more she learned the more she realized how much Jay had kept from her. She knew he was trying to protect her, but that dark voice in the back of her head whispered he wasn’t here; all his bull shit about protecting her wasn’t worth anything if he wasn’t here.

      “Collecting supplies enough to bunker down tonight in my warehouse. We shouldn’t have to worry much about the Children but the H-Towners aren’t exactly restricted tonight.”

      Mimzy’s nose crinkled, “Really I don’t want to have to deal with them...”

      “No one likes having to deal with them, but you know this is their day of the year.”

      “H-Towners?” Penny asked, “Do you guys mean Halloweentown?”

      “You know um?” Koga asked, “Cause they are a bunch of dicks.”

      “Lock, Shock, and Barrel, the H-towners. They are always an issue out on the bad side of town, but they are particularly bad today. All day.” Io rolled a shoulder, “We should get moving, don’t want to get caught unprepared.”

      “Yeah, the ones on the mainland are super into halloween. It’s a huge party in their town.”

      “What do we need to get?” Gil asked.

      “We splitting up ta get stuff or staying together?” Harry asked standing.

      “Staying together. I’m not taking any risks. We need to pick up more water, food and building supplies. Never hurts to lay some traps just in case.”

      “Food and water first,” Koga stated, “If we get to the traps we get to the traps. If not we are armed.”

      Mimzy nodded, “We can go down to the shore. Koga can get us some fish hopefully while we get sea water and boil it down.”

      “If not we can slide into the woods and hunt some. Any questions?”

      “Naw, let’s get going,” Harry put an arm around Gil. He twitched as his eyes landed on Gil still holding the princess hand. Sure, she had helped but he still wasn’t sure he liked her too much.

      She led them off the dock and towards the shore, her eyes flickering back and forth looking for trouble. Today was not the day to be taking unnecessary risks. Traitor or not the silence was always so unsettling and her teeth were on edge waiting for an attack.

      Gil hopped down turning and grabbed Penny around the waist listing her down off the dock.

      Koga sniffed the air leading them to a cleaner patch of beach, “I’ll be in the water.” he was not a fan of them burning stuff, but he knew it was necessary.

      Mimzy nodded routing around their hidden cache for a bucket and their flint and steel, “We will take care of things here Koga. Be safe.”

      “So are we having a bonfire thing?” Penny asked, curling under Gil's arm.

      “We’ll have a fire” Harry shrugged to her before pulling Gilly to his side making her stumble to stay at his side.

      “Fire to boil the salt out of the water, Captain taught us how they used to do it when they were on the sea,” Io explained as she grabbed the rest of what she needed to get fresh water out of the sea water. “Bonfires are pointless to us.”

      “I figured they were, I just wasn’t sure exactly what we were doing,” Penny explained, chewing her lip.

      “We said we needed food and water,” Mimzy’s eyes narrowed at the girl, “I know you have a working set of ears. Fresh water here is hard to come by, and we pirates tend to be the only ones that know how to make it.”

      “And then we turn it into rum.” Io smirked.

      “I was just trying to figure out how it all goes together,” Penny crossed her arms.

      "Bucket of water over fire, repurposed broken umbrella over that and the metal bits into flasks," Io explained gesturing as Mimzy set things up.

      “Like a rain collector,” Penny nodded

      "We have those too just on a few rooves to keep the water kinda clean. But this let's us make use of the sea water, which is cleaner... maybe?" Io shrugged, "It's clear and that is half the battle really. Harry you want to light up the kindling? I am going to try and find us more drift wood. Gil walk the beach and see if you can find any seafood."

      “Right, I’ll see if I can find any of the shells with food in um” Gil nodded as Harry pulled away to work on the fire, “Is Pin coming with me?” he looked at Io.

      "No. I want her where she is. Mimzy go with Gil. Harry watch the lamb." Io ordered, if it was bugging her first mate so she was going to try and clip it in the bud. 

      “Aye Crocodile,” Harry nodded, guess he was on princess watch, “Pin come ‘ere” he waved her over. Might as well teach her something.

      Mimzy trotted after Gil down the beach, at least this way she could look for rare mosses and plants.

      Io watched them for a beat before heading the other direction near the underside of the docks where things would catch and cling.

      Penny kneeled down next to Harry listening as he told her about the flint and how to use it.

      Koga pulled himself out of the water and tossed a few fishes onto the shore shaking himself off, "Everyone else head to get more supplies?"

      “Gil and Mimzy are looking for shellfish, Io went to look for wood. I think” Penny supplied as she and Harry fanned the small flames.

      "Right," Koga rung his shirt out, "We need more food?"

      "No that should be okay. Help me with these logs." Io huffed dragging a large branch with her.

      Koga sighed and wandered over to her grabbing the branch out of her hands, "Give me the heavy shit," he grumbled dragging it along.

      “Break some of that smaller stuff up Pin” Harry ordered.

      “Ok” she nodded going over to pull out a few thinner dry sticks.

      Io patted Koga's back, "Thanks kitten."

      "Yeah whatever Crocodile." Koga nodded as he watched the small fire, "Couple of fish we can cook off on a hot stone, will be enough for tonight at least."

      She nodded, "After we get the water sorted. I'll work on cleaning them."

      Harry took the twigs from Penny tossing them on the fire to help it grow.

      Io crouched pulling the blade and looked the fish over. Taking a deep breath she made short work of cleaning the fish. It was a smell she really was not a fan of, but it had to be done.

      “That smell never gets any better” Harry grumbled sitting back.

      "It really doesn't, but it has to be done. You can't cook this stuff with the guts in. Guts make good bait for bigger fish anyway." She wiped the blade onto some seaweed and pushed herself to standing. Koga had headed back the way she came collecting more wood for the fire and she watched him work for a moment before going to the water line to wash her hands clean.

      Penny looked over at Io having watched the fish gutting, it smelled terrible but it was a useful skill to know.

      "Something interesting little lamb?" Io directed at the Princess who was watching her every move. 

      “It smells awful but it's a useful skill is all I was thinking.” she shrugged.

      "Learning to skin and gut animals is a way to survive here. Sell the guts to Ursula so she can catch more fish. Pelts you can sell to everyone, bones to Black Magic alley and keep the meat and main organs to eat." She explained heading back over to start descaling the fish. "I showed you the horrors on this Isle to open your eyes. Tonight will be worse than that. But it only happens once a year, tonight is hopefully the only time you will have to go through it."

      “You guys are gonna be here though right” she asked chewing her lip

      "Every child able to run has to participate." Io looked at her, "Means we all have been doing it for years. You are my crew, this crew never leaves a man behind."

      “Ye’ll be fine, just listen ta Crocodile,” Harry looked at her, “Gilly won't let anything get to ye.”

      “And you won't let anything happen to Gil” Penny nodded. 

      "Of course he won't, Gil is his. Like Mimzy is Koga's and the whole crew is mine." Io flipped the fish, "Point is you listen. Today is not the day for doing anything but what I tell you to, your safety depends on it. Not to mention your being alive as you are now."

      She looked between then and nodded, she could do this, it was just one night.

      "Good." Io knew she was putting pressure on the girl who was still wary of them, wary of her. Not that she blamed her, she was a monster when she needed to be and her soft hearts had trouble stomaching that.

      Koga crouched down looking them over, it seemed so surreal sometimes. When they were out here on the beach the day of the Run it didn't feel real. He let out a soft growl and olive green flicked to him a silent look over before the pretty face split into a wicked grin. He smirked in reply, they would be fine then. Pulling his own knife he started shaving the driftwood down into bite sized logs for the fire currently drying him off.

 

      “We found some shells with meat,” Gil smiled as he came back to them.

      Mimzy shook her head, he had talked non stop about the Princess while they walked, "Caught some crawfish too." She held up a plastic bag full of the spoils.

      “Oh goodie” Harry smirked putting an arm around Gil.

      “Gonna make sure we are all restocked,” Gil smiled.

      "Thanks you two. Water is almost ready to boil." Io gestured taking the flat rock Koga handed her and set it under the flasks. "Mimzy clean those out so we can cook um once the water is done."

      "Sure thing." She nodded getting to work as the boys held each other and watched. The sun was slowly crawling across the sun and it made her skin tingle with anticipation for the coming night.

      Koga shifted closer to Mimzy watching her work, "You alright little bird?"

      "Just worried. I hate tonight as much as the chase excites me. They have been having a harder time collecting kids, it's only a matter of time before he leaves his comfort zone again." She kept her voice low as she worked, "He nearly unalived her the last time."

      "It's been 4 years, she is stronger than she was back then. More blood thirsty too. I got faith in her, she won't yield to him or anyone else sides Captain. If it comes to that again, she'll hold him back just like before." Koga tried to reassure her as he helped her clean the shellfish. "How's Madame Mim holding up?"

      "Mom hates that she has to send me out. Said it's a waste of her work, a pointless risk. But she rather not deal with the Children herself without real magic."

      "Dad's the same way, pissed off every run having to send his only living cub out. Its whatever, he doesn't realize the Children ain't so tough to deal with when you stick around a pirate crew."

      “We’ll be ok” Gil twisted his fingers in Harry's jacket as they sat. His dad wouldn’t care about him being taken.

      “Yeah Gilly just stay together,” Harry nodded, trying to sooth him. His da would hide them all way if he could, take on every thing on his own. But he couldn’t risk the rest of the crew.

      "You have me Gil darling," Io smiled softly stoking the fire, "I have never and will never allow them to take what is mine. No matter what it costs, I will keep my crew safe."

      Koga purred softly at the words, "We look after one another. Keep each other safe, just like every run before. We do what we can to save as many as we can just this one night of the year."

      "Whether we like them or not tomorrow." Mimzy added firmly, "We have a duty to keep the Children from over running the Isle. There is no one but our Crocodile left to stop them. And we follow the Crocodile of the Jollyroger until undeath do us part."

      “Right just one night,” Gil nodded, “We will be ok”

      "We will be." Io affirmed eyes on her new lamb. It was just one night, one night to keep her safe from horrors unlike any other on the Isle.

      Gil gave Io a small smile before pulling Penny into his side.

 

      Mimzy dusted her hands off as Io capped the last flask of water, "Now where to? Looks like we have another few hours of daylight before the Run starts."

      "We clean up here then head to my warehouse. Should be able to settle in there before anything happens." Io knew that the sun didn't have to be down for the H-towners to start their mayhem. And as much as she wanted to believe last year had scared them off her turf for good, she had a bad feeling.

      “Right then lets pack it up then” Harry nodded getting ready to kick sand over the fire.

      Koga hefted all the flasks up as the others bustled around cleaning things up. He sniffed the air and nodded, still smelled clear. The sulfur scent building but not enough to worry yet.

      Gil picked up a container of fish with a small smile.

      Harry stomped out the fire watching Gilly and the princess.

      Io and Mimzy tucked everything back into their hidey holes and followed after them off the beach. Io moved to the head of the group hand on her blade as the unease continued to build, there was something wrong and she wanted to get them off the streets as soon as possible. 

      Gil pulled Penny between him and Harry. He didn’t like what he was feeling, he could tell by the way Crocodile was holding herself that something was off.

      Koga shifted uneasily, “Stay close little bird.”

      She moved closer to him nervously, “You can feel it too?”

      “Yeah Crocodile is on edge. She’s rushing to get us to cover.”

 

      She pushed open the door to her warehouse and twisted out of the way of a swinging hammer aimed at her head. Grabbing it on the back swing she fixed her eyes on the three not quite teenagers sitting on her crates. “Was last year not warning enough?”

      Barrel laughed, “But it’s Halloween Crocodile. You know we can’t resist.”

      “It’s our favorite thing to play tricks,” Lock nodded his devil mask dangling from one hand as Shock rolled her eyes.

      “And you're the easiest target with your new recruit. We hear she’s mute,” Shock rocked back and forth kicking her legs.

      “Let’s play a game and see if she can still scream,” Barrel slid his skeleton mask back on, “It will be fun.”

      Io backed up slightly as she pulled her blades from her belt, “I swear if you rigged my warehouse I will skin all three of you alive.”

      Lock cleared his throat and pulled his devil mask on as Shock pulled her witch mask on, “Come on Crocodile don’t be like that, it’s just some Halloween fun.”

      Gil pulled Penny behind him, he wasn’t gonna let something happen to her again. Penny let Gil move her around, keeping her mouth shut.

      Io glared at them and flipped one of her blades around before throwing it at Lock. The devil H-Towner dodged and shook a finger at her.

      "Now Crocodile, we are going to have some fun. Appease Mr. Oogie Boogie you know, got to give the real King of Halloween his favorite games."

      Shock leapt across the floor, "Cause no one here is afraid of the pretty little Crocodile," she leaned back on her heels blowing a raspberry behind her witch mask, squealing in delight as Io slashed at her.

      "I'm going to unalive you," she hissed eyes flickering over the ground, "Jollyrogers to arms, watch your footing we got traps." She stepped over the tripwire watching the way the three intruders moved.

      Koga sighed, this was such a pain in the ass. He stepped back looking around before tucking as many flasks in his pockets as he could, the rest he handed to Mimzy before he tried to scale the side of the warehouse.

      Barrel flipped a switch and grinned as Koga let out a yowl of pain followed by a hard thump, "No cheating Tiger boy."

      "Says the three who always cheat," Mimzy snapped as she held Koga back up, examining his hands, "Electricity?"

      "Yeah, I'll be fine," he pulled away shaking out his stinging hands, his pride more hurt than he was.

      Lock snickered, "You've got to play the games, it's no fun if you just climb over them all."

      Harry moved to the other side of Io scowling at the three intruders. He could feel Gil moving behind him getting ready to help as needed.

      Penny swallowed, going up tended to be her best move for getting out of the middle of shit, if she couldn’t go up then she wasn’t sure what to do. Her hand went to the scraper tucked into her belt.

      "Well come on don't be shy," Barrel jumped back as Io headed towards him on cautious steps.

      Shy was the opposite of her mood at the moment. The rage simmering in her blood. How dare they invade her warehouse just to play their stupid little games. She sidestepped as a bear trap snapped shut as she strayed too close to where it was buried under the hard pack dirt floor.

      Mimzy bit her lips trying to stay as close to Koga as she could. Actual traps were not her idea of a good time. Koga helped her over to the desk checking it over so she could at least drop her things off. A bolt embedding itself into the wall beside her head making her slowly turn to look at Shock who had a small crossbow in her hands, “You must be joking.”

      Gil reached back pulling Penny to his back, his eyes never leaving the three masked kids.

      Lock looked at the two hovering by the door, “Sun’s going down. You know in the long run, it’s safer in here than it’s about to be out there,” he grinned, “You can almost feel him coming, feel them moving, pressing against their confinement.”

      “Unless you want to get snatched up by them?” Shock moved closer to the door ready to pull it closed.

      “Gilly” Harry growled motioning behind him for Gil to come to his side.

      “Keep an eye out where you are stepping,” Io reminded trying to pick her way to Barrel.

      Gil looked at the ground trying to see any spots that didn’t look right. He didn’t think he liked this game.

      Penny tapped Gil's side as she spotted a pattern of disturbed dirt.

      Barrel backed up a little more as Io pulled another knife, “Shock... How many knives does she have?”

      “I don’t know. You’re the one who was supposed to count.”

      “I was busy burying the traps,” he whined, jumping as he nearly tripped a trap.

      “Ye lot should have found somewhere else ta play,” Harry growled spinning his hook.

      Lock stepped back and grabbed his pitch fork, “But you guys are fun to play with.”

      “I don’t like how they play Harry,” Gil whined as he jumped away from a trap as it snapped at him.

      "No one likes how they play," Mimzy hissed gripping her needles, "If your going to shut the door Lock I would suggest doing it. Otherwise they are just going to come waltzing in."

      "I swear you pirates get less fun every year," Lock huffed as he lunged and shut the door with his pitch fork.

      Barrel shrieked holding up his bat in defense as Io's knife came slashing towards him. "This is not my kind of fun!" He tumbled back over another trap and Io jerked back as a rusty piece of metal snapped up between them.

      Io snorted angrily, there was so much shit to unassemble when she was done evicting the three pests. Carefully she shoved the metal sheet back towards where it had been tucked away, "You're pissing me off Barrel." She stepped over the trigger and loomed over the skeleton mask toting male, "You run from me and I will gut you like a pig."

      Barrel gulped and bolted up and over traps as Shock took a shot at Crocodile's head. The other girl slashed the bolt away, eyes flickering ice blue, "Tactical retreats are not running."

      Penny watched around Gil's back listening, retreat was exactly running.

      “Ye keep yer mouth sealed, Pin,” Harry warned he could just feel her eyes, and he wasn’t stupid he knew if she was looking she was thinking.

      "Oh does the mute talk?" Lock asked bounding over another set of traps moving closer to the girl and Gil, "Scream even?"

      Gil turned, looking at him tensing, getting ready for a fight.

      Lock jabbed at Gil and Pin with his pitchfork, and smirked, “Watch your footing big boy, Every step could hurt you.”

      Gil smacked the pitchfork away as he stepped back.

      Penny followed Gil, her eyes flickering down every few seconds.

      “Pin watch out!” Mimzy shouted as Shock leveled her crossbow at the girl.

      Koga was slowly picking his way across the floor, dodging bear traps, metal sheets, swinging hammers and blades. The H-towners made traps out of anything and everything they could get their hands on, and were the Isle’s biggest pain in the ass. 

      “Not there,” Penny hissed at Gil, making him take a slightly wider step, a spike springing out of the ground between his legs.

      Shock fired bolt flying at the girl not paying attention. 

      Penny stumbled back as the bolt clipped her arm. She spun trying to keep her feet under her.

      “I swear I said something,” Mimzy huffed hopping onto the table not wanting anything to do with the games as Io was moving like a rabid alley cat. Picking her way through various traps on a mission to evict the H-towners by forcing them back out the doors.

      Io shifted across the floor leaping over a live electrical wire rushing towards Barrel. She was going to shove them out of her warehouse one way or another.

      “Pin you good?” Gil looked at her as she jumped up on a crate.

      “I think so” she nodded

      Lock gasped, “She talks! Shock she talks.”

      “Oh really is that what that was? You idiot Lock, I heard her.”

      Barrel skittered closer to the door, he was just about done with trying to play with Crocodile. “Can one of you help me with her?”

      Shock rolled her eyes, “Really you are having trouble with her?”

      Lock snickered moving towards Gil and Harry, “It’s just Crocodile, she shouldn’t be too bad.”

      Koga grabbed Shock and she shrieked as he threw her into the now closed door. “Fuck off, shoot at my witch again and I will maw you.”

      Shock cringed picking herself up slowly, “Ow... you really going to beat up a little girl.” when he growled, “Okay fair enough, you don’t care about that.”

      “Be a good pest and get yer ass out of our territory” Harry snarled as Barrel swinging his hook at him. 

      “Leave her alone,” Gil growled at Lock.

      Barrel jerked back into Shock, “Tactical retreat?” he cringed looking at the hostile pirate crew in the building with them.

      Lock huffed jabbing at Penny one last time before he retreated to the door, jerking as a blade winged just passed his face, “Fine tactical retreat.” 

      Gil sighed, sagging a little; he didn’t like fighting, and at least no one seemed hurt.

      Io sighed watching them run, “And now we have a hot mess to clean up.”

      Mimzy hopped off the table, “You mean find all the traps they buried?”

      “Ain’t got any other plans for the night and Barrel left the switch for the electric wall outside so that will keep the Children out.” Koga offered holding the small switch.

      “You should probably stay there for a second Pin” Gil suggested

      “Sounds like a good idea,” Penny nodded, “And I wouldn’t step there.”

      Mimzy picked her way across the floor with her bag to Penny's side, "Let me see your arm."

      Io carefully unhooked one of the wires across the floor as a howl cut through the still air of the Isle. She stiffened and glanced through the cracks of the building, "Sundown." She stated, the Run had begun.

      Koga listened to doors opening knowing there were kids being shoved onto the streets. He closed his eyes and let out a slow breath, they could have fought, but the current state of their base and Io's new pet made that impossible. Koga glowered at the girl's back, she was useless, only good for bait at the moment.

      Penny let Mimzy see her arm, she looked up at the howl. That sounded big.

      "Its just the Children," Mimzy said camly rocking the girls arm around to be sure, "You'll hear much worse tonight. Just focus on helping us disarm the traps they put in. Then when we make a safe patch we can relax a little."

      Io dropped a length of chain down onto the ground. As she dragged it across the ground around her she set off more spikes and bear traps, "Koga check the rafters. We don't need any more drop down surprises."

      "On it," Koga nodded and climbed up one of the support beams to the rafters. The further away the better as he smelled the tensions in the building spike, the Run was on and they weren't ready because of the H-Towners.

      “Right... how are we taking care of them? Are we triggering them or trying to unbury them?” Penny asked.

      “Both. I think the in ground traps should be set off, the others we can probably just undo them without triggering anything.” Mimzy shrugged patting the girl on the head, “Now go help the others, I will start working on unhooking the trip wires.”

      Penny tossed a piece of scrap at then uneven patch jumping a little as the trap snapped on it.

      Gil followed her lead on how to deal with the traps, “You can see them?” he asked Penny.

      “Sort of, I can see where the dirt is disturbed,” she tossed a rock.

-*-

      Io swiped hair off her forehead as she tossed the last bear trap in the pile they had made. Her warehouse was finally cleared out even if they weren’t yet half through the Run. The night cut with low groans and the sounds of children screaming. She should have been out there. Saving those she could, but she couldn’t risk her prize, she couldn’t put the Princess of Auradon at risk. Koga was watching her as he sipped at one of the flasks before offering it to her silently.

      “I can skirt around and see if there is anyone close enough to save.” he offered softly.

      “We can’t risk it. She is too valuable.” 

      Koga scoffed, “For the end goal sure, but right now?” he left the words off but Io knew them anyway. They all felt the same except for Gil, who refused to be parted from the girl even under threat.

      She rubbed her knuckles against the soft short fur on his forearm, “Have a little patience my dear tiger, she’s still finding her footing here. If anyone makes it here looking for a safe haven we’ll take them in. That is all we can afford to do this year.”

      Mimzy sighed, “Alright we all done?”

      Io looked at the lavender haired black witch, “Yeah that should be everything. Not too bad of a scrap pile,” she shrugged looking at the heap of rusted metal, shards of glass and wood. “Now we can relax, eat, and wait it out. As I told Koga, if any come here looking for safe haven we are taking them in.”

      “Wish we could drown out those screams,” Harry grumbled sitting down.

      Io looked at him, “Since when did you get sensitive about the screams? Helped us find them in the past.”

      “In the past we were out there finding and helping them. Now it’s just listening to them suffer,” Harry looked at her.

      “You know that can’t be helped. Unless you want to go in shifts and see what damage we can do.” Io offered, it was frustrating for all of them to not do anything to help the others all because Penny was here unprepared to defend herself.

      “I know I just don’t like hearing screams for this,” he shrugged pulling Gilly into his side as he passed him.

      “None of us like it,” she offered handing him a flask as she wandered to the desk and grabbed the food they cooked, “But the unclaimed know this is a safe zone, all they have to do is make it here.”

      “Aye, they just have to make it here,” he nodded, “Bloody mainlanders.”

      “Not everyone knows about this. In fact I would say almost no one knows about this out there,” Penny said softly.

      “I don’t see how that’s possible,” Harry snorted.

      “Yeah how do they not know? I mean when he comes out, he can touch the top of the barrier,” Mimzy rolled her eyes, “I bet you could see him from the Mainland.”

      Io leaned on her desk and looked out at the dark streets. The unclaimed knew she would take them in, she just hoped they could get to her before the Children got to them. She told herself it would be okay, they could do it without her out there.

      “We can’t see through the barrier any more than you can in here.”

      Koga snorted, “Maybe you can’t runt, but we can see the Mainland from the roofs. Crocodile will sit in the crows nest and watch your mainland. And trust us, there ain’t no missing him.”

      “Leave it kitten,” Io drawled, not feeling like dealing with a fight between crew. “Let’s face the fact the Mainland doesn’t give a shit about what happens here in Fairy made hell. They threw the adults here to rot and forgot about us. They are oblivious.”

      Mimzy sighed, “Koga don’t get her on a tirade please.”

      Penny crossed her arms with a sigh, they couldn’t see from the mainland. All it was was a purple shimmer with outlines.

      “Here Pin” Gil held out the flask for water.

      “Thanks Gil” she gave him a small smile as she took the flask.

 

      Koga moved towards the door sniffing, “Kids Crocodile.”

      Io looked up from her map, and moved quickly to the door pulling her blades, “Ready?”

      “Ready,” he confirmed pulling the door open as she stepped out quickly onto the dark street. 

      As Koga loomed in the doorway she rushed towards the kids, her eyes flickering over them, “Injuries?”

      “No Crocodile, I mean nothing major. Can we stay with you till sun up?” their dirty faces looked up at her.

      “What do I get for it?” 

      “We can get you information...” they offered after silently checking with one another.

      “That will do. Go on, get inside,” she gestured them behind her as she looked over the street eyes catching an orange glow on a rooftop. The Children were a few streets away still but they were hunting. A howl went up across the Isle and the orange glow turned away heading back towards the sound. Io stood her ground a little longer before backed up back into the safety of her warehouse where Mimzy was already looking over their wounds to make sure they would be fine.

      “Hello” Gil gave the two a smile, as he leaned his head on Harry's shoulder.

      “Hi,” they smiled back as Mimzy finished doctoring their wounds, “Don’t worry we’ll stay out of your way.”

      “It’s fine, just settle in,” Mimzy nodded to them as Koga settled beside her as a large silent sentinel.

      Io lingered by the door, watching and waiting. Either the Children were going to come into her territory, or they would be getting more unclaimed here. A howl went up and she turned, that had been closer than the last, they were getting closer. It wouldn’t be much longer now through, the moon was slowly descending in the sky even as her tension went up.

      Penny looked up at the howl shifting closer to Gil.

      Gil put a tense arm around her shoulders.

      Harry cast a side eye at the princess, Gilly liked her. He wasn’t completely sold on her but if it made his Gilly happy.

      Koga growled in annoyance before shifting to his feet once more and headed towards Io, “They are getting closer.”

      “I know they are. They are chasing someone, or several someones.” she didn’t turn to look at him just watched the dark waiting for the glowing eyes to return.

      Harry made his way over to them hand tight on his hook, “What do ye see? I know ye say we can’t risk it but if they are coming ‘ere.”

      “Nothing anymore. Those two had a follower, but they turned away when the call went out. You want to patrol outside then, leave Gil and Mimzy to keep an eye on things? I won’t tell you what you think is best for yours tonight.”

      Koga glanced back, “I say we at least get outside and do a quick sweep. See if anyone else made it close to us. My witch can hold down things here since Gil doesn’t want to do more than hold onto your pet.”

      “Ye leave me Gilly alone,” Harry threatened, “I’ll stay ‘ere and guard the door 'gainst any unwanted.”

      “Fine. Koga and I will do a sweep, see if we can get anyone else to safety. Stay close to the door, we may send them here without escort,” Io rolled her neck, “Let’s go.”

      Mimzy watched Io and Koga head into the night and squeezed the fur wrapped fang on her bag, everything would be fine. She straightened pulling her needles out, it was just a few more hours. Meeting Harry’s eyes she nodded before setting herself up on the opposite side of the building, she and he could defend a group this small. No problem.

-*-

      “Where are they going?” Penny asked Gil as she saw Koga and Io slip out of the warehouse. Wasn’t it supposed to be dangerous out there?

      “They are going out to see if they can find any kids out there” Gil explained as he pulled her into his lap. He had just gotten his new Pin, she was his. He wasn’t going to let the demons take her. He also didn’t want her to be afraid.

      He looked up as a few of the younger unclaimed were ushered into the warehouse. He waved them over to sit near them. They looked scared at the screams from outside. He tried to think of what to do. He wanted to help them be calm, he could help the crew this way.

      “Do you know some day.... Before the demons” Gil started to speak, getting all the eyes on him, “this used to be a day about fun” he licked his lips. All he could think about was Pin’s story about the mainland. But he couldn’t say that, it needed to be a story.

      “My mom told me,” he said, nodding to himself. Yeah, his mom told him stories about the mainland all the time... well before dad caught her... before she started taking the stuff from wonderland.

      “There was a time before the demons?” one of the unclaimed asked.

      Gil nodded and started telling a story that had most of their attention while the older kids found a few last minute stragglers. Somewhere along the way he’d started combing his fingers through Pin’s hair. It was still so soft, he wondered if all the mainlanders had hair like this. 

      They all looked up, at a nasty sounding snarl from outside. A few of the kids moved closer to Gil. Gil noticed how Pin’s hand held a white knuckled grip on the scraper.

      “Its ok, nothing is going to hurt us here,” Gil swallowed, he was ready to try and keep the kids and his Pin safe if he had too.

      “How do you know?” Penny asked softly, she kinda wanted him to go back to his rambling story that didn’t really make sense. It was soothing though, the sounds of his voice as he created a word for these kids.

      “Cause to get to us they have to get through Io, and Koga, and Mimzy, and MY Harry” Gil said firmly, “They won't let the demons have anyone in this warehouse. Cause this is Io’s warehouse, and no one takes from the Crocodile” 

      The kids nodded along like this was a known fact. Penny blinked at them as Gil went back to the story about a pirate that was really a fairy, but could only be a fairy on halloween. 

      Slowly the others all appeared again, the doors were sealed. And gil just kept talking, kept spinning his story. Now there was some sort of goblin, but it wasn't really a goblin, it was a really small troll. 

      He kept playing with her hair, trying different braids until he found one he apparently thought was just right for her.

-*-

      Io sent more than a few kids to her warehouse in the last few hours of the run. Most had made it as close as they dared to the edge of her territory at least before she and Koga found them. The Children on the other hand crawled on the roofs above them, glowing orange eyes in the darkness, snuffling and moaning, fingers scraping across shingles. 

      Koga kept his eyes on them as they slid back to the doors of the warehouse, the horizon a lightening color, “Looks like we’ve only got a few more minutes left.”

      “Let’s get inside, make sure everyone is fine. We can send them out when the sun comes up,” she ordered tired from the near 24 hour stint awake, but then again they all had spent the entire night awake. Most of them at least as she noticed Penny had fallen asleep tucked against Gil’s side. “Clearly the threat of being forced by a demon wasn’t enough incentive to stay awake to defend herself.” she muttered.

       “Is it over then?” Harry asked looking at them hopefully.

      “By the time we collect all the kids up and send them out it will be. Welcome to November, we all survived another Run.” Io smirked at him.

      “Da will be thrilled. I’ll help ye clear them out, then we all get back to the ship and sleep,” he covered a yawn with the back of his hand holding the hook, “I’m exhausted.”

      Penny hadn’t meant to, but the sound of Gil's voice drowned out the screams and violence outside. The feel of Io’s and Harry's eyes ghosting over them, and calmed her. At some point her eyes had closed, and she just didn’t bother to open them again. Not until she was being nudged by Gil saying it was morning.

Chapter 38: Still Missing (Mainland: October)

      Jay growled rubbing his face, another message had just come in still no Penny. He fixed Mal with a look and she sighed softly.

      “I know Jay, alright I know. But she is fine I am sure. I mean a friendly town must have her. Maybe a village in the outskirts-”

      “And what if she is on the Isle? What if the reason Jordan can’t get her back is because she is stuck under the fucking barrier like the rest of them?” Jay slammed his hands on the table cringing as the light above them shattered.

      Mal sighed patiently and flicked her fingers, “Light above, fix the damage that has been done.” the shattered glass pulled back together and settled in place, “Look I get it, you're pissed. But there is no way she is on the Isle. Anyone on that Isle would have caught her and used her to try and make a deal. You know that. Now would you please stop using magic if you aren’t going to bother to learn how to control it. I am serious Jay, it is dangerous.”

      “Says the one who gives girl’s magical makeovers,” Jay hissed in reply folding his arms over his chest, “You have no idea, what if she got caught by the Khan’s? Neither one of them would want off the Isle, it would mean they couldn’t just keep their food supply alive no matter how much damage they did.”

      “Um... that’s a disturbing and nightmare causing thought,” Carlos winced, “But I mean even the Khan’s would want something if they caught a princess... you know besides eating her.” 

      “You remember Koga right? Only thing that guy wants is food,” Jay shuddered remembering the feel of the male’s rough tongue on his face.

      “She is not on the Isle Jay. Think about it. She is an Auradon princess, no amount of what you managed to teach her will be enough to keep us from knowing about her being there,” Mal snapped at him, “Someone there would have found her and tried to use her to barter their way out.”

      “You think it’s any different out here, someone would have found her by now, it’s been almost 3 months and not a peep from anyone,” he shot back knowing he should back down as Mal’s eyes started to glow, “I thought your boyfriend’s people were good at finding things. I would have better luck finding her at this point then a whole team of useless Auradonians.”

      “Jay, Ben and his parents are trying to find her. They love her, it's not like our families, ” Evie tried to soothe the boy.

      “Mal... what if snatchers grabbed her before anyone else noticed her?” Carlos asked as the thought came to him, he’d had a few run-ins with them and he could say they weren’t so smart.

      “Even if the Snatchers got her, one of their clients would have noticed who she was. Or she would have said something...”

      “She is not that stupid Mal,” Jay’s jaw clenched, “I told her... Look she knows better than to run her mouth about shit on the Isle. And your right it’s not like her family didn’t ship her off to some school when she made trouble with Audrey. She hadn’t seen her brother in years before she was forced into transfering here.”

      “You are trying so damn hard to prove she is on the Isle, why? You want to go back there? You want to go back to being forced into stealing for your dad like that’s going to bribe him into wanting you,” Mal knew she went too far when Jay’s eyes lit with red gold fire.

      “Maybe every part of me is screaming that she’s there and she’s in danger. For the record I know he will never want me, but he is my father, no matter what he did he was my father. And if he ever got his hands on Penny I know exactly what he would do to her, and it wouldn’t be screaming at the Mainland that he had her either,” Jay bit out just barely containing the want to punch her in the mouth.

      “Do we have a way to check the isle without going there?” Carlos asked, “Cause man, I understand but, none of us are going back there unless we have proof and a way back here.”

      “Mirror?” Jay stated, “I realize I suggested this months ago, again when no one wanted to listen to me. Evie uses the mirror and we see what happens. I’ll figure something out about a way off the Isle, I know it better than any of you...”

      “Well your not going to have to, Evie is going to use the mirror and prove to you she isn’t on the fucking Isle,” Mal pinched the bridge of her nose having forgotten arguing with Jay was like trying to talk to a brick wall. When he planted his feet on something he did not let it go.

      “Um, well you see with us being good an all,” Evie grimaced, “I may have given my mirror to fairy godmother” 

      “You what?” Carlos looked gobsmacked

      “Well we decided to be good and well I didn’t want the temptation to cheat cause it was easy with the mirror,” Evie defended.

      “So where did she put it? I’ll go and get it.”

      “No Jay. Stealing is bad, why can you not grasp that concept?” Mal huffed at him.

      “Because that was the only reason I survived the Isle!” Jay had almost hit his limit with Mal, “You know this, fuck, I stole for you, stole for all of you to keep us alive. I made sure we all survived, I am sorry if it is inconvenient for your pretty new life that you know a street rat who can’t help but worry that one day I’m going to wake up and realise all this was a dream. Where. Is. Fairy Godmother. Keeping. The. Mirror?”

      “Evie...” Mal implored her friend desperate to keep Jay good when he seemed so determined to be bad.

      “I don’t know, she just thanked me and told me she’d keep it safe” Evie apologized, “I figured it was better that way.”

      “See Jay, the mirror is gone. You aren’t going to steal from Fairy Godmother right?” Mal asked, almost worried about the answer.

      “I will do whatever I have to do to find my friend,” he snarled at her, “Once upon a time you used to appreciate that trait Princess Mal.” 

      Mal recoiled at his words taken off guard as he shoved her out of his way and was out of the room, “Jay...”

 

      Jay was used to being alone, used to his so called friends pretending that the Isle had never happened. But he couldn’t forget, couldn’t forget the taste of his own blood filling his mouth from a beating. Couldn’t forget the feel of hands on his skin as he sold himself to make up the difference when he couldn’t steal enough to even be allowed to sleep in the house. Couldn’t forget his father’s breath on his neck as he told him it was his fault. The words echoing in his head until all Jay wanted to do was drink himself into a stupor to drown them out. 

      He found himself standing in front of the sculpture of his father, “There is no team in I... You were right about that Baba. One of the few things I will agree with you on right now.” he took a shuddering breath and sat down in front of the figure pulling the beanie off to run a hand through his hair. 

      After everything he still found his way to his father’s image, still so desperate to appease him, to be the son the man had wanted and not whatever it was Jay was right now. Somewhere trapped between good and evil, not sure where he belonged, which was why he liked Penny, she had lived like that her whole life. A glimmer caught his eye and he lifted his head slowly seeing a serpent staff in a glass case. There was a memory of something similar in his childhood, a golden snake cuff with ruby eyes, calling out to him, beckoning him to grab it. A golden serpent ring on Io’s hand, small ruby eyes silenced in her grip. This one was more bronze than golden and Jay wanted to touch it all the same. 

      Pushing himself upright Jay walked towards it slowly and watched as it’s head slowly turned to look at him, “You’re... you aren’t the staff.” he breathed it out seeing the jaws open slowly as if it were trying to strike. 

      “Jay?” a voice called his name and Jay nearly jumped out of his skin, Jane stood there on the floor below him confused, “It's closing time for the museum.”

      He pulled a few steps back looking at the now motionless staff, had he just imagined it? Running a shaking hand through his hair he jammed the beanie back on and leapt over the railing landing softly next to her with a weak smile, “I’ll walk you out then.”

      “You don’t have to do that Jay but I appreciate it,” Jade smiled at him, making no move to turn him away as they walked through the museum, “Do you... do you know if Carlos is free for dinner tonight?”

      “He should be. I’ll take you back to the room so you can ask him yourself.”

Chapter 39: Attempt at Normal (Mainland: October)

      Mal flipped through her mother's spell book again. Sure she had all but memorized the pages, but she couldn't help but think she was missing something. She had to be missing something. Pinching the bridge of her nose against the impending headache she snapped the book closed. It was obvious that Penny had destabilized her minions as her getting wished away by Audrey had caused Jay to spiral out of control the last month. The magic, they all chose to assume was a trick of the light or his stealing habits, was blazingly obvious. She was regularly using her own magic to fix whatever happened to break just to try and hide it from the Mainland. Jay was trying to keep it contained like she told him to, but he was still having slips. Mal flopped back on her bed and looked out the window, she knew she was losing control over her minions but she didn't know how to fix it.

    "Stop judging me mom, I am trying to piece things back together." She huffed at her lizard-ized mother.

    She received a hiss in reply as the lizard crawled up onto her throne, "Yeah I know. But they are my minions, I am trying to keep them all together and playing in the Mainland box. But one of them is doing everything he can to fight me about it."

    The lizard gave her a blank look and Mal pushed herself up, "Luckily you can't talk because I am pretty sure you'd be encouraging him."

    "Who me?"

    Mal whirled switch blade in hand as Jay hovered in her doorway expression blank, "How long have you been standing there?"

    "Long enough to know you talk to your mother trying to get advice on how to handle me." He shrugged a shoulder, "Mind if I come in?"

    "Why ask now? You never ask permission."

    "Because you're pissed at me, and I'd rather not have to explain to anyone why I have a knife wound."

    She smirked snapping the blade closed, "Come on in Jay, and I'm not pissed per say. Just frustrated with you, you are supposed to follow orders."

    Jay slipped into the room, closing the door behind him before leaning against her bed frame, "You know I'm shit with that, but I am trying."

    Mal decided to leave it alone, "Why are you here?"

    "Pup went to dinner with Jane. Princess went to dinner with Doug. And honestly I was half expecting you to be at dinner with Ben."

    She searched his face for a moment, "You don't want to be alone?"

    "What makes you think I give a shit about that?" He retorted brusquely.

    Mal gave him a sly look, "Come on we're going to dinner. If Ben's there so be it. Maybe find you someone this year to hang out with."

    Jay snorted pushing off her bed frame to follow her out the door, "You know that won't happen. All it takes is someone squawking foul."

    "Okay a guy then. Then you don't have to worry about anything."

    He rolled his eyes, "Yeah I'm pretty sure I'm not going to find someone like that out here. They are pretty... uptight or secretive about everything. It's whatever Mal, I got mine, don't need anything else."

    "You are impossible," she huffed guiding him into the dining hall, "It's October. Do we have enough squirreled away?"

    "I can get some more, not a problem. We'll be restocked before then." Jay glanced over the room, "Ben's here, sitting with Chad, Audrey, Prince Aziz, and Lonnie."

    Mal glanced at him catching the fact Aziz was the only prince that received his formal title, "We can sit somewhere else. If Ben wants to join us that's his business." Jay was already off kilter, she didn't want to add to it by putting him with people that didn't like him any more than he liked them.

    "If that's what you want," Jay nodded accepting the tray from her and let her load it up with food. She wasn't acting like herself, but then again she had been complaining to her lizard mother that he was getting out of control. 

    "Yes that's what I want," she doled out her own food before heading towards the tables in the corner. Jay liked to have a wall to his back while he ate, if he didn't, he wouldn't eat as he was too busy checking around him for danger.

    Ben watched as Mal led Jay to a table. He wished they would come sit with him, but at the same time maybe it was good for her to spend time with the VK’s. He chewed his lip looking around the table, they were all so... normal? They acted like things hadn’t changed, or at least around each other they did. Aziz and Lonnie had been willing to let him talk if he needed to. 

    But talking was the problem, he couldn’t tell them what was on his mind because they weren’t allowed to know that Penny wasn’t just gone, she was missing. He wasn’t even allowed to mention her unless it was simply to say that he was sure she’d be back soon.

    Aziz followed the direction of Ben's gaze, "If you want to go over there you can. I'd offer to go with you but you're better with them than I am." That and a cornered Jay didn't seem like a great idea, he had to approach the kid in the open where he had room to breathe and escape if need be. After spending the summer at home he was determined to make an effort to befriend the other, especially since Penny was no longer here at the school.

    “Ben, if they wanted you around they would have sat with us” Audrey pointed out with a pout as he stood.

    “I’m just going to check on them” Ben moved around the table, he wanted away from Audrey’s whining anyway. She was getting on his last nerve. He smiled and nodded to people as he walked over to Mal and Jay.

    “Mind if I join you?” he asked them.

    Mal checked Jay with a silent look, he seemed fine with the idea, "You know we don't," she moved over to give him room to sit down, "Surprised none of them followed after you."

    “Aziz didn’t seem like he wanted to crowd Jay while he was eating. And I may have actually growled at Audrey earlier,” Ben scratched the back of his neck sitting.

    "Maybe you do have a little Beast in you Benny boy," Jay teased even as his eyes flicked to where the other prince was sitting.

    Mal watched the shift, "Unexpected but not unwelcome observation from Aziz," she turned her attention back to Ben, "How are you doing?"

    “It's just weird, I mean I'm used to not having her around. But it's different, Chad’s not complaining about Cindy complaining about her doing something. The fact they all seem to think she’s on some sort of vacation.” he sighed softly, “I’m worried about her”

    “They will find her Ben. You said so yourself,” Mal tried to assure him.

    Jay lifted a brow at her shaking his head, “I’m worried about her too. But she is a tough girl, she’ll be okay until your people find her and bring her back.” he wasn’t sure why the other prince cared about not wanting to crowd him. This was the perfect place to corner him for whatever.

    “I know she’s tough, I just worry” Ben nodded.

    Mal set a hand on his arm, “It’s fine to worry, but worry won’t help her. What she needs is people out there looking for her. Just like you guys are doing.”

    “I hope she’s back soon” Ben put a hand over her’s.

    “I am sure she will be back soon raising hell at Audrey.” Mal gave him a half smile, “If there is anything we VK’s can do just let us know.”

    “Just that you care is enough” he leaned back in his seat.

    “You know where to find us if you need more,” Jay offered, “We are willing to help however we can really, it’s no problem. Your sister is our ally and we all want her back safe.”

    “Its funny to think of her as an ally to people” Ben smiled, “She just needed the right people”

    “She is definitely our kind of people,” Mal smirked, “She is a happy medium.”

    “And you guys seem to be her type of people,” Ben chuckled.

    “I would hope so, she hung out with us all the time,” Jay finished off his food and rocked back slightly, “So you going to jack Mal for the night?”

    “I wasn’t actually planning on it, I just needed a break from all of them,” Ben shook his head, “Unless Mal wants to do something, I don’t want to take her from you if you guys had plans.”

    “No plans. Just giving him company,” Mal shrugged, “You two want to do something together? We’re fine with helping you have a break from them.”

    “Then do you guys want to watch a movie or something?” Ben asked with a smile.

    “Sure movies would be fun. You don’t like sappy movies right?” Jay asked shrugging a shoulder as Mal rolled her eyes.

    “Romance movies,” Mal explained, “E makes him sit through them when she’s in a mood.”

    “Oh... well I like a good romance movie but, no I was thinking more adventure would be your guys speed or suspense” Ben looked between the two, “And you know if she’s in a mood you could always send her to me, I don’t mind watching sappy romance.”

    Jay snorted, “Princess will be on cloud nine.”

    “Careful or you’ll never have a free minute again,” Mal laugh sighed, “But we will send her your way, we aren’t much for the sappy stuff. Jay and I like the blood and guts movies, but we’re game for whatever.”

    “I was thinking Poseidon,” he shrugged, “Is about getting trapped on a ship and trying to find a way out”

    “How hard can that be? I mean ships have windows and shit,” Jay cocked his head grabbing his trash and theirs.

    “It’s a little different then that I think,” Ben smiled.

    “Well then it should prove interesting,” Mal stood, “You ready to go Ben.”

    “Yes, if you guys are ready lets go” he stood as well offering her his arm.

    Mal took it as Jay moved towards the trash cans, “We can be ready whenever you are.” 

     “Did you want to stop by your rooms and get anything or head straight to mine,” Ben asked.

    “We can go straight to yours. I don’t have to grab anything and Jay should be fine,” Mal guided Ben towards the doors, “You don’t need to tell any of them you're headed out right?”

    “No, I don’t need to tell them,” Ben shook his head.

    Jordan froze in the doorway seeing Jay standing there looking back over his shoulder to Mal. Things had gotten tense around her since Audrey’s wish, she refused to leave her lamp anywhere someone could touch it and frankly she was positive the VK’s all knew what happened.

    Jay looked at her eyes flickering her over, “What’s wrong?” she was staring at him in panic.

    “I...”

    “Chill out gorgeous,” he moved out of the way for her, “It wasn’t your fault, you didn’t have a choice. That’s just the rules, you don’t need to be worried about me, really,” Jay felt for her, he knew what it was like to have your hand forced into doing something you never wanted. 

    He was giving her this soft knowing smile and she flushed, butterflies filling her belly before he patted her shoulder slipping passed her with Ben and Mal, “Jay...” he turned slightly, “Thank you.”

    “No problem Jordan, go get some food before your stomach starts growling,” he teased with a backwards wave to the djinn as he headed after the other two. He promised himself he’d treat her like normal, seeing as the girl had never held it against him who his father was.

    “We good Jay?” Mal asked curious as to why he was interacting with one of the people who had caused all of this to happen.

    “Yeah we’re good Mal.” Jay nodded giving her a half smile, “We got a movie to watch.”

    “I’ll have Mrs. Potts send up popcorn,” Ben smiled at him, “How is Jordan?”

    “About as wicked as she is going to get having been used,” Jay shrugged, “We get Penny back she’ll snap back.”

    “I still can’t believe Audrey did what she did” Ben sighed, “Its not Jordan’s fault”

    “Course it isn’t, she didn’t have a choice. It was Audrey being Audrey.” Mal rolled her eyes, “We get Penny back and Penny will tell us exactly what happened.”

    “Or we’ll never see Audrey again,” Ben chuckled, he wouldn’t put it past his sister to try and make Audrey disappear.

    Jay rolled his eyes, this again, “If you say so. I wouldn’t worry though. Your dad will likely keep her under close eye when she comes back.”

    “Much closer then he was,” Ben sighed, “He’s certainly watching me more closely.”

    “He wanted your sister married off to Chad you know.” Jay commented as Mal gave him a sharp green eyed look, “What? She came to me about it, I figured he should know.”

    “He’s looking to make treaties, I was suppose to marry Audrey and make one but well... you know what happened to that,” Ben blushed, “I suppose she might have taken off on her own if Audrey hadn’t done what she did then, or done something drastic.”

    Mal sighed, “I didn’t realize what I was screwing up. I didn’t... I didn’t think Penny would have to fill in.”

    “Its not your fault, Mal. and he would have tried to make Penny marry some prince anyway, it just came sooner than we thought. It was supposed to wait until she was 18 or 19. I think she was rather confident that by that point she would have scared just about any prince dad could think of,” Ben shook his head.

    "How about we worry about that once she is back?" Jay suggested, not liking this particular topic that made his stomach fill with twisting knots.

    “Yeah probably a good idea” Ben nodded.

    Mal pushed open the door to Ben's dorm room, "Movie night first." She smiled briefly as Jay looked around, hands in pockets as his eyes flicked around the room curiously.

    On the desk there was a little square box, filled of water, colored stones and a fish. Jay moved closer looking at it. He hadn't seen this kind of fish before, but then again his thing was birds and eels occasionally dogs when they were at the pet store. It was oddly pretty with its royal blue scales and large floating fins. It also just seemed content to float there without moving more than its fins to keep stable.

    “That's Shimmer,” Ben smiled looking at the fish, it had been a gift for his birthday when he was 14.

    "Never seen one that looks like this. Most of the fish I've seen are... well in big flocks in the tanks at the pet store." Jay didn't know much about fish other than they were well liked by his boys.

    “Schools, groups of fish are schools,” Ben nodded, “This is a male beta, they are colorful to attract females I think. They don’t get along with other males”

    "Huh... and a beta is the kind of fish right?" He glanced back at the fish as it lazily moved in the water.

    “Yeah one of the more common pet fish” Ben informed him, “We could get you one if you want.”

    “No that’s okay.”

    “He prefers enchanted parrots and eels.” Mal plopped down on his couch. 

    “Don’t worry about it Ben,” Jay smiled stepping back from the fish, “I think they're cool, just a little low energy for me.”

    “Ok, just a suggestion,” Ben shrugged before going to set up the movie.

    Jay sighed silently, of course Mal would find a way of bringing up his minions over someone else's fish. He moved back towards them plopping beside Mal who immediately tossed her legs over his.

    “Does... I don’t remember his name, does the parrots' enchantment still work under the barrier?” Ben asked curiously as he took his seat.

    "Iago," He supplied, "Sort of? He understands everything and he can talk, just takes a while and they aren't great sentences."

    "But you can hear it when Iago and Jafar are arguing," Mal shook her head, "I think that was the most magical thing we saw on the Isle."

    “Sometimes I wish we had some talking animals,” Ben smiled, going to grab the popcorn as there was a knock on the door.

    Jay exchanged a silent look with Mal. Neither of them thought that was a good idea, "I would have brought him with me but I couldn't sneak him out of baba's house."

    “Ah, yeah I suppose he is considered a minion,” Ben nodded sitting back down, “Maybe one day I can get the council to look over all the files."

    "Yeah one of Jay's minions," Mal looked at her second.

    "I looked after Iago because he wasn't, so he's more mine than his. But never stopped him from treating Iago like his minion," he tried to explain without saying the bird did his best to help Jay without getting unalived by an angry Jafar. Not that there weren't a few close calls, but Jay took the brunt of the damage to keep the bird safe. "It's whatever you want Ben."

    “I’ll work on it, maybe there’s a loophole or something I can use,” Ben assured him.

    "Like how you managed to get us here," Mal nodded, "I'll help however I can." It wasn't for Jay's minions, she didn't much care for them considering they had caused him to be distracted or caused him to get injured. But it was for Dizzy, Evie's little minion, the little hairdresser that really needed protection from others on the Isle.

    “I’ll do some research and let you know what I find” Ben hit play on the remote.

    Jay tossed his arms over Mal’s legs and tried to relax as she pulled Ben into her shoulder. So much for him being her second when he was being trumped by a Mainlander.

    Ben offered Jay the popcorn, “I’m glad you guys were free tonight.”

    He couldn't hate Ben though, dude was like one of the dogs at the Pet store. Jay gave him a half smile taking a handful, "We're always free for the Crown Prince. 'Specially Mal."

    She elbowed Jay gently in the ribs, "We wanted to get dinner and chill anyway so this worked out."

    “That title really does sound stuffy” Ben laughed putting an arm around Mal. He liked spending down time with them, they didn’t have any expectations of him and they were almost always calm.

    "Just a little," Mal agreed. "That's why we call you Ben, make you feel human." She smirked letting him touch her as Jay rolled his eyes, there was something still off, but she couldn't put her finger on it.

    “It's nice to be just Ben, you guys are the only ones that I can trust to treat me just like me no matter what.”

    "We aren't big on the whole play pretend thing the Mainland does." Jay kept his gaze on the movie, "If you like me you like me, if you don't you don't, no skin off my back either way. We don't see the point in lying about it, doesn't do anything."

    “I wish it was this easy all the time” Ben grinned watching as the wave flipped over the cruise ship.

    Mal lifted a brow, "Why can't it be? Is there a reason it can't be that easy?"

    “All the rules and regulations of interaction that have to be followed when I’m with anyone else” he explained.

    "That is just stupid," Mal stated giving him a look, "Talking around what you want to say doesn't help anyone."

    “I know, I know how you guys feel about straight talk,” Ben relaxed a little more into Mal.

    "And we know how you Mainlanders like your bush talk," Jay snorted.

    “I think that’s you putting it politely” Ben laughed a little.

    Mal smirked, "Pretty much, so this movie is actually interesting."

    “Getting off a boat that is upside down is harder then one that is right side up” Ben agreed 

    “And one that is actually moving,” Jay added eyes on the screen flicking back and forth noting exits he would have tried to take.

    Mal relaxed a little more enjoying this seemingly quiet moment without anyone expecting anything from her. She ignored Jay's lingering tensions for the movie, he was just being paranoid as always.

Chapter 40: The Problem with Isle School (Mainland: October)

      Jay rubbed his face and tossed another failed test into the depths of his desk. He was trying but it just wasn't working. Nothing he was doing was working. Squeezing his eyes shut, he tried to calm down and relax once more before his magic got out of hand. Ever since that incident with Lord Farris, the burning hot magic inside of him was near ripping at the seams. No matter how deep he tried to bury it, the magic kept finding a way back up.

      A run, maybe he just needed to go on a run. As he went to get up his eyes landed on his bag, but there was homework to do. Jay dropped back into his chair and groaned, this was why he had avoided school on the Isle. It prevented him from doing things he wanted or needed to do. Dragging his bag over he pulled out his homework and started trying to make sense of it. It would take all night but he had to at least try and get it done. If he didn't they would take Tourney and Swords and Shields from him.

      When Carlos came back Jay was doing his damndest to work through his physics work. His head was pounding and every word on the page was jumbled and twisted. Rocking his temple into the heel of his palm he tried to get the letters to sort themselves out into anything usable. He still had another 2 classes of work to do, at the rate he was going it was good that he barely slept anymore. 

      “Man you ok?” Carlos asked, Jay was high strung with all this school stuff. He was smart in a different way then Evie and him, making him try and work the same wasn’t really working.

      Jay looked back at Carlos blinking hard for a moment before giving his pup a half smile, "Yeah just trying to do this school thing. How did your group project or whatever go?"

      He half wanted to shove the physics stuff at Carlos and have his genius do it like on the Isle, but he resisted. Jay was sure this place wouldn't like that, even if it meant that he was pretty sure he was failing all of his classes. Turning back to his papers he tried to refocus. If this was showing how it worked, he would be acing this class.

      “It went alright, do you want any help?” Carlos shrugged, he wasn’t big on group things.

      Jay cast a glance at his last two classes of work and nodded, "Yeah, what do you want for the help?"

      “... let me put Chad on his ass at practice?” Carlos shrugged.

      "Done. I'll even set it up for you," he grinned offering the sheet to Carlos as he continued to massage his temple. He could do this, he had to do this, just like everything else. There was no more choice.

      “Ok lets see,” Carlos looked over the sheets, “Well you’ve got it sort of, you're just missing a step on some of these.”

      “Figured it was something like that because I couldn’t figure out how to get where it should end up. How do you find this stuff so easy? I am pretty sure they never taught this on the Isle. Then again... I could have just been actively avoiding those classes.”

      “Nothing to do but read when mom locked me in the closet,” Carlos shrugged.

      “Yeah that would do it.” Jafar would have never locked him in anyway, only kicked him out, and reading was not something Jay enjoyed doing as he wasn’t big on giving himself headaches voluntarily. 

      “Yeah that's why Evie and I are the brains, you are the muscle,” Carlos smirked.

      “Muscle is all I got going for me out here anyway.” he sighed watching his pup for a moment, “I’ve got two more classes to work on before bed.”

      Jay shifted in his seat opening up more books, he just had to get through this stuff. As he slowly worked through the instructions he found his gaze drifting to one of his stashes. No, he could do this without any liquid encouragement. Plus the drinking never helped with his reading problems. He rubbed his face tiredly once more, he had done this before an entire set of classes without Penny so why did this feel like it was hundreds of times harder now?

      “Then let’s get to work so you can maybe get some sleep,” Carlos nodded.

      “It’s fine, I’m not really sleeping any way,” He commented offhandedly and distracted as he shrugged.

      “I know, I was hoping you would sleep tonight... we could pull our mattresses together on the floor and it will be kinda like the hideout”

      Jay smiled, "Well if you help me get through this stuff, I am fine with doing that."

      “Good cause I’ve missed curling up with you” Carlos smiled.

      Jay reached out and pulled Carlos closer into a half hug, "Alright my genius, lets get me through this stuff and then we can go cuddle for the rest of the night."

      “So what do you understand about these ones?” He asked looking at his other work.

      “I honestly haven’t even looked at it since class,” he admitted looking at the jumbled letters, “Figured if I couldn’t get this done in class, I could figure it out here.”

      “That’s fine, honestly the way they talk in some of these classes I don’t get it. I have to look at it differently then they do,” Carlos shrugged.

      “I don’t get any of it. I try but, just nothing.” Jay was trying, he was doing everything he could but it never seemed like enough.

      “Well now that we have physics all worked out, what do you want to do next?”

      “Biology or Algebra?” he pointed to the two notebooks, “I finished all of goodness already.”

      “Well Algebra should be pretty easy too let’s get it out of the way” Carlos pulled the notebook to him.

      “I thought so too, and then she started putting letters in it. What do letters have to do with math?”

      The letters are the answers... normally,” Carlos explained, “Its like if I asked you, what plus 8 equals 20. They just write it out x+8=20.”

      “12,” Jay stated, “But I don’t get why we needed a letter for that. 20 less 8 is 12.”

      “Its mainlander math, they start adding more letters the higher up you go, but it’s really just solve this problem, just looks funny.”

      “That’s just stupid,” he grumbled looking down at the number, sure they moved, but as long as it wasn’t a 9 or a 6 he always knew what they were.

      “I know, but it helps right?” Carlos asked hoping he was making sense.

      “For just one letter, yeah that helps. The letter doesn’t matter right?” Jay asked hoping that it didn’t.

      “No they can use any letters” Carlos said

      “Then yeah I think I can handle that,” Jay was sure he could handle normal math, he had passed his last math class.

      “You want to try some of these then?”

      Pulling the notebook back he focused himself on the classwork he hadn’t finished and the homework he needed to do, “Yeah I’ll work on these while you sort out my bio and physics stuff.”

      “I’m on it,” Carlos smiled pulling the other book to him.

 

      Jay pushed himself out of his chair a few hours later and grabbed his blankets and Carlos’ piling them on the floor and started making a nest out of them. He could see his pup was dozing off after finishing Jay’s homework. “Come on pup, let’s get ready for bed.”

      Carlos sleepily pushed himself up to change into sleeping shorts so he could curl up with Jay and enjoy his warmth.

      “Bathroom. Brush your teeth, I’m going too.” Jay smiled as he stripped his clothes off before slipping on some sleep pants. Heading into the bathroom he fixed himself a toothbrush getting ready for bed, he was looking forward to sleeping curled around his pup. Maybe it would help him sleep.

      Carlos followed after him, grabbing his own tooth brush.

      When they had finished getting ready for bed Jay pulled Carlos down into the nest he had made and curled around him, “Get some rest Pup.”

      “You too Jay” Carlos yawned wrapping his arms around Jay soaking in the heat.

      Jay rested his chin on the top of his head closing his eyes trying to get some sleep despite his pounding head and thoughts still swarming with classwork.

      Carlos breathed out closing his eyes and relaxing.

-*-

      Mal pushed open the boys door after a quick unlocking spell. Jay and Carlos were tangled together fast asleep. Shaking her head she walked over to Jay’s desk and looked at the tests before tossing them back inside. She kicked the bottom of the pile careful not to hit them, “Come on boys time to get up.”

      “No it's the weekend,” Carlos shook his head, eyes still closed.

      “You want food or not?”

      Jay opened one eye and looked at her, “Mal... go away.”

      “No. You are getting up. We, as in you and I Jay, are going to work on your school shit.”

      “We did that last night, let us sleep,” Carlos looked at her with squinted eyes.

      Jay shifted under the green eyed glare, “Look my Pup wants sleep. I’m not moving, I’ll be around later okay?” 

      Mal growled, “You had better.” she stormed out already plotting to send Evie over to get them out of bed.

      “Is she gone?” Carlos groaned curling up more.

      “You know she is going to send Princess,” Jay yawned settling back down, grinding his morning wood between them.

      “She can join the nest,” Carlos shrugged, he could feel Jay but he didn’t really care they were... well they were just them.

      “Which is exactly what she is going to end up doing. Mal forgets that Princess likes this too,” he shifted his hips again trying to get comfortable again after the interruption. 

      Carlos nodded, they would make a pile and spend the weekend just relaxing.

 

      Mal looked at Evie, “You mind going to the boys room and getting Jay up and out of bed? I know it’s the weekend, but he needs to work on school, I saw a failed test on his desk.”

      “Mal, maybe we need a new approach,” Evie chewed her lip looking at her.

      “I don’t have a new approach, I just don’t know what his issue is. I know he is slow at reading, but he failed a math test. He’s supposed to be good at math.”

      “Maybe it's the letters in the math?” Evie suggested.

      “The letters aren’t even that important though.”

      “It might confuse his brain though,” she pointed out.

      "Anything not related to his, stealing, drinking, fucking, money or sports confuses his brain." Mal stated dryly, "We just need to get him on track is all. I got him to cut the fucking out of his life, and got him to mostly give up the stealing and the drinking, which I was hoping freed up enough brain power for him to focus on school. That was the issue on the Isle, he didn't have enough time for school."

      “Just don’t push for too much too fast Mal, not all of us managed to... evolve in this world as fast as you,” Evie sighed.

      "I'm not pushing too much, because I know you can get him to do what needs to be done. You know how to bribe him into just about anything E. Which is why I need you to go over there and get him moving." Mal batted her lashes, "We all know how long it takes him when he isn't motivated. I know you can get him motivated so much better than I can. And you want him to do well in school don't you?"

      “Of course I do, I’ll talk to him,” Evie nodded, Mal just didn’t want to listen to them on somethings.

      "Wonderful," Mal clapped, "I'll wait here for you two."

      “I’ll call you when we are on our way” Evie smiled before heading out the door.

 

      Jay lifted his head up as the door opened, “Called it. Lock the door Princess and come pile.”

      “You know she is going to come looking for us” she laughed closing the door and taking off her shoes.

      “Then she can figure it out on her own” Carlos sat up a little looking at her.

      “Don’t give a shit at the moment,” he shifted his shoulders, “Come here Princess.”

      Evie nodded and slid between her two boys.

      Jay hummed curling himself around his princess. If Mal wanted to be an ass today, he could be one right back. Especially since his head was still killing him and he didn't want to be anywhere near Auradonians. "Get some sleep Princess," he rubbed his knuckles against her flat belly soothingly.

      Evie placed a hand over his lacing her fingers with his. It was nice to go back to this for a little while.

      He didn't know why he always slept better near them. Even on the Isle where you tended to sleep with one eye open. Every part of him seemed to relax finally, knowing he was there to keep his safe. He only wished Penny was there with them. The thought of the girl made the uneasiness come back and he opened his eyes to check the room.

      “Relax, just let us all relax,” Carlos sighed, putting his head under Evie's chin.

      "I am trying," he admitted before easing away and headed into the bathroom. When he came back out he smiled looking over his. He could keep them safe for the Run again, all he had to do was make sure he had stocked up enough to keep them comfortable. Jay dropped back down into the nest and curled his full body around them.

      Evie let herself relax and enjoy being with her boys. She knew Jay was on edge. They didn’t know what was coming this year, and losing someone they were close to, an ally of sorts wasn't helping.

      Mal gave in when an hour passed by and no Jay and Evie reappeared. The blunette had clearly been pulled into the pile. Standing, she cast one last look at her mother before heading back to the boys room. One way or another Jay was going to study and buckle down on his schoolwork. The days of his optional Isle school were over. Here in Auradon, school was mandatory and she was determined to prove her second was smart.

      Evie felt when Mal entered the room and didn’t give any indication of knowing she was there. Mal could join them or she could leave.

      Mal sighed seeing them. As much as she wanted to get them moving, it was getting close to the day of the Run. Carlos had said he had gotten Jay's homework done. It looked like her second was finally sleeping. 

      Evie lifted her hand towards Mal, her eyes still closed.

      Mal took it and sighed settling down behind Jay. Her second snapping awake before relaxing when he realized it was her.

      Evie smirked cuddling back into Jay, they were all together.

      Jay pushed back against Mal's dainty frame. It wasn't like her to join the piles.

      "Go back to sleep Jay," Mal whispered, "We'll get you to study after dinner."

      "Sure Mal," he hummed as she gripped him hard, fingers pressing into his skin.

      It was somewhat nice having him settled against her. He seemed to radiate heat in a more intense way than he had on the Isle. Mal wasn't tired but she was fine with laying there with them, like they did in the winter when Jay could escape his father's house. It also let her see the muscle filling her minions out. The way that their visible bones had finally disappeared under their skin. Her fingers curiously touched Jay's belly feeling muscles jump under her attention. She had seen Ben shirtless before, actually quite a few of the Tourney boys, but she didn't remember many of them looking like this. Then again her thief was the lust of the Isle with a silvered tongue used to rob everyone blind.

      Jay let Mal touch him, her fingers careful not to wake him while maintaining that curious nature of someone who wasn't used to something. Letting his head tip towards her, he swallowed hard. His body was getting wound up at the unfamiliar touch, and he fought to keep still.

      "Want me to roll onto my back for you?" He whispered and Mal jerked her hand back. "I don't mind Mal. Really." He wanted her to claim him, he did, but she just didn't seem to understand that.

      "No. I should get up, look over what you're doing in your classes. I want you to do better in class, I want you to stop failing quizzes and exams," Mal pulled away from him, not liking the nerves in her belly. She turned quickly so she wouldn't have to see the wounded look in his eyes even if his expression hadn't changed.

      "I'll try harder," he offered before tucking himself tighter against Evie as if it would stop the way her dismissal made his chest ache. Why couldn't he seem to get it right with her? He was trying and never making it.

      Evie took his hand again. She wanted to comfort him, he was fine the way he was. School just wasn’t for him.

      Mal glanced back at the pile and the way Jay and Evie seemed to be curled tighter together before turning away. Her second was fine, it wasn't like he had been expecting her to do more. He knew she wasn't big on touching.

      Jay kissed her cheek and slowly pushed himself up, he might as well try and make her happy by studying. Grabbing his shirt he pulled it on as there was a knock on their door. He wasn’t expecting any one so he cautiously opened the door so his whole body blocked their view into the room. 

      Jay stared at Jordan as she stood awkwardly on the other side of his door, “Something I can help you with gorgeous? I mean not that I mind surprise visits from such a vision.”

      “Save it Jay,” Jordan rolled her eyes speaking her native language, “Fairy Godmother sent me over here to help with your ‘language’ issues. Apparently she noticed you aren’t the world’s fastest translator.”

      “Uh what?” Jay blinked edging back on instinct, generally his baba’s language did not mean good things for him.

      “Seriously? It’s okay, don’t have to be embarrassed about it, I wasn’t the quickest at it either when I got here.”

      “Jordan,” Jay said slowly and she gave him one of those looks, “I have no idea what you're saying.”

      “Wait,” she frowned, “You don’t know Arabic?”

      “Not really, I know like three words. Mama, Baba and Amo, that’s it.”

      Jordan shifted uneasily, “So... your baba didn’t teach you how to read or write Arabic either did he?”

      “No. Why the fuck are you asking?” Jay didn’t mean it to come out so abrasive but he didn’t like anyone knowing about his home life.

      “Fairy Godmother thought your classwork and exam grades were because common tongue is your second language.”

      He felt his face heat up, “I... I’m...”

      Jordan took pity on the kid who looked so thrown off his game she felt bad for not wording it nicer, “It’s okay Jay, you don’t have to explain anything to me. In fact, let’s just forget this whole thing happened. Flirt with me like normal, please, cause you are making me feel like a horrible person.”

      Jay closed his eyes choking back a laugh, “Babe you are about as far from horrible as you can get. Evil Jordan, I’m the one who snapped at you.”

      She smiled slightly, “It’s cool. You know, if you ever want to learn I would be okay with some one on one teaching you.”

      “Promises, promises,” he smirked leaning on the door frame, “I wouldn’t be the one learning anything though,” he made a show of visually undressing her, her face red when he reached it.

      “Yep okay good, we’re all back to normal. I am going to go now. Have a good afternoon Jay,” Jordan rushed in her embarrassment feeling overheated by his look.

      Jay watched her take off, smile dropping, he had to do better. He was going to have to do more. He was going to have to try harder, unless he wanted more people asking about what his father did or didn’t teach him. He hated it when Mal was right.

      Mal raised an eyebrow at him as he looked at her, “Does this mean you are studying for the rest of the night?”

      “Shut up and teach,” He bit out ruffled and annoyed, all he wanted to do was nurse the headache still pounding in the back of his skull.

Chapter 41: The Bonding of a Prince and a Thief (Mainland: October)

      Aziz wanted to talk with Jay, but the other Agrabahian was hell to find. When he tried at practice Jay ignored his attempts, he tried in the locker room only to find Jay and Carlos had vanished leaving their gear neatly put away. So here he was standing in front of their door listening to the sounds of Jay's rapidly increasing volume, at Mal? It sounded like Mal at least, but he was under the impression those two were thick as thieves, if you'd pardon the expression.

      Taking a deep breath he knocked on the door loud enough to be heard over their bout.

      “I'm not done!” Mal's voice snapped through the door.

      “Well maybe I am done with this fucking conversation,” Jay's responded stomping towards the door to throw it open.

      Aziz caught the door as Jay went to slam it on his face, “Relax will you? You’ve been avoiding me Jay. I just want to talk.”

      “What is up with everyone wanting to fucking talk to me?” Jay snarled eyes squeezing shut as he clamped down on the inferno raging in his chest despite the sharp pain.

      “Dunno, maybe because you’re an easy guy to talk to,” Aziz offered and Jay looked taken off guard, “We can do it here or my room, your choice.”

      Jay looked over his shoulder at Mal, he wanted as far from her and her rounding on him about his test score as he could get, “Your room.”

      “Jay!”

      “Mal we continue this conversation I am going to punch you in the mouth, and the way I'm feeling I ain't gonna stop,” he bit out eyes flickering with power, “So get off my back or I will put you on yours.”

      Aziz wanted to know, but he decided not to ask. Instead he stepped aside for Jay to follow after him. None of the VKs wore uniforms but Jay had a standard outfit that could have doubled as a uniform at this point. Leather fingerless gloves, short leather cuffs, black knit beanie and the leather vest with the cobra on the back of it every day. That he did want to know about.

      “Jay weird question.”

      “Any question you ask me is weird Prince Aziz. But sure go ahead.”

      He gave the teen walking beside him a flat look, “I wanted to know why you basically wear the same thing every day. I mean all your friends have a change of outfits but you never change clothes other than like a rotating three pairs of pants.”

      Jay blinked, Aziz was the only one who had noticed that, “Your right that was a weird question.”

      “So you aren't going to tell me?”

      He rubbed the back of his arm suddenly embarrassed by his lack of material items next to a Prince, “I um... I don't have any other clothes so I wash what I've got.”

      That made Aziz pause, “What? You didn't bring any from home?”

      “I brought everything I own aside from my rug and my boys.”

      “Your...” Aziz cut himself off reminding himself life on the isle was not likely like life anywhere else. “Your boys?”

      “My eels, Lagan and Derelict,” Jay smiled a little keeping his eyes on the hallway as Aziz purposefully adjusted his stride to prevent Jay from being one step behind, “And my baba's Macaw, though he would tell you it's the other way round.”

      “Iago? That bird is still alive?” Aziz frowned not liking the idea of the bird being near Jay.

      “Yeah,” Jay saw the look, “What of it? He looked after me when I was a kid. When I got older I started looking after him and he took to calling me his Jay,” he shook his head trying to not be so abrasive, it wasn’t like the Prince knew anything but the stories, “Probably not the bird your folks told you about, but he's, I don't know, he's Iago...”

      Aziz caught on there was more to the story than that but didn't mention it as he pushed the door to his room open, “Yeah doesn't sound like an evil parrot to me.” he paused watching Jay as the teen’s eyes flicked around the room, was he casing the room, no he was looking for ways out. “Take a seat Jay, and no you aren’t in trouble. I just want to talk.”

      “What did you want to talk about?” Jay asked cautiously, walking to one of the beds as Aziz fiddled with something. He shouldn’t sit on the Prince’s bed but he wasn’t positive which was which so he hovered there unsure what to do.

      “Tourney, Swords and Shields, your grades. Really though, whatever it is that has you in a funk.”

      “Funk?”

      “You know, a piss poor mood. Let's just say I've noticed how aggressive you've been during practice. And you were about to come to blows with Mal, one of your-”

      “She is not my friend.” Jay cut him off firm and venomous.

      Aziz looked over his shoulder, “Okay... your ally. Or leader, or whatever it is you call the relationship you have with her.”

      He watched as Jay dragged his hands over his face before he settled down on the floor, knees tucked under him, “Honestly Prince Aziz I don't even know anymore. If we were home I would have told you she was my leader. But here... I don't even know where I fit in. I was the thief, the shield, the brawn, now I'm just Jay the inconvenience.”

      “You are not an inconvenience,” Aziz stated firmly watching as Jay lifted his head to look at him, “Now would you sit at the table,” he smiled trying to be as friendly as possible as he settled at the table and set the two mugs down, when the younger male cautiously joined him he pushed one into Jay's hands. “It’s tea from home.”

      “What...” the question stalled out and Aziz sipped at his tea waiting patiently until Jay found the words.

      “What is it actually like there? Baba told me stories when I was real little, but he stopped...”

      “Sandy, hot, home. But if you want you can come and see it for yourself. I know my parents would love to meet you. Before you flip out on me, they don't assume your like your baba or want to poke at anything, they just want to meet one of my star tourney players,” he sipped at the hot tea watching as Jay's mouth opened and closed, eyes seeming to flicker colors as he tried to work through the impulsive words.

      “Thanks for the offer Prince, but I don't think so.”

      “Offer is always there for you to take Jay. But if it's never, that is fine too. Switching gears to other things that piss you off. What's going on with your school work?”

      “I'm not good at school.”

      “Yeah but I see you working hard, so what is going on?”

      “Nothing...” Jay shook his head and Aziz saw that flicker in his face, he wouldn't be getting anything out of him.

      “Well if your nothing is something, I'm more than happy to help. All you have to do is ask.”

      “No one wants something for nothing,” Jay buried the words in the mug, why was he so damn easy to talk to? Maybe he missed talking to Penny, yeah that had to be it. Either that or all the shit with Mal was getting to him finally. 

      “I know you feel that way but really, truly, I am here to help if you want it.” he was pushing and he could tell his words were getting through, but maybe it wasn’t enough.

      Jay finished his tea off, and stood slowly, “I appreciate it Prince Aziz, but you don’t need to waste your time on me.”

      Aziz waited until Jay was at his door, “I don’t consider any time I have spent interacting with you wasted.”

      He paused for a moment before leaving the Prince in his room trying to leave the strange feeling in his chest. Maybe he should go and see Evie, get his head sorted out. He wanted to, but instead he found himself sitting once more on the roof alone.

      Prince Aziz. Prince Aziz son of Jasmine and Aladdin, heir to the throne of Agrabah and one of the Tourney Coaches. Jay groaned letting his body flop back onto the roof. The words of the golden eyed male were echoing in his mind. It had to be a trick. Just like with Harry, it had to be a trick, a ruse, a lie to lure him in. But the Prince had never lied to him before, yelled at him, praised him, tried to talk and connect sure, but never once lied. His eyes traced the clouds above him, this sky the same, but so much different than the one at home. Why did he even agree to go? He could have escaped long before they made it to the Prince's room.

 

      Mal was storming around her and Evie's room. How thick headed was Jay? She made sure he knew everything on the test and he still failed it. His writing was so bad in places the teacher had put a question mark through it and a note on the cover telling him to write neater. Of course she had grilled him about it, and he shot back. Right up until Prince Aziz appeared at the door. Jay saw a chance to avoid her and took it, just like always. She was going to hex him.

      “Mal sit down,” Evie sighed watching her. She was getting wound up about Jay, but Mal needed to take a different approach.

      “He ran. I can’t believe he ran. He knew everything on that stupid test and he still failed it.” she hissed throwing herself down into her chair.

      “I told you to try a different approach.” Evie looked at her.

      “He failed because his writing so bad the teacher couldn’t read it and half the thing wasn’t even done.”

      “Like I said different approach. He knows how to do most of it, he just needed Carlos or me to explain what it was asking.”

      “Which doesn’t help when he is doing quizzes on his own.”

      “We know that, but he is smart. He just doesn’t understand things the way the mainlanders do, so fearless leader how do we help him besides yelling at him,” she snapped feeling a tingle around her eyes.

      Mal’s eyes flashed venomous green, “I was trying to get him to tell me what the hell is going on and he ran as soon as someone gave him an out.”

      “Because you yell at him, you accuse him without talking, just talk to him. This isn’t easy for him. Carlos worked on homework with him for like 5 hours one night.”

      “I tried talking and he just sits there and says he’ll try harder. I see him study and he understands everything then turns around and fails all of his tests.”

      “Because when he studies he looks at it like an isle kid, on the test they put it in mainland terms. Plus you know he was never much of a reader.” 

      “You think it matters to them if he doesn’t like reading all that much. He just has to do it. Look we can’t give them any excuse to send us home.” Mal was tired of repeating herself, did they not understand that they were utterly screwed if they were sent back. Mal wouldn't be able to keep them safe from their parents and they would suffer far worse than before.

      “This isn’t about liking to read or not. If you haven’t realized that then you are not looking at it correctly. All you are doing is pushing him away, he needs you to actually be there for him, not just yell at him. He doesn’t want to go back anymore then any of us do.” Evie glaired, “I have a fitting to go do,” she grabbed her jacket.

      Mal snarled as Evie stormed off, she hadn't done anything to the system. She was doing as she always had with him. He needed her to keep him in line. This was his fault for not just doing what he needed to do.

 

      Aziz looked at his roommate as he walked in, “You’re back earlier than I expected.”

      “Saw your work in progress on the roof. Figured I would see how your very direct mission went.” Rufio dropped onto his bed looking at the Agrabahian prince.

      “It is still a work in progress, but he willingly came here to talk to me. He didn’t even run, I told him that if he needs help all he has to do is ask. He told me that I shouldn’t waste time on him.”

      Rufio cut him off, “Tell me you were smart enough to inform him he wasn’t a waste of time?”

      “I told him that before he could leave. I think it helped,” Aziz sighed rocking his mug back and forth.

      “I am sure it helped, he looked like he was thinking things over. Are you going to try again soon? I would suggest you do because it looked like the Isle kids are about to implode.”

      He frowned at that, “Why would you say that?” 

      “Jordan apparently got sent by FG to help with Jay’s school work. It doesn’t sound like it worked out.”

      “I’ll see if I can get Jordan to help me.” he chewed on his cheek, Jay seemed to like his djinn friend. 

      “Like I said, sooner rather than later. Just in case the council tries to do something to him. They seemed to have backed off watching him so much since Penny went on a sudden random vacation.”

      “They were watching him? What are you talking about? That’s illegal, he is a minor, they can’t just put them under surveillance,” Aziz stood angrily.

      Rufio snorted, “I am aware it’s illegal, that’s why I told you, so you, as Agrabah’s voice, can step in.”

      “I need to talk to Jordan. I won’t let them send them off for anything,” he reached for his phone intent to help Jay and the others no matter if they verbally asked or not.

 

      It had been a week since his forced study session with Mal, and he was pretty sure the time hadn't helped. Jay leaned against the wall rubbing his head, he was trying to understand these classes but there never seemed like there was enough time to finish their tests. He was hoping he had done enough to at least get a passing score.

      Jordan backed up looking Jay over as Lonnie nudged her, “You okay there Jay?”

      “Yeah, just a surprise test is all,” Jay gave them a tight smile.

      Lonnie passed him a sympathetic look, “I had a pop quiz too. I hate them, I’m never prepared enough for them.”

      “Which is why you and I study every day,” Jordan smiled at her, “You’re more than welcome to come and join us Jay.”

      “No that’s okay,” Jay shook his head, “I don’t have any classes with you lovely ladies.”

      “Well if you change your mind,” Lonnie offered, giving Jordan a look as Mal came down the hall towards them, “Come on Jordan let’s head to lunch. Seriously Jay, if you need help just let us know.”

      Jay watched them, Jordan knew he was doing terrible in his classes but Lonnie hadn't let on that she knew. Why did the Mainlanders try to keep helping him? There didn't seem like anything he did actually helped him. Mal blocked his line of sight and he sighed, time to get yelled at again.

      She watched his eyes harden and she raised a brow, "How did class go?"

      "Surprise test," he muttered, no sense in lying to her.

      "Walk with me." Mal stated turning on her heel, she would try not to yell at him. As her second fell in line with her she kept her gaze focused ahead of them, "How do you think it went?"

      "I have no idea."

      "Well did you at least answer all the questions this time?"

      "No..."

      "Ran out of time reading? Do we need to sit down and practice reading until you get faster?" Her jaw flexed in annoyance.

      "You know it won't help," he muttered, "I am trying to get faster, but it just makes me slower."

      "All I am hearing is excuses. You have to do this or the Mainland will take away your sports. No more Swords and Shields, no more Tourney. Do you understand?"

      "I'm the best player they have-"

      "They don't care. Don't you get that? You don't do this their way, they will punish you." She passed him a look, but he wasn't looking at her, his eyes focused on the window at the end of the hallway, "You want to run, run. But it won't change the fact if you can't get your shit together, all you are going to do is hurt yourself."

      He took the opening and walked away from her, mind focused on getting away from everyone. He didn't want to be around anyone.

      Aziz whirled as his window slid open as he was about to head to lunch. Jay slid himself inside, sitting on the windowsill arms over thighs. Taking a calming breath Aziz set his dagger back down on the table top, "While I am fine with you coming to visit Jay perhaps you could use the door next time."

      Jay ignored the Prince's request, "Do you actually know how to use that?" His eyes traced over the tarnished gold sheath with black and pale blue swirls.

      "I do. My mama and baba insisted I learned to protect myself," Aziz headed back towards Jay and leaned on the table arms folded over his chest, "So what brings you here anyway Jay?"

      "I don't know... I just wanted away from people and ended up here with you."

      Aziz noticed the gaze lingering on the dagger and he stretched grabbing it. "Come inside fully and talk to me."

      "Or you'll stab me?"

      "No, I rather not have to stab you. If you do as I ask, I'll let you check out my dagger. Deal?"

      Jay eyed him curiously, "Why are you making a deal?"

      "That's how you operate right? No one wants something for nothing. If I make deals, which is something you are comfortable with, then you can understand I don't have any ill will against you."

      Jay smiled slightly sliding off the windowsill and closed it behind him, "Deal."

      Aziz offered him the sheathed blade, watching as Jay inspected it. The Isle kids clearly knew their way around weapons. "So what's going on?"

      "Nothing Prince Aziz."

      "Bullshit, also can we just skip the formal title please? Aziz is just fine."

      Jay lifted his gaze, looking at the Agrabahian prince from under his lashes, "Didn't realize Prince Aziz knew those kinds of words."

      "Okay fuck you," Aziz went to grab his blade and coughed as Jay reacted all raw power throwing him down to the floor with a sweep.

      Jay pulled back quickly, this was the one time he wished he didn't just react. He was so getting sent home for this.

      "Damn I actually feel bad for the other players, you hit like a truck." Aziz laughed softly looking up at Jay, "Will you relax already brat? It's my fault for making you think I was attacking you."

      "Your fault?"

      "Yes Jay, my fault. I am sorry I made you react like that."

      Jay cautiously reached down half expecting to be shoved away. Instead Aziz grabbed his arm, accepting the help off the floor. "You don't need to apologize to me, I'm-"

      "Jay ibn Yahya, my best Tourney player," he smiled pulling a chair out, "Talk to me Jay what really brought you here. I am happy to help however I can, just tell me what you need."

      “What do you want in return Aziz?” he could have cringed at the defeated tone in his own voice.

      Aziz blinked as his title finally disappeared and gave Jay a half smile, “Depends on what you need help with. And don't try and bullshit me Jay, I know when you're dodging a question.”

      Jay snorted looking down at his hands flipping the dagger before setting it on the table, “Penny and I used to have a deal...” there was a long pause as Aziz patiently waited for Jay to explain, “She would help me with school stuff and I taught her the stuff I knew from the Isle. Sometimes we’d just talk, whatever was bugging her, mostly whoever.”

      Aziz felt bad for the younger male. The way he talked about the Princess made him sound like he was missing a relative of his own. 

      “Well, if you want we can have the same deal. I can always use some pointers with lockpicking.” Aziz offered flushing at the look Jay gave him through his lashes.

      “Yeah I don't think you would be quite okay with some of the things she was cool with.”

      “You slept with her?”

      “No I never fucked her,” Jay grinned seeing the hot flush up Aziz's face, “Kissed her a few times when she was really upset and cuddled her whenever she was having a day. So you sure you want the exact same deal?”

      Aziz looked away clearing his throat, “So you, um you, I mean it doesn't matter to me if you are, but you-”

      Jay found it shockingly amusing how off kilter Aziz was being about this, holding back a laugh he smirked, “It don't much matter to me what equipment you're packing. Isle thing: skin is just skin.”

      That did not make things easier really but it explained why Jay never seemed fazed by near anything remotely romantic between couples. Aziz pulled his arms around his chest, “I cut the line at hugs.”

      “Hugs?”

      “You don't... right Isle kid... that thing where you wrap your arms around someone for greetings, comfort, showing affection and they do the same back. I will take it you didn't get those on the Isle?”

      “Not often enough for me to remember the word. Baba stopped doing that when I was 5 or 6,” Jay shrugged a shoulder, “Evie gave me them when she was really happy about something I stole her. I,” he stopped shaking his head Crocodile didn't ever give them back, he wasn't her crew, she always subjected herself to his need for contact with her.

      “Dad is the only word he taught you of our native language isn't it.”

      “Yeah... I'm not really good at the whole learning thing. He told me I'd do better learning from a parrot.”

      “Then I will help you with school work and you can help me with my lock picking,” Aziz amended their deal deciding not to ask just yet for an explanation of what he meant. He got the impression that Jay and his father had a complicated relationship that Jay wanted no one to know about, not even the other Isle kids.

      “Sure, works for me Aziz,” Jay nodded, he wasn't going to be leaning on that deal, not like with Penny. He couldn't handle going through all of this when the other male left the school. They were going to fall apart, and Jay couldn't leave himself open again. He had gotten burned when Penny was wished away, and it was taking everything he had not to go to the Isle himself and find her. He knew she was there, he just didn't know how he was going to get her, Crocodile and himself back off the Isle.

Chapter 42: Halloween on the Mainland

      Jay finished the last of the blanket and pillow nest when Mal and Evie came into their room, “I raided the kitchen last night, got us stuff to hold us the whole day.”

      “Excellent,” Mal nodded dropping her bag next to the pile.

      “This looks cozy,” Evie smiled

      “Yeah we will be cozy and safe” Carlos chuckled.

      He smiled, “Can’t have mine being uncomfortable today. Mal and I will be on look out come dusk so you two can just sit here and relax. Got a few bottles too, just in case you need to take the edge off.”

      “I would complain, but it is the run. We all could use a drink,” Mal pulled her sketchbooks and her school work out.

      “What did you get us?” Evie smirked laying in the little nest.

      “Rum, whiskey, and a bottle of wine with fruit on it,” he offered setting them near the nest for her, “And some plastic cups from the kitchen. Along with sandwiches, fruit, and snacks.”

      “You got cups?” Carlos looked at him, it wasn’t anything they had time or will for on the Isle.

      “For the wine. Saw some ladies in town drinking their wine with real fruit in it,” Jay shrugged a shoulder, “And by cups I mean two, figure that was more than enough. One for the fruit and wine thing if Princess wants to try it and the other for water out of the bathroom tap.”

      Mal gave him an amused look, “You really like spoiling her don’t you?”

      “She’s my Princess, why wouldn’t I? I spoil pup with sweets and tech.”

      “That sounds a very nice idea,” Evie smirked at him.

      “Figured you might like it.”

      “You think of everything,” Carlos smiled.

      "I do what I can. What's with the books Mal?"

      "Given we are all holed up today, figured we could keep up with your class work." She gave him a pointed look and he sighed dragging his bag over. "Wicked choice."

      "I'm stuck with you all day might as well just let you do what you want." Jay settled down beside the nest resting a hand of Evie's thigh.

      “We could have our own little isle hidy whole in here,” Evie nodded.

      "That's kind of the plan," Jay smirked.

      “So... cuddle pile?” Carlos asked, looking at them.

      "Cuddles while we help Jay keep more information in his head," Mal agreed as he sighed.

      "Like I said, whatever you want Mal."

      It didn't take long for Mal to give up her idea in forcing Jay to retain information. Her second was too busy taking care of his to answer her questions. So she threw her legs over his lap and sketched trying to make a better version of Ben's moniker. Maybe he'd like it, not that she really cared, it gave her something to settle her nerves. The run always made her tense. Being off the Isle hadn't changed that in the slightest.

      Jay watched Evie sew with those dainty little stitches of hers. Of course she would find one of his shirts that accidentally got pulled into the pile. Sure it was rough looking, but it was what he had, and he really didn't need anything else, it still did it's job and kept his leather vest from sticking to his skin. His free hand was rubbing Mal's lower legs, sure she never said so, but she always seemed to calm down somewhat when he did it. And he just wanted to be somewhat useful to her still.

      “I really need to make you a few shirts,” Evie mused as she stitched the shoulder of the shirt.

      “He won't wear them,” Carlos snorted, flipping through his chem book.

      "I will just be more careful with them. I don't really need anymore than what I have." Jay made a face, she was busy with all of her orders anyway.

      “And if I want to do it?” she asked, glancing up at him.

      He sighed softly, "What do you want in return?" If she was going to be like this he'd at least give her something in return, that was fair.

      “You can come with me when I buy fabric and carry it,” she tilted her head.

      "Yeah I can do that," Jay nodded.

      Mal rolled her eyes, "Have you caught on to the fact you don't have to make deals?"

      "Maybe I don't give a shit. No one wants something for nothing." He fixed her with a glower but sighed, today was not the day for this.

      “Jay come cuddle over here” Carlos said, giving Mal a slightly sour look.

      He looked at his pup as Mal lifted her legs up, "Your being summoned."

      "Coming Los," Jay kissed Evie's cheek and pushed himself up, moving to where Carlos was crashed out with his science book. "You okay?" He asked kissing Carlos' temple softly before settling down behind him.

      “Yeah, just feels like she’s always saying you’re not good at stuff,” Carlos shrugged.

      "No different than on the Isle." He replied setting his chin on Carlos' shoulder, "You two just didn't hear as much of it because I was more useful there than here. I could fight and steal there. Stuff I was good at."

      “You’re good at other stuff,” Carlos sighed.

      “Fucking doesn’t count. You know since it’s not really a thing here.” he was ignoring the fact he needed it, that he worked himself off when he couldn’t ignore it anymore. He was also ignoring Blondie’s and Erica’s prompting because it was too dangerous.

      “I wasn’t talking about fucking,” Carlos looked at him, “You are good at taking care of people, you make most of the girls here smile by making them feel good about themselves.”

      “Which I guess is wicked and all, but not really useful,” Jay nuzzled Carlos’ neck and sighed, forcing himself to not go further, he wasn’t what his wanted anymore, he had to remember that.

      “Maybe a professional... complimentor?” Carlos suggested

      “I feel like that is not a thing. It’s fine I’ll just do Tourney, not like I got anything else going for me.”

      “We’ll find your thing, just have to figure it out. E and I will help you,” he assured.

      “It’s cool, really, as long as you two get to do what you want to do in life I can make do with whatever.”

      “We’ll make you happy, we’ll find a way,” Carlos leaned back into him.

      “You and Princess make me happy. That’s all I can ask for.” he couldn’t risk it with the Mainlanders, he couldn’t be sent back for a lie. He hoped Penny would have been different, but she had never really understood and he hadn’t wanted to push his needs onto her like everyone else.

      “We’ll find a way,” Carlos closed the book.

      Jay hugged Carlos gently content to just hold his pup in his arms for a little bit as it settled his nerves. The day of the run was always tense, a little less tense here on the Mainland where he trusted the walls to hold and the roof to not cave in. But it wasn’t enough to keep the coils of heat from forming in his chest until his eyes burned. 

      Carlos cuddled back into Jay grabbing Evie's hand to pull her over.

      Evie smiled letting herself be pulled into the cuddle. She set the shirt aside to finish it later.

      Mal sighed moving until her back was pressed against Jay’s. She had to remember that Jay’s skillset, the one he relied on to help him, all of them really, survive was pointless here. He didn’t have to fight or steal or charm anything off anyone. Jay had to adapt, but he didn’t seem to know how to. Maybe she just needed to try something else once they were through today. They still had a few hours at least before the screaming started. If they were home she would be gearing up ready to be thrown out. Jay would have already disappeared into one of his many holes, waiting it out for the day. Evie and Carlos would either be with him or be able to get to him within an hour of the run’s start. As his back pressed harder against hers she was reminded of the run she nearly lost her second who had come to rescue her, the resignation in his eyes as he was dragged down the alley by them. The sound of his scream echoing in her memories as her enemies reset his broken rib after they had saved them.

      Evie glanced up at them as she held Carlos, this was them as a group, a team just like they were supposed to be.

      Jay yawned at the comfortable feelings, “So snacks? Cause I don’t think it’s a good idea for me to fall asleep right now.”

      “What do you want?” Evie asked.

      “I think I grabbed some chips and nut somethings,” Jay offered pushing back towards Mal ready to get up and stretch his legs a little.

      Mal leaned forward and grabbed the berries, pulling them closer, “We can do a little drinking once the sun goes down.”

      “Sounds like a good time,” Carlos rolled onto his back.

      “Will help keep everyone calm too.” Mal shrugged watching Jay pace for a moment before he grabbed his snack food. 

      “Calm is good” Evie agreed her eyes following Jay, “I wonder what exactly happens here, I mean they didn’t force us out last year.”

      "Yeah well you heard all the screaming." Jay mentioned, popping the mix into his mouth, "Must have had easier targets."

      “Most of the kids here seem like easy targets,” Carlos nodded.

      “Which is why we are holed up here, and we keep low and quiet,” Mal smirked and lifted Jay’s shirt, “You want me to get you some more?”

      “If I told Princess that she didn’t need to make me more, why would I make a deal with you? I would rather wear Princess’ stuff anyway,” Jay settled back down between his.

      “It’s just an offer Jay,” Mal rolled her eyes hand, dipping into his bag of snacks. 

      “I can make more for all of us,” Evie looked between them.

      “If you have the time E,” Mal nodded, “But if you don’t have time don’t worry about it. Making money is important for us at the moment. Helps us have a plan when we get out of here.”

      “I can make time, shirts and pants are pretty simple to make,” Evie shrugged

      Jay raised a brow, “People handing you money for clothes first. Then you worry about us, we are good on clothes.”

      “Jay, some of your clothes are falling apart, and as much as I think the female population of the school would like to see you in nothing. I feel it would be frowned upon,” Evie pointed out

      “I can fix them,” he protested not liking the way they were prodding at his clothes.

      “There really isn’t enough of your clothes to fix on some of them. So you either buy more clothes, let me get you more, or E makes you more and you suck it up.”

      “Man it's never a winning fight when they team up,” Carlos shook his head.

      He huffed annoyed, “Fine Princess can make me a new shirt.”

      “Great I’ll figure out a good color,” Evie smiled.

      "Dark red, gold or black," Mal snorted, "That's his go to colors."

      “I know but out here there are different shades of everything.”

      "So black?" Mal snickered, "If we were talking pants, leather or jeans."

      "Fair... I don't really do colors."

      “Could make a nice pair of black leather pants for Jay,” Evie smirked.

      "Okay I caved for a shirt, and not pants."

      "Black leather pants would be good. Jay may actually wear them all the time." Mal grabbed some more snacks out of his bag. "You know I could tell her to dress you right?"

      Jay sighed and looked at Evie, "Princess you can make me one shirt as agreed. Outside that forget it. I got enough clothes."

      “We will revisit the topic at a later time,” Evie smirked.

      Mal gave Jay a smug look and he rolled his eyes, "We most certainly will." Despite the change in scenery it felt like the four of them were back at the Hideout on any day but the Run.

      Leaning back on his elbows Jay left the bag of food in his lap, "So remind me why we can't do this more often? Ignoring the whole day of the Run thing. Why can't we just crash here all day?"

      "Because we have classes, and you pretty much have to go to them? Plus you skipped enough school on the Isle," Mal stated going back to her sketch pad.

      “Maybe we could set up a weekend after Tourney Practice?” Carlos suggested leaning into Jay.

      "Yeah I guess? Coach was pushing about me doing Swords and Shields again this year. Don't know why."

      "I mean other than the obvious, your good at it? You got that award from Tourney last season." Mal gestured to the gold colored trophy sitting on Jay's end table.

      He made a face, “Yeah but they don’t use real weapons here and there is no challenge. If there was a challenge I would like it better.”

      “It’s up to you Jay, we will spend as much time as we can with you,” Evie assured him.

      "It would give you an outlet till Tourney actually starts." Mal’s eyes flicked to Evie, “Plus you are good at it.”

      “Yeah I am good at it,” he smiled slightly, “But do you really want me just goofing off?”

      “It's not goofing off it’s releasing stress” Evie shook her head.

      "Stress? What stress?" Jay snorted with a grin, "I'm only stressed when Mal's hounding on me about grades."

      "Because I know you can do better. You know your shit, you just have to get it out of your brain and onto the paper."

      “And we are working on it,” Carlos nodded.

      Jay gave a humorless laugh, "See Mal I am trying." He tried not to think of his deal with the golden eyed prince. He had lost sleep thinking about the deal he made, how stupid did he have to be to break down and ask the royal for help. The Prince didn't have time to deal with someone as worthless as him.

      Mal snapped her fingers in front of his face as Jay's eyes went distant, "Stop thinking. We have actual shit to worry about today. You let me do the thinking today."

      "Fine by me," his eyes drifted to the window, "Not much longer now anyway."

      “I wish this room had like a secret exit or something,” Carlos looked around the room.

      "Same. But all we got are the windows and I don't want to risk a roof run if they want to give chase. Here is about defensible as anywhere. Worst comes to worst, you and E hide in the closet while Jay and I deal with them."

      “We know the plan,” Evie nodded stiffly.

      Jay rubbed her leg, "We all know the plan."

      “We will be ready for anything,” she looked at him.

 

      The sun was dipping below the horizon, the Run had begun. A few far off screams just audible enough to be heard in their secluded room. Mal bit the side of her bottom lip as there was a knock on the boy’s door. They had clustered together again, Evie and Carlos tucked into the nest as Jay sat on his shins ready to defend them at a second's notice. She cautiously pushed herself up off the floor. The knock came again followed by Ben’s muffled voice.

      “Mal? Jay? Carlos? Evie? Are you guys in there? It’s just me, Ben...”

      Mal glanced back at them and saw Jay had hidden the bottles under the blanket nest. Evie clutched at Carlos nervously behind Jay who had slid a hand in his vest, face set in that way she always appreciated on the Isle. She pulled the door open cautiously and paused seeing Ben standing there in what looked like a cape and a pointed wizard hat in his hands.

      “Hi,” he gave her that soft apologetic smile, “Fairy Godmother told me you all had skipped your classes today. I wanted to check in on you, see how you were doing, make sure you all were okay?”

      She pointedly ignored his questions, “What are you wearing?”

      “Oh, it’s my costume for the Trick or Treaters tonight. I’m a young Merlin,” he smiled wider, “It’s Halloween.”

      “Yeah we are fucking aware of what day it is,” Jay growled from his position. He wouldn't leave his defenseless,  no matter what he would keep himself in place just in case.

      “You’re going out tonight? Are you mainlanders crazy?” Carlos looked at him. He was the prince if something happened to him... well it wasn’t good.

      Ben looked at them confused, “May I come in?” he asked jumping as Mal dragged him inside before checking the hallway and quickly closing the door. His head tilted, they looked like they were bunkered down for something. “I am guessing that Halloween isn’t a kid friendly holiday on the Isle?”

      Mal snorted returning to her place next to Jay feeling how tense he was, “No. It’s about the least kid friendly day of the year. Halloween on the Isle is dangerous.”

      “I take it the screams aren’t from kids in danger?” Jay asked wary, how was it so bad on the Isle and not a thing here?

      Ben carefully sat on a chair in front of them, this explained why they had vanished last year as well, “No. The only things kids are in danger of today are stomach aches from eating too much candy. I’m sorry I didn’t explain this last year to you four. Halloween here on the mainland is when all the kids dress up,” he gestured to his clothes, “And go door to door getting candy. Traditionally we have a small carnival set up here on Campus, that’s why the back up field had all those buildings on it. We did a smaller version last year in the gym because of bad weather. It’s why there are all the decorations up, the pumpkins with carved faces, the bats and skeletons, that kind of thing.”

      “I just figured the Good HTowners were in,” Jay shrugged.

      “HTowners?” Ben frowned, confused.

      “Halloween towners,” Carlos supplied, “So there's no demons chasing kids?”

      “Demon? No no demons,” Ben shook his head at Carlos.

      “Oh... well that’s good,” Evie swallowed

      “So... do you guys want to come to the carnival with me?” Ben looked at them a little nervous.

      Mal swallowed and looked at Jay, “You sure it’s safe?”

      “Very, it's just like the first day of school really. Everyone has booths set up and there are games,” Ben nodded.

      “That does sound fun,” Evie chewed her lip, still unsure.

      Jay pushed himself to his feet and looked out the window, “So there are no demons, the screams are from a carnival, and this is all normal?”

      “Sure, we’ll go, but we aren’t dressing up,” Mal eyed his outfit in distaste. 

      “I wouldn’t expect you too” Ben agreed.

Chapter 43: Mainland Halloween Carnival

      Mal looked at the buildings and lights on the back Tourney field. The kids running around in costumes, with toys or candy in their hands. Everyone seemed so... happy. This was like the inverse of the Run. Everything here was bright and cheery, the screams were filled with excitement and not the blind terror they were all used to. She looked at Jay who stood silent beside her, not that she blamed him, this was a lot to take in. 

      “So what are we supposed to do at a carnival?” Mal asked curiously, “Like what is the point of all this?” 

      “It’s for fun, the point is to enjoy yourself,” Ben looked at her.

      “That’s it? Just enjoy ourselves?” Mal glanced at Jay, “Keep an eye on E and Los.”

      He nodded slowly, “Sure. Be safe.” Jay shifted looking at his two, “Come on you two, we’ll explore and see what’s up.”

      “Yeah, I see a chocolate booth,” Carlos nodded heading that way.

      Mal watched Jay, Carlos and Evie wander into the carnival, “So this happens every year?” she refocused on Ben as they started to walk in the other direction of the trio. “This is so much different than we are used to...”

      “I guess it kinda slipped my mind last year to check on you guys. Yeah some version of this happens every year.” Ben nodded offering her his arm as they walked, he leaned into her, “I also remember from the forms that today is your birthday. I wasn’t sure if you really did anything for it, I guess I kinda know now.”

      Mal smiled thinly, “Dival my mother’s raven used to bring me mice. That was as close to celebrating as I ever had. E had a big party every year for hers, Los we had to rescue from his mom... Jay, none of us know when his birthday is. It’s different for all of us, but today is kind of hell on the Isle more than usual.” she explained, “When we came here we expected much the same things.”

      “He’s still alive?” Ben asked, “I guess I don’t know how long raven’s live but I’m a little shocked. And if you are worried about something you can always ask me. I won’t make fun or laugh,” Ben assured.

      “Yeah he is, same as Iago,” Mal shrugged, “I know you won’t but you also know I won’t ask.” she looked around, “I would have no idea where to even start to ask.”

      “Well if you have any you can come to me, or Jane or Mom.” Ben nodded, “Do you want to try any treats?”

      “What is that stuff?” She asked pointing to the puffy pink and blue clouds on sticks.

      “That is cotton candy, it’s spun sugar,” Ben smiled, “I’ll get us one.”

 

      Jay leaned against a booth eyes on Evie and Carlos as they played a ring toss game. He smiled at the cheerleaders in their little short skirts, flirting as they giggled and batted their lashes at him. If he wasn’t so damn on edge, he would have enjoyed the bounce of the breasts in their shirts a little more. Then again it was hard to really focus on them when he was trying to make sure his were safe. He didn’t trust this thing at all.

      Aziz spotted Evie’s blue hair first as Rufio floated beside him, “They have emerged.”

      “Mean’s Ben found them from wherever they were hiding out. I don’t see Mal so she must be around with the Crown Prince,” he hovered a few more inches, hand on the hilt of the golden Pan sword, “Where is your pet project then? If Mal isn’t here he should be.”

      “There,” Aziz gestured, “Flirting with some very braless cheerleaders,” he sighed softly, “He is if nothing else consistent. If you want to go chase some girls go on.”

      “What do you take me for?” Rufio dropped to the ground mock offended.

      “A permanent 16 year old boy,” he pointed out, “Well go on. I am going to see if I can get Jay to talk to me out here in the open.”

 

      Evie laughed as she managed to get a ring around the peg.

      “Up to your old routines I see,” Aziz commented coming up behind Jay.

      “Hi Aziz,” the girls chirped giggling before waving as they headed off, “Bye Jay.”

      Jay sighed despite the fact he was still watching Evie as she collected a prize from the dazzled male running the game, “Come on I’m not doing anything to them.”

      “I’m aware of that actually,” he stood beside Jay following his gaze, Evie was effortlessly gorgeous, he shook his head, “You flirt and tease them but you haven’t even so much as kissed one. Not even Blondie who has plopped herself in your lap more than once now.”

      “Yeah and?” Jay glanced at Aziz, and squeezed his hands into fists as the flickering lights reflected off those golden pools.

      “You said skin was just skin, so are you just not interested in anyone or is it something else?”

      “All it takes is someone saying I forced them and I get sent home. And I really don’t want to go home. Now why are you over here talking to me anyway?”

      “Figured now was a great place to talk to you where you won’t feel cornered. Especially since I was wondering if you are ever going to come to my room and work on homework. Coach told me you're going on probation if you fail another assignment.”

      Jay looked away clamping down on the burning heat in his chest, “I... I’ll work on it.”

      Aziz sighed and moved slightly closer, “The deal was I help you. Let me help you, we have a deal Jay. My lockpicking doesn’t get any better without you, and your grades don’t get any better without me. Pretty sure Mal would get off your back if your grades started improving.”

      “You shouldn’t waste your time with me.”

      Aziz grabbed the back of Jay’s vest carefully as he watched all of those muscles bunch under his skin, “You are not a waste of time. Not for me and not for your allies. I don’t know who the hell put it into your head that you are a waste of time, but it is a lie. Just give me the chance to prove it.”

      Jay froze unsure what to do, Aziz was still a Prince, he couldn’t just pull away. His jaw flexed in annoyance, “Tomorrow afternoon.”

      “I’ll clear my schedule, just so you don’t have an excuse to skip. You don’t show up in my room by 2 pm and I will hunt you down. I am not letting you waste your talents because you don’t think you are worth the effort,” Aziz released the leather fabric.

      Jay snorted, “As you wish Prince Aziz,” he didn’t like the way his belly warmed at the words and headed towards his intent to bury the odd feeling all together.

      Aziz took up Jay’s old place, leaning against the stall as he watched the younger male join Evie and Carlos. He was getting through, little by little he was getting through.

 

      Jay curled his arm around Evie’s hips, “Nice toss.”

      “I think so, you can do better though,” she smiled at him leaning back into him a little.

      “I can try to do better,” he looked at the prizes, “Something else here you want or do you want to try somewhere else?” Jay could still feel Aziz’s eyes on his back, it was hard not to considering the threat the Prince had leveled with him.

      “I could always use a gift from my prince of thieves,” she smiled.

      Jay looked at her and shook his head, “Alright Princess, what do you want?” he asked gesturing for the guy to give him the rings as he handed over the money.

      “How about that red bird?” she pointed.

      “You need like a perfect score for that,” the guy eyed Jay, “I know your good, but a perfect-”

      Jay tossed a ring, catching one bottle, then another and another, the heat in his hands releasing in tiny little bursts until he was out of rings, “So like that?” he raised a brow at the gaping male, “You're going to catch something if you leave your mouth open like that. Now hand Princess that red bird she wanted.”

      “It’s perfect,” Evie smiled taking the stuffed bird.

      “Anything for you Princess,” Jay curled his arm over Carlos’ shoulders, “Alright Pup, what do you want to do next, aside from stuff your face with chocolate.” he thumbed the melted sweet off the corner of his lips resisting the urge to lick it off.

      “Well there is this booth where you get prizes for throwing balls and breaking plates. I figured we’d be pretty good at that,” Carlos smirked at him.

      “They let you break shit? I’m in,” Jay grinned, “Lead the way Pup. Let’s get you the biggest prize they got.”

      Evie laughed at her boy's antics.

      “I’m thinking a new toy for Dude” Carlos nodded.

      "Yeah sure, I can help with that." Jay was all too happy to get away from Aziz as the Prince made no move to follow them. Tomorrow was going to suck, but that was tomorrow's problem.

      “Then let's go break some things,” Carlos bounced.

      Following Carlos through the carnival was easier than he thought especially since they stuck out in the crowds of costumed teens. Not that Jay wasn't appreciating the skimpy outfits. Well up until he spotted Erica in a pair of ass shorts and a shell bra, and his appreciation went straight below his belt line. "I really hate it here," he muttered as they dipped around the corner and popped out beside the plate's game.

      "Oh hi guys!" Lonnie smiled, "You wanna play?"

      “Yeah, I was hoping to win something for Dude,” Carlos nodded to her.

 

      “Well we have plenty of stuffed animals I know Dude will just love,” Lonnie looked them over, “It’s a dollar for four balls.”

      Jay looked over the plates and nodded pulling out the money, “Here you go.”

      “Cool, all you need to do is knock all the plates down in the stack and you win a prize.”

      He tossed the ball up and down getting a feel for it, before throwing one.

      “Wow Jay, that was awesome,” Lonnie stared at the mostly empty platform, “You have three balls to get the last two.”

      “Thanks, it’s not that impressive though. You just need to know where to hit it.” Jay tossed the second ball in his palm before winging it at the edge of the second to last plate. The force of the exploding plate hit the last and tipped it over.

      “You are seriously impressive... Which one do you want Carlos? You can try and get another set down if you want Jay.”

      “I was thinking about that white cloud thing,” Carlos pointed to it.

      “It’s a ghost,” Lonnie smiled handing him the toy as Jay made short work of the second stack, “And what else since Jay knocked over the other set of plates.”

      “Um... the pointed hat,” he pointed, he thought it was cool.

      “Here you go,” Lonnie handed him the other, “Hey Jay while you here, are you doing Swords and Shields again this year?”

      “I haven’t really decided but thinking about it. Why you going to try out?”

      Lonnie flushed, “But I’m a girl...”

      “Yeah and what’s your point? If you want to try out, try out.” he shrugged a shoulder returning to his’ sides, “You want something else Princess? See you around Lonnie.”

      “Sure see you around you three.”

      “Why don’t we go look at some of the other booths,” Evie suggested

      “Sounds good to me. Not like we had other plans until you two are bored of this and we go back to the room and have some drinks.”

      “And cuddles” Carlos added.

      "And cuddles," Jay agreed eyes tracking Audrey who was wearing some sort of pink pants and dress combo. She was being followed by Chad who was in all white with a crown on. The three of them trolled around the stalls filled of games and the entrances of rides. His eyes flickering over the costumed Auradonians warily unable to shake the unease that maybe one of them was going to attack them. “You two want to try one of these rides?”

      “Sure, how about the swing thing?” Carlos suggested.

      “Yeah sure that seems safe enough. Does that sound good to you Princess?” Jay nodded watching the large ride spin kids in chairs around at a relatively slow clip to music.

      “Sure, it should be fun,” Evie agreed looking at the ride.

      Jay guided them into the line before him and followed the other people onto the ride when their turn came up. He looked around watching the other kids to figure out how to hook himself into the seat, seemed simple enough.

      Evie gave him a smile as she hooked her seat up.

 

      Rufio hovered next to Aziz, “So?”

      “Tell me something, what would make someone not see themselves as worth anything?” Aziz asked looking at him.

      “Honestly?” Rufio landed beside him once more, “Plenty of things, all of them engrained over years of repetition. It’s not something that happens over night, and to be honest it’s not something easily broken either.”

      “So it’s hard to break,” he ran a hand through his hair, “Great.”

      “Okay chill Az, I am guessing this is about your pet project, but you don’t have to fix it. Work with it, around it. Now come on,” Rufio slung his arm around Aziz’s shoulders, “Let’s go have some fun for once. You are seriously too uptight these days. Would it kill you to chat up some nice girl and get laid?”

      "A, Auradon does not have nice girls in it. And B, why do you think sex is going to fix it?" He let Rufio pull him along anyway.

      "Because sex releases endorphins, which relieves stress and you are stressed. With all capitals, bolded and underlined. As your best friend it is my job to give you a happy thought, and potentially find you a girlfriend. How about... Rose White?"

      "Backstabber, also not exactly on the faithful side."

      "Okay, Erica-"

      "Absolutely not." Aziz gave Rufio a look of disgust.

      "Again chill... she's a mermaid. She's kinda forward about things, it's not like I am suggesting you let Blondie try you on. Geeze dude." He shook his head as they passed by Ben and Mal, "Though if you were into that whole one time rumble I would be suggesting that."

      “I swear Rufio...” he groaned as he spotted the remaining Isle kids coming off the swings, Evie was sweeping her blue hair back, checking a mirror. She and Jay made it look so effortless with hair that long.

      Rufio followed his gaze, “Ah. See that, that I get. If she wasn’t dating Doug, I’d tell you to go for it. Especially since you already have an in with Jay.”

      “I am not going to use him. It’s a betrayal of the trust he’s given me,” Aziz sighed watching them get pulled into a confrontation with Chad, Apple, and Audrey, “I am going to go deal with that before Jay knocks anyone’s teeth out.”

      “Good luck with that.” Rufio said supportingly.

 

      Jay was keeping himself between his and the Auradonians. Chad in his face with sneering words as the girls, dressed as their queenly mothers, looked on smugly. He could feel the burning heat in his chest growing, hands clenched into fists to keep himself from grabbing and throttling Chad.

      “Nice costumes, what are you supposed to be?” Chad snorted.

      “They are them, after all they are always in some costume,” Audrey rolled her eyes.

      “Look I don’t know what a costume is, but back off,” Jay growled as Apple sneered.

      “That’s adorable,” Apple snickered, “His costume is being a big dumb dog. Where’s your tail doggy, did someone steal it?” 

      Carlos swallowed moving behind Jay, why couldn’t these people just leave them alone.

      “I don’t know I think the little one looks more like a dog,” Audrey smirked, “Woof woof”

      “The only dog I see here is you,” Carlos growled, he didn’t know what quiet came over him but he was sick of these guys harassing them all the time.

      “Excuse you,” Audrey shrieked.

      “You heard what he said,” Evie stepped forward a little.

      Apple gasped, “How dare you!” she hissed grabbing Chad’s shoulder, “We are royalty!”

      “Royal bitches,” Jay growled fully prepared to defend them.

      “Better than a no good thief,” Chad snapped back at them.

      “Well at least he’s a good thief,” Carlos snorted

      “Shut your mouth little dog no one is talking to you,” Audrey snarled

      “You guys started this, aren’t you tired of this yet” Evie flipped her hair over her shoulder.

      “Tired of putting you filth in your place? Never,” Apple gave Evie a dirty look shrieking as a light exploded near them.

      Jay went to swing when his arm was grabbed, “Don’t,” Aziz stated firmly before releasing the leather cuff, “Go enjoy the carnival, I will take it from here.”

      Aziz watched his jaw clench but he nodded. Silently gesturing the other two move away, “Let’s go show Dude his new toys.”

      “Yeah, I think we’ve seen most of this now,” Evie nodded

      “Can we grab some candy on the way?” Carlos asked

      “Sure thing,” Jay nodded guiding them towards the food stands, “We’ll get whatever you two want and head back.”

      “Sweet deal,” Carlos smiled scanning the booths.

      Jay took Evie’s arm, “Appreciate you having my back Princess.”

      “I’ll always have your back” Evie assured him.

      “I know you do. It used to be so easy back home, over in a single swing. Fucker would never dare talk to us like that,” Jay seethed free hand clenched in a fist trying to control his temper, “And FG wants me to be nice to people who talk down to my Pup and Princess,” his hands felt like they were going to catch fire as they stopped at a stall selling sweets, “Go pick out what you want Princess.”

      “What about what you want?” She looked at him.

      "Its in the room. I'm not big on sweets."

      “Alright, I’ll be right back” she licked her lips. 

      He watched his, one eye on them and the other making sure that the mainlanders weren't going to harass them anymore. Bad enough Prince Aziz had stepped in to deal with Chad, Audrey and Apple. He should have known better, kept his guard up.

      “I got a few donuts and a candy apple thing, and popcorn ball, and lots of chocolate” Carlos smirked coming over to stand with Jay as he held up a bag, “I saw E grabbing some cookies and croissants I think”

      "What's a donut again?" Jay asked looking at the bag curiously.

      “Bread thing but kinda sweet. I got a few that they told me weren’t too sweet as well,” he held open the bag showing him.

      Jay sniffed at it, "Smells wicked," he hummed, "I might steal one back in the room." He slung an arm around Carlos needing to be grounded once more. It wouldn't be much longer now then the three of them would be tucked back into the room.

      “Ok I’m ready,” Evie came back over with a container for a few things.

      "Wicked. Then let's get back and bed down with the toy and food loot." His other arm slipped around her hips guiding the two of them back towards the room. Mal would know where to find them when she was done with her mainlander.

      Mal felt her phone vibrate and she looked at the screen, it was from E. Telling her that the three of them had gone back to the room. She sighed, she knew what that meant. Her second had either gotten into a fight, or someone said something he didn’t like and he took his away from the situation and back to someplace he could control what was going on. He was if nothing else consistent on that much. She sent E a quick okay, and slid the phone away. If there was no real danger here on the mainland, then her minions would be fine under her second’s watch. He was fully capable of keeping them safe just like on the Isle.

Chapter 44: Io Returns (IoL: November)

      Penny was working on tying off the last few knots before heading up to crows nest. After two more days of watching Harry suffer, Captain had sent Gil and Penny back to their chores. Gil had nodded and smiled happy to be useful, Penny had simply nodded. It concerned Harry and Gil that she was so quiet, but there wasn’t much they could do. She'd talk when she wanted, Io being MIA after the run was probably not helping either.

      Last night Harry had woken to Penny shaking so bad that Harry thought she was having a fit of some sort. Turned out to just be a nightmare but still it had been bad. He’d stayed close to the 2 not wanted to risk a repeat of before, he still wasn’t sure who it was that had given the Snatchers the info. Until he did every one that wasn’t one of Io’s main team was a suspect.

      Of course what he didn’t know was that Penny was watching the crew and the people around the dock. She knew as well as Io and he that if the person knew she was mainlander then they had to be close to the ship. While Penny wouldn’t leave the ship she could hear enough of what was going on to start to put together her own pieces. She’d tell Io when she returned, after all that was part of their deal she told Io what she saw when she looked at people.

      Killian had enough of it, sure it had been stupid to hit her, and threaten to force her off the ship, but to have her just vanish like this he was worried. So he went to the only man that had any sort of control of the girl. Rumple looked at him as he opened the door.

      “I assume you need something?” 

      “If ye see her, send me Crocodile back to me ship. She has chores to do, and her crew is needing her.”

      “And what makes you think I am going to see her?”

      “Because you see everything.”

 

      Io listened to the Captain and she rolled her eyes slipping up and out of her skylight and was across the roofs before he had even left her father’s shop.

 

      Harry was putting away the broom when Gil wrapped his arms around him from behind, “all done Harry” Gil smiled putting his face into Harry’s neck. 

      “That so” Harry mused turning in the hold to look at Gil.

      “We did all the chores with you today, can I have a reward?” Gil asked kissing at his neck. Harry closed his eyes, with the princess sharing their room, and sleeping between them they hadn’t had any time for messing around in a while. His eyes opened flickered around deck. Penny was finishing up and would then go up the crows nest, the girl liked it up there just like Io so she’d probably stay up there longer than needed, he spotted Mr. Smee and Sammy coming back towards the ship, arms full of this or that.

      “Yeah Gily ye get a reward” Harry breathed finally, “Go to the room I’ll be there soon” he pushed Gil towards the stairs. He nodded bouncing off like an eager puppy. Harry rolled his eyes before heading over to Penny.

      “Gilly and I are gonna have a fuck or two, ye stay up here with Smee, finish up and maybe Smee will teach ye something new” Harry said bluntly watching her face, she turned a little red but nodded, “And Girly...anything happen ye don’t like, ye stick em” he pointed at the scrapper in her belt, “I’ll deal with Da after if its a problem” 

      “Ok” she said still red in the face, she knew Harry and Gil did that, hell Gil had talked a lot about it when he’d explained sex but it was still different knowing they were doing it right now.

      She watched Harry disappear below before heading up the crows nest. She pulled herself into the nest and smiled a little as she saw the nest. At least Gil would be happy, he liked eggs of any sort, she just couldn’t do it. She grabbed the three eggs and stuck them into her shirt before tossing the nest like a frisbee overboard. She leaned back on the rail and sat enjoying the breeze. She glanced down as Smee and Sammy came on board, she didn’t like Sammy much, he gave her the creeps. Well just about everyone around here gave her the creeps up Sammy was a special case. She watched the father and son go about whatever they were doing, she turned scarlet as the two males froze at a loud moan from below deck. Her eyes narrowed though as Sammy glared at the way below deck. He seemed to make some excuse to his dad and left at an angry pace.

       Io bumped shoulders with Sammy and she looked after him for a moment, the hairs on the back of her neck standing on end. Something about him was off but she couldn't place it, so she would stay on guard. Taking a deep breath she stepped on board the Jollyroger in the first time in almost a week. Her eyes glossed over everything and took in the noises from down below, there were her boys which meant her princess was, above her. Giving Smee a nod she climbed the mast and pulled herself to the outside of the crowsnest, “Miss me Stickpin?”

      “Yeah, you ok?” Penny nodded offering her a small smile, “Harry said I was suppose to ask Mr. Smee for something to do when I got done. Don’t think he’ll mind if I stay up here a while though.”

      “Meh,” Io offered nudging the girl over before climbing in and sat down behind her, “Smee won’t mind at all. Tell me how you are doing? I didn’t mean to be gone so long, but I wanted things to cool off between the Captain and I.”

      “I’m ok, we got to watch Harry have to do all the chores for a few days. He whines like a little girl sometimes” she mussed, not that she’d ever say that to Harry’s face

      “Yes yes he does. I’ll have to make it up to him, since his clearly bellyaching about all of it. Though it does sound like Gil is doing a good job on him.”

      “He said he and Gil where going to have a fuck or two. Is that normal? The screaming I mean” she looked down at the deck.

      “Yep. That’s Harry by the way. He likes getting it every so often, and that’s the noises he makes. He’s a touch more quiet when he’s giving it, as it’s more like grunting and less like screaming,” Io snorted leaning her head back, she never expected to be telling anyone that, but the girl asked and she might as well know since the three all slept in the same room together.

      “Huh, I suppose he screams like a girl too,” Penny tilted her head, not something she would ever tell Harry she didn’t think he’d take that the right way... if there was a right way. She leaned back against Io, “Where were you anyway?”

      “Yes yes he does.” she bit at her lips for a moment, “Isolated in my hole.” she didn’t say more than that, not wanting to give anything away to a girl who could read between the lines. “Harry get anywhere with that loose lipped traitor?”

      “Not really, but everyone is walking on eggshells around him cause they know he’s looking,” Penny said, “But a few people talk without saying anything.”

      “Actions always speak louder than words.” she reached behind her touching the princesses hip, “How are you coping with what happened?”

      “Don’t know” she shrugged, she knew she scared Harry last night. She’s probably sleep over on the pile of clothes tonight, but at least she had an excuse now, Gil described sex as messy.

      Io nodded slowly leaving her hand in place, “I know this will be little comfort, but it will never happen again. Harry and I cememented to that particular group we will not tolerate their behaviour. But I digress, in all honesty that happens here more than you expect, which means we Isle kids have become immune to it. Someone cops a feel we either let it slide and move on, or we react, generally violently.”

      “That was violent alright,” Penny nodded, “I... I don’t think I’d be able to let it go. I don’t like people in my space unless I let them. And well most people back home only want into it so they can fix me.” she sighed, how was her life so fucked up as a princess but simple as a mainlander princess hiding on a pirate ship on the isle.

      “I... I shouldn’t have made you stay above deck, but it’s sometimes easy to forget you don’t have the stomach for it that we do. As much as you act it and fit in with us, we were born into this carnage, it is all we know, you weren’t. But I can tell you Penelope there is nothing about you that needs fixing , you are perfect just as you are, so long as you keep being you. I would rather take you as you are then have you think you need to be as fucked up as us.”

      “I probably...I didn’t need to see that, it...” she chewed her lip trying to find the right words. “I see all that blood when I sleep. Made me throw up the first night everyone was so out of it they didn’t notice I left for a few minutes. But, I can’t unsee it, so I have to live with it...I’m just not sure how” she might as well spill the whole truth after all she was pretty sure she made a deal to be honest.

      “Does it bother you I am the one that did it?” She asked because she needed to know.

      “No, I see the blood I even see them but, you aren’t the scary part of it. It's going to sound weird but, you just make me think of the time one of my nursemaid's got caught caning my knuckles when I was 4 or 5. My dad found out and...well the Beast is still there even if he looks like a man now,” Penny tried to place how to describe Io’s place in her life now. 

      Io smiled softly at that, “Well then what can I do to help you my dear? Whatever it is, you just need to tell me.”

      “Don’t really know. I like that you're back though” she muttered, “think Harry’s confused as to what to do and I don’t know what to tell him either.”

      “Harry is shit with girls,” she snorted. “Well I am not planning on taking an extended hiatus from the ship again anytime soon. You been getting any sleep?”

      “A little until I wake up, woke Harry up on accident last night” she leaned her head back.

      “Well I know Captain ain't here... want to crash in Harry's old bed?” Io asked looking over her shoulder.

      “Sure he won't mind? He keeps threatening to make Harry sleep in it again for running his mouth” she snorted her lips twitching up a little remembering Harry’s face at the threat.

      “He slapped me, so he'll get over it,” she pushed herself up, “Come on let's get you some rest.” 

      Penny climbed out of the nest and shimmied down the mast dropping down to the deck with a thump.

      Io moved across the mainsail and swung herself to the deck. Holding her arm out she pulled Penny into her side and guided her to Killian’s quarters. A quick jimmy and she popped the lock on the door. The ‘kids’ bed was built into the side panel and Io gestured Penny into as she closed the door. “In you pop.”

      Penny glanced briefly around the room before laying down where Io had indicated, the room was cleaner than she thought it would be, but then again she shouldn't be surprised that the man that made then scrub the deck everyday had a clean room.

      Io kicked her boots off and hung her jacket up on the small hook before crawling into the bed tossing the old worn blanket over both of them, “Get some rest dearie, I will be right here with you the whole time.”

      Penny nodded curling into Io as she closed her eyes, it seemed early to sleep but she was so tired. Io was warm just like Gil, it was an odd thought but they both made her feel protected. While Harry had a distant but over protective feel to him.

      Io closed her eyes and relaxed, one hand on her blade the other keeping Penny pressed to herself. 

 

      Killian could hear his son the minute he stepped aboard and glancing up he frowned not seeing Penny, “Smee where is Pin?” 

      “Crocodile took her to your cabin Captain” Smee supplied, “Didn’t think you’d mind, what with the little one not sleeping well and all.” he motioned to below deck, “They’re in Harry's old bed. Pretty sure Crocodile’s still awake, but when I looked in Pin didn’t even move” he felt for the little one, he remembered being young and on a ship full of people he didn’t know. But he’d also say she had got a good ship for her first one. “Wonder if they're done” Smee listened as the sounds seemed to die down before going silent.

      Killian nodded, “I don't mind,” he glanced at the deck, “Who knows with those two, sleeping with the girl between them hasn't left them with time. I'm going to rouse our Crocodile. Where did yer boy get to?”

      “Probably off to the district, he gets so worked up just hearing those two” Smee chuckled, “to be young and able to get a boner with ease”

      Killian smiled, “That is the power of youth,” he clapped his hand on Smee's shoulder before heading to his cabin seeing it was open just a sliver. He eased the door open and looked over Io's feigned relaxed form, “Ye able to move to my desk for a chat?”

      Io pressed a kiss to Penny's forehead and eased away, throwing her jacket over the girl before getting out of the bed. She followed him to his desk and perched herself on the corner as he dropped into the worn chair.

      “How are ye feeling?” he asked softly looking her over, she must have been inside the house when he went to see Rumple.

      “Do you honestly give a damn?”

      He made a face and set his wrist on her knee, “I am sorry I hit ye, but ye were out of control love. Even ye recognize that much, or ye wouldn't be in here trying to fix the damage ye caused.”

      Her fingers drifted over the hook resting above her leg, “I did what was necessary, but it was careless of me to have her stay where she could see it. I'm doing alright,” she shrugged.

      Killian nodded watching her play with the hook her father had given him, “What is the plan with the princess?”

      “I work her through this and then we go from there. Harry is nowhere on the quest for our talker. Am I being unmuzzled to do the work?”

      “Like I could ever find a muzzle big enough to hide that grin,” he teased, “Find them, and bring them here alive and able to talk. Preferably with all their limbs attached.”

      “Take all my fun away...”

      “Love ye have an appetite I need to wean ye off of. Do as I ask and do not presume I am unawares ye have ideas of grandeur like our mutual acquaintance. Ye are making more enemies than allies my dear and there is nothing I can do to keep ye safe if ye keep pissing people off.”

      Io sighed looking away, “Fine. You have paperwork and I have a princess to comfort. I will hunt our loose lips once she wakes.”

      Killian nodded watching her ease off his desk and slip back into the bed and curl around the girl. There was a hungry look in Io's eyes, the same he had seen in her father's. It wouldn't be long before the girl would be unrecognizable.

Chapter 45: Sniffing out a Rat (IoL: November)

Notes:

Updates over the holiday may be a bit off of the usual Saturday schedule. But don't worry it will return to normal soon after.

Thanks for your understanding,
Kevyon

      “Where exactly are you going?” Penny asked watching as Io and Harry headed for the gangplank.

      “Got to take care of a few things” Harry said looking at the girl as she watched them wearily. Harry had made sure Smee was staying this time, wasn’t going to let those bastards get another shot, “Mr Smee will be here, and Gilly too. Plus ye do what I told ye last night, if someone messes with ye.”

      Penny nodded jumping a little as Smee he paced a gentle hand on her shoulder. She still couldn’t figure out how the man had earned his place here other than being friends or as close as you could be to the captain.

      Io looked at Smee, “Not a scratch on my lamb, not a scratch.”

      “I know Crocodile, I know,” He offered with a soft look knowing how protective Io had gotten over her crew.

      “Come on Harry. The sooner we are done the better,” Io shot him a look and headed away from the ship apprehensively.

      “I’m coming” Harry nodded watching them as he walked backwards down the gangplank.

      “Go on lass finish up your chores” Smee motioned as he headed towards the Captain's quarters to make sure everything was in order and take care of anything he could while the Captain was gone.

      Penny rolled her eyes and went to get the mop and bucket, Gil was doing something else that didn’t need to be done all the time. She wasn’t quite sure where he was but Harry promised he was on the ship. She got the water up and started to work humming to herself. She was finished with about half the deck when Smee came out and gave her a chunk of hard cheese and black bread. He told her to take a break, it would be their little secret. She gave him a small smile before heading up towards the crows nest while she ate. 

      She looked out over the wharf instead of at the mainland, she knew what was there. But well the wharf always had something interesting to see, at least for her. She’d just finished off her little lunch when she noticed Sammy, skulking in the shadows. He was up to something, she tracked him with her eyes until he stopped to talk in an agitated manner near the alley that she was pretty sure led towards the District. Something wasn’t right, she looked down to see if Smee was still about, he had disappeared again. She shimmied down the mast and debated with herself, she technically wasn’t confined to the ship anymore, but then no one had said she could leave the ship either. But she wasn’t going that far just close enough to hear what Sammy was up too. She glanced at the door to the captain's quarters before slipping slowly down the gangplank. 

      Penny held her breath as she slipped along behind crates and barrels, glancing back every now and then to make sure she was still in sight of the ship. 

      “I don’t understand, why didn’t your guys just take them” Sammy hissed at the greasy looking man. Penny sank to her knees leaning a little so she could see the guy better. He wore a tattered black canvas coat, and combat boots. What caught her attention though was the mark on his hand, snatcher.

      “Well I’m sure they weren’t expecting what they were told was a mainlander to stab one of them in the eye” he growled at Sammy, “You know there are better ways to get a lay. But then with what I hear it ain’t gonna matter much longer”

      “What’s that supposed to mean” Sammy glanced around twitching.

      “Crocodile’s out for blood I hear, if I were you I’d pack up. You got an eye for unique claims I might have a spot for you” he gave Sammy a sleazy smile placing a hand on the boy’s shoulder.

      Penny’s breath seemed to choke her, he’d sold them out and he was going to get away.

      “Won’t get who I want if I do that, I need to get rid of that fucking idiot.” Sammy shook his head.

      “Maybe not what you want exactly but, well lots of kids be whatever you want them to be if they think it will get them out of being sold off to the brothels” he shrugged pulling his hand back.

      Penny leaned back getting her feet under her as she crept as quickly but still quietly back to the ship as she processed what she had just learned. She hadn’t liked Sammy before but, she hadn’t thought he’d try and sell her and Gil like cows. She needed to, to tell Smee... Smee was Sammy’s dad, he wouldn’t believe her. She needed Io, but she wasn’t here and she had no idea when she’d be back. Well she’d watch Sammy and tell Io when she got back. That was a good plan, she nodded to herself slipping back onto the ship and getting working on the rest of the deck.

      Sammy hurried back to the ship, leaving wouldn’t get him Harry, but it would keep him from being tiger food for the fucking Crocodile’s pet cat. As he passed Penny he kicked the bucket over she glared at him watching him head below deck. 

      Penny fingered the scrapper hanging on her side, she could just stab him. But then again he was technically crew. Well, was he really crew if he was a traitor, how mad could Captain really be. She went and refilled the bucket, plopping it down in its original spot. She stuck the mop in and got to work on cleaning up the spilt water with a sponge so she could ring it into the bucket. She looked back up from her work as Sammy came back by with time with a bag. Her eyes widened he was gonna get away.

      “Hey Sammy” she called standing up, putting on her full princess pain in the ass act. 

      “Uh yeah” he faltered looking at the girl he hadn’t known she had known his name.

      “I’ve been wondering bout a few things and well I don't want to ask the grown ups cause they will think it's silly. And well I don’t want Harry to think I’m dumb” she said bouncing over to him.

      “Oh well, I’ve got something I need to do” he grimaced as she grabbed onto his arm, looking at him with big innocent eyes.

      “Please, please” she whined 

      “Look I really can’t,” Sammy shook her off. Penny narrowed her eyes, well if he wasn’t gonna go for that then, she’d keep him here a different way.

      “Why’d you do it?” she asked dropping her whinny princess voice. He tensed turning to look at her, when had she gotten so close.

      “I don’t know what you're talking about, why’d I do what? I really don’t have time to play games right now, Penelope,” he said backing away from her towards the gangplank.

      “That’s not my name, not anymore” she said putting a hand on her hip discreetly sliding the scrapper into it.

      “Right the big idiot calls you Pin right. Looked I’d let someone else find a name for you” he said, thinking he was in the clear. Until she shot forward shoving the scrapper into his foot. It took more effort than expected to push it though his boot but it went through she felt the crunch that she was pretty sure was bone.

      “Better an idiot then a traitor,” she snipped as he screamed. She pulled it out and went for the other foot as he took a swing at her trying to get her away from him. He hadn’t expected her to be that quick, it was disorienting him.

      Smee heard his son scream and he rushed above deck. What he wasn't expecting was to see his son with a bag, Pin stabbing a barnacle scraper into his son's foot and his son attempting to hit the girl everyone knew belong to the Crocodile.

      “What are you doing?!” Smee wasn't the smartest man but he knew Pin wouldn't act unprovoked.

      “Dad, make her stop” Sammy begged god it felt like she’d cut his toes off.

      “You're a fucking traitor, you tried to sell Gil and me to the snatchers,” Penny screamed at him, dodging another swing.

      “Sammy...” Smee was torn, but he rushed forward and grabbed his son's arms, “Enough both of you. Those are some very heavy accusations Pin, you better have proof. And you Sammy, you know what will happen if Crocodile finds out you were trying to hurt Pin. Both of you below deck, we are going to have a long chat once Captain comes back.”

      “What’s going on?” Gil’s head popped out from one of the hatches, he had dirt all over his face.

      “She attacked me” Sammy whined.

      “If I un-stab him he’s gonna run” Penny narrowed her eyes, “I heard you and the snatcher. He offered you a job. ” 

      “Pin, un-stab Hammy” Gil said coming over to pull her away from him.

      “Its Sammy you moron” Sammy snapped, before yelping as the scrapper was pulled out as Gil pulled Penny into his arms.

      “Oh sorry” Gil gave him a smile.

      “Let me go” Penny snapped as Gil tossed her over his shoulder. 

      “I’m gonna take her to Harry’s room Mr. Smee. I’m sure she’s sorry about the deck.” 

      “Fucking manic, like another Crocodile” Sammy winced as his dad helped him hobbal back towards the stairs, “Dad?” he looked at the brig in front of him.

      “It's safer for you until Captain can come and sort this out. Promise it won't be for long” Smee assured

      “No dad, I can’t be here when the crocodile gets back. You know she’ll only listen to the princess” Sammy tried to argue.

      “No you're safe in there so stay” Smee shook his head setting him down on the bench before closing the door and locking it. 

 

      Killian settled his shoulder bag down on the deck. It was oddly quiet on board, too quiet even. Cautiously he looked over his deck drawing his sword, quiet like this did not bode well especially with a shocking lack of blood. He saw the small drops heading towards the stairs and slowly walked that way, “Mr. Smee...”

      “Captain, thank goodness you're back” Smee looked at him, “It’s a mess I don’t know what to think” he shook his head, “Crocodile’s not with you right?”

      “No, considering there isn't a bloodbath on me deck I'd venture to guess she and Harry are still out.” Killian slid the sword back into place and set a hand on his shoulder, “What is going on? Just tell me so we can sort the mess out.”

      “Pin’s accusing Sammy on trying to sell her and Gil to the Snatchers. Says she heard him talking to a snatcher. She... well she stabbed him with the scrapper. Gil took her below” Smee wrung his hands, “Captain you know Sammy, he wouldn’t do that.”

      Killian rubbed his face, “Ye weren't kidding about the mess.” he straightened up, “Alright I will deal with the stabbing thing. Where is yer son right now? Best I have a talk with him before my creations get back.”

      “I put him in the brig, I thought it’d keep Crocodile away from him if she got back first, and keep Pin away from him too if she slips Gil,” Smee explained

      “Slow the girls down at least,” he gave Smee a half smile, “Keep yer eyes out for Crocodile and Harry, have them stay above deck. I don't want them jumping the cannons. I will have a chat with yer son, get his take then Pin.”

      “Ok Captain, I don’t think she would have done it if she didn’t think she was right but, well” he shrugged he liked the little girl... well girl, but she did stab one of the crew.

      “I know Smee, I know. But I want both sides before I do anything further. I will get to the bottom of this, ye know I am a fair Captain to my crew. I won't judge him without all the facts,” Killian passed one last reassuring look at his first mate before heading down to the brig. 

      Sammy was sitting on a bench trapped in a cell and he smiled softly, “Sammy.”

      “Captain, that girl is nut” Sammy said looking at the man, “I think she cut off some of my toes” trying not to sound as pitiful as he probably looked.

      “I very well doubt that, or ye would already have looked in yer boots,” Killian leaned on the bars across from his cell, “Tell me Sammy what happened.”

      “I don’t know, maybe she’s mad I knocked over the mop bucket on my way by. Just stopped in to grab a few things and tell my pops I was gonna stay with this girl for a few days” he shook his head, “She started acting and talking... well like a spoiled little brat then the next thing I know I’ve got a barnacle scraper in my foot and she’s going of my other one too.”

      Killian nodded slowly, “That’s the story ye’re going with then?” it was good thing the kids weren’t back because the Dark One’s daughter had the nose of a bloodhound with lies and she snapped just as quick. There was no mention of Sammy being accused of being a traitor which is odd because the innocent ones normally led with that.

      “It's the truth, besides she was raving about something I don’t know. Maybe she inhaled too much polish,” Sammy shrugged.

      “So what’s yer lass’ name?” Killian asked curiously, something to ask Smee about considering Smee always guessed his son was running off to the district for some ass.

      “This week? I think it’s Genna? Gem... it starts with a G,” he chuckled rubbing at the back of his neck with a twitch.

      “She one of the working girls? Cause yer da is always tellin me ye run out on chores to go to the District, leaving Pin and Gil to do um if me son and Crocodile are out doing the runs for me.” he figured he would see how far Sammy wanted to take this nasty little rabbit hole he was digging.

      “No Captain one of the unclaimed kids, we just having some fun” Sammy said, “I... I didn’t really think about the chores” he winced.

      “Aye I’ve noticed. But yer my first mate’s son, would be bad of me as a Captain to discipline his child. Ye know ye could have brought her on board, always happy to take in another few lost lambs, know me Crocodile would love havin’ another unclaimed like her, in her crew,” Killian offered pushing off the bars. “I’ll let ye dad know you’ve been running off to the unclaimed not the district. Put his heart at ease. Ye just stay put, I’m going to sort all this out.”

      “Yes captain” he looked down he need to get off this ship before the Crocodile got here or her murderess princess got into here with him. He was starting to think maybe it wasn’t an accident that she was on the isle.

 

      “Pin come on, it's not nice to stab people that don’t deserve it” Gil tried to reason with the girl.

      “But it's deserved if you are a traitor, and its not like I went for any thing important. Could of stabbed him in his dick” Penny snorted her arms crossed as she leaned against the wall Gil blocking the door after her 3rd attempt to get out to have another go at Sammy.

      Killian knocked on the door with his hook, “Gil let me have a word alone with Pin. Stand guard by the brig, ye don’t let anyone in or out of there, not even one of the crew.”

      “Oh ok... what about Mr. Smee?” he asked looking thoughtful, was he allowed to let Sammy’s dad down there, he seemed to care about Sammy wouldn’t hurt him none.

      “Smee is keeping an eye out for Crocodile and Harry, he’s got orders to keep um above deck,” he said looking down at the youngest son of Gaston with a tender look, “Now be a good lad for me.”

      “Ok I’ll go watch Hammy,” Gil nodded heading off.

      “Can’t tell if he does that on purpose or not. But I like it” Penny snorted after Gil before her face went straight waiting for the yelling to come.

      “Tell me what happened,” Killian requested as he leaned in the doorway of his son’s room, “Exactly how it happened, the way ye would tell it to Crocodile.”

      “I saw Sammy skulking around while I was up in the crows nest. He went over to talk to a Snatcher near the district. Hear him telling the man his guys botched the job. But he got reminded that they probably weren’t expecting some girl he told them was a mainlander to stab one of them in the eye. He whined some more about getting Gil out of his way for something, then the Snatcher offered him a job. When he came back to the ship and got a bag I figured he was gonna run, tried to stall  him but he wasn’t buying it so I may have stabbed him with my scraper. Sorry about the mess.” she got out all in one breath before crossing her arms.

      “Ye get a good look at the Snatcher? Saw his mark? Ye have to be absolutely sure about what ye saying girl, cause that is the son of me first mate yer accusing.” Killian had to be sure, but it matched with what Smee had told him.

      “I got a very good look, had a mark on his hand looked like a nasty ass dog, greasy fucker little older than you canvas jacket and boots” she said, “Besides I’m thinking first mates son or not he wants Gil out of the way so he can fuck Harry,” she shrugged, he wanted to hear it like she’d tell Io so if he heard something he didn’t like wasn’t her fault.

      Killian opened and closed his mouth before shaking his head pretending not to let that particular thing bother him, “And here Sammy was telling me about some unclaimed girl he was seeing. Snatcher have a long nose and a flat cap on?”

      “Well Sammy’s a bad liar,” she said, “Yeah, you know the one I’m talking about? Smelled pretty bad from where I... um scratch that last part” she chewed her lip.

      “Horace, one of Cruella’s old cronies from before they got here. Now were you seen?” Killian didn’t much care if she was off the ship, but his Crocodile would go ballistic.

      “Nope, he was too focused on recruiting the whiny bitch. I stayed low behind the creates,” she said.

      “Then you were never off the ship were you?”

      “Nope, Sammy was just stupid enough to have a conversation close enough for me to hear” she shrugged with a smirk.

      “That’s my girl,” Killian nodded ruffling her hair, “Now not another hole in Sammy unless I say otherwise. Am I clear?”

      “Does actually cutting off his toes like he keeps claiming I did count as a hole?” she mused aloud.

      “Leave the maiming to Crocodile and Koga, ye love don’t have much stomach for it. So ye leave him be.”

 

      Io stepped up the gangplank, she did not like the things she had been hearing in the district. She did not like them at all, but until she had better proof than rumors it wasn’t like the Captain would let her off her considerably shortened leash.

      “I can’t believe that no one knows who sent lackies on to our ship” Harry snorted before looking around.

      “Oh good you're back, Captain says you two are to stay up here until he comes and get you” Smee looked at the two.

      “Where’s Pin?” Harry looked around at the half finished deck.

      “Down below talking to Captain,” Smee supplied

      Io looked over the area, “And who’s blood is it?” she had a feeling, and she really hoped it was wrong in this case because of who it was.

      “I think it's best you wait for captain,” Smee shook his head.

      And that set Io on edge, “My crew had better be in one piece Mr. Smee.”

      “Pin is fine, Gil is fine, they aren’t the ones bleeding” Smee said, before Penny appeared above deck Killian not far behind her.

      “Thought I heard the warning hiss of my Crocodile,” Killian teased without his normal smile, “Finish mopping Pin. Smee stay just there, a word you two,” he gestured his son and his Crocodile a little further away, “What did you two find out?”

      “Not much da, no one's owning up to the snatchers so no one knows who’s the talker” Harry shook his head, “Just have to spread a bigger net”

      Killian could read it in her face, “Out with it.”

      “It’s a whisper and I know you hate hersey.”

      “I’m humoring yer eyes and ears today,” Killian retorted.

      Io licked her teeth taking a deep breath, there was a reason she hadn’t told Harry, “Sammy has been seen trolling around a lot of the Snatcher keeps, paying for males who like playing pretend. My birdie didn’t want to sing any louder than that.”

      “Playing pretend?” Killian almost didn’t-, “Ye know what I don’t want to know. If ye spared me the details I don’t want to know them.” this was not getting any better for Smee’s son.

      “It’s Sammy’s blood isn’t it? He was the only other one on board when we left.” Io asked glancing at Smee.

      “Just stay above deck. I’ll send Gil up to ye in a moment. Mr. Smee with me.” Killian gestured with his hook placating as best as he could.

      “Aye Captain” Smee nodded looking down, what had Sammy done.

 

      Penny watched Smee disappear with Killian almost feeling sorry for the guy, go figure the son would be more evil than the parent.

      “What weren't ye telling Da?” Harry asked Io as he leaned against the rail.

      “That he was looking for males that could talk like you,” Io replied not meeting his gaze, “You remember the kid getting into it with Jay.” Harry had asked her what happened and she had told him she had taken care of it and ended it there. She took care of it by telling Jay to keep his and Harry’s deals in buildings where no one could see them, because Jay would not like what she would have to do to him because Sammy was a part of the Jollyroger crew and Jay wasn’t.

      “Talk like me? Sammy ain’t that far gone,” Harry laughed.

      “Far gone enough to try and sell Gil to a Snatcher to get him out of the way,” Penny put in as she worked on the dried blood.

      Io sighed patiently, “My darling, that kid has a hard on for you. Why do you think I never made him crew? He tried to gut our pretty thief when he saw you two finishing a deal. Hard to convince a thief to become a pirate if one of them wants to stab him in the back, literally.”

      “He messed with Jay,” Penny looked at Io, “Now I really do kind of wish I’d stabbed him in the dick.”

      “Ye stabbed him?” Harry looked after her in alarm.

      “What you said if I didn’t like something I could stab it” Penny shrugged

      “I said if any one did something ye didn’t like or touch ye stab em” Harry corrected

      “Well he was being a creepy fucker and I don’t like that” she shrugged, “Although captain said I should leave the stabbing to Io... probably right.”

      Io grinned, “That’s my Stickpin,” she leaned against the railing, “He messed with Jay, gave him a knife scratch and lost three teeth, had a black eye, bruised ribs, mild concussion, a broken wrist, and had everything of value including his knife taken in reply. I don’t know what Jay was like around you, but that boy could take care of himself pretty well unless you were bigger than him. And then he would go down swinging, I’d step in if it looked like he was losing horribly.”

      “He can take care of himself but sometimes the guys that mess with him on the mainland threaten to have him send back. Well they couldn’t make that threat with me” she shrugged, “Well they messed with him until he became the star athlete, some still do but now he’s got a few other people stepping in” Penny explained.

Chapter 46: Traitor to the Flag (IoL: November)

      “Oh hi Mr. Smee, um Captain said not to let anyone in here” Gil looked at the other man as he proceeded the Captain down the stairs to the brig.

      “He’s my dad you great idiot” Sammy snapped from behind Gil.

      Killian frowned, that was uncalled for, “It is alright Gil, I'm here. Why don't ye head up top? Harry is back, be a good lad and let him know ye are alright. He's worried about ye.”

      “Ok, Captain,” Gil smiled before heading up the stairs.

      “He’s a good boy” Smee said watching Gil go.

      “Yes, yes he is,” Killian nodded waiting until Gil was gone, “Sammy. I have heard both sides of the story, including things from yer da. Things are not adding up, so ye got one last chance to explain boy. And do not lie to me. Is there a lass ye been seeing? Or are ye going to the District to pick up lads? Ye know we don't much care here on my ship.”

      “I go for both” he shrugged, “Was a guy yesterday, today was a girl. What’s that matter?”

      “Sammy you watch you're tone and tell the Captain the truth.” Smee said he didn’t want to believe his boy would do this. But nothing he was saying was adding up, “Where were you off too with all your stuff?”

      “It wasn’t all my stuff just a few things” Sammy shook his head, “Dad you're my dad you're supposed to be on my side”

      “Not if you hurt crew, I’m Captain’s first mate” Smee shook his head looking away from his son.

      “Ye told me ye had told yer da ye were staying with a lass for a few days. Was anything ye told me true Sammy?” Killian tried to watch his biting tone, but he did not like where this was pointing, especially not when his girls were singing the same tune having not talked to one another

      “What’s the point you're gonna toss me out whether I’m lying or not and keep that great idiot around. Princess’ singing her little song and you believe her. Even though she stabbed me” Sammy shrugged he was so done with this.

      “I never told you who she was” Smee tilted his head

      “Not exactly a far jump when princess Penelope goes missing the same time Pin shows up” 

      “Who are you? My son wouldn’t do this” Smee yelled.

      “I believe her because it's the same tune my Crocodile is singing. I want to know why ye would betray this crew, this ship. Have I not been a good Captain? Have I not given ye and yer da, food and shelter, given ye wages for yer work on my ship? I had ye raised alongside me own flesh and blood!”

 

      Io turned slightly hearing Killian yelling from down below as Gil nestled in Harry's side, “Looks like someone went and pissed Captain Hook off...”

      “Too bad for him” Penny snorted as Gil pulled her into his side with Harry.

 

      “Problem was never you Captain.” Sammy shook his head he wasn’t overly fond of the man who his father followed but he had nothing against him, “Just wanted to get that big idiot away from Harry. And well Pin was an added bonus for them.”

      “So ye are working for Snatchers. On me ship,” Killian snarled, “That ‘Big Idiot’ as ye call ‘im is part of My Crocodile’s crew, my Son is her First Mate. If ye had an issue with ‘im ye should have taken it to any ones of us. We are Jollyroger pirates, the Wolves of the Sea, we do not sell each other off. Mr. Smee, I do apologize, take yer last moments with yer blood. I need to decide what to do with the traitor of the flag.” 

      “Of course Captain, ” Smee said trying not blubber, “Sammy you... I don’t know what to say to you.”

      “Dad don’t do this.” Sammy shook his head 

      “I’m the Captains first mate what he says is law on this ship.” 

 

      Io looked at Killian as he stormed above deck, she moved standing between him and her crew, “Killian...”

      He took a deep breath, “What have I told ye before...”

      “Well you know I don't trust you not to start swinging when you're mad, Captain,” Io warned him, “I assume it is Sammy then who sent them after my crew.”

      “Aye. The son of my first mate, my longest friend...” Killian slammed his hook into the side of the mast as if that would slake his fury.

      “Prove my worry for me,” she stated, “What is the punishment? Treason to the flag used to be hanging, but not much point in that here.”

      Killian shook his head wrenching the hook out, “Aye no point in it, but he knows too much to go unpunished. But I’ve known him since he was a babe...”

      “As I am clearly council in this. What would you do if your own son betrayed the flag?”

      Killian looked up at her slowly, “No son of mine would ever betray my flag, never betray my ship over some flight of fancy.” he bit out looking past her to his son, his sons who would never dream of such a thing. Pirates were all they could be.

      “Then you either let me cut out his tongue so he can't talk, or we tie him to a rope and throw him overboard. Decide his fate my dearest captain or I will do it for you, because while he did betray the flag, he tried to sell my crew. And a threat to my crew is swiftly met with my blade.”

      “Da?” Harry looked at him before motioning Gil to take Pin below. Whatever was coming wasn’t going to be good. Penny didn’t fight Gil on it this time and went along. Once they were gone he moved over to stand next to Io.

      “I will not have ye doing to that boy what ye did to those Snatchers not on this ship where his da can see,” Killian snapped at her, knowing she was ready to bleed the boy for his treason, “Damn that boy...” he muttered covering his face, how the hell was he supposed to lay a sentence to a child he watched grow. 

      “Something must be done Captain, or he is going to keep trying, and if you will not act I will. I was tolerant when he went after the thief for making deals with your son, as he got what was coming and the thief wasn't my crew. But coming after-”

      “You are all mine,” Killian cut her off getting in range, “You act under my flag in the name of my ship Crocodile. Do remember that while you are spitting venom.”

      Her eyes narrowed, “And I am the jaws of this ship. Under you Captain Killian Jones while your son serves as my second. If you cannot find the stomach to punish a traitor of the ship no matter his age, the burden lies on me and my second. Decide and we will do what needs doing.”

      “We will do whatever it is ye decide Da, maybe Mr. Smee should stay below deck with Pin though” Harry said he didn’t like this tension between Crocodile and his da.

      Killian set his hands on his kids’ shoulders, “I don't...” he sighed heavily, this was the burden he had forgotten he bore here on an Isle where his crew was faithful to him. “I do not want the burden on yer shoulders.”

      Io curled her arm up his not minding the hook digging into her shoulder, “Da, it is our job on your ship. There isn't a burden, this is our job. Let us do it.”

      Killian gave her a sharp look and thumped the back of her head with his hook, “I'm blessed ye didn't come from me, ye damned monster,” he straightened nodding, “You are the jaws of the Jollyroger. Carve the mark on him, and take his voice.”

      “Want me to take a few fingers so he can't write?”

      “That would require him knowing how to write,” Killian shook his head, “I, I leave you two to your jobs.”

      Io watched Killian step back, he hated having to punish a kid he had helped raise. Hated what he had done even more, “Yes Captain, we will take care of it.”

      “Let’s get this over with shall we” Harry said he didn’t like this anymore then his da, but he wasn’t gonna let a threat to the crew stand.

      Io nodded walking with Harry down to the brig, “I know you don't like me arguing with your dad. But he isn't angry at me, he's angry at the situation Sammy forced him into. If it were anyone else not a part of this crew he would have no qualms about passing sentence. He needed a vocal reminder he is the Captain of the Jollyroger and he needed to give us orders.”

      “Dad no,” Sammy backed away from the bars as he saw the Crocodile.

      “Mr. Smee you should go stay with Pin and Gil” Harry suggested to the first mate. Smee nodded giving one last look at his son before leaving.

      “NO, Dad you know what she’s gonna do to me” Sammy yelled after him.

      “Quit yer blubbering ye traitor. Yer making this harder on all of us. Ye should have thought about yer da before ye fucked with the crew” Harry snarled.

      Io touched Smee’s shoulder as he passed her giving him an apologetic look before he shuffled quickly away, “You broke your father's heart Sammy. Broke the Captain's heart. And now the burden lies with us to deal with your treason. Be thankful we are here on the Isle, because punishment for treason was hanging. I'm in a giving mood, I will let you choose which comes first dearie. Losing your voice or us carving the traitor’s mark into your skin?”

      “Don’t do this” Sammy yelled as Harry pulled him out of the brig.

      “I think voice first so we don’t have to listen to no one lies and excuses,” Harry shook him as he dragged him up the stairs.

      “Harry you don’t have to do this. You can let me go I won’t come back,” Sammy begged.

      “See the problem there is captain gave his orders and we follow the captain's orders,” he tossed Sammy to the deck. 

      “To true Harry, to true,” Io grinned watching Sammy, “If you run from me, I will do to you more than Captain's orders. Now be a good boy and take the Captain's punishment for treason to the Jollyroger,” she moved closer reaching for the lock picks in her boot.

      “Screw you and this fucking ship,” Sammy snarled at her, if he couldn’t get away then he sure as hell wasn’t gonna go down licking Captain’s sluts boots.

      Rage flashed through Io like a whip and she slammed Sammy to the deck, “That was the wrong thing to say Dearie,” she giggled as she sat on his chest, boots on his biceps, “Particularly to me of all people. He should know better shouldn't he Harry? I feel like the crew knows the quickest ways to cross me. If Captain didn't request all your bits were still attached I'd be taking them.” she eased the lock pick out of her boot, “Any last words Dearie?” her father's truly mad gestures flicking out of her.

      “Go to hell, and I hope they find your little princess, maybe give her a taste of what we go through,” he spat in her face.

      Harry snarled from his place, if he ever saw Sammy again after this he’d hook him so bad even the Khan’s wouldn’t be able to tell what was what. 

      “Dearie, we are already in hell. And they touch what is mine, I will carve their pretty hearts out,” Io purred wiping the spit away before silencing Sammy forever, “And for the record, you were never taking My Harry Hook, never.” she flicked her blade out and split his mouth open wide jaw bone to jaw bone before rocking back, “I'm sure Captain won't mind that bit. Now then to carving business. Harry my sweet where were thinking? Chest, back, thigh, belly, arms, oh maybe his tiny little prick?” she didn't bother hiding the utter joy this was bringing her as she looked up at her first mate who looked ready to rip insides out.

      “Thinking the middle of his fucking forehead so everyone always knows what he is” Harry growled.

      “Oh that sounds like a lovely idea. I'll hold you carve. The deeper the better, then we'll see what can heal over if you take it to the bone,” she flicked the blade away and clamped her hands around Sammy’s flapping cheeks, digging her thumbs under his bottom jaw as she rocked forward on his chest. He could struggle, but he was not getting up.

      Harry pulled her own knife and kneeled by Sammy’s forehead pressing the blade into the flesh and down until he felt bone. He started on the marking, feeling his anger go into the knife, this bastard had put Pin and Gil in danger, Pin more than even she realized. They should have been able to trust Sammy even if he was a slacker, he’d stabbed them in the back. He ignored the jerking and squirming.

      Io was quiet as Harry worked knowing he needed to get it out of his system and onto the flesh that had caused all this. She gripped tighter despite the blood, sinking her nails in to give her better hold. She and he would have Captain inspect their work when it was done, if he was satisfied Sammy would be tossed off the ship without a scrap to his name, then she and Harry would clean up the mess. What Captain told the rest of the crew was up to him and Smee, she and Harry however would go tuck themselves away with Penny and Gil. And as rare as it was at the moment she would much like to be wrapped around her first mate.

      When he was done Io whistled, “Captain!”

      Killian moved closer and nodded seeing what his enforcers had done, “He deserve that grin?”

      “He disrespected the ship,” Io replied, offenses to her were handled off the ship.

      Nodding solemnly Killian motioned the two up and hauled Sammy to his feet turning out his pockets making sure he didn’t have anything on him, “Sammy son of Smee, ye are hereby banished from the Jollyroger and all territory baring its colors for the crime of treason to this ship and it’s crew.” He threw the bleeding, injured boy down the gangplank and cleared his throat, “If ye are not gone from the territory in a half hour, ye will be cut down without mercy. Ye have been warned.” he put his back to the kids so they wouldn’t see the pain in his eyes, adults were one thing, but children, he couldn’t bring himself to really hurt them, especially not ones he had known for so long.

      Io nodded to Harry and the two quickly cleaned the deck up. 

 

      Smee sat on Harry’s bed face in his hands. Gil watched the first mate cry uncomfortably, people didn’t cry here. Penny looked between the two before sighing, looked like this was something she knew how to do that the isle kids didn’t. She sat down next to Smee and wrapped her arms around him. 

      “I am not a stranger to the dark”she murmured softly, Gil perked up looking at her, “Hide away, they say cause we don’t want you're broken parts”

      Smee wrapped his arms around the girl.

      Killian opened the door, “Mr. Smee... It is done, I am, I am truly sorry but yer son put this family in danger. My jaws have marked him as a traitor and have silenced him so he can serve his banishment without endangering our family any longer.”

      “I understand Captain” Smee nodded, “I think I need a long drink. Maybe forget I had a son for a little,” he patted Penny on the back as she released him.

      “Aye come on, I’ve got an old bottle with our names on it,” Killian gripped his friend’s shoulders in a tight brotherly embrace, “I am sorry old friend, I wish it could have been anyone else.”

      Io and Harry watched as the two older males walked to the rum stores, when they were gone she looked at Harry and pressed a kiss to the corner of his lips, “Our crew needs us. I need us...”

      “Ye gonna call the others to us or just the 4 of us?” Harry asked playing with his hook as they stood outside his room.

      “The 4 of us will do, either of us leave this ship and you know we will be hunting him down to turn him into fish bait,” Io replied putting her hand on his hook, “If the want is still there tomorrow, we will hunt my dear. Whatever you need.”

      “Right now I just want to forget about the worm,” Harry snorted pushing the door open. Gil looked at him with his welcoming smile as Penny just sat there kicking her heel gently into the side of the bed.

      “Happy to oblige you my dear,” she purred kicking her boots off and climbed into the center of Harry’s bed, “Come here my loves, it’s all over now, and yes Pin that means you can ask whatever you want.”

      Penny flopped down, “And what am I gonna ask?” she mused

      “Did you guys know Pin can sing?” Gil asked as Harry wrapped him in a hug.

      “I can not, that wasn’t really singing just humming with words” Penny shook her head, “Oh yeah you think captain will give me another scraper... I think part of mine broke off in Hammy’s foot”

      “Eventually,” Io smiled curling her arm around Penny, “When he needs things scraped off the ship, he’ll have to give you a new one. If you can hum with words it’s called singing, and you don’t have to be very good at it, when you’ve been drinking everyone sounds like a dream.”

Chapter 47: The Smell of Innocence (IoL: November)

      Koga drifted around Penny sniffing her as she worked, claws glossing over bare skin, he could smell she was bleeding. Could almost taste it, she didn’t smell quite as good as Io, but Io would skin him if he was doing this to her. Penny, Penny not so much.

      Penny growled to herself trying to ignore the tiger pacing around her like she was lunch. He got way too close to her for comfort sometimes. She glanced up as she heard him sniffing, “Seriously if you're going to be creepy at least be a helpful creepy and grab a brush or mop,” she growled at him.

      “I’m not being creepy,” he huffed hand brushing down her back, “And you’re almost done anyway.” he did not help with chores unless it was rum day, and he helped carry the barrels onto the ship, “I could be pinning you down somewhere instead if you’d rather,” he was half teasing at least, cause the smell of her was making him want to bury his muzzle into her.

      “I dare you to try it,” she snapped standing up, she was so tired of all this shit, Io wasn’t letting her off the ship. Harry and Gil were having a fuck-a-thon the last week meaning she slept up here cause she sure as hell didn’t need to see that again. Once walking in on Harry on his knees, mouth over Gil’s parts was more than enough.

      Koga took that as a challenge, swearing to his animal wants to only pick the girl up and pin her in place. And maybe taste her. Maybe just a little lick, no biting cause that would piss Io off and he rather liked staying on her good side. His hands grabbed her hips making the motion to go pick her up. 

      Penny grabbed her scraper hitting him at the base of his hand with it lightly, just enough to draw blood. She was not going to be man handled like this again.

      Koga jerked his hands back with a startled unhappy noise, “You stabbed me, you fucking stabbed me,” his claws were out and in the side of her face before he could stop himself. Stupid animal instincts.

      Penny yelped as she went down her hand coming to her face, “You dick, really,” she kicked him in the shin, “I just finished this deck and now there is blood on it... again.”

      “You stabbed me!” Koga repeated not phased by her kick as Io came up the gangplank and looked at the scene before her.

      “Are you bleeding Koga? What the hell happened you two? I left for an hour most,” Io had told Koga to keep his claws off, but clearly that hadn’t helped.

      “He got handsy” Penny said, “I barely scraped you.”

      Koga growled lifting his wrist to his mouth licking at the wound Penny inflicted.

      “What did I tell you?”

      “She’s bleeding, I can’t fucking help it...”

      “Well she certainly is now,” Io grumbled, “Get your fucking hand away from your mouth Koga. HARRY!” She roared his name knowing he was below deck again, likely fucking Gil this time as there was a shocking lack of screaming, “I swear I can’t leave any of you alone without supervision.” She reached down and pulled Penny off the deck moving her hand slightly before re-apply pressure, “He got you good alright. Credence, go fetch Mimzy, tell her to bring her kit.”

      The slight girl nodded and took off the ship at a run as Koga crinkled his nose focusing on his hand and not the scent of virgin blood.

      “What’s going on?” Harry asked rushing up the stairs in just his underpants.

      “Oh how kind of you to join us my sweet dear darling Harry,” Io started with a terse look at him, “Koga copped a feel and our Stickpin stuck him one, and now she’s sporting some new tiger stripes herself. Since you were supposed to be watching my darlings, you are going to tend to her face until Mimzy gets here to stitch her up.”

      “Pin,” Harry moved to her side going to take her face in his hands, she pulled back from him for a second eyeing his hand, “Let me see,” she finally decided she didn’t care much about where his hands had just been. He winced a little seeing the marks, those were going to scar up nice.

      “Harry below deck where Captain cares just slightly less about blood everywhere. Koga get your hand away from your mouth or I will cut it off,” Io snapped looking at the older male who shifted unhappily, “And congratulations reward for your stellar control over your tiger half, you get to clean the mess up and finish her chores.”

      “Crocodile!”

      “Ship law: Those who cause bloody messes on the deck, clean it up,” she wasn’t seething, but she was very not happy.

      “Can’t believe ye stuck him,” Harry chuckled leading Penny down stairs, “Let's hope Mimzy can do something about this.”

      “Io...” Koga whined as she punched him in the ribs.

      “Seriously? The face, did you have to go for the face?”

      “I was just going to pick her up, that was fucking it. I didn’t... I wasn’t aiming for her face. Do I have-”

      “Yes you have to clean up your mess, bellyache to me again and I am punching you in the nose,” she hissed as he growled irritably at her flashing his fangs as she bared her teeth in reply, “Koga get to work.”

      He huffed irritated starting to clean under Io’s watch. A few minutes later Mimzy came on board nodding briefly to Io before she vanished down the stairs.

      “I heard what happened, he didn’t get you through the eye did he? Let me see, I’ll get you all patched up, keep the scars to a minimum,” Mimzy tittered worried about the younger girl.

      “No he didn’t get my eye” Penny said letting Mimzy work on her as Harry stood off to the side watching, he’d worry about leaving Gil tied to the bed later. He could get free if need be.

      Mimzy smiled, “Good. Sometimes when Koga loses control he instinctively goes for hard to fix places. But after spending almost 9 years on this crew, there is not much I can’t fix.”

      “Didn’t even stick him that hard” she muttered.

      She rolled her eyes dabbing at the long cuts in Penny’s face, in all honesty the other girl should have known better. It wasn’t like they had ever hid the fact Koga was a little wilder than most, that he was half animal, teeth and claws hungry for human blood. But that was why she herself adored him, why Io adored him. He was a force to be reckoned with, one that made most tremble where they stood. And he had claimed her as his, showered her in lust and protection. Mimzy gave herself a firm shake as she started stitching some of the deeper portions back together. All she needed to do was focus on their Stickpin and not on her adoring tiger. 

 

      Io held the massive paw like hand on her lap as she touched the cut with a rum soaked rag, “Did you really have to get her across the face?”

      “I just reacted,” he grumbled careful not to flex his claws into her thighs. “I’m not apologizing, she stabbed me.”

      “Because you keep trying to get a taste of her.” she pressed harder than necessary and he growled in pain. 

      “Yeah well now I got plenty of her,” he snarled snapping his teeth at Io, “Damn it bitch that hurts.”

      “Yes I suppose it would considering someone was trying to lick it clean instead of listening to me.”

      “I hate you.” 

      “If you hated me you wouldn’t have stuck around and made a deal with me to be crew.”

      He made a non committal noise watching her carefully press a  rag to the small deep cut. “Want me to wrap it?”

      “Yeah, I don’t give a shit if it scars, and it will keep me from trying to lick it.”

      “That I can do,” she nodded adjusting her grip on his hand to give him what he wanted. It was easy to just give him exactly what he wanted, he had to be the easiest to get along with in her crew. He never chastised her for her need to cause bodily harm and tried to always be there when she needed back up.

      He sniffed at her leaning closer, “You getting sentimental on me Crocodile?”

      “I will put another hole in you Khan.”

      “Better,” he purred leaning back to watch her work, “You know I was just going to pick her up right?”

      Io sighed softly looking up at him expression cold, “I am aware your intents were different than her perception of your intents. But that doesn’t excuse the fact you slashed one of the crew open. You know better, did I not teach you better? Do I not feed you enough to curb your animal instincts?” she purred darkly as her fingers pulled the cloth tight over his skin.

      “It’s not that Io,” he leaned into her space licking his black lips as he breathed in her scent, “I can smell her innocence. It’s like... I don’t have a comparison word for you, but it smells delicious. I want to bury my muzzle into her, but I won’t. She’s yours, and you would never let me do anything that could hurt her now that I have.”

      “Do not ever do something like this again. She is our chance at freedom, and I cannot have your animal instincts messing up my plans.”

      “It won’t happen again Crocodile,” he swore rubbing his head against her cheek subconsciously as he pulled back, “I rather enjoy all my limbs attached.”

Chapter 48: Make me a Deal (IoL: November)

Notes:

As the last chapter was a bit short, Happy New Years! There are two chapters for today, and we will be back to our regular Saturday updates so please expect another chapter up this coming Saturday.

~Kevyon

      Penny grumbled to herself as she scrubbed at the upper deck. Io was being an overprotective bitch or well she wasn’t going to say that to anyone. She had left the ship with Smee of all people, her face still half bandaged and Io had snarled at them both. She’d just wanted to help with something besides cleaning, she was so tired of smelling whatever was in that polish. 

      She glanced up  as she heard something off the side of the ship, her lips twitched up a little as she spotted a few boys around 7 or 8 pretending sticks were swords. She and Ben did that a few times before they’d grown apart. Maybe she could learn here... actually she probably needed to learn here. Io had said if she knew how to handle it she could have a sword. She just needed someone to teach her. She glanced around the deck, Smee was going over something, but he wasn’t much of a fighter as Io had pointed out earlier, Mimzy didn’t use swords, but Harry did. Her eyes landed on Harry, he’d teach her. After all helping her would make it so he didn’t have to always watch her.

      She put her brush down, and headed down the stairs to stand next to Harry. He wasn’t wearing his coat today, it was warm out and he was doing the more physical stuff today. His tank top was sweat soaked and she could see his muscles moving. She shifted her stance a little as she stopped by him, the fluttering in her stomach making her look away. She’d started noticing it after she’d caught a brief flash of him and Gil one night. She hadn’t seen much of either of them in the dark but it was enough.

      “Hey Harry” she said from her place, he glanced over at her as he tied off the rope for the sail.

      “What Pin? Ye ain’t done yet,” he said lifting his shirt up to wipe his face, smirking to himself as she blushed.

      “I want you to teach me how to fight” she said, she had been here long enough that asking was useless, and invited problems.

      “Oh really and why would I do that?” Harry asked with a chuckle, she’d gotten more direct that was for sure.

      “Cause it gets you out of babysitting duty” she rolled her eyes.

      “Little less lip love, yer asking fer something” Harry locked his eyes on her.

      “Oh come on Harry, it’s a win win, I get to learn to defend myself and you don’t have to watch my every move anymore,” she sighed.

      “That sounds like a win win for ye” Harry snorted

      “So you’ll teach me?” she pushed

      “Fer a price, and ye haven’t told me why ye want to learn all the sudden” he shrugged, maybe he could kill two birds with one stone. The princess would be be able to fight back, and he could take care of that pesky smell that Koga kept talking about, make her less valuable to the snatchers too.

      “Well if someone tries something again I can do more then run away” Penny said like it was obvious.

      “Ok I’ll give ye that point, but like I said there's a price” Harry grinned, she’d probably drop the thought of learning once she knew what he wanted.

      “Ok what do you want?” she asked, he probably wanted the room for just him and Gil for a week or her to do his chores she could do that no problem if it got her what she wanted.

      “Well I want payment of a certain nature” he said running his fingers down her arm watching her making sure that her little scraper stayed where it was.

      “Um... aren’t you... with Gil?” Penny blinked at him, but didn’t reach for her weapon .

      “Course I am, Gilly’s mine. And yer Gilly’s,” he ran his fingers across the bandana around her head.

      “So... what exactly are we talking price wise?” she asked stepping back a little bit just out of Harry’s reach.

      “Well I suppose I could be talked into one night with Gilly and me could get ye two weeks of lessons” Harry smirked at her.

      “There’s no way a threesome is only worth two weeks. Does Crocodile know about you making deal like this?” she crossed her arms.

      “That’s the price girly take it or leave it. As for the Crocodile, well deals between crew are their business not hers unless someone ends up bloodied and would be dead,” Harry shrugged, “Price goes up in 60 seconds, if ye want it then take it now. If not get back ta yer chores before I give ye more,” Harry matched her pose. He loved to watch her fight with herself, how it all danced in her green eyes, she was weighing pros versus cons. He’d noticed the looks for the last few days, and Gilly and her were already kissing.

      “Fine, but we start as soon as chores are done” she conceded if Jay could make deals with sex, then she could use it to get what she wanted just this once right. It was just sex, people here did it all the time.

      “I like ye girly, but not enough to give ye what ye want without payment” Harry laughed, “now back to work with ye”

      Penny huffed stomping off to finish her chores for the day. Harry tilted his head to the side a little watching the way her muscles moved in her back. She would be fine, after all he’d been younger then her when he’d have his first time. Plus he and Gilly would take care of her.

      Io climbed up the side of the ship and tossed her bag over the railing, “Remind me Harry, why I am the one elected to deal with Jafar and Ursula in the same day?”

      “Cause ye wanted me to babysit and had to take care of the sails today” Harry motioned not taking his eyes off Penny.

      She followed his gaze, “She finally ask for you to teach her how to fight?”

      “That she did, we’ll start in a few days” Harry nodded with a little smirk.

      “Is that so? You managed to sweet talk her like you sweet talked Jay,” She teased, he had all but pounced her to tell her he had gotten Jay on his knees, “I have the utmost faith in your seduction skills.” 

      “Oh she thought about it but finally gave in. Forgot to set the price too” he snorted, he’s see how many times he’d get that one on her.

      “Sounds like you're going to even help Koga with his chompy jaws problem. I do love when you solve all the crew issues with a good fuck. Shame you couldn't fuck Jay into our crew, we would be living like kings.” she curled her arm around his waist pulling on his soaked shirt.

      “Way I’ve been thinking about that is if I had managed to get us the thief then, maybe we wouldn’t have Pin so, maybe it was a good thing” Harry shrugged, “And Koga so much as sniffs at her again she’s gonna do more then scratch him.”

      Io nodded resting her head on his shoulder, “Yeah I enjoy Pin on our crew, she works mostly well with us. And holding that section of town would have been a bitch and a half back then. He's going to sniff, he sniffs her after you and Gil fuck he will leave it alone. Can I mention I think it adorable you're worried about Koga sniffing her and nothing else.” she looked out at the sea, “I did check up on the eels by the way, I didn't think those things could get that big...”

      “If I didn’t know ye better I’d think eels meant something else” Harry laughed, “and I think if he ever even thought of anything other then sniffing we may have a new rug”

      She punched him under the ribs lightly, “I'm not the one acquainted with that particular eel, or any sort of thoses and I prefer it that way. And this is Koga we're talking about, he is good and solving our rat problems and all sorts of useful things like hunting.”

      “He really is just a giant house cat” Harry rolled his eyes, “Probably a good thing Pin doesn’t know that”

      “He is my tiger,” Io smirked, “I even get away with calling him kitten. And you think she is going to think differently of you or him or both knowing?”

      “Knowing what? That Koga is a kitten at heart and should be called Fluffy, or knowing what fucking is like?” Harry asked

      Penny looked up seeing Io and Harry watching her, as they seemed to joke about. She smiled a little, that was good, those too had been wound really tight ever since the incident with Hammy. Although part of her really wanted to know what they were talking about. She hadn’t managed to sneak up and eavesdrop on Io yet, but that was probably better for her health.

      “You call him Fluffy he'll take that pretty face of yours off,” she snickered, “Please don't make me lose another handsome man who can handle my teasing. Particularly not one who enjoys feeding me rum so he can tell me all about his fucks. I think there is a saying here, ‘he was a pirate, she was a lady, you know...’ so yeah if she didn't knock it with our thief, you should probably inform her what she's missing.”

      “Oh I plan to, Gil and I will take good care of her” Harry nodded he glanced over at the Gangplank as Gil came up it. Harry raised an eyebrow his smirk falling something was up, Gil wasn’t smiling and bouncing around, “Gilly?” he asked as the blond put his face on Harry’s shoulder.

      “My mom came back, I’ve gotta be at the tavern while she’s there” Gil explained, unlike most of the kids on the isle Gil knew who both his parents were. 

      Harry sighed, Gil was fiercely protective of his mother; every time she forgot how much of a brute Gaston was and came back Gil would go back to the tavern to be with her. Last time Gil had come back after 2 weeks and looked like a walking... limping punching bag. He hadn’t said what happened, one of the few times any of them had seen him snap. He’d screamed at Io that he was fine and she didn’t need to fix anything. Harry was pretty sure Gil was getting in the way of his dad going after his mom.

      “Gilly ye don’t have to go back there, just cause she’s stupid and came back don’t mean ye have to go back too” Harry said softly.

      “Harry she’s my mom, I can’t just leave her there with all three of them. They’ll...” he shook his head, “I’ll come back”

      Harry sighed he knew what Gil’s brothers and dad would do, he’d heard about the Great Gaston teaching his prized son’s how to fuck. She may have been Gil’s mom but she wasn’t the twins, “Alright but... I’m gonna come by in a few days to check on ye. I say yer leaving and yer leaving with me. Don’t care if she’s still there or not”

      “Yes, Harry” Gil nodded

      “Good cause I got a surprise for ye when ye get back. So don’t get all bloodied” Harry nodded as Gil pulled away. Harry grabbed his face pulling him into a deep kiss, he unwound the red sash from around his waist and looped it around Gil’s with one hand. As they parted Harry tied it off, it probably wouldn’t help much. May give the twins some pause and it marked Gil as Harry’s.

      Penny watched the exchange blushing as Harry pulled Gil into the claiming kiss. She raised an eyebrow as Harry put the sash on Gil, something wasn’t right. She made her way down the stairs to stand next to the gangplank. She looked at Gil as he turned and headed to leave.

      “Gil” she said softly he stopped next to her and gave her a kiss on the cheek.

      “I’ll be back Pin, don’t drive Harry too crazy” Gil said before he head off Penny watched him go. She looked back at Harry and Io, what was going on.

      Io watched him go all teasing and joking gone, “I'll have Koga on patrol around the tavern. Give Gil backup just in case. And no I don't give a shit that Gil wants me to stay out of it, he is mine and I protect what is mine.” she looked at Penny, “Expedite the process Harry, I don't like where things are going at the moment,” she kissed his cheek before grabbing the bag she had tossed on deck.

      “Aye Crocodile” Harry nodded, he hated when Gil went home, after the first time he’d begged his da to do something. Killian had simply told his son there was nothing he could do outside of their territory.

      “Harry?” Penny asked as he waved her over to him and pulled her close.

      “It’s ok princess” Harry assured both of them, he’d give Gil the night but tomorrow he’d drag the boy out if he had too.

      Io took the bag into the Captain's quarters before she left the ship, moving towards Koga's place. She hated Gil going back home, hated having him in a place when she wasn't welcome unless it was Jollyroger business.

      Harry kept Penny close to him as he finished up. He was debating what to do once he was done. If it was Gil with him it would be a round of ravishing as they cleaned up. But, the princess was a might skittish. Smee saved him by asking for a volunteer to help straighten captains quarters. Penny had gone off with Smee to help, giving Harry a chance to breathe and think.

      Killian knocked his son loving in the back of the head with his hook, “What's with the face? Didn't have it out with one of the crew did ye?”

      “Gil’s mom came home” he said with a sigh, “I’m not... I’m tired of him goin back there just to get hurt Da” every time Gil came back hurt it made Harry a little more desperate to protect him.

      Killian sighed softly, “Ye want to make a push to expand the territory out there? That's all I can do to help ye about it. I know it ain't what ye want to hear, but it is his choice to go there. Unless ye plan on tethering him to the ship, he's going to go. Ye remember he screamed at Crocodile when she told him she was going to deal with it.”

      “I know Da, just wish there was some way to keep him safe from that brute. Gil protects his mom but she don’t protect him none,” Harry rolled his neck.

      “I know, but a lot of kids here do that. They hope it means that one day their parent will love um,” Killian curled his arm over his son's shoulders, “I did my best to give ye a relatively normal childhood by pirate standards. An I know I ain't always the easiest man to get on with.”

      “Da I’ve seen the other kids, I’ve seen their scars. The worse you give me is a thumping and most of those I earn. But, I just, don’t get how Gil just keeps going back there” Harry leaned into his da a little, “At least Pin is distracted by Smee. Think if she knew what was going on she’d try and go down there herself and drag him back to the ship.”

      “Lovin’ someone make ye do the stupidest things sometimes. I’d say he loves his mother enough that he happily takes the pain if it means she doesn't get it. Crocodile does the same, difference is she likes swinging that knife.” Killian squeezed his son tight. There wasn't anything he wouldn't do if it meant saving his own son.

      “Ain’t any thing like love here, just protection and whatever the hell Io does” Harry shook his head as he saw Penny come out with Smee carrying parts of bedding to be shaken out and cleaned, “I can’t figure her out. I believe her that she’s a princess but, she don’t act like I thought any princess would” Harry said changing the topic, he wasn’t really sure what love was but then most kids on the isle didn’t know either.

      “Just cause it doesn’t seem like don’t mean it ain’t here. And just because she is a princess don’t mean she has to act like the ones in the stories. After all we are in those stories and I doubt we are anything like they think we are on the mainland.”

      “Not from the way she tells it” Harry agreed, “I should probably get cleaned up” it was weird thinking about bath night without Gil here.

      Killan nodded releasing his son’s shoulders, “Aye don’t let me stop ye.”

      Harry nodded heading off to get what he needed for his bath.

Chapter 49: Bathtime Exploration (IoL: November)

Summary:

Warning: Smut

      Penny sighed as she headed below to Harry’s room. It was a little weird that Gil wasn’t here but it wasn’t the first time her and Harry where on their own so to speak. She pushed open the door and turned as she closed the door and squeaked covering her eyes at seeing Harry naked.

      Harry looked up at Penny and snorted, “Ye alright there Pin?” he slowly straightened from his half crouch. Io said expedite the process, so this seemed like as close to a perfect time as any.

      “Um... you gonna put some pants on?” She asked not uncovering her eyes. She’d never seen a fully naked guy before. 

      “No, not done me bath yet,” he nudged the water bucket with his foot, “Thinking of baths ye probably need one too.”

      “Good to know I’ll bring it up to Io tomorrow” she said groping for the door knob behind her.

      “No sense in wasting good clean water,” he crossed the room and gently took her wrist focusing on just her, “Quit being so jumpy Pin ain’t nothing to be afraid of, ye can even look ye know,” he gently tugged at her wrist with his damp fingers. He could feel how nervous she was and it made him smile just a little, he would take his time with her, ease her into it.

      “Harry I ...” she licked her lips focusing her eyes solely on his face, feeling the blush creeping its way down her face. She didn’t know what do with this situation, she’d been naked in front of him but that had been Io pushing her buttons testing her.

      “Aye Pin? It’s just skin remember, nothing to be afraid or embarrassed about,” he eased his damp hands down her arms as they hung limply at her sides, “I won’t do anything ye ain’t be wanting.”

      “Yeah it’s just... I’ve never seen,” she glanced down and then back up letting out a nervous chuckle.

      “No, I can tell that, consider this a learning experience then. I’m fine with whatever ye wanna do but we can take it slow,” he carefully guided her away from the door and towards the bucket, “Let’s start with the easy things, like getting ye ready for a bath.”

      “Slow is good” she nodded letting him guide her thru the room.

      Harry smiled easing Gil’s bandanna off her head, fingers easing through her hair as he kept eye contact with her, “If ye wanna touch go ahead.”

      Penny licked her lips again before reaching out to placing a hand on his chest.

      “See there ye go, nothing bit ye or hurt me either,” he offered as he undid the belt holding her pants up, and left it in place, just hanging open until she was ready to do more.

      “I wasn’t sure what I’m expecting to happen,” Penny admitted as she ran her fingers down his chest the butterflies back in her lower stomach.

      “I’m not sure either, but ye are safe with me Pin,” he took her wrist and eased her hand further down to cut of his hips, “So ye touch what ye want,” his other hand pushed her pants down leaving her in the too large shirt, “And I will help ye get ready fer our bath.” 

      “So what I wash your back you’ll wash mine” she asked with a little smirk trying to relax.

      “Exactly what the plan was,” his fingers slipped under the edge of her shirt and grazed his knuckles up her sides as he pulled her shirt up and off, “Almost there. See this ain’t so bad.”

      Penny fought her first instinct to cover herself, she felt the blush spread down her chest.

      His fingers undid her breast binding and let it flutter to the floor, she had such small pert breasts compared to Mimzy’s large pillowy ones, and Io’s well she had about the in between size from what he could tell with her breast binding on. Stooping he picked up the sponge and ran it over her shoulder watching the beads roll down her chest. He licked his lips, he wanted to take her panties off but he wasn’t going to risk scaring her quiet yet.

      Penny’s breath hitched a little as the water rolled down her skin, she let her eyes flicker down, her brain screaming at all the rules that were being broken here. But was she really breaking any rules when she was in a place where the rules didn’t count for shit. She let her fingers trail along Harry’s hip again before they dropped lower just ghosting over the start of his pubic hair. She would be lying to herself if she said she wasn’t frightened, but Harry wasn’t what frightened her in the room, it was not knowing what to do, how to act. It was actually funny she spent her whole life in Auradon fighting against doing what was expected of her and here on a pirate ship she wanted to put exception back in place so she’d at least have guidelines. She gasped softly as the sponge brushed over the tops of her breast. The darker part of her mind wondered what it would feel like if Harry’s tongue followed the trail of water, but she couldn’t voice that she didn’t have the nerve.

      Harry smiled watching the look on her face, he eased her hand down lower and curled it around his limp cock, “Something on yer mind Penny? Ye just let me know what it is ye need, and I’ll take care of ye.”

      “I’ve never done anything like this, I don’t even know... Gil explained in great detail, but I never even kissed someone until I got here if you don’t count Jay’s drunk slobber,” she tried to explain, she could feel the two part of her fighting. The part that was the rebel princess that pushed the limits but didn’t outright ignore them without reason and the darker part of her that Jay had nurtured without knowing, the part that wanted to hang the rules and scandalize the world. She flexed her fingers experimentally, watching for a reaction if she got one at all.

      “Aye he is handsy when he’s drunk,” Harry agreed smiling softly at her attempt, “Here this is better,” He guided her hand to stroke his skin, “And ye can practice on me if ye ain’t opposed, I don’t mind.”

      “Practice for... when Gil gets back?” she asked, after all their deal involved Gil, she let him guide her, her eyes taking in his face.

      Harry hummed eyes hooded as she stroked him to full, “Ye said ye didn’t know because ye had never done anything like this before. So if letting ye paw at me is going to help get ye comfortable for our deal when Gilly’s back then aye practice,” his words caught a bit between deepening breaths, “Ye not gonna jump out of ye skin if I take yer panties off?”

      “I’ve never understood that saying... I don’t think so,” she shook her head bring her focus back in, she took in what she was seeing trying to decide if she wanted to paw at him. She hesitantly reached out with her other hand to place it on his chest his nipple just between her fingers.

      He nodded stepping closer and gently pulled the fabric away looking over her bared skin again, “Want me to keep washing ye up while ye practice?”

      “You're the one that said I needed a bath” she pointed out as she closed her fingers around his nipple rolling it slightly, watching it harden. She’d played with her own a few times in the shower so, it wasn’t a complete surprise she just hadn’t been sure his would react the same way hers did.

      “We both need a bath,” He breathed, as she pulled on his nipple, “Like I said before no sense in letting water go to waste,” he ran the sponge down over her shoulder again, taking the time to brush down her arm and back up and over the tops of her breasts testing the waters of what she would do when he washed the rest of her off. 

      She shifted a little closer to him releasing his nipple, she glanced down at herself for a second, she felt the want she wanted Harry to touch her too. She may not know exactly how she wanted him to touch her but, she wanted this to be a shared thing. She reached up with her free hand as the other seemed to drift from his cock to run lightly around his balls, she laced her fingers thru his and looked at his face as she lowered his hand over her breasts, “I’m not sure what I’m supposed to do but, I do know I want you to touch me even if I don’t know how” she managed to get out silencing her part of her that objected to naked boys at all.

      Harry tossed the sponge into the bucket, screw getting clean for a bit, if she wanted an exploration he was going to commit, “How about I touch ye, and if I do anything that ye don’t like ye just tell me. And careful with me boys, gentle tugs and rollin about is fine, but their sensitive.” he palmed her breast giving her fingers a squeeze.

      “That seems like a fair enough rule to me” she said losing her grip on the boys to roll them over her finger tips. She released her hold on his hand to go back to exploring over his chest, she was starting to feel comfortable with Harry in front of her. She could do what she wanted for the most part, her darker side being encouraged to run a little wild. She gasped feeling her own nipple respond to Harry’s action, the butterflies seeming to become hornets in her tummy, but not in a bad way if they made any sense in her own head.

      He watched her face as he smoothed down her sides of lean rippling muscle from all their work on the ship. His fingers curling over her hips and he playfully gave her ass a squeeze before returning to his exploration of her smooth skin. It was so odd to see someone with so little scaring, Io’s wild unpredictable nature the only reason she only had the one scar.

      She didn’t object to the grab at her ass, she always thought she’d lay out any guy stupid enough to grab her butt, but she kinda just wants Harry to do it again. As she thinks this another thought enters her mind, she lets her fingertips trail over a few of the scars on his chest as she leans in and places a gentle kiss on his chest kissing over to the nipple she’d played with earlier. She ran her tongue over it at the same time she pulled gently on his sack before releasing it to wrap her hand back around his steel shaft.

      A moan left his lips at her exploration of his body, if she was going to be like that. He promptly cut off that train of thought because she said she had never even seen another naked male. Double checking her face he smoothed his palm down her lower belly and dipped between her thighs, fingers brushing her clit. Slow, he needed to take things slow, as to not have her screaming for the hills.

      She stills at the rush of... she didn’t know what to call it, fire maybe through her body. Heat pooling between her thighs, she wasn’t sure she liked the feeling but at the same time she wanted to feel it again. She assumed she had done something right from Harry’s moans but that jolt had taken her train of thought, and it was taking a moment to get it back. She leaned back for a second trying to reorder her head, she was ok, Harry was safe and nothing had felt wrong so far. She let out a breath before leaning back in this time taking the neglected nipple between her teeth.

      He groaned in enjoyment, and could tell she liked what he was doing to her as he flexed the fingers still nestled between her thighs, “Feel good Pin? Ye enjoying pawing at me? Cause I am enjoying what yer doing to me.”

      “It feels like fire in my veins,” she gave a small gasp as she pulled away from his chest, “And I can see why Gilly likes pawing at you. I like how firm you are, like nothing is gonna get through you” she explained to herself as much as Harry.

      “That is pleasure,” he moved closer as she stepped away, his lips brushing her neck with soft tender kisses. He was going to need to give the thief a drink if he ever saw the flirt again. “And it only gets better, I’m hoping ye like the feeling cause I am rather looking forward to our deal right now.” carefully he eased his hand away so he wouldn’t be tempted to slide them into her.

      “It’s new, but I’m finding I like new things” she said tilting her head to the side for him.

      “Plenty of new things ye can experience here with us,” Harry purred into her skin as he pulled them together chest to chest. The contact felt good on his aching length and he honestly wondered how Jay did what he did cause Harry would have been near sobbing if he wasn't allowed to get off. But now he had his hands on the thief's pretty princess and he was going to make sure she never left his or Gilly's side. “Ye going to complain if I kiss ye?”

      “Nope” she popped the P, turning running her lips along his cheek. She couldn’t understand why this wasn’t talked about on the mainland except in hush whispered and giggles in the locker room.

      Harry tipped his head catching her lips with his own as his hands drifting down her bare sides. On their own his hands worked to her ass once more gripping her tight as the pressure helped ease the ache. His hips rocked slowly up rubbing his hard skin against both their lower bellies. No experience he reminded himself, she wouldn't pick up the cue he needed and wanted more, but it was also about her. No matter what he wanted this was about her exploring things. Screw Gilly's mother for picking now to come back, or they would already be tangled in his sheets right now.

      Kisses she understood, between Jay's drunken ones and the few she and Gil had shared; she had an understanding of how that worked. Harry kisses like he wanted to consume her, but at the same time free her. She ran her hands down his sides as he had done to her letting her nails drag across his hips when she got there.

      Harry walked her towards his bed, all thoughts of the bath gone. He was going to give her a thing or two that he hoped would have her coming happily back for more. The fucking had to wait for Gilly to get back but there was nothing that said he couldn’t jerk off and eat her. When the backs of his legs hit the bed he turned them around and eased her down making sure he was always in contact with her kissing her. She thought he was solid, so he would make sure she knew he wasn’t going anywhere.

      Penny placed a hand behind her as Harry lowered her down, giving her a brief control of the descent as one of her legs came up to wrap around the back of his knee. She nipped at his lower lip.

      And there was the fire he loved seeing, the side that was more Isle than Auradon. The pretty dangerous side of the princess that made his Crocodile so delighted. Now all he had to do was make sure that side never vanished under the Auradon princess. He wedged his knees between hers and cupped the side of her head as he opened his mouth to deepen the kiss from long and tender to carnal. His other hand kept his weight off her for the time being as he loomed over her letting her do what she wanted with his legs for the moment. Once she was comfortable he would see what he could do with petting her pussy, he had a feeling that her no experience included touching herself.

      She pushed herself up to bed a little so their faces were level. Dragging his leg with her trying to get some more of that pleasure that he had made her blood sing with earlier. She chased his tongue around her mouth with her own groaning into the kiss.

      Easing his hand from her cheek he trailed it down her front flicking at a hardened nipple on his way before dipping his hand between her thighs and the knee she was trying to use. Lapping his tongue against the roof of her mouth he eased back a little to talk, “It’s alright just let me take care of ye. I know what ye need...” his fingers dipped between her outer lips to the slick beneath, “Ye so wet already for me, ye are perfect. Absolutely perfect,” he breathed rubbing her slick up to her clit massaging the bundle of nerves as he kissed down her neck.

      Her eyes flew open with a gasp, “oh fuck” she’d never known that anything could make her feel like she was flying and falling at the same time. She never wanted it to end, but where was his mouth going. She tried to focus enough to look down and follow his path with her eyes.

      Pausing briefly on her nipples he suckled them for a moment before he continued his quest down her body. His now free hand guided her other leg to bend and rest on the bed to give him full access to her private bits. Bits he was going to rather enjoy as he eased a finger to her opening toying with it as he knelt at the base of his bed and looked up at her confusion. With a shameless smirk he moved his hand and replaced it with his mouth. 

      “Oh fucking genies” she almost screeched her hands flying to his hair. She’d known about guys getting blow jobs, but never had it crossed her mind that someone would put their mouth down there unless it was two girls. She’d seen Cindy and a girl she hadn’t recognized doing what would rather obviously now lead to this.

      He grinned into her skin, tongue flicking over her clit before he flicked the tip of his tongue against her opening. Working her open with his mouth her lapped at her from the inside as her curled one hand around his aching and oozing length as his fingers rubbed her clit with quick short little motions. If she thought this was good, she was going to love the fucking climax.

      Penny gasped her fingers curling and uncurling in his hair. The hornets in her stomach felt like they were going explode, “Harry” she gasped shifting one of her legs so it was over his  shoulder, “Harry...I...” and there went the explosion. Her head fell back onto the bed as a non understandable noise pulled from her throat.

      Harry almost purred as she oozed into his mouth, his fingers slowing as he worked her through it before pulling back leaving her leg where it was as he gave himself another few jerks before he fell into his own climax still tasting hers, “So how ye feeling Pin?” he asked.

      “I think my brain is broken... why does no one talk about this on the mainland” she asked herself panting, “...I like new things” she nodded to herself.

      “Because yer mainland don’t like talking about fucking. We got fucking and everything that goes with it here in spades. When Gilly gets back we are going to show ye the rest of the fun things yer mainland never talks about,” Harry replied standing slowly to lean over her and give her a soft kiss, “Ye lay here and find yer brian. I’m goin’ to finish my bath.”

Chapter 50: Family of Hunters (IoL: November)

       Harry smirked a little to himself as he tied the knots off for the ship. He glanced over at Penny who was helping Smee organize the galley. Maybe after they got over their first night he’d convince Gilly to help him tie up the princess. He got the feeling that she’d love it. He shook the thought away, they need to get Gilly back to the ship first.

       Io stormed onto the ship, it had been two days and not even Koga’s presence was enough to deter the twins. She wanted to gut them like fish, and Gil had told her off, sent her away with a shove saying it was his trouble not ship trouble. 

       “Crocodile?” Harry asked, something had not gone right. Penny looked up at Io’s tornado like entrance.

       “I’m going to rip their hearts out of their chests, gut them like fish and send them back to Gaston piece by bloody fucking piece,” She seethed the start of an odd lilt to her words, “My, our, your,” her knuckles cracked as she tried not to lash out at her first mate, “Shoved me away telling me it’s not ship trouble. Not ship trouble as if he ain’t me crew. His trouble the brat says; it’s not his bloody fuckin’ trouble it’s his dumb bitch of a mudder’s trouble!”

       “What are we gonna do? We gonna find a way to keep her from going back, but ye know without hurtin’ her” Harry crossed his arms, “Gilly will never forgive us if we hurt her.” 

       “You didn’t bring Gil back?” Penny asked coming over to them. Harry slipped an arm around her shoulders.

       “Imma bloody fuckin fix her that’s what. Send her to Underland and wrap her bloody skin in their fuckin’ wonders until she can’t even remember if she was human in the first place,” Io could feel the boiling in her blood, feel the want to cause harm under her skin, her eyes felt like they were on fire. She physically put space between her and her crew desperate not to lash out at them, “I tried lamb, I tried but he won’t come until she is gone.” 

       “He’ll come back, princess promise,” Harry assured, as Penny started to try and think of a solution, “And I think that would count as hurtin Crocodile.”

       “It’s not hurtin if she never comes up for air,” Io pointed out, “Bury ‘er in a dark deep corner where no one will look. If he’d let me I’d have Shere pay her a lovin’-” she squeezed her eyes shut, “No that ain’t a thing for anyone unwillin’... If he would, just, let me deal with his brother’s I could control the situation. I could keep Gaston the Original under control, I can handle the brute. Fuck I want to bleed someone...”

       “Pin, go back to helpin Smee love.” Harry sent Penny off, she didn’t need to see the Crocodile in this state, honestly it put him on edge and he had known her his whole life, “Do ye want me to get da to help calm ye?” 

       Io looked at Harry, an odd icy blue glow in her eyes when she opened them, “Your da hasn’t been able to calm me down for years dearie. I want, I need, I need to deal with the Gaston problem. I need to fix them. Bleed them until they never touch what is mine. I want them out of my way.” She closed her eyes jaw clenching, “I have to keep what is mine safe. And our boy is not safe. Won’t let me keep him safe.”

       “Ye think I like it anymore then ye do, I want to tie him to the bed and never let him leave it. To hook anyone that even looks at him sideways” Harry said.

       “He is never leaving this ship after this. Never. If I have to lash him to this ship so be it.” She took a deep breath trying to come back from the edge just a smidge. The last time she snapped like this she saw Jay beaten and bloodied a knife on his neck as they used him. She had slit the man’s throat deep enough Yzma had asked what she had used. She knew she couldn’t make that mistake here or she would hurt the crew she was trying to protect.

       “What do ye need me to do?” he asked with a sigh, it was easier to appease her when she was like this.

       “Anything. At this point I’m going to slaughter the next body that vexes me.” 

 

       “Mr. Smee” Penny said softly making the man look at her in question manner.

       “Can you cover for me?” she asked chewing her lip, Gil would scream at Io, but maybe he’d come back for her.

       “Depends little one, is this gonna upset the Crocodile?’ he asked glancing over at Io.

       “She’s already upset so...” she shrugged.

       “Don’t get hurt” he sighed handing her his dagger, and his hat.

       “Thanks Mr. Smee” she took the dagger sliding it into her boot, as Smee adjusted the hat on her head. He motioned her off the ship in a hurry. 

       Penny hurried off to pull herself up into the roofs and left the wharf area, she treaded around the edge of the Jollyroger’s territories. Until she started to have to looked at the buildings, she vaguely remembered the tavern from her first night here, “Come on it's here somewhere” she looked around she’d just crossed out of the Jollyroger’s area.

       “Of course... antlers, I should have known,” Penny deadpanned spotting the antler decorated tavern’s outside, “So, now to find Gilly” she crept around the side looking through a few windows trying to find Gil. She glanced behind her as she heard a crash from near the front of the tavern. She hurried back there and looked threw the window, Gil was on the ground with his brothers standing over him, oh that was not ok with her. She took a breath and pushed the door open, “Leave him alone you lugnuts,” she barked at them.

       G2 looked up dropped his little brother, “Aw did Crocodile not want to play anymore?”

       “Don’t you remember? Our little brother sent the terror away,” G3 laughed kicking Gil, “You should have told her to stay.”

       “We would have been happy to play with her once we were done with you,” G2 leaned back down and punched Gil in the nose, “Don’t worry little girl we’ll take good care of you once we’ve had our fun with Gilford.”

       “His name is Gil, and you're gonna leave him alone right now,” she hissed moving close enough to kick G2 in the back of the knee with all her might.

       “Pin... what are you doing here?” Gil looked at her confused, Io wouldn’t have let her come here.

       “Bringing you home, duh” she rolled her eyes one of her hands resting on her scraper on her hip.

       “Home?” G3 tipped his head looking her over as his twin rubbed the back of his leg, “Gaston, she’s a Jollyroger out of her territory.”

       G2 turned now focused on Penny, “Crocodile is one thing, she’ll stab as fast she can talk. But this ain’t her Gaston. And there ain’t no beast backing her either.”

       “I think we can take this beauty,” G3 grinned looking Penny over like the twins could devour her, “Make her wish she had never left home.”

       “Oh please, you two have less then a brain between you. I’m so scared,” she snorted taking  step back, she’d watched enough to know to make them come to her. She flipped the scraper into her palm and up against her wrist.

       “Hey, no leave her alone” Gil said pushing himself to his feet, Pin was his; he found her, he marked her, even if she was wearing Mr. Smee’s hat... Io wasn’t gonna like that, so no one was gonna hurt her while he was here. 

       G2 took a step towards her as his twin turned and shoved their little brother back, “We may not be very smart, but we are very strong.”

       “Yeah but, I’m guessing strategy isn’t your strong suit,” she smirked in a manner that almost made Gil’s blood run cold, it wasn’t quite the same but it was that look that Io got before things got scary sometimes or when she knew something other people didn’t. Penny waited until he was just in reach before shooting forward and between his legs, her scraper going across the inside of his knee drawing a good amount of blood. 

       Gil blinked for a second before shoving G3 away from him and into one of the tables. Going to stand in front of Penny.

       G3 stumbled back and nearly tripped over his twin who was holding the back of his leg, “You okay Gaston?”

       “Just get the pirate bitch...” G2 snarled before a door slammed open.

       “What is all this noise? You boys had better not broken anything or I’ll feed you to the dogs!” Gaston (the OG) bellowed down the stairs leaving Gilford’s mother in the bed.

       Penny blinked, ok maybe she hadn’t thought this all the way through. Gil stepped back putting Penny flat against the wall and his back. He wouldn’t let his dad hurt her.

       Gaston stopped at the bottom of the stairs seeing one of the twins held up by the other tables and chairs tossed about the room but nothing broken, yet. “Gilford, what are you hiding now? Bad enough I have to send my hounds to chase off that damned tiger. So that had better not be Hook’s son your hiding.” 

       “Can’t really hide Harry dad” Gil said , “He’s too big” Penny wanted to thump him in the back of the head, really that was what he came up with.

       Gaston nodded, “True Gilford, true. Then who are you hiding another one of that band of pirates.”

       “It’s a girl dad,” G2 cringed as his twin sat him on a stool, “A pirate girl.”

       “One of Crocodile’s crew probably,” G3 nodded looking at his brother’s leg.

       Penny closed her eyes taking a deep breath, ok she could do this, these guys had the collective IQ of a rock... actually that may insult rocks, “Well I’m glad someone thinks I’m a pirate. Helps to blend in” she snorted peeking out from behind Gil’s back. He looked at her for a second before nodding along.

       “Yeah, Crocodile won’t let her into the crew, so she... um hangs out with me when I’m not busy,” Gil fumbled along.

       Gaston may not be the brightest bulb but he knew when his youngest was spinning stories. He moved closer and took her chin in his hand, something was very familiar about her despite the four long pink scars across her face, “And do you have a name pretty girl? A parent who claims you?”

       “Its Stickpin sir, most just call me Pin” she rambled trying to act flustered, “And well no sir, don’t know nothin about my parents” Gil chewed his lip, what did he do if his dad recognized her it was gonna be super bad.

       “No idea at all?” Gaston asked as he pulled her around Gil and picked her up sitting her down on a table, “Your face seems so familiar.”

       “I am an unclaimed, perhaps you know more of my parents then I do if I am familiar to you sir” her eyes flickered around, they needed an exit strategy. She briefly looked at Gil who was floundering, so he was not going to be any help.

       “I am sure I know a great many more things than you. I am the Great Gaston, Strongest and Handsomest man in all the Lands,” He gave her a charming grin as he flexed a bulging bicep.

       The twins exchanged a silent look and rolled their eyes as G3 wrapped and tied G2’s leg. 

       “Yes, we talk of the great Gaston and all of the... wonder that is you, among the unclaimed” Penny stroked his ego.

       “I like this one. Gil I give you permission to fuck and keep her here.”

       “Dad” Gil gasped turning red, as Penny choked on her own breath, okay that exit would be nice about now, before Io or Harry realized she was gone.

       “What are you not fucking her? Perhaps your-”

       “We’ll take her dad,” the twins said together.

       “As charming as an offer as that is... Gilford” she made a face at the name, “And I are in fact fucking. But...we are also...late for a hunt” Gil looked at her confused and she shot him a glare, and that clearly said the next thing she stuck was gonna be him if he screwed this up.

       “A hunt?” Gaston asked confused.

       “Gilford doesn’t have the heart for a hunt,” G3 muttered.

       “He doesn’t need heart for this hunt, just balls. We unclaimed call it a rabbit run,” Penny said spinning her tale with confidence, “One unlucky person gets to be the rabbit... I’m sure you can figure out that rest” 

       G2 snorted, “Is he the rabbit? He’s good at running to hide under the ship rat and his cunt.”

       Gaston shot the twins a hard look, “He’s no rabbit, he’s turning into a hunter.”

       “Exactly, and he needs to be on time if he is to be a fine example of the great Gaston” Penny nodded, giving G2 a look that clearly read that he was going to be a crippled rabbit if he kept talking.

       “Well go on then, make me proud son,” Gaston beamed as his twins glared at her.

       Penny breathed a sigh as she and Gil exited the tavern, she waited until they were down the street before turning and smacking him in the arm a few times.

 

       “Crocodile... not to get ye anymore blood bathy but have ye seen Pin?” Harry asked as he came back above deck.

       Io looked at him from over the bottle of rum Killian shoved in her hand, “Ask Mr. Smee, his missing both his hat and his knife. Since we are now missing our princess I’d say he let her off the ship while we were sparring.”

       “He... MR. SMEE” Harry bellowed making Smee look up in shook, Harry really could sound like his da when need be.

       “Yes, Harry” Smee winced this was going to end in something bad.

       Io pushed herself off the coil of rope rum bottle hanging from her fingers, “Where’s you let our princess run off to Mr. Smee?”

       “Well you see, she would have gone whether I let her have me knife or not,” Smee started to explained looking between the two teenagers, “And I couldn’t let her go off without a weapon see” 

       “Where is she?” Harry growled, Gil was out of his protection right now, and the first mate had let an Auradon princess, no matter how unlike a princess she was, wonder off the ship on her own.

       “She went to get Gil” Smee said softly wincing as the words left his mouth.

       “Ye let the daughter of Belle go to Gaston’s tavern” Harry hissed in alarm, “Crocodile I don’t like this.” 

       “I love this,” She grinned wildly capping the bottle of rum, “Mr. Smee hold my rum. The Jaws of the Jollyroger are going to go retrieve some of our lost crew.”

       “Right... I’ll do that... but maybe someone should let Captain know the Jaws are going out,” Smee said.

       “Right, right...” Io snorted knowing Killian was locked up in his cabin, “CAPTAIN, IT’S HUNTING TIME!” she bellowed, “That should be warning enough, come on my darling, time for a bloody wicked quest for our little lost lambs.”

       “Um... who’s lost?” Penny asked as she and Gil came up the gangplank. She’d seen them cornering Smee and figured stealth was not going to help her in this case.

       “Yeah... what are you going looking for?” Gil tilted his head.

       “NO YE BLOODY DON’T!” Killian bellowed back slamming the door open, “Ye don’t leave me ship, not like ye are ye damned she devil. Ye liable to slaughter the whole damn Isle.”

       “I would never, I’d never have any fun when I was done,” she gestured with a wild grin, “You my lambs, Pin, knife and hat back to where they belong, Gilford give me a reason not to punch you in the mouth. Your problems are my problems.”

       “Um...well Pin already punched me...a bunch on the way home” Gil said, “and made me promise not to go back or she’d drag me out by my hair next time”

       “She shouldn’t need to make that threat” Harry crossed his arms.

       “I know I messed up again” Gil nodded.

       Penny gave Smee his knife and hat back, “Didn’t need it turns out scraper works wonders on knees.” 

       “Messed up is one way to put it,” Io stated moving towards Gil, “You yelled at me again, Your leader. You yelled at me while I was trying to keep you safe from the brothers that look like they tried rearranging your face again. My job is to keep you safe Gilford. You joined my crew, your problems became my problems, you remember that? How do you think it makes me feel when you shove me away and don’t let me keep you safe. I will tell you, my dear sweet darling puppy, it makes me violent. Violent enough my first mate had to spar with me, violent enough our captain handed me an entire bottle of rum. So you want to revise that statement you messed up, because Harry and I are on the mindset of tieing you to the ship and never letting you leave for your own damn safety.” she was toe to toe with the taller and admittedly much stronger male by the end of her surprisingly calmly worded rant.

       “I won't do it again, I just... I don’t think so good sometimes. And my dad’s really strong, and you're mean Crocodile but not very big” Gil tried to explain, “And Pin said she was gonna stick my feet to the deck with her scraper if I tried to leave again. Maybe I should just stay don’t do much right expect clean the ship, I’m good at that.” 

       Io huffed cuffing him lightly upside the head, “I know you won’t do it again, and just because I’m tinier than you doesn’t mean I can’t drop your dad like a sack a shit. I find stabbing them in the balls is a great way to bring people down to my height. As for Pin’s offer, she’s allowed to at this stage. You should stay here, where your real family is. We don’t want more than to know you are safe, and going to your father’s tavern is not safe. Now you two, made my first mate worried sick, I expect both of you make it up to him however he sees fit.”

       “How ever he sees fit?” Penny blinked and looked over at Harry.

       “Do you want a blowjob Harry?” Gil asked, “Or we could do that thing you like where I lick...” Harry covered Gil’s mouth.

       “No one but the princess and us need to know about that,” Harry shook his head.

       “Wait... what do you like him...” Penny looked between the two.

       “You like new things remember” Harry chuckled

       “Oh that type of licking,” she nodded.

       Io snorted, “Have fun you three. I’ll be up here drinking and staying put as Captain says.”

Chapter 51: Completing the Deal (IoL: November)

Summary:

Warning: Threesome ahead

      Harry gave one last look over Io before nodding, she seemed to have simmered down enough for the time being, “Come on ye two. Bedroom.”

      Penny let Gil drag across the deck and down the stairs with a giggle, “we’re gonna have fun” Gil assured her

      He was planning on making the most out of this thing where they were making it up to him, because he had to suffer through a brutal sparring session.

      “Harry what you want to do?” Gil asked Harry as he turned to look at him once they were in the room.

      “Well just before ye decided to go home Pin made a deal with me. A good deal too. Pin wants to learn to fight from me and in exchange for two weeks of teaching we have a good fuck.” Harry grinned widely.

      “You're gonna like fucking Pin” Gil nodded, “Am I in trouble still?” he looked back at Harry. 

      “I got that feeling a few night ago” Pin blushed

      “You had fun without me,” Gil pouted.

      “Aye ye still in trouble Gilly, and I was having a bath and things got a touch experimental. And if ye were here for bath night we could have had more fun,” Harry shot back as he removed his sash from Gil’s waist, “And we are having some fun now yes?”

      “Yes, lots of fun” Gil smirked at Harry, “Do I get to lick your ass again? I liked that last time” 

      “Uh...what?” Penny looked confused between the two, Harry putting his mouth on her pussy had been a shock, but anyone putting their mouth on someone's ass. They had to be pulling her leg.

      Harry hummed at the thought, “Aye ye can do that to make it up to me. Ye in the mood to peg me while ye at it?” as he talked he kicked open a loose floorboard and pulled out a small bottle filled of red liquid, “Pin, I need ye to drink this for me.”

      “What is it?” she asked taking it from his hand, she tossed it back not waiting for an answer, Harry wouldn’t give her anything bad but still.

      “Makes sure you don’t have babies” Gil supplied, “I’ll give you anything you want Harry. Cause I have to say sorry... and it's fun.”

      “If ye not fucking the same sex, ye take that once a week. Works on lads too, but I haven’t been taken it since Gilly became mine. Instant fix for lassies, bit longer for lads,” Harry explained as he shed his jacket. He glanced Pin over, “Ye want to watch for a bit, and get comfortable like we did last time. I ain’t gonna push if ye ain’t ready this second.”

      “Yeah, that’s a good idea, slow,” she nodded leaning against the desk watching as Gil pulled off his shirt. He had scars across his chest as well as new bruises from his run in with his brothers.

      “Oh Gilly,” Harry said softly running his hands carefully over the bruises not wanting to hurt him, “Good I want ye on top of me tonight...” he frowned slightly before kissing Gil, hands undoing his Gil’s pants.

      “I’ll make you scream like last time” Gil put his forehead against Harry’s as he pushed his pants down stepping out of them.

      Penny tilted her head taking in Gil’s... well everything.

      “I always scream for ye Gilly,” Harry breath, “Always manage to get me all wound up,” his hand dipped between Gil’s thighs and gripped the half mast shaft. A few gentle tugs and Harry pressed his mouth against Gil’s again hungry for more. 

      Gil moved closer to Harry flicking his tongue over Harry’s lips as he reached down and slipping his hand in Harry’s pants. Penny moved closer letting her fingers ghost over Gil’s back.

      Harry opened his mouth for Gil and quickly shoved his pants down, kicking them off. Moaning he thrust up into Gil’s hand, they had been doing this for a while and still Harry was so thrilled that Gil never needed any prompting.

      “You want to lay down?” Gil pulled back just a little to speak before moving his lips along Harry’s jaw. He reached to his side brushing Penny’s shirt, she was just out of his reach at that angle.

      He nodded stepping back slightly and yanked his shirt off, “Gil why don’t you help Pin out of her clothes?”

      Gil nodded watching Harry for a second longer before he turned his attention to Pin. His fingers brushed her hair over her ear. They had kissed before, and Harry had fun with her so she should be okay with this. Cautiously he slid his hands under her shirt and up her belly, “This is why you told Dad we were fucking...”

      “No, I just had to play on what he was thinking.” Penny said lifting her arms as the shirt came off. She watched Gil, Harry was all control and firm but at the same time letting the pace be what it was. Gil was well warmth and protection, there was no doubt in her mind that even behind the derpy innocent looking boy was as a guy as fierce and confident as Harry.

      “So we aren’t fucking?” his head cocked to the side, he wasn’t so sure she understood what was going on here. His fingers undid her belt and her pants pushing the fabric down as Harry groaned on the bed behind him, “Don’t be mean Harry, it’s never fun when you play with yourself.”

      “Can’t help myself Gilly, ye two are a show,” Harry groaned as he leaned back on one elbow slowly jerking his cock watching Gil strip Penny, “Ye know ye can do whatever ye want with her Gilly, she is yers. But after this I want to be here and look after ye both if ye wanna fuck.” 

      “Not yet we’re not” Penny said as she stepped out of her pants reaching up to undo her bandana.

      Gil brushed her hands away and smiled, “Harry told me to strip you, I’ll take care of you Pin,” his fingers undid the knot and he leaned down into her kissing her long and slow. One hand carding through her now loose hair as the other undid her breast binding. When the fabric was out of the way he slipped his arm around her and picked her up easily still kissing her.

      Penny hummed into the kiss, kissing Gil was like being wrapped in a warm blanket. She wondered if Gil liked being handled like she’d handle Harry. She let her hand slip between his thighs gently grasped his balls.

      Gil crinkled his nose peppering kisses along her jaw as he laid her down next to Harry, “That’s one of the thing Harry really likes.”

      “Not your thing though?” she asked with a slight grimace, ok so maybe she needed a few pointers here.

      “It’s okay, you didn’t know,” Gil shrugged, “I like blow jobs.”

      Harry grinned at that, “And hand jobs. Want me to show you what to do Pin?”

      “Well it couldn’t hurt” she blushed

      He nodded rocking up to grip Gil’s shaft, “It’s not too much,” he stroked the length in front of him before he lowered his head down not minding as Gil slid a hand in his hair still standing at the end of the bed. He licked at the tip, before slipping just the tip into his mouth. Gil did the rest of the work easing Harry’s head up and down slow and easy knowing when it was too much for his Harry. At the soft pat of his thigh he left Harry pull off him.

      “Easy enough yeah Pin?” Harry asked, “If ye wanna take it at yer pace just pat his thigh.”

      Penny nodded, ok she understood the action, and how to do it but... Gil wasn’t exactly a small guy. She took a breath, and reminded herself that she liked new things, and she was free to try them here. She sat up, and ran her lips along the inside of Gil’s thigh until she was face to face with his shaft. She flicked her tongue out experimentally dragging it up the side and around the head.

      Gil moaned softly and eased his hand into her hair as Harry tangled their fingers together. With a gentle tug Harry slid off the bed and let Gil crash their lips together as he curled into Gil’s side out of Penny’s way.

      Penny looked up watching them as she finally wrapped her lips around Gil’s shaft sliding down it about half way. She could take anymore if she wanted to breath, how the hell had Harry swallowed it whole.

      He moaned into Harry’s mouth and tightened his grip on her hair gently guiding her head up before easing her down to where she had stopped, “Pin,” he moaned remembering to be careful with her like he was with Harry.

      “That’s it Gilly, fuck ye two are a sight,” Harry stated ending with a moan as Gil jerked him, “Mothers of the sea...”

      Penny hummed a second watching the two of them, her boys... it felt odd the second she thought it but it was right, these were her boys now. She wondered what else Gil liked, as one of her hands wandered over his skin.

      Gil jerked as she hummed around him, “Sorry Pin,” he said quickly flushing as he pulled his hand back.

      “She do something you really like Gilly?”

      “Yeah...” he looked at her, “I didn’t hurt you right?” 

      Penny pulled back curling her tongue around the head one more time, before popping off. “Nothing hurt,” she rasped a little, “Probably pulled out a few hairs” she rubbed at her head, as she filed away the humming fact for later use, what she wouldn’t give for her black book, well maybe she needed a new one just for Harry and Gil facts. He’d startled her for a second with his jerk, and she’d had to curl her lips to not nip at him, something told her that was not enjoyable.

      “Okay good,” Gil nodded and bent over kissing her lips tenderly as Harry smacked his ass, “Harry,” he whined softly.

      “So does Harry just play with everyones ass,” she asked Gil with a chuckle, that darker part of her coming forward. What did she need to control herself for, it was just her boys. And even if they weren’t hers they were showing her this new life.

      “He has a thing for ass,” Gil grinned seeing her finally loosened up, “So what did I miss when you and Harry had your fun?”

      “That Harry has a wicked mouth although I think you already know that” she smirked, “And he seemed to like his nipples being licked.”

      Gil grinned, “He likes getting his ass licked too. Harry can show me what he did last time?”

      Harry licked his lips, “I’ll do more than eat ye this time though, Pin.”

      “I figured there was more to it then that, I like new things... remember,” she looked at Harry.

      “Good, scoot to the top of the bed and spread those pretty thighs for me.”

      Penny did as Harry instructed and moved to her head was on his pillow, as she moved the hand that had been on Gil’s leg moved to slide over her own flesh, stopping briefly to twirl in the small nest of hair between her legs as she spread them. She felt slightly self conscious of the view the boys were getting but at the same time liked that they were looking at her.

      Harry licked his lips, “Well go on Pin. Don't let us stop ye from having a go at yerself. In fact I encourage it.” 

      Penny’s blush returned as she saw the way they were watching her. She let her mind flicker back to how Harry had touched her, as she slid her own fingers lower. She felt the slickness that was already starting to gather between her lower lips. It took her a second to find the spot Harry had used to spark the pleasure through her, when she did her eyes closed as she gasped. This was different then someone else touching her, and it made her feel... she wasn’t sure but she felt a little more sure of herself.

      Harry and Gil drank in the view before them. Harry, at least, could tell she had never even touched herself before as her fingers rubbed and moved through the slick. He watched for a moment longer before Gil hefted him up and tossed him on the bed. He landed with an oomph on his hands and knees before sending a glower over his shoulder, “Watch it Gilly.”

      “Sorry Harry. I'll make it up to you,” Gil smiled innocently enough but really he wanted to give Harry his apology. He gripped his hips yanking them carefully towards him.

“Ye better,” he muttered lowering his front half as he tugged Pin easily down the bed a few inches and gave her a warm lick. Letting her fingers stay on her clit he eased a finger inside her. This was her first time, and like hell was he going to hurt her.

      Penny tensed a little her fingers stilling for a moment, as she felt Harry’s finger slide into her. It felt odd, it didn’t hurt exactly but it didn’t shoot pleasure threw her either. She set her focus back on her own fingers, bringing her other hand up to her nipple to roll and pull at.

      Harry slid his finger in and out of her before easing a second one in and repeated the process. This time he curled his fingers up inside of her looking for that bundle of nerves inside her that would send a rush of pleasure through her system. As he worked on getting her ready for him to plunder Gil’s hands pulled his cheeks apart wider. Harry’s head dropped to the bed with a long low moan as his Gilly ran his tongue over his hole.

      Penny shifted wincing placing a foot on the bed and shifting her hips. That hurt a little, more like a pulled muscle then an actual pain. She looked up up to see what exactly Gil was up too. Harry seemed to be enjoying Gil’s action, even if she wouldn’t see clearly what he was doing.

      Harry eased his head up and licked her opening around his fingers before pushing back into Gil’s mouth, “Ye alright Pin?” he asked through his moans as Gil continued licking him.

      “Yeah... I think so” she said laying her head back again to take a breath, she knew that Harry wasn’t going to hurt her on purpose. She knew this on the very level of her soul, but her body was telling her that it wasn’t sure about this fucking thing. It took a few seconds for the part of her brian yelling that this was a stupid thing to do, it sounded oddly like Audrey to be silenced by the darker part that said pleasure was pleasure, and if this was how she got it then so be it, she thought that part might sound like Jay.

      “I know it feels weird, but it’s so I don’t hurt ye when-,” Harry cut off with a loud moan head hanging down, “We fuck,” he panted out as Gil lifted his head up.

      “You always talk so much Harry.”

      “Well ye ain’t having my brain melt out me ears yet,” he tilted his hips enough to prompt Gil to go back to it.

      “Weird is the word for it, I just have to get use to the... Oh fucking Genies” she gasped out when the twisting and turning fingers brushed something inside her.

      Harry immediately paused his quest before going for just that area, “And that is why we like fucking. Think ye can take another finger in ye?”

      Gil leaned around Harry’s back and watched as Harry fingered her, “If you suck her clit she won’t mind the stretch,” he offered, “Like when I blow you and get you ready Harry.”

      “You're a lot bigger than some fingers Harry” she keened as he continued with his fingers.

      “True,” Harry grinned pushing another finger into her, “I can tell ye are enjoying it,” he tipped his head down and licked her skin doing as Gil suggested as the other male tilted his hips some more. Gil smiled at Penny now that she could see him over Harry’s body, and lowered his head back down to tongue him. His thumbs spreading the ring of muscles open little by little, taking his time and going at the same pace Harry was going with their Pin. He wanted to do more but he would wait, because it would be long before Harry was asking and demanding more.

      Penny’s fingers moved out of Harry’s way feeling her breath speed up as she reached for his hair ignoring the pain in favor of focusing on that Harry’s mouth was doing to her. Her eyes drifted around for a second before settling on Gil, she watched with raised eyebrows and moans of her own as Gil seemed to bury his face in Harry’s ass. It was so odd to her, but he acted like it was his favorite thing to do, it may very well have been once she thought about it.

      Harry groaned into her skin as Gil went to town on him. It was driving him crazy, but he told himself it would be worth it. He just had to make sure he wouldn't hurt her. She was a virgin and if he remembered from Mimzy, the first time was the worst. The first time had to be perfect in this case because he wanted their Pin coming back for more.

      She tightened her fingers in Harry’s hair as she felt the build up in her lower stomach suddenly pull tight, she hadn’t even noticed the butterflies this time. She wanted to close her eyes but at the same time they stayed fix on Gil as he pulled back slightly to nip at Harry’s cheek.

      Harry felt her muscles twitching around his fingers and he pulled back, “Ready fer the fucking?” he bucked a bit at the bite and grinned, this was why he stopped helping Jay out, Gil and what he was willing to do with his mouth. Jay was always so damn stubborn about everything.

      “I think so” she nodded feeling like she was as ready as she was going get, if she waited much longer she was going to start second guessing herself. She glanced at Gil one more time before letting her head fall backwards hair fanning around her.

      Harry nodded as Gil released his hips. Moving slow Harry eased his aching length into her opening, “It may hurt for a little and I don't mean to hurt ye,” he offered before he kissed her, rubbing her hip trying to be gentle. In this place it generally didn't matter if it hurt but it mattered to make sure their mainland Princess had a different first time. “Mothers of the sea ye are tight,” he moaned against her lips, “Just relax for me. Just relax.”

      Penny closed her eyes tight at the stretch, he was definitely bigger than his fingers. It was easy for him to say relax he knew what he was doing, she let one of her arms wrap around him her nails digging into his back as the other hand fisted in the blankets. She could feel his hips against her thighs, and tried to spread her legs a little wider. She looped her foot around so her heel rested behind one of his knees. She blinked her eyes open feeling the single line of moisture along her lashes, as she released the breath she hadn’t realized she was holding.

      Harry groaned softly as he bottomed out into her, “Just breathe love, just breathe and relax. It'll feel good soon.”

      “Right breathing is required” she chuckled a little before making a face more to herself, that was stupid. She took a breath and took stock of everything. She felt stretched and full, it hurt but it had dulled. She could feel the tips of Gil’s fingers brushing against the tips of her own on Harry’s back. It was an odd thing to latch onto considering that she already knew he was there, but the fact he was with in reach now made something in her ease a little. The ghost of the feeling of Harry’s lips on her own pulled another knot lose. These were her boys and they wanted her to be ok, that was what she needed. She didn’t relax all the way but she didn’t feel like a top wound too tight any more.

      “There ye go Pin.” Harry nodded, “Alright Gilly go ahead.”

      Gil had been patiently waiting for Harry to be settled before he got into place, “Okay Harry,” he adjusted his stance and slowly eased himself inside Harry who let out a long moan as he was filled. If it were anyone but Harry he would have asked if they were okay but he knew all the noises Harry made.

      Harry kissed Pin hard, this was good, almost too good. Her wrapped around him and Gilly buried inside him, it was all Harry could do not to just start fucking and never stop. Gil made the decision for him, easing back and taking Harry with him before snapping his hips forward driving them back into Pin.

      Penny’s tongue chased Harry’s for a second before she groaned against his lips. Movement while not exactly pleasant seemed like a good idea. Almost like when she’d eaten sour things she was never sure she liked it or not but she would keep eating until she was sure which it was. 

      Harry kissed her again and again, mouth pressing wet damp kisses across her jaw and throat as they screwed. Gil's hands tight on his hips and the two set a easy rhythm into one another. Harry pushing into Pin as Gil pulled back. As Gil pushed back Harry met him halfway, moans falling off Harry's lips with every move as Gil grunted softly.

      Penny gasped as Harry found that spot inside her once more. She turned her face into his neck nipping along his jawline.

      Gil smiled kissing across the back of Harry's shoulders as his moans dissolved into heavily accented babble. That was always his clue Harry wanted it harder and to be honest he was happy to supply. He gently grabbed Pin's leg and lifted it up and around both his and Harry's hips trapping it in place with his arm. 

      Harry wriggled his hand between his and Pin's hips and used his thumb to rub over her clit as his eyes started to roll back. Gil was going harder and it wasn't going to be long before Harry was gone.

      “Oh my genies,” Penny felt like she screamed at the change of angle thanks to Gil. That...felt like her body was being set aflame and she didn’t really care about putting it out, “I...Harry...” she couldn’t form a sentence for what she was feeling.

      “Close... fuck...” Harry managed to get out in mostly understandable English.

      Gil moaned and bit at Harry's shoulder before slamming all the way in and cumming. His hips bucking unevenly into Harry as the other male let out scream of pleasure and released into Pin as the two males eased through their orgasms.

      Penny felt the fireworks explode in her as Harry slumped forward. She dug her nails into his side, her foot thumping against Gil’s chest.

      Humming in contentment Gil slowly pulled out of Harry, knowing the other male didn’t like it when his bed got covered in cum. Once he pulled all the way out he pulled Harry off Pin and into her side instead. He grabbed the rag they always used and started cleaning himself and Harry up. Glancing at Penny he decided against cleaning her up for the moment and settled down behind the near boneless Harry.

      “Ye alright Pin? Didn’t hurt ye did I?” Harry asked through deep breaths with his eyes still closed.

      “No... you didn’t hurt me too much” she mumbled her eyes unfocused as her hand came up to play with the ends of her sweaty hair.

      “Good, that’s good,” he nodded, “Gilly, ye forgiven. Just don’t do it again.”

      “Promise Harry, I’m not going back again,” Gil nodded against Harry’s shoulder, even though he couldn’t die here he felt like it was getting worse every time, he loved his mom but she wasn’t the same anymore. His Pin and Harry needed him more then she did now.

      “Good,” Harry yawned pulling them both closer to him, “Now get some rest.”

 

      Harry popped his back as he slipped up the stairs onto the deck the next morning. He’d left Gil and Pin snuggled together under the covers. He’d let them sleep some more while he and Crocodile got started on the chores for the day.

      Io closed the door to the Captain’s Quarters. She must have fallen asleep on the deck because she woke up tucked into Harry’s old bed. Rubbing her aching temple she looked at Harry, “You have a good night?”

      “Solve a problem, and got an apology” Harry smirked at her, “Ye ok Crocodile?”

      “I think I drank that entire bottle of rum by myself. I woke up in your old bed,” she groaned rubbing her head, “Sorry about yesterday, I... I didn’t hurt you did I?”

      “Not anymore then usual” Harry shook his head, “I can’t believe that Pin snuck off the ship... she gets that from ye I’m sure” he teased her a little.

      “Yeah well she can leave the ship once you teach her how to use a blade, since that was your deal and all. You and Gil didn’t break her right?” Io asked as she shifted.

      “No, we didn’t break her. Just wore her out, ye ever watched her eyes when she’s trying to figure out isle verses mainland standards. I swear they get darker when she realizes she doesn’t have to give a fuck what the prissies over there think of  her” Harry snorted, he really couldn’t decided if he was going to miss that when she stopped trying to figure stuff out.

      “Well that is true she does have a whole lot of issues remembering she is on the Isle of the Lost and not the Mainland,” she smiled slightly, “Glad you three had a good time while I was up here drinking till I passed out. I did not miss the hangovers. Chores?” 

      “Yeah should probably get to them. Letting those two sleep in a little. Should probably have kicked Gilly out of bed two but I don’t want her waking up alone” Harry nodded heading to get the supplies.

      “You did make sure she took the potion right?” Io asked following him. Her body felt like crap, her mouth felt full of cotton, and her head was killing her but chores were chores. And one did not skip on the chores of the Jollyroger.

      “Course I did, no one wants little princess pirates running around” Harry snorted, maybe one day when they were off the isle but not now.

      “Pirate princesses,” Io hummed softly, “That would be a sight,” she nodded, “But your father would have a hernia if you knocked her up here.”

      “Hernia? He’d tie me to the anchor an’ leave me there until the babe was born” Harry laughed as he worked on scrubbing down the deck.

-*-

      Penny mumbled trying to bury her face into Gil’s chest as she woke up.

      “Go back to sleep, Harry said we don’t have chores today” Gil said not opening his eyes.

      “Probably a good idea” Penny winced as she rolled on her back.

      “I was sore too first time.” Gil finally opened his eyes to watch her, she was his and Harry’s Pin now...well she was Io’s to but Io didn’t do stuff like this.

      “Oh and how was your first time?” she asked trying to figure out if well it had seemed like the boys had a good time.

      “it wasn’t like... what we did, wasn’t gentle hurt a lot” Gil didn’t like thinking about before Harry, it wasn’t a fun time. He looked at her perplexed face for a second, “Oh it wasn’t with Harry, first time with Harry was a lot of fun”

      “Ok we’ll leave that for now” Penny blinked, she couldn’t really picture Gil with anyone but Harry.

      “Thanks” he said know the look on her face as another one similar to the Crocodile’s when she got information or someone did something she wasn’t expecting, didn’t happen very often, “You want a bath? Or something?”

      “Not really sure I can stand up for a bath” she chuckled as she sat up her hip popping.

      “Well I meant a soak, I can bring the tub.” he explained, “Could wash your hair too” he’d noticed it was starting to get stiff in placed from sweat, and knew that for them on the ship baths generally didn’t deal with hair.

      “...sure” she nodded she hadn’t washed her hair almost since she’s gotten here.

      “K, I’ll be back” he smiled getting out of bed to find his pants. Penny blushed looking down at her hands watching him out of the corner of her eye, “You can look, Harry likes to look” he pulled on his pants facing her.

-*-

      Gil slipped up the stairs in just his pants to talk to Harry, he just needed to know where the tub was, it was a pretty big wooden bucket and while the water wouldn’t be too warm it would still feel nice.

      Io glanced up, “You need something Gil?” she asked, her jacket tossed over a rail and her shirt pulled and tied up to under her bust.

      “Tub, she a little stiff” Gil nodded giving Io a smile.

      Io nodded, “Makes sense, I think it is in the storage closet. She is okay though right?”

      “Seems to be ok,” Gil said turning to head towards the closet to look for the tub.

      “I’ll heat up a few buckets of water in a few minutes” Harry called to him.

      “Ok, thanks Harry,” Gil called back as he shifted stuff around in the closet.

      She smiled at the boys, “I am glad you two had a good night. Even with Harry’s screaming.”

Chapter 52: Silvery Test (IoL: November)

      Io jogged up the gangplank and clapped her hands, “Pin darling!”

      “Yeah?” Penny looked over letting the broom handle she was holding up drop down only to get smacked in the shoulder with the mop handle, “Oww” she shot a look at Harry.

      “Pay attention, if that was a blade, Mimzy be stitching ye up. Go see what the crocodile wants” Harry sighed, she had good instincts he was pretty sure were partially because of the thief but, she got distracted easy.

      “Morning, how is training going?” Io looked over the bruises as she tossed a mostly whole apple to Harry and a portion of a loaf of bread to Penny.

      “I think he just likes hitting me with the mop” Penny snipped as she pulled off a section of the bread, before holding it out to Harry. 

      Harry took a bite of the apple, “she’ll get there.. .eventually” he said around his full mouth before trading with Penny.

      “That’s a good thing...,” Io smirked, “Come on then Pin, we’ve got a run.”

      “We do?” Penny looked at her with wide eyes, she hadn’t been on a run yet.

      “Yep, but you can not daydream. It doesn’t matter how safe and comfortable I make you. These runs I am counting on you to watch my back and you to watch mine. Consider this your test run. You want to get off the ship more often you need to prove to me that you can handle it.”

      “Right no lala land” she nodded, adjusting shirt. 

      “That is the weirdest saying you mainlanders have” Harry shook his head, “Go on, do what Crocodile says.”

      “Run and get the cloak then come. We are going to see an old friend for a payment.” 

      Penny disappeared down the stairs to grab the cloak hanging in Harry’s room. She pulled it around her shoulder as she come back up the stairs, she looked at Io as she came to the top.

      Io kissed Harry’s cheek patting his chest, she had assured him she would keep Pin safe. Extending her hand to Penny she motioned the girl to follow her. It was a long day if anyone of the old timers didn’t cooperate.

      Penny moved her scraper to the back side of her hip and took Io’s hand. She could do this this time, she wanted to get off the ship.

      Holding onto Penny’s hand the two girls walked up through Jolllyroger territory, heading towards the bazaar. It was an odd thing to think of the lack of activity the Isle had in months. The Jollyroger territory had gone unchallenged since Penny had arrived. But Io had gotten rather aggressive over the past few months doing her job for the crew.

      She followed after Io her eyes shifting through everything they passed.

      As they came out in the Bazaar Io released Penny’s hand, slowly they trailed through the stands. The orphans moved away from Io, carefully avoiding her and Penny as they walked towards a singular fruit stand in the bazaar.

      Penny blinked seeing where they were going. She shifted the hood further down, she did not want to deal with this crazy guy. With her luck he’d recognize her as the one that stole from him.

      Io stopped in front of the stand, “Morning Mr. Rasputin.”

      “Crocodile, that time already?” he asked looking her and her partner over.

      “You know it is,” Io retorted rolling her eyes as one hip popped to the side and held a singular hand up by her shoulder.

      Penny watched as she stayed back her eyes tracking movement of the crowd around them.

      “How is your new crewmate doing?”

      “Small talk? Do you not have the payment? If not I can take your body parts.”

      “Now that won’t be necessary.”

      She raised an eyebrow as Io seemed to make him backpedal. So, he didn’t like it when the tables were turned.

      “Well then?” she held her hand out and he sighed setting a small bag into her hand, “A pleasure Mr. Rasputin.” she smiled cheekily tucking the bag into her shirt as she stepped back. They had a few more stops to make but those ones were far less dangerous than this one.

      Penny followed after Io weaving through the crowd until she was right behind her shoulder. It hadn’t ever occurred to her that the kids could make the adults afraid. But then she supposed eventually, the kids become the grown ups, and that was a scary thought.

      The hairs on the back of her neck stood up making Penny look around she spotted a twitchy looking guy watching my them from an alley. She reached out brushing her fingers against Io’s shoulder. 

      Io turned her head ever so slightly, eyes flicking to Penny, “Something amiss?” 

      “Twitchy to our left” she leaned her head that direction, no need to draw attention if it was nothing.

      Io’s eyes moved that way, “Rival crew. Silvers from the other side of the Isle. Long John Silver if that makes it easier for you. They have a small territory compared to the Jollyrogers, but ours was a full Man of War. Long John has a Galley.”

      “So trouble or no?” She asked, if he was from the other side of the isle why was he over here.

      “Trouble. Stay on the other side of me. We are going to do a thing out of the ordinary and see how many there are.”

      “Right” she nodded shifting sides her hand staying in contact with Io’s back.

      Io paused for a moment her eyes flicking back and forth over the crowd. Villains filled the stalls selling their supplies or the things they had made from the scraps off the barges. There were kids running rampant between the stalls, some of them stealing, others challenging one another to venture close to the more violent of the villains. Her eyes stopped on Jafar and she nodded, yes that would do nicely.

      “Come on then,” she stated picking her way through the crowds ever aware of the opposition behind her.

      Penny kept pace with Io her eyes flickering around trying to see what was Io had seen.

      Jafar looked up as the Crocodile appeared in front of his stall with a cloaked figure, the hood shadowing their face. He frowned at the Crocodile’s gall, how dare she come here to accost him in the open. His eyes tracing over the burgundy crocodile skin pirate jacket buttoned under her bust stopping as he spotted the hilt of a dagger just under the fabric. Of course she was armed, if he ever her caught her without that blade he would make her suffer.

      “What do you want Crocodile? I gave your Captain the payment he is due,” Jafar bit out eyes drifting once more to the cloaked girl at her side.

      “Curiosity,” she purred leaning towards his horde of junk, her fingers brushing over the broken jewelry there as her attention lingered on the movement of the crowd waiting for the Silvers to make a move.

      He went to smack her hand away and found the blade under his chin, “Now now Jafar. I'm only looking, unless you wish to war with me and then we get to play a rather bloody game I will win. Just like last time.” this was not the time for him to be acting up.

      Penny looked over the table taking in the junk and niknaks. Her eyes stopped on a set of leather bracers. They were too small for Jay now, but when he was younger. She looked up as Io had Jafar’s attention she could try and swipe them.

      He swallowed setting his hands back down on the table and pressed against the blade tip ignoring the cloaked figure in favor of the armed monstrosity, “You think I will let you leave uninjured Crocodile? Threatening me.”

      Io flicked her wrist, smiling as he jerked back as she split open the bottom of his jaw. “Oh Jafar, you haven't learned yet. The only reason you survived is because I can't kill you. But that doesn't mean I can't drag your half dead body to Shere Khan. I know how much he enjoys flesh.” She did not have time for Jafar's bullshit but the Silvers were moving again, shifting around them.

      Jafar pressed a cloth to his bleeding jaw, “Does anything suit your fancy Crocodile?” he bit his tongue, he would bide his time, he would wait until she let her guard down and strike.

      She smiled toothily slipping the blade away. Lifting a broken ruby necklace off his table.

      Penny’s hand eased out going over a few things before she snagged the bracers back and under her cloak.

      Io tossed a small bottle at him, “See Jafar a little goes such a long way.” There were six Silvers, six to her one and her Pin with her scrapper. That was not going to bode well for them.

      Jafar fumbled with the bottle and glared at her, “A pleasure,” he sneered. Jafar watched as they walked off headed towards Black Magic Alley. He hated that girl, hated the ease she moved with on the Isle as if she owned the place. Hated how the younger generation looked up to her, moved around her, respected her authority as if she was truly a villain. The others like him gave her a similar berth, but only because they didn't know who among them claimed her as their own. Everyone knew she was of the Jollyroger crew, that she was Hook’s little lackey. But the wharf Villains none of them spoke of her, no they quickly looked away if she walked by. They were terrified of her, a girl near the age of his whore of a son. As he checked the state of his chin in a broken mirror he lamented the fact he didn't sell the boy to Madame Medusa before he started looking like his mother.

      Penny shifted her scraper into her hand as they walked. She couldn’t tell what Io’s plan was, were they going to get Mimzy?

      Io glanced at Penny, “Bracers that's what you wanted to knick?” she teased trying to put the girl at ease. She needed backup, Mimzy wasn't great backup but maybe Koga was there.

      “Not really a Jewelry girl” Penny snorted, not mentioning that most of that crap Jafar had she had the real stuff at home, not that she ever wore any of it, “Maybe I should have knicked something for Mimzy. But nothing really looked like her style” she shrugged.

      “Yeah she's not much into Jewelry either. I on the other hand,” Io shrugged flashing her hands. She glanced back slightly, yep six tails. 

      “Then I’ll knick you something shiny next time” she assured looking at her surroundings, looking to see if there was a boost up for her. Those guys seemed a little big to follow her to the roofs.

      Io guided Penny to Madame Mims shop, “Mimzy darling Silvers.”

      Mimzy eeped, “I um... MOM SHOP!” she shrieked darting around the counter, fingers flicking out her long needles. “Har... Not Harry...”

      “Yeah hi” Penny waved ducking down and around the two other girls, she was better off watching their backs then trying to fight herself.

      “Oh little fishes. Why did ye all run? Arrr ye afraid of a little Silver, Crocodile?” one of them sneered as Black Magic Alley started to clear wanting to avoid the turf war.

      “Black Magic Alley belongs to the Jollyrogers,” Mimzy hissed, gone was the soft and gentle healer, a black witch in her place as her fingers tightened on her needles.

      “Back of Hawker, back off or we will see if you can move without limbs,” Io growled both knives out.

      Hawker growled back shifting towards her with his saber, “Ye watch that mouth fer ah split it open.”

      Io grinned wildly, “Back to the other side of the Isle Silvers or come into the Jaws of the Jollyroger.”

      Penny flipped her scraper out, the cloak was in the way but she should be fine. She’d spotted her way up if need be. She had a feeling his was going to be bloody, but she could do this she had to.

      “Ah’m going to make ye de bloody broken Jaws,” one laughed lunging at them. 

      Io moved in front of Penny as Mimzy twisted and shoved her long needle right into his throat. She really wished she had Koga here, but she trusted her crew, fighting ability aside at least Penny knew how to use that scrapper. The Silvers were encroaching and if Io couldn’t get this win she was going to lose a lot more than Black Magic Alley.

      Penny stepped back putting her back to one of the walls, she was close enough to the trash bin that was her step up, she’d go through anyone that came her way.

      Io nodded now that Penny had gotten into a better position. The girl would have to be okay, because Mimzy's needles only did so much damage. She flew at the closest Silver and slammed her blade up under his ribs, twisting one blade in deep as the other blocked the saber coming down at her.

      Mimzy ducked under a thin arm and swiped the needle down the back of his neck before driving it between his vertebrae.

      Penny held back a yelp as one of the Silvers lunged at her. She sidestepped him, and swung out the scraper dragging it along his arm.  He grabbed at the cloak pulling her off balance, she did yelp as she hit the ground. Quickly undoing the clasp at the top, letting it fall off her shoulders. She kicked him in the face and scrambled up the side of the building kicking over the bin on her way up. Now she just needed to find a way to help from up here.

      “Pin just left us Crocodile,” Mimzy snarled driving the needle in below one Silvers knee.

      “She is still learning to fight with a blade.” Io replied dragging her blade through another's gut, “I wasn't anticipating these idiots to follow us back here. Cut her some slack.”

      “I resent that accusation” Penny snapped at Mimzy as she picked up an empty bottle from the roof and threw it. It smashed on one of the Silver’s head, as he tried to team up on Mimzy.

      Mimzy squeaked at the glass shards, “Watch it Pin or I'm turning you into an art project.”

      “Ignore her Pin,” Io grunted as a fist slammed into her side, “You are doing a good job up there.”

      “Aye scamperin’ away like a rat. Surprised ye don't eat her pretty little,” the brute snickered as he tossed Io back into the wall, “Ah always hear Long John saying ye is the Red Mad Jaws of the Jollyroger. I don't see it, or is it only when yer bleeding from the cunt?”

      “He’s not very smart is he” Penny snorted, grabbing a large piece of rubble, and tossing it at the brute.

      “Pin watch Mimzy's back, leave me with the brutes. You want that lamb? Oh I will give it to you till you scream for me,” she grinned toothily at him. 

      Mimzy cringed dodging a swing as Io rocketed off the wall, “Come on now... why do you Silvers always have to do this? You know what happened when you say shit like that...”

      The brute caught the girl's weight but missed the blade she kicked between his legs. His mouth opening in shock as she pried an arm free slicing flesh as she went.

      Mimzy looked at the last man who sat on the ground holding his knee, “Yield, or get a face full of Crocodile. She seems in a particularly foul mood at the moment.”

      “Yield, I yield... please call her off...” he whimpered crawling backwards as Io pulled herself slowly off the brute's body.

      “Call me off, call me off? Oh dearie there is no calling me off,” Io sneered grabbing one of his arms as she kicked him in the chest. She drove the blade into his wrist joint and cleaved off his hand as he screamed. 

      “Come on down Pin. All clear,” Mimzy said looking at the six downed men, “Crocodile, you know Captain hates it when you start dismembering Silvers.”

      “Well that Silver probably deserved it” Penny snorted with a wince as she jumped down the last few feet. There as a lot of blood down here.

      “Crocodile do I have to go get my Mom?”

      Io looked at Mimzy and dropped the upper arm in her hand, “No, I'd rather you didn't.”

      “Good then leave these ones be Dr. Frank will be by to collect them, patch them up and send them back to LJ,” Mimzy smiled, “Anything else you need help with?”

      “No, go back to the shop. Pin cloak. Captain needs to know about the Silvers,” she grumbled unhappy about being unable to do the other arm.

      “Yes, Crocodile” Penny sighed picking up the cloak parts of it covered in blood. She pulled it back around her shoulders and pulled the hood up. She winced at the sticky feeling on her fingers.

      “You get your monthlies? Think of it as that,” she offered tugging Penny along as she slid the blades away.

      “I’ll try” she nodded letting Io pull her along, well that was interesting to say the least, she still couldn’t believe Mimzy accused her of running off, “You know I wouldn’t leave you there right? I just needed a better vantage point”

      “No you knew we both would never hear the end of it from Harry if anything ever happened to you. And I doubt Mimzy saw where you went,” She shrugged looking at Penny, “We will make sure you have some more practice before next time just in case.”

      “Practice would be good, and you’re probably right about Harry. He’s a little overprotective lately” Penny snorted a little tension leaving her shoulders a little as they entered the wharf.

      “Well you are fucking him. He gets rather attached to those ones.” She offered trying to relax as she rolled her neck. That had been too close with the Silvers, too close. But the Silvers would notice if she was always protecting Penny. Penny had to get her head in the game with training.

      “Is that it?” Penny asked, “Cause I was hoping it would die down after awhile” she sighed in relief as the Jollyroger came into view.

      “It only gets worse over time,” she smirked, “But you'll get used to it.” they walked up the gangplank, and Io started counting for Harry's explosion regarding the blood on her and then his worry over Penny's safety.

      “Yer back early... what happened?” Harry turned to looked at them from his spot by the main mast, “Yer covered in blood...Pin? Are ye ok?”

      “Yep, I got to smash a Silver in the head with a bottle” Penny nodded as she took off the cloak hoping to defuse the high strung Harry. She’d gotten pretty good at defusing high strung people on the mainland.

      “You...what? Silver...Crocodile” he turned to look at her with a raised eyebrow.

      “She was on a roof,” Io shrugged a shoulder, wincing as the movement reminded her of that wall she was graciously introduced to, “Six Silver tails in the Bazaar after the Suptin run. I pulled them out with a not normal detour, and dragged them back up to Black Magic Alley. Mimzy helped me deal with them while Penny provided air support. Idiots wanted to see if they could pick us off one by one.”

      “And the Silvers?” Killian asked leaning against his door.

      “Dr. Frank will patch them up and send them back to LJ. Well... one may or may not be missing an arm now. And another's going to lose some intestines. Pretty sure one is missing his balls and a kidney, maybe two... I wasn't picky once they graciously informed me I wasn't Jaws enough for them,” She rolled her eyes, Killian didn't need to know all the details.

      “An arm... Crocodile what did I tell you about the dismemberment thing.”

      “Oh come on, he has a second one, bloke can still jack off and carry a weapon.” She didn't mention she had plans to take the other but Mimzy wouldn't let her.

      “He did deserve it...sort of” Penny shrugged

      “Ye go get cleaned up, love” Harry directed her.

      “No problem, oh Io does a coin purse count as something shiny” she held up the held up the half full bag with a jingle.

      “...ye stole from them during the fight? What exactly did that thief teach ye” Harry looked at the girl owlishly.

      “Oh that it does,” Io grinned, “She also stole what looked like Jay's old bracers from Jafar's stand.”

      Killian straighten, “Io.”

      “I said a not normal detour. Don't worry I can handle Jafar,” She offered pulling the necklace from her pocket, “He always has pretty things I know how to fix anyway.”

      “Ye going to find yer self on the wrong side of that man.”

      “He found himself on the wrong side of me, more than once now,” she rolled her eyes slipping the necklace away.

      “Um he taught me to take the opening if it was there” Penny answered going below.

      “Really ye messed with Jafar? Again” Harry looked at Io. “He is crazy and not in a good or manageable way.”

      “What can I say, I rather enjoy stabbing him. And there is nothing that he can do that I won't return the favor for. And he is more manageable than Cruella,” she shrugged, “I will deal with the fallout if he has a hissy fit about the tiny little scratch I gave him for mouthing off to me. That and the slimy look over I got from him.” she wasn't all that concerned about him, mainly because he would send his thugs. If he actually came at her head on, she would be more worried.

      “Fine, what ever ye say” Harry sighed, “How’d our stickpin hold up exactly?”

      “Much better. Spotted the Silvers same time I did. However practical fighting obviously she's still working on with you. May send her in a few weeks out on supervised runs even. And you know exactly who will be her back up.”

      “I’ll work with her. I’m sure she’ll like getting off the ship no matter who her minder is” Harry laughed as penny came back up.

      “I was going to send our tiger.”

      “Sure he’ll remember he’s not suppose to eat?” Harry asked

      “Who’s Koga eating?” Penny asked.

      “No one, and he remembers the rules on runs except when he gets challenged,” Io offered, Koga mostly remembered his rules. Mostly.

      “Ok” she shrugged before giving an ohh as Harry smacked her in the middle with the mop handle again.

      “Let’s get back too it” Harry motioned to the broom in the corner.

      Io watched them go back to work and winched as she leaned back against the railing. Her back was killing her, but that was the hazard of street fighting.

      Penny ducked under Harry’s next swing, and grabbed the broom. She brought it around blocking a hit.

      Killian leaned next to Io, “How hurt are you?”

      “Bruised, very bruised, but I need to finish the run.”

      “Do ye want me to go?” Harry asked .

      “No, I can do it. Just finish working on your deal. I can handle it swear on my black heart.”

      “Fine if ye say so, but ye should have back up. Gilly be back in a bit” he suggest blocking a swing with a clack.

      Io rolled her eyes, “It's the Tremains I can handle it. I mean it's going to be Dizzy,” she shifted waving off his concern, “I will be back before you know it.”

      “Fine said my bit” Harry surrendered jumping a little as Penny managed to smack him in the knee..

      Io gave Killian a look, “Don't look at me love. I don't want to hear it if ye get hurt.”

      “Ye mange to hit me again and maybe ye be ready for more then the broom handle.” Harry snorted jumping back.

      “Fine, I won’t complain, but I need to finish the run.” she pushed away and headed down the gangplank. It was an easy run she did it before and it wasn’t like the Silvers would be back. That and she needed to blow off some steam.

 

      Io paused as Jafar's men surrounded her half way down an alley on her way to the Curl up and Dye, “I see he's throwing a tiny little tantrum over such a small cut.”

      “Come on Crocodile we can do this the easy way, just let us have our way and no one has to bleed.”

      “Now have I ever given you the illusion that I am reasonable? That I bend over for anyone who asks me to? Because darling, there will be blood spilled and not a one of you is getting your fucking rocks off,” She purred irritated as her blades flicked into her hands.

      They struggled and they fought but by the end of it all they had to show for it was open wounds and spilling organs. Not that she had walked off without a scratch. She limped off, the front of her thigh open from the blade she dodged, she'd rather it be a leg and not her ribs. She didn't make it far before she had been hefted up over a wide shoulder.

      “Shere...”

      “Hush sweet lamb,” he purred paw on her lower back, “Taking you away from them. You know my little lamb I could just...”

      “Dad what are you doing?!” 

      “Drat, nothing Koga, just bringing your Crocodile to safety. She smells divine. Though I have other meals to collect so take her for yourself.” Shere tossed Io into his son before going back for Jafar's men.

      “Dad didn't...”

      “No, but would you set me down somewhere I can sew my fucking thigh up?”

      Koga snorted and brought her inside his house, “So damn needy.”

Chapter 53: The Queen of Auradon (Auradon: November)

Summary:

A brief check on the Mainland, before we return back to the Isle.

      “This is so stupid just cause he had a crappy life doesn't mean Jay should get to play every game. Some of us actually put in the work for it” Chad snapped to a few other players in the locker room.

      Aziz looked at Chad. That was an impeding fight right there, “Or that he is a good player.” 

      “Oh pleeease” Chad moaned, “He didn’t even know the rules until coach read them to him. Besides, how can you of all people stand up for him, his dad like tried to force your mom to marry him?” 

      “And you expect me to hold him responsible for something that happened before either of us were even born?” he huffed pulling on his jacket.

      “Don’t bother Aziz, he’s a Charming they hold grudges,” Jay growled slamming the locker Mal had adorned with his cobra moniker after he told her he hated the genie one she kept tagging stuff with.

      “We only know that evil is always evil” Chad snapped at Jay, “I can’t wait to see them send you back. Maybe I’ll throw a party.”

      Jay clenched his jaw, he just had to let it go, Ben told him he couldn’t just punch his problems, “The only one going to be sent there is you Chad. That pretty blond hair will get you far. The Gaston’s will love your vanity.” Okay maybe just a jab back, maybe a little was okay.

      “I don’t have any vanity” Chad snapped running a hand through his hair, “And I am the son of a hero and a king they wouldn’t ever dream of sending me to the rotting sewer you called a home”

      “You're the son of a dick, also a dick. You know what you do remind me of the Gaston twins, just tinier and bitchier.”

      Aziz looked away covering his grin as he walked out of the locker room, Jay would be just fine on his own, the kid had jokes. That and Jay knew better than to just hit Chad, something he had to explain to Jay in their tutoring sessions. 

      “Well at least I’m not a klepto, I mean everyone on the team has found stuff missing from their lockers, and when it shows back up its in the lost and found on your floor,” Chad sneered closing his locker to head out.

      Okay that was a low blow, and half the time it wasn’t even him, it was this stupid magic thing Mal’s mom cursed him with, “You want to come over here and say that to my face you ponce. Oh right, you’re all mouth and no spine.”

      “Why would I lower myself by speaking to your face like an equal” Chad called back as he pushed the door open.

      Jay’s eyes squeezed shut as they burned, his chest constricting with sudden surging heat. Ah crap, he could not have an episode here, not over Chad. Nope couldn’t, “I guess that’s why you take after your grandma huh? She couldn’t lower herself to talk to your mother like an equal either.” Fuck it, he was going to beat the shit out of Charming screw their rules.

      “That villain was not my grandmother, she’s not even related to us, she stole from my mother,” Chad spat whipping around to look at Jay.

      “Stole what? Your personality, your hero bullshit? Cause honestly I’ve met Villains more charming than you,” Jay was grinning as he walked towards Chad, “Maybe I should give you something Chad, advice: Don’t be an ass, it’s not very Charming.”

      “Like you would know how to be charming if you even tried,” Chad’s hand balled into fists, “And she stole her life, her inheritance, everything that should have been mother’s when grandfather died. She took it and used it for her two horrid daughters,” his face was red now, his arms shaking.

      “So kind of like you expect everyone to bend over backwards cause some mean lady married into your family and took your mommies nice things? At least you grew up with a mother. And being charming is one of those things I am actually good at, ask any girl in school,” Jay smirked as he saw the way he was pissing the guy off, clearly he couldn’t handle getting it back.

      “That’s just cause they think a bad boy is cool. That will wear off” Chad stepped closer, “Should we be sorry for you? That your mommy knew you were worthless and left you with an evil daddy” Chad teased with his superior smirk.

      Jay reacted in the only way he knew best. He popped Chad in the face, one quick snap of his fist as he tried to remember that crushing skulls here would likely make dead bodies and not vegetables. “I don't need your fucking pity you sack of shit. But no one gets to call me worthless anymore especially not a vain blowhard like you.” he growled feeling like he was going to combust as he shoved Chad out of his way and stormed out into the hallway.

      “You are so done. My parents won’t stand for this” Chad snapped holding his bleeding nose in one hand and swinging at Jay with the other.

      “Yeah go hide behind your parents,” Jay sneered dodging the swing, “That's what you are good at running and crying to your parents because someone was mean to you. Have to resort to name calling and underhanded comments but fuck if someone gives it back to you.”

      Belle was coming down the hallway hoping she could catch Jay before he disappeared as he was prone to doing since her daughter vanished from Audrey's accidental wish. She blinked seeing Chad Charming come out of the locker room swinging hot on Jay's heels. She picked up her pace she couldn't give the Charming’s a reason to send her daughter's only friend away. Even if it looked like Jay had already punched Chad. 

      “Why don’t you just stay still and fight like a real man instead of throwing one sucker punch,” Chad growled.

      “And you would know what about being a real man? Or fighting for that matter,” Jay dodged another blow, one punch was all he could afford or he was going to be sent back. That and the want to smash his skull in was growing, and Jay really couldn't afford to have an episode here.

      “THAT IS ENOUGH OUT OF YOU CHADLEY CHARMING”  Belle stepped up to the boys.

      “Your majesty” Chad jumped back, “he attacked me.”

      “Oh I am sure, go see the nurse now” Belle ordered

      Jay froze stiff, screaming women was a bad thing. Especially with ones fully able to send him back to his father. He really hoped that one measly punch wouldn't do him in, cause that was going to be hard to explain to a bunch of people.

      Belle watched Chad scamper off before she turned to Jay with soft eyes, “are you alright?” she asked softly.

      “Depends,” he offered cautious as he curled an arm around his chest preparing himself for the worst. It wasn't like Auradon wasn’t waiting for him to screw up.

      “On what? Are you hurt? I’ll call for the royal physician” Belle reached out a hand to place on his shoulder, she wanted to comfort this boy. One of the only people who’d not only reached out for Penny but had seemed to reach her.

      Jay twisted away before she could touch him, “No, I'm not hurt. Am I getting sent back for punching him, cause he deserved it but that's not a thing here.” he rambled uncertain of the rules of engagement with an actual Queen. The only other one he met in person well, she almost killed him before giving him a hug instead.

      “No, I won't let them send you back,” Belle shook her head, “I promise you are never going back there if I have any say in it. And well it is my kingdom,” she tried to assure with a little joke. He looked so lost, she just wanted to pull him close and run her fingers through his hair. He’d probably never had anything like that, the way Mal talked of the Isle, Belle was never sure what to do when she interacted with the VKs.

      “You won’t?” Jay cocked his head a bit, he got the impression from Penny that her mother didn’t have all that much pull, but she was Ben’s mother, he assumed that helped. He let his arm fall to his side, she wasn’t going to kick him out and seemed unwilling to scold him like Fairy Godmother. Shaking his head he gave her a weak smile, “I shouldn’t be taking up your time. Probably have better things to do than talk to me,” he side stepped out of her way not wanting to upset her bout of kindness he wasn’t used to.

      “Actually I was looking for you” Belle said, she didn’t want to pressure him but maybe he could give her some insight on Penny, and why they couldn’t find her.

      “Looking for me,” Jay was instantly on guard, okay what was worse than being sent home? Imprisonment, torture, poisoning, being stabbed, and then being sent home. Oddly he had been through all of those things on the Isle enough to know he never wanted to do it again. His back was to a wall, he could run, there was a window at the end of the hall, he knew there was a wall he could go over. She was a little shorter than him in her boots, he could out run her, he doubted she was like Evie and could give chase in those royal blue pumps of hers. But just in case he could always break the window by throwing himself to safety. Then he could hit the woods and just run, anywhere, he could survive just fine out there.

      “Yes, I wanted to talk... I,” Belle looked down, “This is going to sound silly I’m sure, you're my last connection to Penelope”

      His plans of escape screeched to a halt and he took a heavy breath, “You want to talk because of Penny. That’s not silly, I mean I’m not very experienced with mothers but I figure you care about your kids here. I guess I didn’t expect you to come to me about it, I mean other people have kind of known her for longer,” he rubbed the back of his arm again, not from preparing himself for bad news but for some feeling he wasn’t used to having. “Whatever helps you till we get her back.”

      “I’m finding that no one seemed to really know her. She spent a lot of time with you though,” Belle nodded, “Do you have any idea where she would hide? Or... I don’t know what she would do if she was alone somewhere she didn’t know.”

      Jay just looked at her, she was grabbing for anything useable, any sign her daughter would be okay. Did he tell her what his gut was telling him? Probably safer to keep her away from Isle, no matter how much he wanted to go back to get her, his gut wasn’t enough proof for the Royal’s or Mal. Damn faerie still didn’t trust him after all these years of bleeding and starving himself to keep the others safe and fed. 

      “Penny wouldn’t hide. She’d get to the highest point she could find and get her bearings. Then she’d start moving towards home, no matter the direction, you are a harder target if you're always moving,” That was what he taught her, he could only hope that she had listened to him. He couldn’t imagine what any of the villains on the Isle would do to her if they caught her. He was one thing, he was just the son of Jafar. She on the other hand was the daughter to the people almost everyone on the Isle hated.

      “So maybe the reason we can’t find her is because she’s making her own way home” Belle asked hopefully, it would be easier for Adam to accept that she was coming home then that his people couldn’t find her.

      “Maybe? I don’t know, I lived on an island all my life, if someone is looking for you they are going to find you. I don’t want to give you the wrong impression your majesty, but if your best were looking for her they would have found her, or some sign of her. I didn’t teach her to cover her tracks...” he admitted, why bother hiding on an island, disappearing was easy and most gave up after a few hours.

      “I want to send more out but, well without any idea of where the council urges against it. The King is willing to do just about anything to find her but, he can’t destabilize the peace. Thank you, I don’t want to hold you up if you have somewhere to be”

      “Not really, I was just going to find a roof to crash on,” he shrugged, scaling school property was a pastime of his and it helped keep him from exploding some days, “If I could tell you for sure where Audrey sent her I would, I want Penny back too, but...” he trailed off not knowing how to even convey that he would be hunting for her himself if that was what it took. Starting off the bat with the Isle, because that’s the only place that popped up when Jordan told them what the wish had been.

      “That sounds... unsafe, but I’m not your parents just please be very careful” Belle winced, she knew when she saw Penny climbing it took years off her life worrying that she’d fall, “Thank you for... being her friend.”

      Jay gave her an odd look, “It’s not unsafe, you guys actually maintain your buildings. And my baba wouldn’t care if I got hurt, just tell me to patch myself back up and get out of the house,” he smiled at her, “Well no one else was going to do it, apparently she was too wild for them. She’s kinda tame for Isle standards till she’s mad at you. All I did was be there when she needed to vent and keep the other kids from harassing her, not sure if that’s a friend but I like her. So hope she comes back or you find her soon, she’ll have some wicked stories I’m sure.”  

      “Maybe you can convince her to write a book,” Belle smiled, “I want you to know... if you need anything you can come to me for anything, even if it's just needing someone to tell Chad to bugger off”

      “Yeah maybe,” he knew not to tell her that Penny already had a book, just not an Auradon book, “I’m fine your majesty, I can handle Chad. He just said something and I reacted like I was back home. It won’t happen again, plus you have enough on your plate already, no need to worry about me. I can survive just about anywhere.” He beamed her one of his charming smiles and ducked his head, “I hope I helped,” he turned ready to be away from her before he said something he shouldn’t.

      “Yes, I appreciate you talking with me” she nodded taking a step back.

      “Yeah no problem,” he flashed another smile and walked away, turning the first corner he found and slid out the closest window. She may not have said so, but he knew he was going to be in trouble for punching Chad, and he still wanted to punch the guy beat him bloody for even thinking it was okay to call him worthless. Jay paused mid climb and rolled his neck, “Do not smash his skull in. Resist the urge to crush his skull in.” giving himself a firm shake he hauled himself on the library roof. 

Chapter 54: Pin of the Rose and Thorns (IoL: November)

      Penny rocked back and forth on her heels, Harry had said Io had a surprise for her. She wasn’t sure she liked surprises anymore, actually she wasn’t sure she had liked them to begin with.

      Io walked up the gangplank with a bag on her hip, inside was Penny’s official completion of basic training. Or her next slated bit of pirate gear, because Killian had spoiled her with quite a few pieces even if some of them were still too big for her today. She had made it herself which was saying a thing about her want to keep the Princess on her side of things, “Morning loves.”

      “Hey Io” Penny greeted

      “Crocodile, did you bring cool stuff?” Gil asked he liked when other people got things that were just for them, plus Pin deserved some of her own stuff.

      “I hope it meets our princess’ standards, I did my best,” Io smiled without her teeth as she looked at Harry, “You have the rest of it I assume.”

      “Aye, I’ve got a few choices for her to go through and it’s not like she can’t knick her own later on if she doesn’t quite click with any of these” he nodded to her.

      “What’s going on?” Penny asked looking between them, “Harry said you had a surprise for me?”

      “I do, we do. You’ll understand in a minute,” Io pulled the bag open, “Penny daughter of the mainland, to you we give a gift as you have made it through stage one of becoming a Jollyroger,” she held the dark red fabric out the half cloak tucked neatly into the large hood adorned with the moniker Io had created for the girl, because she may not have villian parents but she belonged here on the Isle.

      Penny blinked reaching out and taking the cloak in her hands. Her fingers traced over the rose and thorns, how many times had her father told her she was thorns of their roses. She examined the rest of it quickly, feeling the material had been coated to be waterproof, and it was short enough not to get in her way in a fight. “This is perfect,” she gave Io a smile.

      “Yeah it really is and its Harry’s color,” Gil nodded.

      “The color suits her,” Harry nodded as she wrapped it around her shoulders and fastened it.

      Io snorted looking at her own pirate jacket, “I think it’s Captain’s colors, cause he dressed Harry and I in basically the same color.” 

      “Well she belongs with the crew” Harry nodded, “Plus don’t hurt to have Da at her back neither. Now for the next part... ye only get one” Harry motioned her to galley where he’d laid out the few choices.

      “Bigger is not always better when it comes to blades,” Io mentioned fingering her dagger, even though she had two and a set of short tips in her boots, Killian had only given her one.

      Penny’s eyes lit up going over the blades, there were two of the standard pirate swords but right off the bat she could tell they were too big for her. Next to those was a dagger with a wavy edge, but it was a little too... something. She stopped at the one at the end, the metal swirled and gleamed. She picked it up testing the weight, it was a little heavy but she could handle it with one hand. She examined the rosewood handle before nodding to herself.

      “That one huh, fancy little thing” Harry nodded, it was new to the store so he didn’t know much about it.

      “It’s just right, people underestimate things they think are pretty or fancy,” Penny said sliding it into its sheath.

      “A pretty face can hide a monster lying in wait,” Io quipped, that was something her father had taught her, “Well now you get to practice with that blade, but this does mean you can start doing runs.”

      “You mean actual runs not just tagging along with you like a toddler?” she asked

      Io’s eyes narrowed, “Do you not like runs with me?”

      “I didn’t say that, it just sometimes feels like when I’d try and tag along with Ben,” she shrugged raising her hands in mock surrender.

      “I take offense to being compared to your brother one, and two there are a few runs you will not be doing without myself or Koga. Those are the runs where the villain on the other side is quick to violence. The soft ones you will do by yourself, mids you’ll go with Harry, Gil or Mimzy, highs with me first time and Koga after that if they take to you.”

      “It’s not meant to be...” Gil cut her off with a kiss, “Thanks Gil, but I was kinda in the middle saying something”

      “That’s what Harry does when he thinks my foot is so far into my mouth I might choke on it” Gil explained, “although I can’t get my foot in my mouth so I think it means when I’m not saying stuff right”

      “Yes Gilly that’s what that means.” Harry chuckled, “And princess it just be easier to tell Crocodile that she is like a super protective sister. But ye know protective for a reason” Harry tried to translate, he’d noticed that for all her being smart the princess sometimes said things in the wrong manner.

      Io looked between them with a smirk, she had been offended by the comparison to a soft prince of the Mainland who knew nothing of the real Isle. But she would let them have this interaction because it entertained her to see them being so close, to see how the three had pulled together, “Protective sister I will take, you are my crew, I will protect my crew with everything I have in me.”

      “And that’s what I was trying to say” Penny agreed

      “And we protect ye cause that’s what a crew does” Harry supplied to Io with a smirk.

      “You lot keep me mostly sane,” she conceded, that was the truth, she could reign in the bloody thirsty desires around them. Let them pull her back from the brink, because she would not allow herself to hurt them without reason.

      “Yer sane? Does da know?” Harry teased.

      “I will stab you, first mate or not,” Io growled at him, “Come on Penny. Time to try on that cloak, and head on a walk. I'll take you around to the soft ones, get you introduced. Real run is tomorrow.”

      “She says the nicest thing” Harry chuckled

      “Alright ready when you are” Penny flipped her hood up. She put her sword onto her back.

      “Don't I though?” Io purred taking Penny's arm, “Careful if you have to draw it, that one just came in and I know Henry always sharpens them to cut flesh like rotted fruit.”

      “I will be, promise” Penny assured.

      “It’s a little shorter than mine. Go ahead and pull it a few times to get the feel” Harry instructed.

      Penny nodded moving away from Io and reached up pulling the sword from its sheath and over her shoulder. She fumbled for a second to get her grip right after it was in front of her.

      “Not bad, yer not gonna cut yerself but do it again” Harry crosses his arms.

      “Such a taskmaster,” Io snorted leaning back against a column taking weight off her still injured leg. She was healing but it was slow going since she wasn't one to sit still unless she was home.

      “Got to make sure she’s got it down” Harry shrugged watching Penny for a few more tries before nodding, “Ok she’s ready and it’s loose in the sheath”

      “Good, come on then,” Io nodded, “You and Gil finish up the chores then do the rum run. The distillery on the east side should be finished and ready for a pick up, but just check it in case.” she gestured Penny up the stairs planning the route through the town already.

      Penny followed after Io giving Harry a wave, “So where exactly are we going?” She got the run part she just wanted to know who.

      “The two sets of Tremains, all the henchmen, the brothels, Ursula’s, and black magic alley. We consider the witches of the Isle a soft run because most of them are more focused on healing these days than anything else. Henchmen and Brothels have their own business’ to run so they like to get us in and out as soon as possible, Ursula is rather fond of us pirates, and the Tremains, well they sell shoes, clothes and makeovers,” Io explained as they headed into the district. 

      Penny tilted her head, “They do makeovers here? With what supplies?”

      Io gave her an odd look, “What makes you think I get them? I have no idea, I just collect money from them.”

      “But don’t you like... control the supplies so to speak, plus... that can’t be... your hair is actually gold?” she fumbled with her words.

      “I keep people from getting too rowdy on Barge Day, the Mainland controls what we get,” she pulled a strand of gold hair, “This? Yeah it grows like this.”

      “Huh, I guess I figured you got it done” Penny blinked, she figured it made sense.

      “No, I mean Evie and Mal are natural Blue and Purple at least I figured since as long as I have known them that’s been their hair color. To be honest I was always a little envious of the color,” She rolled a shoulder, “But it seems like too much effort to change what I have currently.”

      Their conversation paused as they ran through the brothel collection stops and henchmen stops, Io introducing Penny as her newest recruit from the unclaimed, Pin. They picked it back up as they headed towards the back of Ursula’s Fish and Chips shop.

      “I like the purple too, but I think she wants people to forget where she came from. Kinda hard though since she keeps her mom as a gecko in a cage in her room,”  Penny shrugged, “Good news though Evie left her hair mostly the way it is.”

      “Gecko cage? How does her mother fit in a gecko cage. Also, what’s a gecko? For Evie, the carpet has to match the rug.”

      “Does it... huh, can’t say I ever saw Evie naked,” Penny making a face, “And Mal turned Maleficent into a Gecko... it's a little lizard thing, it fits in your hand if you hold it flat” she tried to explain, “Don’t know why she doesn't just drown her or something.”

      “Good to know,” Io nodded filing the information for later, that would be very helpful once they got off the Isle, “Is drowning your family members common on the mainland?”

      “No, it's not considered a good thing there... but you know she’s like evil... well, Mal says she’s evil, and not a good evil. Not sure how you guys view her. Plus, well I can’t understand why Mal would keep her as a pet.”

      “Some here like her, some here don’t. Depends on who you ask,” Io offered opening up the back door of Ursula’s chip shop, “You have a second Ursula?”

      “Crocodile, you’re early,” the grey skinned woman said warily, her tentacles whipping about her kitchen three holding saucepans over heat as the others reached for ingredients.

      “No pick up is still tomorrow. I’m just showing my new recruit the stops before then so you know who you are handing the money to,” Io explained casually ducking under a tentacle as it reached for the shelf above the door.

      “New recruit? You haven’t had one of those since you took Gilford off my daughter’s hands,” Ursula stated giving the girls a once over, “Plain little thing isn’t she?”

      “Pin this is Ursula, Ursula this is Pin just look for the Rose and Thorns Moniker.”

      “Hi” Penny said, she wasn’t sure what the protocol was here did she call Ursula ma’am or by her name?

      “Humph,” Ursula huffed tossing her long silver hair back, “Lack of manners too? Just like a Jollyroger. Sure you won’t take my Uma on Crocodile? She could learn a thing or two from your new recruit.”

      “You know Uma and I are combustible,” Io snorted leaning on a metal counter watching the older villian work, “And I would hate to take her away from you, after all who else would serve your terrible cooking?”

      “Now that I won’t stand for,” she shook a spoon at Io, “Now you been feeding my grandbabies yes?” 

      “They are the only ones that are going to eat half rotted squid so yes. They are, well they are rather large and having a fit about their tank being used as a vault.”

      “Idiot that man. My grandbabies need their space,” Ursula shook her head, “Well don’t let me keep you. See you tomorrow Pin, I am looking forward our next little meeting.”

      “See you tomorrow” Penny nodded, she’d ask questions after they were out of there.

      Io nodded and headed back to the door ducking under another tentacle as it shot over their heads. Carefully she closed the door behind them and started up the side of the building, they were bordering on Silver turf so roofs were safer after their last encounter.

      “Who is Uma?” Penny asked as they climbed up.

      “Uma is Ursula’s daughter, and no I don’t know who her other parent is and no I don’t want to think about it either.”

      “Alrighty then, who are her grandbabies? Cause I thought none of the kids had kids here... or is Uma just special that way? But then why would you be taking care of them” Penny hopped off the next roof.

      Io looked at Penny, “I guess he didn’t tell you then. Jay has two pet eels, Lagan and Derelict, the sons of Flotsam and Jetsam who were Ursula’s ‘babies’ before Uma. I make sure they are fed because Harry can’t get into Jafar’s house to feed them. That was the deal Jay and Harry had way back when, Jay would do things for Harry in exchange for Harry getting his food for his eels.” 

      “Oh he mentioned them, but he never said they were the kids of Ursula’s lackies.” She said, “I can’t imagine Harry with anyone but Gil... it was that type of deal right?” She’d pieced together some of what Jay did after her chat with Gil.

      She sighed debating for a moment, “Harry got blow jobs for giving eel feed. That was the deal. Harry decided to inform me of this, which is the only reason I know. This was before I wrangled Gil away from Uma by the way. Don’t think differently of Jay for it either, everything he had worth anything went to appeasing Jafar.”

      “Just survive somehow,” Penny recited the line both Jay and Carlos had told her, “I wouldn’t judge him for what he did to survive... I’m not Mal or some prissy princess.”

      “Good. Because honestly he doesn’t need another Mal in his life. He managed to get out of this hell, and there was only so much I could do when he refused to leave Evie and Carlos to Mal’s devices. Harry offered him a spot on the Jollyroger crew, but he would never leave them,” Penny had no idea the things he had done for them, to be honest she doubted she knew the true lengths he had gone through for them. Desperate to have someone watch his back for once, which was why she took her deal with him so seriously. She had wanted him on her side, wanted the power she hoped he would have outside the barrier working with her and her father’s ambitions instead of against them.

      “No one needs another Mal in their life” Penny shook her head, “Why didn’t he join the crew? I’m kinda glad he didn’t cause then I wouldn’t have met him. But, it would have made his life better” 

      “You likely would have still met him, I mean he is the son of Jafar, and your brother picked him because of that if you believe the rumor boat. As to why he never joined up,” She shrugged dropping back down to the alleyways, “I never managed to get a straight answer. Maybe I can ask him once we see him again.”

      “Didn’t even know Ben was inviting VKs over until I saw the papers. Now that I think about it, that was kinda a dick move on his part” she followed Io down tilting forward a little at the added weight on her back.

      “What do you mean a dick move?” Io asked curious as she made sure Penny didn’t fall.

      “He should have warned me what he was up to. I got, like, ambushed at school by the other girls wanting to know why my brother was letting villains off the isle” she explained standing straight again.

      “Is it common to be blamed for things your sibling does despite the two of you not being twins? I mean we often end up blaming G2 for G3’s doings or vice versa, but the twins are at face value identical.”

      “If he does something stupid and it gets into the press, I end up getting grilled about it. He’s my brother so I should know what the hell he’s thinking” she rolled her eyes, “It’s just the way it is over there everyone judges everyone”

      She made a confused noise that made sense in a weird backwards kind of way, “Bizzare...” she pushed open the door to Curl Up and Dye, “Dizzy!”

      “Oh hi Io, give me a minute and I’ll get the dues” Dizzy looked up from her chores pushing her glasses up.

      “Dues aren’t until tomorrow dear,” Io gave the girl a grin of teeth, “I’ve got a new recruit to introduce to you, she’ll be here tomorrow picking up the payment.”

      “Someone new?” Dizzy looked over at Penny, “Hi I’m Dizzy... but you already knew that” she rushed over to greet Penny with a smile.

      “Pin” Penny blinked at the excited girl, she was maybe a little younger then Penny and she like Gil seemed to bounce about like an eager puppy.

      “Yes someone new, one of the unclaimed, not a problem giving you a new face to look for right?” it was a rhetorical question as Io looked over the empty shop, “Dizzy is the one you would be dealing with all the time, her mother is a touch vacant about the payments so Diz makes sure all the money is together for us.”

      “Well it’s good to know that someone likes new people” Penny nodded 

      “I don’t go out much anymore, but I like new people for the most part,” Dizzy explained.

      “And hopefully you two get along,” Io nodded looking the two girls over, “Well we won’t keep you Diz, Pin will be back around tomorrow for the pickup. You need anything let us know.”

      “Sure thing Io” Dizzy nodded, “Bye Pin, I’ll see you tomorrow with the dues ready”

      Io flashed another Crocodile smile and headed out of the shop to the last few stops before the headed towards the ship once more.

      “She seems...kind a like Gil, which is odd in a way. I figured Gil was a fluke of sorts” Penny tried to reason it out, Dizzy made her think of the kids back home just like Gil did.

      “Gil... Gil is a fluke of sorts, but there are some good kids on this Isle that don’t deserve to be here. Some of them are too good for this place, but Dizzy can be ruthless when it is needed.”

      “Like Evie and her scissors?” she asked, she’d thought Evie seemed harmless until Jay had told her about Evie stabbing people with scissors.

      “Yea exactly like Evie and scissors. I watched the one day she decided she had enough and stabbed one of the Gaston twins in the chest with those scissors. It was a thing of beauty,” Io grinned widely at the memory of that pretty dumb male crumpling like a blank sheet of paper to the floor when Evie savagely ripped them back out.

      “Underestimates things that are pretty” Penny chuckled, “But those two seem like they could probably use a good stabbing” she didn’t like the twins in fact she was more then willing to stab them herself.

      “They can but they can be very good distractions, all you have to do is insult their inflated egos. Very easy to manipulate, but they know how to play rough. Nearly broke my poor tiger’s arm before they turned him feral.”

      “And Koga didn’t take a bite out of them...or well I can’t imagine they taste very good” Penny made a face, she couldn’t imagine how Koga ate human flesh but, if it was like anything else there was probably ones that taste better then others.

      “Oh I stopped Koga before he could maw one of them, but didn’t stop him from ripping one’s chest open before he knocked them both out. Honest I never asked him how they smell, but I never tend to want to know how my tiger makes his food selections.”

      “That’s probably wise, not sure I want to know... but then again... no don’t want to know” she shook her head, she was probably better off not knowing.

      Io snorted, “But we just let that curiosity lay. Now you comfortable doing this run tomorrow?”

      “Yep, got my land marks all memorized,” she nodded

      “And the collection spots seem easy enough. Because I would prefer not to have any trouble day one I left you do this run.”

      “I promise not to start trouble” she looked at Io, now if someone else started it well that was a different story.

      Io knew that look and lifted a brow at the girl before letting it go, she was definitely sending Koga to stalk the girl through day one of her run. Better safe than sorry with a look like that, “Well then let’s get back to the ship. If this goes well someone is going to have more time off the ship helping with runs.”

      “I think Harry will feel better once we’re back on the ship” Penny nodded, she wasn’t going to mess this up, she didn’t know how much longer she could take being stuck on that ship.

      “Of course he will, he’s a worrier. That and his persistence are his charming qualities,” she rolled her eyes at that, sometimes Harry worried too much and persisted too long. Which had ended him on the wrong side of her temper more than once before.

      “You say that like it's not actually a good thing” she teased as they moved through the people in the streets.

      “It isn’t for me. But we make a good balance and that is what the ship needs, us in a balance.” Balance was not what she wanted though, she wanted chaos, the controlled chaos she had been making until Penny had arrived on the Isle. The chaos that still lingered under the surface away from the Mainland girl who was like Gil in the violence department.

      Penny watched Io’s face as she spoke, she knew that Harry and Io made a good balance and that was good for the crew but, at the same time she could see there was something missing from what she was saying.

Chapter 55: Uma’s Warning (IoL: November)

      “Are ye sure about this?” Harry asked Io as he watched Penny get ready for the run.

      “Yes. Koga is already on the roofs waiting to spot her leaving the ship. He will tail her and interfere if any one decides to start shit.”

      “Alright, just makes me nervous is all. I know she can make people back off if need be, get away, but she’s so little” Harry nodded.

      “Pin will be fine Harry, Koga will take care of her. And she’s not that small compared to Evie...and she’s bigger then Dizzy” Gil said, Harry worried too much sometimes.

      “Harry I don’t say this often, but go drink some rum and relax your damn nerves. Preferably before I stab you for worrying too much. As long as she doesn’t mouth off there will be no trouble.”

      “I could help with your nerves” Gil volunteered.

“Gilly, sometimes I think ye really only think of one thing” Harry shook his head heading off to find a bottle from the galley and take a quick drink.

      Penny glanced over before pulling up her hood and heading down the gangplank, she felt like Harry was over compensating for something. Probably because he couldn’t protect Gil from his family.

      Koga watched the girl move off the ship as he sulked in a shadow between buildings, most would refer to this as babysitting duty. But considering the mainland princess was being let off the ship before she revolted all together, Koga liked to think of it as guard duty like he did for Io on the high priority rowdy runs. 

     Penny didn’t bother with the streets once she was clear of the wharf she took to the roof tops, she stopped at all of Io’s first stops. The Brothels gave her the creeps but they paid up no problems, she headed off to Ursula’s next.

      Uma looked up as the door opened, hooded figure wearing a Jollyroger tag but too short to be Crocodile, “Pick a seat any seat, unless you ain’t here for food.”

      “Here for the Dues” Penny said watching the other teen, she had a look about her that she seemed to think she was more important than she actually was.

      “Oh are you?” Uma snorted looking her over with disgust, “One of Crocodile's new pet projects? Mom said there would be a new face about, show me your moniker.”

      Penny rolled her eyes, before turning her head so Uma could see the rose and thorns, “Satisfied?”

      Uma looked it over, definitely too ‘pretty’ for anything but one of the Crocodile’s handy work, “You know you could always join my crew instead. It’s only a matter of time before Crocodile snaps her maw again and ends up cleaving her crew in half.”

      “And you are who exactly?” Penny snorted, “Crocodile takes care of her crew no matter what. You got the dues or do I need to talk to Ursula myself”

      “Uma daughter of Ursula,” She glared at the girl, “Yeah today, tomorrow, but not when the Red takes over. Seen it before, the Red takes hold and they just can’t help themselves,” she grabbed the purse with a smug look tossing it at the new recruit, “Just something to mull over newbie.”

      “I’ll convey your great concerns to the Crocodile, I’m sure she’ll be tickled by your concern” Penny nodded her head as she caught the purse and turned to head out.

      “If you want to play messenger, tell Gil I said hello.” Uma watched the girl move, there was something she couldn’t place about that moniker.

      Penny rolled her eyes as she tucked the purse away, that girl was not very smart. She headed to the alley to take to the rooves again.

      Koga near breathed a sigh of relief as Penny exited Ursula’s chip ship without a scratch, Sometimes Uma didn’t know when to shut up, of which whenever Io got tired of dealing with her he’d have to go and teach her lesson. Ursula had mostly stopped asking questions about his methods.

      Penny glanced behind her once she was up on the roofs. She kept feeling eyes on her but, every time she looked she didn’t see anyone. She turned back forward and headed off towards the Curl Up and Dye. It was probably just one of the guys, but she’d stay on edge just in case. She hopped from roof to roof walking along the edge on parts like it was a balance beam, before dropping down by the shop. “Dizzy you here?” she called slipping in the door.

      “Oh you're back” Dizzy smiled seeing the other girl, “I’ll get the dues... is there anything else you need?”

      “Not that I can think of” Penny shook her head.

      “Are you sure, hair cut or dye job, maybe cloths?” Dizzy suggested

      “Um...maybe some other time, not sure how long I’ve got before Io comes looking for me” Penny said, “But maybe you can do something with my hair next time.”

      “Ok... feel free to come back anytime, whether its dues time or not” Dizzy said, she missed Evie, but it wasn’t exactly safe for her to go wandering around making friends.

      “I’ll think about it. Thanks” Penny gave her a smile before pulling her hood further down her face and heading back out.

      Koga hung back a few rooves, his head tipped back slightly. He could smell something weird, but it was hard to place this far up, but he did not want to drop down and find out what it was either. Safer on the roofs this close to barge day, but it didn’t mean that he had to like it. Weird smells on the Isle never ended well for anyone generally speaking. He would have to track down Io and let her know there was something off.

      Penny climbed up looking around, not for the first time she wondered why it was ok for the isle to be like this but anywhere on the mainland like this had to be fixed. It wasn’t right no matter where it was. She shook her head and headed off back towards the wharf.

     Koga eased after her, careful not to crowd her. But close enough that he could be there as soon as there was trouble not that he thought there would be but you never knew in this place.

     She hopped down onto a stack of crates once the wharf was in sight. She made sure the Jollyroger moniker was visible to the few giving her odd looks. That went well as far as she could tell, she’d just have to see what Io said.

      Koga stopped on top of the last building before the wharf opened up to the Jollyroger. He visually tracked the girl as she made her back to the ship. Once she was on board he took a deep breath and tracked Io’s scent. He always stopped before he hunted her down through the dregs, because it wasn't safe for him to be there. Mainly because there were poachers in the dregs. Lucky for him she seemed to have retreated to her New Wonderland warehouse. Easing through the upper window he dropped down, heaving himself over the crates to the ground.

      “Any problems?” she prompted not looking up from her map as she sketched in a few more details.

      “None. Girl's back on the ship. This going to be a regular thing?”

      “Yeah, not a problem right?”

      “I can track a single scent across this entire little island, no it's not a problem. That is my role on the crew, the hunter so long as you get my back while I'm eating.”

      “And you are wonderful at your job,” she grinned toothily as he leaned beside her, “When do you want to feed again?”

      “Next week. Dad just switched out our batch of meat.” he shifted uneasily and waited until she looked up at him. “Smelled something off near Curl Up and Dye, didn’t see anything and nothing followed us.”

      Io frowned slightly straightening, “Define off.”

      “Not normal,” he shrugged despite her growl of annoyance. “I don’t know how to explain it to you. You can’t smell like I can.”

      She huffed rolling up her map and tucked it into her hip pouch, “Fair enough. Take me there, let’s nip any issues in the ass before our little Mainlander gets caught up into something she can’t handle.”

       Pushing off the table he headed back up the roof leaving her to follow after him. Sniffing the air he guided them back to where he had first scented it. It was a bitter and near chemical smell that burned at his nose and he snorted before pulling his shirt half over his face. The scent was stronger now, and he glanced back over his shoulder to where Io stood. Her eyes were lighting through with ice blue and he wondered if the scent had become strong enough for her to smell it too.

      “Crocodile?” he broached cautiously and suppressed a shiver as her blank gaze sharpened on him, “Can you smell it too?”

      “Yes, I don’t know what they are trying to do, but,” she eased across the roof to the edge and looked down below her, “We need to stop them before they blow something up.”

      He nodded at her and went the other direction, the boards creaking under his weight when he heard it, glass breaking and someone swearing. Silvery blue smoke coiled out from between the breaks in the roof line further down this section of building. Io went towards it as she tied a skull and crossbones bandana around the lower half of her face and tossed one to Koga. Holding his breath he did the same and breathed in the scent of her. Mouth watering he forced himself to refocus and followed after her.

      She gestured to a cracked skylight and he nodded, she was going in. Silently she opened the hatch and dropped inside. A slight, dark haired and russet skinned boy stood in front of a potion set, back to her as his allies looked at her in horror from the otherside of the table.

      “Why am I not surprised to see you Reza?” She drawled as the rat faced son of Razoul, Jafar’s head guard, whirled to face her holding his bleeding hand.

    “Crocodile, what an inconceivable surprise,” Reza gulped, “I and my allies are performing some rather particularly-” he cut off with a yelp as Koga dropped down behind her and unfurled to his full height with a threatening growl.

      “We haven’t done anything wrong. We aren’t even in your territory. This is-”

      “No man’s land,” Io purred slowly pulling a blade from her hip, “Means I can do as I please. You lot are playing with things you don’t understand and I just won’t allow that.”

      Reza reached for something on the table and Koga yanked Io back into his chest as the acid splattered the place where she had been. His dark terrified eyes lifted to the two of them as Io hissed, eyes a vibrant glowing icy blue. This was the beast his father and the great Jafar spoke of, the Red Mad Jaws of the Jollyroger, The Golden Crocodile, Daughter of No One. His back bumped the table as Koga Khan released his hold on her.

      “RUN!” Reza screamed diving out of her way as she charged at them blades drawn.

      Koga watched her from his place with a wide grin, the scent of her bandana blocking the scent of burned sugar, the scent of the Red as she spun a graceful dance of bloodthirsty hunger in response to their slight. She stilled, blades dripping blood from one downed boy, the others small and quick enough to escape her wrath, not that she intended to give chase.

      “You good now Crocodile?” he asked amused as she looked over her shoulder at him with one slowly fading ice blue eye.

      She grinned her familiar feral smile of teeth as she pulled the bandana down, and he purred at the sight, “What now?”

      “I missed that smile while you’ve been busy playing pretend for your little Stickpin. Do you think she’ll ever realize that you are just playing nice?” Koga asked walking over and casually flipped the table sending the whole set up crashing to the floor as she pulled the bandana back up.

      “Not until she is in far too deep my dear tiger. I will take her to the edge and hold her there until she does not remember why they call us villains,” Io hummed as they left the downed boy in the room filling with colored smoke, “Let’s go home.”

Chapter 56: The Red Madness (IoL: November)

      Penny sat on the rail of the ship looking out towards the mainland. Harry was finishing off the chores as she chewed on a piece of jerky. She’d been confused when Killian handed out coins to each of the crew, Harry told her quietly that it was pay day, and he had her previous pay days stashed. 

      Mimzy bounded up the gangplank and smiled at Penny, “Hi Pin, how did your very first run go?”

      “Seemed to be ok” she shrugged, “Uma’s weird”

      “I’m glad to hear it,” she smiled looking out the way Penny was, “Uma’s always been like that. Fancy’s herself Mal’s rival and thinks she can sweet talk Io into letting her take over the Jollyroger crew. Io replied to that particular request by taking Gil on instead.” leaning against the railing Mimzy looked distant, “Is it nice out there? Mom tells me stories sometimes about it, but the ones I remember most are the songs she learned from sirens. Granted Mom is a terrible singer, but I still liked them...”

      “Yeah it’s nice,” Penny nodded, “the people are something different.”

      “I don’t doubt it. Having heard some of your questions, I think here is probably pretty barbaric to what you were used to. I am sure Io will find a way of getting you home, that girl always has a plan. There is almost nothing Io hasn’t planned for.”

      “I get that feeling about her. But I also feel like she doesn’t always tell us the plan” Penny chuckled, “but I feel like that’s how it works, right?”

      Mimzy laughed like tinkling bells, “That is exactly how it works. She never tells us the plan until it is perfected and she has every little detail worked out. As she says Controllable Chaos.”

      “Doesn’t seem like controllable chaos lately, but then again I’ve been stuck on the boat.” Penny mused as Harry pulled off his shirt wiping his brow with it, after having brought some of the heavier cargo on board.

      “Ye see something ye like?” He teased catching her looking.

      “Wouldn’t you like to know” Penny stuck her tongue out at him, before turning back to Mimzy, “Uma said something I don’t understand. Didn’t really think about it until now”

      “Oh what's that?” Mimzy asked tilting her head curiously. Uma was known for trying to disrupt the system, of fooling with Io's way of doing things.

      “She said something about Io being overtaken by the Red? What does that mean?” 

      “Oh...” Mimzy bit her lip before sighing softly, “The Red Madness of New Wonderland. Most of the Wonderlanders have it, they take the Wonders to keep themselves relatively docile. But if you go down there enough you can catch it. Io... Io just keeps going down there despite that. Sometimes when she gets worked up, it just, takes over. I don't know how to explain it, she just loses her sense and” Mimzy trailed off, “It isn't pretty. Violence slakes the Red, so sometimes Captain and her duel until she breaks free of it. We didn't know she even had caught it or that it was that bad until we had a turf war with the Silvers. Long John has called her the Red Mad Jaws of the Jollyroger ever since.”

      “But she wouldn’t knowingly hurt us, her crew?” Penny asked, she’d heard stories of people losing all sense but, Io wasn’t... well she didn’t seem like she lost control until someone messed with their crew.

      “Io would never, unless she had to. She’s given Harry lashes before, not that she wanted to but...” she sighed softly, “She does what she has to do to keep herself manageable. There are some that snap and take it out on people they care about without meaning to.”

      “So Uma’s full of shit saying Io’s gonna tear us apart,” Penny said, it would also explain the look Io got in her eyes every now and then.

      “It isn't likely that Io will snap on us, but I think Uma's just trying to plant the seeds of doubt in you. Uma wants what Mal and Io have, respect. I mean everyone gave it to Mal because of her mom.” Mimzy shrugged, “But don't worry about Io, she might have her problems but there is no one on this Isle I would rather be crew to.”

      “I could practically smell the desperation coming off her when she tried to get me to change sides” she snorted, “Well she’ll end up getting her ass kicked eventually”

      “Of course she will, we have Koga assigned to deal with her when she gets too full of herself. And Io or Harry will really let her have it if she tries anything else.” Mimzy nodded already thinking of a thousand things she could lace the Jaws’ blades with to make them more potent.

      “Well I guess I’ll just have to wait and see if she tries anything else” Penny nodded

      “Am I interrupting some sort of girl talk?” Harry leaned against the rail at Penny’s side.

      “Not really. Pin was asking questions about Uma telling her Io has the Red. I don't think they have it on the Mainland.”

      “Not that is ever acknowledged” Penny said, “There’s a few rumors here or there about mad relatives being locked away” 

      “Really?” Harry blinked

      “Yeah no one wants to talk about bad things in their families” Penny explained.

      “Well there are plenty of mad people here,” Mimzy giggled, “I mean mom is the Marvelous Mad Madam Mim.”

      “Um...but is your mom actually mad?” Penny asked, from what she remembered from the story Madam Mim just acted crazy.

      “Well, she has fits. They are full of hair pulling and screaming. Oh you should have seen it when Io and my Mom had a talk. Io got mom all riled up.”

      “Sounds like quite the show” she smiled

      “Glad I wasn’t there to see it” Harry shook his head, “Mimzy’s the only witch I trust”

      “For the best really, the Witch of the Waste is the worst. I mean that, she'll poison you just as easy as cure you. And sometimes she does both just cause she thinks you deserve it for being too pretty.” Mimzy nodded, “We trust Yzma, she fixed Koga up when we accidentally almost turned him into a vegetable.”

      “That was an accident” Harry sighed, “thought Io was gonna break me in half”

      “Yeah she doesn’t like anyone messing with her Kitty cat” Penny snorted.

      “I thought she was going to skin all of us. She was so mad at us, not that we knew it would do that to him. And no she really doesn't, I really haven't figured out how they worked out a deal for him to join the crew.”

      “What does she have that he could want? Or did she do something that got his loyalty?” Penny mused

      “Some things are probably better not being known” Harry said, “Come on Pin lets go meet Gil at the entrance to the wharf”

      “You're a big worry wart, I’m sure you did nothing but pace since I left and then Gil had to go do his part.”

      “I am not” Harry snorted.

      “He is a worrywart, but that's his charm.” Mimzy smiled watching as Harry took Penny with him off the ship leaving her there at the railing looking at the mainland.

      Uma was going to become a problem if she was talking to Pin about Io like she knew her. Io was a mystery to most of them for good reason. Whoever her parents were, they didn’t claim her for a damn good reason. Mimzy got that the first time she had brought Io to the shop, whoever they were, they were dangerous. Not saying that the other old timers weren’t dangerous, it was just her parents must have been more dangerous than most, because her mother, the most powerful witch next to Merlin, did her best to keep on Io’s good side.

      Leaning back she looked up at the bound black sails humming under her breath envisioning a future with Io at the helm of her own black sailed ship, sailing the seas beside the might of the Jollyroger. It was a lovely little dream she’d see reality no matter how long it took.

      “Something you needed my dear Black Witch?”

      She turned and fluttered her lashes at Io’s return, “I don’t need anything at the moment from you my darling Crocodile. My Koga is a different story,” she giggled, “But in all seriousness, the little octopus is running her mouth again. She told Pin about your Red, I assured her that Uma was wrong, that you would never turn on the crew no matter what the Red wanted.”

      Io sighed heavily, breath visible in the cooling air as the sun slowly dipped in the sky, that was going to be an issue if she ignored it like she preferred to do with such minor jabs from Uma, “I will deal with her, if I have to I will.”

 

Chapter 57: The Stabbing of Pin (IoL: December)

      Uma looked up as the door opened, “You again, what Crocodile and Harry too good for the grunt work?”

      “They had better things to do then listen to you bitch” Penny crossed her arms, “You have the dues?”

      “You know I don't feel like paying the grunt. I've got better things to do than deal with boot lickers,” Uma retorted grabbing a few trays from the window and tossed them onto the tables.

      “See that’s not how this works, you pay up or I could just go to your mommy,” Penny tracked her with her eyes, “Cause something tells me she wouldn’t take too kindly to not getting whatever it is she gets from the barges. Or how the others would feel if say the barges didn’t come when they were supposed to cause Captain couldn’t pay them.” Honestly who was the princess here, not that Uma knew that but still she was acting more spoiled than some of the princesses on the mainland.

      Uma snorted rolling her eyes, “Give me a break, we all know you Jollyroger’s get paid wages from our supposed barge money. I mean really does he pay them or does he just send his son to service the barge drivers to keep em coming back?”

      “Shouldn’t talk about things you don’t understand. Now hand over the dues, and maybe I won’t tell Koga you need an attitude adjustment,” Penny snapped no one talked about her boys like that.

      “Oh did I hit a nerve? Let me guess Harry bends you over and you think that makes you special? Please Harry pays to fuck whoever he wants, probably even pays Gil.” Uma sneered, there was no way little rose and thorns would ever have any power over Koga anyway.

      “He, unlike you, doesn’t have to pay people to fuck him. You on the other hand I’m not so sure could pay someone enough to fuck you” her hands sliding to her hips where her scraper was located, no need to draw a sword just yet.

      Uma fixed her with a hard dark look, “What did you just say to me?” clearly she didn't know the Jollyroger crew very well.

      “I’m sure you heard me. Now since you don’t seem interested in paying up. I’ve got other stops to make, ” Penny smirked slowly backing away.

      “Oh I'll pay you something,” Uma growled short sword flicking out as she lunged slamming the blade into Penny's ribcage and ripped it out, “No one insults the daughter of Ursula, no one. Especially not a Jollyroger whore like you.”

      Penny gasped staggering for a second before planting her feet, her hand going up to her own sword pulling it loose, “Considering that’s all you want to be, that’s a little judgy” she jabbed weakly. She just needed to get out the door, Koga was around somewhere, he’d stopped seeming to care about being stealthy after 4 weeks. But, she sure as hell was taking a chunk out of Uma, if she tried something again, or if she could get close enough. She held one hand to her ribs, but the other held the scraper almost directly down and to the side.

      Koga could smell blood and he threw the door open growling. Uma backed away from Penny quickly staring at him in panic. “Pay up shrimp.” She all but threw the pouch at him and watched as he grabbed the fallen weapon and hefted Penny up with one arm.

      Once they were outside he adjusted his grip on Penny, “How bad you hurt kid?”

      “Not sure, you're really fluffy” Penny blinked, “Everything is a little spiny.”

      “Blood loss, definitely blood loss. Just hold on kid, let me get you back to the ship,” Koga held her tighter and hauled himself to the roofs.

      “Should have stabbed her in the face” Penny winced all this jostling was not helping.

      “Wouldn't have helped,” He snorted trying to make his run as smooth as possible with the small body tucked into his side, “If nothing else you can't die here.”

      “Still should have done it,” Penny grumbled, “Harry’s gonna be so pissed... the red stuff is suppose to stay inside me... I think”

      “I wouldn't worry so much about Harry as much as I would worry about Crocodile. And yeah blood is supposed to stay inside you unless it's your monthlies,” Koga nodded as he leapt a large gap, landing heavily on a fire escape before dropping to the ground.

      “Aren’t people supposed to be scared when they are stabbed? ... not scared just floaty... floaties kinda nice” Penny closed her eyes.

      “It's called shock. People get it when introduced to a heaping dose of trauma. Don't close your eyes, we are almost there.”

      “Did I know that... I feel like I knew that...you're warm” she muttered trying to blink a few times.

      “Koga aren’t you supposed to... what happened?” Gil looked alarmed as they came onto the ship.

      “Probably did kid, and I am,” Koga looked at Gil, “Uma stabbed her. Grab supplies. We’ll treat her on the deck.”

      “Right” Gil nodded taking off to grab bandages and rum, and the little sewing kit Mr. Smee had. Crocodile and Harry were not going to be happy about this.

      Koga laid Penny on the deck and patted her cheek lightly with his big paw hands. His claws were tucked into his fingertips, “Stay with me kid. CAPTAIN!”

      Killian moved out of his cabin and stopped, “You need your witch?”

      “Just need to rest for a little bit... not slacking pro...” Penny turned her head a little bit.

      “That’s a lot of blood” Gil kneeled down next to Penny pulling her cloak up, the white shirt she wore today half red now.

      “Yes, and all the Bleedstop you got. Gil soak the rags in rum and stuff the wound,” Koga demanded.

      Gil quickly got to work, “Pin...wakeup Pin” he tried to rouse her as he ripped open her shirt.

      Koga lowered his head to her chest, “She's in shock, heart is slow but steady. Bleeding is minimal now her heart rate is down,” He yanked the rags away from Gil and doused them in rum before shoving them into the hole, “Mimzy will bring her full kit.”

      “Crocodile’s gonna have someone’s head for this” Gil watched Koga work he felt like he was all thumbs.

      “Uma's. Where are Harry and Crocodile anyway?” Koga asked as he used other rags to wipe up as much blood as he could preparing for Mimzy. It looked like an easy one hole and done.

      “Just said they were checking on something, they’d be back soon” Gil shrugged, “Why would Uma do that” he didn’t understand why Uma would attack the crew she wanted to be part of it.

      “Uma doesn't like it when people don't give her what she wants remember? Uma may want on the Jollyrogers, but she wants Crocodile’s spot. That and they were exchanging cruelties and Penny said something Uma didn't like clearly.” 

      Mimzy ran up the gangplank having lost the Captain when she climbed onto the roofs to make up time, “How is she? Conscious?”

       “She passed out, heart beat is steady just slow. Got rum rags in her wound to stop her bleeding out. Looks like Uma just went straight in and out,” Koga offered moving out of the way.

      “Uma? Io is going to blow a gasket if Pin doesn't recover well,” Mimzy groaned easing her bag off and unrolled it, spreading her tools out and looked at the wound. She took a deep breath and slowly pulled the rags out checking the wound with her small flashlight. It wasn't very bright but it did work.

      “She’ll be ok, Pin’s just as tough as we are,” Gil said brushing some of her hair from her face. He moved her head into his lap, she’d be ok she had to be.

      “Of course she will be,” Mimzy assured him, “I’m the Daughter of Madame Mim, the greatest black witch in the world, there is nothing I can’t heal,” she pulled a few things out of her bag and handed the light to Koga, “Hold it right... perfect,” she smiled briefly at him as she collected her things together and laid them on Penny’s belly as she started working on patching the hole back up, it was slow going but with Penny unconscious it went relatively smoothly.

 

      “What the hell is going on?” Harry asked as he came up the plank his eyes locked on the still Penny.

      “Hang on Harry, I’m almost done,” Mimzy grumbled as Koga shifted impatiently, “Stop fucking moving my light or I will rearrange your boys.”

      Koga looked over her head at Io, “Crocodile it’s not my fault.”

      “You were her back up, she’s laid out on the deck, you see where I am going with this kitten?” Io growled eyes fixed on the too pale color of the princess’ face, if she wasn’t under the barrier she would have died.

      Harry moved to Gil’s side, “How did this happen? Koga?” His hands shook as he placed a hand on Gil’s shoulder.

      “Uma stabbed her. They were being a couple of dogs and Penny said something Uma clearly didn’t like and here we are,” Koga cringed seeing Io’s expression, “You told me let her handle things, I stepped in when I smelled blood.”

      “Mimzy,” Io prompted. 

      The lavender haired girl ignored them as she finished off the last of the tiny stitches made of pig sinew she got from Koga’s porcine meals. When she finished she clipped the ends off the knots before straightening. “Clean wound. I fixed the few internal problem areas with bleed stop so she won’t have any internal bleeding. Koga and Gil filled the wound track with rum soaked rags so hopefully she won’t get an infection but only time is going to tell. I stitched the wound full closed, so bed rest and absolutely no water on the wound, rum only until it heals.”

      “Ye have met Pin right? Bed rest after Uma stabbed her, she’s likely to want to do some stabbing back” Harry shook his head, “Might be tempted to do some hooking as well”

      “I’ll sit on her if tries to leave the bed” Gil shook his head.

      “I will deal with Uma,” Io snarled, “I’ve had enough of her shit. Gil you’re on Penny watch duty until she heals. Koga you are taking over their chores.”

      “Are you fucking kidding me? I did exactly what you told me to do!” Koga balked letting Mimzy take her light back.

      “She could give you worse you know. Take the chores with grace before she sends you on the New Wonderland run,” Mimzy commented looking at Io and Harry.

      “Is it safe to move her?” Harry asked, once she was settled in bed Harry wanted a piece of that octopus bitch.

      Mimzy nodded, “Yeah Gil keep her torso supported, Koga you know what to do. I’ll supervise her move. You two have other things to attend to. My Jaws,” she pulled herself up as Koga spread Penny’s legs and settled her hips against the back of his, as he and Gil lifted the unconscious injured girl. 

      “I’ll be right back Crocodile” Harry followed after them down below. He moved the sheets back before they laid her down, “get her binding off Gilly, I’ll be back soon” he ordered taking off his jacket and placing it at the end of the bed before heading up to leave with Io.

      Io rolled her neck waiting for Harry impatiently, Koga was right, he had done what she told him. She didn’t think Penny would ever say something that would piss the shrimp off. Especially knowing Penny was one of Io’s personal crew. She would likely have to finish the run Penny was supposed to do, once she fixed Uma that was.

      “Lets go deal with the sushi shall we?” Harry mused turning his hook in his hands.

      “Of course, since you never think I do a thorough enough of a job. Through you know we have to finish their run, still want to come?”

      “Not my place to think ye don’t do yer job thoroughly, but well I at least get to watch” Harry explained, “And I don’t care about finishing the run. Unless ye trying to get rid of me Crocodile?”

      “You're a mother hen, figured you wouldn’t want to be away from Pin any longer than necessary,” she teased as they walked towards Ursula’s chip shop, “But I could never get rid of you. Who else is going to feed me rum so he can tell me everything on his mind?”

      “This is true” he nodded sending a nasty look at a few lurking kids eyeing his coin purse, he glanced up at the chip shops sign.

      “I would run along little lambs, official Jollyroger business,” Io commented as they looked at her rings hungrily. With a swift kick the door flew open, “Uma!” she sung as she strode into the chip shop with a wild grin of teeth.

      Uma froze back to the door, “Crocodile what do I owe the pleasure? Hungry?” 

      “I think we need to have a little chat with ye” Harry eyed the aqua haired teen, maybe he’d rip a few of her braids out.

      “Pay and leave if you would,” Io commented at the crowd in the shop, “Private chat and all that.”

      They ran dropping coins and hauling ass around Harry and Io, Uma hated it. Hated the air of command that should have been hers and not some unclaimed bitch. Hell the other girl had taken Gil from her crew, and made it so Harry Hook would never even consider becoming her second in command. Just like Mal, Io was full of herself, and Uma hated it, hated them. If she could only get on the crew she could displace Io, I mean how loyal was a crew to a red mad captain.

      “Clearly if you are going to clear out all the customers,” Uma grimaced as she worked on clearing tables, throwing the coins in her apron, “Well talk away.”

      “Found an interesting sight on me da’s ship few minutes ago, ye wouldn’t know how our little Stickpin ended up with a hole in her ribs would ye?” Harry tilted his head he normally wasn’t one to play with his targets but well Uma deserved to squirm a little bit.

      “Not at all,” Uma lied giving them a blank look, “I gave your baby some hassle cause I don’t like her mouth, but I paid up.”

      “Was the paying before or after Koga stepped in to deal with your little spat?” Io asked as her fingers trailed down the railing as she walked down to the main floor.

      “After,” Uma shrugged a shoulder, “I don’t like it when he tries to rough me up. Unlike his mothers I don’t fancy fucking cats.”

      “Could care less what ye fancy” Harry snorted, “So I take it ye didn’t want to pay up when Pin showed up” he moved blocking the door.

      Uma warily watched as Io stalked towards her and she shifted putting a table between them, “Why should I have to deal with the baby all the time? I mean is it too much to ask for a visit from Gil once in awhile since you stole him from me Crocodile?”

      “Are you still on that dearie?” Io snickered, “I offered him a better deal, and he is under my first mate’s protection now as well, you do remember that don’t you dearie?” 

      “So is Pin for that matter. And Gil doesn’t want to see ye. I wouldn’t stop him if he wanted to see ye” Harry spun his hook in his grasp as he locked eyes with Uma.

      “What are you Jay the Whore? Fu-” her words cut off with a sharp gasp.

      Io slammed the heavy table into Uma’s midsection. Sure Jay was no longer here on the Isle, no longer under her protection in the wharf and he wasn’t officially crew, but he had bled for her and there was no power in this world that would keep her from defending his name from a bottom feeder like Uma.

      “Come again dearie? Harry and I clearly missed what you were saying,” Io sneered at her.

      “Bitch...” Uma panted catching her breath, “Clearly Mal wasn’t smart enough to know who her thief was sleeping with. If Gil doesn’t want to see me why did you hand the Chip Shop over to another one of your pieces of ass Harry?”

      “Shouldn’t talk about things ye don’t understand, Shrimpy. Pin’s work on the crew got nothing to do with who she does or doesn’t spread her legs for,” Harry snorted, “And Gil doesn’t want to see ye because yer not worth seeing”

      Io watched as Uma’s face twisted with anger at the name and his words, “Careful Uma, we are not Pin. We will retaliate, rather violently.”

      “It was a fucking pinprick, girl already stuck your cat on me, wasn’t that enough for you!” Uma shoved the table back towards Io watching as the girl sidestepped out of the way.

      “She had every right to, now ye answer to the Crocodile,” Harry shrugged.

      Uma went to draw her blade and took a kick to the chest as Io vaulted the table, slamming back into a chair before tumbling to the floor. She rolled as Io went to stab her thigh with the boot blades. Getting back to her feet she cracked the other girl across the face.

      Io popped her jaw and looked at Uma, “Bad move Shrimpy. Very bad move,” she purred letting the anger boil up to the surface. Her blades in her hands she went after Uma, the metal clashing as Uma drew her weapon to defend herself. A long slash opening up on her arm as Io spun away from a parry and countered. She drove Uma up towards Harry who was so patiently waiting, she couldn’t let her expectant crew down. She was if nothing else an enabler, feeding their every want for their loyalty, putting herself between them and their enemies if need be.

      Harry swung his hook around, sinking it into Uma’s side, “I seem to have hooked a shrimp, Crocodile” he pulled on the hook, “Think I should let it go? Or maybe we could use it for something like feeding tigers.”

      Uma screamed as the hook buried itself in her side and he pulled on it. Io pulled shoving the blade away as she looked at Harry over Uma’s shoulder, “It’s such a loud little shrimp. I’m sure our tiger will love to shut it up.”

      “That is enough,” Ursula boomed as she worked herself out of the kitchen tentacles reaching for them, “What did my girl do this time?”

      “Decide stabbing Jollyrogers was a smart thing” Harry shifted the hook’s place, “Don’t take well to people messing with our crew.”

      “I can see that,” Ursula eyed the hook in her daughter, “But you see I need the hired help, and unless one of your crew is going to work for me, you best keep her in mostly one piece.”

      Io looked at the sea witch, “What is she worth to you?”

      Ursula just stared at the girl disbelieving of her gaul, trying to find payment for leaving her daughter in one piece.

      “Nothing then? Well then my dear Harry, let’s take her to Shere. He can always find a use for another body. Fish flavored even,” Io grinned wider at Uma’s look of horror at the thought of Shere Khan and despair that her mother wouldn’t trade anything to save her life.

      “Maybe ye’ll get lucky shrimps, and Shere will just eat ye. Heard he’s always looking for a new cunt to try putting kittens in” Harry chuckled pulling on the hook towards the door, if the witch didn’t want to deal that wasn’t his problem.

      “No... MOM?” Uma screamed staring at her mother as Harry tugged her towards the door.

      “Wait! Just, just wait Crocodile,” Ursula caved at the thought of Shere Kahn trying to put children in her precious girl, she had plans for the girl and none of them involved her getting knocked up by a cursed tiger.

      “I’m listening Ursula,” Io eased her blades away looking at the sea witch expectantly.

      “Here,” she unhooked the shell from around her neck, “The pendant I used to steal the voice of Ariel. Spell is still on it.”

      Io caught the necklace with a smirk, “Very well, Harry let her go. I’ll see you again soon Ursula since your hired help has become a problem.”

      Harry pulled the hook from its place as roughly as he dared shoving the girl away from him.

      Uma stumbled away from the Jollyrogers and into her mother’s waiting tentacles, feeling one squeeze around her midsection over the wound like a vice. Watched as Io and Harry walked away closing the door behind them as her mother cuffed her upside the head.

      “Don’t you ever do this again. Now I have to find a new shell to put that damned spell on.”

 

      “That bobble worth what she did?” Harry asked as they walked cleaning off his hook as they walked back on to the dark and cold streets of mid December, they were lucky it hadn’t started snowing as of yet.

      “More. This shell holds the power of a siren's voice, it can bewitch any the wearer chooses. Obviously not much use here but invaluable out there. And I like collecting what the old generation holds precious.” she slipped the necklace around her throat tucking it beneath her collar feeling the tingle on her skin of its latent magic before it fell silent as so many of the magic rings had done once her father put them on her fingers.

      “Well at least I got to make her scream” Harry nodded, “Dizzy is the last stop for this run.”

      “Then Dizzy and done,” Io nodded grinning at Harry, “She does scream so nicely.”

      “Pity no one ever wants to fuck her, she’d give me a run for loudest on Isle,” Harry chuckled.

      “Very true you are a very loud screamer, particularly when you're getting dicked. I won’t fathom why you enjoy it so much, but whatever you like my dear.”

      “It is well ye have to experience to understand” Harry shrugged, “And well ye aren’t up for the fucking be it dick or otherwise.”

      “Is it really considered fucking if penetration isn’t involved? Because I mean I’m not.... Necessarily opposed to the idea of... well that end bit, but I could without all the other things up to the part.”

      “Well I suppose ye could do the penetration yerself, some blokes like that, and I think just about any girl on the Isle probably let ye have a go at her twat, so it's really just perspective I guess,” they stopped outside Curl Up and Dye.

      “That’s a thing, why... You know what I think that whole watching thing may have been Mal’s thing,” She shook her head in confusion, she got it, but she didn’t really understand the appeal, “Dizzy and then we continue this conversation.”

      “Whatever ye say Crocodile” he opened the door.

      “Hi, we’re not... oh, hi Crocodile, Harry... where’s Pin?” Dizzy asked as she came out of the supply closet.

      “Sorry to come in so late, Pin and Uma had a bit of a disagreement so Harry and I finishing the run for her.”

      “Oh, I was gonna do her hair today. We spent weeks trying to get the right color,” Dizzy pushed her glasses up, “She ok?”

      “She’ll be fine. Just hold onto the dye, I’ll send her out this way,” Io offered knowing that she did not want the girl to venture out to the ship to see Penny.

      “Can she come see me on days that aren’t runs? She wasn’t so sure about that. And well I thought I could show her the clothing district, what with her being from the otherside of the isle,” Dizzy asked chewing her lip looking between Io and Harry.

     Io tipped her head slightly but nodded, “Sure, I think that will be alright if she finishes her chores first.”

      “Yeah, as long as ye two tell one of us where ye headed... Gil may want to tag along” Harry nodded.

      “That’s so great” Dizzy cheered, “I can’t wait... oh let me go get the dues.”

      “Thank you Diz,” Io nodded giving Harry a look, she would tell just Koga to keep out of sight.

      “She made a minion? Lacky? What is the term here? Ally?” Harry looked at Io in confusion.

      “I would go with Ally. Minion would be like the way Mal treated her crew. Lacky for the way Uma treats hers. Hopefully ally would be the one you would use for how I treat the crew.”

      “I always figured crew was its own category” Harry shrugged as Dizzy came back with the purse of coins.

      “That is incredibly sweet Harry,” she smirked taking the coin purse from Dizzy, “I will send Pin around on her days off from the runs. Appreciate you taking the time Diz.”

      “Thanks Crocodile” Dizzy smiled at them, “Come by anytime if you want a cut or color.”

Chapter 58: Learning about Christmas (Mainland: December)

Summary:

I know its a few months late in real life but we are headed back to the Mainland for Christmas time over the next six chapters.

-Kevyon

      Ben knocked on the door and blinked when Aziz opened the door, shaking his head he smiled at the other prince, “Hello Aziz.”

      “Hey Ben, come on in, I was trying to help Jay with some catch up work,” he explained stepping aside to let the crown prince enter.

      It had been months now since Jay had finally broken down and come to him for help with schoolwork. What he had learned was that Jay was stubborn and could get pretty irritated at himself when he didn't understand something right away. He also found out that words would get stuck or simply disappear on Jay, not that he minded, in his opinion Jay was still learning and adjusting to his now easier life.

      Jay looked up from the sheet in front of him as he sat wrapped up in the comforter from his bed, he refused the shirt Aziz wanted to give him and he was doing his best to work out the worksheet in front of him despite the headache pounding behind his eyes. The Prince had all but forced Jay into agreeing to work on the make up work in their room where his allies could see him. It at least had gotten Mal off his back for the night.

      “Everything alright Ben?” Mal asked looking up from her book as she sat reading on the couch, legs tossed over Evie’s lap.

      “Yes, I just wanted to come and see if you all had plans at the end of the week,” Ben asked looking over all of them as they lounged in the boys room.

      “I don’t think we have any plans, I just have to finish a few dresses” Evie looked to Mal.

      “Just working on beating that new knight quest game” Carlos added

      “No plans other than to sit here and make sure Jay does his makeup work instead of ignoring it again,” Mal commented as the bundled up teen flipped her off with a dark look.

      Ben smiled slightly, “Then I would like you all to come to the Christmas celebration at the main castle this Saturday.”

      “And Christmas is what exactly?” Jay asked looking at Aziz who generally explained not Isle concepts to him.

      “That’s all you Ben. I don’t think I know how to explain this right,” Aziz shrugged sitting back down beside Jay to look over what he had filled out, only to find it was still in the same place it was over a half hour ago.

      “It’s a holiday where you spend time with family and friends. There’s normally a feast and stories and presents,” Ben explained

      “So a feast is what, more food than we see at breakfast here? Cause that’s a lot of food,” Jay asked shifting in his chair as he ignored Aziz’s impatient tap to the paper he was supposed to be working on, “And what stories?”

      “We didn’t have Christmas on the Isle, so this is all new for us. Should we buy presents for this event?” Mal asked lips turning in a frown, because she wasn’t sure she knew who the gifts were for.

      “You can if you would like too, we exchange presents in the morning just little things for the people you care about” Ben gave Mal a small smile, “and stories about talking snowmen and reindeers, um...ghosts in one of them”

      “Okay, I guess we will have to go and get them after this so we are ready for Saturday,” Mal nodded.

      “Actually Christmas itself is on Thursday, but the celebration Ben’s family hosts is on Saturday,” Aziz clarified, “My family does a single present per person and the rest of the time we just spend in each other’s company, I normally would go home but Genie took my parents on a vacation and they won’t be back until the celebration.”

      “Your parents are going?” Jay whirled looking at the Agrabahian prince in panic.

      Aziz just nodded reaching out to grab Jay’s shoulder despite the fact the other moved out of range, “Don’t fly off the handle you don’t have to talk to them if it makes you uncomfortable, they will understand.”

      Mal looked at Ben, “How many of our parents heroes will be there?”

      “And Penny will be there too right? I mean if this thing is about family you wouldn’t have it without her right?” Jay prompted, he had told Prince Aziz that she had disappeared hoping he would help, all he got was sympathy.

      “We still haven’t found her” Ben frowned rubbing the back of his neck, “and a few of them, Audrey went home for the holiday so her parents won't be there, but the Sultan and Sultana, a few of the dwarves... um I think I heard Lonnie’s parents are coming.”

      “Doug did say his parents would be coming to campus,” Evie added.

      Jay picked up his pencil and fixed the paper with a hard look not voicing his dislike about the situation. Penny was still missing and no one seemed inclined to find her except for him. The two people he had been avoiding for months were going to be in elbow rubbing room at the end of the week. And he had a headache from trying to make the words on the page come together into something resembling english.

      “So Jay is the one who draws the short straw here,” Mal teased, “Gets to meet his dad’s heroes and his girlfriend’s parents.”

      “That would require me having a girlfriend Mal,” Jay retorted hoping the irritation didn’t come through from her jab, “Well at least you can meet Doug’s family Evie. They will love you, everyone does.”

      “I hope so...I mean I don’t want him to fight with them about me” Evie gave a nervous smile.

      “Penny and you did spend a lot of time together,” Carlos shrugged, “Could be why people think she was your girlfriend.”

      “I was thinking Lonnie,” Mal shrugged, “But I can see Penny too.”

      “Can I not have females in my life that I spend time with, and not be assumed to be dating?” Jay fixed his Isle friends with a glower, “I mean I have you two in here all the time and no one assumes there is anything between us. And you’ll be fine Evie, if not you and I can go high tail it out of there and hang out here till it’s all over.”

      Aziz snorted, “Jay you flirt enough people just guess one of them has to be your girlfriend.”

      “Plus most girls you interacted with on the Isle involved their proverbial skirts going up,” Carlos snorted thinking of the one time he’d walked in on Jay and some girl at their old school, “And how many times did Penny climb out that window.”

      “Sorry what?” Ben looked confused.

      “Well it wasn’t like I was going to kick her out, she got into fights too,” Jay huffed knowing Carlos had seen them both fully dressed.

      “I’m sorry I’m still back on the skirts comment,” Aziz blinked watching Jay look down at his paper, ponytail falling over his shoulder.

      “It was an Isle thing, I know he ditched,” Mal commented giving Jay a pointed look watching his cheeks darken slightly, was he seriously still sleeping around? He didn’t even have to make deals here, there was no reason for it. Unless... No, she cut that train of thought off immediately, that was not her thief. He only did it to survive, now they were free he no longer had to do anything like that.

      “Do mainlanders not fuck?” Carlos tilted his head, “I mean... I’ve been meaning to ask Jane about that, cause I just want to know if she wants to but know I’m wondering if you guys like do it at all.”

      “Carlos I wouldn’t word it like that if you plan on talking to Jane about it,” Evie grimaced.

      “We call it, by a less fun name here, Sex. And yes we do have it, it’s just clearly not as out in the open as it is on the Isle,” Aziz offered glancing at Ben who seemed flustered and shell shocked, “Most of the time when we have sex it’s because that person is important to us and we love them.”

      “Yeah we don’t know what love is,” Mal stated quickly as Jay opened his mouth, “Love isn’t something you find commonly on the Isle.”

      “Wait...you had sex with my sister?” Ben looked at Jay with wide eyes

      “Their cloths where still on so probably not, but Jay has been pretty creative before,” Carlos tried to help

      “Carlos... stop helping,” Evie instructed.

      Jay slammed his head into the tabletop and left it there, his allies were the worst some days, “I have not, will not, and have never wanted to fuck your sister Ben.”

      Evie raised an eyebrow at Jay, he had been trying to get into Penny’s pants when they first met. At least until it had become obvious that she had no idea it was going on.

      Aziz gave Jay a look, “You sure you want to make that claim? I mean...”

      His arms tossed over his head and he groaned, “For fucks sake, I’m a guy but I know what’s a fucking stupid idea alright? That and she never caught on to the flirting so I gave up, she’s like Dizzy...” everyone of them knew he didn’t want to make deals like that with Dizzy.

      “Um...I’m gonna take that as a good thing, I think... also I know what to get you for christmas now” Ben nodded his face bright red.

      Aziz snickered, “I actually know what you are getting him and I would too, if I already didn’t have a gift for him.”

      “Then he’ll be well stocked” Ben nodded with a chuckle trying to ease the embarrassment.

      “Well that’s good, we should go out and get presents later” Evie suggested.

      “Whatever it is I am good. I don’t need anything really,” Jay protested, “I’m just going to stay here anyway.”

      “Really Jay, not going to participate in your first real holiday?” Aziz asked easily pulling his friend's arms away and pulled gently on the long ponytail, “Come on off the table, it will make doing your work easier.”

      “Careful Aziz, Jay might get the wrong idea,” Mal snorted kicking her legs off Evie’s lap, “Jay shoes on, we’re going to town.”

      “What do you mean wrong idea?” Aziz asked as Jay pushed himself to standing and tossed the blanket back onto the bed showing he was in a sleeveless shirt and a pair of well worn jeans.

      “Nothing Aziz,” Jay grumbled toeing on his heavy boots, making sure the two princes didn’t see the blade that was tucked into the side.

      “Jay don’t you have a coat?” Ben asked looking at the bare arms.

      “Just the nice one Evie made me for your cor.. Corra... that thing Mal’s mom crashed,” he shrugged pulling his vest on, “I just don’t want to mess it up.”

      “Coronation,” Mal supplied as he tugged the thickest of his beanies on and tucked all his hair up under it despite his hair being in a ponytail, “Come on Carlos. It will take us a bit to find presents.”

      “You can borrow one of mine” Ben suggested, he knew Jay wouldn’t take it if he tried to give it, but if he leant it and kept leaving it behind well that was different.

      “It’s fine, never had one on the Isle so I learned to live without stuff,” he moved towards the door, “Plus wouldn’t want the crown prince to turn into a popsicle,” he smirked all charm and glanced over his shoulder at Aziz, “Get Aziz. I’ll find you tomorrow if I need to pick your brain again.”

      “You mean I’ll come drag you out of whatever hole you're hiding in to avoid doing work?” Aziz retorted not minding the other’s brush off, he was used to it by now. That and he was going to end up ignoring the request anyway.

      “Rhetorical question,” Jay stated opening the door.

      “You are learning things” Evie smiled at Jay.

      “I have like 10 of them Jay, I’ll just grab another on the way out” Ben said holding out the coat, “Besides you're not on the isle anymore, you don’t have to make due.”

      “Well you did teach me what that word meant Princess, I tend to remember everything you teach me,” He flashed her a smoldering grin because in some ways he would never be anyone other than Jay son of Jafar, the best damn thief the Isle of the Lost ever had. “You know how to make a guy feel poor you know that right Ben?”

      Aziz took the coat out of Ben’s hands and shoved it into Jay’s chest, “Stop being difficult Jay. Now put the jacket on so you don’t catch a cold.”

      “What’s a cold?” Jay asked frowning, “That like frostbite? Cause I’ve had that before, Yura fixed me up after that.” that had been the worst sitting there on the stone table as the daughter of Yzma poked, prodded and scraped the frostbitten skin off the bottoms of his feet when his dad had kicked him out of the house without his shoes one particularly nasty winter.

      “Not really it affects your insides. Most of the time it's pretty mild but it can be really bad,” Ben told Jay.

      “Huh... must be a mainland thing,” He muttered pulling the jacket on, immediately not liking the way it grabbed at his arms, “We’ve got some pretty beefy insides. I think that’s the right word to use in this case.”

      Mal looked Jay over, he looked absolutely ridiculous in the blue puffy jacket, and he didn’t really seem to like it either given he was shifting back and forth anxious to be away from them, “Well we will just have to look for a jacket for Jay. We’ll get your jacket back to you Ben.”

      “It's no worries, trust me” Ben assured, “But maybe something in Jay’s colors.”

      “Evie could totally make Jay one” Carlos volunteered.

      “I could if you want Jay” Evie agreed.

      “I am fine. Really, I don’t need anything, I appreciate it but I’m fine,” Jay bristled already making plans to break into Ben’s room and return the jacket the minute they were done this stupid shopping trip. He would just wear the nice jacket Evie made him and do his best not to mess it up if it meant shutting them all up about this cold thing.

      Aziz patted Ben’s shoulder, “Give it time, the more you push, the more stubborn he gets. It’s like dealing with a mule.”

      “I’ve noticed they are all kinda like that” Ben said softly in agreement.

      “Well come on boys let’s get shopping” Evie smiled looping her arm with Mal’s.

      Jay followed behind the others leaving Ben and Aziz in the hallway. He didn’t want handouts, he made deals for things, nothing was for free. Everyone always wanted something from him, even Penny. He was used to it, so he didn’t like shit that was open ended, didn’t like favors, didn’t want charity. Charity felt inherently wrong to him, after all he was never given anything without the expectation that he was supposed to give something back. And now he had to get something for Ben, something of equal value for this thing he could have lived without.

      “You know he’s just trying to help man. And well it’s probably nice to not be so freaking cold” Carlos said from next to Jay putting his hands in his pockets.

      Jay looked at Carlos and shrugged the jacket off tossing it over his shoulders, “Cold doesn't bother me too bad. No one needs a Puppy Popsicle,” He smiled slightly defaulting to what had always worked on the Isle, he made sure they had everything they needed and he made due.

      “Dude are you sure? I’ve already got a jacket” Carlos asked as he slid his arms into the sleeves.

      “Yeah I’m sure,” Jay nodded, he could handle the cold. He hated it, but it couldn’t be any worse here than on the Isle.

      Mal looked at Jay, that hadn’t taken long. She really needed to get it through his head that he wasn’t required to give everything he had to someone else.

      Ben sighed seeing the jacket transfer, at this point he’d pay for the jacket later if Jay would just steal one. Of course the trick there would be getting Jay to steal one.

      Aziz patted Ben’s back, “I bought him some long sleeve shirts for Christmas. Best we can do is hand him things and when he is ready he’ll accept it. You know this.”

Chapter 59: Christmas Shopping (Mainland: December)

      Jay trolled around the small shops Mal brought them to doing his normal. Little things were better than no things and he normally had to spend his money on the electronic things Carlos liked. He had seen the detectors on the door and when he asked what they were he got the idea he wouldn't be stealing from them.

      Mal stole glances over her shoulder at Jay who had his hands in his pockets, but really that clearly hadn't been stopping him from just using magic to get what he wanted. Especially not when she could see his eyes flickering with sparks of magic.

      “What do you think of this for Evie?” Carlos held up a white makeup tote with little red apples all over it. 

      Mal adjusted her attention from Jay to Carlos, “Yeah that would work, she'll love it.” anything apple related or makeup related would go over with their blue haired princess, which was why Mal had grabbed several makeup pallets she had found.

     “Dude what you getting?” Carlos turned to Jay.

      “No idea,” Jay shrugged a shoulder his eyes flickering over the shelves, he ignored the fact he had been steadily collecting things as they moved store to store.

      “Jay. Buy something, with money,” Mal suggested giving him a look that said she assumed he was stealing but hadn't seen him doing it.

      He rolled his eyes at the request, she was such a fucking pain since she started dating Ben.

      “Mal his hands haven't even left his pockets” Ben said as he came up the aisle with a few things in his hand.

      Mal sighed but didn't say otherwise, she really didn't want to rat her thief out, “That would be the problem Ben. Hard to buy presents if you don't take your hands out of your pockets.”

      “So where is the closest pet store? I decided what I want to get you Mal, a muzzle,” Jay finally snapped at her shouldering her out of his way as he headed for the door he would rather wait outside in the cold and slightly snowy dark than stay inside with her any longer.

      Aziz grabbed Jay's arm and whirled the teen around the end of the aisle ducking the fist Jay threw at him, “Breath one. Two I'm on your side, generally. And three, come on, we'll go this way find your frie- allies some stuff that you can buy with money to appease Mal before she hexes you or something.”

      Jay grumbled under his breath and dug his heels in not letting Aziz pull him along, “I'm fine alright, so stop doing whatever it is you're doing...”

      “Look Jay. You want to dig your heels in fine. You want to be an uncooperative brat, that's your business. But it's the holidays and those people are about as close as you can get to family. Spend a little and show them that you appreciate them. That's the point of this, not some Isle version of compensation or whatever it is that you are stuck in right now. The point of Christmas is togetherness and showing someone you care. Do you understand?” Aziz tried the simple approach like he would do to a child because sometimes it showed how fast his friend had been forced to grow up.

      Jay looked away not liking the feeling he was being scolded, “What are you Fairy Godmother?”

      “Today maybe, but know I really don't like having to tell you this shit,” Aziz sighed putting his hands on Jay's shoulders despite the flinch, “Now go find something for your allies.”

      “I didn’t realize Jay and Aziz were friends” Evie said watching them in the distance.

      “I didn’t either E, I thought Aziz was just like assigned to Jay by Fairy Godmother or something,” Mal frowned not liking that Jay hadn’t told her about this, she was choosing to ignore the muzzle comment.

      Ben smiled watching them, “Well it is good he is making friends like you all.”

      “Aziz has been trying to help him with his homework” Carlos added, “He also tells Jay about the places outside of Auradon every now and then.”

      “Jay asked for help with homework?” Mal asked lifting an eyebrow, that did not sound like her thief, maybe he was more off kilter than she realized.

      “Oh, does Jay seem interested in any place in particular? I can set something up and take you all there over breaks,” Ben offered more than willing to travel if it meant keeping them all happy, especially when the outgoing one of them seemed to be withdrawing into himself and Tourney.

      “Not that I’ve noticed, and I think he made a deal with Aziz for the help. Not sure what the prince gets out of it but if it helps Jay” Carlos shrugged.

      “He made a deal,” Mal pinched the bridge of her nose, “Jay does consciously realize we aren’t on the Isle right? That he doesn’t have to make deals anymore? Don’t answer that, I already know the answer to this. It’s his business, he deals with the fallout if things go sideways. I can only hope Jay doesn’t get involved this time round.”

      “No one was expecting Penny to vanish” Evie put a hand on Mal’s shoulder, “Getting involved is what is helping all of us be good.”

      Mal looked at her, “I don’t know if Jay even knows how to be involved without resorting to before. I mean this is the guy who could make everyone question their preference we’re talking about.”

      Ben frowned slightly, “Have a little faith in your friend Mal, Jay is good, even if he hasn’t quite figured out how to...” there wasn’t a word for what Jay needed to do, “Find someone to be involved with.”

      “Besides I’m pretty sure Aziz is strictly friend zone even if he is questioning his preference,” Evie nodded heading for check out.

      She glanced back to where Aziz and Jay were, the thief was rolling his eyes about something Aziz was saying. Giving herself a firm shake she whistled and nodded towards checkout as Jay’s gaze snapped to her.

      “So...when exactly do we give people these present things” Carlos asked Ben.

      “On Christmas, that’s December the 25th, so Thursday,” Ben supplied helpfully following after them as they headed to the counter to pay, “Aziz and I can help you wrap the gifts if you want.”

      “Maybe, or Jane could show me” Carlos nodded

      “I think this is a nice tradition, showing people you care. Right Mal?” Evie smiled at the other girl.

      “It’s different but yes it is a nice tradition,” Mal smiled as best as she could because showing she cared about someone still felt awkward to her.

      “And different is good” Carlos agreed, “Should I get Dude a gift?”

      “That is a great idea,” Aziz offered coming up behind them hands in his pockets as he resisted the urge to drag Jay behind him, kid was dragging his feet about buying stuff, and Aziz had a feeling Jay had five fingered discounted presents already. Not that he would call him on it, Jay got cranky when you called him out about stealing.

      Jay huffed annoyed at Aziz’s pestering, “What about those treats you look at every time you drag me to the pet store?” he said drag, but really he enjoyed going because they always had parrots there and it reminded him of home with his boys.

      “Yeah a few packs of those maybe a bone from the butchers” Carlos smiled paying for his few items.

      “I think you're going to be very good at spoiling your pets,” Evie teased.

      Aziz elbowed Jay and motioned to the counter, if he had to keep playing the kid’s conscious he was going to need to get more than lock picking practice out of this deal.

      Jay bit back the urge to say minion because it wasn’t the case here, Dude was Carlos’ pet, which made him miss his eels and Iago still trapped on the Isle with his father. Shoving that feeling down to the bottom of everything he smiled at the cashier and dumped his assortment of this stores pilfers. He’d throw everything else in the same bag when they weren’t looking.

      Aziz blinked, when the hell did Jay even pick up that much stuff? Last he checked the guy had five things not like triple that. Not only that where the hell had he put it? 

      “Looks like Jay found you all some presents after all,” Ben smiled giving Mal a reassuring look.

      “Oh I never doubted that,” Mal replied, she had just doubted he would pay for it.

      “Ok so pet store then back to campus? Or are we doing something else” Evie asked as they exited the store.

      “Pet store, then dinner? My treat?” Aziz offered already grabbing Jay’s vest as he went to head to campus, “You stubborn shit don’t get a choice.”

      “Why are you such a fucking ass?” Jay hissed as a cold wind made him shudder.

      “Dinner sounds nice, Evie, Carlos? That sound good to you?” Mal asked knowing Jay wanted to be anywhere out of the cold for the night.

      “Well we haven’t tried the Chinese place yet” Evie suggested, “There’s also the dwarves diner down the street.”

      Aziz nodded, “Diner it is. Ben you coming with to dinner or you abandoning me after the pet store?”

      Ben smiled apologetically, “I have to get home for dinner, Mom is making us try all the food for Saturday otherwise I would go to the diner with you.”

      “No worries, family first,” he nodded, “Alright pet store first. Jay I will drag you by your hair.”

      “Not my kink,” Jay smacked Aziz’s hand away, “I-”

      “You act like a five year old I’ll treat you like one.”

      “You still treat me better than Baba did when I was five,” Jay retorted without thinking.

      “Right we’ll give you two a moment” Evie tactfully pulled Carlos along towards the pet store.

      “What are they gonna fight or something?” Carlos glanced back.

      Mal pulled Ben along after her, “Well if it wasn’t the middle of winter, I’d say something else. Give it one more stiff breeze and Jay will be looking for the closest building.”

      “Is there a trick to getting him to take a jacket and wear it?” Ben asked.

      She sighed softly, “Not really, he’ll come around eventually. I mean Evie gave him a jacket, but he thinks it’s too nice to wear. He has always been like that, it took Carlos calling him on not having shoes going into winter when we were, what 10, before he finally stole himself some.”

 

      Aziz looked at Jay and nodded slowly, “Okay that’s a thing. Look I know your cranky Jay, but I have hit my limit in putting up with your stubborn streak for today.”

      He rubbed the back of his arm trying to warm up slightly as another cold breeze ripped through the buildings, “I... Just... I don’t...”

      “I get it, I do, no one gave you a damn thing on that Isle. Do remember my father was in that same situation, with no family. My baba told me stories, gave me lessons, gave a damn if I was having issues. All I am trying to do is give you a hand like what was done for me, but you have a stubborn streak a mile wide. So maybe you want to cut me some slack and try to remember this ain’t the Isle. I’m just a mainlander trying to fight through years of your defenses.”

      “Sorry,” the word tasted bitter on his tongue.

      “I know kid I know,” Aziz threw an arm over Jay’s shoulders, “So why the fuck are you so cranky?”

      “Headache...”

      “Seriously? I swear you are child trapped in a teenagers body. Come on brat, we’ll look at the pretty animals and then we’ll get you some nummy food, and I’ll tuck you in for beddy bye time.”

      “You are such an ass.” 

      “Takes one to know one,” Aziz snickered as they walked towards the others.

Chapter 60: Pet Store and Dinner (Mainland: December)

      “Well it doesn’t look like any one was punched and Jay’s still here so I’ll count it as a win” Evie smiled as they entered the store.

     “Aziz clearly has the secret of how to deal with Jay none of us learned. Cause he would have scaled a building if I was talking to him,” Mal snorted as they walked into the warm heat of the pet store.

     “Well you're approach is rather rough” Carlos agreed while staying out of reach chuckling a little.

     “It is not!” Mal hissed at him, “He’s just a baby about stuff.”

     “Whatever you say,” Carlos went off to find the treats.

     “It’s nice that Carlos jokes with you now,” Evie looked at Mal, “On the isle that wouldn’t have worked.”

     “Pff, you think it works here?” Jay teased looking away as Mal shot him a green eyed glare, “Eyes Mal.”

     She flushed, “Right, so you sort your shit out Jay? And why didn’t you tell me about you and Aziz?”

     “We are in a pet store, I will buy you a muzzle,” he shifted unhappily even as Aziz’s arm remained around his shoulders, “Evie, you wanna go look at the parrots?” he wanted away from Aziz and Mal, Evie plus birds that reminded him of Iago was all the relief he could hope for.

     “Sure, they are so brightly colored over here,” Evie nodded following after Jay.

     He curled his arm around her hips and rolled his neck, “So what would I need to-” he shook his head, they weren’t on the Isle, she had a boyfriend, and she was already busy enough making stuff for people better than himself, “You ever miss Othello?”

     “Sometimes but I did teach him to tell mother she was the fairest of them all so I’m pretty sure he’s safe. You worried about Iago” she tilted her head just a touch so it was on his shoulder.

     “I’m worried about all of them,” he admitted liking the familiar position, “I’m the one who made sure they didn’t go hungry, made sure baba didn’t hurt them... I shouldn’t be worried, worry ain’t going to do them any good. And there is no way I can go back and get them away from him either.” his eyes traced over the brightly colored birds in the cage.

     “Worrying shows you care, at least that’s how I understand it. Maybe Iago can sneak over with some of the new kids when Ben brings them over. I’m sure he’d complain the whole way” she imagined the bright red bird inside Dizzy’s purse.

     “As long as baba didn’t padlock his cage again,” Jay snorted, “That was the reason I learned how to pick locks in the first place. I didn’t like him being trapped in there.” he smiled sadly as one of the blue birds flapped closer to them, “He would have found a way to trap me there too if I hadn’t learned to be the one thing he hated most.”

     “He was wrong about everything he ever told you. All of our parents were, they wanted us to be like them. To hate the world and be cruel, but that's not who we are.” Evie held his arm tighter, of all their abuse Jay's was probably the worst. Sure her mom had made her do things she didn’t want to and shouldn't have but, Jafar had gone to a whole different level.

     “He wanted me to be like him, but I'm too stupid to be like him. I'm not good at anything he wanted me to be good at, so he gave up. He wasn't wrong about any of that, he didn't lie or sugarcoat it. I know some of the stuff was just him and his issues.” 

     “You are not stupid Jay, you just are smart in different ways then the rest of us. Just like Carlos can make anything out of junk, I can just see how fabric go together. You see what we need even when we don’t. You take care of us even when we don’t let you. That’s why you're Mal’s lieutenant, you take care of the things she doesn’t know how too” Evie adjusted her hold so she was hugging him. She’d been trying to get some time with Jay for a while but he always seemed to disappear.

     He dipped his head down and kissed the top of her head, “I do what I can. Honestly I don't think I am Mal's lieutenant anymore, more like a problem that won't go away from her new pretty life,” he meant it teasingly but the words made a hollow ache in his chest. “It's whatever I do what I want. Make sure you all are happy and go from there.”

     “You can always talk to me, or not talk. We could just hold each other like we use too. Doug wouldn’t say anything, he understands some things are just Isle things” Evie kissed his shoulder before pulling back, “Besides I feel the need to make things for someone buff that isn’t in love with himself. So come by next week and I’ll stitch while you stand there and brood... or talk cause this is what I need from you” 

     Jay smirked, “We could do other Isle things, but you'd never get any work done. But it is whatever you need Princess, and if you need me to be your dress up doll I'll just have to subject myself to the torment. It will be like Dizzy wanting to play with my hair.”

     “Well you do have the best hair to play with” she flicked a loose strand behind his neck.

     He ran his fingers through hers, “Always liked yours better, such a pretty color,” he smirked even as Mal cleared her throat.

     “Come on Carlos is done. Time for food,” Mal stated looking at them, it was still like this take them off the Isle and still they clung to old comforts. It was oddly comforting.

     “We’ll continue that conversation later” Evie smiled at him, as she turned taking his arm again as they headed out.

     “In detail,” he smirked walking arm in arm with her, she was his Isle Princess and he knew exactly what she liked. In all manner of things.

     “You seem to be in a better mood” Carlos smiled at the two as they appeared at the door.

     “Hush puppy, let's go get some food” Evie hushed Carlos.

     “Gorgeous women have that effect on me,” he smoldered even as Aziz gave him a look of disbelief.

     Aziz shook his head, his friend clearly had an on off switch for brooding and being difficult, “Alright Ben I guess this means you are heading home then.”

     “Unfortunately yes, but you guys go have a good meal. Enjoy the rest of the day.” Ben nodded before leaning in to give Mal a kiss on the cheek.

     Mal smiled softly at him, “Enjoy the food tasting.”

     Aziz clasped arms with Ben before watching the Crown Prince walk off, “Alright come on then, let's get you guys fed.”

     “What are you guys gonna get?” Carlos asked as they walked.

     “Not sure, I may want to try something different” Evie mused, she hadn’t tried many of the messier hand foods around her yet. But if she was on the point of showing how wrong their parents where maybe she’d try something tonight. 

     Jay shrugged, “Not really sure.”

     Mal smirked, “Red meat for Jay, white meat for Carlos, and Evie will probably default to soup or salad. Me depends on what seems interesting.”

     Aziz snorted, “They can't be that predictable Mal, I mean it's a diner, plenty of options for something different.”

     “He’s right, and you know what just for that I’m going to get... a... hotdog” Evie said in fake offence.

     “I’ll probably get a tuna melt” Carlos nodded Mal wasn’t wrong, he did like the lighter meats, “Are you sure Evie I mean they can be messy”

     “Yes, I think it’s time to try something new” Evie nodded.

     “Burgers taste better,” Jay commented he was the least picky about his food choices but generally defaulted to burgers, meat, sauce, fries, veggies to appease Evie all slapped on some bread.

     Mal nodded, “See.”

     Aziz shook his head, “We will see,” he said opening the door to the Dwarves Diner, “Table for 5.”

     The waitress eyed them but guided them inside, “Of course Prince Aziz.”

     “Well maybe I’ll try one of those then” Evie nodded

     “Or you could try Jay’s” Carlos suggested

     “If that's ok with him” Evie nodded.

     “When have I ever denied you food Princess,” he smirked aware of the eyes on them, scouring flesh as if he was back on the corners, “Carlos on the other hand...” He teased as they settled at a round table, his back to a wall, Aziz's to the restaurant. 

     Mal sat on Aziz's right next to Evie, as Carlos flanked Jay's other side. Jay did not like people coming up on him.

     “Good, then I’ll get something leafy and green and we can share” Evie smiled looking at the menu.

     Jay let out a sigh, “The things I do for you.”

     “Wow, she's got you wrapped around her finger and you two aren't even dating,” Aziz smiled keeping his legs under him because Jay might just kick him under the table.

     Mal smirked, “They've been like that forever. She pouts he does whatever she wants,” she had seen it in action but still hadn't realized he did that for all of them.

     “I will punch you Mal,” Jay grumbled half heartedly, he knew he would do anything for them already. So he flipped open the massive menu and flipped until he found the burgers, because if Evie was forcing him to eat salad he was forcing her to eat something without veggies on it.

     “Oh this looks good, chicken caesar with extra peppercinis and olives” Evie smirked “it’s even got meat on it.”

     “Good call Evie, I’m gonna get the double tuna melt with tomatoes” Carlos nodded.

     “Jay?” Mal prompted looking at him expectantly.

     “Barbeque bacon cheese burger,” he shrugged a shoulder.

     “Okay I see your point,” Aziz snorted, “What are you having Mal?”

     “Penne Alfredo. You?”

     “Turkey Bacon Club,” he smiled as the waiter came up to the table.

     “Prince Aziz welcome back. What can I get you and your... friends?”

     “Two hot teas and a Turkey Bacon Club with fries. Yes Jay you're getting something hot and not filled of sugar.”

     Jay bit back his comment and gave the prince a thin smile, “BBQ Bacon burger, thanks.”

     “Water and the penne alfredo for me please,” Mal smiled at the male jotting orders down.

     “Chicken caesar salad delux and a berry sparkling water” Evie smiled at the waiter getting a small blush

     “Double tuna melt with tomatoes and a chocolate milk” Carlos handed off his menu.

     “Sounds good I will get your order in and be back with your drinks,” he nodded collecting all the menus before heading off.

     “So thank you all for agreeing to come to dinner. I know I don’t get to spend too much time with any of you aside from Jay and Carlos from Tourney,” Aziz smiled leaning forward on the table to take them all in.

     “Oh it’s never a chore to hang out with cute princes” Evie teased, “Plus you're Jay’s friend, so we come as a package deal”

     “Yep you get one you get all, Z,” Carlos nodded, “God that's gonna be an awkward wedding night for you and Ben with all of us there” Carlos laughed.

     “Oh it’s going to be a night to remember, we’ll finally get to see Mal without clothes on,” Jay leaned on the table head propped in his palms with a shit eating grin, it was only fair after all since she ‘supervised’ his experimenting as a kid.

     Mal flushed, “Why would you...”

     Aziz looked between them, “I am almost thankful for just being a friend not on that level.”

     “I mean,” Jay adjusted his attention eyes flicking over Aziz and shrugged suggestively, the Prince was good looking and the golden eyes were attractive for all sorts of reasons. Sure he was the Prince of Agrabah but they had talked about it before, Jay would flirt but he didn’t trust any of them not to lie if he fooled around with them. Prince Aziz hadn’t judged him for that, he understood exactly why Jay was so worried. 

     “Again, not into guys...” he cleared his throat because the more time he spent with the younger male the less sure he was about not being into Jay, “Mal you do know what is involved on your wedding night right? I mean I don’t know if the Isle did marriage, I am thinking no, but someone at least explained it to you right?”

     “Not really. I have been avoiding it. I’m not really ready for marriage right now.”

     Jay looked at Mal, “I’ll give you the short form. You and Ben get married, that night you two fuck. Then in a few years you pop out some kids and boom happy quarter fairy, quarter beast, half human royal family.” That he learned from Evie years ago, nestled together in their scrap pile after he asked why she needed to practice on him.

     Aziz nodded, “Yeah basically...”

     “I think Jay may have covered it mostly, granted in a crude way but, well you and I can talk more about the fucking bit later if you need that explained” Evie assured.

     “I kinda want to hear that conversation,” Carlos looked between the girls.

     “Too bad girls only,” Evie crossed her arms.

     Mal fiddled with her napkin, “Probably a good thing, I don’t think I want Jay’s invaluable input.”

     “Why is it conversations with you VK’s always end up with sex?” Aziz asked.

     “You trapped a bunch of people on an island with nothing else better to do?” Jay offered as the most inoffensive explanation he could come up with.

     “He is right, I mean we don’t get really good tv everything is super fuzzy if you can find a working one, and well there’s no internet. So fucking is really the only thing to do that worth doing” Carlos shrugged

     “Well Carlos invents so he wasn’t so much on the sex” Evie snorted eying Carlos.

     “Not cool Evie” Carlos pouted.

     “I beg to differ,” Jay muttered, “What do you think happened every time he couldn’t figure something out?” he may have volunteered himself for some of it, most of it as it helped him too.

     “Fucking with one of us doesn’t really count... well...”Evie tilted her head trying to reason it out to herself.

     “It so does count,” Carlos tried to defend himself with a laugh.

     “It counts Evie, I mean if we are looking at it as a did or didn’t situation,” Mal added.

     “You four are much closer than I thought,” Aziz commented looking them over, “No judgement, curiosity only, do you all still?”

     “Not really since we got here, the no boys in girls room and vice versus kinda made it hard. But, well it is what it is” Evie sighed, “But who knows, I can’t speak for the boys.”

     Jay looked up with a heavy breath, “Los and I stick to what works, if our brainic has a problem I help and vice versa.” Which in all honesty meant nothing outside of the occasional cuddling and kissing as Carlos spent a lot of time with Jane and he was left a gaggle of giggling girls he couldn’t touch and countless reasons why he had been taking long showers or cold ones.

     Aziz nodded, “Skin’s just skin?”

     Mal frowned at the wording that was from the Isle, “That’s the way we grew up. This segregation thing is stupid.”

     “I still don’t understand why it’s not ok to just talk about sex? You know in the casual hey do you want to have sex with me?” Carlos asked with a shrug, he was really going to have to find a way to talk to Jane about this or the only sex he was ever going to be having was with Jay. If he ever broke down and asked Jay, or Jay couldn’t take it anymore and asked him. 

     “Sex is supposed to be a private thing and not so much of a casual thing like you are clearly used to. Suggestion, romance Jane, kiss her and if things go from there then ask,” Aziz offered.

     “Does that work for you Princy?”

     “It has,” Aziz shrugged a shoulder. 

     “Well well not every one in Auradon is a prude” Evie smirked, “What was it like? Was she pretty? Or no, was he good looking?” she needed some gossip even if it was only between the 5 of them.

     “She,” he stated firmly because Jay was giving him that look that made butterflies fill his stomach, “Was a nice girl in Agrabah, I found her attractive, and the sex was good. All of the sex was good.”

     “Pff I’m better,” Jay replied watching the heat creep up into Aziz’s cheeks, evil he wanted to see how red he could get the golden eyed male, “If you liked guys.”

     “Well if he’s not into guys then I suppose he doesn’t know what he’s missing” Carlos said, “But you should totally try it once, you never know until you try it, and Jay is like super good with first timers”

     “This is like a very weird version of peer pressure,” Aziz muttered trying not to look at Jay. He wanted to be their friend, wanted to help them grow, maybe sweep in and steal Evie away from Doug if an opportunity ever arose. But the image of Jay kissing him was worming itself into his brain, passively he wondered what kind of kisser Jay was since the closest thing he had ever witnessed was kisses on hands and cheeks.

     “He really doesn’t, I’ll win you over Aziz, I’m very stubborn,” it was supposed to be playful banter, he was sitting with the son of his father’s heroes. However the longer he looked at the darkening skin and golden eyes the more he wanted to horde the Prince away for himself. Someone was telling him he couldn’t have something, yes he should know better, but the punishment for touching didn’t even register over his want to prove that someone wrong.

     “Persistent, the word you want is persistent,” Mal offered up glad they were focused on Aziz and not her ‘marriage’ to Ben, “Everyone has a thing for Jay, it’s like a disease.”

     “I see you're helping,” Aziz groaned lifting his mug of tea that had arrived during their earlier conversation about Mal’s wedding night, “Can you be a little less helpful? Maybe?”

     “You sure you don’t want to hear about the things Carlos and Evie have said about his mouth?” Mal smirked as he shifted in discomfort.

     “Dude it should be outlawed for his tongue to do some of that shit” Carlos smirked watching the prince squirm.

     “Not making you too uncomfortable are we?” Evie looked at him, she’d hate to scare off Jay’s new friend.

     “I’ll let you know when you hit the limit,” Aziz jumped as one of Jay’s legs hooked around his, “Jay.” When had Jay managed to reach him at all?

     “What’s wrong Princy? Did you forget how we Isle kids get?” Jay gave the prince a warm look, “Come on now I would never do anything you didn’t like.”

     “You are getting uncomfortable,” Mal stated blandly sipping her water with a smug look, “Jay is a very good choice if you get bored of pretty girls, he’s a rather pretty boy.”

     “Don’t call me that,” Jay gave Mal a disgusted look, that was what his father called him and Jay did not want to ever think about that ever again. He looked away as her eyes flickered green in challenge

     “Come on Mal number one Jay rule, no calling him pretty” Carlos shook his head, “He’s gorgeous...or handsome, and well you are more charming than Charming.”

     “I told Charming that. He didn’t take it well. Then I may have punched him in the mouth,” Jay shrugged making a face, “The Queen was surprisingly supportive about it.”

     “You punched Chad,” Aziz asked looking at Jay, “What have I told you-”

     “Don’t settle arguments with your fists Jay,” he finished in a mocking tone, “Fuck off. Better yet I’ll fuck you to shut you up about that shit.” well that was out of the bag on reflex and his body tensed at the idea, it was one of the better ideas he had had.

     The retort on Aziz’s lips died, immediately and he blushed at the thought. Clearly the idea of Jay kissing him was too bland compared to Jay’s knee jerk reactions, “I hate you...”

     Mal snorted, “Wow Jay, you’ll get to meet three sets of parents whose kids you hit on come Saturday.”

     “Wait back up, what do you mean the Queen was supportive? You punched Chad in front of the Queen?” Evie looked like she might actually blow a gasket.

     “Not exactly. She was coming down the hall and told Chad off for trying to punch me. Then she asked if I was hurt, after seeing what I had done to Chad’s face.” Jay winced not liking angry Evie.

     “So, she was on your side?...that’s new” Carlos said, “How long has she been on our side? Did you guys know about this?”

     Mal shook her head, “First I’ve heard about him punching Chad.”

     “Chad was mouthing off, I thought someone could brush it off without punching. Clearly I left too soon.”

     “Since I am friends with her daughter, it was weird. I didn’t like it.”

     “You don’t like anyone being touchy feely,” Mal snorted leaning back as their food arrived.

     “Well that’s true, did she say anything about finding Penny?” Evie asked picking up her fork.

     “They haven’t found her yet, she was trying to figure out what Penny would do. I told her what I could without trying to get her hopes up. Giving her hope is the worst thing I could have done,” he cut a section of his burger off for Evie, “There you go Princess, I give you delicious mess.”

     “Wow that’s...gooey” Evie looked at it before taking it, “You're eating part of this salad too, don’t think I didn’t notice there aren’t any veggies on this”

     “You make me eat salad I make you eat burgers. I like this deal,” Jay grinned using his teeth to pull his gloves off, “You'll like it. You get too messy I'll lick you clean.”

     “Jay public, save your licking for the bedroom,” Mal muttered, poking at her penne.

     “Is that an invite for him to spend the night in our room?” Evie asked  before taking a nibble of the burger. It wasn’t bad, not her normal fair but definitely better than anything on the isle.

     Mal made to protest, but one look between them and she ceded, “Fine. It's break and no one will mind that is still here. But the clothes stay on, just in case.”

     Jay smirked cuddle time with his princess and maybe, no she had someone else, he reminded himself firmly, “You say the sweetest things Mal,” he speared a few pieces of Evie’s salad nose crinking at the olives but he didn't complain, he had eaten and drank worse on the Isle.

     “You two... you know what I am not going to ask,” Aziz shook his head, maybe Jay and Evie had dated on the Isle.

     “Probably better you don’t” Carlos said around a mouthful of tuna.

     “Sounds like fun times” Evie smirked over at Jay, it had been too long since she’d let the evil princess loose.

     Jay shouldn’t, he knew he shouldn’t, but if it was what she needed evil he wasn’t going to tell her no. A sudden surge of need raced into his lower belly and he clamped down on the feeling trying to force it away. He should have enough left though, the red potions were tucked in a secret hatch under his bed. He didn't know if Evie had a stash left so he would make sure he gave her one just in case. He still took them but with his dwindling stash, unless he figured out how to make them he was screwed in a few months.

     Aziz shook his head trying to clear all thoughts of sex from it, “So what are the things you miss from the Isle? It is fine if there isn't anything, I would just like to know more about you guys and I know that was a very large portion of your lives.”

     “Nothing, I will be happy to never see the Isle again” Carlos shook his head

     “I don’t know I kinda miss how close we all were, I mean it was survival but it was nice,” Evie smiled a little before finishing off her half of the burger.

     Mal shrugged, “I miss not being under constant scrutiny.”

     “I miss the freedom, wasn't anywhere I couldn't go,” Jay offered up there was more than that he missed but he was pretty sure his allies wouldn't like knowing he didn't think of Auradon as home.

     Aziz smiled a little, “I'm sorry you think you are under constant watch Mal. And you still climb everything you can Jay. Evie, there is no one really here during break so do your Isle thing and spend time with your allies to get that closeness back.”

     “Isn’t he cute, giving out solutions,” Evie teased, taking a bite of her salad, “Jay did you get a bite with the pepper things?”

     “Why do you think I keep him around? He is like Isle-lite, already knew how to pick locks and everything,” Jay grinned popping another French fry in his mouth, “Not yet, trying to get the taste of olives to go away.”

     “The pepper will help its got a nice burn to it,” Evie assured.

     “Isle-lite... that’s a thing now. Wow, was that before or after we were brought over” Carlos laughed.

     “The lock picking? I lose my keys all the time, and Ben well he started getting annoyed when I asked for new ones so I learned to lockpick,” Aziz shrugged, “Jay's been teaching me how to do it faster.”

     “Not the only thing I can teach you to do faster,” Jay muttered taking a bite of Evie's requested mix, “Vinegar is that vinegar,” he munched preferring that to the olive taste.

     “No wonder Jay wants to fuck you,” Mal commented watching Aziz flush immediately as he choked on his tea.

     “Well he’s got a plans for tonight though, unless well there is a better offer made” Evie eyed Aziz, “And I think it is vinegar it’s so good” 

     “Nope, all yours, I would never want to make you mad,” Aziz choked out finally as Jay licked BBQ sauce off the side of his hand, “You are...” he swore Jay was doing that on purpose as those dark eyes lifted to his, sinful and promising.

     “What's wrong Aziz?” Jay teased, “I mean you're not into guys right? No big deal, nothing I can do would ever change your mind right. I do kinda like your salad thing but this is better.”

     Mal snorted licking some alfredo off her fork, “You know you basically issued him a challenge right? But you are welcome to try and deny him.”

     “Trust me sharing doesn’t make me mad,” Evie laughed, “And she’s right it is a challenge”

     “Shouldn’t challenge Jay, he always wins” Carlos added before sucking down the rest of his milk.

     “I do, proven fact,” Jay agreed, “Hold on to your doubts if you want but...”

     “You are that confident that you'll get me to agree? I can be stubborn too.” Aziz was sure he wouldn’t fall for Jay's tricks, pretty sure he wouldn't. Watching Jay swipe another glob of BBQ off his wrist, Aziz was pretty sure he was screwed, likely literally.

     Jay hummed disbelieving, “I have met stubborn, trust me, she is more stubborn than I am, you... you not so much. Plus it's not like we are talking dating, just, as you call it, casual sex. No more no less.”

     “Well at least I know you aren't emotionally invested in this quest of yours,” Aziz felt a bit better about the situation knowing that Jay wasn't expecting anything not physical from him, because while he might be low key attracted to the other he wasn't sure he could handle all Jay all the time.

     “Smaller words Aziz,” Jay's head cocked confused as to what the other meant.

     “Dude he means that you don’t want to date him, and at least he knows that now” Carlos translated, “We done here?” he looked at everyone's plate.

     “Pretty much,” Aziz confirmed as Jay made his normal ‘Gotcha’ expression, “I think so, let me pay and then we can head on back.”

     “Sure, should probably figure out what to do this these present things” Carlos nodded

     “You just wrap them and label who they go to. Come Christmas, aka Thursday,  you give them to that person and they open them. And you should thank them, even if you may not like the gift,” He explained as he flagged down the waiter and handed him his credit card.

     “Why would you thank someone for something you don’t want? I mean mom used to make me thank her for letting me clean her furs. But I think this is different” Carlos looked confused 

     “Because it's polite. At least I think that's right,” Mal mentioned as Aziz filled out the bill, she still didn't understand plastic money, “Fairy Godmother talked about it in Remedial Goodness around this time last year.”

     “Oh... guess I wasn’t paying attention” Carlos nodded, “but no ones gonna like threaten to run me over with a car if I forget”

     “No they are not” Evie assured. 

     “Run you over?” Aziz blinked pulling his jacket on, “Wow... just, just wow. I mean I know your parents are villains but sometimes I forget how intense they are if Jay's stories are any indication.”

     “In my defense I might have been drinking before I wandered over that night.” Jay shrugged even as Mal gave him a hard look.

     “Oh I noticed. You are a chatty cathy when you've decided to have an Isle night,” Aziz muttered as they headed out. Jay had all but tumbled into the window wanting to talk at 11 o'clock at night because he couldn't sleep.

     “Well it's a different kind of Isle night tonight, so you are free to go do whatever you want. I'm elsewise occupied,” Jay grinned.

     “Yeah, so are you bunking in our room Mal?” Carlos asked glossing over his mother running him over, or well trying too.

     “Since they will be busy, yes,” Mal nodded pressing her shoulder against Carlos’, “I'll bring Gecko mom. She doesn't need to see anything.”

     “So gracious of you Jay,” Aziz rolled his eyes, “Use protection at least.”

     “Much appreciated it’s weird enough getting dressed in front of her sometimes” Evie laughed, “although you never know maybe she’d learn something”

     “She had Mal, I think she knows how the process works if nothing else.” Jay kept a loose grip on Evie's arm as they walked back with their bags of presents. Jay would unload his pockets once he was in their room. Carlos never said anything about his stealing from stores.

     “Not sure how that even... no, you what I don’t actually want to know like at all” Carlos  shook his head, “are you sure you didn’t like hatch Mal?”

     “Pretty sure I didn't hatch,” Mal shrugged actually not sure but she didn't want to know.

Chapter 61: Christmas Day (Mainland: December)

Notes:

Warning:
-References to past abuse

     It was snowing. Jay hated snow. It was cold wet and despite looking fluffy was the stabbiest shit ever when it clumped together. But from inside the building where there was a roaring fire in the big community area it looked nice enough. Ben had collected them all together that morning and told them where to go and when to be there before rushing off to his family. So he was tucked up next to the floor to ceiling window ignoring the growing crowd watching the snow. Penny was most likely on the Isle suffering like he remembered suffering while he was inside warm and comfortable. He did not like that particular feeling in his belly.

     “Looks different over here doesn’t it? When we’re not afraid of frostbite” Evie asked leaning against the wall next to him.

     “Still cold though, even Dude doesn’t like it” Carlos shook his head petting the dog in his arms.

     “Had frostbite before, never want it again. Looks the same when it’s fresh, doubt it'll be all grey tomorrow, it is too clean here.” Jay said, he felt a little better after having a night with Evie, not exactly the kind either of them really wanted but she was seeing someone and he couldn’t find it in himself to let her sway him into stealing from such a softy. He looked away from the snow to them knowing it wasn’t likely to happen again, “So this present exchange thing, we sure the AKs are expecting stuff and or got us stuff?”

     Mal chewed her nails looking over the crowd, “Looks like some of them did at least. We should be getting started soon enough.”

     “Even if they didn’t, screw them” Carlos said, “We got each other right, I mean that’s the point of this stupid holiday right?”

     Jay and Mal nodded silently. Both of them had tossed their gifts in a small pile separate from the stash under the tree. Those ones were nicely wrapped some kids had brought early unlike them.

     “Well it looks like everyone is almost here,” Evie observed the room.

     Aziz wandered over with Jordan, “So how you guys? Jay tell me you aren't brooding already.”

     “Oh he never broods” Carlos chuckles, “He contemplates the meaning of life while staring into the nothing.” 

     “Who are you and what have you done with Carlos?” Evie looked at him with a raised eyebrow.

     “Um... I had weird dreams last night” Carlos shrugged.

     Jay looked at Carlos, “Define weird. But not brooding, I hate snow.”

     “I got turned into a dalmation and Dude was talking to me, but no one could understand me” Carlos shrugged, “probably shouldn’t have eaten the last of our pop tarts before bed”

     “Well we can get Dude to talk if you really want to,” Mal mentioned.

     “Oh talking dog could be cool” Evie smiled, “He could give me an opinion on the clothes I make him”

     “And about his food” Carlos nodded, “but isn’t it against the rules and all?”

     “It can be a present?” Jay offered standing up as Fairy Godmother came in with Jane, “I mean they can't be mad if it's a present.”

     Aziz looked at Jay, “I... you know I should not encourage you to find loopholes...”

     “Come on you six, gather round gather round, it is time for the gift exchange,” Fairy Godmother clapped her hands smiling. 

     Carlos forced a smile she was a little too perky for him today. And from the knowing look he shared with Jane, she was thinking the same thing.

     As they all clustered around Fairy Godmother, the older woman gave them warm looks, “Merry Christmas children. Thank you all for coming this year and a special warm welcome to our VKs who are celebrating their first Christmas with us. I have a very special dinner prepared for all of you tonight starting at 6pm. Until then, let's exchange our gifts and some holiday cheer.”

     “So we just give each other the ones with that person's name on it right?” Carlos asked as he held out the lumpy packages to Evie and Mal.

     “That's the idea,” Aziz nodded watching for a moment before heading over to the pile to collect the gifts he had gotten them. He had gotten to know them through Jay, at least knew enough to know what they liked.

     Jay handed all three of his friends the cobbled together packages, Aziz's still sitting behind him as he placed it off to the side. 

     Mal did the same collecting her own presents and handed them out as the presents with her name went into a tidy pile. She glanced around, kids gathering in groups sitting on the floor to open their presents as others milled about still handing things out. It seemed so, confusing, so different.

     “Wow this is crazy” Evie laughed, “you guys should open your gifts”

     Jay rolled his eyes dropping on to the floor opening the present from Mal, a new set of silver rings. He looked up her and she smirked. “Is this a hint you want me to replace them finally.”

     “Maybe you could consider switching it up every once in a while,” Mal offered as she joined him on the floor and opened the plastic bag staring at the horde of art supplies inside. “Damn Jay.”

     Jay looked at Evie and Carlos, “I'm aware I am shit at wrapping so you get bags,” Evie's was full of makeup and Carlos’ was a combination of candy and tools Jay knew he didn't have.

     “Man these are awesome” Carlos smirked examining the tools.

     “Perfect now I have wicked colors to work with” Evie smiled, “go ahead and open mine” Evie motioned to the neatly wrapped blue boxes with gold bows.

     “So I guess we know who is doing all the wrapping next year” Carlos whistled before pulling his to him. Inside he found a few new tops for himself and Dude. He nodded he liked it. For Jay she had made a new set of pants as his old ones were starting to show their wear. And Mal she’d gotten a few canvases as well as a book on arts effect through history.

     Mal nodded in agreement flipping the book over, “This looks awesome E.”

     Jay pulled the pants out, jean and leather, “It's like you know me Princess,” he grinned leaning closer and kissed her cheek, “Thank you.”

     Mal gestured to the others to open their gifts, Evie she had gotten red apple colored makeup brushes and Carlos she had bought a new soldering kit with extra solder.

     Carlos handed Jay his lumpy present wrapped in newspaper. As Evie opened hers, she squealed in delight at the make up tote, he’d gotten Mal one as well in sparkly purple figuring she could use it for her colored pencils or something. For Jay well that was kinda hard until he spotted a dvd on famous tourney plays.

     Mal opened hers and started unloading the bag of supplies into her new tote, “It's like you two planned this,” she beamed a pleased look at her male minions.

     Jay opened his present and nodded, “Awesome, this will come in handy when we start up again.”

     Aziz waited until they had opened each other's presents before coming back over sans Jordan, “Merry Christmas,” he mentioned handing each a silver papered box. Mal a new leather jacket Ben mentioned she would like, Evie several yards of Agrabahian brocades he had his mother send, Carlos several technical books on robotics, and Jay a pile of long sleeve black, red, and goldenrod shirts.

     He blinked as Jay tossed him a small fabric wrapped bundle, “You didn't have to get me anything Jay...”

     “Well Princy I thought that was the point of this holiday,” Jay shrugged a shoulder watching Aziz unwrap the bundle before starting to laugh, “Figured you might need them if you plan on getting any better.” inside had been a collection of handmade lock picks Jay had created especially for Aziz.

     “Looks like you’ve got a few new outfits now” Evie chuckled at Jay.

     “This holiday is clearly, dress Jay day,” Mal laughed as Jay held them up on his chest.

     “Hilarious,” he rolled his eyes at her, “You like um?”

     “Well it will keep me from using yours all the time, so thank you,” he smiled at Jay feeling those butterflies again as he was granted a genuine look of happiness. He rarely saw the expression unless it was Tourney related.

     “I’m gonna go find Jane. Want to give her her gift,” Carlos said looking for the girl.

     Mal collected Evie to go and find Doug leaving Jay and Aziz alone. Aziz dropped down beside Jay, “You know you’ve been calling me Princy recently right? Also curious did you celebrate anything on the Isle?”

     “I can stop if you don’t like it,” Jay cringed slightly thinking he had upset the Prince.

     Aziz gave him a soft smile, “I don’t really mind, I just... It’s odd since a few months ago I couldn’t even get you to call me by my name without my title being involved.”

     “I warmed up to you finally,” Jay offered weakly, “Back to your question since you asked, the royalty on the Isle celebrate birthdays, some of the other, I guess you call them families, celebrated too. But honestly no. We didn't celebrate anything.”

     “And did you and your father celebrate your birthday?”

     Jay's eyes went blank remembering sitting at his father's feet being told he was pretty, being used by his father, soft tender touches. Those were his birthdays since he was 12, being taken advantage of by his father, and hating himself for trying to devour every one of those soft tender moments because that was the only time he ever fooled himself in thinking his father cared about him. Once a year he would pretend he was genuinely wanted by his father for more than his father's own desires. That was all he ever wanted for as long as he could remember, he wanted to be more than an inconvenience, a waste of space, a useless son good for only two things, stealing and fucking.  

     Aziz shook Jay's leg as the male went stiff, “Hey it's okay, you don't have to tell me. I just wanted to know when your birthday was really so maybe we could celebrate Mainland style?”

     “No.” Jay croaked out shaking his head, “No, I don't want to celebrate it, not for anything.” he couldn’t let them know, no one could ever know about his birthdays with his baba. He would lose everything if someone found out.

     Aziz slowly pulled his hand back worried about what was so wrong about what he had asked, “Okay well if you ever change your mind. I'd like to show you how we celebrate things. I would like to think you would enjoy it, or at least try to." He tried to keep his tone gentle as to not spook Jay any more than he already had.

     "I won't," Jay looked at his thighs, trying not see the worried golden gaze.

     He tried to not be disappointed as he shifted slightly, "Well Merry Christmas Jay, I'm glad we could spend some time together today," he smiled as Jay looked at him confused, "You're my friend, even when you're a brat."

     "Yeah whatever," Jay looked away feeling a familiar warm sensation in his chest, "Merry Christmas Princy."

Chapter 62: Christmas at Beast Castle (Mainland: December)

     Mal knocked on the boy’s room, “Come on you two. We have to leave now if we want to make it in time.”

     Jay looked at Carlos, “Just tell her I’m sick or something okay?” he did not want to go. Lonnie’s parents and Aziz’s parents were going to be there not to mention Genie and obviously the royal family. Most of the people he would love to avoid for the rest of his life.

     “Are you crazy, you know she’ll come to check on you right?” Carlos looked at him as he straightened his tie.

     “Come on just help me out here. I would help you,” Jay hissed as Mal banged louder. 

     “Fine but you owe me dude” Carlos rolled his eyes before going to the door and cracking it open, “Hey Mal, I’ll be out in a second.”

     “He’s refusing to come isn’t he?” Mal stood there hands on hips in her dark purple pants and Aziz’s leather jacket onto which she stitched her moniker. 

     “He’s sick” Carlos shrugged making a face.

     “Jay doesn’t get sick. None of us do,” Mal growled pushing past Carlos to where Jay was about to flee out the window, “Jay that is far enough!”

     Jay froze at her green eyed glare, “Come on please...”

     “No, if one of us has to go, we all have to go. That was the rule. Now get dressed before you make us late,” Mal hissed pointing at his dresser, “Get dressed or no more Evie time.”

     “Um I feel like that’s something you have to discuss with Evie before you can use it,” Carlos said, “Not to undermine you or anything, but I mean isn’t part of being good not making decisions for other people.”

     “No, it’s about doing what’s right, and right now the correct thing to do is for Jay to suck it up and go to the Christmas party that the royal family invited us to.” Mal glowered, “Now clothes on Jay.”

     Jay cringed, “Mal I...”

     “You what? You want to disappoint Ben by not coming? You want us to lie for you? Maybe they have news on your friend Penny, if not maybe you could at least be there to support them. Do the right thing, not the easy thing,” her hands were on her hips and she watched as Jay seemed to cave in on himself arm pulled across his chest protectively.

     He hated it when she guilted him into things he didn’t want to do, hated himself more for always caving to her demands, “Fine...” he mumbled shuffling to his bed where he had tossed his clothes before he lost his nerve about going.

     “Wear the new stuff, it looks nice,” Carlos added helpfully.

     Mal stood there and watched Jay get dressed in his new clothes. The leather and jean pants from Evie, the long sleeve black shirt and the red leather jacket with the cobras on the cuffs, “Much better, now come here and let me do your hair.”

     “No come on Mal...”

     “Beware, forswear, give Jay done hair.” her finger flicked and Jay cringed as his hair was combed and pulled back in a neat and tidy half bun. 

     “I hate you,” he grumbled going to undo his hair as he reached for his beanie.

     “It looks good though, you look like well a mainlander at least a little” Carlos said he wouldn’t stop Jay from wearing his Beanie but maybe he could convince him to not.

     Jay glanced over his shoulder at Carlos, “You think it looks okay? I... It feels weird, and I am pretty sure no mainlander male has hair this long. I... I don’t know.”

     “Well you could use it to help seduce Aziz, cause man even I want some of that. And I swore off other dudes a while ago” Carlos nodded.

     That made Jay straighten, “Well I mean if you need to break that every once in a while, it’s not like you have to go far to get or give some,” he smirked as his monochromatic friend.

     Mal shook her head, of course it took compliments for Jay to feel like he looked good, “Yes you two can cuddle or fuck later, we need to go. Come on, Evie’s been patiently waiting outside the door.”

     “And it's rude to keep a lady waiting” Carlos nodded.

     “Particularly when she knows how to make poisons,” Jay grinned as they walked out of the room, “Afternoon Princess, you’re looking ravishing as usual,” he purred at her eyes roving over her royal blue dress and black knee high platform boots. 

     “Does it make the right impression?” she asked with a smirk, “cause I really want to make the right one on Doug’s family”

     “If I could escape the angry dragon I would show you the kind of impression you leave on me,” He smirked taking her arm kissing the back of her hand, “But yes you look perfect, they don’t like you screw um, you never need a Mainlander’s approval to look like a queen.”

     Mal would give it to Jay, the guy always had the words she didn’t, “Everyone ready?”

     “Thanks Jay” Evie smiled taking his arm.

     “I think we are” Carlos nodded offering his arm to Mal.

     Mal eased her arm into Carlos’ and nodded as the four of them headed to Beast’s castle on the outskirts of the school grounds. She almost wished she had worn something heavier as they walked through the breezeways and across the cold snowy landscape. But it wouldn’t matter in a minute they would be inside shortly. She paused briefly and looked at Jay.

     “What now Mal?”

     “Just please don’t steal anything today okay?”

     “I will unsticky my sticky fingers just for you,” Jay rolled his eyes, he was more worried about staying away from all the parents than about stealing from them.

     “Thank you.” 

     “Alright, I hope we are all ready for this” Carlos chewed his lip.

     “As ready as we will ever be” Evie assured

     “We will be fine. They invited us there,” Mal nodded steeling herself up before she opened the castle door and let them all into the blazing heat of the castle.

     The inside was decorated with strings of lights and shimmering threads, everything so picturesque that it made Mal feel out of place as she knew the others felt as they moved closer to her. She bit her lip and steeled her shoulders, they could do this, she had met Ben’s parents before and really the others would be just fine. Jay was the one she was concerned about as he looked about ready to bolt at any given second. It was like looking at him as they wandered around Hell Hall trying to figure out what Cruella had done with Carlos.

     “Wow this place is... big” Carlos looked around with a swallow.

     Ben came around the corner, “I thought I heard the door open. Welcome you guys, I’m really glad you could make it. I’m sorry I didn’t have a chance to do much other than drop presents off on Christmas.”

     “It’s fine Ben, we know you were busy with family, thank you again for the gifts, we really appreciate them,” Mal smiled as he gave her cheek a kiss.

     “I was hoping you guys would like them and they would be useful at least,” he nodded, “Come on in. This way,” Ben guided them deeper into the castle heading towards the ballroom where everyone was gathered milling about talking and eating finger foods until dinner was served.

     “Wow” Carlos looked around the sparkling ballroom.

     “It’s so pretty” Evie gushed.

     Jay felt Evie’s grip tighten on his arm and he tried not to pull any further away from her, “Yeah very expensive,” he muttered eyes flickering over the gold and silver, the glittering diamonds and jewels that made up the stars of the ballroom’s ceiling.

     Mal was on edge as some of the people looked and stared at them, they were dressed in ‘casual’ wear that still looked more regal and expensive than all of their clothes combined minus Evie. So she smiled and straightened her back slightly, she was the daughter of Maleficent, a half fairy dating the Crown Prince, she wouldn’t let them see her run away, she would prove them all wrong, she would prove to them she was better than her mother could dream to be.

     Aziz watched them come in from beside his parents and Jordan, they looked, worried and enamored at the same time. Jay actually looked like he was about to run at any given second.

     Jordan leaned her hip into his, arms over her chest, “Well now you can stop looking at the door, they have arrived.”

     “That they have,” Aziz nodded watching Mal as she pulled herself into Princess mode, “Not sure they are super thrilled about it though.”

     “You are just worried your friend is going to run,” Jordan rolled her eyes, “And honestly good lookin’ looks like he’s about to pull a vanishing act already and they haven’t even made it over here yet.”

     Aziz gave her a look at the name and she gave him a half smile, “Seriously?”

     “Hey there is no denying it, he is one gorgeous guy. Could give the Olympian’s Donnie a run for his money in the looks category, and personality since Jay actually has one of those.”

     “Yeah,” Aziz commented distractedly as he watched Jay turned slightly, how did he make having that much hair look so damn natural on him?

     Jordan elbowed him, “Aziz,” she lowered her voice as to not be overheard, “Are you, are you falling for him?”

     “What? No. I think of him as a friend that’s it,” when she gave him a disbelieving look he sighed, “I’m not into guys first off and second off some days it’s like I’m dealing with a toddler throwing a tantrum.”

     She laughed a little at that, “Alright alright, but all I am saying is that sometimes you look at him like I’ve seen girls look at him. I’m just being a friend in letting you know.”

     Lonnie appeared on Aziz’s otherside, “So are we letting the VKs fend for themselves against our parents or are we going to help out?”

     “We should probably go save Jay at least before he bolts,” Aziz commented watching as the Queen spotted them.

     “Why would he run, he is-” Lonnie started watching them and saw Jay turn to head in the opposite direction only to find Mal standing in his way a hand on her hip, “Are they doing that Isle thing?”

     “Looks like it,” Doug nodded pushing his glasses up having seen Mal and Jay having enough standoffs, “I think Jay and Mal are having a tiff because that thing keeps happening more and more often.” He straightened his jacket, “Well if you guys want to watch a train wreck that is your business but I am going to save Evie from that thing and introduce her to my parents.”

     “I think it’s going to take all three of us to keep Jay from finding the closest exit point to jet,” Jordan sighed, “Come on you two.” The four AKs headed towards the oblivious Ben guiding the stopped VKs across the floor. 

     Doug smiled at Evie noticing that her hand was still curled tight around Jay’s wrist, “You look amazing Evie.”

     Aziz reached out, curled an arm across Jay’s shoulders and tugged him in the opposite direction from Mal, “Come on brat, you aren’t leaving. I’ve got two djinns and the daughter of Mulan on my side, no amount of your monkey business is going to save you.”

     Jay grabbed Aziz’s arm, pulling it down as he was dragged backwards, “Fuck Aziz don’t manhandle me,” his griped softly knowing to keep his swearing to a minimum as he caught the grin on the Prince’s face.

     Mal sighed, looks like the AKs had come to rescue them from the awkwardness, “Thanks you guys. So...”

     Lonnie smiled, “We just mingle, talk and relax until dinner is served. They’ve got some finger foods over on the table if you guys are hungry now. But no pressure if you guys just want to hang out with us, I haven’t been too many of these things either so I can understand that you might be nervous.”

     “Thanks Doug, not too bad yourself,” Evie smiled at him, “So is this mostly for the parents or are there things for us too. Cause it’s a fine party but, it maybe a little stiff for Jay.”

     “This is like... I see a chocolate fountain” Carlos looked at Mal with puppy eyes.

     “No Carlos, the last time we let you near one of those it ended up all over your face,” Mal sighed as Jay managed to turn himself around so Aziz’s arm was thrown over the backs of his shoulders instead. 

     “Thanks Evie,” Doug beamed, “Mostly for the parents. Think of it like Visiting Day, just less people and more festive. We sing carols later in the evening, I know it’s not very teenage friendly but we have each other right?” 

     “So boring,” Jay stated arms folded over his chest as to keep his hands away from the instinctual grab at some of Aziz’s princely jewels, “Talk, eat and avoid everyone’s parents.”

     “Come on Jay, the adults are not going to make a fight with you,” Mal deadpanned giving him a bland look even as he rolled his eyes at her again.

     Jordan looked Jay over, “I promise the Sultan and Sultana are good people. My dad is a bit eccentric but you’ll like him.”

     “My parents really want to meet the guy who gave me a chance to be on the Swords and Shields team,” Lonnie agreed missing the way Jay was slowly curling inward, arms pulling tighter against his ribs, “Mom likes to rub it into dad’s face that a man gave a woman a chance.”

     Aziz pulled Jay closer, hand tightening on his shoulder, “See brat, nothing to be hostile over. I know all of our parents would love to meet all of you on a much smaller scale than Visiting Day, cause that was just painful to watch with Audrey’s grandma there not to mention the Charmings.”

     “The Charmings aren’t here right?” Evie asked, “Not to be rude but well Chad’s dad is...I’m not sure” 

     “Yeah he didn’t look too happy at visiting day” Carlos agreed, “Come on Mal, Aziz can supervise me. Right?” He looked at the other boy pleadingly.

     “Sure. Jay could you, I don’t know, just not run like your ass is on fire if one of the adults tries to talk to you?” Aziz asked releasing the other.

     Mal sighed, “Fine. Aziz, just... good luck.” he waved off her worry and walked with Carlos to the table.

     Lonnie moved closer to Jay, “You look good by the way,” her hand batted at his bun with a smile.

     Doug shook his head, “Oh no, Chad went home for the holiday, his sister Cindy goes to a different school. Would you like to meet my parents?”

     “I always try,” he smirked at Lonnie subtly moving from her batting, he really did not want anyone playing with his hair right now, “So...”

 

     “I would love to meet your parents... unless you don’t think they will like me” Evie nodded to Doug her stomach turning a little.

     Doug took her arm, “Don’t be silly Evie, they will like you because I like you. You are beautiful, polite, kind, and super smart. No way they couldn’t like you,” he smiled guiding her from the others, not noticing the lingering look Mal gave them as they walked away.

     He walked them up to a small man with a purple hat on and a taller thin woman, “Sorry to interrupt Sultana,” he apologized to the Agrabahian woman speaking with them, her ankle length thick black hair pulled back with blue silk and blue topaz, as the blue brocade she wore shimmered with silvers.

     “Oh it is alright Doug, I was just thanking your parents for all their help with the present for my father,” Jasmine smiled softly stepping aside, “We’ll catch up more later,” she inclined her head to them knowing a parental introduction when she saw one. Her eyes glossed over the blue haired girl on Doug’s arm and decided to go find her husband and son.

     Doug swallowed as the Sultana saw herself off, “Mom, Dad this is Evie, my girlfriend.” his heart pounded in his chest because he always felt like he could jump over the moon whenever he said that word.

     “Hello, its very nice to meet you” Evie held out her hand nervously, and she had thought Mal’s nerves about Ben’s parents had been funny. Of course she had already met Ben’s parents when they arrived.

      The woman smiled taking Evie’s hand and gave it a firm shake, “Don’t mind my husband he ain’t much of a talker,” and he smiled with a shrug of one shoulder, “So your the girl my son can’t seem to not talk about. I’ve gotta say you're more regal than I was expecting.”

     “She is the daughter of Grunhilde,” Dopey said softly taking Evie’s hand in one of his thickly calloused ones, “Regal is what that woman did.”

     “Dad...” Doug cringed looking at Evie worried she would get upset even though he knew his parents meant nothing of it.

     “Yes... she is my mother” Evie nodded grimacing, “I um, hope that’s not a problem.”

      “Oh bless your bleedin’ heart, not at all,” Doug’s mother laughed, “Can’t fault you for who you were born to, specially not when Doug’s head over heels for you. I hope you don’t mind we’re pretty common folk.”

     “And a Dwarf,” Dopey added smiling.

     “Oh no, it doesn’t. In fact I like that he’s not a literal prince, cause you know he’s exactly what I always wanted when I thought of my prince,” Evie tried to explain.

     Doug beamed shooting his parents a look, “See she is perfect.”

     “Well I guess you’re right, my son does have the heart of a prince and a better personality. Smart boy too,” she beamed with pride, “One of these days I’m sure he’ll make captain of the chess team and everything.”

     Doug groaned, “Mom I’m not that good at chess, and I gave up the team for band anyway, remember? The practices overlapped.”

     “Should of stuck with chess,” His father snorted, “Kinder on my ears than when you were learning music.”

     “Well maybe you could teach Carlos, I know he wanted learn when we first got here but well...the chess club was a little intimidated.” Evie suggested to Doug.

     “Of course they were intimidated, Carlos is crazy smart,” Doug shook his head, “Like I said I’m not very good but I’ll be happy to teach him the basics and get the guys on the team to give him a chance.”

     “I know he’ll be a great teacher to your friend. He has a heart of gold, I’m so glad you can see that too Evie,” Doug’s mother smiled, “So tell us about yourself Evie.”

 

     Aziz glanced at Carlos curiously, “So what's the deal with the Chocolate fountain anyway?”

     “There was one at visiting day and I may have gotten it all over my face, and my clothes.” Carlos said sheepishly, “We didn’t have a whole lot or well any sweets on the isle.”

     “Huh, well don’t go swimming in it this time,” he teased, “I get the sweets thing, we don’t have this kind of stuff back home, chocolate kinda melts too quick in the desert. But don’t eat too much, a lot of sugar isn’t good for you. Plus there is ‘normal’ food over here too so try whatever you want. I know from talks with Jay, the food situation is pretty problematic on the Isle.”

     “Problematic doesn’t even cover it. And I try to eat other things but, well I like chocolate more than most of the others,” Carlos said picking up a little sandwich, that looked good.

     “If the boy likes chocolate, let him eat chocolate,” Genie beamed turning the little sandwich into a chocolate version of the sandwich, “What’s the harm Prince Aziz, it is the holidays and you can be a little naughty during the holidays.”

     Aziz sighed, “Genie, come on Fairy Godmother told you about this, not so much magic in front of King Adam.”

     The floating blue man offered the prince an apologetic look, “Right right,” he turned himself into a blue woman with little fairy wings and glasses, “You have to be good and remember hard work is a more important trait to instill in our youth than using magic. Boring,” he shook returning to his old self, “I haven’t been a djinn for over 10,000 years to up and stop doing what djinns do best.”

     “I think Mal’s gonna like you” Carlos smirked before scarfing down the sandwich before anyone could take it.

     “Mal daughter of Maleficent,” he changed again appearing with Maleficent's horns, “That Mal?” he asked before turning back.

     “Yes that Mal,” Aziz sighed, there was no controlling the blue djinn, he was going to do whatever he wanted, “She’s all tied up with Ben’s parent’s by the look of it though.” he glanced back to find Mal speaking with the Royal family.

     “Sorry I should introduce myself, I am Genie,” the djinn grinned as little tiny genie cheerleaders appeared on the table spelling his name with pompoms. Aziz covered his face with a groan.

     “Yeah that Mal...but I wouldn’t do that,” Carlos paled a little at the sight of the horns, he relaxed as they disappeared, “Nice to meet you... I think, why is magic ok just about everywhere else but not here.”

     “Well,” Genie tapped his chin as his little cheer squad vanished, “King Adam was cursed by Enchantress to be a creature that reflected his nature at the time. And magic isn’t very popular over in King Philip's kingdom either, that whole death like sleep thing,” a spinning wheel appeared and disappeared, “So two people affected by magic in a bad way, not so fond of magic.”

     “My home can get a little wishy washy about magic. We still have plenty of people who practice, but it's looked down on if all they do is use magic for everything. On the other hand we also know it can be used in a variety of ways to better Agrabah. Bring the rains for crops, help people recover from sandstorms, slow the poison of a snake bite so they can get help in time. I guess what I’m trying to get at is that magic here on the Mainland is kind of complicated,” Aziz tried to explain which was hard when he himself didn’t have magic, and one of his friends was a djinn.

     “But, I don’t know I guess I don’t get it, it can help with all this stuff but no one uses it,” Carlos shrugged grabbing a cookie and running it through the fountain, “On the isle well we don’t have it, but you know that. The only magic we’d ever seen before coming here was that fact that we couldn’t leave and well that no one dies.”

     Genie frowned at that, “No one can die?”

     “Ah... yeah, you didn’t know about that?” Carlos asked with a wince well Mal was probably going to smack him around for that slip. He sucked the chocolate off the cookie before eating it.

     “No, no I did not,” Genie folded his arms over his chest, “I can’t believe the fairy’s would have done that to all of you, messing with the natural order of things.”

     “You mean the whole life to death thing, when you say natural order correct?” Aziz asked.

     “Yes. Birth to death, not necessarily that the bits in the middle would be, well, enjoyable, given they put all the bad people in one place together and forced them keep their children. But to have the natural life cycle forcibly disrupted...” Genie shook his head, “I would never even give that fate to Jafar who is a terrible man.”

     “Jay’s dad is definitely on the list of people that you don’t mess with” Carlos nodded.

     “Is he here?” Genie asked almost sheepishly.

     “Yeah Jay is here, no don’t go bother him Genie, kid does not need any reason to go running off without eating. He has made one too many comments about starving in passing I didn’t put any thought into until just now.”

     “Yeah that’s Jay, he always made sure everyone else ate before he did. Had everything they needed before him, well you saw with the jacket,” Carlos grabbed a few carrots suddenly wanting to feel something snap between his teeth.

     “Oh I saw the prime of sheer stubborn will. I have never had the urge to shake someone before then,” Aziz sighed as Genie gave him an odd look, “Jay had zero shirts with sleeves before Christmas, had a sleeveless leather vest and that jacket, which he says is too nice. Sunday Ben and I went out to help them shop for Christmas presents. I had to shove the jacket Ben leant him into his chest for him to put it on. Less than two minutes later the jacket is off and on Carlos. He was walking around in jeans, boots, and a sleeveless leather vest.”

     “That sounds like a terrible idea. Doesn’t he have clothes from the Isle? I mean he’s 16 or 17, he should have winter clothes,” Genie was frowning again because he had a sick feeling that Jafar who had been given a child less than a year old to care for had not been doing what he should have. If Genie only knew what had happened to Mahala, he would have made sure that child never made it into Jafar’s dirty hands.

     “We just huddled together, slept in piles when we could, burned anything we could find. That’s life over there, you just survive somehow. Or in Jay’s case you make sure everyone else survives and you hang on” Carlos looked at his shoes, he thought all the adults knew about this stuff.

     Aziz glanced at his friend’s back as he stood with Lonnie, Jordan and Lonnie’s parents, “I... I had no idea. I guess, I guess I never realized just how bad it was there. I am all the happier you four are free from all that, that you can at least finally have the help you needed for all your lives.”

     “I am sorry we put you kids through all that. If you need anything, you just let me know,” Genie offered his shoulders sagging, “I told them the kids wouldn’t help them, I guess I know why they insisted it was too cruel to take their kids away from them...”

 

     Mal didn’t mind that Ben motioned her over to where he was standing with his mother and father, she passed one last look at Jay standing between the two girls, “Behave, I expect you to still be here for dinner.”

     “Whatever,” he rolled his eyes and Mal resisted the urge to punch him in the face settling for putting on a smile before heading over.

     “I am so glad you and yours could make it Mal,” King Adam smiled at the daughter of Maleficent who he was still warming up to given that she had magic, strong and powerful fairy magic.

     “Thank you all for inviting us. How, how have you been with everything that has been going on?” she asked to be polite and tried to not reveal anything they might not want any of the other families knowing.

     “We are well,” Belle nodded her eyes telling Mal that they where as well as could be expected giving everything, “We wanted you here, it wasn’t a chore to invite you and your friends. I would have invited you last year but it seemed like it may be a little much.”

     Mal gave a soft short laugh, “Yeah everything last year was a little much for us to take in. But we appreciate your patience with us, I know we are doing our best to fit in and-”

     “You kids are doing just fine Mal,” King Adam assured her, “Your friend Jay could learn to not climb all over all the buildings but other than that we’ve heard nothing but positive things from your teachers.” that was a bit of a stretch as the son of Jafar had been getting less than stellar remarks but his Belle insisted that they keep trying, that he was just having trouble adjusting to his new life.

     Mal nodded curtly, she was going to punch Jay when they were alone, “I will let him know you’d like him to keep his feet on the ground.”

     “And let him know my offer is still good. I would like to help anyway I can. Even if it's only dealing with any... schoolyard scuffles” Belle nodded

     “When did Jay get into a scuffle?” Ben asked looking at his mom, scuffle seemed like it was something below Jay’s ability.

     Mal’s smile went a bit forced, she was going to kick his ass, “I will make sure he knows. I am sorry he is causing so much hassle. I don’t know what’s gotten into him recently.”

     Adam looked her over, “It is alright really, I apologize for making you a bit of a messenger Mal, your friend is just hard to get a hold of. But enough of him. How has your introduction to the holiday been? Belle was worried you kids would be getting overwhelmed.”

     “It is an adjustment, but it is quite lovely. We weren’t sure what to expect, you did get the gifts I gave to Ben?” Mal had bought small gifts for the king and queen based on what Ben had told her they liked.

     “Yes, they were lovely. Thank you for thinking of us” Belle nodded

     “I told her she didn’t have too, but she has a gracious heart,” Ben smiled pulling her a little closer to his side, to place a kiss on her temple.

     Mal smiled letting him pull her in, she resisted the want to pull away to stand on her own. She had to give them what they wanted, a loving girl, even if she still wasn’t sure if she knew what love was. “Ben said the holiday was about family, you are his family. I don’t have much but I wanted to get you something to show that I am grateful for everything you’ve done for us.”

     “We didn’t do anything more than support our son, when he made the decision that his first royal decree was giving you a chance at a life of goodness,” he gave her a tight smile, it was still a sore subject in the house that decision, but most of the kids were proving him wrong.

     “I’m glad he did. I can’t wait to see who the next batch will be. Of course I’ll want your input on how to improve the welcome,” Belle nodded.

     “Let's not overwhelm them, sounds like that’s where I went wrong. Right?” Ben looked at Mal.

     She nodded, “Maybe not the whole school, cheer squad and marching band. We... we were a little shell shocked,” she laughed a little remembering the boys fighting over a blanket, chocolate smeared all over Carlos’ mouth, “Smaller crowd would make them more comfortable, and the four of us will be there as familiar faces at least.”

     “So no big party then?” Adam asked almost thankful she was requesting something the eighth of the size the original welcome had been.

     “Yeah, I was thinking maybe just myself, Jane, and the core 4” Ben nodded, “I was thinking we could start going over the list of possibilities after new years, start whittling them down.”

     “How large of a group are you thinking?” Belle asked, she would have to get started on rooms and everything else soon if it was more than 5 or 6.

     “I’m not sure maybe 4, that seemed like the right number before,” Ben looked at Mal for help. Belle smiled it was good that he was leaning on Mal, but maybe they needed a little more guidance, she’d have tea with Ben later to address it if need be. 

     “It will be hard to narrow it down to just four,” Mal bit her bottom lip, “There are so many kids on the Isle, but I know we have to take it slow as to not overwhelm Fairy Godmother with a bunch of kids that need to take Remedial Goodness.”

     “Well we have time Mal, no need to make a rush out of it. I know you and Ben can make the right decision,” Adam smiled and hoped that it wouldn’t be any more potential magic users, also how terrible could their lives really be, the main four villains had relatively well adjusted children. Clearly things weren’t horrid for everyone else without those particular parents.

     “How is that class going? I had my doubts when Fairy godmother told be about it” Belle asked.

     “Well it’s...” how did Mal say this without her normal Isle way of saying it felt pointless, “It is going well,” when in doubt don’t elaborate. 

     “Well maybe before the next group arrives we will have a sit down with Fairy Godmother and see if there's anyway to make it better,” Belle could see how Mal wasn’t sure how to answer that question, “How about royal etiquette? I know I still have a few problems here or there.” 

     “Leave it to mom, if she panics talk about school and books” Ben teased getting a playful swat in the arm from Belle.

     “Evie does the same thing only talks fashion. I walked into her telling Jay all about different stitches once as she paced,” Mal offered with a soft look, “Royal etiquette is a lot to take in.”

     Adam squeezed Belle’s hand, “You do just fine darling.”

     “Yes, well this never really does get any less... not exactly overwhelming but, when you're from a small village, it's odd to think you actually know the names of this many people” Belle laughed.

     “I’m glad it is not just me then,” Mal sighed glad the queen at least still got flustered no matter how many royal events she went to.

 

     Jordan patted the back of Jay’s shoulder as Mal left, “Well looks like you are stuck with us Jay.”

     “At least I have gorgeous company to keep me occupied until Mal says we can go,” Jay sent her a smolder to which she snorted hip leaned to one side.

     “That you do, although you're not too bad yourself, come on I see my parents let me introduce you” Lonnie pulled on Jay’s arm.

     Jay grabbed Jordan in a panic and the djinn jumped at the sudden grip but happily followed along, “You sure I am parent material cause I was trying to avoid this exact situation.”

     Jordan snorted, “How does Aziz stand you sometimes? Look Mr. I-can-talk-my-way-into-a-girls-pants, they are just people. Relax it’s not like your dating Lonnie or anything.” 

     He looked between the two girls with a confused face for all of a second, “Oh. You two need tips let me know.”

     “Shhh” Lonnie whirled around to looked at him, “We’re keeping that on the down low.” 

     “Everything alright honey?” Shang asked closing the rest of the distance between them and the kids.

     “Everything is fine Mr. Li,” Jordan thumped Jay on the back still smiling.

     “Hello Jordan, it is so good to see you,” Mulan smiled looking the boy between the girls over, he looked like a strapping young man, “And who is this Lonnie,” she could only hope her daughter said this was the Captain of the Sword and Shields team. 

     Jay took the hint the parents didn’t know, and he did secrets, “I’m Jay, it’s nice to meet you both,” he would have offered a hand but his were currently being used, Lonnie had one and Jordan the other just to keep him from going anywhere.

     “Jay, that’s a good strong name” Shang nodded, eyeing the girls they looked like they were holding the boy captive.

     “He’s the captain of the sword and shield team I was telling you about” Lonnie supplied, with a smirk.

     “Oh is he?” Mulan nudged her husband, “I’m glad a male could see that a woman can be just as good as a man.”

     Jay gave them an odd look, “I still don’t get that whole guys are better than girls thing. I know a few girls that are living nightmares when provoked.”

     Jordan hid a grimace, “Jay grew up on the Isle, and he has a very different perspective of gender roles. As I am pretty sure there are none on the Isle, everyone is treated entirely equal.”

     Jay had no idea what Jordan was talking about so he shrugged a shoulder, “Everything was skill based. Your daughter is very skilled, didn’t feel right to not give her a chance to prove to the others what I already knew.”

     “That is a very smart answer, young man. But between us men, did you have to give my wife more ammo to use against me,” Shang said in a teasing mock whisper.

     “Sorry?” Jay wasn’t even sure if that was the correct response in this case because he was well out of his comfort zone.

     “I can see why he is the Captain of the team. A wise man knows the value of every able body,” Mulan grinned, “So what made you decide to join the team anyway? A similar team on the Isle, you just wanted to try your hand at it?”

     Jay swallowed hard at that flickering images of battles in back alleys with real weapons and spilling blood in his sight as he gave them a tight look, “Coach told me I needed to put my energy elsewhere during Tourney’s off season and the team was just a good fit, the sabers were a bit weird to get used to.”

     “He’s brilliant at it though, he almost never loses” Lonnie added, “He really leads the team well too.”

     “And the MVP of the Tourney team last season,” Jordan added tugging on his arm, not liking the sudden haunted look in his eyes.

     “A real star athlete then, makes me a little sorry I couldn’t get you at my school,” Shang smiled.

     “You have some really great players though,” Jay offered, Shang wouldn't want him if he knew what Jay’s grades were.

     “Honestly Shang,” Mulan laughed.

     “What? You didn’t see him play, he’s unstoppable. Ran right through some of my toughest players. It was amazing to watch” Shang shrugged

     “Dad really? Come on it's not like I don’t run circles around your toughest players” Lonnie rolled her eyes.

     “Yes, but you're my daughter, so...” he thought for a second, “it counts for double or triple but to see someone I know nothing about and who had just learned to play”

     “I'm not that good, the Olympians are damn good, I'm just used to dodging.”

     “If you say so, I run a summer program if you're interested. I also take the seniors to talk to scouts and pros” Shang nodded

     “Dad really?” Lonnie put her hands on her hips. 

     “Alright alright I’m done recruiting” Shang surrendered with a laugh.

     “All my husband's joking and recruiting aside, the offer is there if you are interested,” Mulan agreed, “It will keep you in top form and give you a career opportunity if you are still deciding what you are going to do once you graduate.”

     Jay nodded slowly, “Thank you,” the word felt strained, “I don't think any of us have a plan for what comes after this.”

     Jordan glanced at Jay, he was still new to Auradon, they were in school sure but Ben didn't really give them enough time to figure things out. On the Isle maybe he knew where he was going in life? But clearly that had been adjusted for the Mainland.

     “Well what was the plan before Ben brought you and your friends over?”

     “Keep doing what I was doing and keep surviving,” Jay shrugged a shoulder not wanting to go into any detail that he didn't have a plan on the Isle other than take it one day at a time and try not to be sent to Dr. Frank to be taken apart, or the Snatchers to be owned by someone, or become damaged enough that Frollo would have to care for him for the rest of his cursed life unable to die.

     “Sounds like a hard life” Lonnie said softly, “If you could do anything though what would it be? I know Evie wants to design fashion, Carlos was talking about pet rescue, and well Mal’s gonna be queen. What do you see yourself doing?”

     Jay opened and closed his mouth before submitting to the reality of things, “I guess Tourney, it's the only thing I am actually good at.”

     “I am sure you are good at other things too,” Mulan tried, there was a look in his eyes she had seen before, defeat, how could a child look so defeated before he even really started his life.

     “The other things I'm good at are, well, not Mainland acceptable,” Jay tried with a forced smile, “But it's fine, I'll figure it out, I'm ad... adap-”

     “Adaptable,” Jordan supplied with a bit of a sad smile, Aziz had mentioned that the most frustrating part of trying to help Jay was the kid knowing what he wanted to say but not remembering what the word was. Her insides twisted, especially when Jay passed her a grateful look.

     “Well we have career planning next semester,” Lonnie suggested, “Maybe you will like some of the options.”

     “Yeah,” Jay agreed even though his stomach was in knots and he was pretty sure he could almost hear his father's voice whispering ‘worthless, stupid boy’ in the back of his head.

Chapter 63: A Royal Holiday Dinner (Mainland: December)

     Everyone was interrupted by a sharp clap, “Esteemed guests, dinner is served,” Lumineer stated with a guiding bow.

     The younger generation pooled together as they left their conversations with the adults before being collectively herded into the formal dining room where a large table was set for 18. The VK’s all looked to Evie for guidance as they were sat at their name tags. Mal by the royal family, followed by Aziz and his family, Genie and Jordan, the Li family, and Doug’s family down by Evie, Carlos and Jay. Jay was grateful for the sheer amount of people between him and the two royal families. Mal however looked like she swallowed something rather rotten with all the space between her and her friends, but she mustered a smile praying to whatever power was listening that the boys would behave themselves.

     “Evie why are there so many forks?” Carlos whispered to her in a panic.

     “Salad, small plates, main course, desert” she said back calmly.

     “Okay next important question, which is which?” Jay asked looking at the expensive silverware that was triggering his compulsions, no he had to focus, he told Mal he wouldn’t steal from anyone, he had to keep his word. 

     “Work in sweetie,” Doug’s mother smiled leaning in, “That’s what always gets me through these things. I’m Doug’s mother by the way, I don’t believe we’ve met yet.”

     “Jay,” he smiled at her as best as he could through the roiling fog in his own head, his father’s voice whispering that he would never amount to anything and that he should give up and go home where he was more useful. 

     Jordan glanced across the table to Aziz, “You okay?”

     “Yeah, just something on my mind,” He apologized wishing Jay was closer so he could be sure the guy ate and had someone to keep him distracted.

     “I hear you,” Jordan muttered, “Dad, behave.” she gave her father a pointed look as a tiny Genie went to creep down the table.

     “Ok, that makes sense I think” Carlos swallowed

     “Are they going to be ok down there?” Ben asked Mal quietly.

     “I have no idea,” Mal replied swearing Jay’s eyes had started flickering colors again, she could only hope that Jay would be able to keep his shit together down there, “But I am hoping Evie’s got this.”

     “I’m sure she does” Ben nodded trying to assure himself as well, he’d tried to get all the kids at one end but had been vetoed by Mrs. Potts.

     “Jay are you ok?” Evie asked eyeing him in concern.

     He nodded silently, trying to tell himself to pull it together even as Doug passed him a confused look. Doug’s mom patted his arm and he just managed to hide the flinch at the contact.

     “Don’t be so nervous sweetie, it’s just dinner with more utensils,” she smiled, “You’ll see.”

     “So Carlos,” Doug started picking up his water, “Evie was telling me you were interested in Chess?”

     “Yeah, didn’t realize she knew that. I like strategy, and chess seems like a game for that” Carlos nodded

     Evie chewed her lip and let her foot tap Jay’s gently under the table.

     Jay hooked their ankles together immediately, Evie was right there. He would be okay, he could shake it off, he would do it because she needed him to be there. He really could use a drink right now, instead he settled for giving her a half smile.

     “Oh it is,” Doug assured shifting in his seat, “Chess is strategy and reading your opponent, of watching the moves they are making and planning 4 to 6 moves ahead of them.”

     Doug’s mother leaned into her husband’s shoulder smiling softly as Doug started animatedly talking about chess. She did love seeing her son so happy.

     Jasmine smiled at her husband, they had talked about it, but she really needed to ask Belle if it would be alright before a talk with Jafar’s son. She hoped it would be alright, her son was friends with him already so why wouldn’t it be.

     Adam double checked everyone was settled before standing and clearing his throat, “I wanted to thank you all for coming. I know it was a bit last minute, but I am glad everyone could join us tonight. Belle didn’t want to make a big deal of it, but I want to thank Mal, Jay, Evie, and Carlos especially for giving us all a chance and joining in our Christmas celebration this year. The castle is all the merry for it. I know it didn’t pass your notice that Penelope isn’t with us this year, unfortunately she has taken ill and is on the long road to recovery, but she wishes she could be here teasing her brother and being with her friends. She sent me with her deepest apologies and wishes for everyone to have a wonderful holiday. So a toast to those that couldn’t be here with us today to celebrate.”

     Evie watched Jay closely, that lie about Penny made even her skin crawl, but Jay may try to be a little more vocal.

     Belle clenched her hands in her lap, these people were supposed to be their allies and friends, how did that work if Adam wouldn’t even trust them to help them find Penny.

     Ben grabbed Mal’s hand firmly in his as he reached for his glass.

     Jay’s jaw clenched the King’s words cutting through his own issues, he had lied. He had put words in his ally’s mouth when the man couldn’t even find his own child who had been wished away using a djinn sitting at their fucking table. This wasn’t the place for protesting, he was in the middle of the enemy turf, play the game and get out. If he had to resort to his New Wonderland runs so be it, the royal family here was clearly no better than the liars, the royal families, on the Isle. 

     Mal blinked in shock, gripping Ben’s hand back and mimicked the motion he made. How was this okay? They lied, no there had to be a reason. There had to be a real reason why they didn’t tell the truth, there had to be. That had to be it.

     The table lifted their glasses with a hear hear as Genie rubbed his daughter’s back knowing she still felt terrible about the whole situation. The one he wasn’t permitted to tell his longest friends about under the threat of his daughter being exiled from Auradon. He didn’t tell Jordan or his wife about that, it was better they didn’t know.

     “Let dinner officially commence,” King Adam beamed sitting down in his chair.

     Jasmine leaned in towards Belle lowering her voice, “I am sorry to hear about your daughter, if there is anything I or my people can do, please let me know.” it must be terrible for the woman to have to sit by and see your child sick when you can’t do anything about it. 

     “Thank you for the offer. If I think of anything I will be sure to let you know. For now all that can really be done is hope” Belle nodded, she didn’t like lying to people about this, but the council and Adam were so sure that any sign of weakness would lead to war.

     Jasmine nodded taking a deep breath, “I... I wanted to ask you something before your husband’s speech, but I’m not sure if it is good taste all things considered.”

     “Please, let us change the subject” Belle said eager to at least for now not think about her missing girl.

     “It’s about Jafar’s son, I haven’t spoken to him about this yet since he is technically being held as a ward of Auradon. But I would like to make him a citizen of Agrabah like his father and mother were. Have him stay with us when he is done his schooling, I know my son said he doesn’t have much and I would like to change that. His mother had been close to my family before everything happened, and it, it doesn’t seem right to simply deny him the right to have a true home if that is what he wants.” Jasmine explained thinking of the beautiful sorceress who could turn into a snake and had helped keep her father healthy over the years, bringing comfort to the family after Jafar had been turned into djinn. She could still remember the woman’s panic and finding out she was with child. Begging Genie to help her hide, to protect her from the man who had sired the child. 

     “Oh that sounds like a wonderful idea. But, I would suggest speaking with him about it, he may need time. I’m sure you understand this is all very... overwhelming for them. Perhaps speaking with Mal on the matter, he is her friend. She may give you more insite” Belle suggested motioning to Mal.

     “My son did mention the boy can be terribly stubborn,” Jasmine smiled feeling like she was doing the right thing, she was going to help like Mahala would have wanted, “Mal, an inquiry for you if you’d be so kind.”

     Aladdin knew the look on his wife’s face, and leaned towards his son, “I think your friend is going to be in a whirlwind at the end of dinner.”

     “I make no promises that he won’t run for the hills if she really goes for it,” Aziz commented.

     Mal gave Ben a tight smile before leaning towards Jasmine, “Of course Sultana, what can I help you with?” she was confused, what the hell would a queen of a foreign country want her input on.

     “You are friends with the son of Jafar correct?”

     That made Mal’s smile go razor sharp, “He prefers Jay but yes. We’ve known one another since we were eight.”

     “Jay?” Jasmine looked confused for a moment, surely either of his parents would have named him something... not that, but Mal did say ‘prefer’ so Jay must be his nickname, “Right Jay, since you two have known one another so long perhaps you can tell me what he might think if I offered to make him an Aghrabahian citizen like his parents were. Have him stay with us after he finishes his schooling, help him however he needs.”

     Mal just sat there in shock, the Sultana basically wanted to adopt Jay before even knowing him, just because she knew his parents, one of which no one even liked. There was no way around this as the woman looked at her eagerly, “I apologize in advance if this seems rather blunt, he is going to tell you that you are crazy. The way we grew up, he is never going to believe that you are doing this because you care. Jay doesn’t like owing people things, and if he knows he can’t repay them he walks away. I know that isn’t what you want to hear but that is what is going to happen.”

     Jasmine recoiled slightly, stung by the words, “But we, we would never ask anything from him. Giving him this opportunity-”

     “Please, Sultana. Helping his future is fine and I encourage it because none of us really know what is coming after school, but there is nothing anyone can do to make up for what he went through. Particularly not coming from the heros that gave him to his father. I’m sorry but that is how he is going to see it. The same way I would see it if King Phillip suddenly offered to take me in,” Mal knew by the look on her face she had all but sucker punched the woman, “You are welcome to make the offer, there is a slim chance you can convince him, but...”

     “Don’t say you didn’t warn me,” Jasmine completed determined to win the boy over like her son had, “Thank you for your insight Mal, it was helpful.” 

     Jordan gave her dad a look, “You might want to be there for damage control. I’m not positive Jay isn’t a djinn.”

     Genie nodded, “Probably for the best, I wanted to talk to the kid anyway.”

 

     Jay poked at his salad as it arrived amongst the chatter, he was doing his best to control his temper. He already knew magic in Auradon was frowned on, and he doubted losing what control he had over it’s destructive tendencies would be a good plan. That and sitting in the same room as a liar, hadn’t left him with much of an appetite. 

     “Jay are you feeling alright man? I know you said you weren’t feeling that good before we came” Carlos said looking at Jay, maybe he could get Jay out of here.

     Jay looked at Carlos, “I’m just not that hungry is all. You know Mal will be pissed if I try and leave. I’ll survive through, what, four courses?” he asked looking at the utensils in front of him. Sometimes he regretted always listening to Mal, because he would have already ran by now.

     Doug gave him a sympathetic look, “I know it’s not pizza or burgers but it is good food.”

     “I get you are trying to be helpful Doug, but the food ain’t the problem here. Trust me I’ve eaten a whole lot worse,” Jay bit back his snap reminding himself that Doug was Evie’s and Evie would stab or poison him if he ruined her relationship.

     “Um, if you're sure” Carlos nodded he knew they didn’t really get sick but Jay was certainly starting to look it. He looked over at Evie, who gave him a forced smile.

     “Jay could you explain to me about Iago again, I never get tired of hearing about all the colors” Evie rubbed her foot up his leg trying to give him something to talk about and focus on that was natural for him.

     He gave her a small smile, “He’d probably be a lot more colorful out here where the sunlight isn’t all hazy. And he might even be able to make full sentences like he was enchanted to. As long as he’s getting taken care of, he is the brightest red you could find, not that he wasn’t always trying to pull his own feathers out or shrieking whenever Baba got too close to the cage.”

     Doug looked at Jay’s slowly relaxing expression, “I didn’t know Iago was still alive. Wasn’t he supposed to be a quote on quote evil bird?”

     “I mean I guess, but aside from swearing and trying to bite people who got too close he was pretty much just a normal parrot,” Jay’s smile went a bit bitter, “Pretty sure baba still likes Iago better than me...”

     “I doubt that sweetie,” Doug’s mother commented having been listening to their conversation, “All parents love their children more than their pets.”

     “You mainlanders sure I believe that, not so much on the Isle,” his shoulders pulled in defensively, he was positive Jafar liked Iago more. Iago couldn’t leave, Iago couldn’t screw everything up, Iago couldn’t fight back.

     “I know my mother preferred our parrot that I taught to say ‘you're the fairest of them all’ over me. It’s just the way life is, did you ever see the...um girl parrot?” Evie nodded, she hadn’t really thought about where the eggs came from.

     Jay shook his head, “Now that I think about it, I don’t think I have ever seen another parrot on the Isle aside from ours. Or a female eel, cause I am pretty sure Ursula had two male eels too... I guess your mom had them all somewhere? I mean since she is the one who gave us those baddie bags, or tanks, way back when.”

     Doug smiled slightly, seeing that Jay had actually started eating, clearly it was nerves killing his appetite. Mostly because the idea of Jay, the vacuum cleaner of food, not hungry was terrifying.

     “I suppose I never really thought about it” Evie mused

     “Kinda glad I didn’t take mine, all the way home. I’d hate to think of what mom would have done to that kitten” Carlos snorted, “although I think he could have put up a hell of a fight.”

     “Beelzebub is a nightmare, for the record. You have no idea how many times I nearly punched that cat everytime I came into the hideout or he jumped on me while I was sleeping there,” Jay huffed. 

     “Yeah sorry about that, but he is kinda cuddly, when he wants to be” Carlos shrugged, “Doug you got any pets?”

     “Have any, does he have any pets” Evie corrected rolling her eyes.

     Doug laughed a little, “I have a goldfish. Jay why do you know about eels?”

     “Cause I have two, back home. Lagan and Derelict. They are big boys, Carlos had to help me build another tank out of a couple of windows we jacked from vacant buildings, which ended up taking up most of the kitchen. They hate baba,” he grinned remembering Lagan trying to take his father’s hand off, it was super worth the whipping he got for it.

     “Well I mean he should have known better all that superior intelligence,” Carlos laughed, “Goldfish huh... well those can be cool.”

     “It was because he woke up one winter morning to me in their tank keeping them warm before I got you to make that heater for them,” he shrugged, “Goldfish, is that the fish in Ben’s room, I mean it isn’t gold it’s blue but still?” he remembered there being a rather pretty dark blue fish in a small square tank sitting on Ben’s desk with large floaty fins.

     “Can you be a bit more specific, I haven’t been to Ben’s room in a while?”

     “It's blue, got floaty fins, I don’t know, eels, parrots, cats, dogs and a half tiger, that’s what I know stuff about.”

     “A half tiger? You know what I don’t want to know. Blue with flowy fins... hm... it’s probably a beta fish. They are best left as a singular fish and can be cannibalistic and territorial.”

     “That sounds like Koga alright, god just thinking about him makes me feel like a snack” Carlos shook his head.

     “Oh Koga wouldn’t have eaten you, you were his good little puppy,” Evie giggled.

     “Yeah he patted you on the head all the time,” Jay grinned, “It was cute. Other weird things, guy has a nose that could put Gaston’s prize hounds to shame. I swear he stalked me the entire way out of the wharf into Mal’s turf.”

     “Yeah he was really good at tracking, good at being creepy too” Carlos rolled his eyes, “Just don’t call him creepy to his face.”

     “Yeah that is a dumb idea, dude tossed the Gaston twins around like they didn’t weigh anything. But you want creepy? Dude straight up licked me to shut me up, I’m ashamed to admit it was very effective cause that guy's canines that close to my face was terrifying.”

     Doug blinked, “Wait is there really a half tiger on the Isle or is this just metaphorical.”

     “I have no idea what that word means, but no really there is a half tiger on the Isle, Koga Khan son of Shere Khan, I am thinking Koga’s mom was human only cause dude looks way more human than his dad does,” Jay subconsciously leaned back as the empty plate in front of him was taken and replaced, he didn’t remember eating.

     “He’s really scary. And he’s got a roar that well I can say I’m not the only one that wet myself at it” Carlos said a shiver going up his spine.

     “And you all know him? Shere Khan was a man eater...”

     “Well yeah, when I went to school, he was there. He ran with a different crew in the wharf but lived up around our end of town. No proof he is still a man eater,” Jay figured it would be for the best not to tell Doug he knew for a fact the Khan's ate people.

 

     Mulan glanced at her daughter with a soft smile, “So Jay seems like a very capable young man.” she could hope that her daughter was interested in the boy, since it was the first one she had introduced that both she and Shang seemed to like.

     “Very capable” Lonnie nodded, “He just needs to learn to let people help him.”

     “Oh? Does he not work well with others, he seems pretty capable from what I have seen during our Tourney matches.”

     “He’s a good team member, but he doesn’t let anyone help him like he helps them” she explained, “He just likes to take care of everyone.”

     “Then he would be perfect to help look after you. I know you are like me, very independent but you need someone looking after you too. And I am sure he wouldn't complain if you helped him, your father is the same way.”

     “Mom it’s not like that” Lonnie shook her head, “I think Aziz is slowly getting through to him. He’s just pretty hard headed. And I’m not interested in him like that” she shot a look at Jordan across the table.

     Jordan gave her an apologetic look, she didn't mind telling Lonnie's parents but Mulan and Shang were a bit traditional about things.

     “No? I mean he's a very good match, you two look lovely together. And you two seemed to have chemistry, I know he's the Captain of your team but I know you two can keep personal and the team separate.” Mulan was confused, why would Lonnie go through the parental meet and greet if she wasn't interested. When they had met her friend Prince Aziz he had introduced himself privately as her friend and academic colleague.

     “I don’t think I’m his type for starters.” Lonnie sighed “and I don’t really like him like that.”

     “Lonnie, honey anyone would be happy to have such a good heart on their side,” Mulan assured.

     Jordan finally decided to step in, “Jay flirts a lot but I don't think he is ready for relationships like that Mrs. Li. He is still trying to adjust to his new life here. His bullheadedness gets worse when someone tries to pressure him into things. So don't read into Jay's sweet talking.”

     “Exactly, besides I’m not sure what I really want in a man, cause well I’m young” Lonnie said shooting Jordan a look of thanks.

     “You are young, too young to be thinking about boys” Shang agreed, “don’t you agree Genie? Our daughters should focus on school not boys” 

     “They are such young kids, but I say love comes at unexpected times and unexpected places. Yes focus on school but don't be blind to falling in love a few times. That is a part of growing up,” Genie replied, he was older than all of them by a long shot and he still would never imagined how long it would take him to find love. 

     “That sounds like very good advice, Mr. Genie” Lonnie smiled at him, at least he seemed to be supportive even if he didn’t really know.

     Genie smiled, “I always have good advice,” he resisted the urge to send a flood of hearts at the two love birds, mostly because his daughter had said Lonnie didn’t want anyone to know and he was respectful of private things. Mostly.

Chapter 64: Run from Sincerity (Mainland: December)

Notes:

Warnings:
-underage irresponsible drinking
-smut

     As dinner ended Jay was feeling better, but then again talking about home always made him more comfortable. So when a petite hand settled on his shoulder he turned with his smolder ready for Jordan. It immediately fell into panic as the owner ended up being the woman his father told him stories about as a child. There was nowhere to go, trapped in by a table, a chair and Doug’s mother. His heart was in his throat because he was pretty sure she was going to start in on him and he couldn’t get away. Why did he let himself think she wouldn’t come close after dinner?

     Jasmine pulled her hand back, carefully resting it on her gold and blue topaz necklace he was clearly panicking, “Hello Jay, may I have a word with you?”

     “No?” Jay got out the word strained as he fought the urge to vault the table.

     Blue smoke surrounded them and suddenly they were on the other side of the room, Jay stumbling at the sudden adjustment as he was standing now.

     “Genie, you know King Adam doesn’t like you using magic,” Jasmine hissed at the Djinn who was floating beside her.

     “He wasn’t paying attention Sultana. Plus the boy looked like he was about to pass out, safer if you have your discussion here than at the table,” Genie for once had his serious face on.

     “No, no discussion. Look I’ve, I’ve been mostly good. I don’t, I don’t, want to go back,” Jay was backing away from them and he hit a literal wall he swore wasn’t there a minute ago.

     “Jay, please, I don’t want to send you back to the Isle. I just want to talk that’s all,” Jasmine insisted as Genie put up a small blue wall to keep the boy from bolting.

     Talk, she wanted to talk. Why would she want to talk? She hated him, his dad, no she just hated his dad, but she probably hated him too, he was the son of Jafar. His father’s voice was whispering in his head again, how all she would see was a worthless, useless kid to kick back to the Isle. Evil what if she knew about what he did on the Isle? Lord Farris had found out, what if he had told other people, even without real proof, no one would believe Jay.

     Genie gave Jasmine a look as the blood seemed to drain out of Jay’s face, the boy trembling in place looking between them in terror, “Would it be easier if Aziz was here? Prove that we really do just want to talk.”

     She took a deep breath it clearly couldn’t get any worse, “Jay I would like to make you a citizen of Agrabah like your mother and father were. Have you stay with our family when you finish your school and give you whatever support you need like your mother would have wanted.” the words were rushed and she hoped they reached him through his panic.

     “What?” Jay was positive he misheard the Sultana, positive it was some trick to bring him in and lock him up like they would have done with his father had he still been on the Mainland.

     Good she had managed to get through his panic, she couldn’t imagine what Jafar had told his son about them, “I said I would like to make you a citizen of Agrabah and to take care of you when you are done school.”

     “Take care of, like lock in a dungeon for the rest of my life?” there was a slap coming he could feel it, no one wanted to take care of him, Evie and Carlos maybe, but no one else wanted him. 

     “What?” her head recoiled, “Good heavens no, why would you ever think that?”

     “No one does something for nothing, and you don’t even know me,” Jay was feeling out the wall behind him, based on the fact his hands were tingling he was guessing it was magic.

     “I want to though, your mother was close with my family-”

     “My mother? I never met the woman, she sure as hell didn’t want me, all he ever told me was that I look like her. That I am pretty like she was,” he felt nauseous as the feel of the wall and this conversation seemed to make his stomach churn so he dug his nails into his leather covered palms trying to keep his own magic from reacting as his chest began to burn, “So-”

     “Her name was Mahala, she was a very powerful Sorceress. A great healer and a loving woman,” Genie cut him off, “And I know she didn’t name you Jay.”

     Jay stiffened as even Jasmine turned to the djinn looking confused, “All I know is that she never loved me, she gave me to him and that was that.”

     “No Mahala would have never given you up, I’m sure of it. That’s why I want to help you Jay...” Jasmine was trying to save this, trying to reach the child before he closed himself off completely.

     “Help me?” the words were laced with venom and he felt the familiar red boiling under his skin, “You want to help me? Where was your help when I was starving? Where was your help when he threw me out in the middle of winter? Where was your help when-” he stop himself eyes squeezing shut as the heat threw itself up and into his throat threatening to explode out of him, “I don’t want your fucking charity so you can make yourself feel better. I am beyond help anyway, I survived my hell, I don’t need your help to live in your pretty little Mainland.” he felt the power in him uncoil violently, nearby lights exploding even as he tried to pull it back.

     As Genie turned to look, Jay was up and over the wall, fuck this. He would deal with Mal later, he was out before he did anything worse. Bad enough he couldn’t contain it, maybe if he just ran and hid, he could avoid the fall out all together.

     Jasmine looked at Genie, “He... he ran... I don’t understand, he...”

     “He wasn’t ready Sultana. The kid lived through a lot, maybe you should have considered that life with Jafar might not have been a good place. The bigger issue I am seeing though,” he twisted a hand fixing the lights, “Is he might be more powerful than his parents, which means Jafar did something to not be a djinn anymore.”

     She bit her lip, “Mal did say he wouldn’t take it well I just...”

     “I told you he would run,” Aziz commented looking at his mother as he made his way over, “And now I have to go find him before he does something stupid like try and climb on a frozen roof.”

     “But that’s...”

     “Mama, I told you this, Jay is basically Baba with more leather, flirting, and a bad attitude about things. Jafar turned his own son into his quote on quote worst enemy.”

 

     Mal frowned not seeing Jay at the table any more as she walked down to check on her friends especially since Sultana went that way, she was ready to save Jay from her, “Where is he?” she hissed looking at Evie and Carlos.

     “Not here anymore” Carlos winced.

     “Genie poofed him off with Saltana” Evie added as she fidgeted with her nails.

     “Poofed?” Mal did not like this, she did not like where this was going as she quickly glanced around just seeing Sultana and the blue genie standing facing a blue wall, “Tell me she didn’t ask...”

     “Ask what Mal? We didn’t hear anything Genie moved them before she started talking” Evie looked at the other girl, “Jay looked super freaked out though.”

     “Yeah in that I’m gonna run until I puke sort of way,” Carlos agreed.

     “She...” Mal swallowed, “She was going to ask him to stay with them after we finished school. She wants to make him an Agrabah citizen. I told her he wouldn’t take it well.”

     “I think that is an understatement. I’m gonna go see if I can find him” Carlos said getting up.

     “If you would please excuse us, we really need to check on Jay,” Evie gave a forced smile to the table as she stood as well heading out of the door.

     Mal passed them an apologetic smile and went after her friends as the blue wall vanished, no Jay, just Aziz talking to the Genie and his mother, “Where the fuck did he go? I hate having to go find him, depending on how she asked who knows how much he’ll have drank before we find him.” she wasn’t going to pretend that she didn’t know Jay had a stash of liquor in his room somewhere especially post Halloween. He was normally good about it, only drank when he had nightmares, at least that’s what he told her when she found him still in bed with a hangover one day.

     “We should split up and each search an area that he likes to hide” Evie suggested.

     “Evie or we can try calling him, in the half chance he has his phone on and charged for once,” Mal pinched the bridge of her nose. If Jay ran, he wouldn’t have gotten far, there was snow on the ground, “Outside we’ll follow the footprints while we call him.”

     “I grabbed our coats, we should get going” Carlos held out Evie’s coat, and then Aziz’s.

     Mal stared as Aziz seemingly appeared beside her, “What are you doing?”

     “Going to help you find the brat my mother ran off,” Aziz sighed taking his jacket, “Thanks Carlos. Come on before he forgets he isn’t on the Isle and gets himself hurt.”

     Taking a deep breath she called Jay’s cellphone and frowned as her pocket started vibrating, “I am going to kill him when I find him.”

     “Honestly Mal what were you expecting?” Evie sighed as they headed out into the cold.

     “That he would be responsible for one fucking night,” she seethed, “It’s fine, we will find him. Aziz head back towards the school and try his haunts around there. The three of us will split up and check his haunts around this end, meet back in Evie and my room in 2 hours. Call if you find him.”

     Aziz nodded silently, he had a feeling on where Jay would be. But he would rather be sure than anything else. As he jogged away from the group he just hoped he was right.

     Mal looked over her shoulder, not understanding why Aziz would help them at all, 2 hours and hopefully they would find him in less time.

 

     Aziz wasn’t wrong as he pushed open the door to his room and found Jay tucked in a corner jacket off, sleeves rolled up, downing a bottle of something, “So... am I calling Mal or you going to put the bottle you shouldn’t even have down?”

     Jay flipped him off as he polished off the bottle of vodka. Last time he jacked that stuff cause the rum at least tasted better and reminded him of them, the Jollyrogers who had helped him whenever he was in a jam. Lowering the now empty bottle he shuddered setting it between his feet, “Happy Princy?”

     “Marginally,” Aziz stated sending the text to Carlos to pass along to the girls, “I am supposed to take you to Mal’s room. Cause I know you won’t want to talk about it.”

     He should have not chugged that bottle, because it was already swimming about his brain, “Your mama is... she tried to use the mother I don’t even know against me,” he moved to his feet, “Fucking rude,” he growled taking Aziz’s phone out of his hands and replaced it with his body. He wanted comfort, he needed someone to touch him that he knew wouldn't take advantage of him like this.

     Aziz blinked in confusion as Jay curled around him, “I’m sorry Jay. Look I told her not to ask. I told her you would need time, see the place, meet the people, there were steps you needed to even fathom agreeing.”

     Jay kissed him hard and rough, “Don’t use words I don’t know one, and two I don’t want to hear your fucking preaching either,” he shoved Aziz back into his bed pulling the other into a tight hug as he dropped down beside him. The apology tasted like sugar on his tongue, but he knew that he probably shouldn’t do it again, no matter if he wanted to or not.

     Words, he had words, and Jay had just thrown all of them right out the window. He could taste the vodka Jay had drank, the lingering sweetness from desert on his tongue as his lips still tingled as Jay threw him around. Clearly what Aziz had thought was just innocent flirting to see him embarrassed was not exactly the case. The fleeting thoughts he had on Sunday about how Jay kissed pouring into his brain, he didn’t like guys, but the feel of Jay pressed against him was muddling and confusing him. He was no longer sure that he didn’t want another hard, spine tingling kiss.

     “Jay?” he squeaked out as the mentioned boy nosed at his neck, “Can you slow down a little there?”

     “What we still have clothes on,” Jay grumbled, he wasn’t that far gone, he just, he just needed contact with someone he liked and Aziz was the only candidate in range, “Quit being such a whiny bitch, it isn’t attractive.”

     “You just kissed me and manhandled me into my own bed, don’t you even.” Aziz snapped hoping the others would get here soon and save him from Jay before anything else happened.

     Jay smirked playfully nipping at his jaw, he shouldn’t be doing this to a Prince but he couldn’t help himself, one night of fondling his Princess hadn’t been enough, he needed more, “Shut up Princy. I ain’t that drunk.”

     “Just drunk enough to kiss me and what?”

     “Carlos calls it cuddling.” Jay supplied fighting down the urge to do more, he couldn’t do that to the Prince.

     “Aggressive cuddling,” Aziz snorted toeing his shoes off kicking them off the bed, glad his jacket was still open even as the other’s arm snaked under it, “Look here handsy-”

     Jay pressed another kiss to Aziz’s lips unable to stop himself, he needed it to focus on not doing more, before settling back down, “I'm not going to do anything else, just relax will you.”

     He rolled his eyes and tried his best to relax caged in Jay's limbs, as his breath fanned over his neck. Goosebumps flooded over his skin with every passing breath, his heart pounding in his chest as if he was waiting on bated breath for some sign or touch that things were going to become more than whatever this was.

     Evie let herself into the room, as silently as possible she didn’t want to spook an already upset Jay. She had seen Mal across the yard as she entered the building and she felt like maybe this was better off at least started without Mal’s harsh words.

     Jay turned looking over his shoulder at the door, “Heya Princess.”

     “Thank Agrabah, Evie save me from Mr. Handsy,” Aziz laughed even as Jay thumped him on the chest with an eye roll.

     “You are whiny Princy,” Jay grumbled untangling his limbs from around Aziz and pulled himself mostly upright as the world tilted unpleasantly for a moment before settling. He really shouldn't have chugged that bottle, oh well nothing to be done about it now.

     “Hey Jay, um... maybe we should get you back to your own room, I’m sure Carlos would love to cuddle with you, I know I do” Evie watched Jay, whatever he had drank it wasn’t his normal fair cause his eyes screamed of being unstable on his feet even if his body wasn’t allowing it.

     Jay grinned at that pushing himself the rest of the way up feeling Aziz's hand on his back, “Now that sounds like a much better idea.”

     “You want help to your room Jay?” Aziz asked worried.

     “Told you, I ain't that drunk,” He snorted, “Gimme like 2 more bottles and sure,” he shook his head and headed towards Evie and scooped his jacket and the empty bottle up. Hiding the bottle under his jacket he pressed a kiss to Evie's cheek, “See ya Princy.”

     “Yeah okay. Evie text me if he falls down.” he knew stubborn when he saw it and Jay had a hungry look in his eyes, if the kisses were any indication the kid was way off kilter.

     “I will, but Carlos is on his way so between the two of us we should have him” Evie nodded looking up as Carlos arrived panting as if on cue.

     “Man don’t scare us like that” Carlos looked at Jay.

     “I'd apologize but,” he flashed the bottle, “I owe you a new bottle, yours were easier to get to than mine.” he curled an arm around Evie's hips, “Can we go now? You two are much less bitchy about my contact needs.”

     “We probably should have warned you about that Sorry Aziz” Evie shot him a sympathetic smile, honestly that was a hot thought. She’d quiz Jay about it later, maybe after she figured out if Doug knew about sex. She shook her head slipping Jay’s arm around her shoulder.

     “Man, that stuff is for mixing not for straight out drinking...well I suppose some people do” Carlos sighed slipping under Jay’s other arm.

     “Not for chugging either,” Jay grinned as they headed out with him, steadying his languid movements.

     Aziz shrugged, “I am blaming it on the alcohol.” he commented before they left. His hands ran through his hair and touched his lips still feeling Jay's mouth on his, “No. You do not like guys. You don't... he doesn't, it was just the alcohol. That's it, just the alcohol.”

 

     Mal stormed into the boys room, Evie said she’d bring Jay down from Aziz's room where he had decided to hide in. Of all the places for him to go, why go to that room. It... it was the last place any of them would look for him. She pinched the bridge of her nose, she couldn't believe him, well she could but why not go to her, or Evie or Carlos like he always did before? What had changed so much he wouldn't go to them if he had a problem he couldn't fix?

     Evie pushed the door open, looking at Mal as Carlos took Jay the rest of the way to his bed letting himself be pulled down with him.

     Jay tossed bottle and jacket to the foot of the bed and pulled Carlos on top of him, pressing his face into the other male's throat, “You lemme know if I do something you don't want,” he muttered into his skin knowing the gesture was unneeded but sometimes his allies didn't like being manhandled for his own comfort.

     Mal watched them and looked at Evie, “He was drinking in his room?”

     “Yeah, he was. Look Mal we’ve got this covered. Maybe you should head back and let Ben know we found him. I’ll actually come with and help smooth any ruffled feathers” Evie said with a grimace, Carlos looked like he had this covered even with saying he was off guys earlier. “I’ll take Dude to our room for the night”

     Mal looked over them and took a deep breath, “Jay I don't want you drinking anymore tonight. You... you are going to be okay if we leave you with Carlos right?”

     “Whatever Mal. Thank Ben for the invite, but I'm never going to anything she'll be at ever again or the King,” he tilted his head enough to be heard.

     “Noted,” she nodded looking to Evie, “Come on before Ben comes looking. I don't want him seeing Isle Jay. Bad enough Aziz saw him like that.” 

     Evie nodded following after Mal, while Mal was the one that had changed the most; she hadn’t seemed to realize that there weren’t two different versions of them. It was just them, Jay just wasn’t hiding behind manners and niceties.

 

     Jay refocused his attention on Carlos nosing his skin, “You... you don't mind right? I know you said you don't want to any more. But...” he really wasn't even sure what he wanted other than to feel better, useful, wanted, to shut the sound of his father up with alcohol and fucking or whatever Carlos let him do.

     “I don’t mind, I said guys and well you don’t really count cause you're my Jay.” Carlos said tilting his head a little, “Just no marks too high, don’t want to explain them.”

     Jay smiled kissing his skin, “No worries Los, I will mostly behave on that front,” he rolled them over shaking his head as the room tilted, “Top, bottom, neither?” he asked taking the suffocating long sleeve shirt off. They came first, they would always come first. Screw what his dad said about there being no Team in I, because they, Evie and Carlos, they were his, and screw Mal if she thought she could take this away from him, he was no prince, he wasn't good, he refused to bend over and let them take what he had from him. He would never not be Jay son of Jafar the Best Thief of the Isle and silent ally of the Jollyroger Crocodile.

     “You want to ride? We had fun with that last time” Carlos smirked placing a kiss just under Jay’s jaw. 

     “Happily,” Jay breathed hands moving to undo his pants and Carlos’ jacket, “Clothes off Los. I’ll grab everything else.”

     Carlos pulled off his shirt tossing it to the floor quickly followed by his pants. He reached out his hand to Jay as he moved up the bed.

     Jay shakily kicked his pants off stretching to grab the lube in his side table, the Mainland at least had better options when it came to that stuff. He nudged Carlos’ knees opened and swallowed him down, happy to occupy his Carlos while he worked himself for riding. Last time he had done anything close to this had been months ago, and really Jay needed more than that but things were different here so he told himself he couldn't push his luck. Especially since the Mainland was hush hush about this stuff anyway. 

     Carlos ran his fingers through Jay's hair pulling the bun out. God he felt like a spring spun too tight, it’s been way too long. He didn’t get why this wasn’t ok here. It felt good and both he and Jay said yes.

     Jay groaned around Carlos, the alcohol murdering his patience level. He pulled back slowly, giving the length one last swipe as he pulled his hand away from himself, “Ready Los?” he asked straddling his hips and leaning in needing contact as he mouthed at Carlos’ jaw. He could muster up enough patience for permission at least.

     “Always for you, man it’s been too long with all this being good shit” Carlos flicked his tongue out at Jay’s neck.

     Jay smirked, “Well I'm always in the mood, so if you want it just crawl that freckled ass over here,” he lined Carlos up and sunk down humming, “Fuck, I missed this,” he breathed between hungry kisses as he forced himself to wait a little bit. Impatience won out and he grabbed the headboard to keep his balance as he rocked up and down the length.

      Carlos grabbed onto Jay’s hips rubbing his thumbs over the bones. Something about watching Jay move over top of him was mesmerising.

     Jay let his head fall back lazily as he moved, long hair falling back over his shoulders. He was trying to remember why this was bad here, because it felt so damn good. The buzz and the lust curling up together, and for a few moments Jay couldn't remember where he was because all there was, was him and Carlos and the stars forming behind his eyes as he found that place and he hit it with every drop of his hips. Soft moans leaving his lips forming Carlos’ nickname over and over.

     “Jay don’t stop, please don’t stop. You are like all the chocolate in the world” Carlos moaned, he hadn’t quite forgotten what this felt like, but he hadn’t remembered how it felt to have Jay’s focus and pleasure be on him.

     Jay snorted losing rhythm for a moment, “Wonder what you'd taste like covered in chocolate...” he chased that particular rabbit as he picked up his pace once more he would try that at a later date he decided. Cover Carlos in chocolate sauce and blow him clean, yeah that was going to be on his brain for a little bit. He slammed down with a soft swear searching once more for that place. When he found it again he was less kind to himself, he wanted to feel like he took a pounding when he sobered up. That good kind of ache to linger, as his back bowed his fingers dug into Carlos’ thighs for purchase.

     “That’s a delicious thought” Carlos gasped his head thrown back, his hips raising to meet each drop.

     “Fuck Los,” Jay whined so close but he didn't want to stop. This part hovering just before the pleasure exploded, when everything was screaming more, this was what made him feel real. The lies he told himself, the scars inside and out, every memory of things he had done or had done to him were gone, and all that was left was him. Just Jay, once Jairaj, that was all there was left.

     Somewhere between one passing tipsy thought and the next Carlos rammed dead center into that spot and Jay tumbled over the edge with a silent scream. His body locked tight around Carlos, the hand he had curled around himself at some point working himself through it on muscle memory alone as he painted them both.

     Carlos whined as his own release came his hands sliding down Jay’s thighs to his knees.

     He leaned towards him and kissed Carlos gentler this time, brain still filled of pleasant hazy thoughts, “I really missed this, good call on me riding,” he muttered between kisses, “Can we pile?”

     “Yeah we can pile, get cleaned up later” Carlos breathed against his lips.

     “Cool, cause the room is kinda all tippy. I may have decided drinking that bottle as fast as I could was a good plan,” He groaned pulling off Carlos before flopping to the side, tugging the younger male into his chest, “I also think I kissed Aziz, more than once. Though I may have just thought about it, my brain has been kinda not helpful since Penny got disappeared,” he mumbled as he drifted off, “I wish Ben never invited us here, it was easier when I knew what was expected of me. Knew what I had to do... keep you and Princess...”

     “Sometimes I think so too. And Aziz will be fine.” Carlos assured softly curling into Jay.

 

Chapter 65: Winter Games (IoL: January)

     Io shoved the skylight open, knocking a thick blanket of snow into a pile as she stepped onto the netting she had strung up before shutting it behind her and covering the window back up. Penny had recovered. It had been touch and go for a few weeks and Io may have been giving the girl a few Wonders when no one was looking. Not enough to make her sick, but a few drops just to help temper the edge of her fevered waking dreams. Uma had no idea how lucky she was that Koga and Mimzy had found the source of the infection and managed to clean it out. Sure Penny would have a scar but it was better than having a brain dead Princess on their hands. That would have been hell to explain to her father, how she let the best chance they had be destroyed.

     Shaking herself she pulled her pack up higher and took off across the frozen roofs headed to the ship. January on the Isle was always quiet, once the first snow came really. Sure there were still scuffles, but overall everyone hid in their homes and tried to keep warm. Which meant lots of wharf parties, drinking to keep their blood warm as they danced and partied until the first real thaw. Sliding she rolled off a roof and swore the entire rest of the way down to the ground as she bounced between the buildings as best she could to limit the damage. That would teach her to think about rum and warmth while running over ice covered roofs. Another few minutes and she walked up the gangplank swinging her sore arm in it’s socket until it popped back into place.

     “Hey Crocodile, got the crew in my cabin,” Harry called from the stairs. He hated the snow, cold and wet.

     “Fantastic, I rustled up a few more blankets,” Io nodded heading down after him to find them all piled together more or less using Koga as a pillow as he lay in the tiniest strip of sunlight coming through a port window, “Morning my dears, I come bearing breakfast and blankets.” she eased the pack off her shoulder and pulled out the bundle, a plastic box full of warm stew that thankfully hadn’t spilled during her tumble, wrapped up in several blankets.

     “That smells good” Penny said from her place between Koga and Gil.

     “Yeah, Io brings the best food when it’s cold,” Gil nodded taking another blanket and wrapping it around his shoulders.

     “Well you are my crew, and no one needs pirate popsicles,” She snorted handing Harry the other blanket.

     “That and you know how to cook,” Koga commented sitting up slowly sniffing, “You go on a hunt without me?”

     “Traded Sunji meat for crafting him some bone needles,” Io shrugged, “I think he said it was deer.”

     “Sunji is one of the Huns, he’s like their trader, deals only with Crocodile and no one else,” Mimzy explained to Penny, “They are very territorial, so she does that stuff solo.”

     “I’m still confused at the aspect of condemning a whole tribe for the actions of a few.” 

     Io opened the box setting it down between them, “I think of them like the crew. Sure a few of them did some bad stuff, but they fight together, live together, die together. Not that the dying part happens here.” 

     “Ye bring spoons or do I need to go get them?” Harry asked dropping the blanket around Penny’s shoulders. She still hadn’t regained the weight she’d lost while sick. Sad truth was she probably wouldn’t.

     “Brought them,” She muttered rifling through her pack with a frown, “Just need to...” she pulled them out handing them one by one to Harry over her shoulder as she rifled through the trinkets and bits and bobs she had for trades later that day, “I grab enough? I was in a rush this morning, but I think I grabbed enough.”

     Koga snorted, “I didn’t want to get out of my bed either,” he yawned widely long tongue curling up as his jaw cracked, “I hate winter.”

     “It’s not that bad,” Io rolled her eyes, “Ice is my only issue. But at least we don’t have to scrub the deck.”

     Mimzy giggled, “You are the only one here that likes winter Io.”

     “Probably, but eat. All of you, you in particular need your strength back Penny. I am going to get the run done early. See if I can rustle up any more food while I’m out and about,” She stood shouldering the bag once again, “Harry per usual you're in charge.” 

     “You sure you don’t want backup?” Koga asked giving her a once over.

     “I’m going to do low runs, mids are in two days. If you are feeling up to it Penny, we’ll do a dry go of the high run you’ll be doing with Koga by the end of the week,” Io offered, Penny had been running the low and mid runs before Uma had stabbed her.

     “I’ll be up too it” she nodded matching Harry’s own stubborn look with one of her own.

     “Then you best damn eat up Stickpin, or the high run will eat you alive,” Io smirked liking the girl’s fire. 

     “Koga wouldn’t let anything happen again” Gil said looking at the tiger.

     “Not her point, and I can take care of myself,” Penny huffed chewing on a piece of meat.

     “Unless Uma stabs you,” Koga teased ruffling her hair, “I know you ain’t going to let it happen again. Plus anyway, you're the pretty face for the high runs. I’m just there to toss um around if they try to start shit.”

     Io smirked, Penny would be just fine. Girl had a fire in her made for a real beast. Io could work that, a beast in a pretty frame, she could make another one of herself without the madness. Eventually someone that could perfectly offset the madness she had, at least she hoped so. Without another word she left them to eat and headed towards her first stop for the day. Ursula’s Chip shop.

-*-

     Uma looked up as the door opened, “If it isn't the self proclaimed Queen herself.”

     Io glanced over the seated few, all of Uma's crew, “Nothing self proclaimed about it dearie. I am the Queen of this Isle, now fork up what you owe to the Jollyroger.”

     “No, you see I really don't feel like paying someone like you. And your outnumbered so what are you going to do about it, Dearie?” Uma mocked getting a laugh out of her crew as Io grinned wider.

     “Uma, Uma, Uma... what am I going to do with pretty fish bait like you? I could gut you, split you open stem the stern. I could drag you kicking and screaming to my darling Kahn's, octopus would be a lovely addition to their meat stores. Oh maybe I should just let Koga shut you up like he did the last time he was here and you were running your mouth. It was good for him at least,” Io purred drumming her fingers over her lips. “No you might enjoy that... New Wonderland maybe, Falcifer or maybe Dr. Frankenstein?” 

     Uma's crew was edging away from Io as she moved in on Uma, they weren't particularly sure they wanted to deal with Crocodile.

     “None of that suit your fancy? No? Hm, then what to do what to do...” Io snapped her fingers, “Oh I know, I'll just cut that pretty throat of yours and throw you to Tic Tok. Yes that is a much better option.”

     “Enough Crocodile,” Ursula barked squeezing her wide ‘hips’ through the doorway and her tentacles collected the money pouch. One cracked Uma in the back of the head, “Now please don't hold it against us love, here's what you’re owed. I will make sure my daughter stays in line.” she hissed at Uma before smiling at Io charmingly, “Do come back and see us. I know Koga is fond of my silver fish, you send him by next time and I'll make sure he gets some free of charge to make it up to you. Deal?”

     “I would advise against trying to poison my tiger Ursula. One he’ll smell it, and if he doesn't and you make him sick, I'll make sure his daddy knows you're on his new menu.”

     The charming smile dropped into disgust, “Fine ya damned brat.”

     “A pleasure doing business with you Ursula. The Captain will be thrilled,” Io purred taking the coin purse before walking out the door to the sounds of Ursula yelling. Clearly Uma hadn't learned her lesson yet.

 

     The rest of the run was rather uneventful thankfully, as she knocked on the door of Curl Up and Dye, “Ya in Dizzy?”

     “I’m here just give me a sec” she called from the cleaning closet.

     “No worries lamb,” Io let herself in, fingers dancing over the chair, remembering when she saw Jay sitting in the chair his hair half braided as Evie showed Dizzy how she did her hair. That was a very long time again when he had finally stopped cutting it short, she shook her head there was no sign from the mainland in four months that they were interested in finding their princess at all.

     “Sorry bout that” Dizzy huffed closing the door as something crashed behind it.

     Io gave the closet a concerned look before shaking her head, “Don’t worry about it. I’m just here for the payment. Make sure your doing alright, and don’t need anything to keep you through the winter.” 

     “Not anything you can help with,” Dizzy shook her head, the last time any one had gotten her anything Anthony had torn it to pieces at his mother's urging after all why should Dizzy have new/nice things. She turned to get the payment for Io.

     “Well it’s a good thing I know where the closest hideout is, just in case you need some place warm to bed down. There is a big old cat that will curl up with you even.”

     “How’s Pin? She still sick?” Dizzy asked with a smile, she liked cats, Lucifer liked her more in his old age since she made sure he got fed.

     “Finally all better, have her eating with the crew to recover some. We’re doing a run at the end of the week and I will bring her by.”

     “Thanks, worries me. Sometimes sick people don’t get better” she nodded handing over the bag, thinking of her own mother. Druzilla had caught some sort of cough when Dizzy was 4, it hadn’t seemed like much. At least from what she remembered but then her mother was really hot, and grandmother was yelling at people rushing about. Her mother didn’t know her name anymore, didn’t know who Dizzy was.

     “Best and worse thing about this place. Koga and Mimzy staid with her on the ship until she made it out of the worst of it,” Io took the bag sliding it away for later. “You need anything at all just let one of us know.”

     “I will, be careful out there, its really cold” Dizzy said as she started to eye the closet again.

     “Will do, be careful when you open that door,” Io smirked straightening to head out.

     “I will” Dizzy nodded not watching her exit. As she tried to figure out how to open the door without everything crashing out.

     Io passed by Jafar's home, her eyes flickering over the windows and locks, soon she would be sending her princess into the snake's nest. But she could trust Penny with Koga, especially after what she had done to her tiger for allowing her princess to be hurt on his watch. Shaking off the roiling hunger to see Jafar once more beneath her bleeding from hundreds of knife wounds she headed back to the ship. Taking her time and easing through the alleyways like a phantom.

 

     “I’m fine, Harry really” Penny sighed as she came up the stairs. She wasn’t sure how she felt about winter here on the isle it was differently colder.

     “You're still recovering” Harry tried to defend

     “Oh bull shit” Penny stepped out onto the deck, enjoying the fresh air.

     Mimzy looked at Koga as they also headed up to the deck, “Harry, Penny needs to be up and moving. It's fine really, will help get her back to normal especially if Io wants her back out there helping out. You know the runs are easier in the winter, less hazardous to be roaming the streets.”

     “That and Pin is getting stir crazy being cooped up here.” Koga added sniffing, there was a scent, he turned slightly, Io was coming back.

     “But she’s so...” Harry tried to find the right word as he looked at Mimzy.

     “I would think very carefully about you're next words Harry Hook or you're going to be the one with a stab wound” Penny snarled, she was tired of him suffocating her.

     “I might help her” Gil added as he moved past Harry.

     “Bloody traitor” Harry looked at the two of them, since when did they team up on him.

     “Are my dears fighting?” Io asked hauling herself up the side of the ship, “The favorite trio falling apart because my first mate is being a mother hen?”

     Mimzy shook her head, “I need to dash to mom's, Pin, you want me to pick you up some more scar-away?”

     “Naw I think it’s good” Pin shook her head, “It crossed the line from mother hen to a smother hen like last week”

     “Yeah, Harry won’t play with me any more either” Gil said

     “Cause I’m making sure Pin doesn’t feel left out” Harry defended

     “I could go for a free show” Pin snorted.

     “Well clearly someone needs Harry to give him a blow to make up for being a smother hen,” Io smirked slipping her bag around and handed Penny an apple, “And if smother hen doesn't behave let me know.”

     Mimzy glanced at them, “If you need some girl time Pin let me know,” she offered before bounding off the ship.

     Koga leaned against the railing, “No more issues around Crocodile?”

     “Uma being a smart ass again. Until I told her I would slit her throat and feed her to Tic Tock. Amazing how fast her mother can move to apologize. You’re even getting free silverfish out of it.”

     “Still feel the overwhelming urge to stab her in the face” Penny took the apple.

     “You can stab her if and only if she starts giving you any shit about withholding payments again,” Io ceded knowing the girl wanted to get even.

     “So the next time I see her” Penny nodded taking a bite before holding it out to Gil for a bite.

     “Pin, don't make me have to get involved or take you off the Uma run,” She gave the girl a bland look, “Harry and I dealt with her. If she hands over the payment without hassle you don't stab her.”

     “Promise” she raised her hand in surrender

     “She’ll behave cause she doesn’t want ye to stick her on ship confinement again” Harry snorted 

     “Thank you,” Io sighed. She hated having to get involved with the petty shit like holding grudges. It did her no good in the long run, “Dizzy is glad you are up and about for the record. You and I will stop by after the dry run.”

     “Cool, we’ll set up a time for my hair” Penny nodded, she liked Dizzy. She made her feel normal oddly enough.

     “You know that she is basically your minion right?” Koga asked looking at Penny.

     “My minion? I can have minions?” Penny blinked, “Having minions is really a thing?”

     “That’s what Carlos, Evie and Jay are to Mal” Gil nodded

     “They said friends... well Evie said friends” Penny tilted her head, “What does one do with a minion?”

     “Jay was Mal's minion at the end, the other two were his,” Io shrugged a shoulder, “And one takes care of their minions. That was what I instilled in Jay without him realizing, taking care of your crew is how a crew functions.”

     “I will make sure Dizzy is taken care of, if she lets me. She’s pretty stubborn” Penny said, passing half the apple to Gil as she scooped up some snow pressing it between her hands.

     “Pretty sure you are more stubborn,” Koga mentioned, he had gotten used to Pin, used to her because he had stayed so long with her when she thought he was a cat named Raja. Petting his arms as he held her in her fevered state. 

     “Possibly, very possibly” Penny nodded tossing the snow ball back and forth in her hands. She watched Harry almost sulking near the stairs not quiet on the deck but not below either. She smirked oh yeah it was play time and he was going to play with her. She quickly tossed the snow ball at Harry catching him in the shoulder. He blinked looking down and then up at her. She quickly scooped up some more snow backing away with a laugh.

     “Ye threw snow...at me” Harry said in confusion.

     “Yeah, it’s called a snowball” Penny nodded throwing her next one at Gil, hitting him upside the head with the soft snow. 

     Gil gave her a derpy smile before grabbing a handful of snow to throw at her, also tossing the apple core.

     “Ack, Gil only snow” Penny yelped batting the apple core away from her. 

     “Why are we throwing snow...it’s kinda fun” Gil asked as he tossed another handful at Penny. 

     “That’s why we’re doing it” she nodded ducking behind Koga. As Harry threw a snowball at her.

     Koga looked down as the ball of snow smacked him in the chest, “Seriously Hook?”

     Io smiled slightly watching them, of course Penny would have a Mainlander game to play with snow.

     “Wasn’t aiming for ye” Harry said already making another ball. Penny darted for the main mast scooping up snow as she went. She laughed as Gil got her with a handful of powder, he didn’t quite seem to get the making a ball part.

     Koga reached down and grabbed a fist full of snow and lobbed it at Harry.

     Harry dodged Koga’s toss only to take a ball to the face from Penny. He tossed his ball at her, clipping her shoulder as she ducked back behind the mast, “She started this why are ye throwing at me?” he looked at Koga.

     “Cause he likes me more than you” Penny laughed not paying attention to Gil as he came around behind her and dropped an armful of snow over her head, “oh shit, that cold” Penny laughed jumping around trying to get the snow out of her hood. She hopped her way over to Io, ducking behind her still trying to get the snow out, “Base, Io is Base” 

     “What’s base?” Gil asked confused

     “It mean not throwing snow at me if I’m behind Io” Penny explained.

     “Also because this base will stab you,” Io commented.

     Koga smirked, “Come on Crocodile, live a little. I'm older than you and I still know how to have fun.”

     “This is really fun...cold though” Gil nodded as he tried to put snow down Harry’s shirt.

     “Gilly come on now, we should be a united front against Pin” Harry tried to dodge around.

     “No team ups unless I get the girls,” Koga mentioned making another ball and lobbed it at them

     “Why do you get the girls?” Gil asked

     “Yeah, Pin’s our girl” Harry looked at the tiger.

     “Yeah, What Harry said” Gil nodded throwing a handful at Koga.

     “Cause your girl already used me as a shield. You want in Io?”

     “Come play with us?” Penny asked Io with playful big eyes.

     Io sighed easing her pack onto the deck, “Fine...” what was the harm really, wasn't like there was anything else to do since she had finished the run already.

     “Now wait a sec, I think Io counts as two, so we get Pin” Harry tried to reason only to have Penny nail him in the shoulder again.

     “I count as two? Harry are you worried?” Io smirked picking up a handful of snow and threw it at Harry's face.

     “Course I’m not worried I just know facts. And letting ye two be on Koga’s team don’t end will for Gilly and me” Harry defended spitting out a mouthful of snow.

     “He’s shaking in his boots” Penny cackled.

     “As he should be,” Koga smirked grabbing another giant handful and lobbed it at Gil, “He never wins against us with anything.”

     “But it is entertaining to watch Gil put you in head locks,” Io snickered as Gil tended to resort to grappling with Koga rather than trying to fight her, he didn't like fighting her. Said he didn't like the idea of potentially hurting her.

     “Now that would be something to see” Penny nailed Gil in the back of the head as he laughed brushing snow off his front.

     “Gil just knows a fight he can’t win” Harry shrugged tossing a snowball at Io’s knee.

     She shifted her leg lobbing another ball this time aiming for between his legs. Koga tossing one towards his chest. 

     “So is there any actual point to this or just because?”

     “Just cause,” Penny said hitting Gil in the ass. He yelped turning and looking at her with wide eyes.

     “What are you 5 doing? You're going to freeze,” Smee asked as he looked at them from the door to the Captain's cabin.

     “Some mainland thing,” Koga offered exchanging a look with Io, “Good way to kill time. Ain’t nothing else to do, Crocodile finished the run already.”

     Io scooped up another handful of snow and tossed it at the door frame, the ball exploded on impact spraying snow across Smee’s cheeks without doing any damage.

     “Really now, was that necessary, Crocodile?” Smee asked dusting some snow from his cheek.

     “We’re having fun, Mr. Smee. Can’t fault us for that,” Penny laughed as Gil picked her up using her as a shield from on coming snow. “Gil this is cheating”

     “Pirate love” Harry laughed

     “Don’t be out too long, won't do for any of you to get sick”

     “Come on Smee, I didn’t even do much more than get you a dustin’,” Io grinned wildly, “If I was sure Captain wouldn’t be threatening to hook us all I’d do it to him.”

     “Yer right I would be hooking ye my Crocodile,” Killian stated hand resting on the door holding it, “But I am glad to see ye kids being kids fer once.”

     Koga smirked, “We’re trouncing your kid Cap, you wanna help save him?”

     “Ye team up against my son?”

     “Gil’s suppose to be on my side” Harry said ducking as Penny threw a ball from Gil’s back, “But I’m thinking he’s a turncoat on this matter.”

     “She makes a better offer” Gil shrugged.

     Killian smiled softly, “Come on Mr. Smee, time to help me boy. When’s the last time we ever threw a snowball,” he smiled grabbing his coat.

     Koga and Io exchanged a look, “Trouble.”

     “Must have been a while ago” Smee smiled grabbing his scarf before pulling his hat down further.

     “Um...Gilly I don’t see this ending well for us” Penny looked at the grown ups.

     “So...surrender?” Gil asked looking at her over his shoulder.

     “Never, we never give up, never surrender” Penny shook her head, he nodded scooping up more snow.

     Killian grabbed a handful of snow and used his hooked wrist to make a halfway decent snowball. Throwing it he hit his Crocodile right in the chest.

     Io huffed looking at the snow, “Oh it is on Captain.”

     Koga laughed until he was smacked in the side of the face with a snowball, “Alright you assholes,” he growled grabbing two fistfuls of snow.

     Harry made a few balls quickly going after Gil and Penny.

     Smee threw some at Koga, laughing it had been a while since they had just relaxed.

     Gil dodged Harry accidently dumping Penny into a pile of snow.

     “Gil you derp” Penny yelped

     “Oops” Gil scratched the back of his neck looking at her as Harry pelted him.

     Koga chucked a ball at Penny and the other at Smee as Io started giggling, “You alright there girly.”

     “My dear tiger, you’re fucking purring,” Io bit back her laughter hearing the start of a deep rumbling noise coming out of her ally.

     “I don’t want to talk about it,” Koga looked embarrassed but he was enjoying himself, this was... fun. The Isle didn’t do fun like this, fun for him was hunting, stalking, the kind of predator things his father had instilled in him, but this was a nice change.

     “Yeah, I think I’ve got snow in my pants” Penny said as she reclaimed her feet and started throwing more balls at Harry and Killian.

     Smee stepped in front of Killian taking the hit.

     Killian leaned around Smee and threw a ball at Gil and Penny as several of his men came aboard looking at the scene before them in confusion, “Well don’t stand there ye landlubbers pick one of the young crew and help.”

     Io ducked a ball and winged one at Killian’s shins, “Come on boys help your Crocodile out.”

     “Rather help yer Stickpin,” one of them laughed, “No offense love but ye got yer tiger, gotta even the field.”

     “Everyone is wrapped around her finger” Harry threw more at Penny as she ducked behind Gil again.

     “Oh...” Smee put his hand on his head as one of the balls took his hat from his head.

     Killian reached down grabbing the hat and gave it a good shake, “Now this is no time to lose yer head Mr. Smee,” he gave his old friend a smile, “We ‘ave a snow war to win.”

     “Not all of us are wrapped around ‘er finger,” One of the other men smiled ruffling Harry’s hair, “Gotta look ‘fter the Cap.”

     “Ye all bloody traitors,” Io’s growl turned into a startled squeak as she was hefted off her feet by the anchorman, “Put me down Aarosh or I will stab you!”

     He laughed, voice like thick gravel, “Crocodile getting up an arms for nothing,” he settled her on the railing and rolled up a massive ball.

     “Aarosh don’t ye dare,” Killian warned as the dark skinned male picked the ball and tossed it at on the adult on Penny’s side. 

     “I’d never hit you Captain, swear to the ship,” Aarosh laughed again, glad to see the crew enjoying life for once.

     Penny darted around the crew throwing balls at Io and Koga.

     “I like this fun, it’s...fun” Gil tried to find the word.

     “Aye it is Gilly,” Harry agreed shoving snow down Gil’s shirt making him hop around. Penny lost her footing at the same time crashing into them. They looked at each other for a second before cracking up as they laid in a tangle of limbs.

     Io ducked behind Koga as she dropped back down to the deck winging balls at the crew’s shins. She was glad Penny had been forced here, these were the moments she would have never been able to give her crew without her. 

-*-

     When Killian finally called an end to the snow war, most of the crew had been pulled into it, and the surrounding wharf was concerned about what exactly had the ship crew in such an uproar.

     “Alright me crew, time to warm up! Stoke the fires in the barracks, warm the rum! We celebrate a victory to all,” Killian grinned glad to see his men so energized.

     “I’ve got to get home, before dad comes hunting for me,” Koga apologized putting a massive hand on Penny’s head, “This was fun. We should do it again.”

     “Agreed,” Io nodded, it was almost time for her to leave as well. 

     “Well it works best if it's spontaneous, that way no one is expecting to get hit until it's too late” Penny said yawning a little, this was what she had needed to stretch her muscles and to see Gil and Harry actually have some fun.

     “Oh I can do spontaneous,” Harry smirked, “but we should probably get out of these clothes.”

     “And that’s my cue,” Io snorted, “You three have a lovely time getting naked and all that. I’ll be back in the morning with a warm breakfast.”

     “Bye Io, be careful” Gil called watching her go as Harry pulled Penny off towards their cabin.

Chapter 66: High Run Villains (IoL: January)

     “You don’t have to worry so Papa. She will be fine, she is doing the run with Koga in plain sight,” Io sighed as she ladled some of the porridge she had made the crew into the container.

     “And yet I worry. He was there when she was stabbed and you nearly lost the best chance of getting us off the Isle. I don’t understand why you have to risk her like this.”

     “She is going to notice if I don’t give her the same work as the others, and she has proven herself capable enough. Think about it Papa, I have to keep her trust, in a way where I can nurture the dark in her heart, I can guide it, let it grow until there are more thorns than flowers, make her more beast than princess. That way when the time comes she won’t hesitate to put this crew of mine, first. I can shape her, the structure is there, has been for longer than she has been here, you just have to trust in me to do this,” Io said calmly, hands resting on the counter.

     “There are going to be questions Darlene, there already are questions. Cora is not sitting idle in her room of silent hearts, she is making moves to speed the timeline I have created up. Iracebeth is already asking when my Blade is going to make use of anything she learned.”

     “Well your blade has a plan, and the plan takes time. So they will have to suck it up and let us work,” Io rolled her eyes.

-*-

     Penny sat cross legged on the bed while Gil braided her hair. Harry was lounging next her tossing a balled up sock side to side.

     Io pushed the door open, “Morning my lambs, breakfast.”

     “Morning” Penny waved as Gil tied off the braid.

     “What did you bring us?” Gil asked excitedly.

     “Porridge,” she set the box down on the small crate that served as an end table as she collected the box from the day before. Today was the day. She would see how, particularly Jafar, would do with Penny and Koga. Especially since she and Koga normally did that run. Granted there was a section of that run no one but she would do, and that was New Underland. No matter what Penny thought herself capable of handling, she would never be able to handle them.

     “Yummy” Gil bounced over to open the box.

     “So Pin, you ready for the dry run today?” she asked looked at the girl with her braided hair.

     “More than ready” Penny nodded, as Harry looked unsure.

     He knew Io wouldn’t let anything happen to her, but he was protective. Smee said he got it from his da. So he’d keep his mouth shut about not liking this. Plus, he was pretty sure his princess wasn’t joking about stabbing him.

     “Good. Well eat up,” she gestured to the porridge, “Never go and do this run on an empty stomach.”

     “Yes, Crocodile” Penny said taking a spoon from Gil as he opened the box.

     Io nodded giving Harry a pointed look, she knew no matter how much he trusted her, he would never let his full faith rest on her shoulders. He never had, but it was at least a controllable factor. What she didn’t like was hearing that the Underland Queens were restless. She should go and ease their minds but she needed to stay away from Underland for just a little longer, needed to make sure Penny could handle the others. Handle being a gentle term.

     “Taking Koga today or is he with his da doing god knows what,” Harry asked.

     “It’s a dry run Harry, I don’t need Koga. Plus it’s feed swap day,” Io shrugged a shoulder, “I can handle it without him.”

     “If you say so” he sighed taking a spoon. Penny gave him a look before continuing to eat.

     “Again with this shit Harry? I am beginning to think Pin would make a better first mate in this crew or Koga, as neither of them question if I can keep another one of the crew safe,” Io gave him a passive stoney look, the cold monster beneath the grin showing.

     “It’s not ye keeping her safe I’m worried about,” Harry snapped, “She’s never been on this run, hence why ye are doing a dry run. She don’t know where to watch, and she ain’t very scary unless ye get close enough for her to stick ye. It’s my job to question ye for the safety of everyone, including yer own.” 

     She was silent for a moment, head tilted to the side as she simply observed Harry. There was a tension in the room as Gil kept his eyes down before the edges of her lips quirked up on one side, “And ‘ere I was just thinking it was fer ye to tell me no,” She teased before adding in a much more serious tone, “My Stickpin is a very quick learner dearie. But if it will ease yer ‘art, I’ll go fetch Koga from his da ‘fore we do the dry run.” he was concerned about her safety, well he would have been much more worried if he knew where she lived and who her father was and who knew exactly who she was. Which is why she kept it quiet. Her father couldn't be given a weakness, which is why she had made herself known as only his Blade. She took her work for him as seriously as she took being the Jaws of the Jollyroger, especially since he rarely needed to call on her particular brand of reminding.

     “That would ease my concern some yes,” Harry nodded, “Just want to make sure the crew stay’s whole, nothing’s right when one of us isn’t alright.” 

     “I’m not sure whether to hit you in the face or not” Penny dead panned from his side, “For now we’ll go with not”

     She almost rolled her eyes, “Fine, then ye sit there and tell ‘er what to look fer while I go fetch my darling tiger.” 

     “I will,” Harry nodded trying to not look like he was on edge, maybe it was just the winter or whatever he just didn’t like any of the crew going anywhere alone. At least not for work reasons.

     Io eased outside taking a deep breath and releasing it, the cold coiling around her limbs in a familiar embrace, “Soon. I’ll find a way out of here soon,” she muttered to herself heading down the gangplank and towards the Khan house. Shere would not be very happy about her taking his son off his hands, particularly today, but hopefully he would just let her do what needed doing.

     Killian leaned against the cabin wall watching her as she walked through the frigid temperatures without a care. He knew about the change in runners, he tried to dissuade her, but in the end she had convinced him it was for the best this way. Those were the times he saw the most of her father in her. She was setting the board up for something, but what, he couldn’t see.

 

     “One of these days she’s gonna stab you with your own hook Harry” Gil said before slurping down more porridge, “you could have just offered to go with them.”

     “Too late now, she’s left to get Koga,” Penny added.

     “Oh, shut it ye two, made a call based on what I know of the high runs. It ain’t that I don’t trust Pin or Crocodile, but I want someone else at least at their backs even if its a distance” Harry growled at them, he did his bleeding job and suddenly he was the bad guy. 

-*-

     Io had been right, Shere had not been pleased. Tried to guilt her into helping, not that it worked. He gave up when she detailed how she was going to skin him using his own claws. Koga had smacked the back of her shoulder once they were back in the cold but said nothing else, seeming to know she was in a bit of a foul mood. Walking back to the wharf was tedious in the cold weather especially when Koga started grumbling about it not being sunny enough and he could smell another snow coming. Jafar was going to be in a world of hurt if he tried to start shit with her today, especially after the damn tantrum he threw over cutting his chin.

     “Welcome back” Penny called from her place sitting on the rail of the deck. Harry was standing over by his Da’s cabin absorbing the heat passing through the walls, and Gil was trying to wash out the porridge box down below.

     “Thanks,” Koga offered as Io flashed a thin near murderous looking smile, “I wouldn’t ask, you ready to go Pin.” He advised carefully.

     “Yep yeppers” she nodded pulling her hood up and straightening her gloves, “Let's get the show on the road, so to speak.”

     Io turned on her heel and whisked herself down the gangplank as Koga glanced at Harry, “I’ll keep an eye on them Harry,” he wasn’t stupid, he knew exactly why he was getting dragged on a dry run. In all honesty this run really needed to be done with three people, but they just didn’t have the crew to do it, so they made do. Some of them, the older ones, AKA Cruella, were a handful and a half. To be honest Koga wasn’t really sure how Io managed to keep such a good grip on all of them either. Not to mention the runs she did with no back up what so ever, those were the ones that scared even him.

     Penny followed after Io casting a glance over her shoulder to see the brief exchange between Koga and Harry before Koga was right behind them.

     Io moved through the streets of the District and the lingering few edged away, Snatchers pulling back into the alleys. She was on a mission, especially since these crazies were the ones you didn't want to screw with. First stop was Governor Ratcliffe, the bastard of a racist. He hated Koga, from his darker skin color to the fact he wasn't even fully human, but he didn't try anything terrible after Shere paid him a visit for stabbing his son. But he lived closest to the District as he had sold his own daughter to Madame Medusa for food one winter. For an Isle of Villains, that had made quite a stir.

     Koga watched as they cut down one of Uma's marked streets, he hadn't noticed her trying to expand this way. He would fix that when they were done the dry run.

     Penny stayed close to Io but, watched the buildings around them making a map in her head.

     Io stopped in front of a small little town house, the windows dark from the pulled curtains and smoke curled out of the broken chimney. She banged on the door, Koga at the bottom of the stairs ready to bowl her and Penny over to get the still somewhat portly ex governor.

     The door swung open and he looked down his large hooked nose at her, “Payment isn’t until next week Crocodile,” he spat her name in distaste even as his eyes raked over her frame.

     “Here to inform you I won’t be coming around next week for the collection. Koga and Pin will be here,” she moved slightly to the side to reveal Penny, “You touch Pin and I will make you wish you could die. Koga has permission to rip you open and eat you on the spot if you try anything.”

     He huffed, “For such a pretty face you are no better than a savage,” he sneered having already lost an ear when he tried to force the pretty young form into his home. He eyed the half cloaked and hooded figure, another female, this one with a longer sword, but a proper white girl nonetheless, perhaps she would be an easier catch than her leader.

     Penny studied the man. Not much was said about him in the mainlands. But then again, there weren't many that cared, even the tribes didn’t care to speak of him for any length of time.

     “A quiet one I see, well then I look forward to seeing you next week, maybe you will be more, entertaining, than her,” he gave a look of distaste towards Crocodile. 

     “I wouldn’t count on it” Penny snorted, “I’ve been told I tend to stab first and ask questions later” 

     He made an indignant noise and pulled back into the house slamming the door. Io shifted putting Penny between her and Koga just incase.

     “Be careful he will attempt to drag you into his house,” Io warned as they walked towards the massive Church some mainlander had erected on the Isle.

     “I dare him to try, no ones getting the drop on me again” Penny said pushing her hood back a little to look at Io, “I didn’t know religion was a thing on the Isle” she turned looking at the church.

     “It isn’t,” Koga supplied softly not liking the way this place always made his skin crawl, but then again he and his father had put more than a few of the people in here.

     “There are no gods on the Isle, just the sinners and the damned,” Frollo stated as he tidied up the large gate, “So we make due without,” his lips pursed as he looked them over, “More for me to take care of Crocodile?”

     “Not today. Dry run for your new tax collector,” Io supplied as they followed him onto the Church’s un hallowed grounds and inside the massive structure. Pews replaced with hundreds of makeshift cots. Drooling men, women and children silent and complacent about the care they were receiving by a few young children. Io spotted more than a few of the ones her crew had sent here missing limbs that she had taken in her rage, or had been torn off in Koga’s. 

     Penny looked around taking in the injuries and the... well she wasn’t sure what was wrong with some of them. This wasn’t a church, it wasn't a hospital either, the closest thing she would think of was an asylum. Somewhere where those that couldn’t be helped anymore came to die. But no one could die here so they were just stuck laying here, “Can they... do they still feel things after the point in which they should have died?”

     He looked at her, she was clearly new to this crew if she was asking a thing like that, “Some yes, so we make them as comfortable as they can be. Others,” he stopped next to a boy and tipped his head to show the flat crushed portion of his skull wrapped in bandages, “Not a thing. It is a pity we have come to such carnage, but there are monsters in this place that cannot be subdued by magic alone,” he looked at Koga, “Monsters that feed on human flesh,” he looked at Io, “And other much more terrible monsters that enjoy the torment of others.”

     Koga growled softly and some of the patients shifted uneasily knowing the monster that had put them there was close, “Recruiting Frollo?”

     “Oh I would never dream of such a thing,” He offered hand on chest as if he were offended by the words, “Simply explaining the situation to an ear hopefully more willing to listen than the others.”

     “Sometimes it takes bigger monsters to control and terrify the little monsters. No one on this isle can claim they are not a monster in some way. That man in the corner for instance, well I know exactly how he ended up here. Let me assure you, Frollo, he deserved to be sucking on his own manhood when he arrived,” Penny shrugged, letting that darker part of her come forward. She felt for these people especially the children but, she would not give into it for weakness.

     Frollo sighed, another damned soul he could not save, “Of course, of course. We hide our grievances behind our demons.”

     Io rolled her eyes, “Next week Pin and Koga will be here to collect, don’t make me come here and take one of your pretty little altar boys apart again. It is so heartbreaking when they are crying and screaming for you to save them because you won’t pay your tax to the Jollyroger.”

     “Our demons are what makes us Human, I’ll see you next week” Penny shook her head following after Io.

     Koga stuck to Penny’s back, “I hate that guy,” he grumbled as they walked back into the cold.

     “I hate him ‘cause he doesn’t like paying.”

     “Then you’d hate him more if you knew what he smells like,” Koga mentioned as they left the Church grounds and headed up the hill to a small cottage all by itself with a short stone fence that would have looked rather pleasant if not for the dead rotting plants in the flower beds.

     “Huh... who lives here?” Penny asked looked at the dead plants, suddenly thinking about the royal green house. Of the flowers that her mother said were there just for her, to celebrate that Penny was there. She’d hated those flowers.

     “Mother Gothel,” Io stated softly glancing to the small girl sitting in the window of the attic, her soft blue eyes, and blonde hair. 

     “Looks like Molly is doing okay still,” Koga said softly looking up at the window, “You are sure I can’t break her out and take her to Mimzy?”

     “We need to leave her there, for now it is safer locked in that attic than anywhere on this Isle,” Io stated giving the girl a nod as she waved a welcome, “When we get out and secure things in the Mainland we’ll rescue her. But not a minute before.”

     “Who is she? I thought mother Gothel was...well old” Penny asked looking up at the little blonde.

     “Don’t know really, my birds say she's an unclaimed that Gothel took pity on” Io shook her head, “But her name is Molly, she has been in there since we started doing runs for the Captain. She hasn’t aged, whatever Gothel is doing to her seems like it is keeping her young.”

     The door opened and Mother Gothel looked at them imposing from the doorway, “What do you want?”

     “Just a new face for the run next week,” Io replied easily looking the older woman over as she slammed the door shut and Molly quickly vanished from the window.

     The older woman stormed towards them and Koga moved, baring her way claws extending fully as his lips pulled back in a snarl. She stopped short curling back on herself as she eyed him warily, “You wouldn’t hurt an old woman would you?”

     “Back yourself up and no,” Koga growled firmly planted between her and the girls, “But keep on coming as yeah I’ll take a bite out of you old or not.”

     “I wonder are old people more tender than others?” Penny mused looking at Gothel with a tilted head.

     “Nope, younger the meat the more tender, older it gets the tougher it is,” Koga supplied as she back up touching her necklace.

     “Such a pretty young face Crocodile....”

     “Yes, and one that knows how to stab,” Io replied as Koga stepped aside slightly, “You won’t give my Pin any hassle now will you? Wouldn’t want to put poor Molly at risk would you?”

     Penny flashed Gothel an overly sweet smile as she fingered her scraper.

     “No Crocodile, just leave my Molly be you know it isn’t safe for her. She is such a delicate little flower, I have to keep her safe.”

     “I know, and she will stay safe with you as long as you don’t give us any more hassle.”

     “Of course not, of course not,” Mother Gothel edged back inside, quickly closing the door behind her.

     Koga cracked his neck, “It’s only going to get worse from here. See that,” there was a large mound of what looked like rubble with thick smoke curling out of it, “That’s the next stop. Also the reason we have all the haze here on the Isle.”

     “What is it? Or well who?” Penny asked looking where he motioned.

     “Chernabog.” Io said simply as they walked towards the pile, dealing with the demon was well like trying to talk her way around her father. Complicated.

     “Generally he ain’t big on visitors and well the minions he has are complicated, they smell diseased...”

     “So his minions are sickly?” she asked, she couldn’t say she recognized the name.

     “Diseased not sickly,” Io knew it was hard to explain as one of them moved towards them flesh grey and gaunt eyes burning like dim embers.

     “Wwwwwhhhat bringssssss yoooooou Crocccccccodileeeee?” the words were delivered on a swollen black tongue as it’s head cocked birdlike at her.

     “A new face for the payment. Is your master awake?” Io asked as Koga hung back unsettled by its stench of sulfur.

     “Caaaaaaaaaan Waaaaaaaaaaakkkke?”

     “If it wouldn’t make him irate, she will be here next week for the collection,” Io soothed the creature who made a deep cuckling noise, eyes glowing brighter as it went stiff.

     “Crocodile, little little Crocodile,” the thick rumbling voice echoed over the ground emanating from both the rubble pile and the minion closest to them.

     “Chernabog,” Io stated glancing at the pile, “I was bringing my new runner up to speed for next week’s collection. You do remember even you have to pay up correct?”

     “Me pay?” the creature went to lunge and was met with Io’s blade at its throat.

     “Chernabog we had this talk, made a deal, you pay the Jollyroger, your children get food. You don’t pay and I will cut them down. That’s the deal we agreed on, no more no less, simple terms of engagement.”

     “But she is not you,” the pile of rubble started to shift.

     Penny shifted closer to Koga her hand going to the hilt of her sword, this thing didn’t sound happy.

     “True enough,” Io licked her lips, “But she is one of mine, and Koga will be here. They come here because it is what I will it. You have your children to do your bidding, I have my crew mates to do mine.”

     “He did not make the deal Crocodile. You made the deal,” Chernabog shifted partially into the light and stretched it’s massive wings, “Come now girl, making me wake in winter for such simple matters. The deal we made is yours and mine. Nothing else than that.”

     “Then I shall not permit your children to come to my wharf and retrieve the spoils of our deal. You will have to come out of your rubble and come to my wharf if that is us keeping to our deal.” she looked passively at him, eyes cold as the winter around them.

     It had the desired result as he growled, massive hand slamming the earth, as most of his body remained entrenched in the rubble, “Little mortal girl thinks she can twist the deal!”

     “We are all immortals here Chernabog. As long as the Barrier holds there is no death that walks along we mortal in form. So think carefully, which is easier, sticking to the deal where you hand one of the Jollyroger crew money and your children can collect the spoils, or tightening the deal so I come to collect and you go to collect for yours? That is assuming you can slip the magic that binds you here ”

     He swiped at her and her hand went up palm on his as he froze at the contact, “Fine Crocodile, our current arrangement will stand. My children go, and your crew come.”

     “A very wise decision my dear,” she dipped her head as the massive demon withdrew and tucked himself back into the rubble, “Time to go.”

     Koga nodded pulling Penny back with him as the three of them backed out and away. He did not like her making deals with that thing.

     Penny studied Io, what had just happened playing her head. It seemed like a case of deja vu but, she couldn’t figure out from where. She’d certainly never seen that thing before.

     “I still don’t know how he never just crushes you,” Koga shuddered his short fur on end.

     “There may not be any gods on the Isle, but he still plays by the old rules,” Io smirked, a small ancient symbol tattooed to the inside of her index finger covered by one of her father’s rings. She would have to stitch it into Penny’s gloves or on the inside of Jay’s old bracers the girl insisted on wearing.

     “What does that mean?” she asked tilting her head at Io, she thought there weren’t any rules on the isle.

     “Chernabog is an ancient evil, and evil’s like that still adhere to the rules they had out there on the mainland. This place for him is just an inconvenient prison cell. I’ll make sure you have a way to keep yourself safe from him,” Io offered, “Something less permanent than what I did, but then again I never expected to have you join us here.”

     “No one expected you here Pin, but we’ve adjusted well all things considered,” Koga agreed, “Three left on the run, for you they will be the hardest to swallow.”

     “Harder than that thing?” she raised an eyebrow at him. What could possibly be harder to swallow than that?

     “Harder because you know their children,” Io knew it would be hardest to face Jafar, she had trouble facing him without wanting to run him through over and over again with her blade. 

     Koga let his wrist rub Io’s silently for a moment before her hand flicked away from the subtle calming gesture. He was incharge of keeping her under control on these last three, it had been four but well with the evil fairy gone things had moved a little smoother.

     “Those three? They pay the captain too? For what, don’t they just like take whatever they want no matter what?” Penny asked in disbelief, she guessed she did know they had to have been paying to get stuff they wanted but she never thought of them dealing with Io. Besides that brief run in at the bazaar, with Jafar.

     “Oh they pay the Jollyroger, have since I became it’s Crocodile and cut their children off from my wharf. With their children gone they have no choice in the paying, they don’t pay, I take it from them by force.”

     “And no one likes it when she uses force,” Koga snickered having been there to witness his father slamming Cruella across her desk meaning to take her when she screamed that she would pay. 

     It wasn’t long before the large decrepit house on the hill was in sight. The car sitting in the driveway gleaming. The craziest of the bunch, then the kindest backstabber, and finally the most vindictive one.

     “What’s the point of having a car on the isle? Not like there’s anywhere to drive” Penny looked at the car.

     “Nostalgia?” Io offered as they walked up the drive and onto the front stairs, she banged on the door knowing the doorbell no longer worked.

     The thin once fashionista turned crazy villainess thundered to the door, “CARLOS!” she shrieked, where was that damnedable son of hers. Likely still off playing with some gadget or fucking that damned thief Jafar claimed as son, that foul abomination.

     Koga glanced at Io's back, “You wonder if she’ll ever remember that her son is on the Mainland?”

     “No. I doubt she will,” She shook her head listening to the sound of her stomping through her house screaming for her son.

     “So she’s a total nutter” Penny said listening to the yells getting closer to the door.

     “Oh yeah,” Koga affirmed as the door was yanked open to the thin woman with wild black and white hair.

     “Cruella, you going to have the payment ready next week?” Io went straight to the point.

     Cruella blinked at them hip leaning against the doorway, “Crocodile...”

     “Yes Cruella, payment next week.”

     The woman frowned lifting her long cigarette to her lips, “Yes what of it?”

     “New collector, will be here next week. Pin. You think you can handle that?”

     Pin looked at Cruella from around Io, she wasn’t sure exactly what to make of the crazy bitch. But as long as she paid up Penny supposed she didn’t really care.

     Cruella leaned in blowing smoke towards them, “Scared little duckling isn't she,” she huffed, “Don’t know why you wanted to give someone else the job. I mean your tiger is sufficient isn’t he?”

     “Cruella don't push your luck. Pin will be coming with Koga, you'll treat her as kind as you treat me. Or Captain and Shere will come here to readjust your attitude.”

     She huffed annoyed, “Fine fine. But send me more skins won't you? And my lazy son if you find him?”

     “What exactly are in those smokes cause Carlos has been on the mainland for almost I don’t know a year. If we were to run into him I think the last place he’d come is back here” Penny snorted, maybe Cruella was on some type of drug.

     “My son... on the mainland...” She started laughing, “Don’t be ridiculous dear, he is probably off with that filthy son of Jafar or EQ’s harlot.”

     Io made a face, “Well you aren’t wrong...”

     “Um... I know she’s not stable and all but, I think she’s a few apples short of a basket” Penny looked at Io.

     Koga snickered and moved back away from the cackling Cruella, “Alright time to go, crazy laughing is not my idea of a good time.”

     “Agreed. Time to pop by EQ’s any way.”

     “And EQ I’m guessing mean’s Evil Queen, as in Evie’s mom,” Penny said following Koga.

     “Yes, EQ is Evil Queen, Grunhilde.” Io nodded as they walked towards the large castle outside of town.

     “She ain’t bad really, just don’t eat anything she offers you, 90 percent of the time it’s poisoned,” Koga licked at his lips shuddering at the frigid air that whistled around them. 

     “Right, I thought it was a general rule not to eat anything not from the crew anyway” Penny made a face.

     “It is, but let’s just say Grunhilde is big on the manners thing. The proper princess and all that jazz,” Io carelessly gestured with one hand as they walked, “We just let her do her thing and then she pays us. With luck she will forgo the whole sit down for a spell thing.”

     “So... do I act like a princess or like a pirate?” Penny looked confused.

     “Pirate Princess?” Koga offered, “Go Pirate Princess.”

     “I can do that... I think” Penny nodded.

     “There’s a thought,” Io snickered, “You being Hook’s kid... No Davy Jones, much better as Davy Jones.”

     “Your Wonderland is showing Crocodile,” Koga muttered, “I swear you really need to take yourself off the runs down there. Find some hapless adult to do them for you and go from there, your bouts are getting out of control recently.”

     “I don’t have any idea what you are referring to kitten cat,” Io shot back with a dark look at him as he flashed his teeth at her, “I am perfectly fine.”

     “Um, actually Elizabeth Swan is the king of pirates, so a Pirate Princess would be her kid” Penny explained looking between them as the tension seemed to rise.

     “Fair enough but the current Davy Jones is married to the Pirate King, so a child of Davy Jones is Pirate Royalty.” Io explained, “Though I liked fish face better. Captain said he was a treat the one time they ran across the Dutchman. That was before they shot off to Neverland.”

     “I’ve heard that Captain Turner isn’t so bad, but I can’t say I ever met him” Penny mused, “Just heard stories.”

     Io made a noise in the back of her throat and guided them up and into the massive gated area that was Evil Queen’s territory. The apple trees were everywhere dark red skins covering their deadly insides. No magic needed for those things to kill you. She had gleaned that only one or two of the entire orchard was actually edible. The rest were bred for killing while looking harmless. Koga hadn’t quite located which was the edible ones yet.

     “I’m gonna guess that these are those special wishing apples” Penny looked warily at the gleaming red fruits.

     “One maybe two trees are normal apples,” Koga said as they walked, “But I haven't found them yet.”

     “Thought you only ate meat” she raised an eyebrow at him.

     “Mostly meat,” He rolled a shoulder, “But all my allies are omnivores, and I got a good nose. She makes me eat other food,” he gestured to Io whose eyes were flicking through the trees keeping an eye out.

     “Probably a good thing since you're half human and all” Penny nodded.

     “That's what they tell me at least.” Koga snorted.

     Io thumped the knocker on the door and waited patiently hearing the Queen bellowing at her minions to get the door. A slim tall man opened the door bowing and silently showed them in. Walking them into the dim castle to a formal sitting room where the queen was perched regal and refined.

     Her dark cognac eyes followed their entry into her room, “Crocodile you are early.”

     “A thousand pardons Queen Grunhilde. I wanted to make introductions before her prompt arrival next week for our designated meeting,” Io spoke smoothly giving the queen a bit of her father's sweeping gestures.

     “You know I detest such spur of the moment meetings,” Her lips tightened without pursing, conveying her venom with barely a change in expression.

     “A necessary evil your majesty,” Koga rumbled, “Crocodile did not wish to give you a new contact without warning.”

     “We really do not mean to disturb your day, your majesty” Penny added folding her hands in front of her.

     The Queen preened under the apologies, “I am glad you understand how valuable my time is. So polite.”

     Io smiled tightly, “Your majesty I present, Pin. She will be your new contact with Jollyroger. Of course Koga will always be here at your request.”

     Penny dipped a little at the knees, “I’m sure that we won’t have any problems” 

     “Finally someone who knows how to properly curtsey,” she inclined her head, “This one will do nicely. You three can go now, I will see that everything is ready for next week.”

     “Of course your majesty,” Koga nodded backing up. 

     Penny moved with Koga giving another dip of the knees as they were dismissed.

     Io gave her a bow as they backed away and were guided out of the castle, “That could have gone worse. Glad she took to you.”

     “Guess being a princess is actually useful” Penny shrugged.

     “With her, yeah that's important,” Koga nodded, “Still haven't figured out why she wants me there all the time.”

     “We don't ask,” Io shook her head as they headed toward the town, “So last stop you won't be meeting him, we need to make sure he won’t recognize you before I let you do the collection.”

     “Why would he recognize me? I don’t think I’ve ever met him” Penny asked, why would Jay’s dad know what she looked like.

     “Jafar may sell junk but he likes to try and collect information including images,” Io tried to explain that Jafar liked to think he was the smartest one on the Isle. “So we check what he knows.”

     “Whatever you say Io” Penny nodded, “I’ll hang out and people watch”

     Koga nodded, “He might have Jay's bird outside, you can play with him.”

     “Just watch your fingers if he is, the bird bites,” Io affirmed as they moved.

     “I’ll keep that in mind” she winced at the thought of getting bitten. Jay spoke highly of Iago.

     They stopped in front of Jafar's Junk Shop and Koga glanced at Io, “Want me to stick with you or Pin? Can I trust you won't stab him?”

     “Stay out here with Pin, I will be fine with him alone.” Io assured him as her eyes glanced over the shivering red bird who eyed her.

     Koga nodded as she slipped inside and he moved, blocking the front door, eye on Penny, ears on Io.

     Penny slowly approached Iago, “Hello pretty” she said softly as she reached into her pockets to find the little bit of hard tack from last night.

     Iago looked between them and sniffed at her, “My Jay, My Jay.” he could smell his boy on her somewhere. He shuffled on the perch, head twisting to find it.

     “Clever” she smiled pulling her glove up to reveal the weaved red yarn bracelet.

     Iago carefully bit at the bracelet before taking the tack from her fingers, chomping it back before nudging her for more, “More, more more?”

     Koga snickered, “Looks like you made a new minion.”

     “Sorry I don’t have any more. I’ll bring some next week” Penny promised slowly bringing her finger to stroke his head. 

     Iago shuffled away from the fingers, “No touch, no touch. Jay, my Jay.”

     “Alright no touch. Jay’s safe, promise. He’s my friend,” she assured.

-*-

     “Afternoon Jafar,” Io smirked closing the door behind her, eyes flicking over the hoard of crap lingering on the rug still lying under a shelf of large heavy TVs.

     “Crocodile,” he nearly grimaced seeing her, “I see you've recovered.”

     “Well I'm young, I bounce back quick when I'm irate.” she replied fingers brushing over the heavy shelf Jay had once slept under.

     “What brings you in? Something I can sell to you?”

     “Information.”

     Jafar stiffened as she leaned on the counter, “What do you want to know?”

     “Just a few things. Been feeding those eels like I asked?”

     He scoffed, he only fed them when he could be bothered to do so, “Of course, they are better than a vault at keeping things safe. Just ask me what you really want.”

     “Princess of Auradon, everything you got.”

     “That royal brat? I know no one has seen her in any public appearances for months. Rumors here are that she likely lost her mind and they have her locked up somewhere. I mean that is what King Adam is good at locking people away.”

     “That it?” Io asked giving him a bland look.

     “What do you want a full body description? It's a girl, she likely looks like her brother, and she's probably as stuck up as the rest of the royals. I could only wish that idiot of mine would do something useful and knock one of them up. Then I could petition the council to get out of this shit hole where I get accosted by no name brats like you.”

     Io’s lip curled in distaste, “You are lucky I can't kill you here. Have the Jollyroger’s payment ready next week, I’m sending Koga and our new recruit to collect it.” she set a piece of gemstone on the counter and turned around.

     “You know Crocodile,” Jafar stated watching her back, “I know that boy made a deal with you, for what I can't fathom, but he betrayed both of us by leaving us stranded here.”

     Io smirked, “Jafar dear, just because I can't kill you doesn't mean I can't cut out your tongue and lop off those fingers of yours. Do keep that in mind won't you?”

     Koga moved as the door opened behind him, “He isn’t bleeding. I'm impressed.”

     “Is that how most interactions with him end?” Penny asked leaving Iago.

     Io shrugged, “He talks and I have the urge to stab him. His son used to come into my wharf with cuts that match his rings and I had the urge to slit his throat.”

     Koga grinned, “So yeah most times Jafar is bleeding, Crocodile likes stabbing him.”

     “Stabby. Stabby.” Iago cawed at her as she passed by.

     “I see Iago knows you well” Penny chuckled as they headed towards Curl Up and Dye. Penny was excited to see Dizzy again. She was also excited to get out from under Harry’s constant clucking about recovery. Once they arrived Penny went in first, only to get tackled.

     “Pin you're back, I was worried. Some people that get sick and well they never really get back to themselves” Dizzy explained got letting go of the slightly older girl.

     “Oh well, I’m ok Dizzy promise. Mimzy took good care of me” Penny tried to assure the girl with a pat on the shoulders.

     “Good, now let's get your hair figured out. Cause I’m betting it looks like some sort of animal nest under that hood” Dizzy pulled back finally.

     “You're one to talk” Penny laughed pushing the hood back.

     Io glanced at Koga, “You are welcome to leave if you need to get back to helping your dad.”

     “Rather not,” he yawned rubbing his shoulders into the wall, “It's warm in here and I am cold.”

     “Did you still want to do that red?” Dizzy asked as she pulled Penny over towards her chair.

     “Yeah, it took us weeks to figure out that color” Penny sat as Dizzy started to undo the braids.

     “Did you want to sit Crocodile?” Dizzy asked turning to look at Io and Koga.

     Koga grinned, “Go on Crocodile, be a girl.”

     “I will stab you,” She grumbled punching his arm before dropping into an empty chair, “Don't mind us Dizzy, we are just the escort for this adventure.”

     “Oh, ok but you can sit if you want. I’ll be quick about this” Dizzy nodded before going to get the color mixed up.

     “You don’t mind right?” Penny turned to look at Io and Koga.

     “We are inside a warm building in January, not in the slightest,” Koga shook his head staying where he was leaned against the wall.

     “I promised to bring you here when we were done, I don't go back on my word. So take as long as you need. Koga and I can occupy ourselves while Dizzy works,” Io affirmed sweeping a few of her own long flyaways off to the side.

     “Alright, well we’ll try not to take too long” Penny nodded as Dizzy came back with a bowl of bright red goop.

     “Let's get your hair washed first. The waters not the cleanest but, its will help” Dizzy turned the chair to the sink, “head back” she turned on the water.

     Dizzy ran her fingers through Penny’s hair letting the cold water run through and the slightly greasy locks. She grabbed the soaps to try and work life back into this dull mop on Penny’s head.

     “Sorry it’s so cold, I’m just glad its not frozen since it comes from the collection on the roof.” Dizzy explained as Penny relaxed into the movements of her fingers. The cold took the edge off the slightly sleepy feeling that came from having her hair played with.

     “Its ok Dizzy, feels nice to have my hair washed. Gil did it for me about a week ago,” Penny supplied as the rest of the soap was rinsed out and the water turned off.

     “I’m betting he did the braids as well” Dizzy laughed as she pulled a comb through the brown hair, “He’s got skilled fingers” Penny blinked for a second she was well aware of Gil’s skilled fingers, but she didn’t think that was what Dizzy meant.

     “He used to help with Uma’s braids back when he ran with her. Good thing too, I was tempted to shave her head a few times” Dizzy explained as she kept talking, not even realizing the implication she had made, “I’m gonna give you a trim too. This is a lot of hair, kinda like Evie’s.” She finished pulling out a particularly bad snarl before reaching for the scissors.

     “My hair is like Evie’s?” Penny looked at her in the cracked mirror.

     “Yeah, her hair was always super thick. But she took care of it mostly on her own.” Dizzy shrugged as she clipped Penny’s hair. She took off an inch or so taking it to the middle of her back, “Your hair is kinda a dark blonde, I’m gonna lighten it a little so the color pops more” 

     “Work your magic Dizzy” Penny said, Dizzy nodded with a smile before starting to brush the lightener into her hair.

     “I think Harry’s gonna lose his shit when he sees you. I mean you are doing your hair in his color really” Dizzy finished with the lightener and was letting it sit, “I want to try this new polish color I came up with don’t move” Dizzy hopped off to her little corner grabbing the bottle and brush. 

     “Diz you don’t have too” Penny said watching the younger girl start to clean her fingers.

     “I want to. Plus I need someone to test the color on” Dizzy shrugged not looking up as she smacked Penny’s hand flat.

     “Ok then, do what you want” Penny said watching her work. In the bottle it looked kinda like an acid green, once it was on her nails it turned an almost cherry red, “That’s cool”

     “Yeah it changes color depending on temperature. It’s warm over here so it’s red, when you go outside it will probably turn green again. Those are the only colors I’ve seen so far but, well you're my tester”

     “Happy to help” Penny nodded as Dizzy finished up with her nails and moved to check her hair. 

     “Good it worked but didn’t make you blonder” Dizzy smiled as she started to wet Penny’s head again.

     “Was that a risk?” Penny raised an eyebrow 

     “Not with all the salt water still in your hair” Dizzy shook her head as she stirred the red goop with a brush.

     “Hazard of ship living,” Io commented her fingers moving through the hair on the sides of her head braiding it into sections. “It's nice it the summer months, there is a breeze off the water to cut through the heat.”

     “Smells like ass though,” Koga commented looking the girls over, glad he didn't have to do more than shower every once in a while.

     “I wouldn't know, but clearly you do,” Io teased not minding his growl.

     “It did smell pretty bad, earlier this year. Like rotten fish, but you get use to it though” Penny said trying to hold still as Dizzy worked her magic.

     “What did it smell like on the other side of the isle?” Dizzy asked as she worked. She wanted to see more of the isle but her grandmother wouldn’t let her go anywhere; after all who would do all her chores.

     “Oh um... different” Penny chewed her lip for a second, “it’s hard to explain”

     “Oh ok” Dizzy nodded a little down at not being told anything.

     “Maybe I’ll show you where I’m from one day” Penny suggested trying to brighten her back up.

     “That would be awesome. That needs to sit wrapped up for a little” Dizzy smiled taking the bowl away to clean.

     Koga looked at Io head tipped and watched her shrug, “You got warm shit to wear Tremaine? It’s generally safe this time of year and since you ain't going to have anyone show up after this, you can come with us back to the ship and hang out. I'll bring you back home since I live out this way. If you want.” he liked the kid in the way he liked the crew, she smelled alright and never made fuss for him. That and he knew their Princess liked her enough to make her a minion.

     “Oh... that would be so cool to see the wharf” Dizzy brightened even further looking at Koga.

     “Well then you can come with us tonight when you are done with Penny’s hair,” Io gave the younger girl a toothy grin.

     “Really?” Dizzy looked excited 

     “Yeah, if Io says it’s ok then it’s ok” Penny assured 

     “Of course,” Io confirmed letting the third braid fall to her chest, the tails down by her hips, “I mean if it is something you are interested in.”

     “Yes very” Dizzy nodded, “I just don’t want to be a bother to anyone”

     “You’ll never be a bother to me” Penny took her hand. Dizzy squeezed with a smile before pulling away to start unwrapping her hair.

     “If you were a bother kid I wouldn't have invited you,” Koga pushed off the wall to bat Io's hands away from her hair, “Quit it before you end up looking like Shrimpy. Leave um like this, then you can put those rings in um again.”

     “You just want to play with them again.”

     “I was half asleep last time...”

     “He’s got more hair than anyone on the crew I’d listen to him” Penny chuckled as Dizzy pulled the last of the wrap off. 

     “Oh it's so pretty” Dizzy clapped before grabbing a brush. She quickly brushed it straight and then started twisting braids into place back into the a ponytail, “all done”

     “I think that is perfect Pin,” Io smiled as Koga leaned against the chair behind her, “Harry is going to be beside himself.” she reached into one of her hidden pockets and tossed Dizzy a few coins, “You do lovely work Diz.”

     Dizzy caught coins, “Thanks Io, maybe I’ll get to work on bigger clients one day. Working on you guys is great, but to actually get to work as a stylist would be so cool”

     “Ouch,” Io smiled letting the girl know she wasn't offended, “I know you will get there lamb. Now shall we get you all bundled and back to the ship?”

     “Yeah I’ll go get my sweater” Dizzy nodded heading off to her corner of the shop to grab the moth eaten sweater. 

     Koga looked over Pin's hair and batted at the ponytail, “You know I didn't much realize Harry and the thief have the same red.”

     “But the thief’s colors were red, yellow and blue,” Io pushed herself to standing, “Come on then, time to head back. Stick close Dizzy darling.”

     “Red is red for the most part” Penny shrugged pulling her coat and cloak back on.

     “That’s... don’t say that colors come on all shades” Dizzy shook her head at Penny

     “Exactly, my red is not Harry or Jay's red. Yellow reds vs Blue red.” they walked out of the shop heading back to the ship. Io's eyes moving constantly, it wouldn't do for anyone to get the jump on them with Dizzy amongst them.

     Koga shrugged, “Looks all the same to me,” he sniffed the cold air, no one was around but that hadn't stopped Io from moving into on guard.

     “Exactly, but if it’s all the same then next time I’ll use a lighter shade” Dizzy stayed close to Penny.

     “Don’t you dare I hate pink,” Penny made a face at her.

     “Dizzy, no pink on my crew unless you're related to Mimzy,” she shifted as they walked through the District ship in sight.

     “Do you think she’d let me do her hair?” Dizzy asked.

     “You can always ask.” Penny shrugged pushing her hood back a little.

     “I am sure she will be more than happy to let you play with her hair,” Io glanced over the deck as they came on board, no sign of Harry and it didn't sound like they were fucking but that didn't mean much, “Let me make sure the boys aren't sleeping.”

     Koga watched Io go, he was pretty sure she meant fucking, “Want me to go and get Mimzy?” he asked glancing at the remaining two girls.

     “Yeah if she’s not busy” Penny nodded, “Don’t want to drag her away from anything important”

     “Is Io really checking to see if they are sleeping” Dizzy giggled

     “Don’t question it” Penny smirked.

     “You mean away from her Psychotic mother?” Koga gave a short barking laugh, “She'll be ecstatic. Be back shortly.”

Chapter 67: Crew Bonding (IoL: January)

     Walking down below the hull she glanced around the dark and quiet ship briefly before pushing the door open to Harry’s room, “Boys.”

     “Yer back, was starting to think ye had run into trouble” Harry looked up from where he sitting at the end of the bed. Gil was snorting blankets pulled up to cover him from the waist down.

     “Gil pants, Harry don't just don't. Dizzy has come to visit us and Koga likely has gone to retrieve Mimzy. Can you two make yourselves presentable enough for guests?” she rolled her eyes knowing that her first mate had been occupying himself with Gil’s cock.

     “Little Dizzy’s here,” Harry said raising an eyebrow. Wasn’t very often that the girl ventured out of the Curl Up and Dye.

     “Ok I’ll put on clothes” Gil nodded getting up not caring about Io’s presence as he looked for his cloths.

     “Thank you Gil,” her eyes flickered over his bare ass before returning to Harry, “Yes, in fact our darling tiger invited her after Pin had a bit of trouble explaining a little white lie she apparently told Dizzy. Thankfully a chance to see the ship was distraction enough.” she popped her head out the door and gave a sharp whistle letting Penny know it was safe.

     “Come on Dizzy it’s warmer down here” Penny said pulling Dizzy with her as she looked around.

     “Hi” Dizzy waved at the boys as they entered.

     “Hi Dizzy.” Gil smiled waving back after he buttoned his pants.

     “Welcome to the best ship on the water” Harry nodded, before his eyes shot to Penny as she pulled off her cloak. Her bright red ponytail swinging back and forth as she hung her cloak up.

     “Do you like it?” Dizzy asked seeing Harry’s look.

     “Ye did it?” He looked at the little one; she nodded in response, “I could kiss ye for it. It’s a masterpiece” Harry responded coming closer to Penny.

     “Oh um thanks” Dizzy blushed looking down as she fiddled with her glasses.

     “Praise always sounds better out of his mouth,” Io teased her first mate as she dropped down onto the bed opening her jacket. “Make yourself comfy Dizzy.”

     “Here I’ll hang your jacket with my cloak,” Penny took the sweater, as Harry guided the girl to sit at the end of the bed with him and Gil.

     Io watched over them as they lapsed into easy talking, her crew, it was nice to just spend time with them especially after dealing with all of the high run. She was halfway to dozing when the door opened and Koga came in followed by Mimzy.

     “Hey Mimzy” Gil smiled as he pulled Penny into his lap to make more room.

     “What do you think?” Penny asked her motioning to her hair.

     “Heya Gil,” Mimzy smiled as Koga dropped down beside Io with a wide toothy yawn, “Oh I adore it,” she gushed hands already touching and brushing over the long red strands as she bounced on the balls of her feet. 

     “Good to hear cause Dizzy really want to do you next” Penny smirked 

     Dizzy looked up from her conversation with Gil, “Only if that’s ok with you though” she stammered out.

     “What do you have in mind sweetie?” Mimzy tittered arms pulling Pin into a loose embrace.

     “I want to try something a little lighter. A shade of pink.”Dizzy explained

     “Does it have to be all pink? Cause I don’t know how I feel about full commiting to the pink. Though it would be a nice change from the same natural lavender I got from mom...” she twisted a strand of it around her finger.

     “We could do highlights” Dizzy tilted her head, “It would make the lavender pop.”

     “Well then it’s a good thing I have faith in your hair styling skills after seeing what you can do from the other crews,” Mimzy beamed, “Then maybe just maybe we can convince Io to dye hers.”

     “You leave me out of the hair dying,” she commented, “I draw my lines at tattoos and piercings.” they didn’t really know about all the Underland tattoos but that was fine with her, she had one visible, to the naked eye that was, one and she kept it neatly tucked under a ring.

     “Oh but... you’d look so good with a little more gold” Dizzy pouted

     “You can make my hair gold” Gil volunteered 

     “Now that would be a sight” Penny smirked as she snuggled into Mimzy.

     “Come on Crocodile, gold, black and red, that’s your colors, you're going to disappoint Dizzy.” Koga teased.

     “Says the half tiger with tri colored hair,” Io elbowed him as he tugged at her long braids.

     “It would look good,” Mimzy nodded, “Jollyroger bonding at Curl Up and Dye? Come on please Io, it would be fun, and I can help Dizzy with everything.”

     If it was Jollyroger bonding, “So Diz what color would you dye the boys hair if we were having this be a thing?” 

     “Yeah, we’ll even test the dye on Gil first,” Dizzy nodded

     “When did my Gilly get to be a test dummy?” Harry asked confused

     “Since he’s totally part of the female section of this crew” Penny shrugged half heartedly.

     “I think he’s definitely male” Harry snorted

     “He is most definitely male anatomically speaking,” Io agreed, “But our lamb wants his hair dyed, would you deny our darling what he wants?” she gave Harry a look to pull on his heart strings, he had enough for both of them after all.

     Koga snorted, “You and me can go on a hunt Harry if they want to get their hair done. I’d say get you a tattoo but that requires both of us to go to the one place you couldn’t pay either of us to go to.”

     “What exactly are we hunting?” Harry asked

     “See Gil, Harry is completely okay with you getting your hair dyed” Penny yawned.

     “Off the west side of town, down round Hell Hall there are a bunch of deer and rabbits. I catch enough I toss a few Io’s way and she brings us food. Pelts go to the Huns in trades, bones go to the witches.”

     “Yeah sure why not” Harry shrugged, “They can go get all pretty, we’ll go spill some blood.”

     “Typical man,” Penny laughed. 

     “I could give you a hair cut and buff your nails,” Dizzy suggested, “Or well claws,” she looked at Koga.

     Koga flexed his hands extending his claws all the way out, the curved over inch and a half long black nails sticking out of the tips of his fingers, “Haircut maybe, but I need the claws. So I’ll keep Harry occupied and come around later.”

     “Typical man eaters,” Io snorted leaning back into Koga as he shifted on the bed to pull her back further. 

     “Buffing just makes them shiny,” Dizzy explained letting Gil pull her back as he laid down.

     “Shiny? Do humans like having shiny nails?” 

     “Some do” Dizzy tipped her head to look at him.

     “Huh, weird... super weird,” Koga yawned again, “So what’s the plan, food then bed cause I think we are going to pile.”

     “Pile sounds nice” Penny kicked off her shoes, “When do you have to be back Diz?”

     “Grandmother doesn’t really come down until right before opening at 11” Dizzy turned slightly to lay on her side.

     Io nodded as she pulled herself upright, “Alright come on Harry, time to rustle up some food for the crew.”

     Mimzy smiled and pulled Penny into bed with her and into Koga's waiting grip, “So when are we doing this girl bonding day?”

     “Don’t know” Penny curled up a little.

     “I’ll look at the schedule to see when grandmother is away for a bit” Dizzy added watching as Harry followed Io out.

     “Yeah would give her a heart attack seeing the shop full of pirates,” Mimzy giggled as Koga ran his now short claws through her hair.

     “Probably would, don’t understand why she’s so picky about customers” Dizzy shrugged.

     Koga shrugged a shoulder, “You think on an Island of Villains no one would be very picky. Dad and I aren't...”

     “Pretty sure that is a very different thing,” Mimzy laughed leaning forward, “This is nice, we really don't get to pile like this unless it’s winter time.”

     “It’s too hot the rest of the year” Penny looked over at Gil who was holding Dizzy.

     “It’s nice” Dizzy agreed, it was warm here. She didn’t get to feel this warm very often with her bed in the attic of grandmother's house. If she was willing to risk getting caught sometimes she slept in the supply closet at the salon.

     “Well if you want to pile with us, all you have to do is ask. Io doesn't mind a few extra allies in the piles,” Mimzy offered knowing their leader really didn't care one way or the other.

     “Just let one of us know. I know Koga wouldn’t mind coming to get you” Penny said, “Right big guy?”

     Koga shook his head, “Not at all, won’t be any different then grabbing Mimzy.”

     “I’ll think about it, can’t leave the salon very often” Dizzy nodded, she would like to come here more. Mal hadn’t let Evie bring her around anywhere very often.

     “That's fine, I can come visit after I close up the shop for my mom,” Mimzy offered.

     “Would you? It would be nice to have some visitors” Dizzy nodded.

 

     “What ye want to feed them? We don’t have much here” Harry asked looking at the pantry.

     “Come on,” Io smirked guiding him down to the brig. She kept a stash of salted deer and hard tac in an old rum barrel, why? Because if the water froze, no matter how much money they collected, it wouldn't be enough to bring the barges.

     “Well aren’t ye clever” Harry nodded looking at it. He assumed his da knew it was there, but no one else did. After all around this time of year his da tried to keep enough rations for the crew to eat once a day for three days in his cabin. Partially because he didn’t trust the crew not to get into it, partially because he decided when they were desperate enough to use it.

     “I do try and look after the crew. So do me a favor and don't binge eat,” she teased, “But this will last a bit especially if you and Koga go hunting we can restock some.” she collected several pieces for her crew handing Harry the hard tac before closing the lid and made sure it was fastened back in place.

     “Won’t tell anyone else. I’ll see what the kitty cat and I can bring in” Harry nodded starting to break the tack into pieces.

     “Thank you dear,” she nodded guiding him back up to his room, “Deer over rabbits if you could. Their bones aren't worth as much to the witches, but they got more meat on them.” 

     “Well we better go feed them” Harry shrugged.

     Koga looked back and nudged them, “Food.”

Chapter 68: Attempt to Escape (IoL: January)

     She had enough waiting, had enough of Rumple’s people telling her to be patient. Crocodile was not moving fast enough, the girl's attention elsewhere, building her crew instead of building power. Cora didn't know why the girl couldn't grasp the concept that power was everything. So she took measures. There was no sense in sitting around and waiting for someone to do your job for you after all.

     Over the months, years really, she had been collecting magic through the hearts she had stolen of those still on the mainland. There was no real knowing if it would be enough, but she was going to try anyway. Today was the day the sleepy Isle would, hopefully, be freed of their torment. Here below the ground, in the horrific mockery of Wonderland they had created, she would set all of them free. Her daughter, Regina, her apprentice, Iracebeth, and her apprentice’s daughter, Anastasia, gathered together in her throne room at the heart of the New Red Keep. The walls were filled with her heart coffins, most of which were open and glowing now. Taking a steadying breath she gestured for them to join her as she descended from her iron throne carved with crows.

     There was no need for words or discussion as she extended her hands to them. When their hands connected Cora began to whisper the words of the ancient spell. It would take time for the spell to work, time for it to be completed, and if all went well once they finished the spell it would take root and destroy the barrier once and for all. If Rumple wouldn't set them free, then she would.

-*-

     Io slid onto the Jollyroger with a tingling unease that something was wrong. A feeling that had pried her out of bed early and persisted despite her father’s assurance that everything was as it should be. It didn’t help, but once she had eyes on her crew perhaps it would ease her discomforts. Walking down the stairs, sliding past one of the older men on his way to the deck she eased herself into Harry’s room. The three of them tangled up under the covers naked, rolling her eyes she leaned back against the closed door and cleared her throat.

     “Crocodile” Harry sat up looking at her with a yawn, “Da doesn’t let us sleep all day what ye doing here?”

     "Persistent, annoying feeling of something being wrong," Io replied looking at her first mate as he rubbed sleep from his eyes, "Came to make sure you lot were fine."

     “Ye want to lay down?” he raised a brow at her, “I can make Gilly put on pants.”

     She shook her head, "Can't sit still, laying seems like I'll ruin your pile."

     “Whatever you want Crocodile” he flopped back.

     She wanted to do something, body itching to figure out the source of her irritation. But she leaned her head back against the wall breathing slowly, listening to the three in bed, they were safe, the issue wasn't here. It was somewhere though. 

     “Do ye want to go check on the witch?” He asked before letting out an oof when Gil rolled over hitting him in the chest.

     "Is that the subtle, get out of my room if you aren't here to crawl in bed?" She smirked without opening her eyes, "I will. Check on her and my tigers, probably little Dizzy too. Just to be sure."

     “That’s a subtle do I be needing to put on pants and go with ye in case of trouble” he snorted 

     “You two are loud,” Penny grumbled her head popping up from under Gil’s arm hair sticking up in all directions.

     "Not nearly as loud as Harry and Gil," Io retorted, "Or any combination of you three. I doubt that you need to be leaving them, but there could always be trouble, especially these days." There was a whisper of distress, even now in the winter from her birds, whispers like that did not bode well.

     “That's exactly why I am going with ye” he sighed, pulling the blankets away from him, standing up and fumbling with his pants once he found them.

     "You could warn me next time," Her nose crinkled looking away from him.

     “Why? Ye have a sudden interest in dick?” Harry asked pulling on a shirt and grabbing his hook, “back to sleep Pin” he pulled the blanket over her and Gil.

     "No. I will stab you," she was used to it, but it didn't mean she wanted to see it when she was this key'd up. If she wasn't dealing with this feeling she wouldn't have cared he was naked, "I have zero interest and at this time zero patients for this conversation," she whisked out of the room and headed up towards the deck, why was she the only one who could feel the prickling tension?

     “Fuck sake” Harry grumbled grabbing his sword and belt running after her.

     Killian took one look at his Red Mad Jaws standing on his deck tapping her foot and took a step back into his cabin, hovering in the doorway. That was not something he wanted to be involved in this early in the morning.

     “Let’s go check on the witch” Harry said, fastening his belt once he reached the main deck.

     Io nodded, "Then the others. There is something wrong, I just can't place what."

     “Then let’s get moving” Harry headed down the gangplank.

     They slid through the wharf and the district without issues. The broken chimneys smoking, the streets quiet with a layer of gray and black trampled snow it was all too quiet in her opinion. Harry didn't seem like there was any issue with it. Then again she had jettisoned him out of bed and into the cold weather. She stopped them at Madame Mims' back door and knocked twice.

     The squat woman opened the door with a color stained white apron on, "Come in, come in," she nearly skipped away back to her stool that gave her enough height to stir something in an embossed cauldron sitting on the small stove.

     "Morning," Mimzy yawned as Io guided them in, "What brings you two around?" She sipped on the warm weed soup her mother had fixed for breakfast.

     "Just checking on things," Io offered up as she settled across the table from Mimzy.

     Mimzy raised a brow, setting the cracked cup down, "Right... checking on things."

     “Ye know our crocodile” Harry shrugged, “Says somethin feels off so we check on everyone to make sure”

     Mimzy gestured with her cup, "See that, that is more believable. Well I am all fine here, did you check on Koga yet?"

     "No. Harry, Gil, and Pin were first. Then you, Koga and maybe Dizzy." Io rolled her eyes watching Mimzy finish her breakfast. 

     "Then I will come with you, maybe we can do the girls day?" Mimzy perked up setting her empty mug down.

     Io eyed her warily, "If everything is fine with Koga, and the others are fine with it. We could use more meat and hides."

     "Oh and bones," Madame Mim gestured, "Do you by chance have a rat skull or maybe a bird Io?"

     She glanced at Madame Mim, at the thing she was brewing, "Depends on why you need it. Trade me your need."

     "Clever girl, you do have one?"

     Io set the bird skull on the table, fingers drumming behind it eyes trained on the old witch, "Go on."

     Madame Mim took the spoon and hummed as she stirred, "Mimzy take the young Jones and wait outside."

     Mimzy nodded, "Okay Mom, come on Harry let's wait outside for Io," pulling on her cloak she pulled Harry with her into the cold, "Guess it's important whatever Mom's doing. I never ask any more, after 16 years probably better I don't know."

     “Aye, yer ma and Io have their own way of doing thin’ and what not. I think ye should make her go do this girls day with ye.” Harry said, watching his breath form clouds before his face.

     “Yeah she’s gotten a little aggressively wound up lately. I mean yes, our Crocodile has always been aggressive and wild, we adore her that way. But I think her wanting to be ‘softer’ for Pin shook a few screws loose, the ones we needed her to keep locked up tight,” Mimzy rubbed her hands together glancing over her shoulder at her door, “I don’t know if one girl’s day will be enough but I hope it’s a start on getting her head screwed back down like it used to be.”

     “We all are a little softer fer Pin.” Harry sighed, “I think the Crocodile should start taking it back up to what she was, let Pin slowly get used to the Crocodile and jollyrogers how we are supposed to be.”

     Mimzy nodded, "The issue is that Pin goes full shut down when she does. The tour of New Wonderland? The whole thing on the ship? For fucks sake the damn Run," Mimzy took a breath, "I'll figure out something to convince her to deal with that problem."

     “Gilly not much better” Harry said, it was odd that two were alike in that sense.

     "Yeah I know, it's just Gil... Gil knows we do what has to be done." She jerked as the door slammed open, Io not quite storming out before closing it behind her, "So is my mom still breathing?"

     "What?" Io looked at Mimzy startled by the question, "Why wouldn't she be?"

     "Oh no reason, just the adults tend to be bleeding or choking on blood whenever you leave like that," Mimzy shrugged innocently, "At least more recently that is."

     Io huffed, "Your mother is fine. Come on you two, to Koga’s." 

     Madame Mims words would be sticking around for a while, chasing around Io’s brain. There was an unrest on the isle, the likes they hadn't seen before. Her rule was going to be challenged at long last because of the royal she was protecting. The old black witch knew and understood the why of what she did. Said there was a prophecy as old as evil itself playing out on their little island and Io needed to be ready when the time came.

     Io wriggled her fingers, listening to the soft rhythmic click of her rings moving against one another. She would shelf the whole prophecy nonsense to a later date. Right now she needed to ready herself for today's impending issues. The ones the Black Witch was not forthcoming about, the ones Io could tell were going to be a problem. Whatever was going to happen today, was going to cause an upheaval on more than her Island. Her fingers naturally drifted to where the locket had once dwelled, replaced now with Ursula’s shell necklace. She was in fact running out of patience.

     Mimzy sighed and hooked her arm around Harry’s as they walked towards the Khan house, "Io would you mind terribly if we did have the girl's day today? I would like to spend time with you, similar to how we used to."

     "I don't mind my dear black witch," she sighed, "We will collect Koga and check to make sure Dizzy has time. If she doesn't we can go on a hunt instead with the boys. Acceptable?"

     "A hunt would be fun, we haven't done that in a while."

     “I’ll see what da has to keep Gilly and Pin busy” Harry nodded, “unless ye want to take um on a hunt” Gil didn’t do well on hunts he could do what was needed if needed but it didn’t sit well with him. Pin... well she could stand to have some skill at something besides talking.

     "It's bonding Harry," Mimzy whined at him, "Bonding means everyone. Gil doesn't have to do more than chase them towards us. I think that is hunt enough for him and Pin."

     “I suppose ye are right witch” Harry nodded.

     Io snorted as they stopped outside of Koga’s house, there was no trouble here either. So then where?

     Koga opened the door and leaned against the doorframe, "What do you all want?"

     "Crocodile had a bad feeling and wanted to check on all of us," Mimzy tittered as she bounded to him, "You know how it is."

     “So we can take it ye have no problems here” Harry looked at the tiger.

     Koga looked over his shoulder, "Nothing out of the ordinary at least."

     Mimzy glanced around him, "Well did you want to come with us? I convinced Crocodile to have a girls day."

     Koga raised a brow but nodded, "Alright let me grab some shoes. Stay here," he ruffled Mimzy’s hair.

     “Well seems we have gathered the whole crew Crocodile,” Harry played with his hook as they waited.

     "Yes everyone is accounted for aside from our not quite baby crew mate Dizzy," she didn't get to finish as Koga stepped outside once more.

     "Alright let's go before you lot get caught up with that," he gestured vaguely behind him as they started back down the street, "So what kind of bad feeling? Cause nothing smells off, and it's just as quiet as always this time of year."

     Io shook her head, "I just know something is wrong, even checking on my crew isn't easing that sense. So we stick together."

     "What Crocodile means is that we girls and Gil are doing a girl day while you and Harry hunt for some more meat."

     "Oh is that what I'm doing?" Koga growled at Mimzy who pouted at him batting her lashes, "Fine, whatever. I'm the best hunter anyway."

     “They can go do girl things we will get meats and furs” Harry nodded.

     "Yeah, winter smells like its going to be a hard one this year." Koga nodded as they headed back to the ship.

     “Cold enough to freeze my balls” Harry snorted, he hated and loved the cold, it let him hold Gilly close all the time but it also meant food was scarce.

     "It isn't that bad," Io rolled her eyes, "But yes more meat and furs would be appreciated. I should still have enough tanning solution on the ship for the hides."

     “I swear ye don’t feel the cold” Harry muttered.

     “I do,” Io protested, she could tell it was colder but she never felt particularly bothered by it. 

     Mimzy shrugged as they walked up the gangplank, “I think it may be subjective. I mean do remember she has a little bolt hole maybe she’s just used to how cold it is.”

     “I want the sun back,” Harry sighed pulling his coat closer to himself.

     “You ain’t the only one,” Koga agreed as they headed down below the deck to Harry, Gil and Penny’s room, “They sound like they are asleep.”

     “Not surprised really, no real chores to do in winter,” Io rolled a shoulder as she opened the door.

     “Hmm” Penny rolled over sticking her hand where Harry normally laid.

     Mimzy bounced over and grabbed Penny’s hand, “Wakey wakey Pin, I have successfully convinced our Crocodile to have a girls day!”

     “Mimzy?” Penny pushed up a little looking at her as she blinked, “What time is it?”

     "Morning obviously," Mimzy beamed, "You know we don't have any working clocks on the Isle."

     “Right” she yawned sitting up, she was bundled up in one of Gil’s shirts and one of Harry’s jackets.

     "And here I was thinking you would be more excited," Mimzy frowned, "I mean this is something you suggested."

     “Give it a minute” Harry snorted, he could see the slight glaze to Pin’s eyes still. It cleared quickly as she tried to process what had been said.

     “Wait... we are actually getting a girls day?” Penny seemed to perk up, “we’re doing it today?”

     "Yes and yes," Mimzy confirmed, "Crocodile is particularly testy today so we are going to help her feel better with a little pampering."

     “Pampering is needed every now and then” Penny said, “Helps reduce stress”

     “Ye sound like the blue princess” Harry rolled his eyes.

     "If she was hanging out with the thief then it is likely where she learned it from," Io hummed, "Well if you all want to do this out of bed."

     “It's warm in bed though” Gil wrapped his arms around Penny, not opening his eyes.

     “Gilly ye are going with the girls,” Harry rolled his eyes at the blonde.

     “Oh... then...” Gilly sat up the covers falling away.

     “Gil pants” Penny warned, grabbing the covers quickly to make sure he was covered. No one that didn’t want to see that needed to see that.

     Harry snickered, throwing a pair of pants at Gil.

     Mimzy rolled her eyes, "He hasn't got anything I haven't seen before."

     “Aye but Crocodile doesn't wish to see it” Harry pointed out.

     At Mimzy’s confused look Io huffed, "I don't usually care, just not in the mood today."

     "Testy Crocodile is testy," Koga snorted watching them, "Maybe you lot can wind her down."

     “Tell us if ye figure it out, might be useful for later,” Harry looked at her.

     "I will, I will," the half truth was bitter on her tongue, "Until I figure it out we'll do things as if nothing is wrong."

     “When are we going?” Gil asked standing up as he pulled the pants all the way up.

     "As soon as Pin gets out of bed and you have your winter clothes on," Io took the arm Mimzy offered and pulled her black witch into a loose hold.

     Penny pulled herself out of bed pulling on her pants under Gil’s shirt. She pulled her hair up into a messy ponytail. Gil grabbed her cloak as she she rolled up the sleeves of Harry’s old jacket and pulled on her boots.

     Mimzy smiled, "Let's go! Girl time," she bounced.

     "We'll drop them off at the Curl Up and Die before our hunt," Koga nodded before turning to head back up to the deck.

     Harry grabbed another jacket, he didn’t care what Io said it’s was cold.

     “What does a girls day do?” Gil asked as he looked around.

     “Relax” Penny supplied.

     "We are going to do the hair dying thing we talked about with Dizzy. Remember you were talking about getting Crocodile’s gold streaks. So that's what we're going to go do." Mimzy glanced back as they headed after Koga.

 

Chapter 69: Girls Day (IoL: January)

     Io looked around the sleepy town feeling the smallest bit more at ease now that she knew her crew was not part of her tension. But even still she couldn't shake the feeling of something being wrong.

     “That’s gonna be so wicked” Gil smiled to himself thinking about gold hair.

     "Yeah you'll match Crocodile. Only woman I know with natural gold streaks," Koga snorted, eyes flicking back and forth as he adjusted his deer hide jacket up further. Winter was the only time he wished he had gotten thicker fur.

     “Maybe put some red in there, Gilly” Harry suggested.

     "You have Pin for your red hair," Mimzy pointed out, "together they both have your colors."

     “Something about seeing mine in my colors” Harry smirked at his two little lambs... to borrow Io’s term for them.

     Koga laughed softly, "Yeah, helps stroke your ego some more," he teased pushing open the door to the Curl Up and Dye.

     “Ye saying if yer witch walked around in yer colors for all to see it wouldn’t do something for ye?” Harry raised an eyebrow.

     Koga smirked and licked his fangs, "See her in my stripes one day sure. But I like it when she smells like me. Not like the whole Isle doesn't know who she belongs to."

     Io rolled her eyes, "Dizzy, spare a few hours for some pirates?"

     “Wow you are all here” Dizzy pushed her glasses up as she looked at them, “What did you want done?”

     "Harry and I are headed out hunting, but the rest are all yours. Boss."

     "Go Koga, you and Harry have a good hunt. I'll handle things here."

     Mimzy sighed, "Highlights of pink for me and gold for Io and Gil. We are trying to help Io relax a little."

     Dizzy smiled bouncing, “What shade pink?” This was going to be so much fun.

     Mimzy hummed before plucking at her wool skirt, "Maybe a little brighter than this? It's my colors so..."

     "It should look nice," Io agreed as she took up a post at the door letting hers settle into the girl's day. Koga and Harry would keep an eye on one another, she could handle a room full of her soft hearts.

     “Alright I’ll mix up a few options” she nodded, “Pin I’ll get your color ready too. You need a touch up” she turned skipping over to the color station.

     Mimzy smirked settling down in a chair, "You are going to participate right, Io? I mean that is part of this, you do more than stand there and watch us."

     She brushed a few loose strands back and huffed, "I am here aren't I. Let Dizzy take care of you all first."

     “This is fun” Gil lounged in one of the chairs spinning it.

     "Frankly I think piercing is more fun, but Io hasn't let me have my fun for a bit." Mimzy pouted.

     Io sighed pushing off the wall, "Fine my dear, I will find you a new canvas soon."

     Penny tilted her head looking at Mimzy, she kinda wanted to ask exactly what she was piercing but she’d learned... mostly, that sometimes she didn’t really want the answers.

     Mimzy clapped her hands before pulling Io closer, "You're the best Io, do you want to brush my hair?"

     “Need any help Diz?” Penny asked, watching her mix colors.

     “I’ve got it Pin,” Dizzy shook her head.

     Io adjusted the chair and brushed the long thick lavender hair as Dizzy worked, "Just relax Pin and wake up."

     “What do you think of these,” Dizzy came over to Mimzy with three bowls of color.

     Mimzy looked down at the shimmery gold, bright red, and light pink, "Oh those are perfect, go ahead and start with Gil, I want more time with Io."

     “Ok Gil stop spinning,” Dizzy instructed as she set down her colors.

     Gil pouted a little but stilled so the small girl could tip the chair back and run her fingers through his hair.

     Mimzy hummed relaxing into the way Io’s fingers combed through her hair detangling the knots and snarls as Penny helped Dizzy with Gil’s hair, “I appreciate you spending some time with us even if this really isn’t your kind of thing.”

     “Of course, this is what you need of me so I will do what I can,” she smoothed through a few more snarls focusing on her task listening to the soft talking of the others as Dizzy started painting the gold into Gil’s hair.

     Mimzy smiled fiddling with her claim, watching the others through the cracked and smudged mirror. This was nice, outside of their normal but good for their squeamish mainland princess. She didn't understand the specifics or really why Io would take the girl on, but she knew Crocodile did nothing without a plan. Like now when she could see the gears whirling behind her olive eyes. There was still something she was focused on, something she was working through.

     "Will you wash my hair before we color it?" Mimzy prompted Io as Dizzy started repainting Penny’s roots as Gil sat with his hair waiting for a wash.

     Io rolled her eyes but nodded, taking her black witch to the other sink as Dizzy finished with Penny before washing out Gil's now golden locks in the other sink.

     “Look Io, my hair matches yours Crocodile,” Gil smiled as Penny laughed.

     “Yep, now everyone can see your value” Penny smiled taking his hand.

     “It does my dear darling that that it does,” Io smiled at him, “And it makes you look fantastic.”

     “Think Harry is going to like it?” Gil asked

     “Oh he’s going to love it” Penny assued, “now we both match his coat”

     “And Io’s,” Mimzy teased as she sat up with a towel now wrapped around her hair. “So do your worst Dizzy, pink-a-fie me.”

     “Your hair is gonna be perfect,” Dizzy clapped, going to get the dye mixed.

     “We should do girl’s day more often” Gil gave Io his derpy smile

     “A good bonding time for us” Penny nodded as she laid her head on Gil’s arm.

     “It is isn’t it Io?” Mimzy grinned at the other girl, “Come on seriously would you rather be hunting with Koga and Harry?”

     “That’s a trick question,” Penny snorted, “I know the answer to that”

     “Nailed it,” Io snorted, “Considering I normally do the hunting with Koga.”

     “But Girl time...” Mimzy whined at her, grabbing Io’s ringed hand, “Please you never wanna do girl time...”

     “Fine, fine,” Io rolled her eyes, “Girl time, I agreed to it anyway and I always hold up my end of the deal.”

     “She makes it sound like its work... are we not fun?” Gil asked with a pout.

     “I think you're lots of fun Gil” Dizzy smiled as she set the dye down and unwrapped Mimzy’s head.

     “It’s not that you aren’t fun, I’m just not as fun as you Gil,” Io sighed moving closer to run her fingers through his hair, “But your hair does look perfect.” she kissed the top of his head.

     “You're fun in different ways” Gil said trying to cheer up.

     “She is” Penny agreed, “But you're fun in my favorite way.”

     Io rolled her eyes again, she really couldn’t take away Penny’s preference, plus Gil enjoyed Pin’s company. Her crew’s happiness was the most important thing, “So Girl Day is a thing I will have to subject myself to more often?”

     “Yes, once a month?” Mimzy clapped eagerly.

     “Fine, I will subject myself to your girly ass needs.”

     “Trust me you’ll come to enjoy it. At least a little” Dizzy smiled at Io as she started on a small section.

     “Plus it doesn’t have to be here every time. We could do something else next time,” Penny suggested.

     “Io says subjected, but really she enjoys the time she spends with us. No matter what we end up doing,” Mimzy giggled, “The more she rolls her eyes the more she is enjoying it.”

     “Mimzy our Crocodile whisperer,” Penny snickered, “But next time we could go do something Io wants.” 

     “Yeah, Io could teach us something or well show us somewhere cool” Gil nodded, “but we have to come get Dizzy first”

     “Me? Why?” Dizzy blinked 

     “Cause you're part of this” Penny shrugged.

     “Honorary crew,” Mimzy nodded with a smile.

     “Are we sure Harry is going to let me teach you things without his supervision?” Io snorted.

     “Harry will understand” Gil defended, “Girl time is important”

     “He will behave or I’ll stab him in the not fun way” Penny shrugged.

     “Gil and Girl time is important, plus you're the boss Io, you can do what you want.”

     “You lot are heart warming really,” Io grinned toothily at her crew. “Is there a fun way to stab him specifically? Cause I have fun stabbing everyone.”

     “Gil’s the expert on it” Penny smirked, “I don’t have the necessary body parts” 

     “He does enjoy it” Gil nodded

     “...you guys are talking about sex” Dizzy nodded to herself more than them.

     “Yeah see, that’s a different kind of stabbing. I was talking about the shanking, not the pegging,” Io made a face, “Again shanking my kind of a fun time.”

     “Still a form of stabbing” Penny said

     “Shanking can be fun too... just not for everyone involved” Gil looked at Io, “or that’s what Harry says. Too much blood for me”

     Io grinned, “I know it is too much blood for you darling. Which is why I do the shanking and you do the pegging.”

     “But does it do for you what it does for him?” Mimzy laughed, “Cause I am pretty sure stabbing people doesn’t get you off.”

     “I think I heard about something like that” Penny tilted her head, “there are people that it actually does. Course I didn’t understand it then”

     “I enjoy it just as much as Harry” Gil said not understanding what Mimzy meant.

     “Grandmother says it’s inappropriate for a lady to talk about sex,” Dizzy said.

     “Good thing we ain’t ladies then,” Io snorted, “We’re pirates.”

     “So am I like a junior pirate?” Dizzy asked looking at Io 

     “You are honorary crew so that makes you a pirate in training, So long as you are willing. I never force anyone to be crew who doesn’t want to be in the crew.”

     “I’d like that...” Dizzy smiled 

     “Then you are honorary crew” Penny nodded with a smile.

     “And means you can talk sex with us all you like since there are no more ladies here clearly,” Mimzy grinned.

     “And means we can teach you all the pirate songs,” Io grinned toothily as Dizzy foiled Mimzy’s hair.

     “That also means I’m gonna find you a better coat” Penny agreed

     “What’s wrong with my sweater” Dizzy asked, getting a raised eyebrow.

     “It’s a little thin” Penny answered

     “I guess it is” Dizzy focused on the last section.

     “Don’t worry Pin, I can patch up the one she has in the meantime,” Mimzy offered, “Io can get her hands on some wool.”

     “You don’t have to do that” Dizzy shook her head stepping back as she finished.

     “You're part of the crew, so we take care of you” Gil explained to her.

     Io smirked, “Yer my crew, I take care of my crew.”

     “That’s why we Jollyrogers are a force Mal had such trouble with.” Mimzy nodded.

     “Mal... didn’t seem to like having me around very much” Dizzy looked down, “I’m gonna go mix your color Io.”

     “No she didn’t and she didn’t like having to look after you either, Evie did the most of that. I on the other hand like your company, if you need anything you let us know.”

     “I will” Dizzy nodded adding more water.

     “We do mean anything,” Gil added.

     Something was coming. The sense she had all day that something was amiss finally took form. Something bad was coming, the sense stirring from beneath her booted feet. Io frowned slightly, the rings on her fingers tingling, the serpent ring tightening, eyes glowing. The hell was going on, there was no magic here, but the dormant magic her father gave her was definitely waking up. That was not a good thing, she really hoped the Underland Queens weren’t about to do something stupid.

     Mimzy glanced at Io, there was something going on but she didn’t know what exactly was making her friend tense up suddenly. She had figured they had finally unwound her from this morning's issues.

     “Io?” Penny asked she could see the change in the way she held herself. 

     “Crocodile something doesn’t feel...” Gil tried to reason out, he felt kinda tingly like the one time Uma had dared him to touch the barrier, but this hurt less.

     “Huh this water...” Dizzy tilted her head the water was suddenly clear, coming out of the spicket, like clean and clear not that slightly off white color that was all over the isle.

     Io stood, “Stay here,” she moved quickly hauling herself up to the slippery roof, why? Because the last time the barrier blipped she went full on golden scaled like her father. Also, because if the queens did something destructive she needed to get her crew and her proverbial golden goose to safety and fast.

     “Pin, do you feel funny?” Gil asked looking at Penny. She blinked at him before looking at the other three who seemed to be a little off, she didn’t feel any different she didn’t think.

     “I feel all tingly... I don’t like it” Dizzy said crossing her arms with a face.

     “Hey it's ok, Io will figure out what’s going on” Penny assured going to wrap her arms around the smaller girl, “What do you feel Mimzy?”

     “It feels like a couple of months ago. Mom said it was magic,” Mimzy was on her feet needles out ready for anything. “We had a magic breather for a few minutes here. It was chaos.”

-*-

     Harry stilled looking up at the barrier from his spot, “You feel that Koga?”

     Koga lowered the rabbit and looked up, “Yeah, it's happening again. The girls are in town, we need to get back. Come on grab the rest of the rabbits," he tossed the one he had to Harry as he shouldered the deer they had managed to take down.

-*-

     Jafar looked at Iago as the bird cleared his throat, “Where is he, where is he?”

     “Iago?”

     “What Jafar?” the red macaw squawked, fixing his original owner with an unhappy expression. 

     “You can talk...”

     “No shit sherlock, you enchanted me remember? Talking and thinking like a human, cause you wanted a better sidekick to fuck with the old Sultan.”

     “Yes, I know you bird brain, but you are enchanted and we don’t have access to magic since the barrier was completed. I have...” he grabbed Iago out of his cage rushing out doors, “Bring the boy home.”

     “Or what?” Iago squawked trying to wriggle out of the tightening grip.

     “Or when I am free I will pluck all your feathers out and make you watch as I peel the flesh from his bones for betraying me,” Jafar purred at the bird, “Now fetch my son.”

     Iago bolted as soon as he was released, flapping hard in the winter winds, “I’m never going to make it. Damn it Jairaj... I have to find Jairaj.”

-*-

     Movement across the gray sky caught Io’s eye and she tracked the red bird flapping towards the barrier wall, “Iago...” she crouched quickly as the island started rumbling. She needed to get down before she fell.

     “Magic? But the barrier” Penny looked at Mimzy with wide eyes.

     “Yeah, something is happening to the barrier,” Mimzy nodded as Io came back inside face a blank mask.

     “What do we do?” Penny looked at Io, if the barrier was coming down then things were going to get crazy. She held Dizzy close as Gil moved to stand protectively by them.

     “Stay close, Mimzy you ready?” Io asked trusting Koga to protect Harry.

     “I'm ready,” she nodded preparing herself as the floor beneath them shuddered, “Do you know who?”

     “The Queens,” Io tapped her toes on the floor. Her blades flicked out and she did what she could to prepare for the magic blip even if it meant exposing her true self.

 

     Cora released the magic and felt it shoot upwards, magic flooding in breathing life back into New wonderland. Her wall sconces lighting up with blue fire.

     Regina looked around laughing, “Mother we-” but as quick as it came it collapsed and the blue fire petered out, “It wasn't enough...”

     “Damn it,” Cora hissed, they had been so close.

 

Chapter 70: Cause and Effect (Mainland: January)

Notes:

Warning:
Alcohol Abuse

     Mal hated having to find Jay. Especially these days as not even Swords and Shields seemed to make him happy. Not that Jay was moping about, quite the opposite, he had been rather explosive as of late. Not to mention the destructive outbursts of magic he didn't seem inclined to control or his stealing. It was only getting worse, every letter they got back with no sign of Princess Penelope set him off. She would never admit that she was beginning to agree with Jay's gut feeling after all.

     He was sitting on top of a jungle gym, in a foot and a half of snow, miles from the school with a bottle in his hand when she finally found him.

     “Are you seriously drinking right now? Jay you know it is against the rules. How did you even get it?” Mal snapped hands on hips as he regarded her passively with eyes that flickered red gold. 

     “And your point?” Jay asked in reply tipping the bottle back drinking more.

     “Give it.”

     “Unless you are drinking with me, fuck off.” he growled the flickering in his eyes stabilizing into a solid glow.

     “Jay don't you dare,” Mal looked at him warily as he tipped the bottle back again polishing it off, “Just come home.”

     “Home?” he leaned over his thighs and gave her a dark look, “My home is on that trainwreck of an island with my jackass of a father. I’m not allowed to go home remember? No, I am stuck here with you assholes who keep telling me you don't need me.”

     Mal recoiled slightly not used to Jay snapping at her, clearly his drinking just made him angrier today. Most times when Jay drank, Jay just turned into a horny pool of Jay, not this seething mass of Jay shaped anger and magic.

     “Jay...”

     “What? You going to tell me I’m wrong, that you need me. Cause it’s a fucking lie. You are always off somewhere with Ben, busy being a princess and bending over for them. Evie tells me daily I don't need to keep you all safe anymore. Carlos is up my ass whenever my magic steals shit like I can stop it and be normal like him. So save me the lip service, if I wanted it I'd ask Erica for a blow job.”

     “Jay you don't know what you're saying. That's the alcohol talking and you know it,” Mal tried to not let him see how deep the words had cut her.

     “Yeah right...” he drawled dropping off the Jungle gym with a stumble, “Jay's just drunk, ignore him. You know who didn't ignore me, Penny. Girl actually wanted me around.”

     Mal was almost afraid to ask, “How many of those have you had?” 

     “Clearly not enough, if I haven't passed out drunk yet,” he sneered tossing the empty bottle in the trash can before heading in the direction of the school.

     “Jay I'm serious, I'm worried about you...”

     Jay whirled to face her anger near pulsing off of him, “I promised I would keep her safe Mal! I promised I would, and now she's gone wished away by Audrey and no one can find her! She fucking trusted me, and now all I am is someone who can't even keep an Auradonian safe in Auradon. I kept all of you safe on the Isle and then your mother forced us to come here and I can't even keep one of you safe.” he turned away and Mal almost missed the words, “I am useless here.”

     Mal was silent on their walk back. She never expected this level of venom from him, much less at her. As they neared the school she glanced at the slow sobering Jay, “Why are you being like this?”

     “Maybe because I don't like being made a liar. A very vicious bitch taught me the hard way about lying when shit actually mattered.”

 

     “I won’t do anything I swear,” Jay smirked leaning beside Io as she counted the money for the Jollyroger.

     She looked at him, “Do not lie to me Jay. Or do I need to give you another lesson.”

     “Pff, come on it wasn't that good of a lesson. Mal would have at least kneed me in the balls,” He rolled his eyes pocketing a few coins.

     Her eyes flicked over the money, “Jay I swear if you just stole from me.”

     “I wouldn't you know that. All your jewelry is on you.”

     “Jay I am not screwing around.”

     He licked his lips, “Maybe I wanna screw you. Rather badly right now.”

     “Jay,” she growled, “The money isn't some fucking game for you to get into my pants. It keeps the barges coming in every week instead of once a month. Hook pays the barge drivers to do runs weekly. Now where is the rest of it.”

     He paused, “What do I get out of it?”

     The whine left his lips as her blade sank into his side, “I warned you toy,” she hissed, “Now if you give me the money you stole you won't get worse.”

     Jay fumbled but tossed the coins back on the table, “Please...”

     She wrenched the blade away and pressed her hand to the wound, “I should not have to hurt you for stupid shit like this. Damn it Jay.”

     “Well I'm short this month...”

     “You try the brothel?” she huffed slipping the blade away to patch up the wound she had caused.

     “Empty. Tried all your other suggestions too before you ask.”

     “There is one place you can get it from. It's in Wonderland.”

     “Good I fuck the Princess for a free pass then.” he grunted out, “Did you have to get me so deep?”

     “I shouldn't have to stab you at all,” she snapped, “Jabbawockeez Bottles, know where it is?”

     “Yeah... I'm going to hate it aren't I...”

     “I'm not the one who risked stealing from a Crocodile to fix your shortage problem.”

     “I shouldn't have lied should I have?”

     “Never fucking lie to me. I told you this, I just finally cemented it into you.”

 

     Mal didn't like the distant look in his eyes but decided not to ask as to not risk another flash of his clear temper for today.

     “I don't think you're useless. Stubborn, hard headed, and a horrible playboy but not useless.”

     He gave her a look over his shoulder and yanked the door open to his room stiffening at Ben standing on the other side.

     “Jay, we’ve been looking all over for you.” Ben said, “Are you alright?”

     “Yeah fine,” Jay offered cautiously as he pulled back slightly, the destructive magic on his tongue as he tried not to show exactly how volatile he was at the moment. 

     “Good I was worried, but I didn’t want to leave Chad unsupervised in your room” he made a face.

     Mal grabbed at Jay’s shoulder missing as he shifted out of her range, “What do you mean Chad was in my room unsupervised?” Jay bit out eyes glowing hotly.

     “I’m looking for my phone you klepto” Chad shrugged, “I know you took it”

     Jay’s eyes narrowed at the mentioned male who he clearly missed when he ‘ran’ into Ben, “Why the fuck would I steal your phone? I don’t even like keeping the one Fairy Godmother got us on me.” 

     Mal flushed trying to contain Jay, grabbing the back of his vest, “Jay... there has to be a reason he thinks you have it.”

     “The jackass thinks everything he loses is because I steal it, not because he’s a dipshit and loses every fucking thing,” Jay snarled gesturing in Chad’s direction.

     “That’s cause you steal everything” Chad snarled

     “Do you have any proof?” Ben asked looking at Chad.

     “I will once I find my phone in here” Chad responded.

     “I. Don’t. Have. Your. Fucking. Phone,” Jay snarled as the windows suddenly exploded as his magic lashed out.

     She cringed as glass flew over the floor, “Oh that’s not good...” she muttered.

     “Fuck,” Chad turned looking at the windows in shock.

     “And it is time for you to leave” Ben grabbed Chad by the back of his shirt, he had to remain calm. Mal needed him to be calm.

     Mal looked at Jay as he stood there stiff, eyes and hands closed, “Jay, we talked about this. You can not keep using magic like this, you could have hurt someone.” she hissed at him under her breath, as Ben hauled Chad out of the room.

     “You think I did it on purpose don’t you. Of course you do, when are you going to realize I’m not. I hate this fucking magic shit,” he snapped as Mal used her magic to fix his screw up as he kicked the false side of his dresser and grabbed another bottle of rum, clearly cause it was helping today.

     “So, I sent Chad back to his room... do you want me to stick around?” Ben asked Mal from the doorway

    “I am so sorry Ben, I fixed the windows,” Mal turned catching Jay out of the corner of her eye taking a swig out of another bottle, “JAY!”

     “It’s no problem, we all have days” Ben tried to reassure her, she was not taking Jay’s little episode well.

     Mal looked between Jay and Ben panicked, this wasn’t good, not good, “Jay put that down!”

     He lowered the bottle from his lips, “Or what Mal? You going to glowy eyes me to death?”

     “I will... I will... I will turn you into a dog.”

     “A dog, that's... that’s what you're going with right now? Turning me into a dog.” Jay snickered, going to lift the bottle again to find it gone, “The hell?”

     Mal breathed out, slowly as she could now that she had magicked the bottle into the trash can with the other a mile away, “I told you to put it down. Don’t you dare!” she stomped her foot as he moved closer to the dresser, “You have done enough damage for one day now go to your bed.”

     “Mal... maybe calm down a little. We can all reason this out like grown ups,” Ben’s eyes flickered between the two.

     “See Mal, he gets it, grown ups,” Jay sneered at her. He really needed a drink, preferably the one he had been working on, “Now get off my fucking back you harpy. You never gave a shit back then on the Isle, why the fuck did you start caring now? I haven’t changed, still your idiot only good for stealing and punching things.”

     Red gold sparks appeared the bottle of rum behind him on top of the dresser. “And now you sound like them . We are not on the Isle Jay. You cannot just keep doing this shit.”

     “Jay, maybe we should have this conversation after you’ve had the night to... process what it is you want to say,” Ben suggested to Jay, he’d never seen him this far off the edge. He needed help, maybe therapy... well they all probably needed therapy but that was a hard sell.

     Jay licked his lips, “Process? Yeah I should probably process a lot of things. Mostly why I stuck with her when I had other options, oh right because I wanted to make sure they would be fine with just her leading.”

     Mal growled at him, “Excuse me? I think you need to sleep it off before I punch you myself.”

     “Bring it fairy girl,” Jay extending his arms leaving himself wide open to her, she wanted to forget the Isle, he just wanted to drink himself through the bad days.

     “Ok, and we are leaving. Mal you need to cool down and Jay needs to sleep it off” Ben grabbed Mal’s arm to pull her back.

     Mal didn’t fight it, didn’t and wouldn’t fight Ben. Jay wasn’t worth her fighting with Ben over, especially not when he was drunker than she had seen him in a long while. She let him pull her out of Jay’s room as she took a deep breath, “I’m... I’m sorry Ben. I don’t know what’s gotten into him. He... he’s never been this bad before.”

     Jay watched them leave and moved back towards his bed, he wanted to hit something. Wanted to do anything but sit here quietly until he passed out. So he paced, after grabbing the returned bottle of rum and tossed another shot back. It was like an itching under his skin, something was wrong and it was driving him to literally drink. 

     “It’s fine Mal, he’s having a hard time. This can’t be easy on any of you, have... has anyone ever suggested maybe the four of you talking to someone?” Ben asked as he escorted her towards her room.

     “What?” Mal was taken aback, “No... We are, we are fine. Jay, is...” she shook her head, “He will be fine. Once he sleeps it off. I’ll make sure it doesn’t happen again I promise.” She was going to throw out all the liquor bottles as soon as she had a chance. 

     “Mal it’s ok to say you need help... it’s ok to need it. Lots of people see someone to help them get through stuff.” Ben said 

     That did not sound like a good thing, not even for Mainland standards, “No, it’s fine. I just, I was prepared for a different scenario when I found him. He never loses his temper like this, like...” she trailed off leaving the words ‘like his father’ unsaid. Jay refused to be like him, refused to be that manipulative, and cruel. No matter if some of his words had cut her deeper than she would admit to. “I’ll take care of it Ben. We don’t need to talk to someone, I’ll take care of it.”

     “If you're sure, but if you change your mind just let me know,” Ben nodded stopping at her door, “I trust your judgement on what is best for all of you.”

     “Thank you,” She nodded with what she hoped was a convincing look, “Again I am sorry about Jay. Let me know if Chad finds his phone, I know Jay wouldn’t steal it.”

     “I know, Chad is just trying to stir up trouble” Ben agreed

     “Just, make sure Chad is okay after the window thing. I don’t want him blaming Jay for anything else.”

 

     Jay tossed the half emptied bottle back into another hiding place. It wasn’t helping, which he should have noticed two bottles of rum ago, but no one ever accused him of being smart. He also couldn’t sleep so he slipped out the window scaling the cold stones and jogged the roofline. When in doubt go talk to someone who didn’t piss him off. Shaking off as much of the alcoholic haze as he could he knocked on the outside of the window.

     The guy who opened the window was not his Princy. Rather a good looking guy in a torn red and black shirt with three bright red mohawks. He gave Jay a smirk, “You must be Jay, Aziz’s pet project. It cold out there?”

     “It’s winter dude, yeah it’s fucking cold. You going to let me in or just stare up at me with those puppy dog eyes?”

     “Damn Pan would’ve loved you,” he snorted pulling back into the window, “Yo Aziz, your brother from another mother is here. Smells like he’s been drinking with Pirates.”

     Aziz stirred half awake, “Seriously Rufio, tell me your joking...”

     “Why would he joke Princy?” Jay tumbled into the room, shaking the vertigo away as he sat on the floor under the window. “And how would you know about drinking with pirates?”

     “Right we haven’t met,” he grinned as Jay’s eyes slowly ran up ripped black leggings as he bowed arms spread wide, “Rufio, Peter Pan’s once second in command in Neverland. We had lots of fun with Captain Hook.”

     “I had lots of fun with his son, but I think we’re talking about a different kind of fun,” Jay replied blandy catching Aziz’s wrist as the older boy went to smack the top of his head, “Seriously Princy? I came here looking for people who don’t piss me off, don’t remove yourself from that really fucking short list.”

     Rufio snorted dropping back into his own bed, “I like you Isle kids, remind me of home. You two have fun, I’m going to bed so try and keep it down.”

     Aziz dragged himself out of bed and leaned over Jay closing the window, jumping as the thief’s hands grabbed his hips. He flashed back to the last time he had a sauced Jay in this room and blushed as he hauled Jay up and over to the dwindling fire. After making sure the other was wrapped up in a blanket he dropped down next to him on the floor.

     “Sorry I woke you up.”

     “I would say you're lying but you’ve been drinking. Do I want to know how much?”

     “Probably should have stopped when it wasn’t helping, but not that smart...”

     Aziz sighed softly and pulled Jay into his shoulder holding the other male loosely, “Talk to me Jay...”

     “About what?”

     “Anything you want to get off your chest?”

     Jay sighed softly and rested his head against Aziz’s shoulder, “I miss Penny... and I don’t know, I just... it’s like an itch under my skin today. Like I can’t, I don’t know. I’m sure there are words for this but I don’t, I don’t know them...”

     “Restless? Skittish?” Aziz tried, jerking as Jay bit his earlobe, “Alright, alright no need to be a five year old,” he winced, “So you can’t sit still...”

     “And it was pissing me off, so I drank, cause that normally helps. But it just got worse, kept getting worse. I broke all the windows in the dorm room when Chad told me I stole his phone,” Jay’s voice was getting softer, and Aziz shifted to rest his head on Jay’s just to hear him, “I wanted to have a fight with Mal, in front of Ben... I just want to get this feeling out of my system...”

     “Why? Why did you want to fight Mal?”

     “Because I am tired of the Princess act. I want my Mal back, I just want the girl who would stand toe to toe with the leader of the Jollyroger’s and be there. I want that force of nature back, both of them.”

     Aziz was silent for a moment, “You’re homesick aren’t you? In a weird ass backwards way, you want to go home. Not to the situation but to the people you interacted with and dealt with everyday.”

     “I miss some of it, but I am not homesick Princy. I want to go get Penny out of my home, before anything happens to her, like what happened to me. I’m not... I can’t... I don’t know how to be the thing Mal and the others want me to be. I can’t see me being that guy, I don’t want to be him.”

     He tipped his head and kissed the top of Jay’s snow damp hair, “Then just be you Jay. No more no less. But you really do need to stop drinking, it isn’t fixing anything I know you are smart enough to see that. Now I am tired, am I going to be subjected to your aggressive cuddling or you climbing back to your own room?”

     “You hate my climbing...”

     “Yeah and no amount of my complaints is going to stop you. I trust you mostly when you’re sober.”

     Jay glanced over his shoulder seeing Rufio with his back to them, and tipped his head catching Aziz’s mouth hungry for the trust on his lips, for the sincerity his, his friend, always gave him. Aziz pulled back slowly blinking a dazed look away.

     “You seriously cannot help yourself can you?”

     “You're hot,” Jay shrugged a shoulder, “Plus you say the nicest things when I’m tipsy.” he grinned lazily, “I’m going to haul myself back to my own bed, your roommate is going to have questions otherwise.”

     As Jay slid back out the window Rufio sat up and looked at Aziz, “Okay I know this is like your pet project, in trying to make them feel welcome and be friends with them and all. But this thing with you and Jay... am I going to walk in one day and find you two knocking boots? Or is the kissing just him when he’s had a few?”

     “Strictly all him when he’s had a few. I do not like guys like that.”

     Rufio looked his friend over disbelieving, “Yeah, tell me that when you aren’t blushing Princy , I am pretty sure you're in the first stages of denial.”

Chapter 71: The Palace Gardens (Mainland: January)

     Jay grumbled throwing a pillow over his aching skull as someone pounded on the door, his mouth a desert. He really shouldn’t have drank two and a half bottles of rum the night before, but he hadn’t been able to shake the itching under his skin. Of course it felt like it had all settled down for now. The pounding came again and Jay groaned, it was Saturday, couldn’t he just sleep in for once?

     “Hi Carlos, I came to get Jay” Ben explained as Carlos finally opened the door with a yawn.

     “What for?” Carlos asked, Ben wouldn’t hurt Jay or anything but that didn’t mean he was gonna let Jay just go off with him.

     “My mother wanted to talk to him. I believe she has plans to talk to all of you one on one at some point to see how you're doing” Ben stated what he knew.

     “Sure, he’s still in bed but knock yourself out” Carlos nodded opening the door the rest of the way and motioning to Jay’s bed.

     “Jay” Ben said stopping at the edge of his bed.

     “What Ben?” Jay grumbled into the mattress, one arm still tossed up over the back of his aching head on top of the pillow. 

     “Get up we have places to be” Ben said reaching for the edge of the pillow.

     “Come on dude, it’s Saturday, I’m exhausted...” Jay was not against whining until he felt the brush of someone’s fingertips across his arm. He reacted like it was someplace entirely different, simultaneously throwing blankets and pillow off him towards the touch as he threw his body in the opposite direction. Hangovers be damned, because he was going to suck it up and not let anyone touch him.

     “Wow, easy Jay. I wasn’t reaching for you” Ben held up his hands, he’d picked up on each of their little quirks here or there. He knew it came nowhere close to knowing them all but, it helped him some, “My mom wants to see you, get dressed please.”

     Ben, it was just Ben. Jay felt his heart slowing back down, vision and stomach churning unhappily as he groaned tempted to face plant into his bed, “Is this one of those cases I can say no? Cause the last conversation your mother wanted to have with me was not so great on me.”

     “Didn’t really seem like it, plus if you don’t come she may just come find you on her own, and well trust me having eating with my mom in the cafeteria is a spectacle you don’t want,” Ben advised.

     Jay groaned rubbing his face, “Fuck it, fine...” he pulled his vest on over the black tank top and ran a hand through his hair before twisting it up and yanking his beanie on. Glancing down at the leather and jean pants he was already in he shrugged and shoved his bare feet into his boots lacing them before going to brush his teeth. Apparently he resorted to home life when made to get up early. Especially when he forced himself to drink several cups of water to help with his hangover before looking at Ben tiredly.

     “Let’s get this over with so I can go back to sleep.”

     “Sure, I’m sure it won’t take long” Ben nodded leading the way from the dorms heading towards the castle. His mom had wanted to meet with Jay in the greenhouse garden, it was outside but not truely outside. He knew she was trying to help put Jay at ease.

     Jay shuddered as a cold breeze smacked him in the face, that was about as good of a wake up call as Ben touching him. He really could do without this whole talking thing, honestly they had a child missing and the queen wanted to talk about how he was doing. Compared to Penny he was likely in paradise, seriously. It was way better here than there. As sick knots formed in his stomach he forced him to think about something else, anything else as he blindly followed Ben. 

     Mal told him he sounded like the pirates, and honestly he really shouldn’t have called her a fairy like that. That was Crocodile’s thing, her hatred of fairies was easy to pick out. He never asked but it wasn’t like she hid it when she was in Mal’s face, all cold seething anger. Fuck he wanted to taste that fury on her lips, devour all the passion in her, feel her intensive emotions on his lips like a dream. He remembered the feel of her mouth on his when he caught her off guard enough to get a kiss. 

     Another cold wind tore away the building hunger in his chest, blood diverting at the chill. Which left Aziz, the prince of Agrabah, with his golden eyes and kind words, who had no idea the devil he had challenged. Jay was relentless when he wanted to be, and against a Mainland prince who would never dream of inflicting bodily harm to fend off his advances, Jay was going to have what he wanted. Not that he was sure really when he had started wanting the Prince for more than his help with homework. Penny hadn’t picked up what he was putting out, so she became like his Dizzy instead. Maybe, just maybe that would change when they found her, but he really didn’t want to change it, he liked having someone to talk to and plot with that he didn’t fuck.

     “Do you want a jacket? I’m sure there are a few around you can borrow,” Ben asked as he put his hands in his pockets.

     “You and your damn jackets.” Jay grumbled, “I am fine. That and it’s helping wake me up since you made me get up early on a Saturday.” he left out the part about his mild hangover since he was pretty sure Ben remembered last night all to well, “You didn’t get hurt last night right?”

     “No I didn’t, I also took care of Chad. Jay you're my friend you know that right?” Ben asked, “and it’s not just because of Mal.”

     “Just mostly cause of Mal,” he stated softly, “You're a good guy Ben. I don't deserve it most times, but I appreciate it. Chad didn't get hurt either right? I may not like the guy but if I gotta go back, I'd rather I get sent back for beating him bloody, than something I didn’t do.”

     “I’m not going to let them send you back for anything” Ben shook his head, “You're good, the fact that you asked about Chad, even though he’s a dick, helps prove it” Ben tried to assure, he wanted Jay to understand he would protect them as best he could.

     Jay licked at his cold lips and gave Ben a small smile, “I don’t know about good, but I aim for not evil at least. I think it’s mostly a solid neutral at this point,” he could joke about it, because he knew some of the stuff he did wasn’t good, but he never went full out evil either. He didn’t want to be like his dad, not that he was ever going to be smart enough to be like him anyway.

     “Neutral works for me” Ben smiled back, “This is the greenhouse, it at least will be warmer here” Ben motioned them inside.

     He nodded feeling the sticky wet heat surrounding his limbs, it felt like a cleaner version of the tunnel into the cold damp of New Wonderland. “It’s nice.” he could see the snow outside the fogged glass panes, the moisture dripping down the glass in some places, “So what is a greenhouse exactly?”

     “It lets us have a garden year round, some plants can survive winter, but most can’t. This lets us enjoy them year round.” Ben explained, as he picked a daisy holding it out to Jay.

     Jay took the flower and spun it between his fingers, “What is it?” he looked up at Ben the white flower completely foreign to him, all he knew were roses and brambles.

     “It’s a daisy, one of the few girly things Penny ever did was learn to make chains and crowns out of them. She managed to get me to do it with her. She laughed so hard when we got dad covered in them” Ben chuckled at the memory, “That was before Audrey came to Auradon for school, before a lot of things I guess.”

     “Sounds like back when she was your sister, and not the sister to the Crown Prince,” Jay bent the stalk off the daisy and slipped the flower behind Ben’s ear, “When you get her back recreate those memories, it will help you both.” he knew that all too well. Hell sometimes back on the Isle just having Evie sit next to him like the first time they met, or kissing Carlos like the first time, it helped pull him away from whatever was eating him alive.

     “Yeah, when she comes home we’ll have to spend some time together. Try and reconnect” Ben frowned a little, “If she wants to, she’s not exactly all about family time.”

     “No she’s not all about Ben plus one time. Try just making it you and her no tag alongs,” that was something Jay had managed to get out of Penny. They came around the rows of plants and stopped before a small bench Jay’s hands shoved in his pockets as he spotted the Queen sitting there expectantly. 

     “I’ll leave you to talk” Ben said with a nod. He would try to reconnect with Penny when she...if she ever returned.

     “Hi Jay” Belle stood to greet the teen.

     Jay watched him leave and took a deep breath, this, this could not be good, “Hi.” he ducked his head with a tight smile.

     “Would you sit with me?” she asked tilting her head slightly, “I am sorry about the early Saturday.”

     He cautiously sat down next to her, bare hands easing into his lap instead of in his pockets. Why did she want to talk to him this time? He ignored the question he wanted to ask and looked around them without moving too much, here in the wet heat his head was starting to pound again.

     “I heard from Fairy Godmother that you are still having a few problems in school.” Belle studied the boy before her, “Has your coach explained academic probation to you?”

     “Yeah coach explained it,” Jay nodded and felt his stomach twist in knots, he was regretting all that alcohol from yesterday now, “I’m trying, I know I’m not smart but I’m trying.” he had a flash of a similar conversation with his father, begging for his father to at least see his worth in the other things he could do while he tried to learn how to read and be smart enough for him. Why was he still trying so hard to be smart enough for people? Why was he still trying so damn hard only to keep coming up short?

     “I think you're smarter than you think.” Belle said softly, “I think you just need a little help. I would like to help you”

     Jay let out a bitter laugh hands flexing around his thighs, “No, I tend to be dumber than I think. I’m very good at a select few things and none of it is much good for your version of school. It was easier on the Isle, I was halfway decent in school when I went.” he focused his gaze on the white flowers beneath the tree, “I have Prince Aziz helping me out with school stuff, I’m just not smart enough to retain much... I still haven’t finished the book my dad had me reading since I was six.” he admitted, might as well tell her that he was a lost cause before she started trying to help like some of the teachers had before they had given up. He wasn’t bad at simple math once the numbers stopped moving and he pretended like it was all money.

     “I can help with reading, it's kind of my thing.” Belle smiled a little, “It sounds like your head has been filled with lies.”

     “Yeah my own,” Jay replied jaw clenching, “No amount of those has helped do more than get me through the day. Baba never sugar coated it, I’m dumb, just not as dumb as the Gaston’s. Small mercies really,” he stood moving away from her not wanting to talk about it any more, not wanting to hear his voice whispering in his head. He closed his eyes trying to remember the face of the man with the cane, trying to remember more than the golden ring on his outstretched hand and the kind words Jay had buried alongside every other scrap of goodness he had stolen off the lips of any of his partners. 

     “Well Gaston makes a stump look smart.” Belle snorted watching him, “Not a very queenly thing to say but, I don’t have a high opinion of the man. Penny cared... cares about you, I want you to be able to tell her you're happy when she comes back.”

     “His sons aren’t much better really, but the youngest, he’s a sweet kid, much better than his twin older brothers,” Jay trailed off remembering being pinned between the two before he cleared the memory away, “I’ll be happy when she’s back where I can keep an eye on her. All you have to do is find her, not that it seemed like you're inclined to do more than lie about her being gone at your winter party thing,” there was a word for it he had forgotten, and he hated knowing that he had forgotten it. 

     “I want her back, but admitting we lost her. How we lost her, we show weakness. There could be war, it is Adam’s fear. We will find her, when we do I don’t think I’ll let her out of my sight for a long time” Belle looked down, she wanted her daughter in her arms, where she was safe not off lost somewhere in the world.

     “War...” a cold short laugh left his lips, “That’s what the King is afraid of? I lived on an island of villains, more than a few that waged war on each other daily. I’d live through another, hell I would help you mainlanders fight, if it meant bringing her home.” it felt eerie coming from his mouth, like they weren’t entirely his words. “I don’t mean to upset you if I have, but you should focus on finding her, before someone else does.” he turned slightly to look at Belle, “I will keep working at the learning thing if you stop worrying about wars and go find your daughter, no matter the cost.” he was thinking about them again, about her, about the man with the cane, about the old Mal.

     “I will reach out and see what I can find out without alerting the council” Belle nodded, “If you need anything, please ask me.”

     He smirked at that, “You already know I won’t your highness. But I appreciate it anyway,” he shoved his hands in his pockets walking back the way he came. He was seeing a whole lot more reading induced headaches in his future, after he slept off his hangover that was. Thank evil she was one of the mainlanders who didn’t know about hangovers.

     Belle shook her head watching him go, she’d smelt the alcohol, she’d have Ben keep an eye on it. They all had to learn to cope, with what was happening. She would step in if it started to look bad, he would have to take her help then.

 

Chapter 72: Homework Help (Mainland: January)

     The library on a Saturday afternoon was not where Aziz was expecting to find Jay after a night of drinking. In fact he was impressed he had found the kid at all, because no one had seen him all day aside from Ben taking him to talk to the queen that morning. Steeling himself up he walked up to Jay as the kid sat on the floor tucked in a corner by the windows, “Anything I can help with?”

     Jay looked up blinking a few times to clear his swimming vision, “No?”

     Aziz knew that look by now, Jay had giving himself a headache trying to force the learning process, making sure Jay could still see him, he dropped down next to the younger male, “Okay I think you’ve hurt yourself enough for one day, where are you on the page?” he waited patiently as Jay worked himself up before breaking down and handing the book over tapping the place. “And why are you trying to read the History of Auradon textbook?”

     “Assignment,” Jay stated head tipping back against the cold bricks.

     “Well I am happy to see you trying to bulldoze through it, but have you stopped to take a break? Eat some food, pop some aspirin for that hangover you decided to compound, that means make worse or add to, with a headache from trying to force your brain to do something it doesn’t like doing?” Aziz could tell what the answer was just by looking at him.

     “No, on all counts. Compound, doesn’t that mean something else in science?”

     “Ruby star for the day,” Aziz smiled, “Compound, in science, is a mixture of two or more substances. And you say you don’t retain anything you learn.”

     Jay snorted, “Why are you here?”

     “I was returning a book, and saw you over here. No one has seen you all day,” he carefully looked Jay over, “I heard Ben took you around to talk to his mom.”

     “Yeah, that was a thing that happened at ass o’clock in the morning.”

     Aziz frowned there was something not quite right with that statement, “Okay something happened, you okay?”

     “Why does everyone fucking ask me that?”

     “Because we can tell you aren’t okay, but know better than to flat out ask what’s eating you,” Aziz took the assignment that was sitting on the floor and used it to mark the page as he closed the book. “People who are okay don’t drink themselves into a stupor on a steadily increasing schedule.”

     Jay looked at Aziz, he had a point he was drinking more often, “I... I don’t think I’ve ever been okay.”

     “Well growing up like you did, I’m not really all that surprised. But that is a topic for when we’re in private. For now why don’t you just unload about today’s not okay things.”

     He let his head fall back against the wall, “You ever have those days where someone tries to make you feel better, by saying something they think is true when you know it isn’t? You probably don’t-”

     “I used to as a kid, and I used to be hard on myself. But I learned to break that habit,” Aziz carefully brushed his fingers over a thick jagged scar on Jay’s exposed palm not minding the way the other flinched at the contact, “You used it to survive. Lied to yourself until you couldn’t remember it was a lie in the first place. That’s your habit. 

     I’ve heard you say it, calling yourself dumb, idiot, stupid. The worst is when I can see you thinking it, because you are tearing yourself apart inside trying to find the truth under all the lies you lived to survive with. Just tell me the truth, is it your voice in your head, or is it someone else’s?”

     Jay felt the unpleasant coil of shame in his belly and he looked away from Aziz, feeling overly exposed, “It used to be my voice...”

     “Then you need to stop listening to the voice in your head that isn’t yours. I know it doesn’t feel like progress when your grades are the same, but I know you are picking it up. But trying to force yourself to learn it, is doing as much damage as good.”

     “Then what exactly do I do? I have to get these assignments done, and I can’t, I can’t get my brain to read,” Jay let out a frustrated noise as he felt his eyes burning. Villains do not cry.

     Aziz blinked, he had never seen Jay so close to a breakdown that didn’t involve throwing things, how long had he been trying to get through this on his own today? “Well first off we take a break, and get you some food. You need to eat Jay, okay, we get you food, then we can go back to my room and I’ll make you some tea and help you with your assignments.”

     “Okay...” the word was weak and vulnerable and he had forgotten the sound of it as he had only ever used it once before.

     He pulled Jay to his feet and slung his arm over the leather covered shoulders still smelling rum on his clothes, “You also need to shower before tomorrow before Rufio finds you and calls you a pirate, cause I don’t see that going over very well with your allies.”

     Jay snorted, “Yeah no, Mal hates Jollyrogers.”

     “I think hate isn’t a strong enough word for it” Carlos chuckled as he met them at the door having heard Jay’s voice, “You disappeared man, I was hoping you’d play knights quest with me.”

     “I was going to go back to sleep, but I,” Jay rubbed at his face, “I have to get these assignments done...” he knew the others had finished them already, finished them on Friday while he was off trying to get enough alcohol in his body to stop the feeling of being on edge all day.

     “Hey Carlos, want to join us for some food? Jay’s been so wrapped up in homework stuff he may have forgotten food is an important and necessary body function.”

     “Eating not big on our to do list, if we remember then cool if not, oh well” Carlos shrugged, “But it may have also slipped my mind to eat today so” he walked along with them.

     “I don’t get you guys,” Aziz muttered.

     “When you’ve gone a week without eating before a day here or there ain’t too bad.”

     “Plus we don’t have to worry about picking mold off and stuff” Carlos added, 

     “I didn’t know bread wasn’t supposed to have fuzz until we got here”

     “I didn’t bother with the mold,” Jay shrugged a shoulder, “I didn’t know what color an orange was supposed to be.”

     “Unless we got lucky and found a can of those little cut up ones” Carlos nodded, those had been so sweet, Mal hadn’t liked them, Evie had only eaten a few but well the juice had been sticky and none of them had really been sure what to do with it.

     “Yeah I didn’t know what they were actually.”

     “They weren’t bad but, well we didn’t get a whole lot of sweet things on the isle.” Carlos explained for Aziz’s sake, “they spoil so fast over there. Here you guys have ways of keeping stuff fresh, but there well it was already going bad by the time it made it to the barges”

     “Yeah you want anything fresh you gotta hunt it, and trust me, that was not an option the day Koga Khan joined up with the Jollyrogers.” Jay snorted as they walked into the cafeteria. 

     “Koga Kahn I am assuming is related to Shere the cursed man eating tiger?”

     “Ruby Star for your remembering the shit I tell you.”

     “I thought it was gold stars?” Carlos looked at them confused, “Fairy Godmother gives us gold stars” He was pretty certain of that.

     “Yeah but this one detests gold, but has a weird obsession red, so I replaced gold with ruby, and silver with garnet.” Aziz offered pushing Jay in a chair, “I'll grab you food to just sit there and try not to puke.”

     “Iron stomach Princy, iron stomach. But you want to get me food, I ain't stopping you.” Jay flashed the prince a smile as he rubbed his temple with the heel of his palm.

     “So... he gets you food now?” Carlos asked with a smirk, “Seems like you're type... sort of.”

     “Apparently,” Jay snorted leaning back in the chair to look Carlos for a moment, “Do I have a type? I mean...” he tilted his head silently with the expression that screamed Isle.

     “Well yeah, but it depends on what you want at the moment.” Carlos shrugged trying to think of how to explain it.

     “I don’t... I don't really know what I want. Come on Los, when have I ever gotten something that I wanted? Happens enough you stop wanting anything,” he cracked his neck and made a face as the motion made his stomach churn. He was seriously starting to hate himself for drinking so much the night before. 

     “It’s hard to explain, but like I’m your type when you want to take care of someone, Evie when you need someone to need you” Carlos looked at him studying his face.

     Jay snorted, “You take care of me? Surely you jest,” he grinned easily at his ally, “Who's the one who rescued you from your mother? But in all seriousness I don't know what I want out of him. But he issued me a challenge and damn it I don't fucking loose.”

     Aziz grabbed food for all three of them, not minding looking after the Isle Kids. In a way they had grown up in a much worse version of the way his father had grown up. The girls seemed to be doing okay on their own, but the boys needed a friendly hand every once in a while. And Jay in particular needed the most help, but the kid was stubborn hiding behind his smile. Why, Aziz couldn't even imagine, but clearly there was something that happened that caused it.

     “Well you never fail when you aim for something” Carlos smirked, “I want details though.”

     “Done,” Jay grinned as Aziz came back with food, “Damn Princy, you are spoiling us,” he gave him an easy flirty smile and watched Aziz blush.

     “I want that chocolate croissant” Carlos reached for it before the plate hit the table.

     “I got it for you Carlos, Jay isn’t that fond of chocolate.”

     “Not on or in food at least,” he muttered, he had made good on that Chocolate sauce covered Carlos idea. One of the most enjoyable blows he had given in a while.

     “I am choosing not to ask.” he handed Jay a ham and cheese sandwich.

     “That was one of our best nights, genius idea” Carlos snickered, he’d enjoyed that night more then any since they had come here.

     “That was your idea, I just ran with it,” Jay smirked, “Wanna do it again Los?”

     “You can do whatever you want after we get you through your homework.” Aziz stated.

     “I’d do what your Princy says. But we should definitely do that again” Carlos nodded, “Could see if Evie is interested.”

     Jay closed his eyes with a noise that made Aziz shift uncomfortably, “Los you have the best ideas ever. Both of you at the same time...”

     “Whoa there Jay, homework then whatever your brain is doing right now,” Aziz coughed, they were definitely talking about sex, “Also why am I his Princy?”

     “Cause you are Z, that’s kinda how it works on the Isle” Carlos shrugged, “Been a really long time since we had that much fun... not since Mal got angry with us back on the isle”

     “Well Mal has to be all good now right? I've got to make sure all of mine are looked after, make sure they have some fun. And that does include you Princy, cause I could be-”

     “No.” Aziz cut him off determined not to let Jay keep thinking he would, his brain trailed off as Jay propped his head on his hand with a smoldering amused look, “Bad Jay...”

     “Bad to the bone, with the very worst of intentions,” Jay lips pulled into a wider near carnal grin at his Mainland prince.

     Aziz swallowed hard at the look, he thought drunk kisses were the worst he was going to have to deal with. Clearly he thought wrong. Especially when it was getting hard for him to tell Jay no, to tell him he wasn’t interested, because the curious part of him was growing.

     “Rotten to the core” Carlos added, “and ready for so much fun”

     “You wanna ask Princess for me Los while I do homework with my Princy here? Cause I mean if she's up for it...” Jay trailed off, Winter break had been a sharp turning point for them, the need for normalcy too much to resist after his slip up after the party.

     “I hate the fact you two are ganging up on me about this thing we talked about before Christmas.” Aziz picked at his sandwich, “I thought you'd just let it go.”

     “Never challenge him on anything” Carlos shrugged finishing off the croissant, “I’ll talk to her”

     “Yeah I am getting that,”Aziz muttered watching Jay wolf down his sandwich like it was going to vanish. “Jay... can I ask you something?”

     Jay swallowed the last of the sandwich with a slight frown, that tone of voice never led to pleasant conversations, “Sure Princy.”

     “You said a week without food... how, how often did that happen?” He was thinking about the conversation he had with Carlos and Genie, no one could die there. To be starving and unable to die, would have been torture.

     Jay hated that he was right, “Not too often,” he lied, “It was mostly just going a couple of days between barges.” he gave Carlos a look to not call him on the lie.

     “I’ll let you guys get back to whatever you were doing. I’m gonna go find the girls” Carlos said standing.

     “Sounds good,” Jay nodded with an easy grin, “Don't start without me.”

     Aziz watched Carlos finishing his sandwich, “Homework first Jay. Come on.”

     Jay followed after him, not liking the looks the prince was giving him, “I don’t want your mainland shit Aziz. I just need you to help me get through these assignments today.”

     “Jay...”

     “No, I will kiss you again just to shut you up,” Jay threatened in a low hiss as they walked to his room.

     “Alright alright, I will curb my obvious concerns for your health and wellbeing.” Aziz guided Jay inside and set the books down on the table. It was going to be a long few hours, “Mostly curb, how’s your head?”

     “Tolerable, no I don't want pain killers.”

     “Fine, then sit your ass down and tell me what homework you have left.”

 

Chapter 73: Chocolate Covered Isle Kids (Mainland: January)

Notes:

Warnings:
-NSFW
-Threesomes

     Jay walked back to his room, his skull was aching but he smiled and or winked at the girls he passed on the way. Never let them see the pain you're in, that was what he took from years under Mal, if he acted how he felt he would hear about how weak he was. The only times she hadn't done it was that time he literally lost consciousness on his feet after a particularly bad day with his dad, and when they found him after Io had patched him up from the bear. He really hoped Evie had agreed cause he really wanted some time wrapped up in his Princess and puppy. They always knew how to put his head back on straight, that and he was horny. Then again he was almost always horny, a constant whisper in the very back of his head wanting to drown in pleasure. Sometimes he couldn’t help himself, he needed it.

     “Hey Jay, I hear you missed me” Evie smirked at him from where she sat on his bed.

     Jay looked her over and gave her a flirtatious half smile, “I always miss you Princess.” he closed the door behind him and dropped the books on the edge of the duplication machine Carlos had made, headache be damned, “You miss me?”

     “Always, certain itches only you can help me with. I’d only trust you to help me with” she sat up, “How's the hangover? Want me to scratch your head, while we wait for Carlos.” 

     Jay smiled kicking his boots off and crawled in his bed spreading her legs open as he lay down between them, “Whenever you need me to scratch those itches I am here for you Princess. I com... compounded it doing homework. But it is done, and I am all yours and Carlos’ for the rest of the night.” he rubbed his palms over her tights, massaging her lower leg.

     “And Carlos and I are yours all weekend” she started running her nails up and down his neck.

     Jay pressed his head against her, exposing as much of his neck to her as he could, “Mmm, I like this plan. Los explain what exactly I was thinking? Cause this thing is all his fault, he said something and well my brain and mouth ran with it.”

     “It sounds like fun. I told him to grab whip cream too” she smirked pulling off his hat, “it will be messy but most fun things are.”

     Jay mouthed at her covered skin, “Fuck yes,” he grinned, “Don't worry Princess your thief will make sure every inch of you is clean. Also by far the best way to eat sweets I've found so far.” he missed this, these moments before the clothes came off cause they were waiting on one of them.  

     “I’m sure you will” she pulled his hair loose from its holder, “Sometimes I worry we are drifting apart. This no sharing with opposite gender thing tries my patients. Some nights I just want to be curled up with my boys.”

     “You two starting without me? Or are we cuddle puddling for a while?” Carlos slipped into the room.

     “I am always right here, whenever you need me, or want me. In the sad reality I am about to sound like my baba here, you both are mine and nothing is taking you from me. You’re all I've got here,” Jay offered her as he carefully eased himself up and gave her a kiss, “You getting over here Los or am I doing this all by myself, cause I'm fucking greedy right now and I want my favorite people in my bed.”

     “We need to get you a bigger bed” Carlos crawled up behind them and slipped between Evie and the wall.

     “I can’t think of anyone that sounds better coming from” Evie kissed Jay back.

     “Yeah, I don't think Ben is going to give me a bigger bed without a reason,” he breathed against her lips before shifting and kissing Carlos over her shoulder. “Mine, all mine.” 

     “I’m sure we could convince him” Evie kissed his neck.

     “Just have to keep it from Mal” Carlos added before taking another kiss from Jay.

     “Well after this the three of us will have to wear him down,” Jay got out between kisses with them his body warming, pants tightening. “Cause I need to keep you two happy.”

     Evie reached up and pulled the fastening of her dress apart. “I want you're guys opinion. Is the lace too mainland or just right” she asked as she revealed the matching blue and red lace push up bra and low rise panties.

     “Um...” Carlos felt his mouth go dry looking at her over her shoulder.

     “Just fucking perfect,” Jay purred hand glossing over her curves, “Evil Princess, you look so damn edible.”

     “I bet I’ll be more edible covered in chocolate and whip cream” she smirked at him.

     “So hot” Carlos scrambled to get the food items.

     “You just,” Jay kissed her hard pulling her hair lightly, “Just sit here, I am wearing way too many clothes.” he pulled back hands flying through his layers, thank evil he had so much damn practice. Because he wanted to eat the both of them right now, and did not want to wait to strip down to nothing but his skin, scars and nipple rings.

     “I’ll have to thank Mimzy next I see her” Evie leaned forward letting her dress slide the rest of the way off before reaching out to flick one of the rings.

     “If Mal let's her come here then yeah,” Jay jerked a little with a soft groan, he popped the drawer open and pulled out three red vials, “Any chance I can convince you to make more of these?”

     “I can try, the ingredients aren’t exactly normal things here” Evie said taking one and tossing it back with a crinkle of her nose, she preferred her mother’s potions over these.

     “I appreciate it,” Jay smiled tossing his back, “You let me know what you need and I will find it. So which one of you wants to be covered in Chocolate and whipped cream first?” he asked taking the containers from Carlos. He set the empty vial down dropping into his bed, half hardon bobbing between his thighs watching Carlos get undressed.

     Carlos pulled off his clothes quickly licking his lips as he took in the sight of Jay. He blindly groped for his vial not wanting to take his eyes off the pair in front of him.

     “I think Carlos wants to lick it off you first” Evie giggled, “That would be an interesting sight... our puppy licking our thief clean” 

     “Been a long while Los, think you can handle me,” Jay challenged, hand stroking over his shaft. He smirked letting the bottles down on his bed as his free hand ran up the inside of her thigh.

     “I think I haven’t sucked your dick in too long” Carlos said dropping to his knees before Jay next to the bed.

     “I’m trying a new body butter, do you like how smooth my skin is” Evie smirked trying to be patient, she wanted to shove Jay’s hand down her panties.

     Jay thumbed Carlos’ lips, “You want me covered Chocolate addict?” he could tell Evie wanted his attention too, “I love it Princess, can't wait to feel how soft those pretty thighs are going to be around my face,” his fingers rubbed her slowly through her pretty lace under things. 

     “You maybe my favorite chocolate treat” Carlos reached for the chocolate.

     Evie moaned wrapping her fingers around his wrist.

     Jay watched as Carlos covered his dick with chocolate sauce, the chilled syrup causing goosebumps across his hips and thighs, “Well go on Carlos, show us how much you like chocolate.” he rubbed a little harder at Evie, “If you take your pretty lacy things off I'll give you a little more of what you want Princess.”

     “Are you sure you don’t want to unwrap me?” she asked before biting her lip, Jay knew her almost as well as she knew herself. Better than anyone else ever would, at once point she’d hoped Mal would know her this well.

     Carlos took the head into his mouth swirling his tongue around it, moaning at the taste on his tongue.

     Jay groaned hand sinking into Carlos’ hair, before he dropped back on the bed tugging Evie across him as Carlos worked between his legs, “How can I deny you my princess?” he guided her mouth down to his, tongue flicking at the seam of her lips.

     Evie quickly opened her lips to him as she maneuvered herself against Jay but out of Carlos’ way.

     Carlos ducked down a little to avoid Evie’s foot but, quickly took more of Jay into his mouth. He couldn’t deep throat, it just wasn’t comfortable for him after the twins had gotten a hold of him that one time, before Jay intervened. But, he trusted Jay to not hurt him, to protect him and to let him only take as much as he could.

     Jay moaned into Evie’s mouth as Carlos sunk deeper around him. His tongue tangled with Evie’s as his fingers were quick to undo her bra. Her panties would stay on until he was ready for them to come off. Jay knew how she wanted it, knew that she enjoyed watching him take them off her, unwrapping her. His other hand still in Carlos’ hair rubbed the back of his skull soothing, fingers tightening when Carlos did something that felt particularly good as he was careful not to buck his hips or force him down. 

     Evie tossed her bra over by the desk as it came off of her. She didn’t want the delicate fabric to get dirty after all.

     Carlos pulled back with a slurp, and a pop, “Dude you taste so good like this, it's like... I don’t even know how to describe”

     Jay laughed softly, “And you wondered why I kept dousing your dick in chocolate,” He licked his lips looking between them. “Want me to unwrap you before we get any more chocolate involved? I would hate to get your pretty things dirty.” he carefully guided Carlos up and licked a smudge of chocolate off his lips, “Only way I'm eating chocolate will be off of you two.”

     “Then unwrap me, I’m yours” Evie encouraged her hand going to Carlos’ who laced their fingers together. They needed to do this more often, she could feel the spark that was them as they remembered each others bodies.

     Jay felt his body react, “Been way too long since you said that,” gentleness gone for a second as he rolled the three of them over so he was on top of both of them he eased back licking and nipping down Evie's body. His hands gliding down their sides. One hand curling around Carlos hardened shaft, the other easing around the edge of Evie's panties, his teeth on the other side as he slowly eased them down. He could feel the magic pooling like embers in his chest.

     “I feel my magic tingling on my skin. Do you feel it too?” Evie asked with a moan.

     “Like little sparks” Carlos nodded his head tossed back.

     Jay's eyes flickered and Evie's panties vanished in red gold sparks reforming by her bra, “Sorry...” he muttered embarrassed about his literal lack of control. So he buried that feeling under what he wanted now which was his favorite two coming undone at the seams with pleasure. He stroked Carlos as he rubbed the heel of his palm against Evie's clit, his fingers easing inside of her with every rock of his hand as he straddled their now tangled centered legs and kissed one then the other slow and purposefully. He would never say love, that word was a poison, but he cherished and lusted for them. Always for them, for how content they were for him, and how easy it was for him to take the freely given words off their lips.

     “That was amazing,” Carlos looked at where the panties had been.

     “Need to practice doing that” Evie hummed her hands coming up to his chest.

     “Yeah I'm not really sure how the magic thing works. All I know is it happens when I don't mean it too,” Jay shrugged a shoulder nuzzling their cheeks.

     “You didn’t mean to send my panties across the room?” Evie raised an eyebrow as she played with his nipple rings.

     “Dude it would be cool if you could just make clothes go poof” Carlos groaned as he closed his eyes.

     “But I’m pretty sure they would count as evil somehow” Evie moaned tipping her head back letting the little tremors of pleasure start to run through her.

     “Not with magic,” Jay hummed as her fingers caused small little sparks of pleasure to go through him, “Ben said he was cool with me being completely neutral, I consider making clothes vanish neutral. Evil knows I have made enough clothes vanish off people without magic.” he eased another finger into Evie as he pulled back slowly mouth curling around one of her nipples for a moment before he tried to figure out where the whipped cream had ended up.

     “It's by your foot” Carlos wheezed out his hips bucking a little.

     “Neutral is good for us, it should be good enough for them” Evie brought one hand to his neck.

     “That's all I can give them, so it damn well better be,” Jay grumbled giving her a warm kiss before he pulled back from both of them. Rocking back to his heels he grabbed the whip cream container giving it a quick shake before spraying some out on Evie's breasts. The chocolate sauce, for him, was going exclusively on their bits, because Jay enjoyed eating them and well Evie deserved a long drawn out eating session. 

     “Oh...that looks yummy” Carlos tilted his head to look at Evie.

     “No more words right now” Evie’s tongue flicked over her lips as she closed her eyes.

     Jay smirked and lowered his head tongue lapping the slowly melting cream off. He hummed licking his lips, “This, just this... Los you wanna try the other one?” he went back to her right breast as his fingers dipped back between her legs.

     “Oh hell yes” Carlos rolled over his tongue going over the skin before sucking the nipple between his teeth.

     “Oh, amazing” Evie quickly shifted her left hand to Carlos’ hair.

     Jay bit and suckled marks into her breast, little claiming things he had done on the isle where her mother wouldn't see them. Little things that Evie knew were just for her, like the small marks he would leave on the inside of her thighs close to her pussy. He left Carlos to her breasts as he lowered himself down her body with soft tender kisses across her skin free hand grabbing the chocolate sauce. Easing her right leg up he pulled his hand away and drizzled her sex with the syrup. Greed, thank evil he was only greedy about a few things because he was going to collect her hunger and horde that away to fuel his alone time. 

     Evie put both hands into Carlos’ hair as she threw her head back. Jay was giving her everything she needed, gods she was going to explode she loved it.

     Jay lapped at her skin, licking the chocolate sauce off her as it mixed with her slick, “Fuck Princess, you taste fantastic,” he pressed his face against her, tongue lavishing her coated skin, dipping inside of her. He wouldn't leave a spot of her dirty. Not at least until he was fucking her. His body ached at the thought but he put that to the side, them first, them always first. 

     “Dude, how we doing this?” Carlos asked as he pulled off of Evie’s nipple with a pop getting a groan from her.

     Jay pulled up slowly from between Evie's thighs breathing heavy before he cleared his throat, “Depends on who wants to be in the middle.” 9 out of 10 times he was the one in the middle by default, simply cause he didn't mind getting and giving. But when the three of them were together it was always at the same time, just because that was what felt right.

     “What do you want Jay” Evie asked running a thumb over his cheek. It felt right to let him lead on this, not cause he was Mal’s lieutenant but because it was safe to let him control this energy between all three of them.

     Jay hummed pushing himself up slightly, “What do I want, what do I want?” his insides warmed at the question, he liked it when he got to choose, “I'll be in the middle if you don't mind fucking me Los.” he eased himself up slightly further running the flat of his tongue over Carlos’ erection hungry to give them whatever they wanted.

     “That is never a trial man” Carlos nodded his eyes rolling up at the sensation.

     “Then we will make sure you get everything you want this weekend” Evie assured, “cause you should be as satisfied as we are” 

     “You know how dangerous that statement is Princess? We do that, we are going to be spending the rest of the weekend in bed,” Jay grinned before swallowing Carlos down in one easy motion, he adored them, his Princess and his puppy. But really he could drown himself in the both of them and be happy never coming up for air.

     “It’s a good thing you finished your homework then” Evie smirked that little smirk that would normally mean she’d done something evil.

     Jay groaned around Carlos, goodness be damned, Mal and her petty demands of him and his could fuck off. All he needed to do after this was to convince Ben he needed a bigger bed so he could spend every weekend nestled between them.

     “Less talking” Carlos moaned. 

     “Such a pretty sight, my two princes” Evie watched with hooded eyes.

     Jay smirked, twisting his tongue around Carlos as he pulled back with a hard pop, “Damn good thing really, cause I might just eat you two all night and into tomorrow after we have a good fuck,” his hand reach between his legs and rubbed himself before going back further. He was getting restless, but had the patience to wait this time around, get himself ready since the last time he got fucked had been the Christmas party.

     “I don’t know what’s hotter watching you prep yourself or watching you eat Evie” Carlos panted watching Jay.

     Jay stifled a moan as he started working himself open, “Then you better be ready cause I can do both,” he needed a distraction, because he was on edge. He adjusted himself around arm easing over his back as he tucked his face between her thighs, suckling her skin and nibbling at her clit. His fingers found that spot and he shuddered holding back another moan.

     “Never issue a challenge you don’t want beat” Evie moaned closing her eyes as she turned her head, one leg coming up over his shoulder.

     Jay shifted his weight as Evie tossed a leg around his torso. He was right, her thighs did feel fantastic around his face. The added weight made his back bow and he moaned into her skin as he spread his fingers. Where the hell did his endurance go today? He reached down between his legs and gave himself a firm tug forcing his body back from the edge. There was way more he had coming and his deserved everything they wanted. Not that his patients level was improving, but his head had stopped hurting at least somewhere between Carlos swallowing him and him deep throating Carlos in return. He eased his hand away from its work and kissed Evie's abdomen, “You two ready for the main course?” he asked, voice low and hungry feeling the magic pooling around them searing heat in his chest, the want for them near crushing.

     “I may explode if we don’t start soon” Carlos moaned.

     Jay nodded and lifted up grabbing the lube out of the hiding place in the headboard. Leaving his chest open for Evie to what she wanted he tossed it to Carlos, “Me in Evie and then you get settled. Plan? Cause I ain't much better right now pup...”

     “Plan” Carlos nodded as he slicked himself up.

     Evie smirked leaning up and taking one of his nipples into her mouth tongue flicking the ring back and forth.

     Jay groaned head hanging hands locking on the headboard, “Fuck Princess...”

     “I can’t help myself” she sighed with one last flick of her tongue, as he sank into her.

     Jay reached down pulling one of her legs up and over the back of his hip which forced him to bottom out in her, “I'm not complaining,” he hummed softly as Carlos slowly pushed inside of him, “I missed you two, so damn much,” the gnawing heat in his chest rippled into a full warm wave as the tingling he was feeling washed over and around him, Evie. He knew it was Evie, just by the feel of it.

     “We’ve missed you” they answered together, Evie putting her leg around his hips resting her heels on Carlos’ side.

     Carlos nipped at Jay’s shoulder as he sunk down deeper into the heat of Jay.

     Easing his hands off the headboard he braced his weight on one arm and kissed Evie as he rubbed down her side. Glossing up and down her as Carlos settled finally. They were fantastic for this, for letting him do this.

     Evie reached up putting on hand in his hair as the other dragged her nails up and down his side.

     Carlos closed his eyes trying to focus on making the moments last.

     Jay felt adjusted enough and pushed his hips back into Carlos before snapping his hips forward into Evie. He set the pace for all of them, knowing what they liked.

     Evie let loose her yowl as the pleasure coursed through her. Jay was reminding her why, she loved fucking. It had been too long waiting for the right moment here on the Mainland, she liked Doug, she wanted to fit in; but she didn’t think she could have even try to give this up again.

     Carlos leaned down resting his forehead against Jay’s back whining, he wasn’t going to last.

     Jay felt himself dissolving into pleasure between the three of them. Why had they given this up? Why had they ever stopped? He rested his forehead against her neck because he was coming undone, his body shaking as he tried to hold on, tried to last until they were all there on the edge.

     “Just a little more” Evie breathed into his ear, as Carlos let lose a yelled arching as he released it was too good he couldn’t hold on.

     Jay kept moving careful of Carlos, knowing while the kid didn't mind a bit of overstimulation he knew not to take it too far. But it was fine because the feeling of Carlos coming undone inside of him made him lose his steady rhythm. He breathed heavily making a soft whining noise at the back of his throat.

     “Yes, yes” Evie snapped, digging her nails into his side as she fell over the edge of pleasure.

     Jay's hips snapped deeper and let himself fall over the edge as she milked him. He was breathing harder and felt Carlos drape over his back as he tried not to collapse over Evie. “Why did we stop this?”

     “Cause it’s not a mainland thing, they don’t like sex...for some reason” Evie tried to catch her breath.

     “They are backwards as shit here,” Carlos whined.

     “Yeah I don't understand I like sex, we like sex together. The Mainland thinks we’re the weird ones...” Jay snorted easing him and Carlos off to the side.

     “Its suppose to be a love thing” Evie shrugged a little, “but well I think it's better our way” 

     “Just about everything is better our way” Carlos chuckled

     “Now to convert our Mainlanders into our thinking,” Jay sighed relaxing against them. These were the few times where they could get away with asking him anything.

     Carlos flopped to the side his arms staying around Jay, “Yeah I don’t see that going well. How are things going with princy?” 

     “Oh are you still working on Aziz?” Evie yawned delicately.

     “Well I met his roommate last night...” Jay nuzzled her shoulder, “One of the Lost Boys, if I wasn't working on Princy I'd go find out what his roommate would do. Could mistake him for an Isle kid.” he licked his lips, “Princy is still being stubborn, but he seems okay when I kiss him. Granted he may just chalk it up to the drinking, but he does blush at random for me. I’d lust to know what he is thinking about when he blushes like that.”

     “I’ve noticed a few kids like that, that seemed to walk a line between mainland and isle,” Evie mused, “Seems like taking all the Evil away didn’t work the way they planned.”

     “I saw the blush at lunch, he looks delicious” Carlos nodded

     “Well I definitely don't think I misheard him say he enjoyed playing with Hook. And kid didn't blink when I told him I enjoyed playing with his son. Actually knew I was talking about sex. So there is hope for us in Neverland, so maybe we can go there and hang out with them.” Jay grinned at Carlos’ comment, “He tastes delicious, so fucking submissive too.”

     “Submissive huh? I wonder if that’s a shared trait for guys in Auradon” Evie chuckled, “Going to make him one of you're conquests? Or are you going to keep him?” She shifted looking at Jay curiously.

     “I'm a greedy bastard Princess, I'm trying to go for both. He's... nice to me. Doesn't yell at me about my bad habits unless they are getting out of control. Then he calls me a brat and I let him drag me around so he can feel like the adult.” Jay smiled slightly thinking about if the golden eyed Prince would take well to Jay claiming him, “And he helps me with homework.”

     “Well maybe one day we can all play” She smirked, “probably a while from now.”

     “Probably,” Jay smirked back, “Let me warm Princy up to the idea of fucking guys first. You two will be the first to know when I conquer him. Soon I'm thinking, cause I am going to have that sub one way or another, fucking challenging me.” he yawned tucking his face into Evie's shoulder. “So how are things going with your mainlanders? Any progress?”

     “Jane’s skittish on the subject of sex. Freezes up when I get handsy while we’re kissing” Carlos sighed. 

     “Doug is interested but, well ‘I want to make love to you, when we are both ready and know what it means’” she quoted with a face, “it’s really sweet that he sees more then sex when he looks at me. But evil is it frustrating”

     “How did I end up with the easy mainlander?” he was confused because they should have had an easy time with theirs, they didn't have to deal with that pesky thing called preference. “So by making love he means boring sex you hate? I can subtly suggest a few things to him. And Jane's mom is FG, so maybe it's an encouragement thing, want my help? I'd tell you liquor would help but not likely going to get her to drink it.” he would help them, even if it was to help them conqueror their mainlanders.

     “Well it couldn’t hurt for you to talk to Doug, he thinks you're cool” Evie nodded maybe Jay could move things along. After all she’d like to see what that tuba playing mouth could do.

     “Yeah, I think she’s just afraid of her mom finding out” Carlos shrugged, “honestly I think some of the mainland kids are more scared of their parents then we are. It’s hilarious.”

     “I will see what I can do with Doug. I don't know why they are afraid of their parents. Not like they are going go through anything we did,” He wasn't very self conscious about his scars, but he didn't like the looks or the questions people here made about the ones they could see on his bare arms. 

     “Who knows mainlanders are weird” Carlos cuddled up to Jay.

     “Not bad weird... well most of them. Chad’s a dick” Evie agreed, “gossip on my floor is that he sleeps with any one he can. So he obviously didn’t get the same talk everyone else here did”

     Jay shifted uncomfortably, he didn't like that he and Chad had anything in common, but it wasn't like Jay had any other options. It was fuck for money or be whipped and beaten by his baba until he could deliver his rent in full, “Stand by all the times I have hit him.”

     “Good cause I hear he’s not very good,” Evie smirked she’d managed to get one of the girls to talk to her, “Seemed Chad wasn’t very interested in what happened to his partners as long as he got off.”

     “So probably safe then, I haven't been trying out Mainlanders for much more than flirting. Plenty of offers for more, but...” Jay flapped a hand, “Figured Ben wouldn't like me being well me... Mal glowy eyes me enough whenever she sees me flirting. That and I pretty sure if one of them lies I’m getting sent back.”

     “I’m well aware of her reaction,” Evie rolled her eyes, before she’d settled on Doug, Mal had given her the glowy eyes whenever she seemed to get a little friendly with anyone.

     “Good thing I’m not a flirter then, that look is scary” Carlos shuddered, Mal still scared him, leader or not there was a reason he kept Jay between them.

     “Don’t worry Pup, I won’t let her hurt you. You two are mine anyway, she wants to bitch she better fucking take it up with me first,” Jay growled lights flickering at the thought of Mal hurting his two. That was the arrangement Mal and he had come to, if she thought he forgot, the half fairy had another thing coming, mainly his fist to her pretty little face.

     “I trust you too,” Carlos nodded letting his eyes close for a little bit.

     “We both do, you... are the one that we trust with everything” Evie nodded putting her face in his hair letting sleep pull at her.

     Jay smiled tangling the three of them together not minding the damp sheets or the slightly slick and sticky feeling on his skin, “Pup lights?” Carlos had a thing he did to turn them on and off without moving, it never worked for Jay so he let Carlos do it.

     Carlos grunted and snapped his fingers twice the light going off.

     “Thanks Pup,” he yawned eyes closing, “Sleep then more fucking.”

     “Sounds like the best plan” Carlos nodded going to sleep.

Chapter 74: Find Your Spine (Mainland: February)

Notes:

Warning:
NSFW
Slight non-con

     Belle sat on a blanket waiting for Ben to lead Jay in. She stared at the Calla Lilies, she’d been trying for a little over a week to try and and reach out. She’d even tried to plan a vacation to Agrabah or to Chief Merida’s kingdom, to speak with them. Farris and the council blocked her at every turn. She had tried going to Adam but, he wouldn’t hear of it, the risk was too great to him. She reached up wiping a tear from her face, she didn’t know what to do, she was hitting dead ends everywhere she turned.

-*-

     Jay huffed fixing Ben with a hard look in reply to the look of disappointment on the Crown Princes’ face. It wasn’t like he was drinking, he had been nestled in bed with Carlos and Evie with clothes on even. 

     “Mom wanted to talk... she’s... she’s been having a bad week” Ben said softly, he had heard his parents arguing. He’d also heard his dad finally snap, screaming at his mom that Penny wasn’t coming back, that she was probably dead. It was horrible but it was something they had to get used to, a life without her.

     He slowed his steps stopping entirely despite the cold, “You... find Penny?”

     “No... her and dad are fighting, Penny wouldn’t have wanted that,” Ben shook her head, “You mattered to her so, you matter to mom” it wasn’t hard for him to imagine Penny not coming back, she hadn’t ever really been around at least not for a long time. What was hard for him was realizing that all the thoughts and plans he had made for the two of them to reconnect to be siblings again would be nothing more than dreams for him now.

     There it was, that change in stance, in his eyes, in his voice, in the very words leaving his lips. They had given up. And it sent fire flooding into his veins, fury that they would give up on their own so easily, “I know the way Ben. I’ll get myself there.” he stormed away before he punched the Crown Prince for being so fucking weak. Maybe the Queen had a will made of harder metal than her son, because Jay needed them to find Penny or he would go and do it himself, take Carlos and Evie with him, leave Mal to her pretty new life.

     Belle looked up as she heard Jay’s oddly heavy footsteps. “I hope I didn’t pull you away from anything important” she said trying to give him a small smile.

     Jay’s mouth opened to spew venom until he spotted the tears. He took a deep breath holding it for a minute, “No, just sleep,” he gave her a thin smile, “I’m not angry with you pulling me out of bed, just with something your son hinted at. Forget about my shit...” he shifted uneasily on his feet rubbing the back of his arm, “Why are you crying?” 

     “I...” she tried to find the the right words looking back at the flowers, “I don’t suppose you know what these are called?” she touched the petals of one of the white flowers.

     “Not Daisys?” Jay offered before carefully sitting down near her, “The only flower I ever saw before coming here was a rose. The girl who showed me to them said they weren’t the right color any more, that they’d never be the right color so long as they grew there.” he knew the Queen was dodging his pointed question, but that was fine, he’d talk about anything so long as she didn’t start crying.

     “They’re Calla Lillies” she said, “I had them planted when I found out I was pregnant with Penny” she explained, “I don’t think she likes them very much”

     Jay licked his lips looking at the dainty white flowers, if they were supposed to represent his Penny they should have picked something spikier, “Can’t imagine why, they are a little dainty...”

     “They are aren’t they” she chuckled, “She ripped them almost all out when she was 5.” she tried to smile at the memory of Penny covered in dirt and mud in the ridiculous pink dress her nannies had put her in, she wiped another tear away, “I can’t get through, they block me every move I make.”

     “When I was little my baba used to tell me stories about Jasmine, Aladdin and Genie. He stopped when I asked if he could wish us off the Isle. Told me it was my job to get us off, that if he had a djinn he’d never waste a wish on that,” Jay kept his eyes on the plants, “Something I learned from the Isle, is if you want something bad enough you don’t stop. You fight for it, scream yourself hoarse, fight no matter how much it hurts and how much you want to stop. You square your shoulders and you do whatever you have to do. Don’t let anyone tell you no. Don’t be your son, don’t give up on her, because she would never give up on you.”

     “Could she survive it? If she’s there could she survive it?” Belle asked, she hadn’t realized Ben had sided with Adam on this. She wasn’t going to let Penny be written off as some poor girl that went mad, she just had to get around the council.

     “The barrier doesn’t give you a choice, you’ll survive no matter what happens to you,” his hand subconsciously rubbed the old knife wound his Aunt had brought him back from, “Better question is what she is doing to survive. Is she starving? If she’s eating what is she eating? Has someone caught her? If they did what are they doing to her? There are things you can live through there that make you wish you would never wake up, that Frollo will just care for what’s left of you for the rest of eternity,” his stomach was in knots and he could feel all those old tensions pulling around him, all those things that had happened to him that he forced himself through for the sake of others. How could he even stand to be sitting here with a beautiful, smart, kind queen like he was worth anything at all?

     “What do you think? You know her better than anyone here, its funny I didn’t think about how little I knew my own daughter until I realized I had no idea how to find her,” Belle looked at him, he was the only one that wasn’t ready to give up, that would stand with her as she refused to let them forget her Penny.

     Jay looked at her then, eyes hard, “I think that I didn’t teach her nearly enough to live this long in my home. That every day she’s there I worry my baba got her, because I know what he will do to her. And every night, I beg to powers I don’t believe in, that the people that looked after me towards the end of my time at home, found her and are keeping her safe. If I had a way to get back, I would go home to find her. Penny...” He shook his head looking at his feet as he pulled his knees to his chest, “I would rather it be me stuck there than her, at least then I wouldn’t feel like I lied to her. But you don’t really believe she’s there, do you?”

     “I don’t know what to believe. The way Audrey phrased the wish... I want to talk to Genie about it. But to do that I have to get to Agrabah or get him here, and short of Jordan getting in serious trouble there isn’t a way to really get him permission to be here” Belle explained, “I once read a book that had a quote I think you would like, ‘if you have exhausted all of the probable, then whatever is left not matter how improbable must be the solution’ if we can’t find her here then maybe we need to look elsewhere”

     “It’s an Wonderland quote,” Jay snorted, “Audrey said someplace no one would ever look. Only place I know no mainlander is willing to go is the place I’m from. You guys are big on the whole, ignore the problem and maybe it will go away thing.”

     “Actually she said last place anyone would think to look. I suppose it's close to no one would ever look, this is why I want to talk to Genie. Yes, I am aware of our blindness to certain things. I am trying to not be so blind to what is happening. I’m not sure I like what I see,” Belle sighed smoothing her dress.

     “You need Genie,” Jay repeated slowly trying not to dwell on the things she may or may not be alluding to given he was prone to paranoia given his father could go from 0 to 100 in a blink of an eye, “Want me to ask Aziz if the djinn is capable of making a subtle visit under the guise of wanting to talk to me about djinn stuff?”

     “About... did he pass on that to you? We never thought about you having magic, in fact I don’t think Fairy Godmother was expecting any of you to have magic” Belle blinked, “But, that would be helpful if he can be subtle I know its not his forte” 

     Jay smirked, “He’s not a djinn my baba, but your council doesn’t know that. So what’s a little white lie on our part, when they are willing to lie to an entire country? I looked up what Jasmine called me, in order for me to talk to Genie you have to be there. So we ask Genie here to talk to me, you sit in, I do what I’m good at and go find myself somewhere else to be.” no one ever said he couldn’t work his way around the rules.

     “Then that is our plan, I trust you can get Aziz on our side” she felt a small shimmer of hope.

     “Princy will do whatever if he knows it will help me. That was our deal him and I. He takes your daughter’s place in helping me with school stuff,” it was more than that because Jay had leaned on them when the voices in his head were the only ones he could hear. He took every ounce of kindness they gave him, “I’ll get your Djinn your highness, never met a challenge I couldn’t conquer,” he smirked pushing himself to standing, “You just don’t go losing your will on me.”

     “She’s my daughter, if they want me to believe she’s dead, they had better have a body. I’m nowhere near done with this,” Belle shook her head, the real question was was she ready to torpedo her marriage.

     “Finally a Queen I can get behind,” Jay muttered under his breath. “You need anything between now and then you know how to drag me out of bed,” he teased the Queen of the country his was currently abiding in, “Your Highness.” he turned ready to walk back to his room and see if his were still in bed. If not he’d go hunt Aziz down and make the kid submit for good.

     When he made it back to his and Carlos’ room, his were MIA so he climbed out the window and trekked across the cold slippery roof to Aziz’s room. Time to take what he wanted, well, he would stop if the Prince told him to. It was a gamble he was taking doing it, but that was just a risk he was going to have to take. Jay slipped into the window, Rufio missing? Check. Aziz here? Check. All the things he had been moving over the last several weeks in place still? Check. Two birds, one Jay. 

     He crouched down next to the bed and ran a hand through Aziz’s short thick hair getting a soft groan in reply that sounded suspiciously like his name, “Hey Aziz.”

     One eye opened and fixed him with a dark look, “Do you ever use the door?”

     “Yeah, when you're walking with me.”

     “What do you want? It’s too early for you to be drunk.”

     “Ow, that hurt you ass,” he flicked Aziz’s ear, “I wanted to ask you to invite Genie here.”

     Both eyes snapped open for that and he sat up, giving Jay a look at the tented sheets from his morning wood, “You want to talk to Genie?”

     “Me personally no, but an ally of mine needs a covert word with him, and you and me are the best chance in no one asking questions about his visit.”

     “Jay...”

     “It’s to help look for Penny...”

     And Jay watched Aziz cave immediately, “Alright I’ll ask him to come and see you. Council is going to ask, you need to give me a halfway decent reason.”

     “I’m half djinn, I don’t know what I’m doing and need a djinn to explain things to me that isn’t Jordan.”

     “Jay, you’re either a djinn or you aren’t...”

     “The council know that?”

     “No...”

     “Then there you go.”

     “I don’t think I like the manipulative you.”

     “I’m helping, Princy I am helping,” he purred giving him a kiss, “Other things I can help you with if you want.”

     Aziz flushed his lips following Jay’s, “Jay I-”

     “If you didn’t like me you wouldn't keep letting me kiss you. It’s okay you know, you can like just me.” Jay offered trailing his lips over the cut jawbone hands resting beside his hip and between his knees.

     “I don’t... I don’t know...”

     “Well I will keep doing it and you decide you don’t like it, I’ll stop. No hard feelings aside from my poor ego.”

     Aziz felt Jay’s lips against his again and he opened his mouth as Jay prompted him. He was trying to remember that he didn’t like guys, well guys not named Jay at least. There was a pressure between his thighs and he groaned into Jay’s mouth as the younger male rubbed him through the layers of fabric. 

     “Final verdict?” Jay nearly taunted as Aziz followed his mouth.

     “You, just you...” what was the use in denying Jay, especially when he was rocking his hips into that hand on him.

     “Perfect Princy, so very perfect,” Jay toed his shoes off, hands diving under his sheets and clothes to grip his erection.

     Aziz started at the feel of that calloused hand curled around his erection, the talented fingers feeling him out, finding all those places that made his breath hitch against Jay’s mouth. He lifted his hips as Jay pulled his sleep pants and briefs down, he did not know where this was going but he really didn’t care so long as Jay’s hand didn’t stop jerking him off. He whined as Jay’s hand pulled away.

     “Calm down Princy I’m not going anywhere,” Jay husked out looking the now naked Prince, covers bunched up at the end of the bed, the night clothes he had been wearing in the same place. 

     Evil he looked perfect like this, the golden eyes looking up at him hazed as his cheeks darkened. It was so damn hard not to run his hands over the perfect, smooth flesh laid out under him. He had to focus, he was Aziz’s first guy, he had to make it good for him. His hands guided Aziz’s knees up before he pulled his vest and shirt off, tossing them on top of his boots before he went down on him. As he licked up Aziz’s shaft the male made a shuddering low moan that made Jay smirk. If the prince thought that was good, Jay was looking forward to ruining mainland blow jobs for him. When he reached the crown he opened his mouth wider and sunk down, swallowing him with short little bobs of his head until Aziz’s fingers tightened in his hair. 

     It shouldn’t have surprised him that Jay knew how to give head. What did surprise him was how good Jay was at it. It wasn’t like the girls or the porn, where it felt for a lack of a better word, dirty. Jay’s mouth felt like a capital sin, as if every good feeling bad thing was curled around his skin wet and hungry. Hard to focus was an understatement as Jay’s eyes flicked up to see his expression, then Jay did something that made his eyes roll as he moaned, fingers tightening in that incredibly long soft hair. 

     Jay smirked around Aziz’s shaft, his fingers brushing against that spot inside of the Prince, he did it again, rubbing it as he spread his fingers opening his mainland prince up for him. He eased his fingers away and slowly pulled up not wanting to let him cum before Jay was ready for him too. Aziz looked at him licking his lips dazed almost.

     “Good fuck your mouth...”

     He grinned shamelessly at that, “I’ve been told it should be outlawed. Now how you feel about fucking?”

     “Could you... could you ask me in a slightly less Isle way?”

     “Can I fuck you Princy? Cause I really want to be buried in you and show you a whole new world,” Jay was not against using his parent’s story against him.

     Aziz grinned and dragged Jay in for a long messy kiss, more teeth and tongue than the kisses he was used to. He reached out and unbuttoned Jay’s jeans, and brushed against bare skin. Commando, that didn’t surprise him at all considering the kid basically wore the same clothes everyday. It did make things easier as he reached into the open pants and carefully gripped the hardened flesh making a quiet hum leave Jay’s lips as he eased back.

     “So what do we need for this?” Aziz asked watching as the younger male shimmed out of his pants, silver glittering on his chest.

     “Don’t worry Princy, you already got everything here.”

     He blushed slightly partly distracted by a very naked Jay, “Condom?” 

     Jay shrugged, “If that’s what you want. Don’t matter to me, it’s whatever you are comfortable with.”

     He watched Jay catch the foil packet as he reached behind him, when did that get there? His attention was pulled to something entirely more enticing as Jay stroked himself before rolling the condom on. There had to be some law Jay was breaking about being so damn tempting. Aziz leaned up into Jay’s mouth and kissed him to distract himself as Jay coated himself and carefully lined himself up.

     “Just lie back Princy, lie back and let me take care of you. I won’t do anything you won’t like,” Jay breathed against his lips guiding his conquest down to the mattress once more.

     Aziz breathed through Jay’s getting settled. It wasn’t entirely uncomfortable but it wasn’t super enjoyable either right now. Then Jay canted his hips and pleasure exploded through Aziz and he groaned.

     It was hard to focus on the fact this was Aziz’s first time when Jay was fully seated in between the other’s thighs. Jay leaned down, fist curled around the flagging erection as he kissed the other, hard and hungry. Then he took Aziz apart little by little, rutted into him long and slow until Aziz’s words were a swirling mass of Arabic, English, and his name. Adjusting his pace he pulled Aziz’s legs up around his hips and was yanked down to cage the slightly older male in. Fingers dug into his back as he relentlessly pounded into the other, pressing wet open mouthed kisses along his jaw and throat until Aziz clamped down around him with a long low whining moan splattering cum between them. Jay pounded him a few more times, worked him through the orgasm and let himself have his own. His face tucked into Aziz’s neck as he breathed hard coming back down.

     “I don’t think I am going to be walking right for a while,” Aziz muttered brushing Jay’s long hair out of the way as he let the other recover.

     “Then I did a good job hopefully,” he kissed the throat in front of him before pulling back easing himself out of Aziz before going to clean up.

     “Don’t know, guess we are just going to do this again so I have something to compare it to,” Aziz called after him, watching Jay back peddle slightly with a wicked smirk on his lips.

     “You let me know when you need a good pounding Princy and I will take good care of you.” 

     After getting redressed and a few more long lingering kisses Jay slid out the window and went back to his own room grinning widely oblivious to Aziz’s turmoil. Aziz sat in his bed, trying to process exactly what had just happened. He ran a hand down his face, Jay had woken him up and convinced him to bring Genie here for Queen Belle. He could do it, it wouldn't be hard, just annoying. It was after that, that made him squirm. 

     Jay... Jay was under age, he assumed given the fact no one knew when Jay had been born, and sure it was obviously not something Jay understood but that didn't change it. He had just slept with him. They talked and bickered and Jay flirted at him. Jay had even kissed him when he was drinking, but this? Aziz flushed covering his face at the memory of Jay’s extremely talented mouth. He hated himself for not saying no, or at least stalling Jay long enough to explain anything rather than submitting happily to his own half asleep hormones at the time. Sex was a whole different step in a relationship direction he didn’t, shouldn’t, but still kind of guiltily wanted. But the fact remained that it happened and there was a small part of him that kind of wanted to take Jay up on his offer to do it again.

     Aziz flopped back on his bed and covered his face with his pillow. Now what was he supposed to do? 

 

     Jay was ecstatic and beaming with pride as he had finally won against Aziz’s preferences and potentially got himself another ally to look after. Reaching down he popped his window open and slipped inside. He moved towards the couch where Evie was sitting and stitching while Carlos played Knights Quest. Hands behind them he leaned in kissing their cheeks.

     “Sorry I had to leave you two.”

     “I figured it was important” Evie set aside her stiching to look at him.

     “Yeah man, I could have sworn I heard Ben earlier” Carlos said as his eyes stayed on the screen.

     “Ben came and got me for the Queen,” Jay offered resting his forearms on the couch back between them, “Then I convinced Aziz to do a thing for me. What have you two been up to since I left?”

     “Got some breakfast, came back, cuddled some more, then we got up I started playing and Evie laid there and watched for a while before getting up” Carlos said with a shrug.

     “The bed was warm, don’t judge” Evie teased.

     “I never judge, used to sleep on a rug,” he gave her a teasing smirk, “Glad you two got to sleep in while I talked to a queen before winning the challenge against my prince.”

     “How was it,” Carlos asked with a smirk as he reached a save point.

     “At least one of us got our mainlander” Evie tilted her head back to looked at him.

     “Princy was very receptive, boy crumbled for me. Damn good bottom,” Jay smirked, “And here I thought I had the hard mainlander. Sure you two want yours, at this point the Neverlanders or the Agrabahians may be easier to conquer. You know I will help all I can.” 

     “Who knows maybe we’ll decide they’re not worth it later” Evie nodded.

     “Maybe Princess, maybe.” Jay darted in giving her lips a kiss, “A little more one on one and I bring him into our Isletime. Boy already wants to do it again.”

     “Well you do leave that feeling for most, that they really need another bite” Evie chuckled nipping at his lips.

     “Well he is a mainlander, maybe he just realized that sex is a good thing” Carlos suggested.

     “More like I ruined him for other mainlanders,” Jay purred again Evie's lips letting his mouth open for her.

     “You two are hot” Carlos said watching as Evie seemed to let the world fall away as she kissed Jay. 

     Jay smirked, “I know Los, Princess is the hottest thing in any land,” he pulled away slowly, “So what is the plan for today, pile and chill all day?”

     “That is exactly the plan, it's too cold to do anything else” Evie smiled, “We don’t have to do anything else”

     “Fair enough,” Jay smiled and he climbed over the couch back and landed between them and pulled them both into his sides, “Good plan to me.”

     “We thought so” Carlos nodded leaning against Jay’s side as Evie curled up placing her head in his lap.

     Jay sunk his fingers into her hair as he draped an arm over the back so he wasn't in Carlos’ way. He yawned closing his eyes and relaxed between them. 

 

Chapter 75: Pirate Birthdays (IoL: February)

     Io shifted on her feet double checking the rigging, they had another few snows since the high run and it seemed like it was going alright even if Penny had informed her after one Chernabog run, she couldn't do it. Which didn't bother Io really, just meant she added him to her Red run. Needless to say her father had some words, particularly after Io had exploded on the Underland queens after the barrier incident.

     Penny swept some snow off the steps to the upper deck, she looked at Io as she checked the rigging. She’d collected from Dizzy a few days ago, so she’d need to do the rest of the lower run today. While Io had put her on the high run, most of the minions hadn’t been showing up unless they needed the money, the cold making most of them stay in shelter. Plus the minions couldn’t exactly be trusted to handle the runs on their own.

     “Something on your mind Pin?” Io asked hearing the girl's steps behind her, “Or just tired of being cooped up with your boys?”

     “Just tired of being cooped up period” she shrugged leaning against the rail.

     “I hear you about that, but nothing can be done about it. Not much to do in winter here.”

     “Yeah I get that I’m just a little stir crazy” she said, “Harry headed off somewhere earlier and Gil is doing god knows what with Mr. Smee but he normally comes back filthy.”

     “He then gets bath time with you and Harry. Which is why he goes all the time. Harry say where he was going?” it was a-typical for her first mate to be up so early in winter.

     “No said he’d be back later. Reminded me that I’ve got the low run today,” Penny said, “I think he left with captain... so maybe something for the ship?”

     “Maybe. Or someone in the district made some noise and they went to straighten them out.” That was a thing that happened occasionally.

     “I’m going to go grab my hood and try to catch a few of the stops early” Penny pushed off the rail, “probably swing through the bazaar see if there’s anything worth taking. You need anything?”

     “Steal some food if you can find any, stores here are running a touch low.” Io shrugged, “I have the red run to do today so I'll grab some things down in Underland.”

     “I’ll see if I can find anything edible ” Penny nodded, “See if there’s anything shiny for you” she headed below deck to grab her hood and gloves. It only took her a second to get herself bundled up for leaving the ship, “I’ll see you when I get back” she flipped up her hood and slipped off the ship.

     Io nodded watching as Penny headed out, “I can tell you are stir crazy.”

 

     Penny collected from the brothels easily enough, even in winter people found money for sex. She wrapped through the bazaar on her way towards Ursula's, she hadn’t been allowed to go to the chip shop since she was stabbed. She wasn’t sure how she felt about doing it today, so she would take her time or well some time anyway getting there. She snatched some of the least moldy bread she could find and a few apples that looked somewhat edible, she’d get a second opinion on them when Koga showed up later. Before she knew it she was standing outside the chip shop, she stalled outside the door feeling her heartbeat pick up.

     She shook her head, she was fine. She’d scared the crew, but she was fine now, and Uma had another thing coming if she gave her any more problems. She took a breath and entered the building heading towards the counter. She looked up at the discolored tv screen as she waited for Uma to appear from the back.

     “The royal family has announced that for Princess Penelope's Birthday tonight, they will not be hosting a ball. In fact it appears that the family's intent is to have a small family gathering. No foreign representatives are expected to make an appearance. We have to wonder why it is that the family seems to be so private on this day, which for many years back has been a day celebrated. It is a far cry from Crown Prince Benjamin’s 16th birthday just 11 months ago where it was announced that he would be taking the title of Crown Prince.” 

     Penny looked away from the screen her eyes focusing on the counter, it was her birthday. She had hoped for a brief moment when she heard her name that it was announcing her was missing, or something along those lines. Of course how stupid of her to think they would be looking for her, that they would want her back.

     Uma opened the door and looked at the damned girl who nearly got her killed, “What do you want?”

     “Payments due” Penny looked at her with a raised eyebrow trying to get herself in the right mindset for this, “Don’t give me any shit this time, I’m in a stab first explain later mood.”

     “Here,” Uma tossed her the coin pouch, “Still don’t know why you are following the wanna be queen.”

     “Cause she’s not a queen for starters she’s a captain. And she actually deserves loyalty unlike some Fish Fingers.” Penny took the pouch and stuck it away as she pushed off the counter trying to ignore the tv as it went on and on with speculations as to why there wasn’t going to be a ball for her.

 

     Io tucked the small bottle away into her hip bag, getting it out of New Underland had been a minor feat but Jabberwocky didn't generally like parting with the happiness wonder. A few drops in Penny's rum tonight and maybe just maybe the girl will enjoy her birthday here with them after all she was turning 16 and Captain considered that their official full pirate induction. Not that Io would ever have told the girl she was a junior pirate until she was 16.

 

     Harry watched the interaction between Uma and Penny from the back corner. He trusted her to handle it but he didn’t trust Uma not to try something.

     He could read the way Penny held herself, see the moment it changed. He could hear the news from his place, and he tensed how many more times where these people going to hurt her? They didn’t deserve her. He should get her something that’s what they did on the mainland right. He nodded to himself heading back to the ship. He didn’t see anything on the way back, maybe there was something... his da would probably box his ears for it but maybe something of his mom’s. 

     His da was still at Medusa's so now would be the time. He slipped onto the ship and into his da’s cabin. He picked the lock on the weathered trunk stopping as the lid opened. He could almost smell faint pleasant scent that made him think of flashes of dark hair and a soft voice. He gently started moving and examined things.

     Killian finger combed his hair back into place before heading back to his ship. it shouldn't be long now, he knew what Io had planned for tonight, what she had requested of him tonight. Celebrating the Princess’ 16th birthday in place of her mainland family, a true pirate affair.

     Harry pulled out a few soft shirts, he was almost afraid to touch them with his rough hands. But he hadn’t found what he was looking for yet, whatever it was. His hand brushed something hard near the bottom, he pulled it out. It was a dark wooden box no bigger than the palm of his hand, it was smooth and glossy. He’d never seen anything like it, he popped it open; laying inside was a small green stone of sorts on a leather cord. He smiled, this was it. 

     Killian watched his son paw through his mother’s things, “Yer mother loved that. Wasn't worth anything but she loved it. Now ye wanna tell me what yer doing or am I giving ye a whooping?”

     “Da...I just,” Harry snapped the box closed as he tried to find the right words, “Pin was on the news or well her family was, they aren’t even looking” he didn’t know how to say this without it coming out soft. He looked off to the side his hand tightening on the box, “They don’t deserve her.”

     “Yer right they don't deserve her. But that don't give ye the right to go pawing through things that ain't yers. Breaking into me room,” Killian was more upset that Harry had been pawing through the last things he had of his first love.

     “Doors unlocked not exactly breaking in.” Harry shook his head, “She was my ma, I should be able to go through her stuff. She wouldn’t want her stuff locked up never seeing the light of day.”

     “Ye don’t know what yer ma would have wanted,” Killian growled, his eyes hard before he heard the sound of someone coming back to the ship, “Yer ma did love ye so take the bobble but stay out of that chest.”

     Harry nodded pocketing the box before hurrying out of the room. He wouldn’t push his luck on this, Da kept his Ma close to the chest his whole life. There would be a tipping point some day where Harry wouldn’t be able to stand anymore of it, would push harder and things could fall apart. But today wasn’t that day today he had to calm his princess. He looked up at Io as she came onto the ship, something had happened, “Crocodile?”

     Io fixed him a cold look before growling lightly, “Just Penny being a brat. She’s headed to their hideout, you know the way. Go and bring her back before the celebration. Captain and I will set everything up here.”

     “Whatever she said, ye know she didn’t mean it. She saw the news at Uma’s, those pigs are acting like she’s still there” Harry sighed, before heading off towards the old area of the Core 4. 

 

     Penny flopped down on the beaten couch, looking at Mal’s mural wall. She studied it, it used to make her feel calmer to know that someone from the Isle could make something so, artistic. But now it was just making her angier. Her family had opened their arms to Mal despite where she came from and who she was, Penny was expected to be something else. How many times had she heard be more like her mother or like Ben. To behave like a princess, she was a princess however she behaved was how a princess behaved. Why was she any different then Mal?

     The sob escaped her lips before she even realized it was coming. She brought a hand to her mouth trying to quiet the sounds as they escaped her tears rolling down her cheeks. They weren’t even looking for her, they didn’t want anyone to know she wasn’t still on the mainland. Maybe she belonged here if they weren’t even willing to look for her. She didn’t think she was that bad, sure a few of her jokes were a little mean but... well she was just getting even.

     She didn’t know how long she sat there the tears coming her broken heart throbbing in her chest. 

 

     Harry looked at the sign a few feet in the air, Io had told him where it was months ago. He’d been at Uma’s this morning, he’d seen the news. His da may not be the best but he at least acknowledged his birthday until he was 16 and then he had a big wharf party. He tossed a rock at the sign walking to the door as he heard it clang. He hurried up the stairs stopping just outside of the cloth covering the door. He listened closely to the sounds coming from inside, he could hear her, could hear the sobs. He hadn’t ever heard those sounds come from her, those sounds were for the weak. He pushed the cloth aside stepping into the hideout, he stopped short at the sight before him of Penny curled up on the floor next to the couch her face buried in her knees.

     “Love” he said softly kneeling next to her. She jumped pulling her face from her knees to look at him with her tear stained face.

     “Am I evil?” she asked softly looking back to the floor.

     “Love, I know evil, lived with it my whole life, ye aren't evil. Not even close... well maybe a little more then the dragon now. But, ye ain’t done nothing to deserve being here. Or for them pansies to ignore that yer gone”

     “What if they never find me? What if I can’t get us off this isle?” Penny leaned into him as he put his arms around her. 

     “Then one day ye will be the prettiest lady on the isle. And Gilly and I will have to beat others off with a stick” Harry chuckled petting her hair.

     “I don’t feel very pretty” she touched her cheek where the scars were from Koga claws several months ago. 

     “Makes ye even more pretty” he assured as he shifted so he could hold her in his lap. He winced as something in his pocket poked him, it was hard and square. He reached into his pocket to move whatever it was. As his hand closed around it he realized it was the box with the necklace in it. 

     “Not what they’ll say on the mainland” she shook her head.

     “Then hang them” Harry snorted as he brought the box around to hand to her, “happy birthday”

     “How?” she looked at him confused, she hadn’t told anyone hell she hadn’t even known it was today until... well today.

     “Not completely sure but I thought ye were suppose to take gifts on yer birthday” Harry raised an eyebrow.

     “Thank you” she took it gently popping the box open. She smiled at the simple green rock on the leather cord, “It's called a mermaid’s tear, I saw them once when we visited Ariel and Eric’s kingdom. They didn’t have this color, it's pretty.”

     “Then it’s perfect for ye” he nodded taking it from the box and tying it around her neck, “I know it's not what yer use too, I mean being a princess and all”

     “No it’s perfect, I don’t need anything else” she smiled at him.

     “Good but, we need to get ye back. Pushing yer curfew as it is” Harry stood pulling her with him. He tried to clean her face of the tear tracks.

     “How mad is Io? I kinda shot my mouth off at her” Penny asked as they made their way back towards the ship.

     “Ye got any extra holes in ye?” Harry asked eyeing her as they walked, “No? Then she ain’t that mad”

     “Doesn’t mean she’s not upset with me” Penny said as they rounded the corner back onto the wharf.

 

     Koga glanced down at Io, “I can smell them.”

     “Good, never good to be late for your own birthday.”

     “You think she’s gonna like it?” Gil asked as he bounced in place.

     “Well we saw her brother's party, we pirates can out do it,” she smirked, it also helped that she had added a few drops of Happiness Wonder to her first shot of true rum. A little wonder every so often didn't hurt, Penny had proved that while she was recovering from the stab wound.

     “What is...” Penny looked at all that was going on, she looked at Harry in confusion. He gave her a small smile and nodded towards the ship where he was sure they would find the rest of their crew. She headed up the gangplank and gave Io a shy look as she approached them. 

     “Welcome back my dear Stickpin, welcome to your 16th birthday celebration. Hopefully we can make it a night to remember.”

     “How did you... I mean Harry saw the news, but how did you guys know?” Penny looked between all of them.

     “Io knows everything” Gil nodded pulling her into a hug.

     “That I do,” Io nodded to the Captain who walked up to Penny and handed her a silver dented glass filled near to the brim with old spiced rum.

     “Drink love,” Killian smiled softly. 

     “What is it?” she asked taking it from him.

     “It’s a right of passage love, toss it back” Harry encouraged, Penny looked at him before tossing the shot back.

     “Oh, that burns” she coughed holding out the cup.

     Killian clapped his hand and hook together, “Let us celebrate!”

     “Now that sounds like a good idea” Harry cheered as the music started from somewhere. He pulled Penny with him as he began to dance around the deck.

     Io smiled slightly watching them for a beat before taking Gil onto the “dancefloor” with her. She was determined to make sure the girl had fun on her birthday, that was the important thing. Io had to make sure that the girl wanted for nothing on the Isle.

     “Why did you guys do all this?” Penny asked hugging Harry close as they spun.

     “Cause ye matter, but well Crocodile never let a moment pass to show someone they matter” Harry nipped at her neck, “And ye matter to us even if those fuckers on the mainland don’t see it.” 

     Killian smiled watching as his pirate crew dissolved into dancing and drinking. They shifted and moved beneath his watch in a celebration for that young princess that had dropped into their laps and wormed her way into their chests.

     Harry picked Penny up spinning her around as she laughed. She let her cares melt away, it didn’t matter they didn’t want her at home, Harry wanted her, Gil wanted her. Io thought she was useful if nothing else. Harry sat her back on her feet and twirled her off to Io as Gil came into his arms.

     Io held onto her mainland princess, “So are you enjoying yourself my dear?”

     “Yeah I am, I... it’s better than the balls of the mainland” Penny nodded with a smile at Io.

     “I am glad to hear it my dear,” Io beamed spinning her around feeling and seeing the effects of those few drops of that Happiness wonder.

     “I’ll have to take you to one when we get off the isle. You’ll hate its all formalities and manners, boring as fuck,” Penny laughed.

     “Well I would do it if you wanted me there, boring as goodness or not, you are my crew, if one suffers we all suffer.”

     “Oh I can’t wait to see their faces when you all are introduced to the court” Penny smirked, Farris would hate it.

     “And what is the court like?” Io asked as she spun her princess about.

     Koga looked at the celebration sitting on the stairs to the helm, his eyes focused on Penny. She smelled off but he wasn’t going to push it on her birthday, especially not with Crocodile so close to her.

     “Ridiculous, there are so many rules. They just don’t let you have any fun unless its appropriate for you're station and gender” Penny rolled her eyes, “I hate needlepoint, and gardening. Only thing I ever did they approved of was reading.” 

     “Reading and needlepoint I get but what is gardening?” Io asked looking at the girl, then again she wasn’t one to talk she could weave and spin both metal and yarn.

     “Its the art of making things grow and flourish, if you can care for your garden then you will be prepared to care for your household and future husband” Penny made her voice high pitched as she laughed, “Or that’s what my governess said, I just used it as an excuse to get my dresses all muddy.”

     “Governess? Not your mother? Your parents didn’t raise you?” even Io had been raised by her own father, her mother was a no go zone with him but still every child had been raised by their parent unless they became unclaimed.

     “They were always so busy ruling, no time for children... or well no time for the second child.” she shook her head, “That’s the way it is with most ruling families... well that have more than one kid” she shrugged, it didn’t bother her as much as it normally did, “They’d come and see me every now and then, at least until I was sent away.”

     “Well then... they sent you away? I am feeling like this putting you as far from your kingdom as possible is a regular thing. Frankly I don't think I much care for such behavior. The Isle seems more adjusted in that regard.”

     “I may have broken Audrey’s nose. And well it’s not my kingdom never will be” Penny turned under Io’s arm, “It belongs to Ben, I’ll be shipped off somewhere to be a good little princess and marry who they tell me. Maybe it’d be better if they never find me.”

     “But what if it was your kingdom, would you want to be found then? You would never have to be a good little princess, never have to marry someone they told you to,” Io didn't have any idea what ‘Marriage’ was but she had a feeling you weren’t supposed to be forced into it.

     “I don’t think the council would ever let it be mine” Penny shrugged, “but if it was mine it wouldn’t end well for them” 

     “Oh no?” Io smiled toothily as she pulled Penny close.

     “I don’t see the world the way they do. I would change things starting with getting rid of anyone that was in my way” she laid her head on Io’s shoulder.

     “Sounds like my kind of queen,” She purred rocking the girl lightly in place, “A world where we aren’t condemned to never die.”

     “But, it will never happen... at least me being queen, maybe Ben will change things. Mal may be an airhead but she won’t leave other kids here” Penny nodded

     “She will get the other kids off the Isle, but not us. Us Jollyrogers will be left to rot here on this isle.”

     “Jay won’t let her leave you here. He is determined to get you out,” she muttered.

     “Mal doesn’t listen to Jay, never has and I doubt she ever will. She was never very good at keeping him more than a minion for her.” she seethed furious that was how he was treated.

     “Mal doesn’t listen to anyone” Penny snorted, she had witnessed how Mal treated the others.

     “He was her second in command. He deserved more than what she gave him. They all did.”

     “I never really saw that type of dynamic between them.” 

     “And there never was that dynamic, but he clung to her protection based on where his father set up shop.”

     “Well, at least sticking with her got him off the isle” she mused.

     “No I think your brother did that,” Io sighed, “But it is a mute point really, he is free out there, he has a chance out there.”

     “It’s a good chance for him, I think he’ll do well out there,” Penny smiled a little, she could see Jay running a little shop or something when he was older.

     “Was he doing well, when you were with him?”

     “Reading isn’t really his thing, but he understood everything when I explained it instead of making him read it,” she nodded.

     “Smart kid, not good with the reading thing, but super smart kid,” Io shrugged a shoulder, “He picks it up well enough though.”

     “Yeah, he just has to give himself a chance without giving up” she nodded.

     ‘I think ye two ladies need another drink” Harry interrupted holding out drinks to them.

     “Ladies?...where?” Penny looked around.

     Io took the shot from Harry and gave him a smirk, “Alright thank you my dear, time to drink Pin.”

     Penny took the shot from him with a raised eyebrow, she tossed it back coughing a little less this time, “I don’t think I have any nose hairs left”

     “It get better the more ye drink love,” Harry chuckled

     “If I didn’t know any better I would say you were trying to get me drunk” Penny pointed at him.

     “Well, that’s for me to know for sure and ye to suspect” Harry grinned wolfishly at her.

     Io took her shot collecting Penny’s glass before heading to refill them patting Harry on the chest, he was going to have a hell of a night.

     “Are you having fun?” Harry asked as he pulled her over to where Koga was sitting. He sat down pulling her into his lap.

     “Yes, it’s...nice to know that you guys thought of me” she nodded playing with the mermaid tear.

     “Didn’t just think of you, it is for you,” Mimzy smiled curling herself around Koga’s arm, “I hope you like it.”

     “I do like it” she smiled at Mimzy, she just had a hard time believing she mattered enough for the pirate to throw a party just for her, not that the pirates needed a reason to party.

     “Good,” Koga grinned as he reached over and patted her head with a grin.

     “Never thought I’d be the one being petted by a cat” she laughed.

     “Tiger,” he growled, “I ain't a house cat.”

     Mimzy patted the thick forearm curled around her waist, “He used to pat Carlos on the head, call him a good puppy.”

     “Is that where that came from? Jay calls him that sometimes” Penny giggled. 

     “Yeah ran into the kid when the asshole twin was running his mouth. The puppy said he didn't see or know anything. It just kinda stuck, I like making him freak whenever I pet his head,” Koga snorted with a flash of teeth.

     “Can see that reaction from him” Penny nodded, “and aren’t both twins assholes?”

     Mimzy shrugged, “One is slightly nicer than the other. Well nicer isn't the word, a little less aggressive, a touch less impatient. It is the only way most of our crew can tell them apart. Jay somehow always knew which was which.”

     “I wonder if that’s the one I cut?” Penny mused tilting her head 

     “Cut? I thought ye and Gil didn’t run into them that day” Harry looked at her with wide eyes.

     “Um... I didn’t lie you assumed. And well we let you” she smirked.

     “Oh that's why the asshole one smelled like blood,” Koga snorted knowing the day Io near lost her shit because Gil refused to come home to the ship. She did not like being told no by her crew, minus Harry of course.

     “Right in the knee” she nodded, “he deserved it”

     “That one always deserves it,” Mimzy agreed as Io came over with a platter of rum shots, “Thanks boss!”

     “Koga friendly,” Io extended a shot towards him, it was full of water.

     “Could have just handed me the flask,” he grumbled hands dwarfing the battered glass.

     “More entertainment this way,” she smirked as they took a shot glass.

     “I feel like I missed something. Koga friendly?” She looked at Io as she took her own shot. Harry quickly downed his looking away. 

     “Can't drink alcohol,” Koga shrugged not explaining as he took the water back like a shot.

     “That sounds like there is a story,” Penny looked at Koga as the bubbly feeling in her chest built.

     “Not one you need to know,” Harry shook his head at her, as she tossed back her shot with a face. 

     “Harry’s dodging now I know there’s a story” Penny laughed.

     “Not a great one, we had to call Yzma, I nearly hacked at my crew,” Io snorted taking her shot.

     “Oh, well let’s avoid doing that” Penny snorted.

     “Yeah no one wants to go through that again,” Mimzy agreed.

     “Good plan” Penny nodded, “we don’t need two jaws snapping at us” she let Harry take her cup as he finally spotted Gil and waved him over from where he was talking with some of the unclaimed kids, that had showed up when they heard there was a party.

     Io smirked at Harry, the girl was learning quick if nothing else. And it felt like she belonged with the crew. Their pirate princess.

     Gil pulled Penny out on to the dance floor.

     Io took Penny's place slinging her arm around Harry’s shoulders.

     “She seems happy” Harry nodded, “It's better then how I found her” his eyes tracking the movements of his two lovers.

     “That she does,” Io agreed, if only her first mate knew, “How did you find her.”

     “It’s easy to forget she’s not a born Isle kid sometimes, but she was so... not broken. She was a mess, all water works and sobs. I think she just hadn’t reach the make them pay phase yet” Harry shrugged, “Ye slipping the wonder into her drink probably helped.”

     “What she doesn’t know won’t hurt her,” Io smirked, “A little extra happiness isn’t a bad thing you know. We can get there to the revenge stage if you are just patient, she will want to make them pay I am sure.”

     “If how she was with Uma’s was any indication I would say that she’s going to be very vengeful” Harry smirked back at her.

     “Good about damn time. Our dear Princess will need that when she gets us all off the Isle.”

     “That is part of her fear today, what if we never get off this isle” Harry told her, “But someone will come, they have to.” 

     “I think we will be seeing our pretty thief again soon,” Io smirked, she had seen Iago leave the barrier, she also sent Jay a reminder. He would come, he would come or she would kill him when she got free of the barrier.

     “You have so much faith in him, I never understood why. He’s a good fuck but, well that isn’t really your area.”

     “Your right fucking not my thing, but he has a consistent trait. He doesn’t like to owe people, and he owes this crew quite a lot,” Io shrugged a shoulder.

     “He was a fantastic fuck,” Mimzy sighed wistfully.

     “Good prey too,” Koga snorted remembering Jay letting him chase him all over the Isle.

     “He did like to be chased,” Harry nodded with a smirk, he knew a thing or two about that.

     “You think we will ever bring him over Io?” Mimzy asked tipping towards her even as Koga tightened his grip on her.

     “One of these days, he can’t hide behind that stupid excuse on the mainland anymore,” Io shrugged leaning harder against Harry, “Do you want him as one of yours Harry?”

     “I suppose I could, but I think he comes with a few more parties. Could be fun though a 6 way,” Harry looked up in thought, “Plus I think Gil could like that mouth.”

     “So you want a fuck pile?” Koga snorted.

     “Considering how much Gil enjoys blows, I am almost positive he would adore his mouth,” Mimzy groaned, “You should really give him a go Io if we see him again.”

     “It would be so much fun” Harry nodded as the Gil brought the giggly Penny back over.

     “How are you doing my dear?” Io asked looking over Penny and Gil.

     “We’re good” Penny nodded laughing as Gil climbed into Harry’s lap pulling him into a kiss, “I think Gil might be a bit frisky.”

     “Gil is always frisky,” Koga snorted, “Have a few more shots and you three can have some birthday fun.”

     “Why would I need more shots for that?” Penny looked at him.

     “Because more liquor is always better,” Mimzy smiled.

     “And it is your birthday, being drunk on your birthday is kind of a pirate thing,” Io added with a half smile.

     “Sure is, I was so drunk on my 16 birthday I think da had to pour me into bed” Harry nodded.

     “Well then I think I need another” Penny nodded in agreement. 

     “I got them,” Koga nodded moving Mimzy off his thigh and to where he was sitting.

     “He did, it was a delight to watch really.” Io snickered. 

     “That was a fun night” Gil smiled as he licked Harry’s neck.

-*-

     Penny hummed softly as she walked along the deck, the party had died down a few hours ago. She could still feel the slight buzz from whatever she had been drinking. Harry and Gil were passed out in bed, they may have had a bit more to drink then she did. She stilled for a second spotting Io standing on the upper deck. Watching for a second she moved closer to stand next to her looking out at the faint glow of the barrier.

     “Thought I was the only one still awake” she broke the silence.

     Io shook her head leaning against the railing, “Sometimes I stay awake to listen to the silence. Winter is the only time it is mostly quiet here.”

     “Yeah its kinda creepy” Penny nodded, “but it’s a comforting creepy...if that makes sense”

     “It does,” Io nodded, “Like the Isle is holding its breath. But I like those moments, space between the chaos. So why are you awake dearie?”

     “Couldn’t sleep, some memories rolling around in my head” she leaned against the rail.

     “What kind of memories?”

     “Mostly just a story I managed to get my nursemaid to tell me when I was little. It was one of my favorites, it was about a man that became all powerful. They call him the Dark One” Penny watched her out of the corner of her eye, “Unlike others with magic like the fairies or pixies he didn’t just give people what they wanted. All magic comes at a price, he warned unlike most. I always liked that, the fact the people were reminded that nothing is ever free. I mean Cinderella, got what she wanted but the price she paid was much later, her husband is a dog. Off topic though, all the Dark One did was make a deal. No one ever had to take his deals, if they didn’t like the price all they had to do was walk away. I keep expecting to hear something about him here. After all godmother calls him the source of all evil.”

     Io’s face slid into the cold monster behind the smile, “Nothing is truly free, but there is no Dark One here.” her body tightened ready to strike. No one could know, it was too dangerous.

     “I assumed he would go by a name here, probably whatever it was when he was a man. But that’s the thing Dearie, when you know what you're looking for you can find it, eventually” Penny turned looking at her.

     Io returned the look eyes cold as the icy water surrounding the ship, “Tell me Penelope what are you intending to figure out?”

     “Simply stating facts. Jay said that was the difference between the two of us, I don’t keep facts on my friends from them.” she shrugged.

     “Oh and what facts do you think you have?” it was a dangerous road the girl was on, but she needed to know how far down the rabbit hole Penny had managed to fall.

     “You're his kid, or an obsessed fan. But given everything I’ve learned about this place I’m going with kid. But he doesn’t claim you. He probably has enemies he’s trying to protect you from” 

     “You tell anyone this hunch of yours?” Io asked blade now visible in her hand as she flipped it idly. The girl had no idea how dangerous that information was. 

     “No, who you are is your business. But, well I guess it makes some sense that the others don’t know. They don’t know the stories, you have some of his tics so to speak but only if you start looking for them. You know I won’t tell anyone” Penny assured her eyes flickering to the blade, well if Io was going to stab her she was going to do it.

     “You would do well not to, because it won't be my blades you need to worry about,” the blade vanished once more, “The Jollyroger is a force to be reckoned with, but even she isn't strong enough.” she did not like the uneasy feeling in her chest, the want to silence the pretty little mainland princess. 

     “I won't, you have my word. You're safe with me at least when it comes to knowledge,” Penny said.

     “I will hold you to that little lamb,” Io threatened moving towards the gang plank. How much did she trust the mainland princess? The girl trusted her, but Io had earned her crew's loyalty. So she would trust the girl understood the very real danger she had put them in, the Deal Maker could not afford to have a chinch in his armor and Io could not afford to be an even larger target.

     Penny watched her go before sighing, maybe she should have kept this to herself. But Io was her... something, it felt weird to know something about her when she didn't know she knew. She shook her head and headed down towards where her boys were.

     Io strolled down the cobblestones, well less stroll and more stormed. She needed to get home, preferably before anyone came looking for her that worked for her father. Hauling herself up onto the roofs and down into her room Io sighed shedding her jacket and then her blades. She whirled blade burying itself in the door frame as her father cleared his throat startling her.

     “I didn’t mean to catch you off guard my dear,” Rumple offered pulled the blade from the doorframe, "How did the Princess take her party?”

     “Well thankfully,” Io sighed taking the knife from his hand.

     He watched her as she changed, hands folded over his cane, “Then why are you so tense?”

     “Something the princess said.”

     “Go on.” he did not like the way she said it.

     “She knows...” Io didn’t say more, didn’t need to as his cane thumped to the ground, “I didn’t tell her, she figured it out. Apparently you and I share some ticks.”

     Rumple sighed, “And she has been silenced?”

     “She won’t tell the others, she knows who you are out there. She doesn’t think you are as evil as they say you are or were I suppose.”

     “Best make sure that she continues to keep her silence.”

     “I will Papa,” Io nodded.

 

Chapter 76: Plants and Gold (IoL: February)

     Penny brushed the frost away from a plant. It wasn’t that she wasn’t willing to help Mimzy with ingredient harvesting if that's what Io wanted. But she didn't feel anymore suited to this then she did gardening. 

     That and Io seemed to have made her and Mimzy run buddies. Which she wasn’t sure if she found annoying or not.

     Mimzy sent a sidelong glance at Penny. She understood the role Io needed her to play because Penny had done something the night of her birthday. She had set Io off, their Crocodile was bristling like her proverbial scales had been rubbed the wrong way. It was an order to watch Penny, to make sure the girl didn't go flapping her jaws and to sew them shut if she did. That was nearly a week ago now and Mimzy was on permanent watch duty.

     "They don't need to be fully defrosted, just enough to make sure they aren't frostbitten. They don't do what they need to if they are," Mimzy commented softly.

     “What do these do exactly?” Penny asked as she plucked the berry from the bush. She placed it in the bag she had on her arm. 

     "They go in a potion that clears sickness from the lungs. Also when dried we use it to clear intestinal issues."

     “Good to know” she looked a few more over before plucking them and putting them in the bag, “do they only grow out here in the wild or can they be farmed so to speak?”

     "No where to farm them left honestly, so they grow out here in the wild. I tried to grow them in pots and stuff but nothing really took. Or it didn't berry, which mostly defeats the purpose."

     “I’ve heard some plants are like that” Penny chewed her lip, “I...” she wasn’t sure how to phrase what she wanted to ask. She’d been playing with the idea for a while another way to step away from the princess her father wanted her to be.

     "You?" Mimzy prompted leaning back on her heels to look at the girl, "Go on spit it out. You've been mulling it over for days now, it's annoying. Crocodile always gives us what we need, but we have to tell her what exactly that is."

     “I want to pierce my ears” Penny said, “I was never allowed to do it back on the mainland”

     Mimzy cocked her head, "That's... that’s it? That is what you couldn't figure out how to ask? Yeah of course I'll pierce them, as many earrings as you want."

     “I wasn’t sure you’d agree,” she shrugged.

     She laughed softly, “I am always looking for a new canvas to pierce. I mean yes, Io does get me canvases for my art projects, but an actually willing canvas is nice too. I’ve pierced most of the crew anyway, we just need to find you a set of earrings that you like.”

     “I’m sure we can find some somewhere, I just want something pretty basic... for now at least” she explained.

     “We can pop up to the bazaar area and see what we can find any there you like. I mean I know it is pretty quiet there this time of year, but there are some people who still sell there.”

     “Thanks” Penny gave her a little smile. 

     Mimzy nodded, “Yeah no problem, I mean you really could use a bit of glimmer. We all have a little glimmer somewhere, or had, Koga took his earring out, said it kept getting in his way.”

     “A little more distance between the past and the present” she nodded, she wasn’t sure she had ever seen an earring on Koga not that she had paid too close attention. She wanted to ask but at the same time she didn’t think she wanted to know if the answer was not his ear.

     "Meaning what exactly?" She asked going back to collecting the berries, "I mean there is only so far you can get from any past."

     “I wasn’t ever allowed to change anything about my appearance on the mainland.” she tried to explain, she could finally do what she wanted with her own look and how she was herself.

     "Well that's a stupid outdated way of thinking," she laughed, "I am glad to help you flip them off. You're allowed to do whatever you want here so long as Io is fine with it."

     “Is this a different berry or is it just not ripe?” Penny motioned to the green berry she’d just brushed off.

     "It's not just ripe is all, go ahead and leave it," Mimzy nodded as she dusted her hands off, "Next on my list is moss weed. We'll head towards Bargain Castle. I saw some over on the side of town."

     Penny let the berry go and adjusted her bag on her arm, “alright, lets go”

     "I know Io informed you to do this with me, but I am glad she did. You and I really don't spend time together unless we are on the ship drinking."

     “Yeah, Harry and Gil like to keep me all to themselves. It's actually slightly suffocating at times” she chuckled a little. Harry had been over protective since Uma had stabbed her, it was like he had suddenly become aware that she could be taken from him. 

     "Kind of to be expected since they claimed you. Koga gets like that, I don't mind, it's comforting to have his undying protection. That is one of those things you have to get used to when you've been claimed by one of the Jollyroger crew. Honestly if Io hadn't claimed all of us, we'd never be with who we are today." She guided Penny through the gray slush on the ground, "The crew certainly wouldn't be the same without her."

     “I know that... logicly and for the most part. I just sometimes need a little breathing room. I’m safe enough on the ship he doesn't need to be hovering” she tried to explain, people sometimes just need to be in their own space, “I want to spend time with you, or Io without him hovering around”

     Mimzy tilted her head, "Yeah breathing room is not exactly one of the things we get here. Especially not if the people who claim us worry."

     “I’m not used to people worrying. I avoided people when I could” Penny said, “or they avoided me… it was hard to tell after awhile”

     "Well you need to get used to it, this is how the Isle works. We look after one another and worry over one another."

     “I’m working on it” she nodded, she really was Harry just seemed to push her buttons some times. Like when he tried to follow her into the bathroom after she was off of bedrest. For the most part she enjoyed having all of Gil and Harry's attention, it just threw her sometimes cause she wasn’t used to it being a good thing to have people’s attention.

     Mimzy nodded understanding, "As long as you are working on it. Now then why weren't you allowed to pierce your ears before? Did the person who claimed you on the Mainland not like it?" She assumed the Princess had been claimed by someone.

     “My father wouldn’t allow it for whatever reason” she said, she had never understood it herself, “People don’t really do claiming on the mainland”

     "Oh," Mimzy tried to imagine why the Beast King would care so much about some earrings, "Really they don't do claiming? It's actually a really good idea, cuts back on issues between crews."

     “They are called clicks or groups not crews there. And it…” she wasn’t sure how to explain how people moved between groups on the mainland. How it was all really about who you knew so to speak.

     "Same principle I think. We are a crew, but others call themselves groups or gangs."

     “Yeah, it's more of how people can use each other. But no expectation of loyalty for most part” she didn’t know how else to explain groups like Chad’s or Cindy’s.

     Mimzy laughed, "So exactly like the Isle only without claiming someone to fix their loyalty. Even in a crew like ours, if we weren't claimed, everyone would expect to be stabbed in the back at one point."

     “Oh there's lots of ‘stabbing’ in the back” Penny snorted, “Hence why I avoided people... until the core 4.”

     "So you didn't have anyone until them? That is... surprising." 

     “I’ve been told I unnerve people on the mainland. I just don’t tolerate or see the point in have the stuff most of the royals and nobles do. I have a penpal, he seemed to like the wild princess. But for most people I was the beast Princess. I tried a few times... probably not very hard. But after your own family chooses some one over you, you just say fuck it” Penny explained, she probably could have been good friends with a few of the other odd ducks at Merryweather's if she’d put in more effort, at the time thought she hadn’t seen the point.

     "And who exactly was that unfortunate soul? I mean if we are going to have to deal with them we may as well prepare for them," she twisted her hair around her finger innocently.

     “Furgus, he’s mother is the chief of the clans.” she shrugged, “Her villain was a giant bear. But they avoid Auradon as much as possible, so at most it would be trading letters.”

     "So how did they pick him over you?" Mimzy asked confused, maybe she had missed something. She paused next to a wall covered in green and pulled out an old plastic spatula, "Can you hold the bag for me?"

     “Huh, oh Furgus is my penpal. Princess Audrey, daughter of Sleeping Beauty, is the person my family liked more than me,” she took the bag holding it open, “What is this used for?”

     "Mostly we use it as sponges, or to stuff wounds and stuff like that. In a pinch some types can be crushed into a paste for bruises."

     “Multi use” Penny smiled a little, “so do most of your ingredients have more than one use?

     "Yep," She carefully pried a hunk off the dirty bricks, "Things are super scarce here even for witches. Which means we are relying on our third or fourth substitute of what actually should go in our potions. Without magic, we just hope and test things out to see how effective they are."

     “Do things still have the same-ish effect without magic?” She asked.

     "They seem to be, potion wise. Obviously they would be way more effective with magic. Then again with magic we wouldn't even need the potions, we could just use a spell to fix things," she snorted dropping the moss in the bag, "I know over a dozen spells for healing various ailments. Mom hums them while we make potions."

     “That will be useful once you’re off the isle”

     "If we get off the isle. That is the first task. The second, well... Crocodile has the rest of the plan. First step is always the hardest and the largest," she pulled another few pieces off with a thoughtful look, "Do you want us to deal with Audrey when we get off the Isle? I mean since you are crew and all."

     “Probably not the best idea.” Penny shook her head, “If she is still a problem when we get settled on the mainland I’ll deal with her... do I have to ask to do that or because she was my issue before the crew can I just deal with it?”

     "You actually have to ask for that, since you were claimed by three crew members and all. Which is why I offered since Koga and I aren't as claim locked out of things."

     “I’ll think about it,” she said. She didn’t want to risk them going back after they managed to get free. Although it might be worth it just to see Audrey cower from a man eating tiger.

     "Alright well that's all I really need for now. Let's see if the bazaar has some earrings you like."

     “I think something simple” she said as they walked.

     "Something gold. Maybe studs or small hoops? Something that isn't going to be easily targeted would be for the best."

     “Small hoops might be nice,” she could picture the little hoops.

     "Yeah I think so too," Mimzy bounced as they rounded onto the bazaar. There were only a handful of henchmen and women selling their wares.

     Penny walked beside her dodging a few people here or there as she scanned the booths looking for anything that caught her eye. She wondered briefly if the captain did anything for Christmas for the crew. She stopped as she spotted a small pair of gold hoops earrings that looked like they were two strands of metal twisted around each.

     "So do you like those?" Mimzy asked following Penny's gaze. She fingered her needles as the man behind the booth shifted uneasily watching them.

     “I think they are perfect,'' Penny nodded. They were small so they wouldn’t get in the way but they would still be noticeable if she wanted them to be.

     Mimzy nodded and pointed to them with her needles, "Those for two coppers."

     "Please, you're one of those Jollyrogers right? You can afford more than that, one silver."

     "Two coppers and I won't turn you into my next art project," She hissed in reply, glaring at him.

     "One fucking silver coin or you can forget it."

     Mimzy lashed out as he leaned towards her, "Two coppers and maybe you'll live through the next potion you drink. I am making you a fair deal when things are still frozen over."

     He jerked back pailing as he lifted his hands, "Fine, two coppers. Take the earrings and leave me alone."

     "Deal," Mimzy chirped, tossing him the coppers as she collected the earrings, "Come on Pin, let's get you pierced."

     “You all… I can make people run from me on the mainland. But you guys can probably make them piss their pants,” Penny shook her head, she supposed on occasion she had managed to straighten a few people out.

     Mimzy grinned all teeth as she pulled Penny’s arm around hers, needles still in hand, “I am sure our darling Crocodile will make them drop dead with one look. We are a vicious bunch after all.” 

     “I have no doubt she will if some one tries to mess with you guys once we’re off the isle” she smirked a little. She wondered if they would get lucky and a few of her problems would die of fright at look from Io.

     She sighed wistfully, "She makes such beautiful art with the blood of our enemies. You really haven't had a chance to see her at her finest. Maybe in the spring when people are coming back on the streets."

     “What happened with those snatchers seemed pretty… creative,” Penny said, she didn’t pity those morons they got what they deserved. But it was still shocking to see.

     "Tip of the iceberg you could say," she smiled, "Story from Koga mind you; she had them slip into the homes of a small gang causing us an annoyance and gutted all of them, choking them on their own intestines."

     Penny blinked as she tried to wrap her mind around what had just been said. Part of her... the part that sounded like Penelope was horrified at the very thought of what had been done. But another little voice, Pin, that had always wondered about the darker parts of life was curious as to how that would work. Where they stuffed down their throats or wrapped around their necks. She shook the thoughts away, she was learning not to ask what she couldn't really handle the answer too. “So in a case like that... how... I mean it's magic but there isn’t magic on the isle... fuck they really screwed stuff up with that barrier. I mean they would just be like zombies both dead and alive at the same time, right?”

     Zombies? Mimzy's head tilted, "I don't know what that is really outside of mom's Necromancy books, but no one can die so... really as soon as Yzma or Dr. Frank puts all their parts back where they are supposed to be; they heal up and normally wake up. If they don't wake, well... mom says their minds can't handle the pain they're in so they keep sleeping."

     She hadn’t thought about them healing as long as everything is put back, “So, do limbs heal and reattach as long as they are sewn back on?”

     "Yep, not that they always work as good as they used to. Never say it too loud, but Dr. Frank is way better about getting things on straight the first time." Mimzy cocked her head, "Can you guys not do that?"

     “Maybe in Agrabah where there is still magic but, no if you lose a limb you’ve lost it” Penny shook her head, “Go figure a score for the barrier”

     "So there is no magic where you're from either? That sucks, I was looking forward to using magic..." she pouted.

     “It’s not that there isn’t, it’s that it is considered illegal” she explained, “my dad was cursed for being a selfish man child. So he decided that there would be no magic in his kingdom."

     "Wow I knew your dad was dumb, but that is absolutely insane," she laughed, "Magic always finds a way unless you are here."

     “Pretty much, I mean he’s punishing people with magic because of his mistake. But what do I know,” she shook her head.

     "Likely more than he does now," she snickered, guiding them up and into the back of her mother's shop. 

     This half was their storeroom slash kitchen slash potions lab. Keeping her hand on Penny's arm, Mimzy pulled her through the bit of a maze to the stairs. The second floor was her mothers, the third, which was mostly referred to as the attic, was hers. Filled with bits and bobs, terrariums of fungus and seedlings of what would grow in sand rather than dirt. She guided Penny to the fur covered poof and stepped away to flick on the small lamp that wasn't dedicated to the plants.

     "Alright let's get these sanitized for safety," Mimzy chatted, letting Penny look around as she dropped the earrings into a short jar of distilled alcohol too strong and dangerous to drink. 

     Penny sat looking around, Mimzy's room was cozy. It was one of the nicer places she had seen on the isle, but then she supposed that Madam Mim probably actually cared about Mimzy.

     After a quick shake Mimzy pulled them out before lighting a candle made from other candles and animal sinew. She hummed looking over Penny's bare ears, "Alright are you ready? It will hurt for a second."

     “I’m ready,” she said, trying to hold still. The last thing she wanted was for Mimzy to miss, not that she thought she would.

     "Don't worry so much," she snickered, running her needle through the flame, "I have pierced far more interesting things over the years," she sighed fondly remembering how quiet Jay had been when she had pierced his nipples. Then again that could have been due to the pain potion she had given him for the stitches she needed to put into his scalp after he had his head introduced to something rather violently.

     Giving herself a shake she gripped Penny's earlobe and gently pushed her needle through. Pulling it back she slipped the earring in and gently rubbed Bleed Stop around the area.

     "Spin them a couple times a day and keep them coated in a thin layer of Bleed Stop or clean them daily with a little bit of rum. Just to make sure they don't get infected. They should heal in about four to six weeks," she instructed before heating her needle again and checked where the second earring would go to make them even.

     “Interesting? I’ve seen face piercings and I saw Jay's nipples. Where else is there?” She was perplexed. 

"Well," She pierced Penny's other ear, "I've pierced balls, tips, shafts, labia, and my personal favorite clits. Piercing genitals is both painful and erotic. People who ask for those are prepared to keep them clean and cared for, for the month or more it will take to heal properly," she hummed, imagining Jay or Koga decorated for her visual enjoyment, sadly neither would go for it. Koga wouldn't be able to deal with the pain, and Jay just never had the downtime needed for such things.

     “Huh” Penny tried to picture what exactly any of that would look like.

     Mimzy grinned, "If you were ever interested I am more than happy to help."

     “I... don’t think I’m that brave” she said, “Maybe one day I’ll be brave enough but not right now”

     "Well you always know where I am," she cleaned her tools and made sure Penny's new piercings were cleaned properly before patting the girl's head, "More girl time?"

     “Sure what you have in mind?” she asked, it seemed easier to let Mimzy make the plans.

     "Let's just hang out here. It's warm and protected, plus it will give you time away from Harry and Gil."

Chapter 77: Silver Attack (IoL: February)

     Io near stalked down the streets headed home. The slick of the roofs too dangerous even for her at the moment. But that was fine, she knew a way up once she got closer to home. She rubbed at the back of her neck, she couldn't shake the feel of being exposed. Couldn't shake the near screaming sense of danger that had started when Penny told her she had figured out who's kid she was. All her instincts were telling her to dispose of the threat, but she couldn't. She needed the girl in one piece.

     She ducked too late, a fist catching her in the nose, stars exploded behind her eyes as she reeled back. The three smug looking Silvers standing in front of her as she gingerly touched her nose feeling the blood dripping down to her upper lip. She rolled her neck, giving them a dispassionate look as she pulled one of her blades.

     “Really?” she growled looking at them.

     “Sorry lass, but ye been going through the crew and frankly Captain is getting a little tired of paying to patch us all up,” the female that had punched her shrugged as Io heard the soft steps behind her.

     Io didn't bother to look as she lowered her hand and grabbed another blade, “Well if you stayed out of Jollyroger turf I wouldn't be disassembling you lot.” 

     “Aye that may be, but cha see, I don't much care for ya,” he purred leaning close to her back, “Hello Crocodile.”

     She spun blades flicking out and catching his mechanical arm. This was going to be a fucking problem if Long John Silver himself was here. Of all the times to need the Red Mad and not have enough for a good bloodied bout. 

     The six descended on her and she did what she could to fend off their attacks. One fell to her whirling blades, another fell to a dodged swing, a third as she was hauled off her feet as her boot blade caught the vein on the side of his neck. She twisted and moved, ducking and deflecting their blows and taking some of their weapons. 

     Right up until Long John grabbed her around the neck and slammed her into the wall. Eyes burning as she dropped one of her blades to grab at the metal locked around her throat. And there was her Red Madness, that savage coiling under her skin using up what precious oxygen she had left as she kicked at him. Other blade driving into the exposed joint trying to break anything of importance that would have it release her.

     Harry had watched Io storm off the ship probably headed towards where she disappeared to when ever she disappeared. He had tried to warn her about going off on her own, she just wouldn’t listen. Well he wasn’t going to stand for it this time, he could almost feel it in the air that something was going to happen. He went after her silently following, he lost her around a corner and cursed. It didn’t take long to hear the screams that only came with a Crocodile bloodbath. He rushed towards it pulling his hook out so he was ready. He spotted Io struggling and swung the hook sinking into the man’s rib and pulled as hard as he could.

     Long John hissed releasing the Crocodile as a hook was sunk into his side, “Damn boy. Time to go, we’ll be back ya damnable Jollyrogers.”

     Suddenly the hand released and Io collapsed to the blood slicked cobblestones gasping and coughing as air filled her lungs. The grey at the edges easing away as the Silvers suddenly retreated. A bloodied hook entered her vision and she slowly looked up not to her Captain but her first mate.

     Harry moved in front of Io blocking the Silvers from his Crocodile, “Maybe try a different approach next time” Harry snarled watching them go.

     She watched the Silver’s limp off, “You know.... You just hooked Long John.... Long John Silver... right?” she coughed out staying on her hands and knees trying to steady her breathing.

     “Bastard put his hands on ye. I’m sure da will forgive me after he thumps me. I told ye not to go off alone, how many times have I told ye” Harry kneeled next to her once the danger had passed.

     “That...” She shook her head wincing, “Your da is going to thump us both. Thank you,” she pushed back slowly, “Fuckin’ Silvers man...”

     “That he is, lets get ye back to the ship” he nodded putting a hand on her arms gently.

     Io cringed leaning into his arm as she spat blood out, “Yeah I like this plan. I need a drink,” she muttered as he got her to her feet as she sheathed the blade she had dropped, “So why follow me anyway?”

     “Something felt off about tonight,” he shrugged wrapping his arms around her, to guide her back.

     She leaned heavily into him her body aching with every movement not to mention the blood she could feel dripping down her back and face, “Yeah I got that sense too, just figured it would be an Underlander not LJ.”

     “Yeah well, maybe now you’ll listen to me when I tell you you need back up” Harry nodded letting her lean on him. He gave nasty looks at anyone that even looked like they were thinking about taking them on.

     “Bah,” Io teased, “When do I ever listen to your voice of reason?” she cringed as she tried to swallow, “But I suppose you earned me humoring you from now on. ‘Specially since you just hooked LJ for little ole me.” she tried to make light of it, he would find out how hurt she was later anyway. Better to soothe him now before they made it to the ship.

     “No more threatening to replace me with Koga?” he snorted as the ship came into sight, if they were lucky Da had left for somewhere for something, he was pretty sure he was still on the ship though. 

     “The day I replace you with Koga is the day I butcher half the isle,” She let out a coughing laugh.

     Killian leaned on the wall to his cabin. His Crocodile had stormed off and then his son had gone after her. That never boded well so he waited, they would come back and then he would find out what had them in a tizzy.

     “I’ll send Gil to get Mimzy once I get ye settled in the bed” Harry tried to move across the deck silently as possible.

     “And where did me Jaws going running off to?” Killian asked spotting them trying to slink across the ship. He could tell something was wrong, Io would never let anyone grab her like that.

     “No where specific” Harry shrugged, he didn’t actually know where Io had been heading.

     Killian kicked off the wall, “Ye just blindly followed her?”

     “I was headed back Captain,” Io stated, praying that he would just let them go.

     He crossed the deck in a few long strides, if his son found out who she was... he shook himself, something had brought them back before she had made it to home. “What happened?”

     “The silvers may have been lurking around” Harry supplied, “and well I keep telling her not to run off on her own.”

     “Silvers on Jollyroger terf?” Killian seethed as he stepped around his Jaws and froze at the sight of his Crocodile. Her nose was red and bleeding, her bottom lip split, hands splattered with blood. Her neck lined with marks, deep bruising in a pattern he recognized, “John was there? He touched ye?”

     Io didn't really know what he wanted from her so she nodded slowly. The motion making her neck hurt not to mention all the places her head had been connected with.

     “Got himself a good hooking through the ribs for it too” Harry nodded, “GIL” he bellowed, the blonde appeared quickly, Penny right behind him

     “Oh that looks painful” he looked at Io with a wince.

     “Go get Mimzy,” Harry ordered, Gil nodded heading off the ship, “Go with him Pin” she blinked for a second and then darted after Gil.

     “Ye hooked John?” Killian could almost feel his blood going cold.

     “Your son did a good job, I would have been strangled into half life elsewise. LJ and 5 others, I took out 3 or so. They retreated when Harry hooked LJ,” Io tried to assure their Captain, “We were at war before with the Silvers, nothing changed.”

     “It’s my job to have her back, da” Harry said, “Don’t matter who goes after her I’m gonna hook em.”

     Killian rubbed at his face with his human hand before nodding, “Aye... get her down below and work on cleaning her up, I get the rum.”

     “Come on Crocodile lets get ye set up in the bed” Harry helped her along down the stairs and towards his room. He was really getting tired of sick/injured girls in his bed.

     “Just drop me in the clothes pile,” Io winced, “You got enough people in your bed. Worst comes to worse I'll go crash in your old bed.” though she wasn't planning on sticking around too long, she needed to get home.

     “I don’t think so, we’ll make room for ye” he snorted, “Stubborn Croc.”

     “You expect anything else from me?” Io coughed as he settled her to sitting on the bed, “I'll try and heal up quick so you can have your bed back to just you three.”

     “We don’t mind, I’m sure Pin and Gil will take the pile” Harry shrugged setting the blankets around her.

     “Your a piss poor liar Harry,” Io chided, “You mind. And I know you do, that's why I offered being on the pile instead.” she shooed his hands, “Stop that I don't want to get the blankets all bloody.”

     “What I mind is that the girls of our crew are getting hurt.” Harry snipped, “And stop fighting with me, I’ll get more blankets later”

     She gave him a dry look, “I'm bloody durable most times. Woulda had it all under control had LJ not been there. Just help me out of my bloody clothes and you can go back to wrapping me up. Deal?”

     “Whatever ye say Crocodile” he nodded helping her out of her coat, followed by her shirt. He used the shirt to clean some of the blood from her face.

     Io cringed as the fabric swiped over her face. Her fingers carefully undoing her belt and pants as she kicked her boots off. Thank goodness they were old friends because elsewise she would be pitching a fit about him undressing her.

     “Ye want me to help with the breast band or ye want to wait for Mimzy” he asked listening for any signs of the arrival of the rest of the crew.

     “One and only time,” Io muttered turning so he could get at the band, “I don’t think I can reach it.”

     Harry easily undid the knot, and pulled the fabric away.

     “Thanks,” Io breathed with a cough, arm covering what she could as she sat down on his bed once more. “Cover away.”

     Harry pulled the blankets up around her making sure all her bits where covered. While they might not care it was still better to have them covered.

-*-

     “Mimzy?” Penny called as she and Gil came into the shop.

“Have a good night,” Mimzy waved, “Hi you two.”

     “Io needs you on the ship” Penny said looking at her.

     Mimzy glanced over her shoulder, “Hang on let me get mom.” she rushed into the back before coming back with her bag, “I will be back for a shift tomorrow mom!”

     “Harry brought Crocodile back to the ship, she didn’t look so good” Gil explained as they ran.

     “Harry brought her back? How bad is she?” Mimzy was worried, Io was almost never hurt.

     “Couldn’t tell, but Captain looked spooked” Gil said as they rounded the corner to the wharf.

     “That does not sound good at all.” Mimzy shook her head.

     “Cause it's probably not” Penny said as they ran up the gangplank.

     Mimzy bit her lip and followed them across the deck.

     Harry opened the door as he heard the three... well two, Pin didn’t really make any noise when she moved; something she’d picked up from the thief probably.

     “We brought Mimzy” Gil said as they all squeezed into the door.

     Mimzy looked Io over and tossed her small bag next to Io, “What the hell happened?”

     “Silvers ambushed her. But Johnny boy was with them” Harry supplied after he realized Io wasn’t going to answer.

     “But what were they doing over here? I thought their turf was the other side of the isle” Penny looked at Harry.

     “That is something we will figure out later” Harry shrugged to her, “Why don’t ye and Gilly go grab some sleep in my old bed. Da won’t mind” Penny looked ready to argue before Gil pulled her from the room.

     Io sighed as it was just Harry and Mimzy in the room with her, “Thanks Harry.”

     Mimzy sighed, “You didn’t want to worry them... you stripped,” she watched Io nod briefly. “Okay good, let's get you patched up,” she carefully unwrapped their leader looking over her bruised and bloodied skin. “You are a hot mess,” she muttered opening her bag to start work.

     “I don’t understand why he came himself. Opened up his territory to being grabbed up” Harry shook his head watching the witch work.

     “Cause he's pissed at me for sending his people back in various pieces?” Io offered as the door opened once more.

     Killian saw bare skin and promptly averted his gaze, putting his back to the girls, “Rum for the open cuts and the pain,” he handed the bottle to his son, “Holler if ye need anything else. Including Yzma if yer witch can't handle something.”

     Mimzy rolled her eyes, “Thanks Captain, we'll let you know,” she gave Io a soft smile whispering, “Don't worry I won't let Yzma ever touch you Crocodile. You are in good hands.”

     “I'm aware of that dearie,” Io winced as Mimzy tipped her head back to see the massive bruise.

     “How bad is it Mimzy? I couldn’t tell,” Harry asked sitting on the pile of clothes.

     “Bad,” Mimzy sighed as Io shot back the rum with some difficulty. The Captain had departed back to his quarters thankfully, “Looks like he had her neck in his mechanical hand. We are lucky he didn't snap it. I know it hurts Io but just stay still for me, I just want to make sure we don't need to brace your neck.”

     “Do what ya need,” Io closed her eyes hand clenching around her thigh as Mimzy pressed her hands against the very tender skin.

     “So, he took her out for a little while?” Harry asked, that may have been the plan all along to get the Jaws out of the way so they could cause trouble for the Jollyroger.

     “Ideally yeah, but we both know she isn't going to be sidelined for long.” Mimzy pulled her hands away, “There is way too much swelling. I'm going to grab some snow and make a ice pad, can you start putting bleed stop on her nose? It's not broken just swollen.”

     Io watched her go before curling the blankets back around her, “I'll be fine, just a bit banged up.”

     “Yeah, but ye aren’t going anywhere tonight” Harry nodded as he worked on spreading the bleed stop where it was needed.

     “Fine,” Io relented, “Probably safer I stay here in case the Silver’s are still around.” She let him take care of her, “Thank you again...”

     “Ye never have to thank me for... well most things,” he moved a few pillows around behind her before he started on the next wound, “I’m yer first mate.”

     “Still,” she opened her knees slightly and leaned in resting her forehead on his sternum, “It doesn't feel right not to thank you for saving me from LJ. You just let me know what I can do to make it up to you once I'm all healed up.”

     “We’ll talk about it once yer healed up. For now ye need to rest” he soothed putting a gentle hand on her shoulder.

     “Rest is for the weak,” she teased, “You don’t mind me laying down with you right?” Normally she wouldn't ask, wouldn't have wanted the contact but she hurt and he liked that kind of contact.

     Mimzy looked them over and smiled softly, they were being adorable, “Ice pack for her neck.”

     “I never mind” Harry said as he took the ice pack from Mimzy and placed it on Io’s neck.

     Io made a sharp whining noise at the cold. Mimzy snickered coming around the bed and pulled the blankets away from her back, “Be happy they tried it in winter cause otherwise it would be seaweed wraps. Now how many times did you get slammed into the wall?” she asked looking over the forming bruises and linear abrasions on Io's shoulders and ribs.

     “I don’t want to talk about it.” Io muttered as the cold snow bit into her tender neck.

     “At least the snow smells better” Harry glanced over her back with a wince, she was going to be feeling this for a while.

     “And should help quicker than the seaweed too,” Mimzy nodded, “You have any more sore spots?”

     “Nope, just do what you can for my back, doesn't feel like I broke or cracked anything.”

     “I swear,” the lavender haired witch muttered running her hands down Io's back, “We will give it to the Silvers for this. Pretty new art projects.”

     “Very pretty” Harry agreed.

Chapter 78: Unexpected Guest (Mainland: February)

     Iago had never been so happy to see a stone castle in his very long life. He had been flying for nearly a month trying to get from the Isle to wherever his Jay was. In winter. Jafar, the asshole, had sent him, a handsome tropical bird, to find his son Jairaj in the dead of winter when there was still over a foot of snow on the ground. He weathered snow squalls, and freezing. Not proudly bunking up with owls and squirrels in their homes and sharing their food. It was the home stretch, he could smell his kid from where he was. Cinnamon, copper and leather. Circling the building a kid in a blue uniform opened a door and Iago darted inside the door, now to find the right door and pray Jay wasn’t locked in some cellar. He caught the scent of something familiar and darted towards it, winging past several kids moving through the halls as a door opened flooding the hallway with his scent. There. Iago dived past a mop of black and platinum blond hair into the room beyond, past the strange instrument on the table and onto a familiar back with a rats nest of long thick near black hair.

     “HEY” Carlos ducked as something whizzed past him.

     Iago paced over the back covered in an old black tank top, “Jairaj! Jairaj! Jairaj wake up!” he took in the thick muscles under his claws as his kid barely stirred despite his squawking.

     “Holy fuck, Jay... JAY GET UP,” Carlos stared at the brightly colored bird in shock.

     Jay groaned hearing his name being yelled by two different people, “Stop yelling, for fucks sake I got a hangover...” he had drunk himself back to sleep when the nightmares woke him up. Nightmares of being forced and whipped over and over again, seething whispers that it was his fault it was happening to him as his allies turned their backs on him.

     The macaw paused his pacing and hopped up next to his Jay’s face leaning down to preen the long strands of hair away from his skin, “You kid should not be drinking, pretty sure that shit is frowned upon here. Now get up I’m fucking hungry.” 

     “Um... aren’t you an evil henchmen or something,” Carlos said closing the door to the room.

     “When the fuck did you start giving a shit if I drink Iago?” Jay batted the macaw away from his face half asleep, hungover and not putting any thought into the fact Iago was here in the Mainland.

     Iago hopped out of the way of the half hearted bat, “Are you sassing me Jairaj? I, who helped you learn to read, when I couldn’t manage more than two words at a time? I who defended you from Jafar, selflessly.”

     “You who I took more than one beating for, because you decided to get in his way?” Jay retorted opening his eyes slowly, “And quit calling me that. It’s Jay.” he rolled slowly onto his side, “He’s fine Pup, more one of my minions than my dads. Think like Lagan and Derelict or Beelzebub.”

     “Yeah ok, but dude... what’s he doing here?” Carlos asked, “How did he even get here?”

     “I just got yelled awake, I don’t know,” Jay flopped onto his back, closing his eyes again to block out the sun, “Answer the questions Iago.”

     “Excuse me? No, I flew all the way here in the dead of winter. I had to spend nights with owls and squirrels, Jairaj, squirrels. I deserve nuts.”

     “You got a functioning set between those tiny little legs,” Jay yawned rubbing his face, “I know you do cause Othello is your kid.”

     Iago bit the skin of his wrist sharply making his kid yelp, “Your my kid too, now ass out of bed and get me food. Then I will answer whatever you want, but only when I have food.”

     “Should we tell someone that he’s here?” Carlos looked at Jay for what to do with all this.

     “Maybe after he tells us why he’s here,” Jay grumbled kicking his legs out of bed rubbing his face once again. His head was aching and his stomach growling, but he was exhausted and just wanted to sleep. Instead of going back to sleep he pushed himself up and walked into the bathroom getting cleaned up, running a brush through his tangled hair. 

     “How did you get out?” Carlos directed at the bird.

     “Nuts for information puppy dog boy. And don’t think I don’t know who you are,” Iago hopped towards the boy, “Carlos DeVil, one of my Jay’s partners in crime.”

     Jay glanced over at the door way brushing his teeth, Iago was just being his stubborn old self.

     “I got sunflower seeds, will that work for you?” he sighed, god he forgot how bossy this bird was.

     Iago flapped off the bed and landed on Carlos’ shoulder digging his claws into his new perch, “Yeah that will, but seeds first.”

     Carlos winced slightly before going over to his desk, he opened his snack draw and unrolled the bag of seeds. He dumped about a handful onto the desk.

     Iago dropped to the table pecking at the seeds happily, “Yes, oh thank god, you have no idea how bad acorns taste...”

     “I’ll take your word for that” Carlos made a face, “so how did you get here?”

     “I flew here following Jairaj’s scent. Parrots have very good noses.”

     “Quit calling me that ya damned bird.”

     “It-” Iago ruffled his feathers as Jay’s eyes flickered with magic, “Fine fine...”

     “How did you get out of the barrier Iago?” Jay asked sliding his vest on.

     “I flew.”

     “Seriously... I will pluck you.”

     “Better food, better answers.”

     “I now remember why we didn’t like him, besides the biting Evie thing” Carlos made a face.

     “And to think he only could say a few words at a time,” Jay groaned, “Just stay here Iago. I mean it, stay here. Pup and I will be back with something else for you.”

     Iago huffed hopping back and forth on the table for the rest of the sunflower seeds, “Fine. but bring me some good shit.”

     Jay sighed rubbing his face, “I do not have the patience for this today. Come on let’s go get some breakfast. Princess would love to see him.”

     “So bring Evie back with us then, cause I feel like Mal might blow a gasket if she sees him” Carlos followed after Jay.

     “She’ll blow a gasket for sure,” Jay nodded, “But yeah to Evie, then we can spend some time together.” They walked down the hallway towards the dining hall.

     “Think we can drive Iago out of our room with sex? Cause I feel like he’d just bite one of us in the ass” Carlos snickered.

     “Never know till we try,” Jay grinned, “Once I get some coffee, and food. I’m kinda hungry...” he really would love to try that experiment out, “Don’t you have a dinner with Jane tomorrow?”

     “Yeah, we’re supposed to be going to...um it’s some little cafe near the beach she likes, wants to show me around the part of town or something” Carlos nodded, Jane was trying to help him. He knew that, but sometimes it felt like they were both grabbing for something that was supposed to be normal.

     “That sounds... um... nice?” Dates were not exactly Jay’s thing. Mainly because he just didn’t know what the point of dating was. He wasn’t what he considered dating material, he was too fucked up for dating. Too damaged, who wanted to date a guy who had uncontrollable magic, couldn’t help but steal and drink through his bad days. Not to mention all of his scars, Mainlanders didn’t seem to like scars, which for a guy who wasn’t self conscious, did make him uncomfortable. 

     “It’s supposed to be” Carlos nodded, “I don’t know though I feel like we’re both trying too hard. I miss the isle sometimes, it was easy there. Either you wanted to fuck or you didn’t.”

     “And dating was more like whoever you fucked on a regular basis that was in your gang,” Jay agreed, “But I want you and Princess to be happy, Jane makes you happy and Doug makes Princess happy. So I don't really know how to help, but I'm here if you need me for something.” He thought about Aziz and immediately shut that idea down, no the prince and him had a stable relationship as is. Aziz helped him with school, Jay helped him lock pick, they fucked ocassionally when the prince got an itch or cuddled when Jay needed contact and his two were busy elsewhere. The prince had duties back in his home and none of them Jay was capable of helping with, mostly because he had the wrong anatomy to be of much use.

     “Yeah she’s sweet” Carlos nodded, “not sure it’s going anywhere”

     “Well you let me know if things go sideways. We can always figure something else out.” he shrugged snagging a cup of coffee, a couple of pastries as his magic deposited a few bulky bags of something into his vest pockets. Glancing around he spotted Evie's blue hair sitting at a table.

     “My own personal knight in shining leather,” Carlos teased before heading over to where they could see Evie’s head of blue.

     Jay snickered despite his hangover, “I don’t know if that is a good thing or not to be honest. I’m not very knightly.” he sipped at the hot black coffee as they walked, it was strong which was good and thankfully didn’t taste like the mud coffee he would steal from the shop across from Mal’s place.

     “You're better than any other knight” Carlos assured as they sat.

     “Who’s better then other knights?” Evie asked looking at them.

     “Jay, he’s our knight in shining leather” Carlos repeated for her.

     “He could be our knight in shining premium organic leather.” Evie smirked eyeing Jay up and down.

     “Um... leather is leather isn’t it?” Carlos looked confused

     “Oh... that is so not... I feel like this argument is going to be lost on you,” Evie sighed.

     Jay plunked down with a wide grin, “Oh princess you say the damn nicest things,” he didn’t know what premium organic meant, but he knew what that look meant, “You can help explain it to him later today. We have a thing to take care of before classes though, unless everyone is with me in wanting to skip class today.” It was thankfully a Friday because Jay did not foresee that Iago thing being cleared up in a short time frame.

     “Depends on the thing” Evie raised an eyebrow, “And I may have been working on something to help you two understand the difference in materials”

     “Oh...what is it?” Carlos looked at her excitedly.

     “Wait and find out” she smirked at him.

     “I got a leg up on Pup, I know expensive when I see it, and I know the differences in stitching. Neither of those things happened by choice,” he downed the rest of his coffee and nibbled on the edge of a pastry, “The thing is complicated and not Mal friendly. You two finish food and then we’ll go back to our room.”

     “Not Mal friendly, well that can’t be good news” Evie sighed finishing her fruit cup.

     “It depends on your thoughts on birds” Carlos said shoving a fork of eggs into his mouth.

     “Birds?” Evie looked at Carlos 

     “Yeah birds” Carlos said around a full mouth.

     Jay rolled his neck trying to shake the last of his hangover as he finished off the first of his pastry, “Don’t worry about it right now. Again food first.” He shifted slowly trying not to disturb the stuff in his pockets.

     “Almost done” Carlos shoved a sausage into his mouth as Evie snorted

     “And yet you can’t deep throat,” Jay muttered into his second pastry as he watched Carlos eat.

     “My mouth has other talents” Carlos said after he swallowed.

     “Yes other talents,” Evie snorted with a smirk, at this rate they wouldn’t make it to class.

     Jay licked his lips, “Very good talents,” he took another bite of his second pastry and collected their trash tossing the third pastry into a napkin before handing it to Evie, “Alright come on, time to go deal with that thing before it starts making issues.”

     “Lead the way” Evie stood Carlos right behind her.

     He snagged another cup of coffee on the way out of the dining hall guiding them back towards the room where he was hoping that Iago was waiting patiently. Or at least mostly patiently.

     “What does this have to do with birds?” Evie asked as they stopped outside the door.

     Jay handed her the coffee mug and slowly opened the door peeking inside and found Iago sitting on the windowsill with his head tucked under his wing. He breathed a sigh of relief and let the two of them inside. 

     “So what exactly are you showing me?” Evie asked holding the coffee and pastry.

     “We have an evil minion,” Carlos motioned to Iago as he closed the door.

     Jay took his coffee back and set it down on the edge of the table before opening his vest and emptied his pockets of packets of nuts. “Iago got you some food.”

     Iago lifted his head out from his wing and hopped around before launching up and onto Jay’s shoulder as he picked the cup back up and took a sip, “Smells like real coffee too. You bring me something good?”

     “I don’t know, I got you nuts. Back off bird it’s my coffee you don’t get any,” he huffed as Iago tried to stick his head in the cup, “Now talk.”

     “You know you can be a little more grateful.”

     “I will be once you stop being his bird,” Jay snapped now annoyed with the macaw. 

     Iago shifted unhappily on his Jay’s shoulder, “I don’t think I like you with a hangover kid. You feed me nuts and I will tell you brats what you want. Alright?”

     “Fine, just fine.” he set the coffee back down and opened the packs of nuts fishing out a few curved ones and offered them to Iago to take.

     “Not that is not a wonder to see your bright colors again, but what are you doing here?” Evie asked looking at the bird.

     “Jafar sent me to get the kid back,” Iago stated crunching on the nuts, “Not that I am going to let Jafar anywhere near him ever again.”

     “Good to see where on the same page, I would have hated to pluck you” Evie crossed her arms.

     “I will bite your dainty little fingers witch,” Iago squawked wings fluttering out.

     “I have a hangover don’t squawk in my damn ear,” Jay growled rubbing his ear, “Now how did Baba get you out?”

     Iago shuffled for a minute, “Something the queens did trying to take down the barrier from the inside.”

     “Which queens? I know mother wouldn’t have been able to pull that off” Evie blinked at him unbothered by the threat.

     “I can’t believe Jafar still thinks you're his minion,” Carlos chuckled.

     “I know, for such a smart guy he was an idiot. The Wonderland queens are the ones that tried to do it. Only ones crazy enough,” he shrugged a shoulder as he continued to munch on the nuts out of Jay’s fingers.

     “That sounds about right” Evie nodded, “Even mother wouldn’t deal with the wonderland queens, and she was desperate for friends of higher birth” 

     Jay snorted, “They were crazy but they were loaded,” he shrugged drinking more coffee as he opened another bag with tear dropped nuts. 

     “Take your guys word for it, never had a reason to meet them or even hear much about them,” Carlos shrugged.

     “Probably for the best. The Heart cousin’s would have eaten you alive,” Jay affirmed. “So that’s it you flew all the way here because Baba tossed you through a thin spot and told you to go get me?”

     “Yeah, but I came here for you, keep an eye on you since I don’t exactly trust they haven’t done something to you.” Iago munched down some more nuts.

     “Like we would let them do anything to him” Carlos rolled his eyes, “We got Jay’s back on everything.”

     Iago let off a sharp squawking noise, “Excuse me if I don’t believe you. You two weren’t much help in getting his back on the Isle, he came back banged up from keeping you two safe more often than not.”

     “It’s different here” Evie said, “Here there's no worry of someone being bigger and badder than us. Because when it comes down to it he is the biggest bad there is on the Mainland.”

     Jay looked down with a soft smile, “They help me in different ways here Iago. I just make sure they are always taken care of.”

     Iago sniffed at him and huffed, “Such a sap.”

     He rolled his eyes and rubbed the bird behind the jaw, “Clearly I am, if I am back to taking care of you. But there are rules now you get that right?”

     “Yeah I figured that much out, I am guessing I will be tolerating your teenage hormones?”

     “Do what now?” Jay frowned confused.

     “He’s talking about sex, and yes we have a lot of it in this room” Evie supplied looking at her nails, “We may have some tonight.”

     “And what does the puppy dog boy do?” Iago asked gesturing to Carlos with one wing.

     “Join Princess and I.” the macaw choked on his nut, “What? I’m greedy, I can have them both if I want.”

     Iago cuffed him on the back of the head, “I do not need to think about shit like that Jairaj.”

     He snickered, “Old man, you need to live a little. Next ground rule, you stay here. I’ll bring you food, but you stay here and try not to make havoc for anyone.”

     “And man try not to terrorize Dude,” Carlos added, “Wait... you and Jay are having sex while I’m on my date?” he looked at Evie

     “Maybe, maybe not, maybe if you're date doesn’t go well” Evie left the air of mystery around her as she twirled the end of her hair on her finger.

     “Tonight we are all fucking since your date is tomorrow night Pup. And Dude is a dog, don’t taunt the dog. Decisions, class or bed?”

     “We should probably go to class, godmother’s been checking attendance this week. Or so Jane tells me” Carlos advised.

     Jay groaned but nodded, “Fine class it is.” he pushed himself to standing and opened the last bag for Iago before moving around the room setting things up for him, “You know this would have been easier if Baba tossed your cage out too. Then you would at least have somewhere to sleep that was your own space.”

     “Don't worry about it kid, you are doing just fine. Not like you haven't been looking after me for years. I will try not to screw things up for you here.” Iago relaxed into the belly scratch Jay gave him in reply, his kid was still such a good kid despite what Jafar had done to him. “You go to class like you're supposed to. I'm going back to sleep.”

     Jay watched as Iago launched himself off his shoulder and landed on his pillow turning around before nesting in and tucked his head under his wing, “Sure Iago...”

     “He’s surprisingly calm” Evie said watching the bird for a second before they exited the room.

     “Wait till he gets some sleep,” Jay snorted, “I got a bad feeling he has been flying for a while now. He is lighter than he should be, but at least I know one of my boys is okay. Once he gets some more food and sleep, I might be able to get him to tell us what’s been going on over there. Maybe he’s seen Penny...”

     “Maybe, but...” Evie didn’t want him to get his hopes up.

     “If Iago saw her your dad might have too. So maybe it’s better if he hasn’t” Carlos finished. 

     Jay shrugged, “At this point I just want to know if she is there. If she’s there then I will go and get her back. After 6 months I will take anything.” he would take what he could get, he needed to know where she was no matter where it ended up being.

     “We all want her back. But, I’d rather not know where she is then find out she’s your dad’s new toy or whatever” Carlos shrugged.

     He swallowed back the sudden nauseous feeling at the mention, “All the more reason to get her back.” he was willing to be stuck there if it meant she could go free. Well mostly willing. Trying to shake everything off he opened the door to their Remedial Goodness class as the bell rang, “Well we aren’t late at least.” 

     “No not late dears” Fairy Godmother assured as she smiled at them from her place in the front.

     Mal glanced at them noting the way Jay gently pushed them in front of him, he must have had nightmares again. That was another thing that just seemed to be happening more and more often. Granted after last month’s explosion he had at least eased off on his drinking.

     Jay took his seat next to Carlos ignoring Mal’s look as he settled in for his most boring class of the day. But at least he knew what she was talking about.

     Evie gave Mal a smile as she sat next to her, “How was your morning?”

     “Tense,” Mal shrugged a shoulder, “As breakfast with Audrey, Chad and Ben tends to be. Yours?”

     “Same old, ate, watched the other students commit crimes of fashion,” Evie said, “I still don’t understand why you have to eat with them, sure you're Ben’s girlfriend but Chad and Audrey have nothing to do with Auradon’s throne”

     “But they are Ben’s friends which means I have to eat with them and spend time with them. Mostly because Ben wants us all to be friends.” Mal didn’t like the idea, really didn’t like Chad but it was for Ben. Whatever made Ben happy.

     “What about what makes you happy? You could eat with us every now and then.” Evie said, Chad gave her the creeps, he’d also made a grab for her ass a few months ago.

     “He’s letting us stay here, we never have to pay for anything, so eating with his friend is the least I can do,” Mal understood what Evie wanted, “I still eat lunch with you and Carlos, while Jay is doing whatever Jay has been doing every lunch recently.” all Mal knew was that Jay just never showed up for lunch, if she was looking she could catch him sneaking in for breakfast and dinner.

     “If he’s your true love, then he won't mind” Evie put a hand on hers.

     “I am still not sure I even know what love is. But I will see if I can get a few mornings away from the crazies. Think you can manage to get Jay to come around for longer than five minutes? It would be nice for all of us to eat together for once.” She had no idea why Jay was avoiding her, but that was what it felt like at least.

     “I can try, I think he spends lunch with Aziz,” she nodded, she didn’t really know what Jay got up to during lunch.

     “Aziz? He’s still hanging out with him? I figured Jay would have gotten bored of him by now,” Jay had a relatively short attention span when it came to making Mainland friends, Lonnie being the exception since Mal was pretty sure Jay had a crush on the girl.

     “Yeah, he helps Jay with his homework and Jay I don’t know, enjoys his humor.” she fibbed.

     “Oh,” Mal blinked she hadn’t realized Jay was actually getting help with his homework every day. She had figured that Aziz had been assigned to him by Fairy Godmother or something. Aside from the Christmas break thing she hadn’t seen them together since.

     “They mostly hang out in Aziz’s room. I think Jay likes his room mate,” Evie nodded, “Don’t feel bad about not knowing it took awhile for us to figure it out too.”

     Mal glanced over towards Jay, “And do I need to be worried about Jay and this roommate? He is a handful and a half on his own these days.”

     “I don’t think so just having fun” she shook her head head.

     “Hopefully it stays that way,” Mal sighed looking back to Fairy Godmother, “Not that I don’t want Jay to be happy, I just don’t know if he knows what he wants.”

     “None of us really do, we have thoughts but we don’t know,” she sighed, Mal just wasn’t getting it. If she wanted to know what they were thinking or thought they wanted then she needed to talk to them not spend all her time with Ben’s friends, if you could call Chad and Audrey his friends. She was losing her gang and didn’t even realize it.

     “We really need to figure it out soon. There is only so much school left and Aziz will be graduating soon so one of us will have to figure out how to help Jay with school,” Mal couldn’t understand why Jay couldn’t handle it, it wasn’t like this stuff was that hard.

     “Actually I heard Aziz say he was going to stay for another year to study closely with Ben about ruling and peace,” Evie answered

     “Well that is good news for Jay.” Mal nodded, “At least he has someone consistent to help him with homework, or at least if Aziz can find time between the court stuff with Ben..”

     “He’ll find the time I’m sure,” Evie tried to hide her smirk.

     “I hope so because I’m not even sure why Jay is having so many issues with school.”

     “We all have our problems, the shadows of the isle that haunt us. Maybe school is one of his,” She shrugged.

     Mal took what she needed out of that, “He’s still thinking about it isn’t he,” she remembered the limps, the cuts and bruises, the smell of sex on his skin, the look in his eyes some days on the Isle. “I’m going to talk to him, have to get him to talk at least.”

     “You can try but, you know how well cornering him works,” Evie cautioned her.

     “I know. He goes running out what happens to be the most convenient exit,” she rubbed her wrist, “If only there was a way to bribe him to stay...”

     “You know how that goes too” Evie quipt, “he doesn’t like to talk”

     “I am aware, he likes to talk without saying anything at all. Tongue to charm a snake with his gilded words,” that was what her own mother said about Jay and his father. Her mother, mistress of evil, who sneered at mortals, took care when she spoke to Jafar because he was dangerous in his own way. Mal didn’t understand it, but she knew how often Jay suffered his father’s wrath.

     “Why don’t you let me try it, or we could do an isle night just run wild for a night,” she suggested.

     “If I let you try and talk to him, the two of you will end up in bed. We could try an Isle night but no drinking, I am pretty sure we don’t want Jay turning into an alcoholic.” Mal rubbed her neck hoping that they wouldn’t run too wild, not that there wasn’t a part of her that didn’t want to watch hers fall into one another like they used to on the Isle.

     “The more you try to fix the more he fights back,” she warned, why couldn’t Mal get that maybe they needed to be normal...well normal for them.

     “I... I just want him to cut back on the drinking. I think he has been drinking more here then he ever did on the Isle, and that worries me,” Mal admitted softly, “I can explain away his other bad habits but after last month, Ben’s been pushing about having us talk to someone.” she didn’t know that Jay had been getting dragged out of bed to talk to the Queen. 

     “Ben and Jay talked a little bit ago... did you not know that?” Evie looked surprised that that fact.

     Mal frowned brow furrowing, “What? No...” when had that happened, and why hadn’t Jay or Ben ever say anything to her about having talked about the Isle. How did Ben get Jay to talk about it anyway?

     “Ben told Jay, that just being Jay was fine. He could aim for just being Ok, if that was what he needed” Evie blinked.

     “Oh, that is a different kind of talk...” Mal nearly breathed a sigh of relief, “Is Jay okay though, because I don’t think he is okay?”

     “He’s getting there” she shrugged.

     “Do you think an Isle night will help?” she wasn’t used to asking for people’s opinions as she went from making all the decisions to just listening to what everyone else wanted of her and trying to be that person.

     “Maybe, maybe not, but it's worth a shot. When was the last time you were rotten to the core?”

     Mal bit her thumb, “It’s been a while honestly.”

     “Then it will do you good as well,” she assured looking up as the bell rang.

     Mal stood closing her book and stood grabbing her bag, “Maybe it will. Do you want me to walk you to class or is Doug coming by to whisk you away to Chemistry again?”

     “Jay’s walking me, his class is down the hall from chemistry... I think” she said putting away her notebook.

     She turned as Jay cleared his throat behind her, “Jay-”

     “You ready to go Princess?” Jay pointedly ignored Mal, he was still kind of pissed at her for trying to take his alcohol and for forgetting that she came from the Isle like they had.

     Mal winced looking away, “I’ll see you at lunch then E.”

     “Yeah, we’ll talk about your dress for Ben’s birthday” Evie smiled, “Lets go man meat” she teased Jay.

     “You want a bite Princess?” Jay smirked wickedly as she took his arm, “I promise to be delicious to the last drop.”

     “Only if you bite back,” Evie gave him a wicked smile.

     “Princess I always bite when they want teeth,” Jay replied all silver and silks, the charming half smolder on his lips that had lined his pockets with given and stolen treasures.

     “Well then I’ll just have to take a taste later” she giggled.

     “Most definitely,” he purred ducking his head down, voice dropping to a whisper, “Pup has a Chess thing after our last class, wanna start early?”

     “We can definitely start early if you want to” she agreed, she still didn’t understand why she’d thought giving all this up was a good thing.

     “Till then Princess,” he kissed the back of her hand as they stopped outside of her Chemistry class. He gave her a playful bow and a wink before taking off further down the hall for the history class he was close to flunking because of his reading and near illegible writing.

Chapter 79: Planning (Mainland: February)

     Mal watched them go and felt oddly displaced like she wasn’t Isle enough for them and not quite mainland enough either. Pushing it off she glanced at Carlos, “Come on C, math time.”

     “Yeah, let's go stare at numbers,” Carlos slung his bag over his shoulder.

     Mal walked with Carlos down the hallways, “How does an Isle night sound?”

     “That sounds like a dream,” Carlos sighed.

     “Okay, then we’ll have an Isle night. E already agreed and Jay hopefully will be an easy sell, not that he’s talking to me apparently...” Mal rolled her eyes. “We can do it tomorrow if you aren't busy. If you are we can do it before Ben's birthday.”

     “I have a date tomorrow, Jane’s taking me to the beach for dinner and stuff” Carlos scratched the back of his neck.

     “Oh okay, that sounds really nice C. I am glad you are going for it with Jane. She's a much nicer girl now that we are past the wand thing.” Mal offered in what she hoped was a supportive tone.

     “Yeah she’s nice” he agreed as they took their seats.

     Mal gave him a soft quick smile, that was something she was still working on. The Blue fairy who was in charge of that Princess class kept telling her she needed to project her emotions better.

     “She really likes taking that princess class with you,” he added; and he meant it, it was Jane’s fallback topic if they ran out of things to talk about. Which happened a lot, that may have part of the problem that Jane talked about Mal and how great she was a lot.

     “Oh yeah? I just, I don't know, it's a lot to take in. But I'm glad to have a friendly face in there.”

     “I’m sure Penny would have hated it from what I hear.” He chuckled, he could almost imagine it from what he knew of her.

     “I bet it would have been easy for her, given that she is a princess.” Mal snorted.

     “I don’t know she wasn’t very princessie when she was drooling on Jay after a night drinking” Carlos shrugged

     Mal shook her head, “I still can't believe she was drinking with him. I know he's not the responsible one, but still I don't understand his thinking in doing something frowned upon with Ben's little sister.”

     “Probably cause she didn’t frown upon it... she encouraged Jay to just be Jay, good, bad...whatever as long as he was her friend” Carlos gave Mal his insite.

     “So were they friends? The way he acts I thought they were more like you and Jane or Doug and E.”

     “Right, he promised to protect her, and well if she’s missing he can’t do that. You know how he is about promises like that. Also, I’m not sure she understood the whole ‘I want to fuck you’ vibe he was trying to put off. So they became more like Dizzy and E” Carlos explained, Mal really hadn’t been paying attention.

     “Oh I knew she wasn't picking up his flirting. I just didn't realize how serious he was about her,” she knew he told her he would protect her, but he was drunk so she figured he was blowing it of proportion not that she was like Dizzy for him.

     “He promised her and now he thinks she’s on the isle and he isn’t there to keep his promise”

     “I don't know why he thinks she is there. There is no way she is there and we haven't heard about it. It's been almost 6 months.”

     “Gut feeling, and he never ignores those” Carlos said, honestly if Jay’s gut said something they listened most of the time. 

     “Fair enough,” she got that Jay had a sense of things she didn't and she had ignored on the Isle half the time, “But we will need proof more than his gut feeling.”

     “And that’s the problem how do we get proof without going to the isle” maybe she was starting to get it.

     “We aren't going back to the Isle. If we go back I don't think we will be able to come back here. And I don't think the Isle is going to be very happy to see us,” Mal shook her head, she was never going to let them go back to their parents even if her mother was actually in their room right now.

     “And if we found proof she was there? Would you let Jay go get her?” He questioned.

     Mal bit her lip before responding, “Would you let him go back? He's the one who is the most likely to stay on the Isle with his father. No matter what Jafar did you know as well as I do, he always went back to him.” and that was the truth, Jay always went back. He wouldn't cut the ties, he refused to abandon his father. Mal was sure that Jafar had manipulated Jay into thinking that he needed his father, some kind of dependency and duty to the man who beat him and whipped him regularly.

     “If we had proof I don’t think anything would stop him. He’s worried, he thinks that maybe someone has her and is keeping quiet about it” he’d let Jay go if he wanted but, he wouldn’t let him stay with his dad.

     “Why? Why would they keep it quiet? It wouldn't make any sense. Anyone there would try and use her to negotiate a way off the Isle. I know that for sure.” Mal shook her head, “We will just have to go over it with Jay, make sure he isn’t just trying to get back to his dad.”

     “And what if they don’t recognize her? They just think she’s some mainland girl that got stuck there? Or they have a different plan for her” Carlos said, “This is what he’s worried about. I mean the Gastons would be just as happy to fuck her first then think of a way to use her”

     “I don’t know, I just can't see anyone from the Mainland surviving there for 6 months without us hearing about it at least.” Mal shook her head, she was trying not to think the worst. The worst was the idea of Penny being on the Isle in the first place.

     “I get that, so does E but Jay has a gut feeling” he shrugged trying to puzzle out the worksheet in front of him.

     “Jay has a lot of things,” Mal shook her head and jotted down a few things on her sheet, “We need more than his gut to go by.” 

     Carlos looked at her for a second before shaking his head and going back to his work sheet. He’d thought he was getting through to her, but he guess not. She was reaching a level of blindness that rivaled a true born mainlander.

     Mal knew what she sounded like but she she was trying to protect them. Trying to protect Jay from himself. She had known him since she was 6, she knew he would let himself get hurt. Knew he was reckless and careless, she was just trying to protect him before he got himself killed. As the bell rang she glanced at Carlos, “We'll talk about it on Isle night okay?”

     “Yeah sounds good” Carlos nodded as he packed up to head to his next class.

 

     Jay dropped down in the corner he had picked as his in the library. His back pressing against the wall as he held his homework on his lap. The reading was getting better, but not nearly fast enough for him to keep up with the work. Which meant skipping time with his allies to try and keep at it. Coach warned him he was on the verge of academic probation, which translated to kicked off the team until his grades improved. Cause apparently the Mainland thought doing bad in school was associated with being too focused on sports. He didn't understand that logic at all but their rules were law here. He blinked hard forcing the words to straighten back out as he slogged through his Remedial Goodness homework. He wasn't going to bother with the History assignment until the weekend where he could get all of Aziz's attention. Evie would help him with the Chemistry homework, or at least look it over and help him correct things.

 

     Mal perched in her seat patiently waiting for Evie and Carlos. She already knew Jay wasn't coming as she had spotted Prince Aziz eating lunch with Jordan and one of the Neverland kids. That meant Jay was somewhere else, hopefully not skipping class to go have sex or something else not copacetic for the Mainland standards.

     “What are you eating today?” Evie asked as she sat down, “Cause the soup looks a little sketchy”

     “Sandwich,” Mal lifted it, “You?” it was weird to think they could be picky here with food here considering what they used to eat on the Isle. She shook her head trying not to think about it, it wouldn't do any good anyway.

     “Salad,” she poured the small cup of dressing over the greens, “Carlos was grabbing a burger I think”

     “Well at least you are always consistent,” her lips curved in a small smile, “I talked to Carlos about the Isle night, he seemed interested. So likely before Ben's birthday we'll go ahead and have it. Do... do you know why Jay isn't talking to me? I was going to see when he wanted to do Isle night but it looks like he skipped lunch.”

     “I’m not sure” Evie shook her head. She wasn’t about to try and explain that Jay felt like she wasn’t doing her job as leader, hell that maybe she had never really done it.

     Mal frowned, “I don’t know what is up with him these days. He used to at least tell me when he was having issues with anything,” when had that stopped? Or maybe she had stopped listening, no... no he had stopped talking about it. It was just Jay being stubborn. “Getting off the topic of Jay, you want to talk about stuff for Ben's birthday?”

     “What colors do you want to wear? Material? Style?” Evie launched head long into fashion. 

     Carlos sat next to Evie raising an eyebrow at her fashion talk.

     Mal blinked, “Purple... my normal colors. Everything else is up to you. I trust your fashion sense.”

     “Alright I’ll get started on some designs, do you know if it's going to be a Ball again or something else. Cause that can affect what you should wear, I’ll consult with the Queen’s dressers to find a style that doesn’t clash with her own” 

     “I think it's going to be another ball. That's like the Mainland thing, big dances for royal birthdays.”

     “Fair enough assumption” Evie nodded, “so I’m thinking a dark purple base and then lavender designs maybe a little green in there for well your eyes. Do you want something puffy like the Queen’s famous yellow dress or something tight?” 

     “Well now that she’s got a project and you're the focus you're doomed” Carlos laughed at his own joke.

     “Oh you're next I have a few suit designs to go over with you” Evie looked at him quickly before going back to Mal.

     “That sounds good, but nothing puffy. Come on I'm not a pretty pink princess. So maybe tighter up top and looser down by the hips?” Mal rolled her eyes at Carlos’ joke and nibbled on her sandwich.

     “Ok we can do a flair out. It will be so pretty. I’ll start sketching tonight” Evie clapped.

     “That sounds good,” Mal nodded like she had any idea about what Evie was talking about, “Standard black, white, and red for Carlos?”

     “I was thinking more black with a splash of red” she mused giving him a knowing look. The red was more to show Jay’s protection, not that the mainland knew that, or Mal for that matter.

     “That sounds good, maybe get him a haircut?” Mal teased, Carlos had started growing his hair out when he got here, Jay was one thing Carlos was another. “I'd ask about what Jay is wearing but I already know that answer. The red leather jacket, and the black leather pants. He is, if nothing else, consistent.”

     “He has simple tastes and I can’t really argue. He looks good in leather” Evie shrugged, “I suppose our puppy is getting a little shaggy” she reached over running her fingers through his hair.

     “Maybe I like it long” he pulled away.

     “He does look good in leather.” she may not be interested in Jay like everyone else seemed to be, but she knew her ex-thief was rather attractive. “Fine but I think you could stand a different hair style. We already have one long haired wonder boy in the Core 4.”

     “We’ll figure it out, I’m no Dizzy but I think I can do something with it” Evie said, “speaking of Dizzy, how is it coming bringing other kids over?”

     “It is slow going but it is going,” Mal offered, “There are just so many kids...”

     “Just start with the ones we know are in need and move on from there. I’ll see if Jay wants to help, he saw more of the Isle then most of us” Evie suggested.

     “That requires Jay to talk to me. Which he made blindly obvious we aren't on speaking terms currently. I also have to get them in sets of four, which is just as hard since some of them don't have 4 or don't like one another.” Mal sighed setting the rest of her sandwich down.

     “I’ll talk to him, something like this I think he’d want to help with” Evie finished her salad.

     “He wants to help those kids” Carlos added.

     Mal knew though, knew who Jay really wanted to help. Jay had mentioned her before, Crocodile, he wanted her off the Isle. No one else was inclined to do such things. “Well then hopefully E can get through to him.”

     “I will, now I’ve got history. So I’ll start on your dress designs tonight and have something for you to look at tomorrow. Then I can start sewing once you decided,” she grabbed her plate, as she stood.

     Mal nodded, “Thanks E.” she stood as well wrapping the rest of her sandwich up. If she could corner Jay, he would at least appreciate the food even if they weren't on speaking terms.

     “See you guys” Carlos waved he had a free period after lunch.

 

     Mal finally found Jay before the last class of the day and she shoved the sandwich into his hands, “I know you skipped lunch. Just humor me and eat some food. I will see you at dinner.”

     Jay watched her walk away and sighed softly before wolfing down the sandwich. She clearly wanted something out of him and he was going to cave just like usual.

Chapter 80: Premium Organic Leather (Mainland: February)

Notes:

Warning: Just an entire chapter of NSFW with a touch of plot if you squint

     Evie sighed as she dropped her bag onto the floor next to the couch in the boy’s room. She pulled out her design book and got to work as she waited.

     Jay tossed his bag next to his bed and leaned over the back of the couch, pressing a kiss to her cheek, “Where were we in that conversation Princess?”

     “Oh I don’t know somewhere between here,” she placed a kiss on his cheek, “And here” her lips slid over his as she turned.

     He hummed softly against her lips, “That’s right,” he eased his hands down further and undid the button on her blue jacket, “Between biting and fooling around before Carlos came back from Chess.”

     Iago lifted his head slowly from under his wing, he knew the blueberry princess had slipped in but he hadn’t really expected his kid to be physically involved with her. Then again, his kid was a looker and knew how to get what he wanted better than his father did. He cleared his throat, “Could you two at least wait till I find somewhere else to be?”

     Jay jumped slightly, he had forgotten Iago was there and he pulled back slowly and looked at the macaw still nestled up on his pillow, “Bathroom? Unless you want to be on my bed while I’m busy taking care of my Princess and my Puppy.”

     “Honestly, no respect... After everything I did for you,” Iago grumbled hoping to the nightstand before flapping into the bathroom, “I deserve better than this you brat!”

     “Do you think we hurt his feelings?” She laughed as she watched him disappear into the bathroom.

     “If we did, he would have squawked louder,” Jay snickered as he leaned back towards her, “Would you do me the honor Princess?” he asked against her lips playing the prince she always wanted.

     “Are we playing tonight?” She smirked against his lips as her fingers finished what his had started.

     “For you Princess, always,” Jay pulled her up into the air and over the back of the couch. With practiced ease he carried her to his bed and laid her down, spreading her jacket open, fingers popping the buttons on her shirt open. He devoured the sight of her, blue curls spread beneath her, milky skin exposed throat to navel framed in blue and white fabric. Her bra covered in little red hearts. She was always so perfect to him.

     “My perfect thief, if I’m not careful you’ll steal my heart just to keep it from everyone else” Evie mused as she ran her nails up his arms.

     “Your heart would be the greatest treasure I could steal. But I never steal what’s already mine,” He purred head dipping down to press kisses against her skin, biting carefully at the back of her jaw as he loomed over her body careful of his weight on her body, “And your heart has always been mine Princess, ever since the Isle you have been mine. Mal never noticed, still hasn’t realized, that I claimed you and Pup right from under her.” as he talked his fingers glossed over the thin silver band on her index finger with it’s red jewel.

     “Well you didn’t steal it from her, she didn’t have it cause she never wanted it,” Evie sunk her fingers into his hair.

     “She was a fool for not wanting it,” Jay replied kissing down her chest, biting at the inside of her breasts, “As much as she talked she was only ever good at making everyone afraid to cross her. But left me wide open to take what I wanted, what I needed. You wanted to experiment with me, we grew up needing much more than that.” He opened the front clasp with his teeth and nosed the fabric away, “You needed a prince, and I needed a tender touch every once in a while.”

     “I am more than happy to give you tender or not so tender” she smirked scratching at his head, “I had hoped at one point all 4 of us would be together but, well Mal made it clear her thoughts on that.” 

     “Mal doesn’t even like taking her clothes off,” He snorted before licking her right nipple, “We can always play with Princy, I’ve warmed him up the the idea of casual sex. But us 3 always have the most fun.” he licked her other nipple before suckling at it until her skin turned dark red, “Mal will never understand what she is missing, and you know I am okay with that. She wants to play Mainland Princess, I will be the son of Jafar the one who looks after his allies.” He gave her other nipple the same treatment, “I will give you and Pup the world if you want it, there is nothing I won’t do for you and him.” 

     “Which is why we are yours and Mal will never understand,” she tipped her head back.

     “Never,” Jay nearly growled and bit another mark at the bottom of her sternum, “Especially not now that we are here and she wants to forget. You will always be mine Princess. I will never let you or Carlos go. Not for anyone.” he shifted his weight and pushed her skirt up, thumbs hooking into her tights slowly easing them down to her knees.

     “I don’t want you to, neither does Carlos. We only want to be happy, and for you to be happy,” she lifted her legs.

     “I don’t know what happy is,” He eased the tights off entirely, “But I know I am content when you and he are happy, and that is enough for me. I am content so long as you two are happy.” Leaning back down he pulled the red panties to the side and eased his fingers into her as he kissed her lips warm and hungry for her. “You just need to tell me if I am making you unhappy.”

     “You could never make me unhappy. As long as you use those magic fingers for pleasure, we will always be happy with you” she assured.

     Jay grinned widely, “Fingers, mouth, dick. I never let anyone ever leave my company unsatisfied. Particularly not my allies.” he curled his fingers inside of her just to prove his point, “You know since we need to have you all ready for when Pup is done with his Chess thing. Our kind of Isle night.”

     “Yes, we can be wild and cut loose. I feel like some of these mainland kids could use a night like that” she managed to hiss out.

     “Running rampant again would be nice,” he licked up her belly and stopped to add another mark on her sternum, “And these mainland kids could use a happily ever after with a little flavor. We do know all the best ways to be wicked,” he eased his fingers away to pull her panties down before he slipped them back inside of her curling and pumping them into her as he massaged her breasts.

     “Mal asked about doing a Isle night... just not our type” she managed to get the thought out before it left her mind as her eyes fluttered closed.

     Jay paused what he was doing fingers stilling inside of her, “She... she wants to do an Isle night? Like an honest to wickedness Isle night? Cause I find that kind of weird,” his head tipped to the side before he shook his head with a rueful smile, “Well if that’s what she wants I got enough of a stash for such things and food hoarded away.” his hands returned to their work and he eased in a third finger before rubbing the heel of his palm over himself. All of this was about her for the time being, he liked getting her all riled up.

     “She’s scared she’s losing us. Scared she’s alone out here” she got out between moans.

     The venom in his words made a chill race down his spine, “She should be, she should be terrified, because I am no longer following someone who looks at me like an inconvenience to her pretty new life.” he felt the savage magic coil under his skin and he squeezed his eyes shut refusing to let it out, he would not be a monster like his father. He refused to be that kind of monster. So he kissed Evie, hard and hungry burying his fury under the need to please her.

     She bit at his lips, she loved this, this feeling of being protected and owned. Jay wouldn’t let anything happen to her or to Carlos.

     Jay’s mouth opened for her and their tongues tangled together, his hand setting a steady rhythm inside of her, knowing by feel if she was getting too close to toppling over the edge. That was by far the best thing for having been experimenting with her since he was 11, he knew her body almost as well as his own.

     “Well ain’t this a sight to come home too” Carlos smirked looking at them as he closed the door behind him.

     Jay slowly pulled back fingers slowing down before he eased them out of her, “You know we get impatient when we start flirting.” he slipped his fingers into his mouth licking them clean, “How was chess?” 

     “Strategic,” he shrugged, “I think I’m gonna like it,” he dropped his bag on his bed and moved to pull off his shirt.

     “Good,” Jay nodded easing off the bed hands easing under Carlos’ shirt pulling it off for him before he caught the younger male’s mouth in a long kiss, “Missed you pup, but now we can have some real fun.”

     “I kept thinking of all the fun you guys were having so, Doug almost beat me a few times” he kissed Jay back.

     Jay guided him back onto the bed, hands making short work of his belts and buttons. The fabric falling to the floor before the backs of Carlos’ knees even hit the mattress. “Guess we have to make sure you can work with distractions from now on.”

     “I’ll take those distractions” he agreed laying back.

     “And we are happy to provide them” Evie smirked pulling him up the bed.

     “So very happy,” Jay agreed as Evie’s move shifted her out of her tops, “Pup how bout you get our Princess out of that skirt of hers while I strip.” his eyes devoured the sight of them on his bed, he rather wished they could do this all day.

     Carlos wasted no time rolling onto his side and working on the button and zipper of Evie’s skirt.

     Evie watched Jay’s clothes came off. She lifted her hips, letting Carlos pull her skirt off her, placing kisses on her hips.

     Hand stroking over his aching flesh he watched them for a beat, watching his allies. They were his all his, “So beautiful,” he purred out moving closer to them, “So damn beautiful.” he wasted no time grabbing the last of his stash that hadn’t been reserved for Evie to use as a chemical baseline to make them new potions. After tonight he would be forced to use the condoms Ben had gotten him for Christmas, he wasn’t a huge fan but he would deal with it because he did not want kids, ever.

     “You like the hair right?” Carlos asked as Evie played with his hair.

     “I still think you need a trim” Evie said.

     Jay reached over sliding his hand into the near chin length locks and pulled Carlos’ head up slightly with a shameless smirk, “It’s good sex pulling hair, but you could probably use a trim yeah,” he gave Carlos another warm kiss thighs resting against the bed knowing Carlos would say something if he was being too rough and knowing he would likely back off before then but his conversation with Evie had sparked that old Isle want to mark and claim what was his. 

     “I brought something for our puppy so we can play, a little more. And Carlos learn the difference between leather and organic leather” Evie smirked.

     Jay hummed, “I like that sound of that Princess,” he eased his hand away from Carlos’ hair, “Well don’t let me stop you.”

     “I’ll be right back” she nipped at Jay’s shoulder before sliding out of the bed and going to her bag. She fished out the soft leather cuffs she had stashed for use if she ever got bored.

     Jay looked over the cuffs in her hand and gave a low whistle, “You know I haven’t seen this side of you since we were on the Isle that one winter we got snowed into the Hideout without Mal.”

     “Well I felt like educating Carlos on the finer things in life” she smirked grabbing Carlos’ wrist.

     Carlos looked up as she fastened his wrist to the headboard.

     Jay groaned running a hand up Carlos’ arms now attached to his headboard, “Well my night just got a hell of a lot more interesting. You’re in charge Princess, where do you want me?”

     “Where are you always, you get to be on top” She smirked, as Carlos pulled a little.

     “And what are you going to be doing?” Carlos asked looking at her.

     “Watching” she sat back on Carlos’s bed.

     “Show for a show?” Jay asked as he grabbed Carlos’ legs and yanked him further down the bed stretching him out before setting the backs of his thighs on Jay’s shoulders, “Relax Pup, I am going to take good care of you.” and he was going to take such good care of him until Carlos was a mess of whiny hungry puppy. Once that happened then Jay was going to let himself have a little pleasure out of this too.

     “Oh I’m more then happy with that price” Evie bit her lip as she worked on herself her eyes never leaving her boys.

     “But I want to touch,” Carlos pouted

     With practiced eased Jay swallowed Carlos down head bobbing, he was thrilled with this idea that he wouldn’t have someone’s hands buried in his hair. Taking a deep breath he shifted stopping as his nose brushed the thick nest of monochromatic hair and just let himself stay there as his tongue curled and worked Carlos over the way he liked. His puppy was going to be so blissed out when Jay and Evie were done with him for the night.

     Carlos whined tugging at the cuffs especially when Jay’s hands forced his hips to stop moving, “Jay...”

     His eyes flicked up the pale freckled torso and he smirked seeing the growing blooms of red. That was how he knew he was doing a good job. And a better job as he shifted his grip and eased a finger into Carlos making a stifled whimper come loose. He focused all his attention on Carlos, letting their Princess watch out of arm’s reach. He would ease up when he felt those telltale shudders start, or the pants of his name. No one said he was the kindest of lovers when he wanted to drag it out, and he wanted to drag it out. Wanted an Isle night for just them like nothing else ever mattered.

     He watched as Jay worked him over, the stretch of those lips around him still able to smirk like a cat that ate a canary. When Jay hit that spot his eyes rolled back along with his head, “Jay... please Jay... more need more...” he never knew how Jay always managed to reduce them to stuttering half formed sentences with his mouth alone.

     Evie chewed her lip pumping her fingers in and out of herself as she watched her boys. She loved to watch Jay work someone to the edge and not let them fall over it. She was sure he knew she would spy on him every now and then. Something about watching him work... watching him work on Carlos was even better.

     As Carlos started pulling and squirming at his cuffs Jay pulled back breathing hard. He smiled as Carlos huffed out a swear, “Hush pup, I'm not nearly done with you yet.”

     “Please Jay, please,” he whined heels pressing into his friends scarred upper back, “Don't drag it out too long...”

     Jay snickered licking up Carlos’ thigh before licking the underside of the red oozing cock, “You like it, don’t lie. Plus just look at Princess, see how much she's enjoying it.”

     Carlos glanced over to Evie and licked at his lips. She was gorgeous and sultry and everything perfectly Isle.

     “Exactly, see how perfect she is? See how wet she is just from us? We did that to her, and soon we will do even more.” Jay husked out before swallowing Carlos down again making the other whimper out his name.

     Evie locked eyes with Carlos as she pinched and rolled her clit between her fingers. She was daring him to look away. To say he couldn’t take anymore.

     Carlos whined pulling hard on the cuffs trying to get loose as Jay hauled his hips off the bed as his squirming got out of control. 

     Jay crinkled his nose pulling back, “Damn pup settle down, you act as if we haven't done this in a while.”

     “Now Carlos with all that pulling do you now understand the difference between organic leather and the leather that Jay wears” Evie breathed out.

     Carlos looked between them and the cuffs Jay rarely took off, “I, what, I... but...”

     Jay snorted ungraciously dropping his legs, “And here I was thinking you were talking about my skin Princess.” he climbed on top of Carlos.

     “You're skin is glorious but not very good for making clothes” she breathed out.

     “Too many scars,” Jay breathed out sinking onto Carlos, “Now be a good pup and I may let you loose.”

     “Jay...” Carlos groaned pulling on the cuffs again, he wasn't going to last.

     Evie stood making her way over to them with a few swings of her hips. She put her fingers into Carlos’ hair, “would you like something for that mouth to do?” She asked with a wicked little smile.

     Jay smirked, “Well go on Pup, I can keep Princess’ mouth busy.”

     Carlos nodded blindly, “Please...” he would agree to anything if it meant getting off.

     “Such a good puppy” she purred as she climbed onto bed facing Jay as she settled over Carlos’s face.

     Carlos lifted his head immediately working on Evie's wet folds. He licked and nipped at her skin.

     Jay smirked at her, “Hello Princess,” he threaded his fingers through her hair, gripping the back of her head and kissed her warmly as he began to rock against Carlos’ hips.

     “Hi” she leaned into him with a purr.

     Carlos moaned against her sex as Jay started moving the two of them using him for their own enjoyment.

     “You never told me why you liked watching,” Jay shuddered against her lips.

     “Watching you is like watching art in motion” she shuddered, pushing down slightly on Carlos.

     “You think of me like art?” his head tipped to the side before he kissed her neck careful not leave a visible mark there.

     “To me you are, like a painting that isn’t complete yet and every move is a step closer to being complete” she murmured tipping her head, a moan slipping from her at Carlos’ actions.

     Jay smiled brightly at her, “Paintings are expensive right?” he rolled his hips as he ran a hand over her waist.

     “They are very expensive, and you are for my viewing.” she assured before her eyes rolled into the back of her head.

     Carlos moved his tongue along Evie’s dripping seam trying to find her clit. Maybe if he got her off she’d let him lose. He needed to touch... someone, he didn’t even really care who he touched. He found the nub and flicked it a few times with the tip of his tongue, he smirked as he felt the shudders run through her.

     Humming pleased with the notion of being worth something to someone Jay caught her mouth again. Their teeth clicking together on occasion as he moved against Carlos, sweat slowly forming as he moved. He should have grabbed the lube, but this felt more like the Isle, less resources and making due.

     Carlos shifted his legs as best as he could under Jay's position and rocked his hips to meet the slow pace. He refocused his attention on Evie and nipped at her clit, using his tongue to spread her lips enough to lap at her opening. A moan slipping past his lips when Jay slammed down grinding against him. 

     “Oh good puppy” Evie moaned at the vibrations rocking just a little as her lips trailed along Jay’s neck.

     Jay groaned a little at her soft touch as he lifted his hips and dropped back down against Carlos. He picked up the pace chasing after his own high, he may like to drag it out but he wanted more than a few rounds tonight and he wanted one of those rounds to be nothing more than him eating his Princess like it was his job.

     Carlos moaned again wanting out of the cuffs as he tried to meet Jay's increasing pace and Evie's hip movements.

     “Should we let the puppy off his leash? What do you think” Evie breathed into Jay’s ear.

     “Depends,” Jay started leaning back to shake his hair back over his shoulders, “Depends on if you think he had learned his lesson. Also depends if I can have you in them next when I’m done wringing our puppy out. Cause I want to stretch you out and bury my face between your pretty thighs, if that is something you’re up for my wicked princess.” his eyes flickered with magic for a moment with his hunger for them wrung out of all their pleasures.

     “I’m always up to play with you” She withered against him as Carlos seemed to push her to her edge, “I make such a pretty captive, it’s part of being a princess” 

     “Gorgeous princess,” Jay tipped his head down and grabbed one of her nipples between his teeth. He carefully pulled on them mindful of the deep red marks he had already suckled into her pale skin.

     Carlos whined again against Evie, mouth falling open. He was so close, so close to coming undone inside of Jay who seemed to still be working up for his. Hastily Carlos sucked and worried Evie's clit in the hopes he could be released soon.

     “So good, so good” Evie threw her head back moaning as her release rushed all over Carlos’ face.

     The warm splash of her release was too much and Carlos let out a long keen as he came inside of Jay. His body tight as Jay continued to move despite that. Carlos licked across Evie's sex and tugged hard on the cuffs again, he wanted out of them so he could get Jay off or whatever it was Jay wanted today. 

     Jay smirked feeling them release for him, “You two are fantastic,” he praised still rocking against Carlos, the cum easing the burn of skin on skin. “Why don't you two switch for me. You can sit on the bed and watch Pup until you recover for me.”

     Evie leaned back lazily and popped the cuffs open on Carlos’ wrists, her eyes staying closed as she just enjoyed the feeling running through her body.

     Carlos shifted moving Evie down so he could talk, “Jay stop,” he panted as his hands smoothed over Evie's sides.

     Jay huffed softly slowly easing off of Carlos, feeling him trickling down the inside of one thigh, “Fine, fine...”

     “Not all of us have your recovery time,” he hummed licking what he could of Evie off his face. 

     “A fair enough point” Evie placed her hands over Carlos’, “Go rest puppy, we’ll play again in a little bit.”

     Carlos untangled himself from under them and moved to his bed leaning back on his hands watching as Jay moved in on Evie.

     Once their pup was out of the way Jay shifted and captured Evie's wrists carefully locking them in place. He looked her over with a smirk, his hand curling around himself giving a few soft languid tugs. Thank evil she had added this teaching lesson to their Isle night, because they both looked good tied up in his bed. 

     “You’ve got me all tied up. Now what are you going to do with me” she teased rubbing her foot up his side. She glanced over at Carlos taking in his appearance, he wasn’t like them in the sense that for him sex was sex. For her it was an art her mother insisted she needed to know to survive, for Jay it literally was survival.

     “What to do, what to do,” Jay all but purred back at her. “Eat you, have you eat me, tease you, please you.” his eyes were focused only on her taking in her red lips, mussed blue locks, pale skin and dark marks he had inflicted. His hips twitched up into his hand and he bit back the urge to fuck her into his mattress. “I could do a lot of things Princess, pity your tied up at the moment.” If she wanted to be his prisoner for a hot minute while he eased the ache between his legs he could play. He already knew what he wanted to do to her, he just wanted to curb himself a little while longer like those nights where he knew she was there watching him between deals.

     “Well just cause my hands are tied up doesn’t mean I don’t have other ways,” she smirked wrapping her legs around him and pulling him to her.

     Jay went with her tug and rocked forward, shoving her down as he hovered above her lips ghosting over her cheek voice a husky whisper, “What I’m going to do is eat you, you got complaints Princess?” he rocked his hips against hers, his trapped erection pinned between them as he used the slow deliberate motions to slake his want.

     “And what about you?” she tilted her head rocking against him.

     “What about me?” Jay replied kissing down her neck, “Never about me, it’s always about giving you two what you need, what you want. Come on I know you picked that up way before now Princess.”

     “Maybe I just wanted to know where your head is today” she murmured.

     Jay paused at her words and slowly lifted up looking down at her. His lips were turned in a slight frown, he wasn’t sure if he really knew where his brain was anymore. Some weird field between running from and falling into old habits and memories, “Do... do you want me to stop then?” he no longer knew what she wanted from him. He knew he still wanted to eat her, and get off at some point, but if he wasn’t in the head space she wanted he would back off. 

     “If you stop I’m sitting on your fucking face. I was just asking if I was getting fucked now or later or both” she threatened, “now my wonderous art work are you ready to play?”

     “You know that ain’t much of a threat right,” He snorted, “But if your asking about fucking, both.” he lowered himself back down her body and pulled her legs up delivering a few quick sharp bites to the insides of her thighs before he buried his face into her heat. 

     “That tongue should be outlawed” She moaned.

     Jay would have snorted if he weren’t occupied with what he was doing to her. Tongue dipping and flicking inside of her like he had been doing since he was 11. Hell she was the reason he was so damn good with his mouth, lots of practice. His hands smoothed up her outer thighs gripping her skin before smoothing his touch away.

     “I swear all princes should know how to do this. Tell me we get to teach your princy how to do this” she pulled at the cuffs a little.

     Jay pulled back from her skin bottom lip dragging between his teeth, “So you really want to play with him? I’m more than cool with teaching him more than what a good fuck feels like. Already ruined him for blows,” He commented shamelessly lapping at her slit, tip of his tongue flicking her clit, “Though we have an advantage over him, we’ve had lots of practice over the years.”

     “Well if you don’t mind sharing with little old me, you could watch” she whined shifting, she wouldn’t yank on the cuffs like Carlos but she wasn’t going to just hold still.

     “I never mind sharing, he was warned you get one you get all of us. And I don't know how long I'll watch while he's got that ass of his up in the air,” he hummed imaging how that scene would play out. He nuzzled her wet skin brain filled of his Princy with face nestled against her, chest to the mattress, ass up, knees spread for him. A low moan let his throat, he needed to make this happen.

     “Well the more the merrier, isn’t that what they say here” she chewed her lip.

     Jay hummed an affirmative into her soaked skin going back to his work on her. He shifted up enough to bury several fingers into her as he focused the rest of his mouthing on her clit. He wanted to bury himself inside of her but this would do for now, she would poison him if he marred her wrists.

     Carlos just sat there watching them, watching Evie's face as Jay used that tongue of his on her. He sat there drinking it all in as he slowly perked back up.

     Evie tilted her head to the side watching Carlos. She gave him a wink before she moved her legs around Jay so her heels could run up and down his back.

     Carlos grinned sheepishly from getting caught in such rapture, “So your Princy capable of handling an Isle night?”

     Jay lifted his head up and licked her clit one last time as his fingers pumped in and out of her, “He will be. I blow him and he agrees to just about everything.”

     Carlos tried to imagine the prince naked save for Jay's mouth curled around his dick, “Kinda wanna watch. I'm always on the receiving end of your talented tongue.”

     “Oh are you on the receiving end now” Evie groaned moving her hips with Jay’s fingers.

     “I was,” Carlos protested, “But he got me off so I get to watch him on you. Which is not the same as him on cock. Did you know he can still smirk while he's blowing you?”

     Jay laughed softly, “Multi talented pup, multi talented.” he leaned up catching her swollen abused nipples once more as he rubbed her clit with his thumb. Maybe he could get her right on the edge and send her over before he fucked her senseless.

     “Jay just a little more” she whimpered pulling at the cuffs.

     “Yeah Princess?” Jay asked feeling her muscles fluttering around his fingers, “Ready for the main event then?” he moved around, fingers still working her as he lined himself up. 

     Carlos grinned. Jay was on a sex binge today clearly, how many times could he get them off before he came.

     “For the sake of evil yes” Evie whined at him. She wanted Jay to fill her, to make her feel complete.

     Jay grinned pulling his fingers away and buried himself inside of her with a low satisfied noise in the back of his throat.

     “That is amazing” Evie closed her eye head tipped back. The feeling of finally having Jay inside her, to feel his want for her was amazing.

     Jay grinned, “I think my dick is amazing too,” he set a near punishing pace at least for her. He dipped his head down and kissed her hungrily. 

     Evie sucked his lower lip between her teeth pulling on it. She would have smacked his ass teasingly for that comment if her hands were free.

     Jay let her pull on his lip as he slid a hand up her arm to the cuffs, holding onto them shielding her with his body. “You're such a perfect princess for me,” he purred against her lips, “So perfect.” he smirked against her lips.

     “You say the nicest things to me” she breathed, the build up was there again just a little further would tip her over the edge again.

     Jay felt her tightening around him and he shifted his weight carefully onto the cuffs before dipping his now free hand down between them. His thumb brushed over her clit and he gave a few hard thrusts gathering up all those pleasurable moments and hoarding them away.

     Evie gave a wordless moan as her eyes fell closed stars exploding behind her eyelids. She fell over the edge, her muscles spasming around Jay.

     Jay worked her through it, slowing his pace until he stilled. Pulling back slowly to his knees as he looked over the hot mess he had made of her.

     “When you're done admiring maybe let me loose” she smirked not even opening her eyes, she knew his habit of admiring his work.

     “I have to let you loose?” he teased reaching back up and undid the cuffs. He scooted back down his bed and leaned against the baseboard, his erection bouncing against his lower belly as he relaxed admiring what he had done to his allies. 

     “You want some help with that,” Evie asked lazily blinking at him as she rubbed her wrists lightly.

     “Only if either of you want,” Jay wanted to get off but considering what he had done to his two, he wasn’t going to push them if they weren’t up for more. He had a hand after all, especially since his body seemed to be in deal mode anyway.

     “I can help with that” Carlos volunteered pushing himself up.

     “Tag team it is then,” Evie agreed pushing herself to her knees looking at Jay. 

     “You two sure?” he wasn’t one to usually question sex, but with them he always did. They were more important than he was anyway. They had a chance out here, and he would do whatever needed doing to see they got their chance.

     “Never more sure,” Evie said as she picked up his hand and started nipping at his fingers. Carlos crawled between Jay’s legs licking up from his knee.

     Jay hummed letting them do what they wanted with him as he drank in their undivided attentions, “Then tag team away my Pup and my Princess,” he spoke with heavy words as his free hand brushed over Carlos’ cheek gentle and careful a breath of a touch.

     Carlos leaned into the touch before he started licking at the head like a lollipop. Evie smirked moving up Jay’s arm until she was biting and kissing at his neck.

     He shuddered hands sliding into their hair gentle and careful, he wanted to be careful with them now that he was at their mercy and no longer at his. “That’s it pup, take your time.”

     “It's your turn to feel good, to let go for a little bit,” Evie said into his ear. Carlos sucked it 

     Jay let his head tip back giving her more room to work, “Letting go would be nice,” he muttered as his hips gave a slow shallow thrust up into Carlos’ mouth careful not to do more. It felt good to have them both with him like this and the coils of pleasure started in his belly.

     Carlos looked up at Jay through his lashes as he brought his hand to what didn’t fit into his mouth.

     “Then let us take care of you,” Evie suggested, turning his face to she could kiss him.

     He went easily into her lips, cradling the back of her head as they kissed. His other hand on Carlos, massaged the back of his head even as his hips continued their slow shallow roll feeding fire to the slow building pleasure.

     “He’s such a good puppy” Evie whispered running her nails down Jay’s chest and over his nipples before letting one hand sink into Carlos’ hair.

     Carlos hummed at the praise before flicking his tongue over the tip.

     A sharp breath left his lips as she flicked over his nipple, it always felt like sparks. As her fingers joined his on Carlos’ head he wove their fingers together, hips jerking to meet the tongue. “Such a good puppy,” he agreed.

     Carlos started to hum around Jay as he moved up and down, closing his eyes enjoying the feeling of the two people he cared the most about being there with him. All of them being connected.

     Jay closed his eyes letting himself fall into the feel of them, the magic burned in his chest and he could feel the tingling from his hand to Evie’s. The magic surging in his chest as the pleasure curled in his belly, “Mine... mine to protect,” the words whispered off his lips as his grip on them tightened. He was closer than he liked to admit to.

     “Yours to protect, yours to fuck, yours to do with as you wish,” Evie whispered in his ear.

     “Fuck,” he drawled hips snapping up into Carlos’ mouth before he forced himself to remain still, “Close...” he panted out from having strung himself on for too long.

     “Then let go” Carlos panted after pulling off for a second his hand still working.

     Evie switched to kissing Carlos’ neck as he kissed Jay, letting Jay move him around as needed.

     Jay dragged Carlos up, their fingers still tangled it the black and white strands. He kissed the male hungry for the contact as he tangled one of their legs together and he finally got the friction he needed. Hips stuttering as he finally came undone for them.

     Slowly Jay relaxed, hungry kisses softening as he came back down to earth his eyes hooded even as he slowly pulled back. The hand in Evie’s hair thumping to the bed bonelessly, “You two are fantastic...”

     “We try” Carlos nodded leaning his head on Jay’s shoulder.

     “We try to be whatever you need” Evie agreed laying her head on the opposite shoulder.

     Jay smiled softly forcing his arms to curl around each of them, “You both do a damn wicked job, promise.”

     “Good to know you approve,” Evie smiled. Carlos yawned nodding in agreement his eyes closed.

     “Always,” he nodded feeling claws on his shin, as his head tipped down he looked at Iago who was surveying what the three of them had done.

     Without a word Iago carefully walked up Jay’s naked body, hop flapping over the mess of smeared cum on his belly before he settled down on the center of Jay’s chest between the other two. He guessed he could get used to the two other brats who looked after his Jay, the purple haired one, that one he’d bite if she touched his boy.

     Jay smiled closing his eyes leaning his head back again, everything would be okay. He’d find Penny, he’d make good on his deal with Crocodile, and someway or another he would get his other two boys off the Isle.

Chapter 81: Not Going as Planned (Mainland: February)

     Carlos gave Jane a small smile as they walked along the street. It had warmed up a little, but Carlos could still feel the chill in the air. 

     “It’s always so quiet down here this time of year” Jane mused, “Probably why I prefer it. I don’t really like the crowds of the summer”

     “I’ll have to bring the others down here for summer”Carlos said, he often wondered what Auradon kids did during the summer months if they didn’t go home.

     “It’s really noisy and kind of chaotic” Jane warned as they approached the cafe.

     “Well after the isle I’m sure we can handle it” he looked around, it seemed like no matter how many times he told her little things about the isle she just didn’t seem to remember or believe them.

     “If you say so, let’s grab that table by the window” she pointed as she dragged him along.

     “Oh ok” he sat looking out at the ocean.

     “Do you like the view?” 

     “Yeah, the waters really like blue green” Carlos nodded, “back on the isle it's so dirty the waters almost black”

     “Really? That’s so sad” Jane frowned, “so you guys never like went to the beach or anything”

     “Even if there had been a beach, Mal was kinda not allowed down by the water. She pissed off the people that owned that turf” Carlos explained looking from the ocean and to the little menu sitting on the table.

     “I can’t really imagine Mal pissing anyone off to the point she’s not allowed somewhere” Jane blinked, Mal was so... nice. Maybe not at the beginning to most people but she was always nice to her.

     “Well you don’t know her very well. Give her a chance she’ll piss people off here too” Carlos snorted

     “You don’t sound like you trust her...” Jane winced looking up as the waitress as she came to get their orders.

     “I...” Carlos shook his head, after he ordered his sandwich, “Lets not talk about Mal anymore.”

     “You don’t trust her? But isn’t she like your ... leader or something?”

     “Or something” Carlos said, “So... how are your classes going?”

     “Fine, mother makes sure that I understand everything so I get good grades. The Princess class is good, Mal’s picking it up really well.” 

     “I’m glad” he forced a smile reaching for her hand on the table. She pulled her hand back looked around, “You know I’m kinda tired, hard practice this morning. Why don’t we just head back after we eat” he sighed, even when she knew her mother was somewhere else she was afraid to even let him hold her hand.

 

     When Carlos left for his date with Jane, Jay slid out the window and headed towards Aziz’s room. He needed to talk to the prince, not to mention he was trying to get as much help with his History of the Seven Seas class as he could get.

     Aziz rolled his eyes as arms loosely tossed themselves around his neck, “Social visit, or homework visit?”

     “Combo,” Jay purred lips brushing his princy’s ear, “You don’t mind right Princy?”

     “Homework first. And no you are not molesting me today, I have a rather large test I am studying for,” he was glad his voice was firm because he was pretty sure his entire face was red.

     “And that means what now?”

     “Molesting, it’s that thing you do when you want to distract me.”

     “Why don’t you say seduce? Cause I know what that word means,” Jay pulled away and dropping into the chair on the other side of the table, dropping his bag onto the floor as he inspected his prince before standing and moving to the little electric kettle starting it up as he fixed the older male tea.

     Aziz looked up confused as his mug was set down in front of him, “Jay?”

     “What? I take care of my allies, whatever they need even if they don’t know what it is I do,” Jay shrugged pulling his book out and his history assignment, “Drink.”

     It took him by surprise, he never expected Jay to be so direct about it. He lifted the tea up and slowly lowered it, when had Jay memorized how he liked it? A glance over to the table and there was not a thing out of place aside from his mug. Aziz set the mug down gingerly and shook his head, kid was full of surprises.

     “So what’s today’s topic?”

     “History...” Jay gave him an apologetic look.

     Nodding he moved around the table and leaned over Jay’s back taking in the way he tensed, “You know I would never hurt you. You know you can have me on the floor in seconds if I tried anything. Just let me help, tell me how to help, because we’ve been trying to raise your history grade for a month to no success.”

     Jay bit the inside of his cheek and grabbed at his store of hoarded kindness, “I have no idea... I just... I’m trying but I-”

     Aziz covered Jay’s mouth pulling him gently back into his chest, “You are learning Jay, you are learning. Now can I try something with you, just for today. If it doesn’t work we won’t do it again.”

     He pulled the hand away tipping his head back to look at his Princy, “Can I ask you to try something with me? Same conditions. Tit for tat?”

     The way Jay said it made him squirm in his skin, but if he was going to get Jay to agree to let Aziz read to him he was going to have to agree, “Fine Tit for Tat. What did I just sign myself up for?”

     “You come join my Isle nights. Princess wants to teach you something,” He was vague about it because he didn’t want to ruin the surprise.

     “Okay... that seems doable,” Aziz stated slowly having a sneaking suspicion Jay’s Isle nights were either drinking, stealing or having sex.

     “Wicked. Now what am I doing for this?”

     “I’m going to read to you. You tell me what your assignment is and I will read to you that way I can explain as we go. You in a good mood today?”

     Eyes narrowed Jay nodded slowly.

     “Tell me the honest truth can you actually read? Like did you ever learn to read on the Isle?” The way Jay exploded out of his chair told Aziz he had walked into a very touchy subject for his friend.

     “Fuck you,” Jay snarled, “I can read it just takes me a while and I’m not smart enough to know what half of the words mean.”

     Aziz barely spared the door a glance before he gave Jay a cautious kiss, “Calm down Jay, calm down it’s okay... it is okay.” he whispered against the soft lips leaving himself open for the other to attack, “I didn’t know okay? I didn’t know.”

     Jay bit Aziz’s bottom lip harshly with a hard look, “But you did. Just want to poke fun at-” he froze as Aziz hugged him.

     “I didn’t assume anything Jay, I wanted to believe you knew and you were just being stubborn. Okay? Look it’s okay if you just read slow and our words aren’t the ones you're used to. It’s okay, you are learning. The important thing is that you are learning. Now sit down please, I will read to you and you stop me when you have questions.”

     Aziz almost managed to pull away before he was crushed back to the other teen. Jay was holding him tight and Aziz smiled softly just hugging him back until Jay finally pulled away.

     “Okay Princy, you can read to me this one time.” Through the anger Jay finally realized his Princy wasn’t lying to him, Aziz honestly hadn’t known before and now he just wanted to help, “You... you won’t say anything right?”

     “No Jay. I swear I won’t say a word about it. It is not my place, if you wanted people to know you would tell them. Simple as that.” he pulled his chair around and sat down beside Jay opening the book to where Jay told him and started reading. It would be a long task but hopefully Jay would at least learn something that would stick.

 

     After hours of prowling the halls and Jay’s normal Saturday haunts, Mal finally managed to corner Jay outside his room, “Jay we need to talk.”

     “Look I’ve got a headache I don’t want to talk to you right now.” 

     She grabbed his arm and Jay reacted. Whirling and slammed her into the wall beside the door scaring a few mainlanders who were walking by. Her toes held herself up as she grabbed at the arm on her chest his eyes dark and annoyed face set in stone to hide the storm she could see in his clenched jaw.

     “Jay!” she gasped trying to get him to see reason, “Jay let me go.”

     “Don’t fucking touch me,” he snarled forcing himself to back off as her eyes started to glow.

     She regarded him warily for a few moments before speaking softly, “I wanted to know if you were willing to have an Isle night? Run rampant, that kind of thing...”

     “And why would a princess like you want to have a night of running rampant? Isn’t the Isle beneath you these days?” He was irritable, his head hurt, and all he wanted to do was sleep.

     Mal shoved him eyes a vibrant murderous green, “You watch your tone Jay, I’ve not some mainland princess. I will cut you if it wakes you up, you raging dick,” she hissed at him, “I am offering a night where we can all go back to when things were just us in the Hideout. Unless you’re thinking you are going to ruin the system that has been working since we were eight.”

     Jay licked his lips looking down at her, the dragon she had been on the Isle finally, “I guess that depends if you're going to be my Mal and not Ben’s Princess.”

     “Like I was ever yours,” Mal scoffed eyes going normal as her arms folded over her chest, “You were always mine. Now are you in or you going to be a raging dick about this shit. E and Carlos already agreed to it.”

     “Low blow Mal. Fine I’m in. But the minute you start slipping I am punching you in that pretty mouth of yours,” Jay threatened with a cold smirk.

     “Fine,” she rolled her eyes, “Stupid thief,” she muttered stalking off to her room, she couldn’t believe he had just challenged her.

     He watched her go before walking into his room, “I’m gonna flatten her ass,” he growled as Iago dropped onto his shoulder, “Want to nap old man?”

     “I’ll watch over you kid.” Iago snorted as Jay kicked his boots off.

 

     Carlos slipped into his and Jay’s room kicking off his shoes as he flopped down on the couch. 

     Iago looked up from his place on Jay’s chest, his kid passed out cold on top of his covers or at least he thought so. His wings fluttered open and he settled on the back of the couch, “Weren’t you supposed to be on a dinner date?”

     “Yeah...suppose to be, but well...” he shrugged.

     “But what? The stuck up bitch blow you off?” Iago asked, “Cause you point her out and I’ll claw her eyes out.”

     “No, nothing like that. But well Jane’s just sort of... afraid of being seen with me, by her mom,” Carlos explained.

     “Then fuck her,” the bird let out a snort, “If she liked you she wouldn’t give a damn about being seen with you. I may be partial but you kids ain’t got nothing to be ashamed of, it’s the asshats of this place that should be happy you even give them the time a day after what they forced you all to live through. If my Jay was awake he’d tell ya the same.” 

     “I know its just, she’s nice and I don’t want to get stuck in the isle life while everyone moved on” he tried to reason.

     “You think my boy is going to move on?” Iago scoffed, “You clearly don’t know him. As much as I want to believe he’ll move on I know he never will. I sniffed out all the liquor in this room. And considering what you and the blueberry princess did with him last night, I doubt either of them will move on from you.”

     Jay stirred in his bed, Iago was talking to someone, but no one should have been here. Carlos had a date and Evie had gone to start dresses while he did homework with Aziz.

     “I like to think that he’ll never move again from me and E but one day he will. I mean he’s got a prince eating out of his hand. I can’t even get a fairy to hold mine at dinner.” 

     “Yeah but I have nothing I can give him except fucking. He’s a prince, he has a kingdom to inherit one day, and I ain’t got the right bits or the brains to be of much use to him. Plus I’m too fucked up for a mainlander anyway. No one’s going to want me aside from you and Princess,” Jay yawned sitting up in bed, rubbing sleep from one eye. “Now what happened Pup, you just tell your Jay everything.”

     Iago snorted, “And what Prince are you fucking?”

     “The only one baba will skin me alive for,” Jay grinned cheekily, “But I like him, he reminds me of home.”

     “Your... Your fucking the son of Genie?”

     “Nah the djinn has a daughter, Prince of Agrabah.”

     Iago just stared at him, “Yeah Jafar is going to wring your neck if he finds out.”

     “Wouldn’t be the first time,” Jay shrugged a shoulder he had been 12 and his father had found out how Jay was making the extra money.

     “Jane just seems to keep pulling away. Plus it seem like all we talk about is Mal” Carlos shrugged, “Please Aziz would be lucky to have you by his side.”

     “All anyone wants to talk about is Mal. Mal this and Mal that. I’ll go find out what’s up if you want. I’m not scared of FG, experienced way more terrifying things on the Isle than her. As for Aziz, I’m being practical here. One, I don’t want a relationship I don’t know what to do with them. Two, his entire country hates my father and I want nothing to do with it. Three, he’s my cute little bottom and I know how babies are made, two guys ain’t going to make that happen and I know for a fact he likes pussy. I’m like a disease.”

     “You are not, I’m gonna tell E if you keep calling yourself that,” Carlos said, “So he gets married she gets fat from the brats. You are there for his needs to not have to be king.”

     “Again his country hates my dad and will likely hate me by association. Plus I... I’m not really good enough for him. Jane should know the kind of catch you are, you are crazy smart, and cunning. Willing to fight when you have to or find some way of dissolving a bad situation.” Jay diverted the conversation back to the point as he stood walking to the couch and threw his arms around the other’s shoulders, “She was lucky you gave her the time of day, and she should have been happy or some shit that she had snagged such a great guy in the first place.”

     Iago hopped up onto the back of Jay’s shoulder walking over his back, “You kids deserve the world after what you’ve been through.”

     “I think all these mainlanders can get fucked” Carlos said watching Jay.

     Jay snorted kissing Carlos’ cheek from his position over the back of the couch, “Damn right they can get fucked. They can take us as we are or they can fuck off. We don’t owe them a damn thing. All we need is one another. So if Mal keeps her shit up I am fucking booting her ass from the gang and I’m taking over for good.”

     “I thought you were already in charge,” Carlos snorted.

     “Not according to the lovely conversation I had with Mal about,” he glanced at the clock, “An hour ago?”

     “What conversation?” Carlos asked, he couldn’t believe Mal was stirring up trouble with Jay of all people.

     “She tried to grab me before I got in the room. I had a headache, I was cranky, she grabbed my arm, I slammed her into a wall. We exchanged a few words, her eyes went all glowy she shoved me and asked me if I was challenging her after all the years of our working system. I told her we could have the Isle night but the minute she slipped Mainland I was punching her in the mouth,” Jay shrugged, “I’m going to enjoy flattening her ass.”

     “Then we are probably going to need lots of booze,” Carlos laughed, it was gonna be scary as fuck but so worth it to see Mal get put in her place.

     Jay grinned shamelessly, “Pup I’ve got over a dozen bottles of liquor stashed in here. Rum, Whiskey, Vodka, couple bottles of that sweet liquor Princess liked that I can’t ever pronounce. But if you don’t think that’s enough I can always go get us some more.”

     “You should not be drinking kid,” Iago huffed ruffling his feathers, “But I guess probably for the best, she’s going to hit the roof when I give her a piece of my mind.”

     “She’s gonna spit fire when she sees you let alone when you open your beak at her” Carlos smirked.

     “Don’t worry about her, if I didn’t let Baba touch you, I am sure as fuck not letting her touch you,” Jay reached back and let Iago nibble on his finger.

     “Besides you're one of us,” Carlos added.

     “Bah,” Iago huffed, “I’m not one of you, I’m like your parent.”

     Jay snickered, “Yeah okay old man. Your one of my boys, you, Lagan and Derelict. Now do you want me to deal with Jane?”

     “Don’t think it will help any” Carlos shrugged, “It's like she’s afraid of me, or being with me alone anyway.”

     “Damn right I will,” he kissed Carlos’ cheek again pulling back as Iago moved around until he was perched on Carlos’ shoulder, “You chill here I’m going to go figure out what she’s doing.”

     “Jay I don’t think she’s trying to be mean or anything so don’t scare her to bad” Carlos pleaded.

     “Me scary, never,” Jay teased heading barefoot to the door his vest open. He swung the door open and padded silently down the hallway to Jane's room. Mainlander or not no one made his feel unwanted. 

Chapter 82: Recognition (Mainland: February)

Notes:

Sorry I missed actual chapter 82!

     Jay gently rapped on Jane’s door, this was one of the few times he decided that not using the window was a smart idea. He doubted she would take it well if he showed up at her window. 

     “Hi Jay” Jane greeted him in her fuzzy socks and comfy pjs.

     “Heya Jane,” he gave her a half smile leaning in her doorway flirt and charm turned to 11, “So I thought you and Los had a romantic date tonight? Beach, dinner, walking hand in hand being adorable, you know that whole mainland thing.”

     “I don’t know about rom... romantic, but we did have dinner. I wanted to show him more of the beach,” she blushed looking down at her hands, “Is he feeling alright? He said he was tired.”

     Jay nodded slowly keeping his expression soft, “So dinner appointment like friends then?” he wanted to figure out her intentions with one of his because he was having none of this mainland heart strings thing where his were concerned.

     “Well, as friends... I mean, I... I do like him. But, I ... don’t know how to do any of that” she tried to explain.

     “Like hold his hand where people can see? Cause even I know how to do that. I get not wanting to be involved if you aren’t interested, but I don’t get this thing that your trying to do. Not knowing how to do something is not an excuse not to at least try it. Hell none of us knew how to do anything you guys wanted us to do, but we gave it a shot at least,” Jay shrugged the shoulder not against the door frame arms folded over his chest watching her squirm.

     “It’s not...” she looked around to make sure no one else was around, “What do you know about fairies?” her mother had sat her down last year after Mal had fixed her hair, she’d explained that Jane while only half Fairy wasn’t going to feel like other kids her age. She might not want to date, or do anything else, and that was ok. Then after the incident with the wand she’d felt... drained, she was just trying to be normal Jane, a normal girl.

     Jay pondered the question for a moment praying this thing Jane was doing wasn’t one of those fairy things, “Well only other fairy I know is Mal, I know Mal ain’t all that interested in what,” he paused searching for the right words, “In what most people our age are interested in. She never liked the whole physical contact thing unless she initiated.”

     “Its kinda like that, I like Carlos... I like him a lot, but I don’t know if I can be more then his friend.” she tried to explain tears gathering, “I don’t mean to confuse him, I’m confused too.”

     He pushed off the doorframe and eased into her space settling hands on her shoulder and shifted so he could look her dead in the eye, “If it’s a fairy thing it’s a fairy thing. Ain’t nothing we can do about the way we were born. But you might want to tell him that, or you tell me you want me to do it. Don’t matter to me so long as he knows what the black and white of it is, cause right now he thinks you’re ashamed to be seen with him.”

     “No of course not. He’s probably the only person here that doesn’t look at me sideways after the wand thing. I didn’t mean to hurt him or anything.” she cried.

     “So since tomorrow is still the weekend why don’t you pop by the room around noon and the two of you go to the bakery in town and talk. You know get on the same page and all that nonsense,” Jay thumbed the tears away noting that she unlike Mal did not seem to mind him touching her or being in her space, “But what I don’t want to see him get hurt cause he doesn’t know.”

     “Ok, I’ll try and explain it as best I can,” she nodded sniffling a little.

     “That’s a good girl,” Jay eased back giving her a wide grin, “Just ease off talking about Mal so much, we know all about her, what he doesn't know is you. So talk about you, I’m sure you and him have stuff in common.”

     “Probably but not much I’m just plain Jane.” She tried to smile. 

     “Bah,” Jay snorted, “You are anything but plain. You're smart, kind, and you give a shit about people’s feelings. Plain people don’t have any of those things.”

     “That’s just being a good person, he’s not sick right? I was kinda worried” she tried to dry her tears.

     “Yeah we didn’t get any of that back home. He’s not sick, promise, we chatted and I came here to sort things out with you. Now I can go back knowing you kids will be just fine once you two get on the same page,” he teased moving back to the doorway, “You going to be alright cause I am kinda shit with crying girls.”

     “Yeah I’ll be fine” she nodded.

     “Wicked. Then I will see your adorable face tomorrow,” He gave her a wink as he backed away and headed back to his own room, his pup was going to need him tomorrow for sure.

     “How’d it go” Carlos looked at him as he re-entered the room.

     “She is coming by tomorrow around noon, then you two are gonna talk it out. I will be here watching the DVD again when you get back. No matter how long you guys take. Alright?” Jay asked as he dropped down onto the couch next to Carlos grabbing the controllers, “Knights Quest?”

     “Yeah lets play” he nodded grabbing his own controller, “Is E coming over tonight or no?”

     “Don’t know,” Jay shook his head, “She shows up she shows up, otherwise she’s in dress mode, and I really don’t want to bug her.” he tried to ignore the fact he was pretty sure he just gave relationship advice to a mainlander with having zero experience of his own.

     Iago hopped onto Jay’s shoulder and started preening his hair back.

     “Ok, just wondering. I suppose she’s probably got a lot of orders coming in with Ben’s birthday ball coming up.” carlos nodded.

     “That’s why I don’t want to bug her. If she needs a hand she knows where we are. All the same, I’ll probably pop by there in an hour when the waiting for her or not pisses me off.”

     “Alright, that works for me” he moved his warrior around looking for loot.

     “What even is this?” Iago asked gesturing to the screen with a wing.

     “Video game,” Jay shrugged his non occupied shoulder, “Some mainlander thing about going on adventures and defeating minions to get loot. I’m in it cause Pup likes it and I do what makes him happy.”

     “Well we can do what makes you happy later” Carlos snickered leaning against Jay’s side.

     “I am easy to please. Fucking you and Princess always makes me happy,” he laughed pressing back against Carlos. 

     “And what do you like about it so much?” Iago asked because he had witness some of the very not consensual side of things.

     “Feels good. So I keep doing it.” Good things Jay would hoard which he didn’t think was a bad thing.

     “Feels really good when done right” Carlos nodded smirking, “Maybe we’ll find you pretty birdy.”

     Iago scoffed walking around the back of Jay’s shoulders to get closer to Carlos, “Don’t fucking demean me kid. I don’t need some pretty bird. I-”

     Jay reached up closing his beak as he continued to rant, “If only it was that easy. You got feathered tail before old man, don’t get on me for liking it.”

     “That is a good point” Carlos nodded, “Isn’t E’s parrot like your kid?”

     “Yeah one of the only ones that survived that fucking queen,” Iago puffed up indignantly.

     “Sorry about that” Carlos winced, he had to admit giving pets was a bad idea on the EQ’s part.

     Iago huffed as Jay rubbed his belly, “It’s fine I got this big featherless one instead.”

     “I am going to take that as it is,” Jay rolled his eyes having plenty of memories of sitting next to the cage with Iago helping him read.

     “Well at least he didn’t have to hatch you,” Carlos shrugged, “So Iago, we missing anything on the Isle?” he asked as he chopped down a tree monster.

     Iago hummed thoughtfully, “Let’s see, your stabby gal pal has been terrorizing Jafar since you left. Every two weeks she came by with cat boy, cat boy kept Jafar busy while she fed Lagan and Derelict. Jafar was ranting about her and the Jollyrogers expanding. He complains less about the new girl.”

     “Io is not my gal pal,” Jay balked killing an undead skeleton.

     “Prove my point for me.” Iago huffed.

     “You said new girl,” he glowered at the screen.

     “Yeah Io brought of her by one day, she called me a pretty birdie, I was insulted but she gave me food. Looked like she was new to their band and the stabby bitch wanted to off load Jafar before either one of them made good on the slitting of one of their throats.”

     “Any idea who she is? Io wasn’t exactly the most welcoming,” Carlos looked surprised.

     “No idea,” Iago gave a bird shrug, “Green eyes, button nose, dirty blonde hair. It’s Jollyroger red now.”

     “So she’s Harry’s,” Jay nodded rolling his neck, “She have a moniker?”

     “You mean not the Jollyroger?”

     “Yeah...” there was something bugging Jay about it, his heart pounding in his chest with sudden blind panic.

     “Red rose surrounded by a ring of black thorns,” Iago supplied not liking the way Jay seemed to stiffen.

     “Huh, didn’t know kids on the isle knew what a rose looks like” Carlos tilted his head.

     “Only if you go to new wonderland... Iago what did Io call her?”

     “Pin, why?”

     “Penny... What if it’s Penny? I got a real bad feeling.”

     “Well I suppose Pin could be short for Penny. But, I mean she’s not stupid she wouldn’t tell anyone her real name if she was there” Carlos chewed his lip, “It's possible but how do we prove it.”

     “Yeah but if Crocodile has her, there is a damn good chance she knows. Like you said that crew doesn't take on just anyone.”

     “You see Penny submitting to Harry?” Carlos raised an eyebrow.

     “No but I can see Penny doing it for her. No matter what I made her promise me. That nightmare gets what she wants,” he knew because despite everything she had gotten him.

     “We’ll just have to try and find a way to get over there then. Cause I don’t think they are going to take an evil birds word that the princess of Auradon is running around with a bunch of pirates.”

     “Wait she's the princess of Auradon? I guess the scars were from the Isle.”

     “What scars?” Jay looked sharply at the bird.

     “If I guessing I would say she got clipped by cat boy, but they seem to be allies.”

     “Koga scratched her? Where? He does a lot of damage with those claws” Carlos twitched at the thought.

     “Face,” Iago put his foot against Jay's face, “Bout to there. She had something that smelled like you on her. She your something?”

     “An ally...” he sighed trying not to think of her hurt by the half tiger.

     “Well I be damned, she’s managed to do what just about everyone thought she couldn’t. She slipped through the cracks of the Isle” Carlos laughed.

     “Told you I had a bad feeling she was there.”

     “Save the ‘I told you so’s for later, how do we get her off the isle?” Carlos rolled his eyes, he’d more than happy to listen to them after they got Penny back.

     Jay shoved his shoulder gently, “Easy I go and get her.”

     Iago bit him in the ear, “The hell you are! I did not fly all this way in the middle of winter, hanging out with squirrels and owls, for you to do the one thing I told you I'm not letting you do! I am not letting you go back to him, not now not ever. After what he's done to you, I am surprised you are so willing to go back where he is, you damn well know he is going to find you.”

     Jay looked away, “Whatever, she doesn't deserve to be there. If it means I have to get stuck there for her to be free I at least know what I'm in for.”

     “Kid...” Iago gave Jay a soft look, he was always so willing to throw himself in the way if it meant his friends were safe.

     “I’m Iago’s side on this one. You're not going back to that bastard. We’ll find a way to get her without giving you up,” Carlos agreed with the bird.

     Jay opened and closed his mouth before he rubbed his neck, “But how, no one is going to believe Iago even though he's seen her there. Fuck Mal doesn't want to listen to me because I don't have any proof. She’s never listened unless it was something to her benefit.” he needed to get to the Isle, needed to get to Io, he could make the deal with her to get Penny off the Isle. No matter what the price was, he would pay it, had to if he wanted his Penny back.

     “Well it doesn’t sound like the Crocodile has any plans of exposing her if she knows. Let’s work on a plan, maybe we can convince Ben.” Carlos said.

     Jay nodded, he knew what Io wanted, hell her reminder lived around his neck, but she wasn't willing to use the princess to get it. “Yeah maybe, Ben or the Queen... she'll listen, has before at least.”

     “Yeah some one has to be willing to listen to us at some point” he nodded.

     “We just have to figure out how to convince them Iago isn't lying. And that whole how Iago is here thing,” Jay cringed.

     “How about we work on the how he’s here first” Carlos tilted his head trying to think of how to explain the birds presence in Auradon.

     Jay tossed the controller on the couch and stood not minding Iago's tightened grip or wing extension. He grew up being Iago's mobile perch as his father called it whenever he was home. Pacing Jay gnawed on his bottom lip, “Truth? Or at least an edited version? The barrier blipped, Iago escaped to find me and make sure I stayed away from the Isle.”

     “No one will believe I have good intentions,” Iago commented, “Unless they know about Jafar,” when Jay's pacing paused, “Yeah I didn't think so.”

     “What if we explain that Jay is like you're... hatchling or something. Maybe Fairy Godmother will believe us?” Carlos suggested.

     “You mean like my kid?” Iago looked at Carlos, “I mean you could try.”

     “I mean she’s always on about us needing to trust people and have forgiveness. Why not give a bird that practically raised Jay a second chance.”

     “I wouldn't go that far,” Jay replied softly, “I raised myself... Iago just did what he could.”

     “I tried kid I did, you have no idea how frustrating it is to not have hands sometimes. Or be able to talk like this.”

     “It's fine Iago, the past is the past,” Jay gave the bird a smile he wasn't feeling and tried to ignore the feeling in his chest that was a hollow ache.

     “Well at least you had some one looking out for you,” Carlos shrugged, “Either way, it's a good start” Now that they knew where she was the hard work began of convincing everyone else.

     Iago leaned into Jay's head only to be batted away. As much as Iago had tried, flapping at Jafar, pecking and clawing Jafar, Jay would shield him from the retaliation. So he tried to help the kid read, Jafar replied with increasing the cost of his living there until Jay had to resort to extreme measures to pay up.

     “Look if I can help you convince them this princess is there I'll do it. You helped me long enough Jairaj, I owe it to you,” Iago ducked at the annoyed look.

     “It is fine, you were my minion, my job was looking after you just the same as the two I claimed. You don't owe me shit,” he growled not wanting to walk down memory lane, “We convince them Iago saw her there, then we go get her from Crocodile.”

     “I wouldn’t argue he’s stubborn on this.” Carlos warned Iago, “What if Crocodile doesn’t want to let her go?”

     “What if Crocodile doesn’t want to let who go?” Evie asked as she closed the door behind her. She couldn’t take any more of Mal’s fretting about shit.

     “She'll let her go for a price,” Jay sighed, “I know how she works, I'll take care of it. Penny is on the Isle. Iago saw her with Crocodile.”

     “I didn't realize it was the Princess of Auradon, but she had a thing on that smelled like my Jay. And these two agree my description matches what she looks like, sans scars.” Iago explained seeing his perch was currently getting cranky with worry. Carefully he flapped over to Evie and made himself comfortable on her shoulder.

     “And if the price is you?” Carlos asked looking at him alarmed.

     “Ok one problem at a time boys,” Evie tried to calm the room.

     “Then I’ll pay it, Penny doesn’t deserve to be left there and I’m not much use out here aside for you two. Honestly though I’m not worth as much as the Princess of Auradon is, she won’t gain anything from having me,” Jay already knew he belonged to her, they had crossed that bridge a while ago, “Mal drive you crazy? She wasn’t whining about me throwing her into a wall right?”

     “No that didn’t come up. But we’ll talk about that in a second. You know we need you here right? Penny wouldn’t let you stay there, she adores you Jay” Evie shook her head.

     Jay dropped down on his bed leaning over his thighs, “I know you two need me, but if comes to that, then I’ll do what I have to. You get that right? Because I doubt Penny adores me right now, I made her a promise and I couldn’t keep it.”

     “Ignore the kid, I’m not letting him anywhere near the Isle. The stabby bitch is one things, but not even she’s going to be able to stop Jafar if he catches wind of Jay being back,” Iago huffed shuffling on Evie’s shoulder.

     “Right then, so what is this about you throwing Mal into a wall?”

     “Short version: She wanted to talk, I had a headache and informed her I wasn’t having it, she grabbed my arm and I slammed her into the wall,” Jay offered up, “This Isle night thing she pushed is happening. I got enough liquor for all of us.”

     “Well at least she listened when I told her we needed to cut loose,” Evie sighed Mal knew better than to push Jay.

     “Yeah and when she starts going Mainland I get to punch her in the mouth,” Jay grinned a little, “She forgets I can knock her ass out.”

     “Just give her a chance, and if she starts to lose it we boot her” Evie sat next to Jay on the bed. 

     “Right out of the gang.” Jay leveled, “She made a big deal about me messing with our system. Green eyed me and everything.”

     “She’s just scared” Evie took his hand in hers, “but if she can’t handle this or us anymore then we will deal with it”

     “I know, but she doesn't get to yell at me anymore or try to get me to be something I'm not.” 

     “She doesn’t get to tell any of us who to be anymore” Carlos agreed plopping down on his other side.

     Iago fluttered onto the night table, “Please the only she ever did for you is call you more names.” he gave Jay a look, “You did all the damn work for her and Jafar. And all either of them ever wanted was more.”

     “I would say that’s harsh but, well not worth arguing” Evie gave Iago a look before leaning against Jay more.

     “Leave it Iago,” Jay said as Iago opened his beak, “Just leave it. So how are the dresses going Princess?”

     “They are coming along, Jane’s dress is pretty simple. But Audrey’s is super complicated, I don’t think she’s giving up on trying to get Ben back” she rolled her eyes at the absurdity of the princess.

     “Really? I mean don't get me wrong she is good on the eyes but as soon as she opens her mouth it's like talking to the other Tremains,” Jay shook his head having had them in his Vanity classes.

     “I know, she’s changed her design 3 times already and it's only just started” Evie smirked, “but the other girls are pretty easy though”

     “You charging her for it? Cause you should.” he tipped his head to rest against hers, “Good to hear the others are easy. You get Mal’s dress sorted? Need muscles for anything?”

     “Mal’s always easy to dress” she nodded, “Oh I’m charging Audrey double”

     Jay grinned, “That's my Princess. You always do seem to know exactly what Mal wants. Again you need muscles you let me know. Or you need me to steal something for your work. Even if it's just Mal’s sketch book.”

     “Well you could always come by to try new looks if you want. As for needing anything, nothing yet, but I will let you know” she smiled.

     “What leather ain't doing it for you?” he teased giving her a smirk, “Cause I am pretty sure leather, jeans and skin is my thing.”

     “Oh Skin is definitely your thing, but I was thinking something new in leather” she played with the ends of his hair.

     Jay twirled a strand of her hair around his finger, “I don’t know is pup getting a new outfit?”

     “And a haircut” she nodded with a smirk.

     “You guys need to lay off the hair” Carlos put a hand on his own hair.

     Jay reached over and ran his hand through Carlos’ hair before yanking him half across his lap. Jay grinned give his a soft barely there kiss, “Never.”

     “See you like it, and E wants to just cut it” he whined.

     “Pup, I can manhandle you into my lap no matter how long your hair is. But if Princess wants to cut it let her.” he grinned shamelessly, “You just tell me when you want me Princess, and I will stop by your room.”

     “Probably in a few days” Evie nodded

     “Yeah but it looks cool” Carlos tried to argue

     “You look like a shaggy dog” Evie snorted at him.

     “I'm with Princess, you look good with shorter spiky hair.” Jay made sure Carlos was supported before ruffling his hair. “So what is the plan for tonight?”

     “Don’t know, just needed to get away from Mal” Evie shrugged.

     “We should just stay like this” Carlos put his face in Jay’s neck, he couldn’t believe no one liked the hair.

     “Pile and kissing?” Jay asked, “Maybe kinda long still so I have something to grab?”

     “Yes, pile and kissing” Evie nodded, “and I'll try and leave some of the length”

     “Fine you can cut it tomorrow” Carlos sighed

     “Perfect,” Jay pulled them all back onto his bed, “I like this plan.”

     “Good, cause that’s the plan” Evie curled up against his side as Carlos sprawled out on top of him.

     Jay grinned and pulled her around for a kiss not minding the weight on him.

     Evie returned the kiss cuddling into Jay.

     “You getting in on this Iago” Carlos asked the bird.

     Iago sighed and flapped into the pile curling next to the other side of Jay's neck, “Fine only cause I don't want to hear you brats whine.”

     “We don’t whine,” Jay commented closing his eyes as he felt the tension easing away, “Isle kids never whine...”

     “Your a terrible liar.”

     “Fuck off bird, I am damn good liar, didn't survive this long telling the truth.”

     “Since when do we tell the truth?” Carlos mused.

     “Since never unless it was important,” Jay smirked running his hands down their waists and hips.

     “Very important” Evie nodded against Jay’s shoulder.

     “Not that anyone believes us...except well Ben” Carlos wrapped his arm around Evie’s side.

     “Ben believes everything. Which is not a smart thing,” Jay shifted uncomfortably for a moment before settling once more aware he was getting restless again.

     “Yeah is anyone else nervous about him becoming King” Evie asked 

     “Not nervous about that, I mean what happens happens. We got each other and we know how to survive, I'm worried about when Mal cracks. She'll either turn into her mother or she's going to have a Mainlander meltdown.” Jay replied subconsciously thumbing an available piece of skin on each one of them.

     “Yeah, I can’t wait to see her head explode. She’s not doing so well right now,” Evie kissed Jay’s neck, “She’s relying on Magic for so much. Maybe once she explodes she’ll go back to being, not so prissy.”

     Jay hummed softly tipping his head to give her more room, “And she is always on my ass about the accidental magic I keep having cause of her mom's staff.”

     “Yeah she’s using her mom’s spell book to help with everything,” Evie explained

     “And her being a twat continues” Carlos laughed.

     “You know it is not accidental right?” Iago asked, “Jafar was a powerful sorcerer, you were going to have magic too, barrier kept it all locked up. Now that you're free, it is just all pent up and you should learn to control it.”

     “Yeah no thanks,” Jay rolled his eyes behind his lids, “Mal is turning into a pre... pret... fuck it, she is turning into a bitchy princess cause of this magic thing.”

     “You're a lost cause on this aren't you? Not all magic is like that. You just haven't seen it is all.” Iago huffed knowing his kid’s mother had been one of the good ones.

     “Iago’s right, not all magic is bad. It doesn’t always corrupt. I mean Jordan’s not bad right” Carlos tipped his head up looking at Jay.

     “Jordan is also a Djinn. Djinn's are all powerful magic users, they are supposed to be neutral but given enough time they either go bad cause of mistreatment or go good. But even the good ones, if they don't like you, they will fuck with your wishes. That's what Baba was always going on about Genie tricking him, but really Baba just got greedy.” Jay explained not thinking it was weird he knew so much about Djinns.

     “I think you're dad is a bad example of what Djinns are capable of” Evie looked at him, “Jordan wouldn’t hurt anyone”

     “Plus I think we can all agree your dick dad got what he deserved” Carlos raised an eyebrow.

     “That's right, you don’t know, he's not a Djinn anymore. He did something before the Isle and un-djinned himself. Clocked me upside the head with a book the last time I asked about it,” Jay yawned, “Jordan wouldn't, but as Audrey proved don't much matter if someone makes a wish.”

     “That’s why the lamp’s somewhere safe where bitches like Audrey can’t get ahold of it again” Evie assured, “Jordan just wasn’t use to people making wishes, so she sent Penny to the isle, without knowing it”

     “That's cause of the King not liking magic. I don't hold it against Jordan, I know how the djinn rules work. We will get Penny back, she's with Crocodile, which, scary thought, is about the fucking safest place to be on the Isle with us gone. No one likes going head to head with the Jollyroger Jaws.”

     “Then she’s safe for now, you know Crocodile better then all of us. If you think she’s safe enough with her then she is” Evie assured him.

     “Just cause I know her doesn't mean I trust her,” Jay replied, “Nightmares wrapped in pretty skin are big targets.”

     “Yeah and every time I saw Penny, she was with Cat boy, so don't worry so much,” Iago offered.

     “Well if Koga likes her then she’s got some pretty good protection right there” Carlos smiled, “Question is what does he call her? Cause if he called me a puppy and Evie princess what does he call a princess that is like a really real princess” Evie reached up and flicked his ear, “Ow, come on you know what I meant”

     “Dinner?” Jay snickered, the entire Jollyroger crew called him Pretty Thief.

     “Pin,” Iago supplied, “If they talked at all he called her Pin.”

     “Well that’s anti climatic” Carlos sighed disappointed

     “Not necessarily, there’s probably a story behind it. I’m sure it will be entertaining to hear once we get her back” Evie shrugged.

     “Anti what now?” Jay asked opening one eye to look at them.

     “Anti climatic, it's like disappointing,” Iago explained, “The word thing still giving you issues?”

     “No idea what your talking about,” he bopped the macaw with his chin gently, “I'm thinking she'll have a lot of stories when we get her back.”

     “Yeah, a mainlander that will actually know what the isle is like” Carlos nipped at Jay’s chin.

     “You just want another girl in playtime” Evie teased

     “Now that would be fun” Carlos laughed, “but unlikely. If she belongs to Harry Hook right now, who knows how she’s gonna feel about playtime”

     “Well at least we will have Princy. He agreed to an isle night with us. Harry, well if he claimed her, she may play with us. Maybe.”

     “Harry may just be protecting her” Evie suggested, “but that seems unlikely”

     “Yeah, probably a bit more of what we do,” he looked at the ceiling without seeing it, he was seeing Harry, all of Harry, “Definitely what we do...”

     “Well lucky Penny” Carlos smirked, “Wonder what their up too.”

     “If I know them, chores, fucking and drinking,” Jay snickered, “That crew is consistent on that much.” he was glad Mal wasn't here, because she would why he knew so much about them. And he didn't know how to explain up till Gil joined their crew, Jay made deals with them for money, still made deals with Mimzy when he was short. 

     “Hard to picture life on the isle sometimes” Carlos turned his head so he could listen to Jay’s heartbeat.

     “Hard to forget it,” Jay ran a hand up Carlos’ back, “Funny cause I thought it would get better when we got here...”

     “But it seems like somethings just got harder” Evie finished for him with a yawn.

     “Like my dick,” Jay snickered with a teasing grin, “But pretty sure that's cause I'm sleepy. Pup you wanna get the lights so we can go to bed?”

     “Yeah I’ll grab them” he yawned and chuckled a little at Jay’s joke.

     Jay tipped his head and gave each of them a kiss, before letting himself drift off into sleep. Not that it was an easy one as memories of the Isle haunted him. Harry telling him it was done between them that if Jay wouldn't join up then the deals were over. Ice blue eyes on a cold faced monster, bloody fingers on his jaw, her voice purring words he didn't remember. A rough tongue across his face, claws breathes from cutting flesh, the bone rattling roar. The sudden searing pain of a whip across his back, ‘worthless useless boy. You owe me money boy, I don't want your excuses, I expect the payment in full and on time’ words punctuated with searing fire on his back, wrists yanking against binds trying to get free.

     Evie jerked awake as she felt the thrashing next to her, she looked at Carlos who was now sitting on the floor, looking confused. “Jay” she said softly being careful not to touch him, “Jay wake up”

     Iago hopped away from Jay, the kid was making a pained noise in short little bursts. He had never been free when the kid slept back on the Isle but he remembered these noises.

     Jay snapped awake near choking on the breath in his lungs. He was fine, he was fine, it wasn't really happening, it wasn't. He covered his face and held his breath as his heartbeat started to slow. The phantom taste of whiskey filled his mouth and he sighed out the breath he was holding. That was not going to help, and with his allies in bed- He lowered his hands finally noticing the lack of bodies on him. 

     “Jay” Evie held out her hand to him as Carlos stood up from the floor.

     He tried not to see the shaking in his hand as he took hers, slowly sitting up in bed, “I didn't mean to wake you guys up...”

     Iago walked across the bed hopping onto Jay's thigh, “You were dreaming, I think.”

     “Its ok Jay, we’re here for you” Evie squeezed his hand, “This works both ways, you take care of us, and we give you what you need.”

     “So tell us what you need” Carlos added.

     “I have no idea,” he ran a hand through his hair, gripping the back of his skull like that would help. “I've never really known I don't think...” he trailed off still hearing those whispers as his hand slid from his head and to the chain for a brief moment before he rubbed Iago's head.

     “That’s ok, can we touch you,” Evie asked as Carlos sat on the edge of the bed.

     He nodded silently, knowing they would never hurt him, hell Evie had tended to most of his serious wounds. And Carlos, well the kid was always good at getting his hands on stuff to help Jay heal faster. Despite that he also knew he was going to flinch at the contact forcing himself to be okay with it just at first. It was always going to be like that, he couldn’t help it, that’s why his reaction to being touched in his sleep was so automatic. Iago pressed up against his palm the macaw’s feet kneading his thigh. 

     Carlos put his head on Jay’s shoulder as Evie took both of Jay’s hands in hers rubbing her thumbs over his knuckles.

     Iago watched him tense at the contact before he closed his eyes slowly relaxing, he shifted closer, rubbing his beak to Jay’s belly, “Jay safe, Jay safe, safe Jay.” he muttered hoping the familiar words would loosen him up some more.

     “Yeah I’m okay Iago. Don’t worry so much, you know I hate it when you start pulling your own feathers out,” The words felt hollow but he said them all the same, the old reassurance engrained on his lips. He squeezed Evie’s hands holding them tight as he rested his head against Carlos’, “I’ll be okay guys. I always am, just gotta shake it off.”

     “We’re gonna make sure” Carlos said kissing his shoulder.

     “We’re here to help anyway you need,” Evie agreed.

     “I just need to get through this. It’s just my stupid brain,” he gave a sort bitter laugh, “Probably got too rattled to remember I’m safe here. Safe enough at least.”

     “You're always safe with us,” Evie reminded, “And you're not stupid, you’re just worried. All that talk of going back put you on edge.”

     “Terrified...” Jay corrected softly, “I’m terrified of going back, being sent back, of being trapped there. But I can’t leave her there, I can’t leave her there, even if he can’t get to her... anyone else could. It would only take one slip up and the entire Isle would come after the Jollyrogers, and not even they could take on the whole Isle.”

     “We’ll get her back, but we aren’t leaving you there. If you stay, we all stay” Evie held on to him tightly. Carlos only nodded in agreement, sure it sucked over there but he wouldn’t let Jay suffer through it alone.

     Jay pulled one hand loose and dragged them into his lap Iago bolting to the safety of the headboard just in time. He near crushed them to his chest, “Thank you,” for once the words weren’t bitter on his tongue, for once he really did mean it from his bones.

     “Why don’t you kids try and get some more sleep? Sun will be up in an hour,” Iago asked as Jay cuddled the others to himself.

     “Let’s just lay down and see how it goes,” Evie nodded pulling Jay down all the way and curling into his side, Carlos on the other side.

     “Sure,” Jay nodded letting them move him, letting them do whatever they wanted to as he looked up at the ceiling, he did not want to sleep but he had a feeling he would anyway. 

     Evie laid her hand on Jay’s chest, watching his face. Carlos reached out putting his hand over Evie’s as he closed his eyes.

     Tipping his head he pressed his lips to her forehead and left them there. He would be okay, they needed him so he had to be okay. He could be okay for them.

 

Chapter 83: Explain it to Me (Mainland: February)

     Jay lifted Evie’s legs up as there was a knock on the door, Carlos absorbed in something that made his head hurt when Carlos started explaining it. He padded to the door and opened it to Jane standing there nervously. Blinking he gave her a charming smile, “Hey, come on in. Let me rouse the genius from his pet project.”

     “Oh is he busy, I don’t want to interrupt”

     Jay grabbed her arm and pulled her inside the room, “Your hilarious Jane. You and him need to talk, now stay,” gone was the flirty Jay leaving her to see the second in command he used to be as he walked away, “Los, hey Pup,” when he didn’t get a reply he reached over after checking he wasn’t doing anything delicate and clapped his hands on Carlos’ shoulders, “Wake up genius, you got a lunch thing with Jane. Leave your project and git. Princess and I will be here when you get back.”

     “Huh... lunch? What time is it?” Carlos looked around

     “About 12:30” Jane said quietly as she fidgeted.

     “Oh... right then.” He nodded standing up, he wasn’t sure what they really needed to talk about, seemed kind of obvious to him but whatever.

     “Go on pup, we’ll be here” Evie assured once more before they were out the door.

     Jane walked by his side towards the courtyard, on the weekend there were some times food trucks near there.

     “Look I don’t know what Jay said to you. But, you don’t have to explain to me that you don’t like me like that” Carlos said softly.

     “This isn’t about what Jay said, but he was right. I... I just don’t know how to explain all this, I don’t really understand it myself,” Jane sighed looking at him as they took one of the benches. Food could wait until after, maybe.

     “What is confusing? I assumed you liked me and well you don’t,” Carlos blinked at her, how was that hard to understand.

     “I do like you, but... well I don’t really like anyone in that way,” she tried to explain chewing her lip, “I didn’t mean for you to think that... well whatever it is that liking you like that means to you.”

     “Um... is this a mainland thing cause you lost me,” Carlos tilted his head, either you liked someone or you didn’t.

     “Right um...you know that I’m part fairy” she started

     “Well yeah, you're FG’s daughter, being fairy is kinda part of the territory” he tried to joke.

     “Well Fairies don’t really... we don’t do physical relationship,” she mumbled the last part blushing red.

     “So... well that can’t be true cause you're here, unless you like hatched or something. But then Mal was born the old fashion way,” he frowned, he supposed it made sense. After all Mal didn’t join in in there cuddle puddles or sexy times.

     “No I was born. Mother explained it like we don’t have the same urges as everyone else, it’s not a need or something. We feel it maybe once in our life and that it.” Jane looked down at her hands, “I do like you but, well I don’t really know how to date or if I even want to. I’m not normal”

     “Normal's overrated, or so I’ve been told. So... we aren’t dating or anything like that? Is that why you didn’t want to hold my hand?”

     “No not dating I’m sorry you thought that, and well yeah I didn’t want you to think that... I don’t know what I didn’t want you to think”

     “Hey, you could have just said no, or something. Isle’s not perfect but most of us kids understand what ‘No’ means. We would of had this talk a long time ago”

     “Oh no that’s not what I meant, I never thought that about you,” her eyes wide, “I trust you, you're the only person thats treated me normal since the wand thing. That means a lot. I’m so sorry, I wasn’t clear”

     “Well I think we understand each other now right?”

     “I hope so” she nodded, “Friends?”

     “I was always your friend, even before Mal changed your hair” Carlos nodded back, “Now, since we’re friends lunch is on you.”

     “You left your wallet behind again,” she sighed.

 

     “I was pretty sure you guys didn’t eat so I brought stuff back” Carlos held up a bag as he entered the room. 

     Jay looked over from his position upside down on the couch, legs tossed over the back, “How was the conversation?” he asked reaching over his head to grab the remote and paused the tourney video he was watching for the umpteenth time since Carlos had bought it for him.

     “It was... interesting. I’m starting to think she just doesn’t know how to talk to people,” Carlos tilted his head.

     “Possible, from what I’ve heard it wasn’t until recently that FG let her out of her sight.” Evie nodded, “That much alone time with your mother isn’t always a good thing.”

     “Especially not by Isle standards,” Jay kicked himself off the couch and to his bare feet, “So you two are on the same page? Cause I should not be the one fixing relationship between people.”

     “I think so, there was a lot about fairies and shit but I think we got it worked out,” Carlos nodded.

     “Cliff notes version, all fairies are no go zones for fucking,” Jay explained to Evie.

     “Really? Huh, well I guess that explains Mal,” Evie nodded, she’s tried for a while to seduce Mal and nothing ever came of it other then an annoyed Mal, and her dealings with Jay.

     “Explains her wanting to watch and nothing else,” Jay shrugged, “I mean I always chalked it up to her mom’s thing about attachments are weakness’.” he took the bag from Carlos and kissed his cheek seeing the food inside, “You, pup, you are such a damn good boy to us.”

     “A very good boy.” Evie smiled taking her salad, “You like the new hair?”

     “Yeah, just taking some getting used too is all,” Carlos nodded.

     “Looks good on you though Pup,” Jay said already halfway through the double cheeseburger, “Leave the long flowing hair to me alright? I mean unless you want the girls playing with it, cause I’ve been subject to it more than once already here.” Blondie daughter of Goldilocks had all but jumped him during one tourney after party and braided his hair chattering about how well he played and how he was so good looking. Ben had saved him just before he was forced to answer the cheerleader’s second attempt to try him on for size, because she was positive he was just right for her.

     “I think I’m done with mainland girls too confusing” Carlos shook his head, he was actually just done with mainlanders in that sense.

     “Sounds like more Pup for us Princess. But I'm sure someone will catch your fancy eventually that's a mainlander. Sucks Jane didn't work out for you. You let us know if we can help at all.”

     “Unlikely there’s gonna be anyone else” Carlos shook his head.

     “Well you always have me,” Evie smiled.

     “And me,” Jay agreed giving him a smirk, “Unless you're still sworn off guys.” he couldn't help but tease knowing to Carlos he wasn't included in the kid’s generalizations.

     “You guys don’t count as guys and girls. You're just Jay and Evie,” Carlos flopped down on his bed.

     Jay finished off his burger and licked his fingers before he moved towards Carlos. He leaned down over the younger male and pinned the pale wrists above his head, “Yeah just Jay and Evie,” he smirked, “Your Jay and Evie.” He dipped his head down and kissed his lips.

     “Yeah you're mine as much as I’m yours” he nodded, “You taste like cheese” 

     Jay's eyes narrowed and he nipped Carlos’ bottom lip before pulling away, “So what is the plan for the rest of the day or am I going back to watching Tourney?”

     “I need to go back to my room to work on dresses, I think Mal’s got appearances with Ben all day so I should be able to get some work done” Evie said as she finished off her salad.

     “So no princess here, sounds like watching Tourney” Carlos said. 

     “I'll miss you Princess,” Jay purred giving her a half smile, “We will come get you for dinner, maybe a little Jay for dessert.”

     “Maybe” she smirked back as she packed up her design pads.

     He grinned watching her, eyes glossing over curves as he visually undressed her. Yeah maybe he could convince her to blow him, it had been a long while since they had done that.

     “I’ll see you boys at dinner,” Evie gave both a kiss on the cheek before slipping out of the room.

     “You have plans for tonight already forming I can see it,” Carlos laughed.

     “We will see if I can seduce our Princess into them,” Jay snickered adjusting his already hardening flesh, “But first Tourney dvd.”

     “Do I get know what you're planning?” he asked moving to sit next to the bigger isler.

     Jay hummed tossing his arms over the back of the couch as he got comfortable, “I’m planning on getting Princess’ mouth wrapped around me, we haven’t done that in a while, it’s always me going down on her. Not that I’m complaining, cause eating the two of you is a close second to fucking you both. Maybe I should teach Princy how to give head...” he trailed off brain already imagining what that would look like. 

     “It has been awhile I suppose” Carlos mused, “And that would be a sight.” 

     “Yeah it would be,” Jay cleared his throat shifting once more, “Tourney. Tourney first.” he stated more for his own benefit than Carlos’. He needed to keep his mind somewhere other than that particularly fun pastime of his.

     “Yep tourney first” Carlos nodded putting his head on Jay’s shoulder as they watched.

 

Chapter 84: Isle Night (Mainland: February)

Notes:

Warning:
-Under age drinking

     Mal took a deep breath standing outside of Jay and Carlos’ room. She had planned this out, she let Ben know what was going on in the general sense. She told herself that they would be mostly behaved, any fighting would likely just be between her and Jay if he couldn’t get his head out of his ass long enough to remember he wasn’t on the Isle anymore. It wasn’t like she didn’t know about the red potions Evie was working on recreating for them, the antifertility potions so Jay could fuck to his heart’s content and never have to worry about making another monster like himself. She gave herself a firm shake before letting herself in, everything would be fine.

     Jay kicked Carlos playfully as they wrestled over the remote, Evie sitting on his bed with Iago on her shoulder doing what he did best, being cynical about her designs. He rolled Carlos over pinning the other under him as the door opened and Mal came in closing the door behind her, “Bout damn time bitch, what you have to fix your hair spells?” he taunted.

     “Screw you Jay,” Mal shot back with a sneer, her eyes panning over the boys, “Or should I let Carlos do that for you?”

     “I’m always up for a fuck with Jay, but well I didn’t think you enjoyed the show last time,” Carlos tilted his head back looking at her.

     “Last time it was Christmas, he was very drunk and ran off without telling us where he going,” Mal retorted eyes freezing on the red bird sitting on Evie’s shoulder, “What the fuck is he doing here? And how the hell did he get here?”

     Iago looked at her, “I’m here because I want to be, and I fucking flew here,” he snapped at her, “Well shut your gob mini mistress of darkness, unless you want to catch flies.”

     “He’s a late christmas present from himself to us” Evie said offering up a walnut to Iago.

     “That was a great night” Carlos smirked.

     “It was a great night. My ass was feeling it when I sobered up,” Jay snickered.

     “Yeah but you like to feel it afterwards” Carlos and Evie snorted.

     “Fair enough,” he grinned getting up. “But it's a good kind of hurt.”

     “Seriously don't understand your thing with fucking. Didn't you get enough on the Isle?” Mal's lip curled in disgust.

     “Nope,” Jay hefted Carlos up, “I like it so I keep doing it. Now what's the grand plan for Isle night?”

     “We drink, eat, try not to get into any fights, and you stay planted on the ground. Ben was worried about you climbing and drinking.”

     “What's there to worry about? Not like their buildings are going to collapse under me.” Jay scoffed rolling his eyes. “But fine no drinking and climbing any buildings.”

     “I guess that means no rescuing princess/princes from towers” Carlos laughed 

     “He can rescue me all he wants” Evie smirked at Jay.

     “I said buildings, not anything else,” he gave her a wink as Iago finally took the walnut from her fingers.

     “You always find a way to make it about sex don't you?” Mal huffed.

     “Fucking, fighting, or stealing, those are kind of my only modes of operation” he shrugged.

     “I'm impressed you know what that word means,” it was easier to fall into their old banter when it was just them. “We getting dinner or did you raid the kitchen.”

     “Screw you,” Jay sneered at Mal arms folded over his chest.

     “They raided the kitchen,” Iago supplied, if that girl thought she was going to harass his kid like Jafar had, she was going to get it from him.

     “We grabbed ice cream and sandwiches and other junk” Evie supplied watching Mal closely.

     “Wicked,” Mal nodded, Ben thankfully never complained about them raiding the kitchen stores, “Then we doing this Isle night or am I just going to be standing here listening to Jay talk about sex like the weather?”

     Jay popped open one of his caches and started pulling out bottles, most of which he nicked from the liquor store. He knew where the cameras were and he always left some money in place once he got what he wanted.

     “What you get for us,” Carlos asked looking at the bottles god he needed a real drink.

     “Rum, whiskey, vodka, schnapps, gin, uh,” He tilted the bottle in his hand looking at the label until the letters sorted themselves back out, “Bourbon.”

     “What did you raid their liquor store? Also was this stealing, cause-”

     “You remember you get punched when you go mainland on me right?” Jay was grinning wide now at the very prospect of doing the thing he had an itch to do.

     She bit her tongue and gave him a hard look, “I don’t want you getting sent back cause you wanted to get drunk.”

     “I bought it after hours,” he smirked, “I'm a very good thief,” she caught the bottle of Gin he threw at her, “You need a drink Mal, all that Princess shit has you wound tighter than a sex starved virgin.”

     “I hate you.”

     “I know,” he tossed her a saucy wink, “Nothing new about that.”

     “What type of schnapps?” Evie asked standing to get a better look at the selection, “Chill Mal, we wouldn’t let them send him back”

     She sighed twisting the top off the bottle, “If he gets caught, there isn't anything Ben can do.”

     “I think Peach? Dunno really,” he handed her the one she asked about as he counted the bottles before reaching across the bed grabbing the already half empty bottle of whiskey, “I'm not gonna get caught, no ones caught me since I was 13. Nightmares excluded.”

     “She didn’t say Ben wouldn’t let them, she said we, as in us. We’re a package deal all or none” Carlos rolled his eyes at Mal.

     “Yeah it’s peach” Evie nodded, setting it to the side.

     Mal took a drink of the gin to bury the words she wanted to say. She was not going back for his fuck ups after all the warnings she had given him. “I thought you only drank rum.”

     “Alcohol is alcohol. Helps me go back to sleep.” Jay rolled the bottle in his hands.

     “Well I’m sure you won't have any trouble sleeping tonight” Evie smiled at him, “now what type of sandwich do you want?”

     “Fuck I hope not,” Jay muttered hating that his nightmares had woken them up, “Any kind you got.”

     Mal narrowed her eyes at Jay not liking the shift of his shoulders, the flex of his jaw. Too many years of watching as Jafar's words ate at him until all the man had to do was smile different to have Jay submitting to his demands. “Stop thinking Jay.” his eyes flicked to her confused, “I do the thinking remember?”

     “Pretty sure that only applies to planning turf wars,” Jay replied wrenching the cork out of the whiskey and took a long drink.

     “Better,” she gave him a very slight smirk. She moved closer to them fingers twitching as she locked the door with magic, “Turf wars were so much easier.”

     “Damn straight they where, all I had to do was be bait to draw them out” Carlos laughed

     “Here turkey” Evie held the sandwich out to Jay.

     “Here whiskey,” he teased taking the sandwich and gave her a warm kiss.

     “Those were the days,” Mal rolled her eyes before perusing the table piled with food, “Beating Uma's face in, having people leap out of our way, treating us with respect.”

     “Pretty sure she means fear,” Iago snorted lifting another walnut to his beak.

     “Fear was good too” Carlos agreed, “No one but mom messed with me if they didn’t want a fight”

     “Well that's good whiskey” Evie smirked.

     “Not after I dealt with them at least. Was all fun and games until my fist was in their face,” he grinned wistfully, “I only drink the good shit that doesn't taste like Isle liquor.”

     Mal snorted, “I agree for once, this tastes much better that Hannigans gin.”

     “Let me have a taste” Carlos reached for the bottle.

     “Here,” Mal handed him the bottle.

     Carlos took the bottle from her, he tended to stay away from Gin reminded him of his mother. She always smelled like Gin when she was having a bad day. He unscrewed the cap and took a swig. It had a good taste definitely better than the pig swell back home. He swallowed it down and recapped the bottle giving it back to Mal. “It's not bad, think I’ll stick to the whiskey and vodka” he nodded

     “Whatever you want Puppy” Evie said softly as she wrapped around him, Mal should have known better then to hand him Gin. When Mal would drink it back on the Isle it was always when Carlos wasn’t there, “How about some of those chocolate things we swiped. I’m not even sure what they are”

     “They are called Kisses” Carlos laughed grabbing the bag.

     “Kisses you say” she smirked kissing his neck.

     “Here” he laughed holding out an unwrapped chocolate. She leaned over taking the chocolate along with Carlos’ fingertips into her mouth.

     Mal shrugged, “I am cool with it. That whiskey any good Jay?” she asked popping a berry into her mouth. Gin and whiskey where her go to's actually they drank a lot of whiskey on the Isle.

     Jay nodded handing her the bottle as he ate the sandwich sniffing the Gin before setting it down. Gin always reminded him of Cruella. He watched her sip the whiskey and hum softly capping the gin.

     “You got more of this?”

     “Yeah grabbed a couple of those,” Jay nodded after swallowing, “Whiskey night?”

     “Gin is good but not feeling it,” Mal shrugged looking at Carlos and Evie with a soft look, “She likes it here, with you I mean.”

     “Yeah well I fuck her,” Jay shrugged finishing his sandwich, “Gives us normality, which we all need.”

     “You want some of these man” Carlos held up the bag as he tossed one into his mouth only for Evie to kiss him licking after the chocolate.

     Jay shook his head, “Not unless you're covering your dick in them. You know me and sweets.”

     “Chocolate covered blowjobs? That's a thing?”

     He snickered seeing Mal’s expression, “For me yes.”

     “It’s like an amazing thing Mal, chocolate and sex. They go together” Carlos assured as Evie laughed.

     “I thought the whipped cream was as pretty good myself” She added 

     “I don’t get you three, but as long as none of you get our Princess knocked up.” Mal shrugged selecting a sandwich.

     “Well you wanna watch?” Jay offered, “You always liked that back home.”

     “How about more food, alcohol and then whatever mischief you three get into.”

     “The dragon as spoken” Carlos nodded.

     Evie went back to the food table and started grabbing a ham sandwich, she held it out to Carlos, and then grabbed a turkey one for herself.

     “Why am I the dragon again?” Mal asked nibbling on her ham sandwich.

     “Your moniker?” Jay supplied opening the bottle of rum and taking a long drink from it, “Just a thing.”

     “Does that make you a genie then?” Mal shot back.

     “The word is djinn and no. My dad was a sorcerer, your mom cursed me with the same power.” Jay rolled his eyes popping some popcorn in his mouth. 

     “Well you don’t like it when people call you fairy, and Evie’s our princess so, you get to be a dragon” Carlos shrugged as he worked his way through the sandwich.

     “Yeah well, there is only one person that ever called me a fairy.” Mal almost sneered thinking about Crocodile.

     “And you didn’t like it” Evie reminded, “Plus that was something you're mother transformed into, her most famous transformation” 

     “Really didn't like it,” he snickered, “If the fighting with her and the yelling, and the green glowy eyes were any indication.” Jay grabbed another sandwich giving her a look.

     Mal sighed, “Fine I can live with being Dragon.” she gave him a responding look remembering how annoying Jay could be, “I... I did miss this.”

     “We all did, we just weren’t as busy trying to impress the media” Evie gave her a smile, “we are who we are, they can’t expect us to change everything that makes us us” 

     “No but they expect us to be everything they don't think we are.”

     “Then maybe they need to be shown we can be us and still be good” Carlos shrugged taking the whiskey from next to Jay.

     “Or neutral at least,” Jay shrugged finishing off his second sandwich.

     “Yeah E told me about that conversation with Ben.” Mal nodded.

     “So are we back to normal then?” Jay asked taking another hit from the bottle of rum.

     “I guess we are, if you can...” she gave herself a shake, “Nevermind. If Ben is fine with you doing whatever it is you do, then we are good.”

     Jay narrowed his eyes as her face betrayed her lie but he let it go. His didn't want them fighting. Carlos and Evie would be split and he didn't want to lose either of them. “Alright then. Goodness out the window for the night, eating, drinking and going back to the old days.”

     “Whatever,” Mal rolled her eyes finishing her sandwich before trying on of the Kisses.

     “They are good” Evie smirked at Mal, “just the right amount of sweet. Bet Ben would enjoy them with you.”

     Mal flushed ever so slightly, “I don't know...”

     “Oh come on are you telling me you haven’t jumped him yet?” Carlos raised an eyebrow.

     “Thats a big no,” Jay snorted taking another drink, “She hates touchy feely things.”

     “Touchy feely is how little princes are made so...well let me know if you need a few pointers” Evie winked, “We could have some fun.”

     Jay licked his lips, “She knows how to jerk a guy, she just hates human needs.”

     “Only yours Jay.” Mal shot back.

     “Then you and Ben should be knocking boots already” Carlos took a swig from the bottle sitting in Jay’s lap.

     “Maybe the problems Ben?” Evie asked putting her chin on Mal’s shoulder from behind.

     “It isn't Ben, it is just-”

     “Just you don't want to fuck anyone?” Jay snorted leaning back.

     “That could be a problem... unless Ben’s into sharing or well you're into that. That didn’t seem like a mainland thing” Carlos made a face.

     Mal made a face, “I don’t know-”

     Jay grabbed the back of Mal's head and kissed her feeling her entire body lock up not knowing what to do. Finally she reacted pushing on his chest, forcing him away.

     “What the hell Jay?!”

     “What? You are one of us, we share, and you need to warm up to the whole fucking thing. What better way then with all of us?” he gave her a smirk as she seemed to lose her fire, “You can tell me no.”

     She just looked up at him. He, her thief, oozing seduction, whispering lusts, the one who enjoyed sex as much as stealing. And she couldn't bring herself to do more than watch, because his kisses did as much for her as Ben's did. Nothing.

     “I may not have the right parts, but I could work with you” Evie suggested her fingers playing with the back of Mal’s hair, “Jay’s right, learning with us is safer then just not knowing. What if Ben wants to and you just aren’t cause you don’t know how.”

     Mal's eyes flashed bright burning green, “I know how to do it, I just-”

     “Like making excuses?” Jay boxed her in sandwiched her between him and Evie. “You say you know what to do, prove it.”

     How dare he challenge her. How dare he try and prove his point by force of will. She was the daughter of Maleficent- Her inner tirade cut short as Jay pushed away with a snort.

     “I will take that as a-” Jay nearly threw Mal as she grabbed him, dragging him into her mouth savagely. It was all fire and brimstone, and he could feel his chest burning, that unwelcome but familiar feel of the magic seething under his skin.

     Mal pushed him back eyes infuriated he forced her to such things, “The problem Jay is that it does nothing for me. I am half fairy, my mother had me from ‘a moment of weakness’, so I watch hoping that maybe, just maybe, I'll feel something, anything, that you three do.” she hissed fury coursing through her as Jay smiled that smug sinful look of his.

     “Well then what about trying a lust potion?” Evie suggested with a sigh, “I think I still know a few from mothers grimoire.”

     “Couple that with more liquor and all three of us.” Jay continued.

     Mal tried to find fault with it, this plan of theirs. She shifted uneasily as Jay's dark eyes flashed red gold, “Jay...”

     “Let us take care of you Mal.”

     “We’re really good at this” Carlos smirked.

     “Let us help you, and be wicked at the same time” Evie breathed into her ear.

     “We will remind you what it means to be wicked,” Jay purred lips on the other ear feeling Mal shudder.

     Mal swallowed hard and pushed against Jay’s chest, her hands tingling for a moment, “I... I need a few more drinks okay?”

     “Fine, I’ll get you some more to drink, and Princess can make you a lust potion. Then you, can let us take care of you,” Jay pulled away from her and smirked, okay so he was going for kicking her ass, but taking her virginity might be just as entertaining for him. Especially since he had given up on her ever claiming him.

     “I’ll go mix it up” Evie presses a kiss to her cheek before pulling away.

     Mal swallowed hard feeling Evie pull away leaving her still close enough to the boys to be worried. She took the bottle of whiskey Jay handed her without question as she tried to remember when the last time she had touched any of them for more than a casual gesture here. When had she gotten so hands off? She knew Jay was the one that stayed hands on, but she used to at least assure them she would keep them safe. She took a drink watching as Jay took another long drink of rum, running a hand through Carlos’ hair.

     Carlos leaned into Jay enjoying the older boy’s touch. 

     Evie slipped from the room to grab a few things for the potion.

     Jay leaned in giving Carlos a soft kiss, “What do you want to drink tonight puppy?”

     “Evie and I are gonna split the schnapps when she gets back. I’ll probably just work on the rum until she gets back,” he sighed closing his eyes ignoring the look Mal was giving them.

     “You mean the whiskey, that bottle you jacked from me?” Jay gave him a teasing smile, “It is whatever you're feeling tonight pup. You need something just let me know.”

Chapter 85: Seducing Mal (Mainland: February)

Notes:

Update:

The lost chapter 82 has been added back into the story. There is "story lore" inside so please give it a read. Sorry for only realizing now that I had inadvertently skipped it.

Warnings for chapter 85:

-Wishy washy consent
-Drinking Magical Jay blurs consent lines
-All the NSFW

~Kevyon

     Mal couldn’t help but watch them. Watch how easily Jay interacted with their youngest not knowing how she had missed it. She took another drink perching on the arm of the couch. Had she drifted that far from them?

     “Huh, whiskey works” he chuckled taking the top off the bottle and a swig not opening his eyes. Mal still scared him a little sometimes, he wasn’t sure about this but if Jay and Evie wanted it he could try.

     Jay shifted around Carlos, setting his bottle down waiting until Carlos lowered his bottle before cradling his head, “What’s wrong? You don’t have to play tonight if you don’t want to. You know I would never force you into something you don’t want.”

     “I don’t know yet” Carlos looked at him, “she’s still scary sometimes” he admitted softly with a blush.

     “Yeah she is, but I will never let her hurt you. I got your back Pup, promise,” he knew Carlos would always be a little afraid of Mal, but that was okay, a little fear was good at making you think before talking, a problem Jay ran into when he was drinking. His mouth was moving before his brain tended to catch up.

     “I know you always do” Carlos nodded looking at the door as it opened letting Evie back in.

     “Drink these” Evie held out two vials to Mal.

     Mal looked at them and then at Evie, one of her longest allies, “Okay...” she set the bottle of whiskey down and took the two potions nose crinkling at their taste. It would be fine, she was with her gang and they would make sure she was okay.

     “Yeah, they're not gonna taste great” Evie winced a little before turning to look at her boys, “You ok?” 

     Jay looked over his shoulder and nodded, “Yeah we’re good. How long does that potion take to work?”

     “Why want to know if you can get it up in time,” Mal snorted washing the potion flavor away with more liquor.

     “Bitch I’m always ready for a fuck,” Jay shot back giving her a harsh look, “Honestly.”

     “A half hour or so, the other one was my test run at mother’s contraceptive potion,” Evie shrugged running her fingers through Carlos’ hair.

     “We are risking me getting knocked up for this?” Mal squeaked.

     “Lucky for you Mal, I’m still taking the potions, figure I got another couple of weeks of being absolutely not able to get anything knocked up,” Jay smiled taking up his bottle again, “Or if it turns out you don’t like cock there is always Princess.”

     Mal rolled her eyes, “You are so damn confident aren’t you.”

     “Says the chick who grabbed my dick and tried to give me a hand job when I was 11,” Jay retorted with a wicked grin at her green eyed glare.

     “Oh fuck we don’t need another of you” Carlos shook his head, at the thought of a baby Mal.

     “No real chance, of getting knocked up.” Evie rolled her eyes, “I’m always up for a good time with you.”

     “We aren’t going to get another one of me ever. My mother has a spell for it,” Mal admitted, “But is there even a good way of checking if the anti-fertility potions work?”

     “Not really” Evie shook her head

     “Wait so you have spell to stop kids,” Carlos blinked confused.

     Mal nodded snapping her fingers, green magic forming her mother’s old book in a puff, “Mom was very in the ‘I don’t want kids’ after the whole Sleeping Beauty thing, and yet she had me.”

     “Yeah I don’t think any of our parents were big on kids,” Carlos snorted.

     Jay buried his words in another long drink before he reached over nicking the book from her fingers. He flipped it open and tried to read the scrolling words on the pages as the letters shifted and moved twisting on the pages.

     Mal stared at her empty hand and then at Jay who had a look of concentration on his face. He was trying to read, she realized, Jay was trying to read. Did he really not know how to read, because that would explain a lot.

     “Anything interesting” Evie smiled as she opened the schnapps.

     “Uh,” Jay tilted the book, “Spinning wheel spell, that sleep spell that she used on that guard.”

     “Give it back Jay, before you hurt yourself,” Mal held her hand out.

     “Beware, forswear, give... Mal... new hair,” Jay read from the book snickering at Mal’s tidy print compared to the large swoopy letter he assumed were her mother’s, “You know, as often as you do that spell why bother writing it down?”

     Mal nearly breathed a sigh of relief as nothing happened and snapped her fingers, “Seriously Jay? You have magic, don’t go reading spells out loud...”

     “You’ve got fairy magic, I got whatever your mom decided I deserved to be cursed with. At least it's good for two things, destroying, and taking Princess’ panties off,” Jay rolled a shoulder finishing off the rest of the rum bottle.

     “Been playing without me?” Evie asked, “Because I want to know what other princess’ you’ve done that too” 

     “Probably all of them,” Carlos teased as they passed the bottle back and forth.

     “Hey now,” Jay snorted, “Not all of them were my princess, and most of them were more interested in vanilla fucking.”

     “And you did what with them?” Mal asked curious.

     “Whispered sweet nothings in their ears and gave them a little Isle fantasy without me touching any of them. Only ones I fuck are my Princess, my Puppy and my Princy.”

     “You... your banging Aziz?” Mal blinked lowering the bottle from her lips, “You know what I don’t want to know.” 

     “How is Princy?” Evie smirked at him.

     “Regretting making open deals with me, but you get to teach him exactly how to keep a real Princess happy,” Jay smirked, “Never tell me I don’t do anything for you.”

     “I would never even think it” she licked her lips, “How are you feeling Mal?”

     “I don't know how am I supposed to feel?” Mal asked watching Jay set the empty bottle down, her eyes following him with apprehension.

     She started as Jay curled his arms around her from behind. He brushed her hair aside kissing her neck, eyes looking at Evie as he crooked a finger at her. They had been fooling around since they were eleven, the two of them should be able to give Mal all their experience.

     Evie handed the bottle to Carlos before coming to stand on Mal’s other side. Her arm wrapped around Mal, her hand finding Jay’s.

     Mal closed her eyes, she should feel something right? Anything at all. But she did, just there at the edge she felt warm, secured, content between them. A hand eased down her clothed belly and she felt a kind of anticipation filling her. Strong fingers, must be Jay, pulling her thighs apart before gliding up the heavy black denim of her jeans. A sharp breath left her lips and she bit her bottom one, unsure about what she wanted.

     Jay squeezed Evie's fingers as he kept kissing Mal’s neck, feeling her heart begin to pound. Her body wispy thin compared to Evie's supple curves, and yet she was so, hard. It was odd because of how she trembled between them, and yet he could feel the harshness of her still. “Just relax Mal,” he purred into her pale neck, “Let us take care of you.”

     “You know we will protect you” Evie breathed moving her hair out of the way to kiss her neck.

     Carlos watched Mal’s face, he watched the harsh lines as they changed. He wasn’t sure how this was going to work... if it was going to work at all.

     Mal was ashamed of the whine that slipped out of her, “I don't, I don't know what to do.”

     “That's okay Mal,” Jay assured her gentle and tender as he rubbed his hand close to her sex, “The three of us will take care of you. Just let it happen, just let us help.”

     “You want to move this to the bed?” Evie asked as her hand moved to pull open Mal’s shirt.

     Mal whispered out an okay, her body feeling too warm, too something as their touch seemed to only increase that feeling in her. On her own she opened her eyes reaching for Carlos. Jay said all of them, she wanted what he had. She wanted to feel what they felt for one another. Even if this was the only time she wanted to remember what they all felt like.

     Jay nodded, “Back up Princess,” he waited for Evie to move before he hefted Mal up as if she weighed nothing. He settled them on his bed Mal in his lap, hands easing back to her thighs, “You want another shot for your nerves Mal?”

     “Sure,” she nodded pushing away from Jay unsettled at the ease he moved her. “Don't go anywhere.”

     “Never.” he ceded grabbing another rum bottle as she tried to steady herself.

     Carlos stood slowly setting his bottle down, Mal wanted him there. It was the first time, she should feel everything she wanted to.

     Evie got onto her knees on the bed next to Jay, “we really need to figure out that bigger bed thing”

     “Yeah we really do,” Jay agreed smiling around the lip of his bottle, “wanna do this on the floor instead?”

     “We’ve fit on smaller, remember the couch?” she smirked her eyes going to Carlos as he hesitantly put a hand on Mal’s arm.

     Jay hummed at the memory, “That was a very good idea.” 

     Mal turned slowly towards Carlos, knowing she could scare him. Her fingers cautious as she ran them through his hair like she saw Jay do, “I...” she stepped into him.

     Eyes flickering over his Puppy and Mal, he licked his lips, “So I'm thinking it's working cause that is the look I get when I got someone hooked.”

     “Yeah it’s working” Evie nodded watching, Carlos was nervous when he was nervous he tended to just roll over.

     Carlos put a hand on her waist letting her run her hands through his hair. She wasn’t doing anything to scare him so far... he could do this.

     Mal leaned against Carlos that warm heat returning to her belly as she tried to focus on what she wanted.

     “Pup, why don't you give her a kiss,” Jay offered as he sat the bottle down and unzipped his vest.

     Carlos nodded moving all the way in front of Mal. He leaned in his lips going over hers.

     Mal grabbed Carlos’ jacket, holding onto him. He tasted like that candy he had been eating and she wanted more. Wanted more something.

     Jay leaned over and kissed Evie softly, “Brilliant idea Princess. Depending on what she wants you okay with Pup filling you?”

     “It’s been awhile since puppy and I played like that” she nodded.

     Both Carlos’ hands went to Mal’s waist as she pulled him in. This wasn’t so bad, he could do this.

     “Good,” Jay nodded already planning out how this was going to work with four of them.

     Mal kissed him hard trying to fill whatever this need was.

     “Pup start heading this way, stripping time.”

     Carlos hummed backing the two of them up towards Jay. Evie reached out once they were close enough and started pull off Mal’s jacket.

     Mal went easily, doing whatever they wanted. Letting them take her jacket as another set of hands undid her pants. 

     Carlos moved onto the bed turning them so that Mal would be in Jay’s arms.

     Jay pulled Mal back from Carlos, sliding his hands under her shirt and pulled it off. Her lips pressed against his and he let her grab at him, pull on his clothes as her cheeks flushed. He shushed her as he undid her bra before sliding her underwear down, leaving her naked before them.

     Mal pulled back from his lips, “You all are wearing too much,” she was breathing hard her body humming with wants, “Need you...”

     “Of course,” Evie chuckled sliding off her dress, her eyes locked on Mal. She’d wanted for so long to play with Mal to have this.

     Jay handed Mal off to Evie, knowing his Princess would handle their leader’s needs while he stripped. He quickly shed his clothes, erection thumping against his lower belly as it sprang free. Careful not to touch himself he helped Carlos out of his clothes. “You okay with this Pup?”

     “Yeah I’m good. Just wasn’t sure how she was gonna be.” He nodded slipping his jacket off, he looked at Jay pulling his shirt off.

     “Little like a super drunk virgin.” Jay rolled a shoulder watched Mal and Evie, “Whole lot of want and no idea what to do about it.” he watched as Mal leaned into Evie, her pale skin near translucent compared to Evie's. The half fae running her fingers through the blue hair not seeming to know what else to do with herself. “Mal you can do more if you want.”

     Mal turned her head looking at Jay, he was giving her permission. He was giving her permission, like he was in charge. But he was the one with all the experience, so maybe she would let him be in charge of this. He let her kiss and touch him all she wanted. Shaking her head she gave Evie a kiss.

     Evie smirked into the kiss pulling Mal close. She let her hands wander down Mal’s body.

     “Tell me I wasn’t like that” Carlos laughed dryly, he’d been more than a little drunk the first few times with Jay.

     “Nah, you crawled into my lap and demanded I fuck you,” Jay snickered, “With your eyes closed and your face all red. Like you worked yourself up for it. But now we have an understanding,” he pulled Carlos in kissing him hard and hungry. 

     Mal shuddered and grabbed at Evie's skin, the contact seeming to ease the want. This wasn't like her, she wasn't like this. But they wanted this, they wanted to make sure she knew what to expect with Ben. They wanted to be the ones to remind her about the Isle. She closed her eyes trying to remember what Jay did to E, what seemed like forever ago.

     “Lay back” Evie whispered against her lips as she reached back to undo her own bra.

     Mal shifted, pulling Evie down as she moved back into Jay’s pillows. As she settled in she was surrounded by the smell of him and them, “Do you ever wash your sheets Jay?”

     Jay pulled back from Carlos’ lips and glanced at Mal laying nestled naked on his bed, “Why?”

     “Smells like sex,” she teased looking over his naked body, “You... you look better.”

     “Thanks for finally noticing,” Jay smirked, “You look damn good naked.”

     “I love seeing this skin” Evie agreed running her hands up Mal’s stomach to cup her breasts.

     “Well we had sex on those sheets like 3 days ago so” Carlos shrugged with a smirk as he finally stripped the rest of the way.

     Mal arched into the touch with a breathy noise, “And how often does that happen?”

     “Honestly? We spend most of the weekend fucking. It helps us,” Jay shrugged, “You find out you like it, you can always come play with us.” his eyes traced over the girls, “Go on Princess show her what she’s been missing.”

     “You might want to hold onto something,” Evie smirked giving her another kiss before moving down her body. 

     “Ok that’s hot” Carlos watched them.

     “Hold onto something?” Mal groaned as Evie moved down her body.

     “Or not” Evie nipped at her inner thigh before she started to lap at her lower lips.

     Mal jumped at the contact and whined, her legs spreading further on their own. It felt... good. So damn good, like warm tingles in her lower belly as she moaned.

     “That, that is hot,” Jay groaned hand curling around his dick, jerking himself as he watched them.

     Evie flicked her tongue into Mal’s opening before moving up to suck her clit.

     “I kinda want to see that, like, every weekend,” Carlos blinked as he jerked his own dick.

     “Yeah me too,” Jay agreed shifting to his knees taking Carlos in his hand looking up at his Puppy.

     “Oh evil,” Mal swore hand flying to Evie’s hair grabbing the dark blue strands.

     Evie smirked before humming letting the vibrations travel through her lips and into Mal.

     “Jay” Carlos whimpered putting his hands in his hair.

     Mal moaned hands grabbing at Evie’s head, her back arching as she tried to focus on something not just Evie’s mouth. She glanced over to the boys watching as Jay opened his mouth and swallowed him down. 

     Jay hummed softly around Carlos fingers massaging the freckled hips. 

     Evie pulled back slightly looking up at Mal through her lashes, “Just let go, feel everything that it is.” 

     “Oh Jay, so good” Carlos muttered shifting.

     Mal looked at Evie and pulled her up, kissing her hard, “I am feeling it, just trying to figure out what I like best.”

     “Oh and what do you like most right now?” she asked kissing her.

     “The touching, helps make the tingling go away,” Mal hummed against Evie’s lips running her hands down the Princess’ back.

     “Do you want to touch?” Evie asked sitting up so that Mal’s legs were around her waist.

     “Is that okay?” Mal asked carefully not wanting to hurt Evie. Not that she was sure that she could but then again she had manhandled Jay before and had hurt him. 

     “That’s more than ok” she licked her lips and rolled her hips.

     Mal smirked and rolled them over so she was on top. She could do this, how hard could it be? Kissing her way down Evie's body, Mal delayed what needed to be done. Well less done and more attended to. Her hands cautiously ran down her skin as she gave the slick folds a tentative lick.

     “Just like that” Evie assured her hands going to the blonde locks?, “Looks like Jay’s little spell did something after all.”

     “What?” Mal looked up confused.

     Jay hearing his name, pulled off of Carlos, “Do what now?” he looked at the girls on the bed and swallowed at the very blonde and purple tipped Mal, he was so screwed when those potions wore off.

     “Wow I’m not the only one with two colors now,” Carlos laughed.

     “It doesn’t look bad,” Evie agreed shooting Jay a look that clearly said he was to stay away from her hair.

     “Hey I didn’t think it would work, it didn’t work like it does for her,” Jay held his hands up innocently.

     Mal touched her hair, looked at the blonde in horror before she grabbed the bottle of rum and took a long drink, “You are so in trouble Jay.”

     “It’s not a bad look on you,” He offered, “I don’t say this often but sorry, I was pretty sure it wasn’t going to work.”

     “I like it,” Carlos added, “But did it only affect the curtains” he leaned over trying to see.

     She went pink as Jay shifted and tilted her hips, “Look you-”

     “Rug is still purple as purple gets,” Jay confirmed sliding his fingers over her damp skin, “Now give me my rum back.”

     “Or what?” 

     Jay thumbed her clit making her squeak, “Or nothing, I’m just thirsty.”

     Mal handed him the bottle and bit her lip before reaching out and flicking one of the nipple ring, not expecting the hiss he let out.

     “Well that’s alright I’ll stay the only one with a spotted carpet” Carlos turned grabbing the schnapps.

     “How else are you going to be our puppy?” Jay snorted taking a drink, “And be careful with my rings will you?”

     She reached over and pulled one curiously, watching as he nearly choked on his next swig before giving her a dark look, “Payback for the hair. Now where we, because I am overheating and I need something.”

     “Oh well then maybe we should switch partners” Evie said letting her fingers slide over Mal’s slick folds and her fingers dipping into the heat.

     Mal hummed hips rocking towards the intrusion, “Which partner?” she asked breathily.

     Jay polished off his second bottle and shook his hair back over his shoulders, “Figured since I have the most experience I’d take over when Princess and Puppy had their fun. Unless you got a preference.”

     She looked back at him and then compared the sizes between Carlos and Jay, “I... I don’t know. I guess whatever you think is best?”

     “Can we get a recording of that last part,” Carlos laughed.

     Mal gave him a look, “Sex is not my thing, it’s a Jay thing.”

     Jay grinned setting the bottle down, “Fair,” he sat down behind Mal and patted her pale thin hip, “Try not to cum too fast on me alright?’

     “Be a good puppy and get on your bed” Evie ordered Carlos, he nodded with a smirk. Evie watched him move for a second before slithering off of Jay’s bed after him.

     She looked at them watching curious right until there was a mouth on her. Her shoulders fell forward as she bit back the noise Jay was trying to rend from her. Evie’s mouth was good, Jay’s felt ravenous. 

     Evie pushed Carlos onto his back and straddled him sinking down with a smile as he groaned.

     Jay shifted slipping a finger into her, stretching her open as she breathed hard rocking back into his hand and mouth as he worked. He grabbed her hips as she tried to rock back too hard, “Slow down there Mal,” he pulled back licking his lips, “You wanna watch Pup and Princess?”

     Mal nodded and he settled in behind her fully, guiding her back onto his length. It was not exactly pleasant as he pushed himself into her. She bit her lip baring through the pain, he had done this before, he wouldn’t hurt her if he didn’t have to. And then he stilled, the rough scarred palms pulling her chest up to his so he could press kisses across her shoulder. She had done it, she had finally defied her mother and let someone defile her, let someone inside of her to help her.

     Jay let her adjust, let her body squeeze against him, “You’re doing good Mal, you are doing a good job.” 

     Evie looked over at them giving Jay her wicked smile as she rose up and sunk back down slowly.

     “Isn’t she so pretty Puppy” she asked Carlos turning his head so he was looking at the other two. 

     “Like a painting,” he breathed out whining at Evie’s slow pace, “please princess please” 

     “He begs so well” Evie moaned as she sped up chasing both of their pleasure. She closed her eyes head tipped back. Her hands moving over Carlos’ chest stopping to roll his nipples between her fingers. Carlos whined and raised his hips to meet her part way.

     Jay watched them move, eyes devouring their movements, “You’re enjoying the show,” he commented softly into her neck, “You can always join in with us.” he slowly rolled his hips.

     Mal gasped at the feeling, she was so full. One hand idly pressed against her lower belly where she could feel him moving, she could almost imagine feeling him through her skin. And the heat, the tingling, had settled at his touch leaving coiling enjoyable sensations behind. “Jay...” she didn't know what she wanted just that she wanted him.

     “Yeah Mal?” 

     “Don’t stop until you cum.”

     Jay paused, “Mal?”

     “I know you stop when your partner gets off. I don't want you to hurt, I just want you to feel good too.” her breath was in short pants as the want raged under her skin at his stillness.

     That was all Mainland in her voice and he didn't care. He adjusted them and eased her chest down her hands bracing on the edge of the bed, “I'm going to make you scream,” Jay purred before he started chasing his end.

     Evie fell forward onto Carlos as she and the puppy came together. She turned her head watching Jay and Mal. It was a gorgeous sight, she could get used to it, she knew the boys could. Maybe it would pull Mal back to them, make them better.

     Mal watched the other two, watched the way they completed each other. She wanted that, wanted whatever it took to feel that. It happened fast and Jay barely slowed the snap of his hips against her. She buried the scream of pleasure in his mattress and felt him shift deeper into her. Pounding her into a quickly building second.

     Jay slammed in deep and felt Mal come undone a second time as he let himself have his own. Panting he rocked back dragging her back with him, still nestled between her thighs as he nosed her flushed skin. 

     Mal winced at the movement, “Evil Jay,” she croaked out leaning back into his sweaty and jumping chest.

     He laughed softly, “Well you told me not to stop.” he rubbed her hips eyes on his, “Good show you two?”

     “Yeah, man that was...” Carlos wasn’t sure what words to us.

     “We could get used to seeing Mal with us” Evie smirked tiredly.

     Mal shook her head, “This is so messy.” her fingers dipped between her thighs and brushed over the goop dripping out around Jay, “One, how are you still hard. Two, is blood normal?”

     “You only bleed the first time,” Jay assured, “And I am pretty much always half hard. Takes me a couple rounds to settle down when I've been drinking.”

     Mal’s nose crinkled, “Thank you for doing this. I don't think I will be letting you do me again, but if you need an extra body I guess I can show up.”

     “It's supposed to be about wanting, if you don’t want to do it then you don’t have to,” Evie said rolling off of Carlos.

     “Does that mean you want more?” Carlos looked at Jay.

     Mal nodded pulling herself away from Jay almost collapsing as she stood, “What did you do to me?”

     Jay grinned watching cum slide down the inside of her thighs, “That's also normal Mal. No need to panic.” he glanced at Carlos, “I always want more, but you don't have to do anything.”

     “Well maybe I still want to play” Carlos snorted sitting up.

     “Come sit with me” Evie said looking at Mal with a small wince.

     Mal wobbled over to Evie and sat down carefully, “He was your first too wasn't he?”

     Jay licked his lips, “Then come here Pup, let me take care of you.”

     “Yes he was, not much option on the isle but I wouldn’t change it” Evie smirked wrapping her arms around Mal.

     Carlos quickly switched beds, “Now what do you want do? How do you want to play?” he smirked as Jay as he ran a hand up his arm.

     Mal leaned into Evie, “I don't remember you being like this ever after the two of you fucked.”

     Jay looked Carlos over and pulled the younger male into his lap giving them both a hand job as he tried to figure out what he wanted. His were trying to break him of his lack of choice in what happened in bed. “Good question. I got an itch, you wanna do all the work and fix it? I can get me ready.”

     “I can do that” he nodded leaning in to kiss his neck.

     “Just hid it better, couldn’t have mother knowing” Evie shrugged.

     Mal snorted, “Mom is going to be pissed. So they usually like that?”

     Jay tipped his head back giving Carlos more room to work. Rolling his hips, the feeling pooling in his belly as he let out a soft hum. Such a good idea.

     “Yeah, we normally take turns with Jay or well threesomes are always fun no matter who’s in the middle” Evie assured smirking at the thought.

     “So am I going for a ride?” Carlos asked licking up Jay’s neck to his ear.

     “You wanna go for a ride?” he asked shuddering, “Don't matter to me really, whatever you're in the mood for.”

     Her eyes scoured over them, “There used to be a time I never believed we could get him away from his father. No matter what happened he always went back. And now I can't see him ever leaving you two.”

     “Yeah I don’t see us ever leaving him” Evie agreed. 

     “Then take me for a ride” Carlos smirked pulling back to look at him.

     Jay eased Carlos across the bed, grabbing the vaseline he found was way better than the lubes Auradon made for this, thanks to Princy mostly. He slicked his fingers and eased them into his Pup as he swallowed him down again. All he tasted was Evie, and his dick twitched wanting to get this moving.

     Mal watched as Jay did to Carlos what he had done to her, “I can see why to be honest. Can... can you teach me that?” she gestured to what Jay was doing, “If I have to be subjected to your needs I should know how to help if he's busy.”

     “It's not about being subjected... I can teach you but, well if you don’t want to do this then we don’t,” she smiled a little.

     Mal gave her a blank look before grabbing Evie's chin carefully, “I let you give me a lust potion E. I can't say I'll have the urges you have, but you want me here. To be here with us, the Core 4, rotten to the core. So teach Princess.” she let her eyes burn green as she leaned close, purring the endearment against Evie's lips in that same dark tone she used like a shield on the Isle.

     “Alright then” she breathed grabbing Mal’s hand and guiding it down to her wet center. She glanced over at the boys as Carlos made that little whine of pleasure.

     Mal slid her fingers through the slick, feeling out her Evie. She eased her fingers through the folds and to the opening Carlos had been buried in. Her eyes glanced to the boys as Jay's throat seemed to work as his nose nestled in the black and white hair. Slowly he pulled back, eyes glowing and lids hooded as he pulled his hand away from Carlos and slicked himself. As her fingers continued to trace the opening she watched as Jay pulled Carlos into his lap and ease him down on his dick. She mimicked the slow motion with her fingers.

     Jay groaned feeling Carlos wrapped around him, “Good puppy, such a good puppy. Let me know when you're ready for that ride.”

     “Oh just like that” Evie whimpered

     “Please now” Carlos gasped, evil he loved the feel of Jay. 

     “Anything for you Pup,” Jay husked out setting a slow hard pace fully aware that Mal and Evie were watching.

     Mal kept doing what Jay was doing. Doing to Evie what was happening to Carlos. Growing bolder she eased another finger in spreading them slightly, “You like watching them too don't you? Can you see how much Carlos is enjoying it?”

     “I can hear it, the sounds he makes are like music...at least to me and Jay” she breathed leaning back spreading her legs to give Mal more room.

     She smirked the feeling of control easing her discomforts, spurring her on, “They are so delightful aren't they. So are yours,” in the back of her mind she could feel the oddness in how easily she was doing this. Like some string of power was guiding her. Power she recognized.

     Jay watched over Carlos’ shoulder as Mal took care of his Princess as he was lost in the roiling heat and pleasure, “The girls are enjoying you riding me. So much that Mal is fingering Princess in time with us.” he bit at Carlos’ jawline, rum muddling his control.

     “That’s hot... I wish we’d done this sooner” Carlos turned his head to look at the girls.

     “You have no idea how long I’ve waited” Evie licked her lips.

     Jay bit a mark into Carlos’ collarbone, “We would have if Mal had come back to us sooner.”

     Mal gave him a sneer, “Sure thief blame it all on me.”

     He chuckled, “Focus on my Princess Mal. She's been waiting a long time for you, and if you don't make sure she's taken care of you'll be dealing with me.” his hips snapped hard against Carlos.

     “He’s not wrong, your attention should be here” Evie wrapped her legs around Mal.

     “Jay” Carlos’ eyes rolled back he was going to feel this for a while and he liked that.

     Mal finally recognized the power, it was Jay. Jay didn't look like he had any idea what he was doing and while that should worry her, the idea wasn't unappealing at the moment. So she didn't resist him, just let him control the situation. “Then keep watching them E. Don't take your eyes off your boys.” she eased around Evie kneeling between the spread thighs letting Jay's power guide her.

     Jay smirked watching as Mal got on her knees to pleasure his Princess with her mouth, “Want it rough today Pup?”

     “Yes, I want to feel you until we get to do this again” Carlos nipped at his neck.

     Evie did as Mal ordered watching their boys, her hand went to Mal’s hair once more as she let pleasure take over.

     He gave Carlos what he wanted, hips slamming into the younger and smaller body, fingers bruising hips. As he worked Carlos over he could hear Mal, little inexperienced Mal, working Evie in time. By the sound of it Evie was almost there, so he curled his hand around Carlos and gave him a few tugs.

     Carlos turned his head to look at the girls again. His eyes locked with Evie’s as they both let go pleasure over taking them, with cries of Jay and Mal.

     Jay went still head tipped back as he came his vision spinning. Groaning he released his grip on Carlos and collapsed back on the bed feeling drained.

     Mal pulled back licking her lips glancing back as the feel of his power suddenly cut off, “You okay over there Jay? Finally run out of magic?”

     “He’s never completely out of magic,” Carlos yawned curling up against Jay.

     “We can go join them or we can stay here” Evie looked at Mal with drowsy eyes.

     Jay hummed, “Not out, just drained... now get your tiny pale ass over here. Pup lights please. You coming to curl up Old Man?”

     Mal watched Jay for a moment longer before pulling herself and Evie into the bed with the boys as Iago settled under Jay's chin.

     Carlos crawled out of the bed and turned off the light before crawling over the girls to get on Jay’s other side without disturbing Iago.

     Iago stayed awake watching as all the kids fell asleep. He had been watching over these Isle nights, watching his kid losing the magic without thinking. It was a problem, but how was he supposed to help? Jafar had a staff to help him control the magic, but no way he was going to let his kid become his father. But tonight he saw something almost as terrifying as Jafar on a power trip, his kid controlling the Daughter of Maleficent.

     Evie curled around Jay’s side with Mal right behind her. This felt so nice, it was good to all be together again.

Chapter 86: Broken Core (Mainland: February)

Notes:

Warning:
-body image issues
-bulimia
-unhealthy coping mechanisms

     Mal shifted off the bed come morning, slipping into the bathroom to clean up. She must have lost her mind yesterday, not only did she go through with drinking a lust potion, she let Jay fuck her and ate Evie out. Taking a deep breath she scrubbed herself clean, wiping bruises away with magic. She tried to undo her hair but found it stubbornly still blonde, refusing to return to normal. Eyes closed she took a deep breath to relax a little, it was fine, she looked more Mainland this way, they would accept her this way.

     “Hey you ok?” Evie asked leaning on the door looking at the other girl.

     “Yeah of course,” Mal smiled through the lie, “The blonde is going to take some getting used to is all. How are you feeling?”

     “Like the cat that got the cream” Evie smirked raising an eyebrow, she could see through that little act but, well she didn’t want to pop the bubble, “Care to join me for a shower?”

     Mal was torn, on one hand she had crossed a bridge that couldn’t be uncrossed. On the other why should she care? This was Evie, and she spotted Jay behind the girl his eyes dark and volatile. “Sure, shower sounds good,” she could prove to him there was enough Isle in her still.

     “Good, cause I need someone to wash my back” she smirked closing the door to the bathroom behind her.

     Mal smiled weakly, when did she stop feeling like she belonged with them?

     Jay watched the door close and nodded opening a bag of nuts for Iago. Tossing them into the area Iago claimed was his. Princess Mal was back and all he felt was anger at the abandonment. Clearly last night was a fluke.

     “She’s changed back didn’t she?” Carlos asked disappointed.

     “Yeah she fucking did,” words betraying what his tone didn't. He cracked his neck to cool his temper some, “We've been surviving without her for months, we don't need her.”

     “I guess not, was fun though,” Carlos sighed before pulling the blankets over his head. They’d only had Jay for so long that last night had felt like they were finally coming back together as a unit. But, he guessed that maybe they were only meant to be a trio.

     Jay looked at the shrouded puppy and he eased under the blankets with him. Pulling him close lips against skin, “No matter what happens, no matter what changes, I will never abandon you Carlos. You and Evie are mine, have been since we were kids, there is nothing in the world that will take me from you or you from me.” he swore because Crocodile would take all three of them or she would never have him. 

     “I know, just I thought maybe... I don’t know maybe for once we were enough for her,” Carlos shrugged a little, he glanced over at the bathroom door listening to the shower.

     He kissed Carlos softly, “We are better than she ever deserved. She'll wake up one day and realize that. But I'm not waiting on her anymore, she made her choice this morning. We gave her us and she decided they were more important than us.” his voice was cold despite the gentleness he was giving Carlos.

     “I think someone was always more important than us” Carlos nodded, he heard the shower shut off. That wasn’t normal for Evie she normally would be in there until one of them came and dragged her out enjoying all the hot water she could get.

     Jay looked at the door, “She and Mal showered together.”

     Mal toweled off feeling like she was going to crawl out of her skin. The looks Evie were giving her were eating at her.

     “We should work on your dress today,” Evie said quietly as she wrapped her hair in a towel.

     “You sure you aren't too busy?” Mal offered an escape to Evie who clearly wasn't suffering like Mal was. Why did she ever let them convince her to do this? How was she supposed to face Ben when she had just slept with Jay and Evie?

     Evie looked at her studying her face, “I may need to push it back how about Tuesday night actually, that way I can get Audrey out of the way before she changes her mind again” she looked away before grabbing a towel and leaving the bathroom.

     Mal cringed as Evie left before she could reply. Yeah Evie definitely knew she was having regrets about last night.

     Jay looked at Evie as she all but stormed out of the bathroom. Making sure Carlos was good he stood and yanked her into his chest, “You going to be okay?”

     “Nothing we’re not use too” she shrugged softly, “doesn’t matter how pretty you are or what you do you'll never be anything worth wanting” she leaned into his chest.

     “I want you.” Jay replied tipping her head up, “I want to drown in your beauty, bask in your presence, beg for your attention and intelligence. There is nothing I want more than moments in your company Princess Evie Daughter of Queen Grunhilde.”

     “Flattery, sometimes I think coming here was a mistake” she wrapped her arms around him.

     “You are not the only one,” Jay replied holding her tight. “Being here with her makes me wish I took an offer back on the Isle. Or took over instead of staying as the second,” he pressed his lips to the top of her head as Mal came out.

     “Wish I’d stayed in the castle” she nodded.

     “No point wishing” Carlos shrugged joining them.

     Mal looked at the three of them watched as Jay pulled them close his face twisting into murderous rage for a moment before it vanished.

     “Get out,” Jay growled, “If that world out there matters more to you than us get out.”

     “Jay...” she shifted uneasily before them, “It's not like that. I am trying to give us a real chance here. You have-”

     “I don't have to do anything fairy. I’m not the one hurting the people who have been right there by your side for years. So save your preaching, I'll do the job you're supposed to do.” he watched her face screw up eyes glowing as she threw clothes on and ran. He carefully released them and backed away grabbing the side of his head to ward off the violent impulses.

     “It's gonna be ok” Evie tried to assure herself and the boys, she wanted to bounce back. To be her peppy self but she didn’t really have the energy.

     “Jay?” Carlos asked looking at the older boy.

     “I'll be okay... just need to calm down a little,” he gave them a half smile, “You know me hot under the collar when people are hurting my lovers.” yeah he was caving to that word, it was the only one he knew explained them. “We'll be okay. We are still the baddest of the bad, we didn't give up us for Auradon.”

     “Right we don’t change for them” Evie nodded as she started to get dressed.

     “We are who we are and they have to deal with it” Carlos nodded

     “Do either of you need anything? I’m gonna go grab food and then see if Doug minds us working on the dresses in his room today” Evie said unwrapping her hair.

     “I'm good,” Jay smiled lowering his hand as the impulse faded away, “Let us know if you need anything.”

     “I will, I’ll be back tonight. Not sure I want to sleep in the same room as her right now” she picked up her bag.

     Jay nodded, “Carlos and I will rearrange the room a little, put the beds together. We’ll get dinner together.”

     “That sounds nice” she nodded before slipping out of the room.

-*-

     Evie gripped the strap of her bag as she entered the cafeteria. She squared her shoulders trying to put out the confidence she wasn’t feeling. She grabbed a small serving of oatmeal and a muffin. As she sat she looked around the hairs on back of her neck standing up, she’d long since gotten over the paranoia that all the mainland girls were judging her, looking at her. But right now, it felt like, she swore she heard giggling and laughing from the other girls. She looked down at the tray in front of her, she wasn’t expecting to hear her mother's voice whispering to her. She quickly put the muffin down like it had bitten her. She couldn’t eat any of this the one bite of muffin felt like lead as she swallowed it. She quickly stood tossing her breakfast in the garbage before hurrying in a dignified manner to the bathroom. 

     Once she was sure it was empty she flipped the lock and fell to her knees before the toilet what little she had eaten coming up. 

     ‘Look at you stuffing your face. A princess does not eat like this, one bite should be all you need. Gods forbid you gain any weight. No one will ever want you like this, fat worthless’ Evie sobbed covering her ears, she wasn’t here. She knew her mother wasn’t here, but after this morning. After thinking she’d finally managed to bring Mal into their fun, that Mal wanted to be with them... be with her. If she was wrong about that, maybe she was wrong about other things.

     She stood slowly going to the sink, she looked at her red face in the mirror. She looked at her reflection and pinched her sides gently, she had gained a little weight since coming here. No wonder Doug didn’t seem to want to sleep with her, fat as she was, how could he stand to even look at her. 

     She stayed in the bathroom for probably about a half hour getting herself put back together. There was still work that needed to be done today. She plastered on her smile and opened the door, she released an inner sigh of relief that no one was in the halls right now. She ignored the cramping in her stomach, she didn’t need food. She’d eat tomorrow or maybe the day after. She’d eat smaller, get the weight off, no one wouldn’t want her once she was perfect.

-*-

     Doug smiled at Evie as she worked on Audrey's dress. They had brought her in first so they could just be done with her.

     “You know given the fact that you're not really a princess you do have very good taste in fabrics,” Audrey mused feeling the chinese silk being used for her dress. Evie stilled her face going pale.

     ‘How is anyone to believe you are a princess when you behave like a common whore, when you kneel before trash?’ Evie shook her head, Doug looked at her worried at her loss of color. She’d been oddly quiet today other than saying that they were going to work in his room today. He assumed her and Mal had some sort of fight.

     “You're all good, Audrey. We’ll finish this up and have it delivered the day of,” Evie said quietly. They hung the dress back up and watched Audrey leave Evie with her arms crossed around herself. 

     “Are you ok?” Doug asked touching her arm gently. She looked at him, there was so much sadness, pain in her eyes. He wanted to know who had hurt her like this, why was she hurting like this.

     “Actually, I’m not feeling very well. I think I’m gonna head back and lay down,” Evie said trying to give him a smile before gathering her things and leaving.

-*-

     Evie stopped outside the boys room. She didn’t want to go back to her room, but she didn’t want to interrupt anything the boys had planned. At the same time she kinda just wanted her Prince of Thieves.

     Jay paused as Iago looked at the door, “What?”

     “Your blueberry Princess is here,” Iago stated from his perch on Dude’s back.

     He frowned, that did not bode well if she hadn’t come in. She was having one of his days, after the Mal fiasco he wasn’t surprised. Standing he ruffled Carlos’ hair who had buried himself into a project just to bide time. Walking to the door he opened it, dressed only in his leather pants, bracers and the vest she had made him. He leaned on the doorframe giving her a sultry look silent and waiting for her to initiate.

     “Hi” she muttered wincing at how it sounded even to herself.

     “Hey yourself gorgeous. What brings such royalty to an idiot street rat like me?” Jay was fine with beating himself up for her.

     “You're not an idiot” she shook her head looking at him.

     Carlos watched the two. He could see the haunted look in Evie’s eyes, it was like when they first met. She was curled into herself, like she was trying to protect herself from whatever was coming.

     “If I’m not an idiot then you aren’t whatever your mother is whispering today,” he stated firmly, “Now come here Princess, let us unworthy VK’s bask in your royal presence.”

     “I...” Evie came into the room letting the door close behind her, “I can’t make her stop,” she dropped her bag.

     Carlos chewed his lip watching the two, he wasn’t sure what to do here. Last time E had had a melt down like this Mal had made him leave. She didn’t look good, he didn’t know how to help with this.

     “I know, I have a hard time making him stop too,” Jay rolled a shoulder taking her hand and guided her to the now double bed, he sat her down and knelt down between her feet, “Have you eaten today?”

     Evie looked at him trying to find the right answer, the answer that would make him happy, “...I... I couldn’t keep any of it down,” she finally admitted tears gathering, “Sorry.”

     “That’s okay Princess, we got some food here. I know you don’t want to be out there with those girls,” Jay soothed making sure his hands stayed on her.

     “I can heat something up,” Carlos volunteered standing up.

     “I don’t know what I can eat” Evie said, “You guys don’t need to hear me tossing it back up” 

     “It's no big, I’ll heat up some soup then it will be easier,” Carlos nodded.

     “We got any of those Kisses left Pup?” Jay asked keeping his eyes on her, he just wanted to do anything he could for her. This wasn’t the Isle, she could very well starve to death here. “I’m willing to try if you are Princess.”

     “Yeah,” Carlos tossed the half empty bag over to Jay. He grabbed a microwave cup of chicken noodle and headed towards the little common kitchen.

     Jay caught it with one hand and grabbed one out of the bag. He opened one of the kisses and looked at her, “May I kiss you?” permission felt like the correct thing here. He would do anything he needed to do, just like always.

     She looked at him, the isle prince of thieves. Why did he want her when no one else did? She nodded slowly her eyes not leaving his.

     Jay popped the chocolate in his mouth and leaned up into her, cradling her head and kissed her. Long and slow as the chocolate melted passing between the two of them. Only when it was gone did he pulled back resting their foreheads together, “I know what did this. I know she caused this. But she isn’t worthy of you. She never deserved your attention. If she was she would be here with us. It's us now and that's okay, because I would put myself in the way if it saved you pain. I would take anything you gave me if it made you happy again.”

     “I’ve wanted her to be part of us for so long” she put her face into his neck, “I’ve gained so much weight since we came here, maybe that’s why no one here wants me.”

     “You mean you look healthy now? I can't see your bones, you look healthier than you did on the isle. That's a good thing. As for no one wanting you, they don't know what they are missing, because you are perfection. I know I don't count for anything but I want you. I wouldn't have claimed you if I didn't want you Evie.” he held her close as his father's voice whispered in his ears, Worthless, useless boy. Not even wanted as a whore. That was all you were good for a convenient hole to fill, but you couldn't even keep one mutt sated. So what good are you now? Unwanted, unneeded, idiot boy.

     “You and Carlos are the only people that count for anything anymore.” She placed a kiss on his cheek, “You are my princes even if no one else sees it” trying to calm herself down.

     “Then let me help. Whatever it is you need to tell me. That's what I'm here for. I am here for you and Carlos, everyone else takes a backseat if you need me.” Jay leaned into her pressing his face into her neck, “Just let me be useful for once,” he whispered into her skin.

     “Make me... make me feel pretty” she said, it sounded hollow to her own ears. But that was what she needed, and Jay was always the best at it.

     Jay nodded taking her hand guiding her to her feet. Revenant and careful as if she would shatter. His hand ran up her arms, fingers easing into her hair, kissing her again. Every ounce of him pouring into the kiss, trying to convey how much he wanted her. When his breath ran out he pulled back slowly. “Would it be okay if I undress us Princess?” 

     “Just don’t stare at my pudgy spots” she nodded trying to shake her mother from her head, she knew Jay would love every part of her.

     “I promise to only stare at the curve of your breasts, the swell of your hips, and feel the sweep of your regal spine,” Jay purred, “I promise to only lust for those places you won't let me have.” his hands eased his clothes off first, slow and deliberate as he talked. He could do this, he could be useful, he could be worth something.

     “You are so perfect” she ran her fingers over his chest. He always looked good, even when they were on the isle. Jay had been beautiful, he’d had the light to him that made him artwork to Evie, it made him a masterpiece.

     “Perfectly damaged. But you my Princess are the real perfection here.” Jay didn't like it when she tried to distract him when he was trying to focus on her but he never let it bother him because he knew it was how she worked. He returned to her lips, hands easing her clothes off, praising buttons as it kept him from leaving her mouth. Leaving her underwear in place he kissed along her jaw and down her shoulder. He pressed his face between her breasts and suckled a small mark over her heart, swearing to himself that would be the only sign of him on her skin.

     Evie sunk her finger into his hair, “You have a funny thought of what perfection is,” she laughed dryly, “My masterpiece.”

     Jay looked up at her, “I don't see what you see. But you don't see the Queen I know you'll be, beautiful and wise, with a heart big enough for all of us.” he continued kissing down her body until he was once more kneeling before her, his hands resting on her hips, “I'm not royal, I don't have much, but I will always stand by you until you find someone deserving of you.”

     “You're my Prince of thieves,” she said softly.

     Doug held the flowers, blue roses, he’d gotten for Evie tight in his hand. He’d gone to her room first and only found Mal. He decided he’d try Jay and Carlos, maybe if the fight was really bad she was hiding out with the boys. He wanted to give her something to make her smile, that haunted look on her face when she left. It made him want to give her something to make her feel loved, to feel beautiful. He knocked listening for an answer.

     Jay's head snapped to the door, who the hell was that. This wasn't the Isle, they could get into some serious trouble, not that he cared, but he cared about not being sent back. He closed his eyes standing. Pulling his pants on, not that it would hide the fact he was hard. His vest he draped around Evie's shoulders, giving her a short kiss before he opened the door making sure his whole body took up the gap. 

     “Now's not a great time Doug,” Jay was aware of how not him he sounded, but Evie was having a day and this was an unneeded interruption to his work.

     Doug blushed about 5 shades of red looking at Jay’s chest. He looked down in embarrassment before his eyes quickly shot up. Obviously he was interrupting something, “S...so...sorry” he stammered out, “I’m l...l...looking for E...Evie”

     Evie looked up at the sound of Doug’s voice. Had she forgotten something? She stood moving behind Jay.

     Jay cocked his head, he wasn’t used to that kind of response from mainlander guys, “What do you need her for? She isn’t feeling good right now.”

     “She said that, but um...w ... well she looked so... s... Sad” He explained, his eyes flickering down Jay’s body again as his mouth went dry, “I...I got th... these for her” he held up the roses.

     He licked his lips before tilting his head enough to see Evie hovering, “Okay, I’m sure she will like them,” Carefully he tipped Doug’s head up to look him in the eye, “Something else you want?” he was having a feeling that Doug might not be into girls like he was into guys because Doug kept eyeing him up and Jay’s body was reacting in a not so Mainland way about that attention.

     “Som...something else?” Doug chewed his lip looking in Jay’s eyes, he looked away shaking his head, “n... no” he backed up, “Can...you make sure she gets these” he held out the flowers. He caught a flash of blue just over Jay’s shoulder, well he thought he did. But well it didn’t really matter he supposed, it hurt a little bit to think she was in there with Jay. Mostly he was just relieved she wasn’t alone.

     “Sure thing,” Jay took the flowers giving Doug a half smile, “I’m sure these will help make her feel better.”

     “I hope so” he nodded backing up, “I...sorry for, interrupting.” 

     “It’s cool Doug. These made it worth it,” Jay nodded backing up closing the door before handing Evie the roses with an amused look, “Your mainlander stopped by with feel better flowers in your favorite color.”

     “That was sweet” she smiled a little as she took the roses, “He’s sweet like that.”

     “Yeah he is,” Jay looked her over, “You know you look damn good in underwear and my vest.” he would tell her about that Doug thing once she was feeling herself because he was beginning to think he really was a disease.

     “Do I? Cause I design these for you” she smirked at him a little looking over her flowers.

     “You may design them for me, but it looks damn good on you. So what do your new flowers need? We take care of those pretties and then we will take care of you some more.” Jay liked the way she seemed to light up at the flowers.

     “They need some water,” she said, “The color is so vivid. I love them, blue would be a good color on you” she held the color up to his chest.

     “I guess that depends if you are going to claim me or not,” Jay replied undoing his way too tight pants. “Water and I am guessing something to hold the water?” he kicked his pants off looking around the room. 

     “Carlos’ cup will do,” she nodded to the coffee cup on the desk.

     “I can do better...” he grabbed one of the rum bottles he finished off the night before and walked into the bathroom rinsing it out and filling it with clear water, “This way Pup won’t whine about his cup and we can put the empties to use.” 

     “Now that is smart thinking” she smiled as let her free hand drift up his arm and along his neck.

     He didn’t think it was so much smart as a better container for her roses but he let it go in lieu of her very good distraction that sent shivers down his spine, “Where would you like displayed? Since we are happy to have you staying here with us as long as you like.”

     “Let’s put them on your desk,” she nodded pulling him down for a kiss.

     “As you wish,” Jay nodded kissing her softly as he took the roses and set them in the rum bottle. He eased away and set them on the desk he never used as Iago gave him a look, “What?”

     “Nothing. Go take care of the blueberry princess, I’ll be over here watching you fuck like rabbits,” Iago bobbed his head in annoyance, the kid had developed a problem.

     “They look perfect there” she dropped the vest off and crossing her arms around her stomach.

     Jay gave the parrot an odd look but decided to worry about it later. He backed away and back to Evie, “I don’t make you nervous do I Princess?” he asked looking at her arms, “Or do you need me in kissing range again?” he didn’t need an answer as he cradled her head in his hands and kissed her warmly.

     “No, I trust you” she smirked placing her hands on his waist, she pulled him into another kiss. This was what she needed, she needed Jay to remind her that the little voice in her head wasn’t real and it wasn’t right.

     “Good,” Jay purred hands sliding down her body, picking her up by the hips as he laid her out on the now massive bed, “I would worry if you didn’t trust me,” he went back to kissing his way down her body, kissing every inch of her he could. 

     “I’ll away trust you,” she wiggled a little enjoying the feel of his lips on her skin, the feeling of him knowing every part of her.

     “Then trust me to have you,” Jay smirked against her skin as the door opened a little and closed quickly. That would be Carlos back with the warm soup.

     “Dude, some idiot blew up our microwave, I had to go to the other building to find a free one” Carlos huffed setting the bowl down.

     “That’s fine Los,” Jay pulled back from Evie, “Eat for me? You eat and I will do more than worship every inch of you.”

      Evie sat up and looked at the bowl, then down at her stomach. She looked over at her boys... she could do this, for them. A little something to eat couldn’t hurt that much. She picked up the spoon and brought it to her mouth. It didn’t taste like much of anything but she swallowed it down.

     Jay grabbed a bag of chips and tossed one to Carlos, if he was making her eat they would all eat. If that was what it took he would do it, because he had lived on stale bread and water, and the occasional scrap of food his father allowed him when Jay’s rumbling stomach annoyed him too much. 

     Carlos snagged the bag from the air popping it open. He flopped down on his bed munching, “Nice flowers,” he studied the bright blue.

     “Doug dropped them off” Evie smiled looking at them.

     “Oh... did he see...cause I mean I thought we were keeping isle time to ourselves,” Carlos tried to find the right words for the question.

     “I tossed some pants on, kept him from seeing into the room,” Jay shook his head, “He wanted to cheer her up, honestly I think he did a damn good job.” he opened his bag and popped a chip in his mouth.

     “They are perfect for you princess” Carlos nodded.

     “They are, I’ll have to find some way to say thank you” she nodded taking a few more bite before setting down the spoon.

     Jay glanced at the half eaten bowl of soup and set the bag down, this process was going to suck but he was used to being hungry, it would be fine. If she was going to suffer, he was not letting her do it alone. “You done for now? If you are that’s fine.”

     “Maybe we can try more later” she suggested her giving him a little smile, she’d do better at this she just had to get her mother to shut up.

     “That sounds good to me,” Jay nodded kissing her softly, “Shall we continue where we left off?” he eased her out of her chair and settled her thighs around his hips, his semi bouncing interested against her ass as he walked them to the bed next to Carlos and returned her to the lying position. 

     “If you want,” she agreed, “Or you could just hold off sex for a little while”

     Carlos looked at her at the suggestion. He was a little wrung out himself, but he didn’t want to ruin their fun.

     Jay took stock of them and nodded. They weren't like him, they never needed to sell their skin. He backed away enough to lay beside her hand trailing across her skin, “Whatever you need Princess.” he tipped his head down and kissed her gently. They came first, as long as they were happy and taken care of he would survive.

     “We can take care of what you need later tonight.” Evie said quietly holding his hand. She could feel his want behind her, and she understood for him it was normal to have sex all the time.

     "You don't have to. I know you two need time." He just held onto her hand, "Tell me about that dress you did for Lonnie." He forced himself to settle there beside her, to be content because she needed him. Talking fashion was her comfort like talking about his boys was for him. He rested his chin on her shoulder and forced himself to relax, he had mastered hiding whatever his issues were a long time ago. Bad days, hunger, pain, need, anger. He did it because he had to be strong for them, had to fill in the spaces Mal left open, had to make them untouchable, make them feared. He picked up the slack before, he just had to do it again. That was his job, his purpose. His own want to be needed had bit him in the ass.

     “Dude we know we don’t have to. But we want too, we just need more build up time,” Carlos looked at him over Evie.

     “It’s a bright red like Iago,” Evie smiled, “It has good trim. It suits her complexion.”

     "Yeah? You use that stitch that looks like leaves you were telling me about. Or all machine stitching?" He remembered just enough to keep her engaged in conversation as he smiled at Carlos, "Don't worry about it pup, all I want really is to see you two happy no matter what that takes."

     “We always worry about you” Carlos rolled his eyes.

     “I did some hand stitching for the details, Doug’s going to finish it on the machine tonight” she brought his hand up to kiss the back of it.

     "He is a good kid Doug," Jay offered squeezing her fingers smiling as she kissed the back of his hand, "I'm glad he is helping you out. I know how much that means to you."

     “Its nice, that he knows about fashion” Evie nodded, “Sometimes though I wonder about him”

     "Wonder what about him?" He glanced up at her curious.

     “If he’s real? I mean the son of Dopey the dwarf wants to be... I don’t even know, boyfriend” she tried to find the right word, they didn't have stuff like this on the isle.

     "Pretty sure he is real. Met his folks and everything. Calls you girlfriend, brings you flowers to make you feel better. Pretty sure he doesn't care he's a dwarf to your queen," he snorted kissing her shoulder.

     “Can’t be a queen if I’m not really a princess” she said.

     “You’ve been around Audrey” Carlos snorted

     “Had to get her dress done” she shrugged.

     "Alright let's see if I remember my Horrible History class. Your mom married Snow White's dad and became Queen. He died, eventually your step sister, since she became your mother's first daughter, step in this case is now a Queen you would be a Princess. I don't think in the official line for the White's throne but still a real fucking Princess," Jay wasn't really sure how all the royal shit worked but he was pretty positive Evie was a real Princess.

     “He’s right, you're Snow White’s step baby sister, so you're a princess” Carlos nodded going with it.

     “That’s not how it works, but thanks” she smiled.

     "That's how it works on the Isle so that's all that matters. Fuck Mainland logic. I don't get the history shit here."

     “Dude you don’t get history period” Carlos teased with a laugh.

     “Hey I was pretty good at Horrible Histories, since there was no reading and that whole orally given exam thing,” Jay shrugged, he had been decent at that class. It was just here with all the reading.

     “Well maybe talk to the teacher,” Evie suggested, “Maybe he’ll listen and help you.”

     “Yeah no thanks, I can get it it just takes me a while,” Jay really did not want to talk to the guy that reminded him of some of the rather unsavory pirates on the Isle that paid to face fuck him while they were sober and forced him, generally at knife point, when they weren’t. 

     “I could go with you,” Evie said rolling over to look at him.

     Jay made a face not wanting to explain this to her, “Do you even have Mr. Lost?” he wasn’t even sure if they had the same teacher since they weren’t in the same classes.

     “I had him last quarter” Evie nodded, “He looks pretty rough but he’s a nice enough guy.”

     “Rough is a word for him,” Jay ceded making a face, “Alright you finish the soup before bed and keep it down, and we will go have a talk with him tomorrow.” He was not doing it alone because he did not entirely trust himself not to have a Isle moment.

     “That’s a dirty move using your grades to get me to eat,” she pouted sitting up as Carlos handed her the bowl.

     “That should tell you how much I don’t want to talk to him,” Jay replied watching her eat.

     “Well we are VK’s, we kinda know the book on dirty moves front to back” Carlos snorted with humor also watching her. 

     Evie rolled her eyes, her protective boys. She couldn’t change them for the world, but they did have some tricks up their sleeves.

     “I don’t think you need to be a VK to have dirty tricks. I mean Chad Charming isn’t one, Princy isn’t one, Ben’s not one either. And they all have a few dirty tricks,” Jay had been on the receiving end for most of them too.

     “Chad is like one step up from the Gaston’s” Carlos rolled his eyes, “And Ben just pretended to be under a love spell”

     “Chad didn’t like it when I told him the Gaston Twins would love his vanity. Prick tried to tell me he wasn’t vain as he stood there fixing his fucking hair like G2 would do.”

     “Right and a cat doesn’t meow,” Carlos snorted, “Think the twins would take him for a ride if they got the chance?”

     “The way those two tag team and strong arm, without a doubt,” Jay was on the receiving end of that particular ride before too. He shifted uncomfortably at the memory of being physically incapable to do anything but let them do whatever they wanted. He hated himself just a touch more for the way his cock twitched. Clearly some wire got crossed somewhere between doing what he had to and his leaving for the Mainland.

     “Those two where brutes... wouldn’t mind throwing Audrey and Chad to them,” Evie said, she tried to tolerate the two mainlanders but, after everything she didn’t really care.

     Jay grinned, "Those two would pay good money to fuck a whiney bitch male or female. Pity they aren't here almost, but they are more hassle than they're worth."

     “They really are. They may have passed vanity class but they failed seduction,” Evie snorted with a smirk.

     "I aced that shit," Jay grinned widely, "I had the best testers, was practicing on this gorgeous bluenette who blushed the prettiest colors whenever I flirted with her."

     “Oh really” she smirked back as her tongue flicked around the tip of the spoon.

     "Made the best noises when I got her all riled up. Like a pup I know," Jay playfully ruffled Carlos' hair.

     “Come on man not the hair,” Carlos whined before taking the bowl from Evie. He tipped it slightly so Jay could see it was empty before he set it on the floor.

     "So no hair pulling?" Jay teased nodding to the empty bowl. Looks like he was going to be talking to Mr. Lost. But at least his Princess had eaten something today.

     “You guys wanted me to cut it so, nope, no pulling” Carlos shook his head.

     “He says that now but the minute he’s sucking you he’ll want you pulling and petting his hair” Evie laughed

     “Oh really,” Carlos smirked before diving down to blow raspberries on her stomach getting a shrieking laugh from her.

     Jay smiled watching them, he missed seeing them like this. Sure yesterday had been ‘Isle’ night but that had turned out more like ‘get drunk and convince Mal to play with them’ night. They didn’t have a night of crashing together drinking and laughing, because they were trying to bring her back to them. None of them succeeded, all they had succeeded with was having one last night with her before Jay did what he never wanted to do, took over the Core 4, he guessed it was really Core 3 now. Iago fluttered over and perched on his hip watching over them squirm and play.

     “You good kid?”

     “Huh? Me? Yeah I’m fine, just happy to see them happy,” Jay rubbed Iago’s head with a gentle hand.

     “We’re here together, that’s all we need” Carlos said with a chuckle as Evie ruffled his hair.

     “All we ever need is us all together,” Jay agreed draping an arm over both of them letting Iago pace up and down his bare side.

     “We should make sure we are always there for each other,” Evie nodded, even if she did marry a mainlander she would always be there for her boys.

     “No matter where we end up after this school thing, we need to be there for each other,” Jay smiled, “Count on one another.”

     “Always, cause we’re rotten” Carlos smirked looking up at Evie.

     “To the core” she agreed.

 

Chapter 87: Jollyroger Deals (Mainland: February)

Notes:

Warning:
The very beginning of this chapter is a short non-con flash back. If that's not something you want to read please scroll down to:

-*- end flashback-*-

~Kevyon

     Jay took a deep breath hovering outside Mr. Lost’s room waiting for Evie. He always kept his deals with his allies, and to be honest he wasn’t sure if he could handle doing it alone. He closed his eyes leaning back feeling sick to his stomach.

 

-*- non-con flashback -*-

 

     “Come here pretty, I’m gonna fuck you so good.”

     “Back off, I’m not interested.” he tried to dodge the meaty hand that swung at his arm. He struggled and fought against the larger man with tattoos and long stringy taupe hair. Jay got off a few good hits before the man got him in the face. Whirling him around and slammed him into the wall. He struggled against the arm pinning his shoulders in place as his pants were ripped down to his knees.

     “Don’t be like that kid, I know you like it rough. Seen you around,” the tattooed man grunted forcing himself inside, “Just business right?” 

 

 -*- end flashback-*-

 

     Jay swallowed hard giving himself a shake, “Stop thinking about it. Just stop thinking,” he muttered to himself.

     “Jay, are you ok?” Evie asked softly placing a hand hovering over his own just in his sight.

     Jay still flinched but connected their hands together, “Yeah I’m good, just thinking. Ready to get this over with?”

     “It will be fine, I’ll be with you the whole time. Go ahead and knock” she squeezed his hand.

     Taking another deep breath he squeezed back and knocked on the door. The deep ‘Come in’ came through the door and Jay released Evie’s hand and walked inside.

     Jason Lost looked up from grading History of the Seven Seas quizzes as the door opened, he blinked seeing Jay there with Evie, “Well if it isn’t my worst student and one of my best students from last semester,” he smiled leaning thick tattooed forearms on top of the paperwork, “What can I do for you kids?”

     Jay smiled in reply falling back on his lies to hide how much he hated this, “I’m trying to fix that worst student thing.”

     He tried to focus on just the man's face, this guy wasn't the one from the Isle. He was clean shaven, taupe hair clean and pulled back, but Jay still felt the wariness and paranoia sinking into his stomach as his eyes drifted down to the tattoos and the large hands.

     “I thought maybe the two of you could figure something out to help his grade,” Evie supplied.

     “Well... if he completed his classwork, and answered more than 2 questions in an exam he’d have better grades. His homework is flawless, though I know he’s got someone looking it over,” Jason replied looking between the two, clearly there was a reason they were both here. The way Jay shifted told him the kid was hiding something.

     Jay bit the inside of his cheek, yeah he hated doing this, it was almost worse than his dad calling him an idiot. Mr. Lost had a no nonsense kind of attitude, coupled with looking like a pirate, Jay was fighting his want to run and avoid this conversation.

     “Jay... you can tell him,” Evie put a gentle hand on his arm. He needed to do this, she could help, Aziz could help. But he needed more than they could give him.

     Jason leaned back in the chair arms over his chest, “Look Jay I want to help, but unless you tell me what’s going on there is nothing I can do. And I know you don’t want me to have to fail you, because I am trying but I can’t give you special treatment just cause you're on the Tourney team.”

     He looked away feeling his stomach twist into knots, “I have a hard time reading.”

     Jason sat there silent watching his expression, waiting for whatever he had been used to hearing, “Define hard time reading.”

     “It takes me a while to sort words out,” Jay was still waiting for it, the scorn, the judgement, the word that he was stupid, an idiot.

     “Which means what exactly? Look let me make this as cut and dry as I can. Just tell me straight up what your deal is,” he kept his tone light, made sure he didn’t sound pushy because it looked like this was bugging Evie, if the look she was giving her friend was any indication.

     “Jay if you can’t say it I will. Mr. Lost can help, so can the other teachers if you’d let them” Evie was not going to watch Jay pussy foot around this. He needed help and he was getting it.

     Jason watched as Jay cringed, tough guy flirt actually cringed before speaking voice barely audible, “The words move when I read. My stupid brain takes forever to sort them back out.”

     He licked his lips taking a deep breath, “Tell me about your classes on the Isle. Written tests? Any textbooks or was it all lectures?”

     “They were oral,” Evie answered seeing the look in Jay’s eyes at the word use, changing lecture to a word he’d recognize.

     “Okay, makes sense since most of my class is textbook stuff. Jay, did your dad teach you to read?” he was hoping the Jafar was a decent enough man to at least try and help his own kid through his learning disability.

     “He gave up,” Jay stated simply not wanting to talk about his home life at all.

     “Gave up? Your dad, known for being a very intelligent man, just gave up? No wonder you're having problems,” Jason ran a hand over his hair standing, “Alright let me talk to FG, get a plan in place to get you taken care of. You and me can sit down and redo your last exam say Friday after school?”

     “What?” Jay took a half step back heart fluttering in his chest, bad enough one of them knew he stupid, but all of them? He could already hear his father’s laugh echoing in his ears.

     Evie took his hand rubbing her thumb over his knuckles, “It's ok, it’s not the Isle, he’s not here,” she tried to soothe him.

     “Kid relax, we would have had something in place for you already if we had known back when you first came here,” Jason moved closer to them, “Really, it’s fine, we’re here to help.”

     Jay caught his reaction to swing just in time, hand clenched in a fist by his side, “I don’t want people knowing, I can handle it.”

     Jason took a step back, “I never said you couldn’t. But if you need more time to sort the words out, we teachers need a plan so you can get the time you need. How about this, you and I redo that last exam on Friday. You fail, I’ll get the plan taken care of and you suck it up. You pass and I’ll talk with FG about her giving you exams orally.” 

     “That seems fair, what do you think Jay?” she looked at him, she couldn’t make the deal for him, he had to make it or he’d never honor it.

     “Can you not tell anyone?”

     “Do you want to keep playing Tourney?”

     Jay winced, “Seriously?”

     “Jollyroger Pirate turned Lost Boy, I can play dirty when I need to.” He smirked at the two VKs.

     “Really...” Evie blinked, she hadn’t heard that and she’d heard a lot of gossip about Mr. Lost in the girls locker room.

     “Yep. Was a Cabin Boy on the Jollyroger when Captain Hook landed us in Neverland, when Peter found out he plucked me off the ship and wouldn’t let me leave. Captain tried to get me back, but got kicked from Neverland before he could. When Peter left Rufio was put in charge of the Lost Boys, I left Neverland with Grandma Wendy and grew up. You two ever meet the Captain?” Jason didn’t mind this distraction as he watched Jay’s confusion.

     “Not directly,” Jay didn’t know how much was safe to tell Mr. Lost, especially not now.

     “Mother use to make deals or payments to him for something, I wasn’t supposed to be around. But, I was curious so I spied a little,” Evie shrugged.

     Jay looked away, “I ran into his son Harry a bunch.”

     “Oh yeah, Captain had a son? I’m glad he finally sorted himself out with Milah, she was a damn nice lady. She was the one who inspired me to teach actually, help kids who need it. So you going to let me help, or you going to be like your dad and give up?” Jason had a small sliver of satisfaction when Jay’s eyes narrowed, good that the kid didn’t want to be his father.

     “Yeah your a fucking Jollyroger alright,” Jay bit out, “Fine. I’ll take your stupid deal.”

     Jason grinned, “Good. Then I will see you on Friday right after school. You kids go have a good rest of your day.”

     “Thank you Mr. Lost,” Evie smiled pulling Jay to the door.

     “No problem Evie. Thanks for dragging him in so we could sort this out and get him some help,” Jason smiled watching them head out before his smile dropped. He did not like the things he was seeing with Jay, he had seen the caught reflex, and the stance Evie had taken to keep him in line. But he would dig into that when the kid trusted him a bit more.

 

     Jay glanced at Evie, “I...” he shook his head sighing looking away, “Thank you for going with me.”

     “Any time, you can trust him Jay. He’s not like the other mainlanders,” Evie leaned into him.

     “I trust you. Not a pirate turned lost boy,” he pulled her close letting her presence soothe him.

     “Well at least you know how to deal with him. You always were the best at dealing with the pirates” she laid her head on his arm as they walked.

     “No judgement?” Jay prompted knowing she had watched some of his deals before.

     “None, never. You are who you are, that’s what makes you my masterpiece of art,” she placed a kiss on his arm.

     “I’ve made deals with all but one of them. That was the only way I could keep us from starving.” Jay would never betray his deal with Crocodile for anything, no matter if he was in charge now or not, “Mal would have ruined us if she had tried to force her way back there.”

     “Mal’s a hammer, and every problem looks like a nail,” Evie rolled her eyes, “Carlos and I understood you were taking care of us.”

     “Well we nailed her ass in the end didn’t we, my perfect seductress,” Jay smirked, they may not have been able to bring her back but they had given her a hell of a boot out. That was what they had settled on with Iago’s help last night.

     “At least I got one night with her paying attention,” she sighed.

     “We both did,” Jay agreed, a little stung still that even with his capabilities he couldn’t convince her to stay with them.

     “At least Carlos didn’t get hurt too bad” she gave a little smile for once his fear worked for him.

     “Yeah I am glad he wasn't hurt too bad. Just upset she was leaving. Honestly rather it just be us who got hurt. Pup has been through enough over the years. When we get dinner tonight can you eat one more bite for me?” He was hungry, he wanted to eat but he was sticking to his guns. If she wasn't eating much he wasn't letting her suffer alone.

     “I can try” she nodded looking off to the side.

     “Trying is all I ask,” Jay nodded with a smile dipping his head to kiss the crown of her head.

     “Alright I have to get to chemistry, and you have... I don’t remember so I’ll see you in goodness” she pulled away.

     Jay let her pull away feeling his heart sinking, “Have a good class.” he watched her walk away from him. If they had been on the Isle, Jay would have this settled already. He would have made a very public move, sheared the gang from Mal and that would have been that. Sure he would face challengers but Evie and Carlos would be spared this mental attack. He didn't much care what happened to him, he could survive pretty much everything. Too many people needing him, to just give up.

 

     Mal hadn't seen Evie since the morning after Isle night. Her body still felt Jay inside of her, still remembered Evie. But she also felt detached from it, from them. It wasn't uncommon to not see Jay day to day, but she wasn't seeing any of them and that was worrying.

     Evie gave Carlos a small smile as they met up outside the classroom, “You didn’t have to wait out here for me”

     “I wanted too, besides Jay is late as always. So I figured I’d make sure Mal didn’t pull anything” Carlos shrugged, he wasn’t very brave but he’d stand up to her for Evie. Evie winced at that but nodded letting him take her hand and lead her into the room. 

     Evie looked over at Mal as she sat next to Carlos on the other side of the room.

     Mal looked over at them frowning, the hell was going on.

     Jay strolled in the room head pounding from his math class. Of course his brain was pulling all its shit today as if he didn't have plenty of issues already. He took note of where his had sat and plunked down between them and Mal. If she didn't believe him, she would now.

     Mal froze, no... no, Jay would never. She figured he was just angry not that he was serious. He... the bastard had kicked her out.

     Evie glanced at Jay, chewing her lip. She looked just pass him at Mal’s face. She’d brought this on herself.

     Fairy Godmother looked at the new seating arrangement with a raised eyebrow. Something was going on with the kids. She looked over at Mal, maybe she’d invite the dear for tea and find out.

     Jay kept his face passive, not letting her get to him. In fact he wasn't even going to have the decency to look at her. It helped that he was hungry and had a headache. Taking out his notebook he made an effort to be focused on the lesson.

     Carlos bumped his elbow into Jay’s gently, he was too serious right now. He supposed shoving Mal out would have something to do with it, but this was something else.

     Evie put her hand over Carlos’ and shook her head. She knew what Jay was doing and she wasn’t sure if she’d be able to help but she would try.

     FG started talking about appropriate behavior when interacting with a lost child.

     Jay let his knee rest against Carlos' if nothing else than to reassure him. He could do this, had to do this for them.

 

Chapter 88: Creative Studying (Mainland: March)

Notes:

From here on out, pretty much just assume this is NSFW with plot while on the Mainland. There will also be themes of unhealthy coping mechanisms as the Core deals with the separation in their own way.

Hope you all are enjoying!
~Kevyon

     Mal sighed picking at her salad. It had been over a week and she could tell Evie was barely eating. Judging by the way Jay's face was thinning out, he wasn't eating either. She was still in shock that after all this time Jay had revolted. 

     “You ok?” Ben asked looking at her concern in his eyes, “Did something happen?” Normally Mal could handle anything but he wanted her to know she could come to him.

     “I’ll be okay,” she smiled weakly, “Just a bad argument with Jay.” she would leave the others out, she was sure there wasn’t any bad blood between them. But with Jay shielding them it was impossible to know. Carlos was avoiding her entirely, Evie found reasons to leave any interactions with her and was no longer sleeping in the room. 

     “If you're sure” he nodded looking over at the others, “I know mom said something about going to check on them later this week,” He couldn’t imagine what they had to fight about, but then he also didn’t think he’d ever see his parents fight either but it happened.

     “I’m... I’m not sure but they are avoiding me because Jay’s avoiding me,” she kept her voice low so no one else would over hear. She wouldn’t tell him what the argument was about, but how was she supposed to tell him it was over sex and Jay may have unintentionally used magic to convince her it was a good idea. At the end of the day it was all Jay’s fault, everything in her mind boiled down to it being Jay’s fault.

     “Well let me know if there’s anything I can do” he took her hand gently in his.

     “I don’t know if there is anything anyone can do,” she shook her head, “You have enough on your plate, I can handle it.” she was not sure if she could handle it.

 

     “Jay, you can eat more. Just cause I’m not hungry doesn’t mean you shouldn't eat,” Evie put her fork down.

     Jay leaned on the table looking at her with unwavering attention, “I am not letting you go through it alone. Not now, not ever.” he was going to stick to his guns, he had eaten less on the Isle, hungry to the point of nausea. He would survive, just like always.

     “I’m not alone as long as you're with me,” she sighed making herself take another bite of the light salad.

     “And I will be here. Just like always,” Jay happily took another big bite of his burger. He was hoping that knowing it was more than her against her mother’s voice, that physically seeing that she wasn’t alone would help. 

     “I know, you’ll never leave me” she nodded trying to take another bite before she couldn’t do anymore. She set her fork down her hand coming to her mouth as she tried to focus on keeping it all down.

     Jay swallowed, tangling their legs together, “Thank you for getting a few more bites in for me. You’re doing a great job you know? Princess, I know it’s a lot to ask but do you think you can help me with Chemistry tonight? I don’t think I understand that experiment with the Hydro... hydro...” he made a noise of frustration as the word on the tip of his tongue evaded him, “Words brain, there are words.”

     “Hydrogen?” Evie asked swallowing forcefully, he said she was doing good, but she just felt fat right now.

     “Yeah that,” Jay nodded giving her a soft smile, “I adore how smart you are. Lusty and smart, best of both worlds. That is why so many people adore you.”

     “At least some one likes smart girls” Evie gave him a smile.

     “Smart girls are the hottest” Carlos added, “Brainy is the new sexy.”

     “That and pretty faces are so much easier to learn from, I mean if I’m already staring at them I might as well learn something,” Jay kept his smile in place knowing she was relaxing, seeing the tension easing away.

     “So I’ll let you two study in our room then” Carlos suggested looking between the two.

     “If that’s okay with Princess,” Jay nodded finishing off his burger in a single bite, she had thankfully eaten enough for him to at least get a whole burger in him. It was stressful enough on him she was still feeling Mal’s shit, hell he was still feeling it. But that test went pretty damn well once Mr. Lost gave it to him orally; Fairy Godmother was supposed to talk to him about all of his exams getting taken that way. Thankfully he had been saved from that conversation so far.

     “Its fine, we’ll work on your Chem after classes,” Evie agreed.

     “Thanks Princess,” Jay collected their empty or partially empty plates and stood, “I’ll walk you two to class, just give me a sec.”

     Evie watched him go as an idea came to her, “Carlos can you get me a bag of kisses?” she asked him. He blinked at her for a second before nodding, he’d steal her all the chocolate in the world if she asked.

     “Good I’m going to need it when we’re studying tonight,” she said with a smirk before Jay returned.

     Jay nodded to his grabbing his and Evie’s bag, “Come on you two. School in Auradon waits for no one.”

     “Don’t we know it” Carlos whined following after Jay as Evie walked at his side.

     “School on the Isle was so much easier,” he sighed stopping at Evie’s class first handing her, her bag, “See you after school gorgeous, want me to grab you from your room? I overheard Ben saying he had an after school thing with the bitch.”

     “Sure, I need to grab some more cloth anyway,” she nodded, it was a tricky balance have enough clothes to stay at the boys room but still some in her room to look like she lived there.

     “Alright then I will meet you over there,” Jay nodded kissing the back of her hand watching her walk into the room, “Come on Pup, let’s get you to class. You need anything from me?”

     “Nope I’m gonna be super uncomplicated until E is back to normal,” he shook his head.

     “I could kiss you for that,” Jay muttered, “But if you need anything just let me know.”

     “I will promise” he raised his hand as they reached his advanced circuitry class.

     Jay gave him a high five, “Have fun Pup.” he headed off to his gym class.

 

     Evie placed her dirty clothes in the hamper in the bathroom she’d shared with Mal. she looked around looking for any difference, any sign that Mal needed them. She took a second before sighing and starting to pack a bag to take back to the boys room. Carlos had told her he put the kisses in his desk draw.

     Jay knocked on the door before letting himself in. Locks didn't really mean a damn thing to him anyway. He closed it behind him and smiled sultrily, "How were the rest of your classes Princess?"

     “They were classes” Evie shrugged, she’d been off her game lately. She enjoyed classes, enjoyed learning. But, for the last week for so they hadn’t really excited her like normal.

     "Okay level with me, what can I do to help? Cause I have been doing everything that perked you back up on the Isle and I am running out of ideas that don't involve fucking you into a puddle of Evie wickedness," The three of them hadn't done more than cuddle and kiss since the Mal thing and Jay went back to jerking off in the shower.

     “I’m not sure, but maybe we could try fucking into a puddle” she looked at him tilting her head for a second, “it has been a while hasn’t it? I just... I don’t want you to... not see me as beautiful anymore.” 

     "Luckily I've been lusting for you since you first made that experimenting deal. I got a taste for you that just won't quit. You will always be beautiful to me, but I also want you to be healthy." Jay didn't want her thinking any different, because he would always want her. He had built himself around them, forced himself to keep moving for them. He needed them to need him, because he would fall and never get back up when they stopped needing him.

     “I am healthy, just loosing a little weight,” she said sitting on her bed.

     "What weight? Princess you've always been thin with the perfect amount of curves. You lose anymore weight and I start seeing bones I am going to call you on it and make you eat what I eat," Jay shook his head sighing, "But we won't have to resort to that right?" He crouched down in front of her careful not to touch.

     She took his hands placing them on her hips, “Well then you're probably going to like my plan to help you learn chemistry,” she leaned her head against his.

     Jay lifted an eyebrow at the change in pace, usually it was him initiating as of late. "Alright I like where this is going already." He breathed feeling his pants tightening as he tried not to assume anything. After all he learned his lesson, he pushed the sex thing and Mal withdrew far enough he had to step up and take over for good. He had ruined their system and he was trying to deal with that dumb decision of his.

     “I take a bite for every right answer, and with every bite I’ll also take off a piece of clothes” she whispered kissing his forehead.

     Jay was silent, processing that idea of hers. Already running through how many clothes she was wearing, "First and only time I will say this, you are not wearing nearly enough clothes for this."

     “Oh yours that confident in your knowledge of hydrogen and chemistry” she smirked, “told you, you were smart, but if you want more motivation, then for every one you get wrong I put something back on”

     "Oh no I'm an idiot when it comes to Chemistry. But if you're eating and stripping for correct answers, 2 for 1, you'll need more clothes so I can get you to eat more," Jay replied with a smirk.

     “Then shall we head out and get started” she smirked, “Although we may need to raid the kitchen for a few things, I only had Carlos nab chocolate” 

     "Yeah," Jay nodded leaning in as he stood and kissed her shortly, "Come on then kitchen run. You pick whatever you want to eat for this."

     “Avocados... strawberries.... Turkey... oh a Turkey berry cobb salad” she smirked she wasn’t sure why the sudden craving but it sounded good to her.

     Jay bit back a laugh, "Alright come on then," he nodded guiding her towards the door. Once they were done with the kitchen they could go back to his room and get started 

     Evie handed him her bag before she took his hand as they walked, she made quick work of putting together her salad and grabbing the bottle of vinaigrette. She licked the strawberry juice from her fingers before putting a lid on the container, “Ok this is good to go”

     "Perfect," Jay nodded locking the door behind them. He took her hand once more as they walked back to his room. He was kind of excited about learning, and hoping that it worked. 

     “Lets get studying,” she smiled setting her salad down on his desk and pulling Carlos ’ chair over to sit.

     Jay set his notebook down in front of her and pointed to the crude drawings he had copied of reactions, "I have no idea what any of this means or why it is what it is."

     “Ok well let's start with the basics.” she looked at the drawing, “What is this called?” she pointed to part of the drawing.

     "An atom, or an attempt at one at least."

     “Alright, I was looking for a specific part of the atom, but I’ll give you that one” she stabbed her salad taking a bite before sliding off her bracelet.

     "Um okay, neutral? Or whatever that word is for the part that doesn't have any power." Jay frowned looking at the bubble he had left blank on the atom, he really had no idea about this stuff.

     “Close, that is the Neutron,” she said raising an eyebrow as she pulled his hat off and put it on her head.

     "Hey now, stripping me was not a part of this deal."

     “Maybe I’m changing the deal a little” she smirked wickedly, as she fished out the kisses.

     "Evil Princess," he retorted sighing, he was looking less forward to this study session. Aka attempt to teach Jay anything.

     “Well when its in the name” she smirked, “how about this part?” she pointed to the drawing again.

     "Electron. The negative bits." Jay was pretty sure that was the name of the portions he labeled with a minus sign.

     “Good” she nodded stabbing more of her salad to her mouth, before she shrugged off her jacket, “Now... what is the other bit of electrons?”

     "Uh, prot... prot," Jay bit his tongue trying to catch the word, "Protons?"

     “Right again” she smirked pulling off his hat and tossing it towards the dresser before taking a bite, “Let see... how about this question,” she pointed to a question about electron counts.

     "Gibberish," Jay stated not even looking at the words his reading was shot for the day, "You read me what that is supposed to say and I will attempt to give you the correct answer."

 

     Evie put down her fork from the last bite before pulling off her left boot, leaving her sitting in Jay’s vest, her bra, her necklace, one boot and her underwear and stockings, “hmm, salads all gone”

     Jay groaned, "Good then we can stop cause I think I lost learning strip poker." He rolled his neck, bones popping, "I'm sorry I got such a thick skull for chem."

     “You got a lot of them right,” she shook her head, “Besides you got most of my clothes off.”

     "Fair, and it's not like I wear a lot of clothes to begin with," he shrugged, all but his vest tossed in a pile leaving him entirely naked. The silver locket having been palmed into his pants pocket before he took them off. 

     “And you were worried I wasn't wearing enough” she smirked moving into his lap.

     Jay's eyes flashed with magic and Evie's other boot joined the one she took off, "Better," he smirked, he may not like having magic but he was getting good at taking a piece or two of Evie's clothes. His hands rested on her hips before he could start rubbing at the scars his bracers usually covered.

     “For a start,” she nodded before shrugging Jay’s vest to the floor, “You want me to leave my jewel on? Tempting you as it hangs there between my tits?” she smirked shifting a little to slide her Bra off.

     "I don't steal from people that belong to me," He commented leaning back already hungry for her, "Plus it looks damn good between your perky tits. Unless you want me to take it, because it does tempt me, tempt me to want to watch it bounce around when you're riding me."

     “Then I think I need to lose the rest of my clothes” she leaned in taking a kiss.

     "Probably a good plan, before I rip them off," he replied giving her a kiss as he undid her bra without hesitation, "So what was the chocolate for?"

     “It was going to go next to each question and when you answered it right I would eat it” she said stepping off his lap and lost her stockings and panties.

     "Ah. Well now what are going to do with them?" He asked watching and near visually devouring her slow exposure of pale silky skin.

     “I thought I might tie you to that chair and ride you until you explode” she smirked holding up the stockings. Jay was touchy about being tied up so it was his choice.

     Jay had a quick flash of ropes around his wrists but smiled despite the gut wrenching feeling, "Making things interesting huh? Alright Princess, I'm at your mercy," she wasn't going to hurt him, stockings weren't ropes, he could get loose if he needed to.

     “Completely” she nodded reaching over and tying his hand with a loose single knot.

     He forced himself to breathe, shove everything into being okay, because he could do this. He tugged gently on the bindings and sighed a little, tight enough to hold him but nowhere near enough to restrain him.

      “You can get loose if you want” she assured swinging her leg over his lap.

     "I know, I trust you," Jay swallowed hard, "You taking your mom's brews? Cause I don't want to knock you up, I can't guarantee I'm still..." there was a quick knock on the door before it opened and closed behind the person. Jay's view was blocked by Evie, but whoever it was, was going to get a hell of a look at his cock as it rested against Evie's ass.

     “Oh... um...” Doug stuttered turning bright red. 

     Evie turned spinning off of Jay to stand behind him, “Doug? Did we have plans?” She swallowed watching him stammer and blush his eyes kept going back to Jay’s very naked form.

     “Oh uh, n... no” he shook his head, “I... I” he struggled to find the words.

     “Doug, honey breath” Evie took a step back around Jay to move closer to Doug. 

     “I... I’m so... so... sorry” he stammered his eyes drifting up to Jay’s face before he turned back to the door.

     Jay made a face and slipped the bonds, "Doug, just talk to Evie. I'll leave you two so you can focus." He walked into the bathroom trying to ignore the fact he hadn't lost interest in sex. But he was pretty sure right now he had ruined his Princess' relationship, and Doug may have been infected with the Isle issue of Jaysexuality.

     “I’m sorry, I should have knocked louder” Doug looked down at his hands.

     “Doug breath, why don’t you come sit down with me” she motioned to the bed as she picked up Jay’s shirt pulling it on.

     “I wasn’t... I didn’t know” Doug tried as he sat down next to her, “do you... like doing that?”

     “Its... yes, I enjoy sex” she looked down pushing her hair behind her ear waiting for his disgust at her.

     “That's... that's good. I mean... it's not good, but it... I'm suppose to be mad. I think I’m supposed to be mad” he floundered trying to figure out how he felt.

     “You have every right to be mad” she nodded.

     “Is this an Isle thing?” he asked reaching out and taking her hand.

     “Sort of, but no not really.” she shook her head again, “This is something that... I need and want and well mainlanders have a funny view of sex here”

     “You mean that we don’t really have... sex” Doug rubbed his neck, “I... I’m not mad, just not sure what to do”

     “What do you want to do? I mean I could show you” she let her fingers trail up his thigh.

     “NO,” he yelped jumping away. Evie pulled her hand back as if burned, “I’m sorry... you're beautiful and perfect and know... well so much more than me. I’m not ready for that” Doug tried to explain feeling her hurt at his yelp.

     “Doug its ok, I’ve kinda gotten use to...”

     “It's not you” he interrupted, “You're perfect but... I’m not, I mean I’m a dwarfs kid” he kissed her on the cheek, “I'm gonna go, you should... continue or whatever. I need to think... think a lot,” he stood quickly exiting the room.

     Jay walked out of the bathroom arms across his chest holding his arms tight, "Sorry I fucked everything up for you. I know how much he meant to you," he was expecting the anger, the same he had gotten from Harry when he found out about the deals he was making with Gil. So he hovered in the doorway of the bathroom for once not in the mood for anything because he had ruined another thing he gave a damn about.

     “I’m not sure that it’s fucked up or not” she looked at the door, “Are you ok?” 

     "Yeah I guess? It depends on you," Jay bit his cheek looking at the floor by his feet.

     “I’m not sure how I feel, but I don’t feel like I did with Mal walking out. I feel like... I don’t know, but I’m ok” she took taking his hand.

     "As long as you will be okay," Jay offered leaving his hand in hers, "I should have locked the door... which is stupid cause I used to do that all the time." He shook his head clearing his throat, "So, I guess we do something then?"

     “If you want, we can finish what we started” she squeezed his hand, “you couldn’t have known Doug was going to just walk in”

     "Still..." he let her guide him back to the chair and slid his hands back into place, "I could have done without anyone interrupting us... pup not included."

     “I know, it was... startling” she nodded sitting across his lap before taking his hand and placing them on her hips, “hold on” she leaned forward to bite at his neck.

     Jay shifted his grip and took a deep breath, "Holding on tight," he tipped his head back letting her do whatever she wanted with him. He had screwed up, so whatever she wanted to do with him.

     “Do you want to do this differently? I saw and I can feel how tense you are. I can call Carlos if you want” she sat back up, it wasn’t fun if he went all... domestic house cat on her.

     "No..." He gave her an apologetic look, "Guess my Wicked Princess is just going to have to seduce me, since you have me tied up and all." He needed to shake it off, she needed him, his shit had to take a backseat, she needed him to help her.

     “If you're sure, you know the same rules that apply to us apply to you. You can tell me you're not in the mood anymore” she said as she ground down on him.

     Jay snorted, "You trying to make a liar out of me?" He told them he was always in the mood and he was ready when they were. Letting his head tip back further he closed his eyes. If she was okay with the Doug thing he had no right to let it bug him. It wasn't his boyfriend or whatever, though the look over Doug had been giving him had been a little worrying. Evie shifted in his lap and he groaned despite himself as her wet slit ran up and down his rapidly hardening length. He pulled on the bonds as he went to kiss her.  

     “You are many things my prince of thieves, but a liar is not one of them” she snorted as she reached down to line him up so she could sink down on to him.

     He pulled on the bonds again as she slowly sank down over him. Agonizingly good it was almost painful after what felt like an eternity without her or any of them. He stretched catching her lips in a hungry kiss. He shoved his insecurities into the back corner of his mind and focused on the good feeling she was giving him. He would deal with himself at some later date, this was way more important.

     “Do you want to touch?” She breathed against his lips as she ran her fingers over his chest as she enjoyed the stretch.

     "Yeah, but I thought that was the point of tying me up so I couldn't touch. Cause you wanted to ride me," his eyes flickered with power and he sent his shirt across the room stripping her bare once more. He licked his drying lips, her fingers flitting across his skin sent shivers down his spine of the enjoyable nature.

     “Who said anything about your hands” she smirked leaning to whisper in his ear, “maybe I want you to use that tongue and lips of yours” she leaned back ghosting her fingers over his piercings before raising up and dropping back slowly.

     He wasn't ashamed of the hungry noise that coiled out of his chest, breath hitching at her touch, "As you wish my Wicked Princess," he groaned at the slow pace.

     “I am your Princess, I don’t need anything else as long as I have my prince of thieves and our pup” she sped up her movements.

     Jay leaned forward mouth on her neck and chest, kissing and nipping as the heart jewel bounced between her breasts. Planting his feet he rocked his hips into her movements, trying to encourage her to keep the pace. It was good, so good to have her back to herself like this.

     Evie arched her back reaching behind her to rest her hands on his knees, she picked up her pace again with a smirk.

     "Mm fuck, Princess," Jay groaned into her skin before latching onto one bouncing breast. He tugged at the bonds again, Doug's interruption fading, under the onslaught Evie was inflicting on him. Every motion perfect for him to continue to lose himself to the feelings.

     “Evil you feel so good” she gasped dropping down on him as she tipped her head back. This felt so good, it let her forget everything that had happened oddly enough.

     "You are perfect," he moaned kissing her other breast, not minding the necklace bouncing next to his cheek.

     “Perfect? I don’t think so but if you say so” she smirked twisting her hips a little on her next thrust down.

     Jay moaned at the sensation, "Perfect, perfect for me," his hips jerked up into her, "Perfect for our Puppy."

     “And you are perfect for me” she breathed moving against him as one of her hands came back to her front to play with her clit.

     He jerked his hips and watched as she played with herself, "I love watching you," he muttered kissing the center of her chest grabbing the arms of the chair. 

     “I know you do” she moaned, “That why this is a treat for you and me” she closed her eyes.

     "Close," he pulled against the bonds again using them to keep himself off the ledge. He wanted to hold off until she was ready.

     “Please, I want to feel you come undone” she groaned, “I won't last through much more of this”

     "Fuck... Princess," Jay moaned softly, "Not going to last..." he shuddered against her and let go.

     “Yes” Evie moaned grounding into him as her own release waved through her.

     Jay nuzzled her as she sagged into his chest, "I really need to eat," he commented resting his head against hers as her muscles slowly relaxed around him.

     “Call Carlos I'm sure he’d be happy to bring you something” she suggested.

     "Don't feel like moving," he grinned.

     Iago shuffled around the table and poked the red cellphone poking it with his claw until he dialed the DeVil boy, "The things I do for you kid."

     "I'll steal you some green nuts," Jay called to the macaw.

     “Um... Jay?” Carlos asked.

     "Yeah let's go with that," Iago said into the phone, "Bring food back with you. Jay needs food."

     “Ok... um what does he want?” he asked rolling his eyes at the squacky bird.

     “Whatever it is he normally eats? Kid is tied up at the moment and doesn’t want to move from under the blueberry princess,” Iago shook his head looking at the two still joined at the genitals.

     “Fine I’ll grab a few sandwiches and junk” Carlos said, “be there in like 15.”

     “Should we move to the bed,” Evie asked as she reached down undoing the knots.

     “Perfect,” Iago pecked the end call button, “Your dog boy is bringing you a sandwich. Could you two separate before he gets back?”

     Jay made a face, “Fine fine,” he grabbed the back of Evie’s thighs and picked her up, his length easing out of her with the move, “Bed it is princess. I remember someone saying she wanted to be fucked into a puddle,” he teased.

     “A puddle of pleasure” she agreed wrapping her arms around his neck.

     “These are the things I can totally do,” he nodded settling them down on the now massive bed, “Fill whatever whim you want filled,” he kissed her softly thumbs rubbing her hip bones, Doug a thing of the past already, he was too focused on her to care anymore about one Mainlander who couldn’t get it up for his seductress.

     “Well right now, I think we should rest until puppy gets here, after all I’d hate to spoil your dinner by letting you have dessert first” she smirk.

     “Fine,” he rolled his eyes teasingly before giving her another long kiss, “I can’t be greedy and have you all to myself, but I can be greedy and have you and Pup all to myself.”

     “You are ridiculous kid,” Iago muttered, “So the kid who barged in earlier, what’s his deal? Cause no one talks to one of you kids like that, not on my watch.”

     “Relax old man, some Mainlanders are complicated and it’s fine. Just leave it be,” Jay rubbed her hip as she shifted her weight moving off of him to sit next to him on the bed.

     “Doug is harmless” Evie nodded, it was true she hadn’t ever seen him really get angry let alone hurt anyone.

     "Harmless now," Iago flapped over the bed and walked up Jay's bare thigh, "But I've seen them turn on people just as fast."

     “I doubt he’s gonna turn on us, but we’ll be careful” Evie nodded, looking at the door as Carlos slipped in.

     “I bought ham, and roast beef” he said setting his bag down.

     Jay carefully picked Iago up, ignoring the beak grabbing his thumb and the claws in his pinky as he relocated the bird to his shoulder. Standing up Jay walked over to Carlos stooping slightly to kiss his cheek, "Thanks Pup. We didn't interrupt anything right?"

     “No, just screwing around on the computer” he shook his head, as he fished out the sandwiches.

     Jay nodded taking one near whoofing the whole thing down in a few bites, "So what's the game plan for tonight?" It wasn't uncommon for them just to cuddle on the bed talking until they fell asleep since the Mal incident.

     “Don’t know, I’m up for whatever” Carlos shrugged, “looks like you studied anatomy instead of chem” he joked.

     "Strip Chemistry for me with Princess eating a bite of salad with every piece of clothing. What's anata... whatever?" Jay asked finishing off the sandwich and started the second.

     “It’s the human body” Evie giggled from behind him.

     “So you're eating again?” Carlos looked hopeful, he really needed her to be ok again.

     “I don’t know” she shrugged.

     "She is eating in exchange for me getting correct answers. So work in progress. But she ate an entire salad, and I rewarded her progress with letting her tie me to the chair and ride me."

     “She tied you up?” Carlos raised his eyebrows, “And how was that”

     “Shut up Carlos” Evie flopped back on the bed.

     "I let her, it was good for a week without," Jay said finishing off the last sandwich.

     “And everything is still on one piece” Evie smirked, “Have to try harder next time”

     “Obviously” Carlos sat next to her on the bed.

     "Well you have to give me a few, but you can always try again without tying me up." Jay offered looking at his sitting on the bed.

     “We could” Carlos shrugged laying back so his head was on Evie’s stomach.

     “I’m tapped out for a little while” Evie said.

     "Well I got the stamina for all of us," Jay snickered looking them over and Iago squeezed his shoulder. 

     "Kid I am just stating you might have a problem."

     "Nah, just horny." Jay smiled.

     “You're always horny” the both laughed looking at him.

     "Well," Jay grinned crawling up the bed as Iago shifted to stand on the back of his shoulder, "Someone made a deal with me to experiment." He licked up the inside of Evie's thigh, "And then Carlos joined into our fun." He planted a hand beside her hip and kissed Carlos hard and hungry. "I take whatever good things I can get, and fucking is a whole lotta good feelings. And soon Princy will come and play with us. So Evie can teach him how to use that mouth of his properly."

     “You always get me the best presents” Evie smirked

     “He has no idea what he’s getting” Carlos chuckled taking another kiss.

     "He is going to get a whole lot of teaching. And I am going to pound that cute little ass of his," Jay husked against Carlos' lips, "And you two can play with him however you want."

     “We are going to have so much fun” Evie smirked.

     "Damn right we will," Jay agreed kissing her belly.

     “And when is this night of teaching and fun” Carlos asked.

     “Good question. Soon? I will talk it over with him and see when he wants to deliver on his end of the deal.” Jay tipped his head not knowing when his Princy had time to play with them.

     “When ever he’s ready I guess,” Evie shrugged letting her fingers run through Jay’s hair.

     Jay let his head drop against her skin and into the fingers, “He’s taking too long...”

     “It’s kind of a mainland thing I think” Carlos said looking at him.

     “Yeah the are so squirmy about sex,” Evie agreed scratching at his scalp.

     “We saw that today already,” Jay grumbled. “You two have a preference of when we want to do this?” 

     “Weekend” Carlos suggested, “And what did I miss?”

     “Weekend it is,” Jay nodded, if Evie wanted to say something she would.

     “Doug happened” Evie rolled her eyes.

     “Wait Doug... E?” he rolled over looking at her face.

     “He walked in... look we’re not thinking about it” she shook her head.

     Jay nuzzled her belly once more as her fingers dug into his scalp, “Leave it Pup.”

     “Fine, but I mean... what if he says something?” Carlos asked looking at Jay.

     “I will deal with him if he says anything,” Jay assured, “I’ll take the hit. I won’t let anything happen to you two.”

     “What happens to one of us happens to all of us” Evie looked at him.

     “I know Princess I know...” Jay would never leave them, not here without him to keep his eyes on them, especially not with Mal.

     “So then we are not worrying about it,” Carlos nodded.

     “No we aren’t,” Jay agreed hoping that Doug wouldn’t say anything, wouldn’t do anything until he figured his shit out. Considering the very compromising position the guy saw them in, it was going to be hard to combat considering no one believed a word Jay said. Apparently he sounded too much like his father.

     “I’m going to take a shower boys,” Evie sat up slowly displacing them.

     “Sure thing Princess,” Jay shifted feeling Iago shoving off his shoulder before he collapsed onto his back on the bed. 

     Evie stood grabbing a towel on her way into the bathroom.

     “Dude that must have been something for her to tie you up,” Carlos smirked.

     “She didn’t want me touching,” Jay would try and play it off but they knew better. They didn’t know the exact reason Jay hated being restrained, but they knew he didn’t like it. It only happened when he said it could happen and ever only when he was sober and able to tell himself it would be fine. 

     “And she left the jewel on, she was feeling like teasing today wasn’t she,” Carlos laughed, “It’s good to see her bouncing back.”

     “Yeah she did,” Jay grinned, “It is the best seeing it bounce between her tits. And she is, slowly but surely. Thanks for bringing the food again.”

     “Man you lose much more weight you're gonna weigh less than you did on the isle” Carlos snorted looking at him.

     Jay ran a hand down his chest, feeling the ribs just under his skin, “I don’t know about that... but I know with her eating more I don’t have to worry about her starving to death. I won’t let her do it alone, not here.”

     “I know you're trying to help her, but if you get weak from no food how does that help?”

     “Cause I lived most of my life on bits of stale bread and runoff...” Jay closed his eyes, “I lived through my hell already. I can help her through hers no matter what it takes.”

     “Just don’t go too far back into hell ok? It’s not a good thing,” Carlos mused folding his hands on his stomach.

     He gave a short bitter laugh, “Baba would have to be here for me to fall that far back into hell.”

     “I don’t want to think about our parents being here, Maleficent getting free was terrifying enough” Carlos shuddered.

     “Something we can both agree on,” He rolled onto his side curling up, they would see the horrible thing he was if his father was here. How willingly he submitted for just a breath of affection from his father, no matter how much it cost him.

     “I don’t know what I’d do if I ever saw her again. I mean she terrorized me and used me as a slave since before I can remember, but she’s still my mother” Carlos kicked off his shoes.

     “As long as nothing is in range and her car was missing, I’d punch her in the face,” Jay replied, “Crazy bitch...”

     “She is that” he nodded, “Sometimes I think I’m gonna wake up in that closet to her screaming about something”

     “You're not ever going back to that closet” Evie said softly as she exited the bathroom wearing Jay’s tourney jersey as she toweled her hair.

     “We’d never let you go back there,” Jay rubbed Carlos’ leg looking Evie over, “You look good in my clothes.”

     “I was a little cold” she shrugged hanging the towel over Jay’s chair before crawling into the bed between her boys.

     “We will just have to warm you up then,” Jay nodded uncoiling from his position and pulled her back into his chest holding her tight.

     “That’s better” she smiled as Carlos shucked off his shirt tossing it to the floor getting a tut from her before laying down and putting his arm over her and Jay.

     “Hey bird think you can get the lights?” Carlos asked.

     “Bird? Are you fucking kidding me? I am older than you brat! I des-”

     “Iago can you go flip the lights?” Jay asked giving the ‘evil’ minion doe eyes.

     The macaw shuffled unhappily, “Brats, I am surrounded by ungrateful brats,” despite that he went and turned off the lights before settling down on the pillow above the kids heads.

     “Such a pretty bird, Iago. I’ll get you extra nuts tomorrow,” Evie said softly as she burrowed into Jay’s chest.

     “Why is it all girls call me pretty? First the stabby bitch, then stabby bitch’s Pin, and now blueberry princess’, Iago grumbled.

     “Cause they like your color. Girls like bright colors...most of the time” Carlos explained, only to get an elbow from Evie.

     “It’s because you are an attractive bird, I like the colors too” Evie added.

     “Much better,” Iago puffed up, “I’m the most attractive bird you’ll ever meet, smartest too.”

     “And loudest,” Jay snickered even when Iago pecked him on top the head.

     “Good night boys” Evie chuckled

     “Night Princess,” Jay kissed the back of her head relaxing.

Chapter 89: Deliver (Mainland: March)

Notes:

Warning:
Just a touch of NSFW

     Aziz looked up startled as Jay plunked down in front of him at lunch, “Jay what?” 

     Jordan eyed the ex-thief in confusion as well as the rest of the table, Jay was almost never at lunch. Jay gave them all the same near emotionless smile as he leaned on the table before fixing his attention back on Prince Aziz.

     “You got some time this afternoon Aziz to help me with some school stuff?” Jay asked.

     “Yeah of course Jay, I have a meeting after school but Rufio will be in the room. Is that-”

     “That’s fine,” Jay nodded smacking his hands on the table and hauled himself to his feet before heading towards Evie and Carlos. 

     “You're just going to let that rat talk to you like that?”

     “Don’t call him that Rafi,” Aziz said firmly giving his friend a harsh look.

     “You know he is a thief Prince, the son-”

     “I think Jay knows who his father is better than all of us. If Prince Aziz wants to be his friend that is the prince’s business. Jay is a good kid, a brave kid with a big heart, and if you touch him I will send you back to Agrabah myself,” Jordan threatened giving the other male a dark look.

     Rufio sat down cautiously, “You guys good?” his eyes glancing over the three irritated looking Agrabah natives.

     “Would you mind keeping Jay occupied until after my meeting? He wanted some help with homework.”

     The leader of the lost boys blinked but shrugged, “Yeah sure I can keep your pet project occupied while you're busy.”

 

     Jay settled down at the table with Evie and Carlos, watching Evie eat for a moment before he started in on his own food too mentally tapped all ready. He wasn’t looking forward to the needed study session with Aziz tonight, but he also really needed to talk to him. 

     “So what are the plans for tonight?” Evie asked looking at the boys as she cut at a piece of chicken.

     “I have to give Dude a bath. Where ever he was hiding the last few days was filthy,” Carlos answered, as he spread Nutella on crackers.

     “Ok, and I have to finish a few dresses” she nodded leaving out that the one that she really needed to finish was Mal’s.

     "I'm headed over to Princy's room. Homework stuff and I need a talk with him. You two going to be okay while I'm out? I'll take the cell phone with me in case you need me. Don't be stubborn, if you need me text me and I will come and get you," he looked hard at Evie, he was the most worried about her because the girls here were vicious.

     “I’ll be fine” Evie assured, “And make sure you charge the phone”

     “I’ll be in our room. Only threat is Dude getting water everywhere” Carlos nodded.

     "I will," Jay nodded. Finishing off his food he stood collecting all their trash, "Come on you two let me take you to class." He was preparing himself for his history class, and after his math quiz he really wasn't in the mood for Mr. Lost and all the damned wariness that came with the class.

     “Right away we go” Carlos nodded standing as Evie gathered her plate and cup.

     Jay took her trash and tossed it alongside his and Carlos'. He could feel the eyes on his back, the school was starting to notice he was appearing more and more frequently. Nothing that could be done about it though, his needed him.

     “Maybe we should start eating in the room or library,” Carlos looked around, being stared at freaked him out.

     “It’s because I am here. If it makes you more comfortable we can eat where I normally hideout during lunch,” Jay offered as they walked towards class, “I don’t want to make either of you uncomfortable.”

     “It’s not uncomfortable, but maybe somewhere we can relax a little more,” Evie said as they walked.

     “Sure thing Princess,” Jay nodded understanding what she wanted as they stopped at her classroom, “Remember text me if you need anything.”

     “I will, go and try to be nice to Mr. Lost” she nodded heading into her class.

     “I haven’t had him yet, is he, ok?” Carlos looked at Jay.

     “She likes him,” he offered, “He just rubs me the wrong way.” Jay refused to talk about it, there were things he had gone through on the Isle he would never tell them about. Not now not ever.

     “Huh, well I’m suppose to have him next semester,” Carlos winced, “I guess I’ll see for myself.”

     “I’m sure you’ll like him. You like just about everyone,” he patted Carlos’ shoulder, “It’s just me is all.”

     “If you say so” he shrugged stopping at his classroom.

     Jay ruffled Carlos’ hair and left him at the room before heading to his history class. He stepped into the room and dropped into his chair in the back corner of the room. Mr. Lost was moving around the room dropping off graded homework. Jay stiffened when he set the paper on Jay’s desk with a smile.

     “Aside from still having some pretty bad handwriting, you are getting better at my class. I’m impressed by your dedication,” Jason Lost smiled at Jay’s blank look, “You’re doing a good job Jay.”

     Jay gave him a thin smile in reply, it dropped as soon as the ex-pirate turned away. But there was in fact an ‘A’ on top of his paper. A quick flip through he saw a few red marks and some comments he’d have Aziz read for him. But at least he had one really good grade in the bunch of average and below average ones he had been getting in this class. As Mr. Lost started up his lesson for the day, Jay jotted down what seemed important and copied down the, to him, unreadable words on the board. He still didn’t like the way his head started pounding before the class was up, or the way it made his handwriting even worse.

 

     Evie sighed as she entered her old room to get everything ready to deal with Mal.

     Mal looked up from her homework, “E...”

     “We need to get your dress finished” she said simply, she went to her closet and pulled out the bag with Mal’s dress in it.

     “We don’t have to if you are busy,” Mal bit her lip knowing things had changed, “Jay does know right? I don’t want him getting upset...”

     “We need to get it finished, I’ve finished most of the others. He knows I’m working on dresses for the ball” she removed the bag from the lilac dress.

     She nodded setting her homework to the side, “How... How are you?” she asked standing up.

     “I’m ok” she nodded, “Go ahead and put this on so I can start making adjustments and we can talk about embellishments and accessories.”

     “Sure,” Mal nodded pulling the dress on seeing Evie didn’t want to talk about it. Her once princess was gone, everything was gone. Jay had taken everything from her, he had stolen everything that had been hers. And for what? It would never bring him what he wanted. He would still be the idiot thief from the Isle who could barely read. She shook her head clearing the vicious thoughts away, that was her mother, not her. She had made a better life, tried to help the others and Jay couldn’t see the end goal, so she would press on and make sure they would never want for anything. No matter how unwilling Jay might be about changing his ways.

     “If your eyes are going to be green for the ball I’m going to have to change the color of your dress. That color green doesn’t go with much,” Evie put a hand on her hip as she watched Mal’s eyes flicker. For all her preaching at Jay about control she didn’t seem to have much right now.

     Mal flushed, “They won’t be green for the ball, or I hope not at least,” she took a deep breath and let it out slowly, “It’s just been mom and I in here. She’s getting on my nerves,” she glanced at the cage where the purple lizard sat glowering at the girls. “How is Carlos? Is everyone doing okay? It’s fine if you don’t want to talk about them, we just haven’t had a moment to catch up with Jay... being Jay.”

     “He’s protecting us, that's what he does. But tell me honestly do you really care how we are? Cause you seemed like you regretted ever knowing us that morning” Evie said pulling the corset tight.

     Mal gasped at the rough treatment, “I don’t regret knowing you. I... I should have never done what I did that night... I know what you want from me, but I don’t have feelings for you like that. And you deserve someone who cares about you like that as much as you care for them.”

     “Then you missed the whole point of what we did” Evie said, “Can you still breath?” she tied off the corset and started pinning the waist in, “Carlos is fine, lucky for him he was still too frightened of you to think that maybe you would be fully part of us.”

     “Just,” Mal cringed at the sharpness in Evie’s voice, “I was always a part of you. I looked after Jay. Brought him to you and Carlos when you needed what I couldn’t give you. I’m still trying to look after all of you. Even if he kicked me out, I won’t stop making sure we are all going to be okay here in Auradon.”

     “Then you should be happy Jay’s doing better in History” she moved around to look at the front of the dress, “Do you want a belt?”

     “Do you think I need one?” Mal asked glancing down at her waist, “Oh yeah? I am glad to hear that. I was worried he was going to get kicked from tourney because he wasn’t applying himself enough.”

     Evie stilled and looked at Mal with a raised eyebrow, “It wasn’t about applying himself, and you should have known that. He was struggling because the school on the Isle was shit, and his father was a piece of shit. But then again, we should have all adjusted as well as you I suppose. God damn it Mal,” she snapped, “We loved you, you were one of ours and we were suppose to be yours. But, you couldn’t even be bothered to make sure we were ok, to find out if we were struggling and why. Did you know what Carlos waited until the last second to get to class because he didn’t want to be in the halls with the crowd that’s why Jay walks him to class. We decided to be good and it was like poof suddenly we should all be just fine. Well we’re not,” she went and grabbed a darker purple ribbon and tied it around Mal’s waist.

     Mal winced looking away, “Jay doesn’t talk to me. Never has really,” she said softly, “I haven’t adjusted that well, I just keep trying to do my best is all. I was counting on Jay to keep doing what he was good at, looking after you two so I could focus on making sure we would all be okay. I know you're not fine. I know you aren’t eating, which is why Jay isn’t eating either. I also know he’s been drinking more, way more than he ever did on the Isle.”

     “It's easier to get here even if we aren’t of age,” Evie shrugged, “He is taking care of us, he never stopped but he looked up and realized that you weren’t there and we needed you. You abandoned us, and then acted like we did something wrong. I’ve wanted you since the moment I understood what sex was, maybe even before that. But you never seemed to want me.” she sat on her bed, “Do you want to try heels or boots with that?” she just felt so defeated, dealing with Mal’s dress used to be a highlight of this, but now she would almost rather deal with Chad and Audrey.

     “I never wanted anyone like that,” Mal bit her bottom lip, “Still don’t either. I know it’s me, I know exactly why I’m like this. That’s why I never wanted to give you false hope that we could be more than friends.” she sighed softly, “I don’t know, which ones do you think would look better? We both know I have terrible fashion sense without you.” Mal could try and make it like they used to be, because she could tell this was wearing on Evie.

     “It should be heels but well you don’t have a lot of practice with them,” Evie tilted her head, “You could have just said it was fun, but it wasn’t for you. You didn’t have to walk out on us,” her eyes studied Mal before grabbing her own strappy heels and holding them out.

     Mal took the heels from Evie and carefully slid them on, “Jay wasn’t exactly giving me a choice that morning,” Evie hadn’t seen the murderous rage on their generally smiling thief’s face, “I... I was wrong. I should have stood my ground, but I didn’t and there isn’t anything I can change about that. Jay would never give me another chance to even talk to him about it.”

     “You... you hurt me. When we were in the bathroom. Jay was reacting to that” she said softly, “How do those feel?”

     “Like if I step wrong I am going to break something,” Mal laughed bitterly, “I hurt me too...” 

     “So what do we do?” Evie sighed looking at her, “Should probably stick with boots then. Don’t need to ruin the night with a broken ankle.”

     “Maybe something with less heel?” Mal offered, “I don’t think there is anything I can do. I screwed up big time and I know there is no making up for it.”

     “Well for now let’s get this finished. I’m thinking that over your skirt a layer of lace the same color as the belt” Evie stood circling, “Maybe a closed in low heel."

     "Yeah that sounds good but whatever you think is best." Mal submitted to the fact she had lost Evie. Jay had won, all his bravado had finally paid off, the cockroach walked away with everything.

     “Right I’ll take it with me and get it finished up” Evie nodded, “Now accessories. What do you want?”

     "Simple stuff, maybe a bracelet and a necklace? I don't need or want much really." She ran a subconscious hand over her blonde hair. It was been a shock to Ben, so she explained it as best as she could. A simple spell went sideways and she got some very new hair.

     “Sapphires should look nice and they are Ben’s colors,” she mused, “Maybe a headpiece as well.”

     "Okay sure if you think that will work," Mal nodded agreeably trusting Evie's judgements.

     “With the new look, you should probably stick to red or pink lipstick,” Evie advised, “I’ll take care of your make up the day of though. So if you want to shimmy out of that, I’ll take it and get it done.”

“Yeah of course,” Mal moved carefully out of the dress and handed it to Evie and with her shoes, “Thank you for this, for everything. Even just tolerating me long enough to get me through this. If you need anything just let me know, okay? I will be here.”

     “I’ll get this back to you by the day of the ball. You’ll look perfect,” Evie nodded rehanging the dress and closing the bag.

     “Okay... maybe we can get breakfast this weekend? Catch up?” Mal offered wanting to talk to anyone sane that wasn’t a Mainlander.

     “You don’t have plans?” she asked looking at Mal, they hadn’t actually eaten together in months.

     “If you say yes, I will clear everything off my schedule. I need to talk to anyone sane.” Mal pleaded.

     “Jane a little much to handle all the time?” Evie smirked

     “Jane, Audrey, Chad... All of them...”

     “I’ll see what I can do, Jay’s in super protective mode,” Evie flipped her hair over her shoulder.

     “Does he have a different mode?” Mal shot back because Jay really didn’t have a different setting in her mind, “But thank you. Just let me know.”

-*-

     Jay didn’t bother with the door. He never had before so why would he now. Best of all Aziz had stopped bothering to lock the window altogether. So he slipped inside and closed it behind him, “Hey Rufio.”

     The Neverlander waved shortly, “Sup Jay. So honest, do I need to vacate the room when Aziz gets in? Because I will.”

     “Why would you need to vacate your own room?” Jay frowned slightly setting his bag down and started making tea for his Princy.

     Rufio leaned back in his chair, “Cause you started fucking him?” he grinned as Jay paused for a minute before shaking his head, “Am I wrong? The sheet washing, the stiff legged walking, just a really good dream?”

     “You know I was under the impression you Lost Boys weren’t that kind of lost,” Jay commented looking over his shoulder as he stirred a spoon of honey into the hot water.

     “Do you know how long I have been 16?”

     “No…”

     “Longer than you’ve been alive,” Rufio grinned as Jay blinked, “So yeah I know all about sex, and all the signs related to it. So you going to deny me the satisfaction of telling him for months he has the hots for you?”

     “I guess not?” Jay snickered turning back to the tea picking it up and set it in the place Aziz normally sat before he busied himself with cleaning up the area he was working in out of habit, “You want to leave us unwatched I won’t complain.”

     “Sure thing, I would hate to get in the way of some hormonal teenagers,” Rufio teased as the door opened, “Alright you kids have a good time, I’m going to go to the library.”

     Aziz looked confused as Rufio slipped past him, “Wait what?”

     “He is leaving us be,” Jay explained leaning back against the window, “Made you tea. Looks like I wasn’t wrong in thinking you would need it.”

     He laughed shortly dropping into the chair, “Yeah it was a long meeting. Never thought it would end. Now you have homework?”

     “Yeah and we need to talk.”

     The mug lowered and the Prince looked at the oddly serious Jay, “Okay...?”

     “You owe me, you planning on paying up?”

     “The Isle night thing?”

     “Yeah that thing.”

     He sighed softly, “How about this weekend? I mean is that okay with you, do I-” he sagged as Jay kissed him long and slow.

     “Come by the room, let yourself in. Now you get me through History and I will relax you.”

     Aziz hummed against his lips, “Oh yeah? Just like that Jay, no preamble.”

     Jay bit the Prince’s bottom lip, “Stop using words I don’t know.”

     “Sure Jay.” he winced as Jay pulled back, “Give me what you got.”

     Jay pulled out his textbook and his assignment, passing it off to Aziz with a patient look. He watched the golden eyes flick over the page nodding as he read before those eyes returned to him.

     "Okay the short of it is he wants you to write a few paragraphs on specific naval battles that took place in 1812 and provide details on why they were important."

     "Okay..." Jay drawled and looked at the textbook, "Sea battles in 1812..." he flipped to the back of the textbook and looked at the index hoping the pages were among the labeled there.

     Aziz watched Jay flicked back and forth between the pages curiously, "So what exactly are you looking for?"

     "The number on the side not for page count."

     "And what are you going to do if you can’t find it there?"

     "Have you tell me what I am actually supposed to be looking for..."

     He sipped at his tea before replying, "Well what navy battles have you been learning about?"

     "Um..." Jay looked up at him uneasily because he couldn't remember the names to save his skin.

     "Right. Did you take notes like I asked you to?" Jay handed him a notebook and he flipped through the messy handwriting Jay had at least had taken the time to date. He pinched the bridge of his nose, he really wished Jay was less knee jerk about everything because he really wanted to ask about how he read his own notes.

     "You can't read them can you..." Jay bit the inside of his cheek watching the golden eyes slowly move across the page, brow furrowing slightly.

     Aziz set his tea down and flipped the notebook upside down, "Not entirely wrong. Don't get all pissy when I say this; Your brain and the way it works is absolutely confusing." He righted the notebook once more continuing his deciphering.

     "Why?" He bit back the hostile tone as best as he could.

     "Half way through a word, your brain informed your hand that it was writing letters the wrong way up. And then three sentences later realized it oopsed and told your hand to flip them back," Aziz explained, "It just makes it harder for me to figure out what you were writing because I can’t do the upside down and backwards thing in Common. Arabic sure, common not so much."

     "Why is that?" Jay tilted his head curious.

     "Because I need to translate what I'm reading mostly. Yes, I've been reading and speaking common for years, but I still have moments when I just space on what a word is. My default is to read around the word and find the context of the sentence without the word," Aziz explained as he tilted the notebook back and forth, "What is that supposed to say?" He sat it down and pointed.

     Jay looked at his own messy handwriting, "It's... it's... it's a name. I think."

     Aziz rubbed his face with a dry laugh, "Okay give me the textbook. We'll do it from there and not your notes."

     "I'm making it worse aren’t I?" Jay could tell his effort to relax the older male was coming undone. The tension returning to his eyes and shoulders, the subtle shift of annoyance in his expression.

     "It is fine Jay. You are trying, you are doing well. You aren't making anything worse," Aziz gave him a soft smile, he didn’t want Jay to feel like he had failed to deliver. Jay was doing his best, it was just slow progress.

     Jay looked down at the table at Aziz flipped through the textbook, "I... I'll try harder..." He flinched as Aziz set a hand on his.

     "You are doing a good job Jay. I promise," he squeezed the calloused and scarred hand, "Now I am going to read a few paragraphs to you. Take notes and tell me if I am going too fast. We'll do that first, then I will let you work on your homework. Everything will be fresh in your head and I'll be here to help you with questions or if you need more information for something."

 

     Jay handed his completed sheet to Aziz and stood as the older boy read it over and corrected whatever was wrong. He went about making a fresh mug of tea and double checked that everything was in place for later. It was his job to relax the prince. He bit back a grin cleaning up, it was funny, Aziz had started this homework deal full intending to not have more than hugs as physical contact. Now that they were months in, Aziz had a better deal, in Jay’s opinion, than Penny ever had.

     He glanced over his shoulder, maybe he should do it. He had a single piece of jewelry left that matched his other claiming tokens. He wanted it to be Penny’s but the longer they interacted, the further she seemed to pull away from him. Closing the honey, he stirred the warm water, would it work? Would Aziz understand what it meant? Would he know that this was the extent, the outer limit, of what Jay could give him? That Jay would do everything in his power and then some to make sure he had everything he needed, that he'd forever be protected?

     Jay closed his eyes and took a deep breath, his couldn’t decide this for him. How deep did the want to protect the Prince, his father’s enemy, go? He settled the mug of tea down and received a soft distracted thank you, the words that held such a deeper appreciation under them. The want to taste it, the things on Aziz’s lips, sizzled to the surface and Jay nodded to himself. He'd do it, he would claim the Prince of Agrabah, son of his father’s enemies, and damn the consequences.

     "Alright everything looks good. I fixed some of your spelling mistakes and did some general editing, so it should be good to go," Aziz leaned back watching Jay finish tidying. "Are you okay?"

     Jay looked at him, "I'll be better in a little bit, when I know you're finally relaxing Princy." He stalked around his prey and pulled the chair away from the table leaning down to kiss him.

     Aziz slid a hand around the back of Jay’s neck, relaxing into the familiar movements. He let Jay spread his knees wider, let those talented fingers pop the button of his slacks, let them ease into his briefs and pull him free. A noise of disappointment left his lips as Jay pulled away to sink to his knees between his spread thighs.

     Jay smirked stroking the hardening flesh in his hand, "Patiences," he hummed before sliding his mouth down over the entirety of the half hard length.

     He was rewarded by a low moan as the length swelled in his mouth. Better, he decided looking up at Aziz’s face through his lashes. Careful of where his hips were, he pulled Aziz closer and hollowed his cheeks, sinking to the base of his soon to be Prince's cock. He really enjoyed blowing the golden eyed prince.

     Aziz groaned hands sinking into Jay’s hair, the other’s mouth wrapped around his skin as his hands gripping his hips. Jay pulled off slow, wet and sinful with an amused look as he leaned in pressing a kiss to Aziz’s covered sternum.

     “You want more?” Jay asked as the other’s hips rolled trying to find friction again.

     “Yes?” Aziz asked tentatively not sure what he was agreeing to.

     “Strip, get on the bed for me.”

     Aziz bit his lip and nodded, “Okay,” he waited until Jay moved back and pulled his vest off. 

     Jay watched as his mainland prince stripped for him and laid down on the bed for him. His prince splayed out wanting and waiting as he watched as his Prince flushed under his attention, “You comfy princy?”

     “Would be nicer if you were over here,” he offered tentatively unsure of what his VK wanted from him.

     “Soon Princy, just be patient,” Jay smirked undressing, “You miss me?”

     “I um... maybe? I don’t know what you want to hear...”

     Jay snorted, “Whatever you want to tell me,” he stripped crawling up onto the bed, “Really I have heard a little of everything before,” he licked up Aziz’s thigh and slid his hand around his length. “You want to have another go like last time?”

     “Yeah,” Aziz shifted his hips looking at Jay as he grabbed the lube, “Thank you for this...”

     “You’ll thank you me when I am done de-stressing you Princy,” Jay grinned easing himself over Aziz’s prone form.

     Aziz hummed rolling his eyes and pulled Jay down for a kiss. He was really beginning to enjoy these ‘destressing sessions’ Jay kept insisting on.

Chapter 90: Mainlander in Isle Night (Mainland: March)

Notes:

Warning:
-NSFW
- Under age drinking
- blurry age consent
-Foursome
-mentions to cannibalism

     Aziz had made the deal. Jay had held up his end, and now he had to do his part. What the hell ever that actually meant because Aziz was not sure what Isle night consisted of. He licked his lips and double checked the hallway before picking the lock. Letting himself in he locked the door behind him to Jay's clapping.

     "Good job Princy, though next time a little quieter," Jay was sitting on the edge of a table feeding a very distinct red macaw by hand.

     "That's-"

     "Let me guess the son of Aladdin all grown up," Iago squawked fixing him with a seething look.

     "Leave it Iago." Jay stated firmly when the Macaw opened his beak again, "I said leave it."

     The command gave Aziz a glance into the presence Jay had once been on the Isle. Clearing his throat he noticed the beds pushed together, and the very clear presence of Evie staying there. Something had happened. Something very clearly had changed that he and everyone else hadn't noticed. He glanced at Jay.

     "Okay what changed in your allies arrangement?"

     Jay lifted a brow seemingly impressed, "I kicked Mal out and took over. I can handle her taking her shit out on me, I won't tolerate her doing it to mine."

     "Yours...?"

     “It’s an Isle thing, sort of,” Evie answered looking at Aziz with a smirk across her lips.

     “Jay protects us from stuff and takes care of us. So in isle terms we Belong to him,” Carlos explained, “But not in a bad way, more in the 'he deals with our problems' way.”

     “And you all are okay with this?” Aziz didn’t understand but he wasn’t used to this ‘ownership’ thing either.

     “Perfectly, he’s ours as much as we are his. He is my prince of thieves, and masterpiece of art,” Evie eyed Jay up and down.

     “Don’t get her started she’ll just get Jay riled up and we’ll be stuck watching as they fuck” Carlos warned, “Sandwich?”

     “Too late,” Jay grinned shamelessly as he stood up, “Me claiming them, meant no one would touch them. You finish up the bitch’s dress Princess?”

     Aziz looked over the three of them, so he wasn’t wrong, Isle night meant sex and liquor if the table of bottles was any indication. “Um sure Carlos.... As long as it works for you three, it’s fine with me.” And it was, if it made Jay happy he was happy. He had spent time feeling the scars on his younger friend’s back and he knew what they were from, the only time he had ever seen scars like he felt were at home. They were from being whipped, not that he would ever tell a soul, not even Jay that he knew. He had a feeling if Jay wanted people to know, he would tell them. He turned and jumped seeing Jay right beside him. When the hell had the kid even moved? Jay just smirked and thumbed his chin before walking past him to the table of liquor. 

     “Yes it’s finished ready to be delivered for tomorrow,” Evie nodded, Mal’s dress had turned out perfectly. She reached over the table to grab the bottle of schnapps.

     “We have turkey, ham, and roast beef which do you want?” Carlos asked motioning to the table.

     "Turkey please," Aziz smiled distracted and confused, what was tomorrow? He had been so caught up in school and meetings that he didn't even have time to help Jay after last time.

     "Good," Jay nodded popping open a bottle of rum, "Everything going good with your chess stuff pup?" He grabbed a ham sandwich off the table for himself and took a long drink of the rum.

     “Yeah, Doug’s a little jittery but he’s still nice as ever.... actually super weird I was expecting a cold shoulder or something but nope” Carlos bit into a roast beef.

     “That’s just Doug for you.” Evie nodded as she nibbles on a ham sandwich, “Hasn’t said anything about it to me either but he still says hi and we talk fashion. Speaking of what are you wearing to Ben’s birthday?” She looked at Aziz.

     Jay nodded taking another drink, "Good cause every time I pass him in the halls he turns bright red and looks at his feet."

     Aziz shook his head, nope he did not want to know, "Ben's birthday? To be honest I haven't really thought about it. Too many council meetings about foreign affairs and new policies they want to put in place."

     “It's tomorrow, are you telling me you have nothing to wear?” Evie looked almost horrified at the thought, “I can make something, I’ll have it ready by the time of the party, it will have to be a little simpler then I’d normally make” 

     Aziz smiled softly placing a hand on her shoulder, "I have plenty to wear, promise. If it would make you feel better, you are more than welcome to raid my closet. I can't believe his birthday is tomorrow, I completely lost track of time. Jay slow down on that bottle will you?"

     Jay started in on his second sandwich and looked at his Princy, "Why? You could just start drinking with us, and let Princess make you whatever she wants."

     “Man she may move into your closet or burn all your clothes depending on what she finds” Carlos laughed dodging a olive she threw at him.

     “I would never live in a closet” Evie shook her head, “Want some?” she offered the bottle of Schnapps.

     "Some of the clothes in there, I'd help her torch." Aziz smiled, it was good to see them relaxing around him because he wasn't entirely sure if they would, "Not a big drinker but sure," he took the offered bottle and took a small drink nose crinkling at the fumes before he took another sip.

     Jay watched his expression and smirked, "That would be worth watching for sure."

     “I think someone would notice if he was walking around naked” Carlos looked Aziz up and down, “but then again that may not be a bad thing”

     “No it may not” Evie agreed her fingers running up Aziz’s arm.

     Aziz blushed, "I'm sure someone would complain," he caught Evie's hand in his unsure of what to do as the three of them looked at him so intensely.

     "No one in this room," Jay stated tapping the bottle in Aziz's hand silently informing him to keep drinking, "Hell we might never let you have clothes if they like you without them."

     Aziz tipped the bottle back to hide his embarrassment behind. When he lowered it he coughed a little, "I don't think I was ready for your Isle night..."

     “Oh then maybe we can help with that” Evie smirked her other hand spread over his chest, “After all I have a few things I want to teach you.”

     He looked at Jay worried blinking in confusion when he saw the schnapps bottle in his hand.

     "Well go on. I gave them permission, you wanna touch back that's fine. But this was part of the deal," Jay nearly purred watching his Princy and Princess.

     "I..." Aziz started looking down at Evie as he caught Jay finish the rum bottle out of the corner of his eye, "I don't want to interfere with your," he gestured, "Thing with them. But if you want this..." he blinked hard, alcohol fuzzing his mind with warmth. As long as everyone wanted it what was the harm, they could give consent.

     “You're not, we have permission to play” Evie smirked, “Now I think we both have a little too much on."

     He nodded slowly, "Yeah clothes make it a little hard for what you want to do. At least what I am guessing you want to do." He let her take the lead, Jay would interfere if things went too far. He trusted them. Glancing up he looked at Jay checking to make sure it was okay and got distracted by the flickering red gold in his eyes.

     "Go Princy, you don't want to upset my Princess," Jay shooed him as he slid his arm around Carlos' hips.

     “Why don’t you work on yours and I’ll give you a little show” she stepped back slowly popping the buttons along the side of her dress.

     Aziz gave himself a shake following her, his hands easing his jacket off and pulled his shirt off. He set both on the end of the bed, eyes focused on Evie.

     Jay smiled watching them, seemed like his Mainland prince still hadn't noticed the necklace. Then again Evie was very distracting.

     “Oh look at that chest” Carlos blinked that was a built mainlander.

     “Very yummy” Evie smirked pulling her dress off completely and dropping it. Leaving her standing before Aziz in a set of red and yellow lace bra and panties. She’d made them last week hadn’t even shown Jay, it had taken a little to find the little snake charm attached to the front hanging delicately under her bust.

     Jay gave a low moan looking Evie over, "My colors look good on you Princess," he breathed feeling exceptionally turned on at the sight of her like that.

     His mouth went dry, and he nearly tripped pulling his pants off, "You look amazing." As he straightened he moved closer wanting to touch, "May I?"

     “That’s kind of the point” she smirk sitting on the bed.

     He bent over, cradling the back of her head and kissed her gently. He knew what to do with women, Jay not so much. His free hand smoothed down her soft skin feeling the invisible to the eye marring there.

     “Someone’s done this before” she said against his lips as she laid back all the way.

     "Isn't my first rodeo thanks," he gave her a teasing smile, "But you would be my first Princess." He eased himself over her across the pushed together beds making a note to buy them a set of king sized sheets. Keeping a hand on her waist he returned to kissing her.

Jay pulled Carlos in front of him, nuzzling his neck as they watched the pair. Aziz still in the tight grey boxer briefs, which pulled across the strong lithe muscles of his legs.

     “Then please show me what you know. And maybe I’ll teach you something new,” She nipped at his lower lip as she reached back to unclasp her bra.

     "Let me," Aziz offered pulling her chest towards his, hand undoing the clasp with ease as he guided the delicate dual colored cloth off her. He was sure he knew less than her given the things Jay had done to him, "I would be happy to learn a trick or two from you Evie." He set the bra aside and kissed across her jawline hand easing her back down and danced across her bare breasts.

     “Oh I’ll teach you more then a trick or two” she smirked

     “She’s definitely got more then two” Carlos snorted.

     "Got a whole list of tricks," Jay agreed hand up under Carlos' shirt as he kissed freckled skin.

     Aziz licked his lips before returning to hers. His hands easing the panties off of her before he shed his own. The alcohol making him not mind the other two watching him. All he needed was a condom and he'd get this started.

     “Hey E, I thought he was suppose eat you before he fucked you” Carlos called to her as he grabbed a bottle of vodka from the table.

     “Carlos shut up, I’ve got a prince on top of me,” Evie rolled her eyes.

     "Well Princy?" Jay asked and Aziz looked at him all doe-eyed from alcohol, "You ever eat a girl out before?" A slow shake of his head, "Well your learning how today, Princess why don't you teach him?"

     Aziz eased his hand between her supple thighs, he had fingered a girl before, curious but she had pushed his hand away. So he tried it with Evie, careful and curious as he dipped between her damp folds.

     “Don’t be shy,” Evie smiled reaching down to guide his hand to where she wanted it, “how about a closer look” she pushed on his shoulder with her other hand.

     Aziz let her push him down and he adjusted himself around in the new position. His fingers stroking her folds as they glistened from her dark blue hair and arousal. Eat. They said eat, which was one of those 'dirty' things he only saw women do in porn. Granted Jay, Jay was damn good at it. He spread her lips and gave her clit a tentative lick. 

     “Oh you managed to find it without any instruction” Evie gasped bring her leg over his shoulder.

     Aziz took that as a good thing and continued to patiently lick the small nub. He was silently thanking his human anatomy class. Not that it had ever been use for much else. Unsure if there was something else he was supposed to do he shifted his shoulders to better accommodate the leg she tossed over his shoulder.

     “You can suck on it too,” Evie advised, “put your tongue inside” her fingers going through his hair.

     He did as she asked subconsciously pushing against her hand as he suckled the bud like a nipple before pulling away and flicking his tongue inside of her. It was an odd sensation, his face pressed against her wet skin but he liked the taste of her, though that could have been the alcohol, he wasn't sure.

     “Oh, that’s so good, such a good prince,” she gasped tipping her head back.

     Aziz hummed happily, he could work with that kind of feedback, especially when he wasn't sure what the hell he was doing. So he alternated between licking inside of her and licking or suckling her clit when he needed to breathe.

     Jay had enough waiting and being patient while his Princy was face buried in his Princess. Particularly when those hips of his were raised slightly, swaying temptingly back and forth. He nudged Carlos, "We should probably join them soon."

     “Yeah... I might come in my pants,” Carlos said without thought as he licked his lips.

     "We don't want that, that's no fun for us when we can't see you cum untouched," Jay smirked pushing Carlos towards the bed as he stripped and grabbed the lube. He was going to see how his Princy would do being distracted.

     Carlos quickly shed his clothes before looking at Jay, he wanted to touch princy but he didn’t want to interrupt Evie.

"Go ahead Pup," Jay nodded standing close by, he could wait a little longer if all of his wanted to explore their newest addition.

     Aziz looked up slowly at the deep rich tone in Jay's voice. The flickering had solidified in a solid red gold glow, and the carnal hunger on his face made him shudder in anticipation.

     "You weren't told to stop Princy," Jay smirked at the attention his mainlander gave him once he was in sight. As Aziz's flushed face buried itself back into work Jay leaned down catching Evie's mouth in a hungry kiss.

     “He’s so good with his tongue,” Evie moaned.

     Carlos watched Jay and Evie as he ran his fingers along Aziz’s smooth skin.

     "Oh yeah?" Jay smirked, "Warms my black heart that you like his mouth Princess. You're welcome to it whenever you want." He kissed her again, it was going well. So much better than he hoped for.

     Aziz shifted pressing closer to the exploring hand, encouraging Carlos to touch all he wanted. Jay said it was fine and Aziz really didn't care at the moment. Whatever they wanted, he could say no if he was uncomfortable but he doubted he would. 

     Carlos ran his hand over his side before going under to feel that chest, he found his nipple and started rolling it.

     “He’s a natural at this, I’m surprised the girls aren’t lining up outside his door” Evie panted looking at Jay with hazy eyes.

     "All mainlander girls are vanilla Princess," Jay shrugged as Aziz let out a sharp gasp head pulling away from Evie. He gave Carlos an amused look, "That sounded like he enjoyed whatever you just did."

     “Go figure he likes having his nips played with,” Carlos said pulling lightly.

     “Oh... princy put you mouth back just a little more” Evie tightening her fingers in his hair.

     Aziz panted trying to catch his breath as a surge of want washed over him before he let Evie drag his head back between her thighs. Who was he to deny a gorgeous woman what she wanted? 

     Jay licked his lips pulling away from Evie and settled down behind Aziz guiding him to his knees. He smirked at Carlos and Evie, "Just focus on my Princess, Princy." He slicked his fingers and eased them inside to Aziz's satisfied groan. Wicked grin on his lips Jay slowly worked on their mainlander.

     “Just a little bit more” Evie advised throwing her other leg over his shoulder as she tried to raise her hips to his face.

     Aziz moaned into her as he gripped her hips trying to anchor himself to anything as Jay and Carlos started working him over. No Jay said focus, he had to focus. He eased his fingers into her carefully as he sucked on her clit, similar to the thing Jay had first done to him when he caved to Jay's near overpowering willpower.

     “Yes, Evil just like that” Evie yelled as the coil in her lower stomach exploded.

     Aziz lowered his mouth and eased his fingers away from her core as he lapped up her release. Cleaning her up before stretching enough to rest his forehead against her lower belly with soft groans and sharp breaths. They were driving him crazy, he wanted to cum so bad.

     “Not bad Princy,” Carlos smirked letting go of his nipple and dragging his fingers back to run over Jay’s arm and kissed the older isle boys shoulder.

     Jay tipped his head and kissed Carlos' forehead, "Well Princess, was he everything you hoped a Prince could be?" He rubbed the spot and Aziz keened pushing back with a desperate whine. "Something wrong Princy?"

     “There’s always room for improvement, but with practice comes skill” Evie sighed petting Aziz’s head.

     "Practice," he nodded panting, "Would you quit teasing Jaaaaay?" The thief's name was dragged out as he twisted his fingers before pulling his hand away.

     "Needy aren't you," Jay teased, "Princess got her turn, you want to play with him Pup before I give him what he wants?"

     “Think I may play with him while you give him what he wants” Carlos grinned reaching down and wrapping his fingers around Aziz’s hard length.

     “Oh lucky prince double play” Evie giggled, “I’ll get out of your way Carlos.”

     Aziz hummed out a noise of enjoyment at the touch, hips rocking up into the grip. At least until Jay pulled him up against his chest.

     "Not yet Princy," he smirked, "Let them get situated first. Patients, remember?"

     “Stay like that” Carlos said dropped down moving his hand down by the base before licking around the head.

     Aziz stiffled a wanting noise head kicking back into Jay's shoulder.

     Jay made a soothing noise running a hand up the fit smooth torso, "Don't move, let Pup do all the work." Pinning Aziz's chest in place Jay guided himself inside his Princy and settled in place feeling the mainlander shaking as he tried not to move, "Feed you a little liquor and you are all over following orders," he smirked.

     Aziz swallowed hard, dizzy with sensations, "Trust you..." he croaked, "Please..."

     "Patients Princy, patients," Jay was focused on Carlos, waiting for when the younger Isler was ready.

     Carlos took the head into his mouth sliding down slightly moving his free hand to bounce Aziz’ balls. He hummed looking up at Jay with the ok.

     Jay nodded and slowly rutted into Aziz knowing his Princy wasn't going to last as hands clambered at his skin desperate for something to hold onto. He bit gently at the junction of his neck and shoulder as Aziz moaned.

     "Fuck, fuck, fuck..." Aziz chanted between their names overwhelmed by them like this. He squeezed his eyes shut, "Car... los, clo...se." still enough sense to not just blow his load without warning.

     Carlos smirked around him flicking his tongue across the slit as he hummed again letting his lips vibrate.

     Aziz let out a low shout as he came, body locked tight vision whiting out. Jay worked him through it before stilling as he held up Aziz's loose limbed form. The thief glanced over to Carlos with a grin, "Nice work Pup."

     “He tastes pretty good,” Carlos smirked wiping his chin with the back of his hand.

     "Doesn't he?" Jay grinned staying where he was easing him and Aziz to sit on his heels, "You going to be okay Princy?"

     "Brain mush..." he panted with a groan, "You didn't..."

     "No, you were riding the edge a little harder than expected." Jay shrugged, "I can lay you down next to Princess while I work Pup and I off."

     "Yeah okay... I'm all floaty..."

     Jay snickered, "That happens, now be my good princy and cuddle my Princess."

     Aziz hummed letting Jay all but pour him down next to Evie as he watched Jay and Carlos with lazy blinks. 

     Evie curled her back up against Aziz’s chest, wrapping his arm over her waist placing his hand over one of her breasts, “they are fun to watch” she said softly.

     Carlos whined looking at Jay, “come play with me?”

     "Always Pup, how you want to play tonight?" Jay asked moving back to him stroking Carlos' length.

     “I want you on top of me” he said tilting his head.

     "I think I can do that," he purred crawling over Carlos and swallowed him down. A little preparation and Jay would pound them both to quick bliss.

     Aziz watched, fingers squeezing Evie's breast gently as he cuddled her, "I can see why," he nodded watching, "Jay called me his... am I?"

     “Yes, just like we are. He even gave you a mark to show any one that knows what it means that you're under his protection” she said softly, “Carlos and I wear red, and well I made that special set of lacies,” she stroked his hand.

     Carlos gasped wiggling, “Oh so... please Jay.” 

     “He did?” Aziz’s brow furrowed trying to think of anything Jay may have given him recently coming up empty he smiled kissing the top of her shoulder, “And you looked fantastic in them. The snake charm was a very nice touch.”

     Jay pulled up slowly with a wet pop, “All my impatient ones today, I thought that was my thing,” he teased Carlos canting the freckled hips as he eased inside the other, “Needing to fuck you all into bliss,” he groaned kissing the younger male roughly as he set a brisk pace not wanting to admit how long he had been waiting for this. To have all of his together like this.

     “It’s around your neck,” Evie supplied with a smirk, “He likes to sneak us gifts when we’re not paying attention.”

     “Oh thank you, just what I need,” Carlos yowled dragging his fingers down Jay’s back.

     Jay crowded over him, caged him in like a literal human shield. Carlos may have said he wasn’t going to be any trouble while they worked at getting Evie back to herself but Jay had a feeling the kid was scared of getting jumped since Mal turned on them. Pressing kisses against his jaw, he let Carlos control the pace with his clawing. The kind of marks Jay liked running down his back.

     Aziz leaned slightly further back and lifted a silver chain with a ruby teardrop pendant. It was a small little thing, but it held so much weight to it knowing it came from Jay. When the hell had Jay even gotten it around his neck without him noticing? “Okay I knew he was a good thief, but I didn’t think he was that good...” he muttered leaning back into Evie pulling her closer as the strength finally started coming back to his limbs.

     “Oh he’s the prince of thieves,” Evie licked her lips.

     Carlos leaned up nipping along Jay’s neck as his nails went down his spine.

     Jay hummed arching into the rough touch, “Missed that...”

     “I can see why you call him that now,” Aziz shifted slowly, “They are something...” he mentioned relaxing into the idea of someone being there for him. Then again, Jay had been doing that for a few months now, hadn’t he?

     “Missed us,” Carlos said quietly, he’d missed having more of Jay to himself then anyone else. He loved Evie but, he felt like Jay was getting pulled thin taking care of both of them.

     Jay slowed and looked at Carlos, “I missed us too Pup,” he kissed Carlos long and slow, “If you need this more often you just got to tell me. I can’t always tell when you need us time. But I will always make time for us, okay Pup?”

     “She needs you more,” he said rocking his hips with Jay’s movements.

     “Don’t say that,” Jay nipped Carlos’ bottom lip chiding, “If you need me, then you need me. I don’t play fucking favorites, you are all mine, and when one of mine need me I deliver.”

     “I’ll try” he gasped his head tipping back.

     “Better,” Jay purred soothing the bite away with the tongue, and he tipped his hips nailing that spot dead on. He rocked them together and chased their bliss, Jay clearly needed to spend more time with his Pup than he was doing previous, maybe the kid could help him in math or something. Help them both, not that he wanted to rely on others to help with schoolwork.

     Aziz watched them argue through the sex and hid a grin in Evie’s hair, they were something else these three.

     “That’s Carlos for you his mind never stops,” Evie snickered. 

     “Jay close” Carlos gasped as he hit the spot seeing off stars in his eyes.

     Jay reached between them and gave a few tugs, working Carlos to peak as his rhythm stuttered, “I got you Pup.”

     “Perfect for Jay’s stamina.” Aziz snickered, “I’m embarrassed to admit having ended up having multiple orgasms before he had one.”

     “That’s the way he is” Evie nodded.

     “Just like that... just a little more” Carlos chewed his lip as he felt the pressure build higher and higher.

     Jay panted and snapped his hips in deep, “Los...” he gave up on keeping out until all his had there’s, because he had been too close for way too long.

     “Evil” Carlos moaned as he felt his explosive release.

     Jay leaned back chest jumping as he pulled out and collapsed across the bottom of the bed, “Worth all the headaches...” he muttered.

     “Hey Jay?” Aziz asked lifting up slightly to look at the younger male.

     “Yeah what’s up Princy?”

     “When did you put this on?” He held out the chain.

     “Right before you turned around to see me behind you,” Jay grinned, “You’re mine Princy.”

     “I am oddly okay with this, but you know I’m still going to call you on your brat days right?” Aziz smiled seeing Jay open one eye before he sat up on his elbows.

     “Yeah and? I will still make you tea and fuck you senseless to destress you. Nothing changes between us, just means you can play with us and we can play with you,” Jay licked his lips looking them over.

     “Play time is more fun when there’s more of us,” Carlos panted not opening his eyes.

     “It also means I get to help with your wardrobe because some of your stuff is yikes,” Evie chuckled.

     Aziz frowned, “It’s not that bad. I mean most of it is just traditional clothes from home... Thinking of which, I can totally arrange for you all to come and visit this summer.”

     “The fabrics... I’ve been dying to get my hands on agrabian silks and cottons,” Evie closed her eyes just imagining the feel of the fabrics on her hands.

     “Well if you come by room and raid my closet... I did get you a few yards for Christmas. Did you need more? I’m happy to get you some more.” Aziz offered.

     “I used most of it making... well clothes for Jay, and myself,” she blushed, “And don’t ask Jay I’m not telling you”

     “Okay, I’ll have my mother send some more.” Aziz slowly pushed himself to sitting.

     Jay tipped his head, “You didn’t have to make me anything.”

     “It’s what I do,” she said sticking her tongue out at him.

     Aziz snorted, “Thankfully someone makes you clothes. I was plotting on how to slip more clothes into your wardrobe of 5 outfits.”

     “The real trick is slipping stuff out of his wardrobe so he has to wear the new stuff,” Evie explained.

     “Yeah cause stealing from the Prince of Thieves is a good idea,” Carlos snorted.

     “I know you take my clothes, I also take back the ones you try and steal from me.” Jay grinned innocently, “You know I’m not used to having clothes.”

     Aziz tilted his head confused, how bad had things gotten for his friend. “Not used to having clothes?”

     “The isle isn’t a nice place,” Carlos supplied simply, “Evie made most of our cloths for us when we could find materials in the barges”

     “And it was murder getting her fabric,” Jay commented, “Sometimes more literally than other.”

     “Wait what?” Aziz blinked looking at the three of them.

     “Isle is not Mainland friendly. Cannibal tigers, man eating lions and bears, oh and that ancient demon...” Jay mentioned off handedly.

     “Let’s not talk about him please, I still have nightmares about what my mother said would happen if I wondered too close to his lair” Evie shivered.

     “One time we brought her a shower curtain, made a really cool dress” Carlos said preferring like Evie not to think of the demon.

     “Holy shit why are there kids still there?” Aziz was baffled and horrified.

     “Cause the King is a dick?” Jay offered, “I’ll tell you more when the others aren’t around and you let me drink before hand.”

     “Koga only eats the really bad or edible people” Carlos added to Aziz.

     “He eats people?”

     “Adults mostly. He runs with the Jollyroger pirates. He’s terrifying but a decent guy,” Jay stretched brushing a thin vertical scar on the right side of his ribs, “Couple of them saved my ass and reset some broken ribs for me.” The run had been rough, especially when his father had kicked him down the stairs before hand. 

     “They weren’t too bad as long as Mal wasn’t around” Evie nodded, “She just had a way of pissing them off”

     “Mal has a way of pissing everyone off” Carlos looked at her, “You really want to forgive her for it too.” 

     “I didn’t say that, of course I'm not forgiving her. But you know girl talk is kinda hard with just guys. Unless you want to let me paint your toes and play with makeup on you” Evie played with her finger nails not looking at any of the boys.

     “Right girl talk” Carlos snorted.

     Jay snorted, "No to the makeup. But you've already forced me to sit through the nail painting and the playing with my hair."

     "I can officially introduce you to Jordan. I know she'd love someone to 'girl talk' with," Aziz offered knowing things with Mal were hostile right now.

     "If we could get Dizzy off the Isle..." Jay mused out loud, "Dizzy Tremain, before you ask Princy, she was Evie's. Runs a sal... sal... hair place."

     "Salon," he completed without thinking, "How old is she to be running her own business?"

     "Age doesn't really matter on the Isle. You can work as soon as you can walk, talk, and add." 

     “It’s her grandmother's, but Dizzy does all the real work,” Evie explained, “I worry about her. Jordan um...” she wasn’t sure how she felt about the genie knowing she had no real control if someone grabbed her lamp.

     “Does he know about what happened with Audrey, Jordan, and... Penny?” Carlos looked at Jay, he could see Evie trying to find a delicate way to say she’d rather not, without explaining way.

     Aziz frowned, slowly shaking his head, "Not the details... just that something happened and Penny got whisked away."

     "Audrey grabbed Jordan's lamp and made a wish," Jay replied blandly.

     "Oh that's not good... explains the policies the council keeps trying to pass too," he ran a hand through his thick short hair. "And Jordan can't undo it can she? Which is why you don't want to hang out with her."

     “We have an idea why Jordan can’t undo it,” Carlos nodded, he wasn’t sure if telling the Prince they were pretty sure that Penny was on the Isle.

     “But what if someone does something like that again? We... what if they use her to send us back” Evie added, “They wouldn’t try to get us back, wouldn’t even have to make up a story to save face, they could just say we wanted to go back”

     "I would never let that happen," Aziz said firmly face hardening, "They send you back I would come and get you. To hell with the treaty, we survived for thousands of years without it, we can do it again. I will not have my legacy be tied to fearful old men who damned children to a fate worse than death."

     “Those old men are still in power, sure from what I hear your parents aren’t that bad. They even care about you it looks like” Carlos shrugged, “but we’re starting to see that maybe some of these old mainlanders aren’t much better than our own parents. I mean old man Beast would rather let everyone think his daughter is crazy then ask for help finding her.” 

     “He doesn’t want to look weak” Evie automatically supplied, the boys didn’t understand court life. She sat up reaching for the Schnapps bottle sitting on the side table, making sure not to dislodge Aziz’s hands from her.

     "My parents give a damn about the Isle. Mother wants to take Jay in, not that he's interested in having anything to do with Agrabah and that is fine. But she was the fighting force to get the kids off the Isle back when we found out the Isle was reproducing. She and others had concerns about their safety there. But they deemed it too cruel to take their children from them." He made a disgusted noise, "I looked into what you told me at Christmas Carlos. Looking weak is going to be the least of King Adam's concerns if he sends you back."

     Jay tilted his head eyes narrowing, "You have blackmail... and you would use it to get what you want."

     "I'm sorry Jay did you mistake me for a pushover mainlander prince? I learned something important from a bunch of strangers in a strange new world. You keep fighting for what you believe in," he traced one of those invisible scars on Evie's skin.

     “That sounds like one of us” Evie smirked taking a long pull from the bottle.

     “Yeah we heard about some of the mainlanders trying to get us out. Ben told me Penny found out that Anita and Roger tried to get me from my mom” Carlos nodded curling into Jay’s side.

     "They weren't the only ones who tried it. No one from our side made it through the council. Hell there was a case of someone willingly going to the Isle with their own child because the council wouldn't let him adopt the child of his friend," Aziz shook his head, "They don't even know how many kids are on the Isle..."

     Jay pulled himself and Carlos to the top of the bed next to Evie and Aziz, "Too many."

     "And they will never do anything about it either," Iago commented perching on the baseboard, "You don't check on your eternal prisoners, you tuck them away and pretend they never existed because eventually time is going to make them scary bedtime stories and nothing else."

     “They are scarier than any bedtime story could give justice too” Evie shook her head.

     “I can’t believe someone went there willingly just cause of someone else’s kid. Not very villain like.” Carlos snorted, “Not gonna lie I don’t much like this council you guys got here. ”

     "I don't much like them either at the moment," Aziz shook his head taking the bottle from Evie and took a sip, "Like I said a bunch of fearful old men. I can see there is something at the root of it, but I can't find proof. There is only so far I can get before I hit roadblocks." He shook his head.

     “Well, maybe we should talk to Benny boy and see if there’s a way to ruffle a few feathers out of place,” Carlos mused, “Then again who knows how long it would take to get that done. Maybe they could... naw bad idea” 

     "What? I'm the acting delegate for Agrabah, there are things I can do." Aziz wanted to help, he knew he would have Ben's support or at least his ear.

     “Jay didn’t you say Penny kept a black book? What about... well using it. I mean we’re isle kids and we’re rotten, blackmail is in our area” Evie finished for Carlos, “but if we are going to be underhanded, you might be better off not knowing”

     Jay bit his cheek, "Yeah, you sure you want to open that can of worms? Cause it's going to get messy. I'm all for messy but the stakes are getting sent back, and I'm kind of starting in the hole."

     "Well I can be the backup plan." Aziz offered, "I can help as much as I can. But I need to know why we are using blackmail to stir the pot."

     “Kind of fitting if we use Penny’s book to get Penny back,” Carlos looked at Jay.

     “Well as long as they don’t make us prove she’s on the Isle to go get her” Evie nodded, “But it will have to be something big to twist their arms, are we sure she has anything that big in her book?”

     "Okay slow down and go back. For the clearly under informed party in the room, I need to be read in from the beginning preferably," Aziz pulled away from three, a little unhappy to be leaving cuddling but he needed to, to face them all head on.

     “Right” Evie sat up pulling one of the blankets over her lap, “So Audrey wished Penny away using Jordan’s lamp. Mal found her right after, she tried to wish Penny back but Jordan couldn’t do it. The council knows she’s missing they refuse to ask for any help, even though for all they know she was poofed into the middle of the desert or something. But... well Jay thought she was on the Isle. We... we didn’t believe him,” she looked down at her hands, “But well Iago showed up and said he’d seen her”

     “But you know we can’t get back onto the isle and off without council approval. I’m pretty sure if we weren’t here Jay would have just gone back and figured out how to get off later” Carlos looked at Jay.

     "That meeting you had me set up with your ally and Genie..." Aziz looked hard at Jay.

     "The Queen," he supplied, "She sided with me, but couldn't act without the council interfering. You got us around that issue. And I would have, good I didn't given the state of things. Iago saw her there with two of the Jollyrogers. It may be a halfway decent gang but they are huge targets with the other pirate gangs."

     "Okay you are sure it was her?" He looked at the parrot, trying to ignore the absurdity of asking an evil parrot anything.

     "Pff, I described her and she was wearing something from my Jay. They call her Pin," Iago scoffed looking the son of Aladdin over, his kid was much better looking.

     “Good news is that no one really messes with the Jollyrogers, they are one of the biggest gangs on the isle. And well I don’t think anyone would mess with Captain Hook, he’s known to get nasty when people mess with him or any kids he claims as his,” Evie said, “Heard a story of him threatening to hook a few snatchers if they came near Mimzy again. Although from what I heard she did to them I don’t think anyone was going after her again”

     "Big on 'art projects' that one," Jay flipped one of his nipple rings.

     "These are the same people with the cannibal right?" Aziz was trying to wrap his head around this situation.

     “That would be them” Carlos nodded, “and a scary as fuck girl we call the crocodile”

     "Scarier than Mal?" Aziz asked as Jay snickered.

     "So you know we said that we got on with the Jollyrogers so long as Mal wasn't around?" Jay asked as Aziz nodded, "That's because Mal and Crocodile do not get on. Mal hates her, if villains had villains that's their relationship. Crocodile is a special kind of crazy, stab first with a grin ask questions later. But she is loyal as hell to her crew, I've watched her take on adults to keep her crew safe. She was the one that recruited that cannibal."

     Aziz blinked mouth opening and closing, "I'm trying to imagine what an equal to Isle Mal would even be like."

     “I don’t think they were equal” Evie shook her head, “Crocodile... she was scarier than Mal at times”

     “She wasn’t so bad... I think I met her once before school, when mom dragged me off somewhere” Carlos shrugged, the memory was a little fuzzy sometime he was sure he’d dreamed the girl on the roof being nice to him.

     "Scarier than Mal. That is an unnerving thought."

     "She wasn't all bad," Jay offered the locket like a lead weight on his chest, "She would help when she felt like it. Trade information for truthful answers, make deals that favored who she considered the lacking party. But you piss her off, she was a nightmare." He remembered ice blue eyes glowing in the dark, filled a uncontrolled rage. 

     “While you're up you want to hand me the vodka” Carlos looked at Aziz

     “Also some of the sliced apples” Evie asked.

     "Yeah sure," Aziz nodded collecting the requested items from the table and doled them out, "So if Penny is there with this Crocodile she is safe? I mean safer than being on her own. Next would be how do we prove it without blackmail and knowing that no one is going to trust the word of Jafar's minion who I'm still not clear on how he got here."

     “We had the hardest time getting that out of him, and we’re still not sure. Don’t ask unless you want to listen to him bitch about squirrels and owls” Carlos warned.

     “That is the problem we ran into” Evie nodded holding out an apple slice at Jay as she took her own.

     "I want to know but I think I am just going to pass on that urge." Aziz sighed rubbing his face as Jay ate the apple right from Evie's hand as opposed to moving, "Okay options: Sketch artist, truth potion, or some other flavor of magic that can't be lied to."

     “I don’t think they’d believe him even with that since they don’t like magic” Evie shook her head, “Plus truth potions can be dangerous for animals”

     "Good to know," Aziz commented, "And djinn magic is out, not because it's magic but because the council is trying to ban djinns from Auradon because their power can't be restricted. I vetoed their plan to collect all the lamps and lock them up, also had to veto the one saying a djinn had to be in a special registry and have not only a passport but official legal documents for any travel outside their town of residence."

     "What? I understood next to nothing of what you just said," Jay was confused and concerned because Aziz did not look happy in fact he looked more frustrated and angry.

     "It is fine Jay, just politics," Aziz leaned over the baseboard, "Sketch artist is our best bet, convince someone to at least hear us out."

     “It's what they did to all the witches” Evie said quietly, “Even good witches, they had to register, wasn’t long after they had to swear off magic or go to the Isle. Mother was very thorough on those lessons”

     “So... how is Mal getting away with magic?” Carlos blinked taking a drink, “and I mean we may not be Jordan fans for obvious reasons but she’s not a bad person she should get to go to school here too if she wants to”

     “Ben’s protecting her, and she doesn’t do anything that’s considered obvious” Evie explained as she bit into another slice and held out another piece to Jay.

     Aziz nodded, "Agrabah is one of magic's last stands. Mother and father flat out refused the magic ban attempts. A few others here and there are the same way, but most of them are too small to be monitored constantly. King Adam tried it with the fairies, mom said it was one of the few times she ever saw Fairy Godmother put her foot down. But she had to surrender the wand to do it. And there are two people in this room who are already under watch for magic."

     Jay could feel the blood draining out of his face as he froze. He was trying so damn hard to keep the magic away. Sure he lost control but he was doing everything he could to not use it. The idea of being sent back because of magic Maleficent cursed him with for daring to grab her staff from her was sickening.

     “But... I can't even really do anything without my mothers grimoire. I surrendered my mirror” Evie looked slightly panicked, they couldn’t send her back.

     “No one is sending you back Evie” Carlos assured holding out the bottle to her. She took it quickly.

     "And no one will, Ben is keeping them away. If that stops, Agrabah will offer you amnesty. I will make sure of that, I won't let them send any of you back."

     “That’s... going to cause problems for you though won’t it?” Carlos asked looking at him curiously as Evie took several pulls from the bottle.

     “I don’t really give a shit. Again I won’t have my legacy tied to a bunch of old fools who condemn children to a fate worse than death,” Aziz grumbled, “I also won’t let them condemn people for being born with magic.”

     “Of all the princes to sex up you manage to get the one willing to go to war for us... that’s hot,” Carlos smirked.

     Aziz flushed red, “It’s the right thing to do. You can’t help how you were born.”

     Jay popped the rum bottle open and tossed half of it back, “Fuck I hope it doesn’t come down to us having to run to Agrabah...”

     “Come on it’s not that bad. I mean I’m yours now right? This ownership thing can go both ways...” Aziz wasn’t sure that was the way it works for them, “I can look after you, I think you would like it there, if you were willing I could always arrange a visit for all of you. Let you see it at least once in your life.”

     “I wouldn’t mind seeing it,” Evie nodded letting Carlos take the bottle from her hand.

     “You want me to walk into Agrabah like my father isn’t the man who nearly forced your mother to marry him to take over? The same guy that became a Djinn and destroyed half the city? And they say I’m the idiot...”

     He groaned head hanging, “My mother wants to adopt you, I don’t think she holds what your Father did against you. You are Not Your Father. If you open your mouth leading with one more self deprecating word I will punch you.”

     “De- what now?” Jay couldn’t help the grin despite threat, “You know you’re adorable when you get all heated up.”

     “Say another bad thing about yourself and he’s going to punch you” Evie translated, “Looks like there maybe a round two.”

     “Oh that’s it?” Jay waited until Aziz looked up slowly expression daring Jay to do it, “I could never be Baba, never was smart enough.” Jay managed to get the cap on the rum before Aziz grabbed his ankle dragging him to the end of the bed.

     Aziz was regretting his decision as they grappled and he ended up slammed to the floor on his back. When he kicked Jay grabbed his calf and leaned his weight in forcing his leg close to his torso, “Hey now!” he yelped as Jay slapped his palm into the outside of his lifted thigh.

     “Bad move Princy. Now what are you going to do?” Jay teased with a wide shit eating grin drinking in the pinned Prince.

     “Don’t struggle dude he’s like a snake just holds tighter” Carlos laughed

     “It is so much fun though,” Evie smirked.

     Aziz squirmed testing Jay’s grip and hissed as Jay delivered another harsh smack to his thigh. He swung and nearly swallowed his tongue as Jay slammed into his still loose body, catching the hand and pinning it over his head, “Fucker,” he grunted near choking on his breathe.

     “More like fucking you again,” Jay snickered, “Want to try getting free again? You’re welcome to try, cause then I get to see how flexible you are.”

     “I hate you,” Aziz groaned out despite Jay’s slow deliberate movements.

     “Liar, you wouldn’t have a hardon if you hated me.”

     “So are we getting a show?” Carlos asked with a smirk.

Chapter 91: Getting Ready Pt. 1 (Mainland: March)

     Jay stirred the next morning feeling oddly sedated, warm and comfortable. Though that may have to do with the fact he was covered in three other bodies. Evie and Carlos tucked into his sides, their new mainland prince sprawled across his chest arms draped over Evie and Carlos. Sighing he closed his eyes and let his head fall back to his pillow knowing there was no moving until the others woke up. Which he was fine with, when was the last time he felt like he could breathe since he came here. Penny... when Penny was there.

     “What time is it?” Evie mumbled not opening her eyes.

     “Early,” Jay supplied keeping his voice down as to not to wake his boys. He felt a pang in his chest at the thought of his original boys, they must have been starving for attention without him.

     “I should probably get up” she sighed, “Dresses to deliver.”

     “Probably, want me to help you with Princy’s arm? He looks like he has a decent grip on your ass.”

     “It is a nice grip” she confirmed, “You want to lift and I’ll roll out”

     “Yeah,” Jay snaked his arm further down and lifted Aziz’s sleep heavy limb off Evie. The Prince made a soft unhappy noise at the movement.

     Evie easily rolled off the side of the bed and stood up, “Shower then I’m off,” she nodded heading to the bathroom.

     “Where she going?” Carlos mumbled into Jay’s side.

     “Dress delivery day,” Jay yawned easing Aziz’s arm down nearly kicking when the still asleep male grabbed his side and rubbed his cheek against Jay’s sternum.

     “Oh great, so we get super focused pushy E when she gets back” Carlos yawned down further into the mattress and more into Jay’s side.

     “We can pawn her off on Princy, who offered up his closet for her to raid for Ben’s party. Though I am considering ditching to go stargaze,” Jay suggested.

     “That sounds amazing, there are so many stars here. But you know she’ll skin us both in our sleep if we ditch right? So we have to at least show our faces before we ditch,” Carlos nodded.

     “I know, I know. But I can dream,” Jay closed his eyes, “Less events going on, like at the Hideout where we could just rest. It’s funny, there used to be this building I’d crash on sometimes on the outskirts near the Huns. It had a decent view of the mainland, not the best but I could close my eyes and imagine what it would be like anywhere but home.” he mumbled out as he dragged himself back into a light sleep.

     “Only you would go near those crazy people,” Carlos chuckled between yawns as he drifted back off.

 

     Evie rolled her eyes at her boys as she dressed and tried to fix her hair.

     Aziz groped around sleepily before he finally lifted his head off his warm moving pillow and looked around. That would explain things, he nodded to himself seeing he was on top of Jay, arm over Carlos. He gave Evie a sleepy smile seeing her up and about. Deciding against going back to sleep he stiffly moved off Jay and Carlos. His ass was killing him he realized as he made it to his feet.

     “Good thing about the mainland there’s always hot water. I’d suggest a bath, I’ll be by your room around lunch to help you go through your closet”

     Aziz hummed making his way towards her and kissed her cheek, “Remember to get some breakfast amira. You and I will get some lunch when you're satisfied in dressing me for tonight.”

     “I’ll grab something on the way to Doug’s,” she nodded grabbing her bag.

     Aziz wasn’t entirely sure he believed her, but he knew she would eat lunch with him since he had arranged it, “Thank you amira. Have a good morning.”

     “Bye” she nodded closing the door gently behind her.

     Aziz shook his head and walked into Jay and Carlos’ bathroom, Evie was definitely living there with them as he spotted a horde of makeup. Deciding to shower in his own room he cleaned up and tried to look like he hadn’t been having sex most of his night. He snorted head tipping back, how absurd was that? Why should he care, it wasn’t like it was against the law. And they all gave their consent, though he was pretty sure he had just let them do what they wanted with him after some point. Sure he was a prince, but he wasn’t Ben, no one gave a shit what he did or didn’t do here. But for them, he would hide it for them, because he didn’t want anyone to even think about touching them just because they had allowed him into their circle. 

 

     “Where’d princy go?” Carlos asked sitting up later as he blinked looking around the room.

     Iago looked up from his window perch, “Said he was going back to his room for a shower. Something about prepping for the blueberry princess.”

     Jay rubbed his face, “Sounds like him,” he muttered waking up slowly, “Wanna shower together Pup?”

     “Yeah, you can help me reach my back and you know do my hair” he smirked, he loved it when Jay washed his hair. He wasn’t even sure why.

     Jay grinned pulling himself out of bed, “Squawk if you need us Iago.”

     “Brat,” the bird snipped watching the two stumble grinning into the bathroom.

 

     Rufio grinned, “So how was your trip into the deep end Az?”

     “Why do you want to know?”

     “You’ve got that walk you do when Jay lays you out and has his way with you,” the grin grew wider as the prince blushed gaping, “So how was it?”

     “I am not discussing this with you,” he huffed trying to tidy up their room having managed to get a shower in before Rufio returned from breakfast, “Evie offered to come by and help me find something to wear for tonight. You keep poking me I will tell her you don’t have anything to wear either.”

     “Screw that,” Rufio’s smile dropped as he cringed, “I’m going home. To hell with his birthday party, I can’t believe you would willingly let the fashion queen in our room.”

     “Better fly then baby Pan, she’ll be here in 10 minutes or less,” Aziz smirked as Rufio nearly tripped to grab his bag of Pixie dust to get out of dodge.

     “You’re the worst Az.”

     “I’m the nicest guy ever, don’t even,” Aziz smiled watching Rufio throw the window open as there was a knock on the door, “It’s open!”

     “Hey, let's see what you’ve got to... did your roommate just go out the window?” Evie asked blinking.

     “He can fly with Pixie dust. He bolted when he found out I let the apparent ‘Fashion Queen’ come over. I may have threatened to let you know he didn’t have an outfit for tonight either,” Aziz smiled setting the last of his books away, “Come on in, no need to hover in the doorway. As you know I don’t bite.” he headed towards the closet and opened it, flipping on the light to his collection of traditional Agrabahian wear, “Knock yourself out amira.” he purred the Arabic endearment. 

     “Queen? I like him already” Evie smiled before her attention was on the different colors and fabrics, “These are beautiful,” she ran an assessing hand over the stitching on a white silk shirt.

     "Thanks," he smiled leaning against the wall watching the way her face lit up. "So tell me honestly how pissed would he be if I arranged the trip this summer? I know it will be hot but it would give you all something to do. Or should I wait till next winter when he's whining about the cold in that blanket of his? I honestly would love all three of you to see my home, but it seems like you all default to his judgment."

     “It’s not that he would be pissed. He just doesn’t like not knowing the area he’s in. You should have seen him the first week or so we arrived here, he wouldn’t let Carlos go anywhere on his own. Plus your parents scare him, not that they are scary but well they're people that his father hurt and we’ve kinda gotten used to being blamed for what they did.” Evie explained.

     Aziz hummed thoughtfully, how could he get Jay to know Agrabah without having him go there? "I know Mom terrifies him, if Christmas was any indication. She can get intense. But she's not going to let it go, hell she flipped the whole subservient woman thing out the window. Dad gets the title of Sultan and mom is the one with the final say. You make Sultana happy everyone is happy," he snorted rolling his shoulder so his back was on the wall, "She sticks to her morals, she never stops even when we tell her she needs a different approach. Honestly she is worried that she will have to watch you guys get sent back, worried that Jay thinks she's got bad intentions because she does care what happens to him."

     “I think that’s part of the problem, for us the only people that care are the people that want something from us. I’m sure you're mom means well but Jay... none of us really do well with an adult hovering over us,” Evie flipped threw the shirts, “That’s a hideous color,” she pulled out a brown mustard colored polo.

     "That is why I never wear it." Aziz watched as she tossed it behind her, "Make a pile of stuff you want me to get rid of. I'm make sure it gets to people who need it." He waited another long moment, "Can I ask you a personal question? You don't have to give me an answer either, I know there are things people don't want to talk about."

     “You can always ask I may not answer,” she nodded, “Would you mind if I altered this a little?” She held up a white shirt, it was simple and cotton. She figured he could wear it tonight after she stitched a white cobra into the cuff..

     "No go right ahead, do whatever you want to the clothes. I trust you," he licked his lips debating how bad he wanted to know, "The scar I felt last night, around your hip bone, did someone do that on purpose?" It was clean and precise, near surgical like following the upper curve of her hip bone.

     Evie stilled looking at him, they didn’t ask about each others scars. But then Carlos and Jay had lived lives like her own, Aziz hadn’t been exposed to this type of stuff. She licked her lips, “My mother made sure I wouldn’t chase away any prince that may show interest in me with unattractive features. ‘It would be a shame to have him run away in disgust from your looks, before you could become pregnant’,” she quoted softly before setting the shirt to the side, she started flipping threw his vests and jackets to go over the shirt.

     He was silent knowing words would never help, so he moved closer pressing his chest to her back, "Thank you for telling me. I appreciate you opening up about something so close to the chest." He hugged her from behind, as tender as he could to show his appreciation. He tried with Jay but the other had left without a word, expression dark, last night was the first scar he told how he had gotten. Not that Aziz's chest hadn't clenched at knowing his friend had broken ribs.

     “It’s stuff we hold close because we each have our own issues with our parents. Some worse than others,” she pulled out a bright red vest “This will work.”

     "I can understand that, some parents shouldn't be parents." He took the vest setting it with the shirt, "Black slacks?" He asked not wanting to dwell on any conversation that would make her uncomfortable.

     “Yes black shoes as well but a matte not a shine” she nodded, “Also are you terribly attached to that multi colored feather looking vest?”

     "Not really," Aziz shook his head pulling back from her. "You want to use it for something go right ahead."

     “Actually was thing about making it a cushion for Iago” she admitted pulling it out to inspect closer.

     "Might want Jay to sleep on it before you give it to Iago. Parrots are really sensitive about things that smell like people they hate."

     “Yeah, he is really picky” she nodded, she grabbed the shirt and went to sit on his bed while she figured the right spot to stitch. She pulled out the white thread in her bag.

     "You don't have to do it right now," Aziz offered watching her.

     “It keeps my hands busy, lets my mind drown out everything else,” she explained, “Plus I want you to wear it tonight as a little treat for Jay,” she looked up at him as she finished the outline, “Unless you want to do something else?” her lips twitched in a smirk.

     “I feel like you do,” Aziz said looking over her expression.

     “Even if I do, doesn’t matter if you don’t,” she shrugged eyes flickering down to the stitching as she started filling in the hood.

     Aziz licked his lips and crouched down in front of her, “Let’s assume I am not used to belonging to someone so giving them treats is something I don’t know much about. Last time I tried to give him something he tried to give it back. So I am all for suggestions or ideas of what you have in mind. I know having lingerie in his colors is a treat, or at least I think so...”

     “So what I am doing here is putting his moniker on your cuff. It’s in white so no one can see it, but he’ll feel it if you brush against him. We all have one somewhere” she explained.

     “And his moniker is the cobra on his vest correct?” Aziz wanted to be sure.

     “Yes, we each took our parents and made them our own in one way or another. Mine is the heart with a crown,” she touched her necklace, “Carlos is cross bones,” she explained.

     “And Mal’s was the dual dragons. Am I wrong in guessing you’re the one who designed them?” Aziz asked. 

     “I did, we needed a way to show we were our own people on the isle, that we should be feared,” she nodded putting in the last stitch.

     “Did it work?” he was sure under Mal’s banner they had been feared, the daughter of the Mistress of Evil and all, “I mean against everyone but the Jollyrogers? Since from your stories yesterday it didn’t sound like they were afraid of you.”

     “No they were not,” she snorted with humor, “And it worked somewhat.”

     “So if I wear his moniker that will make him happier than if I just keep wearing this? And don’t think I haven’t noticed that you haven’t told me your idea in giving Jay a treat.” he thumbed the chain around his neck.

     “It will make him happy,” she nodded, “And for a treat you can rescue him from the ball with sex,” she said, “He hates these things I can tell from the 2 we’ve been to.”

     His head tipped thinking about it, “Okay I know he says he’s always up for it but does he really not stop wanting it? I mean don’t get me wrong guys spring one over the stupidest things, but...” he could though, maybe jerk Jay off or something since he was still kind of loose limbed from the two drunken rounds the night before. 

     “No he hasn’t really stopped since we started screwing around when we were... was it 11 or 12... either way, he’s always up for it. And it feels extra naughty if you drag him into a closet or something,” she smirked.

     “11 or 12... wow Carlos was right about you all not having anything else to do on the Isle,” he was surprised they had started so early on, “Alright so drag him off for some naughty time, I can handle that. Curious where would you take him. I mean since you’ve been with him so long.”

     “Well after the coronation, we slipped away for a little bit into the garden and hid the maze while I gave him a blow job,” she twisted her hair around her finger thinking of it, luckily Penny had been distracted by Mal for a half hour.

     “So that’s where you vanished to. Lonnie was looking for Jay, I told her last I saw him he was with you and Penny,” Aziz wasn’t sure if he could give a BJ but he could try if it made Jay happy. He tried imagine doing to Jay what Jay did to him, and went red.

     “Oh look at that blush” Evie giggled, “He’ll love whatever is making you that color.”

     "Except I'm not sure what I am doing. He's just got all that time with you and Carlos, me, he's the first guy I've ever been with or attracted to. That and I may be a bit of a pushover when it comes to our bedroom life," Aziz was still red, embarrassed but willing to talk about his issues with the girl he had spent the night eating out.

     “Then just do what you're comfortable with. If you want to try something tell him. He’s normally up for anything, sometimes he doesn’t want certain things,” she said, “He big on making sure we get what we want.”

     Aziz nodded, "What I'm comfortable with." He took the shirt from her hands, "Right now that is taking you to get some lunch with me," he held her hand lightly and kissed the back of it, "Do me the honor amira?" 

     “Flatterer,” she laughed before taking his hand. She really didn’t feel like eating, but she had skipped breakfast. She didn’t want to deal with Jay if he didn’t eat all day.

     Aziz stood up and guided her to her feet placing a chaste kiss on her cheek, "Thank you, oddly I get weird about eating alone. Skipped a few lunches just to avoid having to sit by myself as a kid. Nowadays I take lunch to go if I have no one to eat with."

     “Well we can’t have that now can we” She looped her arm with his, “You can always sit with us. Lately we’ve been trying eating in the boy’s room.”

     He smiled walking them towards the lunchroom, "So that's where you three all disappeared to. And I think I will, it will be a nice change to have some breathing room from some of my fellow Agrabahians." 

     “I’ve had the pleasure of meeting a few of them” she nodded they hadn’t had very high options of the VKs and if they had been in the Isle she probably would have pulled her acid for some of the things they said about Jay.

     “I know, oh I know,” Aziz rolled his eyes, “I hear one more time about who is appropriate for a prince to interact with I will lose it.”

     “At least they have to talk to you with respect,” Evie said, “I can not believe men of noble families speak the way they do”

     “No but guard families do. I will have a talk with them, make sure they don’t talk down to anyone.”

     “I doubt it will help but feel free they are your subjects,” she shrugged as they entered the cafeteria. 

     “Well no harm in trying after all,” Aziz nodded guiding her to the empty line. 

     Evie made up her salad as usual giving the attendants behind the counter a smile as she finished and waited for Aziz.

     He fixed himself up a small salad and grabbed one of the premade sandwiches. Moving to the end of the line he handed his card to the attendant letting her ring them up. Collecting his card he let her pick where they sat in the very uncrowded room as it was off the normal lunch time on a weekend.

     “So, going to tell Jay I was a good girl and ate lunch?” she teased, “Cause I’m pretty sure he’d give you a reward.”

     “Only if you finish your salad,” Aziz retorted, “Being this is the second time you’ve mentioned it, I am assuming you are all for our relations.”

     “You’re a prince... and you’re not Chad, although” Evie looked up to the side thinking, “Nope, not attractive enough. Plus, you know you actually want to talk to us.”

     “I wouldn’t know, Chad is just one of my bitchy ass tourney players. The amount of times I have informed him he would have more field time if he played the game and not just kept staring at the cheerleaders. Now I tell him to play more like Jay and Carlos, just so he gets his head out of his ass.” he vented stabbing his salad, “And why wouldn’t I want to talk to you? I mean you are relatively new kids to Auradon and as a Prince and a generally nice, nice-ish, person I want you to feel welcome here and comfortable.”

     “Not much going on up there,” Evie nodded, “He doesn’t seem like that good of a player either.”

     “As compared to your boys, yeah not so much,” Aziz snickered.

     “No one is smart compared to my Jay and Carlos, you come close though,” she winked, “If you could get that through Jay’s thick skull. He doesn’t understand that he’s smart.” 

     “I’ve been trying but he is, well, stubborn about it. He has it in his head because he doesn’t get everything the first time he’s an idiot. I don’t get it,” he rubbed his face, “I try but I just don’t understand where the logic is.”

     “His father,” Evie supplied, “Hear something enough from your parents then it must be true.”

     Aziz’s mouth opened and closed, opened once more before he closed it with a shake of his head, “Whoever decided Jafar would make a halfway decent father was an idiot,” he muttered, “Who does that? Who tells their child they are stupid because they are learning new things and they don’t understand them?” Stabbing the last of his salad he sighed sadly, “Did you all seriously not get any help from anyone? Other than each other?”

     “Who would we ask? Who could we trust? On the Isle trusting isn’t something you do, sure you can’t die but well trusting the wrong person could lead to things worse than death,” she pushed one of her cherry tomatoes around before stabbing it and bring it to her mouth.

     “You actually eat that whole salad instead of playing with it, Jay might not be the only one giving you a treat for positive reinforcement,” Aziz smirked at her picking up his chicken salad sandwich, “But I suppose that would make sense. An Isle full of cruel, sadistic, and manipulative people trust would be hard to get, keep and put faith in.”

     “Exactly,” she nodded stabbing a bit of salad as she gave him a look and brought it to her mouth, “And what is my treat?”

     “Someone told me there is always room for improvement. And practice does make perfect incentive for people who enjoy such things.”

     “Some one learns fast” she snorted, “oh what have we done” she laughed stabbing another bite.

     “Let me get to know you so I can help break your bad habits. Now if only that worked in getting Jay to quit saying degrading things about himself. Guess I’ll just have to get you to help me try harder,” He shrugged a shoulder liking the ease at which they talked, the lack of a fight he had in talking with her.

     “I’ve been trying since Jay and I met” she shrugged somewhat looking down at the salad that was left before setting her fork down.

     “And no luck at all?” he asked gesturing to her plate as he popped the last of the sandwich in his mouth, she still had a quarter of her plate to go and he was not going to lie for her if Jay brought up her eating. Mainly because if Jay claimed him, let him into their lives willingly he was not going to ruin the chance to have Jay see Agrabah in more than just books.

     “As good as it will be for today,” she answered, “Some days are better than others.”

     Aziz nodded dusting crumbs off his fingers, “Well thank you for joining me for lunch amira I appreciate it. Now shall we go back to my room to collect my clothes for tonight before we head to your accommodations to start getting ready?”

     “I’ll just be dropping you and the boys clothes off, I’m helping Mal get ready,” she explained.

     Glancing over her expression he nodded, “Well you know where to find us if you need to vent. Thank you again for the help in getting me ready for tonight seeing as I forgot what tonight was entirely,” he laughed a little at himself as he collected their plates.

     “Just like a man” she chuckled a little shouldering her bag as she waited for him, “Also make sure Jay wears his. He’s not a big fan of anything not leather but well the shirt is Agrabahian silk.” 

     “And here I was thinking he just didn’t like sleeves,” Aziz grinned offering her his arm ignoring the few looks he got at the gesture, he was used to it by now, “I will make sure he wears whatever you made him, force him into it if I have to.”

     “Thank you, have Carlos help if need be,” she nodded taking his arm, “he’s got a few tricks up his sleeve.”

     “You mean the wonderful help Carlos gave me last night?” The kid had all but cheered Jay on once Aziz had been effectively rendered immobile.

     “That’s a little different he likes seeing Jay be dominate,” she explained.

     “That is a mild understatement of the tone of yesterday,” he snorted walking her back to his room, “But I will humor you and have Carlos help me if Jay turns into a five year who missed nap time.”

     “Nap time?” she blinked at him, “Um... not a thing on the isle I don’t think, I mean I know of them, I know my mother took many beauty naps, but kids not really.”

     “Here on the mainland younger kids are generally put down, as in placed in their beds, for naps. It helps them not be so cranky and prone to tantrums. And I have seen Jay throw some damn tantrums before. Worst was his headache on hangover day without any food, I have never wanted to hug him so bad in my life. I settled on feeding him and doing his homework for him.”

     “That was probably the safest bet,” she nodded dealing with hungry and hungover Jay was an art.

     “Yeah I thought so too,” Aziz agreed, “Give me one moment,” he pushed his door open and grabbed his things handing her the vest she had been looking at earlier, “Here since you were looking at it for Iago. Shall we go get the other’s clothes?” 

     “They are hanging up in the boys closet. Carlos knows which ones they are” Evie said as she took the vest.

     “Okay sounds good. I wasn’t sure where you had them stashed. I don’t know the length’s Jay might go through not to wear something.” Aziz locked up behind him walking with her once more down the hallways back towards Jay and Carlos’ room which was on the far end of the building and a floor down.

     “Jay doesn’t tend to go into the closet. He also has a leather jacket to go over the shirt.” She moved easily by his side ignoring the looks they got from the few boys in the hallway.

     "Good at least he'll have some normal comfort of his," Aziz nodded, "One of these days I'm going to convince him to go a day without all the leather." He shook his head with a laugh, that will be a cold day in hell. "You do an absolutely wonderful job at keeping everyone clothed you know that?"

     “We all have little things we do to help each other,” she blushed as they came to the door.

     "I know, but you go out of your way to make them new things they will like," he opened the unlocked door and let them both in closing the door behind them.

     “Hey you get all the dresses delivered?” Carlos asked looking at them from his place on the couch.

     “Yep, just checking on you guys before I head off to get Mal ready” she nodded, taking in the level he had paused when they came in, “Having fun there?” she teased.

     “Never as much fun when you aren’t here Princess,” Jay smirked at them, “You remember to eat something today?”

     “I bought her lunch,” Aziz replied and received a look of approval in reply, “I’ve been tasked in making sure you make it to the party dressed. Have you two eaten?”

     Jay nodded, “Yeah leftover food from yesterday. She eat everything?”

     “No, but she was very good almost all of her salad was gone,” Aziz glanced between them, “I can make sure she eats some finger foods tonight at the party if you want.”

     “Alright as fun as it is too hear you guys plotting, I’m going” Evie grabbed the last two dress bags, “I will see all three of you at the ball.”

     "It is not plotting, when your health is our concern," offered Aziz with a warm look, "Best of luck amira."

     "See ya Princess, holler if you need me to punch her in the mouth for you," Jay grinned a little too tempted by the idea.

     Evie rolled her eyes at them before she was out the door. It didn’t take her long to get across the building and into Mal’s room.

Chapter 92: Getting Ready Pt. 2 (Mainland: March)

     Mal looked up as the door opened, she had been thumbing through her mother’s spellbook. It wasn’t like she didn’t know most of the spells there, it was just an odd comfort despite her mother being right there in her plastic tank watching. Her thumb lowered from her lips and she closed the spellbook tossing it onto her bed. Evie was here and she would settle Mal’s mind, even if it was purely platonic now.

     “You still have that,” Evie raised an eyebrow at the book as she unbagged the dresses.

     Mal nodded, "Yeah... it was something mom gave me and I don't know it weird thinking about it on display. It's the same reason you kept your mother's grimoire."

     “Fair enough, but... just be careful. The last thing you need is to get busted for magic use,” Evie advised.

     "Why? I mean I do hair spells, no one has complained." Mal was confused because it wasn't like magic was outlawed.

     “We were told we were being watched for magic, and well it's against the rules here. Ben’s protecting us right now” she said going to set up the bathroom to do their hair.

     Mal stiffened, "But... how..." she gave herself a firm shake, "Thank you for telling me. I will keep an eye on it."

     “I doubt they’d do anything thing to you unless you started doing bigger things,” she looked at Mal, “lets get your hair done”

     "Okay," Mal nodded making a mental note not to do any major magic in public view at least. She just needed to try her best, she had to protect them. Even if they were apart she had to keep protecting them. That was her job, keeping them all safe from dangers they couldn't handle.

     “Now do you want it up or down?” she asked having her sit down.

     "Up, it was too much when it was down last time." Mal replied watching Evie through the mirror. "Thank you for helping me get ready."

     “Well I wouldn’t trust you with a curling iron” Evie teased, as she started pinning strands in place.

     "Not my strong suit," She smiled slightly, "But that's why I had you, all things fashion are your thing."

     “They are my thing” she nodded, “Maybe I can stay as your royal dresser if we don’t end up in Agrabah after graduation in a few years”

     "Why would you end up in Agrabah? I thought Jay wanted nothing to do with the place?" What the hell had Mal missed?

     “Aziz invited us to go to Agrabah over the summer,” she explained, “I’m thinking a few curls to frame your face.”

     “And Jay was okay with this idea?” she nodded slowly to the curls, “I mean they bangged but I didn’t think they were that kind of friendly.”

     “Oh they are friendly alright,” Evie smiled as she licked her lips, “And he’s warming up to it. Aziz’s working on how to make it comfortable.”

     Mal raised an eyebrow, “Oh that sounds like a case of Jay infection. He can’t help himself can he. No longer required to do anything and he just keeps at it...” 

     “Because he enjoys it. It’s part of who he is, plus Aziz seems to enjoy it as well. And they are both consenting,” Evie started putting her blonde locks into a high ponytail.

     Her nose crinkled, “I guess so long as they both consent to it. Still don’t know how in the world he and Aziz ended up falling in with one another. Especially since most of Aziz’s friends aren’t fond of Jay, and they are not bashful about saying something to Ben about it.” she was still going to do her best to protect them, protect all of them.

     “I know all about their opinions, and not just of Jay” she started pinning the hair in a bun.

     “You would think they would be a little more understanding since their Sultan was like Jay in the first place. Well... probably a little less Jay, but similar... I’m not sure if similar is a close enough word.”

     “Similar is close enough” she nodded, “They don’t care, you should know that. It’s the same reason Audrey got away with being nasty to you, why a few of the girls from Snow White’s kingdom can pick on me without anyone saying anything. So why would anyone do anything about kids from Agrabah calling Jay a whore or a power grabbing thief.”

     Mal felt icy cold fill her belly at the word, “He... he hasn’t heard them call him a whore right?” she knew the fastest way for Jay to lose his cool was for someone to call him that name. The monstrous thing in the alley who crushed a kid’s skull in and brained another without a care in the world. Hell he hadn’t even cared about the blood he smeared over his face. That thing, even she was scared of that thing, and with the destructive magic at Jay’s beck and call now, if it got loose she couldn’t imagine the lengths he would go to silence them.

     “I think we would have heard if they had. So I’m going to say no, plus I think Aziz would have taken care of it” she pinned the last strand and started curling the loose ones.

     “I just worry... I trust Jay to keep his temper here, mainly because he doesn’t want to go back. But I worry he is going to lose control one day,” Mal bit her lip, “And what will Aziz do? He may be a prince, but there isn’t anything he can do...” there was only one thing she knew that would stop Jay if the monster came back. The monster who has thwarted a demon not even her mother could best.

     “I meant about the boys, but I think he could talk Jay down. Jay wouldn’t have claimed him if he didn’t trust him to help us,” Evie grabbed the hair spray, “Close your eyes.”

     “Jay did what?!” Mal hissed, closing her eyes coughing at the cloud of hairspray. What was he thinking doing something like that? Letting a mainlander that close to their lives on the Isle.

     “He fits in with us swimmingly... not sure that’s the right term for a kids that grew up in the desert,” she said as she set the can down.

     Mal made a face not sure how exactly Aziz fit in with them, “I guess I will see tonight then? When exactly did this claiming Aziz as his thing happen?”

     “Last night,” she came around to look at the front to make sure it looked straight.

     “He did this last night... Is Jay going to be there tonight?” Mal asked surprised he would do something so risky the night before a very public event. 

     “He had better be or I’m going to kill all three of them with my bare hands” she snorted reaching for the foundation.

     “Oh will you? I take it you approve of the Prince, I mean I haven’t seen you and Doug around as often as I used to...” 

     “Doug and I... well, we’re on a break. Probably a permanent one,” she pushed her own hair out of her face as she brushed the foundation on, “And I gave Aziz clear instructions on getting the boys ready.”

     “I... I don’t even know what to say. I know you liked him...” Mal apologized without saying the words. 

     “I did, I do. But well he may have walked in on Jay making me see that I was still desirable,” she chewed her lip reaching for the eyeshadow.

     “Walked in... he walked in on Jay making you feel desirable? Two things here... Why do you think you aren’t desirable? And two why the hell did you two not lock the door?”

     “Carlos was coming back at some point and he’s always losing his key. And well I think you can figure the answer to that one on your own”

     Mal flushed, “It wasn’t you E... it was never you... It was me.” she averted her eyes embarrassed, “You always made it look so easy, to be pretty, wanted, desired. All I ever had was fear, that’s all I ever could manage. Under the lust potion you know what it was going through my head? I wanted what you had, just once, because I couldn’t make myself interested in that thing that made you so happy.”

     “I don’t know about happy, I learned to be all these things because it’s what my mother wanted me to be, to be a perfect princess. You know about her fixing my appearance, but what I didn’t tell you is that when my mother found me looking at other princess’ as much as princes she hired the most attractive men to help me learn that my only job was to make sure that my prince is happy. I wanted you because you could make them disappear, but well I guess it’s a good thing Jay can see through me even when he doesn’t know what’s going on,” Evie blinked away a few tears, she hadn’t told anyone about that, it was one of those things that they didn’t talk about.

     Mal reached out and took Evie’s hand holding it silently, “I... I don’t know what to say.” she used her other hand and brushed the tears away carefully, “I hate your mother... she never needed to do anything to make you keep a prince happy. You were always wonderful just the way you were.”

     “I’m learning that. But well old habits as I’m sure you know,” Evie nodded letting Mal hold her hand, “We should finish this up and get you in your dress.”

     “Yeah I do,” Mal swallowed hard, “Sometimes I feel like I am going to wake up in my old room and find out this was all just an elaborate test from mother.” she cleared her throat shaking her head, “Would it be alright if I did your hair for tonight? You always do it for me every time.”

     “Yeah I guess it couldn’t hurt, lets see what you got,” Evie agreed, she could always fix it.

     “Beware, forswear, give Evie magical hair,” Mal’s fingers twitched in the correct pattern and Evie’s hair twisted up and around in an elaborate braided and curled updo with a crowned heart framed by cobras tiara.

     “Oh wow” Evie looked in the mirror at her hair and touched the tiara gently, “This is perfect, Jay will go nuts.” 

     Mal gave a soft laugh, “Yeah I figured you might like it too since he’s in charge of the group now. Maybe he’ll let me know he likes it. I did okay right? I know it’s not your kind of real life magical hair, but no one trusts me with a curling iron.”

     “For good reason, last time you almost set your hair on fire” Evie smirked, quickly doing her own makeup.

 

     Jay gave Aziz a long look as the Prince held out a silky looking red and gold threaded shirt, “No.”

     “Not up for discussion, vest off this shirt on,” Aziz retorted, extending the shirt with a stern expression, “I mean it Jay, you are going to this party so help me I will drag you there by your hair if I have to.”

     “Kinky, Jay just put it on you know Evie will be super upset if you don’t. And since she’s not staying with Mal anymore who knows where she’ll sleep if she’s mad at you,” Carlos pointed out.

     "On the bed with you... if she's that upset with me I'm sleeping on the floor on the other side of the room." Jay looked between Carlos and Aziz not liking them ganged up on him.

     Aziz raised a brow and said nothing for a moment, "Jay would you put the shirt on for Evie please? She did go out of her way to make it, you could at least do her the honor of wearing it once. And you can put your leather jacket over it."

     Jay made a face, "I didn't claim you so you two could gang up on me."

     “Actually Evie’s on our side so it’s three on one here. Besides, I bet it would make her really happy to see you in that shirt” Carlos tried to reason.

     Jay grabbed the shirt from Aziz with a sigh, "Fine, fine. You two are the worst together," he set shirt down before undoing his vest and tossed it on the back of a chair. Carefully he pulled the material over his bare skin, appreciating how soft it was a bit grudgingly.

     "Thank you," Aziz grinned cheekily as he pulled his t-shirt off and slid the white button down on. He was glad Jay had put up slightly less resistance than usual.

     “Evie got your color just right” Carlos admired Jay’s shirt as he changed into his own black button down.

     Jay smoothed his gloved hands down over the rusty red and smiled slightly, "Yeah I guess so. She's got a better eye for that stuff than I do." He swapped out his jeans for the mat black leather and shook out his legs trying to get comfortable in the skin tight pants she made him.

     Aziz's head tipped, eyes scoring over Jay's ass and grinned at the cobras stitched into the back pockets. He would resist the bad snake pun on his tongue.

     “I love those pants” Carlos licked his lips, “may have to sneak off with you at some point”

     "You and me both Carlos," Aziz nodded, watching Jay lift a brow at both of them confused, "Grab your ass."

     "Weirdo," Jay frowned but ran a hand over his ass. He walked into the bathroom and snorted seeing the snakes, Princess had outdone herself again, "Fine I'm game for this sneaking off thing."

     “Just have to wait until after Evie sees us” Carlos nodded feeling the snake as well with a smirk.

     "So Princess sees us and then we can go?" Jay asked.

     Aziz snorted, "How about this, you go have a good time and the sneaking away will be entirely unplanned? Anticipation."

     Jay fixed Aziz with a look.

     "It is like excited waiting," Aziz snickered already familiar with what that look meant, "And we will make it worth it."

     “I like this prince” Carlos nodded, “He thinks like Evie and I do.”

     "I also talked to Evie, she explained how much Jay hates these things." 

     Jay sighed hands smacking over Aziz's shoulders, "You had better make this worth it Princy."

     "No pressure."

     “Don’t worry I’m sure Jay will just be happy to fuck you into the mattress tonight,” Carlos assured patting Aziz on the arm.

     “My ass is still recovering from last night.”

     “Good, then I can skip an entire step in fucking you into the mattress,” Jay grinned as Aziz went bright red.

     “It’s a good feeling though” Carlos looked him up and down, “We should probably get going.”

     “For those of you who are used to it,” Aziz felt hot under the collar as he stepped back pulling on the vest, “Jay, jacket and shoes.”

     “Fine,” Jay sighed donning the rest of his clothes before he headed towards the door, “Okay we doing this? If I have to wait for it so be it, will be like a game.”

     “Just like a game” Carlos teased as he opened the door.

     Aziz smirked following after Jay, “I know someone is clearly interested in it.” 

     “Fucking is one of my favorite things to do,” Jay grinned locking the door.

Chapter 93: Ben's Birthday (Mainland: March)

Notes:

Warning: just a touch of smut

Thank you to everyone who has commented, given kudos, and just have stuck with this story. Karma and I very much appreciate it. ♡

~Kevyon

     Mal took a deep breath standing on the other side of the doors waiting for the ball to start. Evie was somewhere else looking for the boys. She glanced at Ben, “Happy Birthday.”

     “Thank you, you look amazing” he smiled taking her hand in his.

     “Evie is the one to thank, she did everything. Hair, makeup and dress, everything really.” Mal smiled looking down at herself, “I don’t know what I would do without her.”

 

     Aziz watched the door with Jay and Carlos. Evie was around here somewhere.

     “Oh, aren't you a sight,” Evie smirked from behind the boys as she took in their appearance.

     “The three amigos,” Aziz replied taking her in, “You look absolutely ravishing.”

     Jay turned sweeping his long hair back over his shoulder having left it all the way down without his beanie even. His eyes immediately stopping on the tiara, it was, it was perfect.

     “Thank you, I didn’t put a lot into this one. I decided on simple for this event,” she turned in her blue strapless gown with a bedazzled bodice.

     “Well you pull it off perfectly,” Aziz took her hand and kissed the back of it, “Also love the Cobra ass you gave Jay.”

     “Well had to put a little accent to that ass,” she nodded.

     “Oh it accents it alright,” Carlos smirked at her as he kissed her on the cheek.

     Jay licked his lips, “You kinda outdid yourself Princess. If we weren’t in public...”

     “Well if you're still up for it later,” she smirked before raising an eyebrow at Aziz.

     “We’re making a game out of it,” Aziz grinned, leaning in close to Evie, “I taught him a new word, called anticipation. We’re going to see how worn out our sex cobra is at the end of the night.”

     “I like games and this one sounds like a lot of fun,” she looped her arm with Jay’s.

     Jay looked at his and grinned, “So let me guess you three have been plotting.” he brushed a curl over her ear, eyes locked on the tiara, he really loved it on her, so clearly marking her as his.

     “Do you like it?” Evie tilted her head into his hand.

     “More than you know,” he replied resisting the urge to kiss her and whisk her back to the room to show her just how much, “When did you even find the time?”

     “It's like magic,” she nodded, “But I didn’t make this one, this is Mal’s work”

     Jay blinked confused, Mal had done this for them... Why would she do that? She wasn’t going to get them back with bribes, he was well past that point with her. 

     “She is trying to say sorry, even if she has to stay on the outside. She is sorry,” Evie explained.

     “It’s a very good start at least,” he nodded as the doors opened at the front of the room, “I’ll thank her if I catch her.”

     “She’ll probably be glued to Ben’s side” Evie said looking around.

     “When has that ever stopped me?” Jay teased as Mal and Ben stepped out onto the platform following after Fairy Godmother who started talking about the Crown Prince’s birthday.

     “Why do they talk so much here? I mean, can't they just say happy birthday and be done with it?” Carlos sighed.

     “I lived here my whole life and even I can’t figure out why people insist on giving every prince or princess a damn speech before just getting on with it,” Aziz rolled his eyes. 

     “The dancing should start after she’s finished,” Evie said.

     “Oh good more dancing, I’m gonna find a place on the wall,” Carlos nodded.

     Jay shook his head, “Come on Pup, just hangout with us. I am sure Princess will dance with all of us.” he knew Carlos didn’t dance, but he wanted to keep his eyes mostly on them tonight.

     “You owe me at least one dance puppy,” Evie gave him a look.

     “Really?” Carlos whined.

     “Yes really” she nodded.

     Aziz watched them smiling softly, he was a part of them now, and that was so surreal. He smacked Jay’s hand away as the younger male went to snap his fingers in front of his nose, “Brat.”

     “Only for you,” Jay snickered as the music kicked on, “Pick your first partner Princess.”

     “Come with me Princey,” she smirked looking at him.

     “Of course ‘amira,” Aziz nodded taking her hand sleeve brushing over Jay’s knuckles as he took her from him.

     Jay watched them for a minute, Evie had stitched something on the Prince’s sleeve this morning. Though it might take him a few passes to figure out what she had done. He looked at Carlos and nodded to the snack bar.

     “There’s a chocolate fountain,” Carlos smiled having a b-line.

     Evie moved across the floor with Aziz, “I hope they didn’t give you too much trouble.” 

     “Not really. Mention you mad enough to not sleep in the bed and he caves,” He smiled guiding her across the floor as they danced, “Mal didn’t give you too much trouble?” 

     “No, she mostly just wanted to talk while we got ready,” she shook her head with a smile as she flexed her hand on his shoulder.

     “Well that is good to hear,” he nodded, “I think we all had some concerns that she was going to harass you. So why exactly pick me first? Not that I mind in the least just curious.”

     “Because you are going to help Jay relax a little later and I wanted at least one dance before he got all antsy.” she smirked, it got wider as she saw a few scowling princesses.

     “He is going to have a lot of relaxing help throughout the night. Plus anyway you can have more than one dance with me tonight.” he pulled her a touch closer, “How else are you going to make every other princess here jealous?”

     “I see you have learned my evil plan,” she joked, “He will get a lot of relaxing later, we’ll just have to see how long he lasts here.”

     “Oh I can keep him here the entire night if I have to. And I know you, like Jay, need that subtle reminder that you still have it, that sense of normalcy.” Aziz had been victim to Jay’s pickpocketing more than a few times, but the kid always gave whatever he stole back in person with a teasing smile. 

     “I hardly think anything we do is considered normal,” Evie smiled, she loved these moments where she felt like she was on top of the world and could do anything she wished.

     “Are they normal to you? If the answer is yes, then that is normal. My normal has changed since I met you guys, and I am okay with that, this new normal is oddly comfortable.” he smiled letting her spin under his arm.

     “I am starting to think that you didn’t grow up the same as the rest of the royals around here. Which is probably for the best, but it does make me wonder how you did grow up,” she turned under his arm. In all honesty making the other princess jealous was just a perk, she couldn’t have been any happier dancing with Aziz, she finally had a prince and he actually liked her not just wanted her to do his homework.

     "Well my father was and is still referred to as a street rat. He may be Sultan now, but that doesn't mean that he and I didn't walk around the streets of Agrabah to show me how my future people live. Or where my father raised himself when his own abandoned him." Aziz explained with a soft expression, "But you will see for yourself when you come to Agrabah."

     “A kingdom is only as strong as its weakest people, I read that somewhere but it sounds very true” she nodded, “Do they call him that to his face?” she started thinking; Jasmine was scary, even she was intimidated by the Sultana. But maybe Aziz’s dad could think of a way to help Jay be more at ease.

     “Never when my Mother is around. Let’s just say she knows how to kick ass using only her words,” Aziz laughed softly, “My dad doesn’t take it too harshly, he’s seen some bad in his life. Had a rough life. But I know and so does he that yours were harder, more than just lack of food and shelter. He listened when I told him it was going to take time for you all to get comfortable here in Auradon.”

     “Understatement,” Evie nodded, “Do you think he may have a better approach than your mom?” she shot a look at Jay, he was likely to try and bolt no matter what, but maybe a non-direct approach? Like that video thing that FG had set up with their parents.

     “Most likely. Dad wouldn’t keep plowing ahead like Genie said mom did. He’s probably not as good as you all at reading people but he knows enough to know when to stop pushing. If Jay doesn’t run the minute Dad comes around.” Aziz shrugged as the song ended and he pulled her back in.

     “I was thinking maybe a phone call or one of those video things. Something Jay won't feel too trapped by. I don’t know if that’s something your dad would be willing to do, but I mean I understand if it seems like a lot to ask,” she laid her head on his shoulder, this was nice, even if they were plotting against Jay.

     “Honestly mom has been next to begging me to have a talk with him again. So sure I can set up a video chat with my parents, because Dad being there will make Mom play nice.” Aziz didn’t mind at all, he wanted to have them come to his home and fall in love with it so he could keep them safe from the nonsense here in Auradon ‘Proper’. Agrahbah was not the richest place in the world, well... okay it was one of the richer provinces but they didn’t look as well off as they were. 

     “That would be perfect, but maybe try your dad first. I don’t want to offend your mom but well Jay may not react too well to her” she advised as she looked up for the boys.

     “Jay doesn’t respond well to pretty much anything he doesn’t trust. Which is pretty much anything or anyone,” Aziz snorted, “But I will try for just my father first.”

     “I’m going to see if I can drag him out onto the dance floor for a little while. Think you can keep Carlos from putting his head in the chocolate fountain?” she snorted finally spotting the two boys.

     “Absolutely,” he nodded walking her over to Jay and set her hand on Jay’s arm, “Your turn, I’ll keep an eye on Carlos.”

     Jay jumped slightly but played it off with an easy smile, “Fine. Best of luck,” he ran a long look down Aziz one last time before letting Evie take him off, he was going to enjoy having all of his throughout the night before he could get them riled up enough to take him back to the room for some quality fucking.

     “You look good,” Evie smiled running a gentle hand over his arm.

     “Thanks, you look better. Also these pants, not great for hardons,” Jay replied as they joined the crowd, “But I am liking all very subtle marks you put on mine, makes me want to strip you all down and see what else you did.”

     “Oh I have so many telling marks, I want it clear but hidden who we belong to,” she smirked moving against him, “And maybe I want all those princesses and princes to know what they are missing out on.”

     As their hips ground together Jay leaned close pressing a kiss to her painted jawline close to her ear, “I don’t think they would know how to do anything that we do. We can do things that can make those posh royals flush from head to toe in embarrassment. I can do things that can still make you flush from head to toe, my wicked princess.”

     “Yes, but I want them to be jealous and not know why. I want them to know what I have is something they never will,” she pressed a kiss to his temple.

     “Cause I only fuck one prince and princess.” he hummed.

     “And one Puppy” she added to his list, “Besides I wanted to put leather into your outfit and since your shirt is made of silk from Agrabah I figured your pants were the next best thing.”

     Jay made a face against her skin as he pulled back, “Yeah I figured it was from there, but it’s... It’s nice. I kind of resent the fact I kind of like this shirt more than it’s a fancy shirt Princess made so I can look nice for her.” 

     “So you could look nice for your prince too,” she said, letting her fingers spread over his chest.

     “Well now I can, but before it was just you and Pup. I’m getting used to having such a willing mainlander.” Jay licked his lips, “You always look good for me, sometimes I try and look good for you in more than my skin.” 

     “And I appreciate that,” she smiled, “You can wear anything and look good. But well I wouldn’t allow you to walk around in just about anything.” 

     “Of course not. If it ain’t my colors, leather, or made by you I don’t wear it,” he smirked their hips grinding together again.

     “Exactly the way it should be” she pushed against him leaning up to nip at his jaw.

     Jay hummed softly tipping his head down mouth hovering over hers, “You have no idea how bad I want to lay you out right now. But this is not the right crowd for this. Have to have some prim and proper left right? If this was an Isle party...”

     “If this was an isle party we’d be over in the corner over there being naughty” she smirked

     “I’d have you pinned in that corner, dress pulled up just high enough for me to fuck you right then and there in sight of everyone.” Jay purred back eyes glittering with red gold sparks.

     “Maybe I’m not going to dance with Carlos after all,” she smirked as his eyes flashed, she’d make Carlos dance with her later, “We just need to tell Ben happy birthday.”

     “I would never make you miss a dance with Carlos. You dance with Pup and I will see if I can convince Princy to bend over for me. I really need to teach him how to give a blow job...” he muttered.

     “I may have told him about the garden maze,” she smirked as she leaned up to put her lips next to his ear, “He turned so red when I said I blew you there. Also, you don’t know that you just vanished my panties,” she pulled back with a wicked smirk before grinding into him once more before pulling away to go rescue Carlos from himself and the chocolate fountain.

     Jay shuddered slightly, "I need to get this magic thing sorted..." he followed after her and hooked a finger in Aziz's belt loop, giving him a quick sharp notification that he wanted attention right now. Cause after Aziz he was making good on fucking Evie in a corner.

     “Come on Carlos” Evie grabbed Carlos’ hand dragging him off.

     “But the chocolate,” he whined as they disappeared into the crowd.

     “Oh hush, you’ll get more later.” Evie rolled her eyes as she wrapped his arms around her waist. Jay needed a little time with Aziz, and well they’d see what the night would lead too.

     Aziz took the hint when Jay's head tilted ever so slightly. Jay didn't understand the meaning of anticipation apparently. Sighing he gently pushed him towards the outdoors. The party had spilled this way onto the terrace and Aziz knew where to go to avoid being spotted. With a glance back he shoved Jay into the small secluded maintenance building no one used. He couldn't help but lean in and kiss Jay as his hands undid the front of the egregiously tight leather pants.

     Jay caught the sleeve, thumb running over the stitching, it was a Cobra. Want poured through him and he reached for Aziz's pants. "What's wrong?" Jay whispered as the prince grabbed his wrist.

     "You need something to take the edge off. I'm not ready yet. Later when everything is over okay?" Aziz offered looking Jay in the face until the kid nodded.

     Jay may have relented on fucking Aziz into the wall but he was not expecting to see said prince drop to his knees, "You sure?"

     "No but it's only fair."

     Jay let out a low breath as Aziz licked him tentatively. Slowly working himself up as he jerked the majority of Jay's length. When lips closed finally around his head, he nearly grabbed the back of Aziz's head and shoved the rest of his length into his mouth. Jay closed his eyes and let it happen, let his Princy take all the time he needed as the sensations burned slowly through his gut. His Princy really needed to be taught but- his thoughts derailed as Aziz did something with his teeth that sent a jolt through Jay's body.

     "Fuck... I'm going to cum if you-" Jay stiffened as Aziz did it again before sliding back till just the tip was between his lips, "Princy..." he husked as the orgasm hit him like a surprise brick.

     Aziz thankfully was ready for it as Jay came. His nose crinkled at the taste but he waited until Jay finished before pulling back and spitting out the cum. Jay snorted, breathing heavy as Aziz tucked him back into his pants and zipped them up.

     "I need to teach you how to give a real blow. But color me surprised for your first time." 

     "Glad it met your obvious approval," Aziz leaned in and kissed Jay gently, "Now I expect you to come back to the party with me."

     Jay pushed off the wall, "Yeah I'm coming," his head was filled of all the nice post orgasm bliss and he was looking forward to all those moments with his. As long as Evie's panties were in the room... damn he hoped so.

 

Chapter 94: Party Problems (Mainland: March)

Notes:

Warnings:
-references to prostitution
-extreme violence

     Aziz guided them back into the party through a different way. Avoiding all the places that had people with too much prying. He leaned back against the wall, Jay having vanished before they even got inside. But the kid surprised him by reappearing and handing him a cup of punch. He nodded, thankful for the gesture.

     “Thank evil you two are back. Evie is trying to make me talk to other princesses and shit, hide me” Carlos bolted over and around Jay.

     Jay tucked Carlos under his arm, "Relax Pup if you don't want to I'm sure Princess won't force you."

     Aziz grinned, "I'll go appease Evie. You just stay out of the chocolate fountain."

     “I don’t know man she looked ready to start trading nasties with Audrey. Well until Mal showed up,” Carlos looked across the room at where Evie was standing with her arms crossed next to Mal.

     Jay sighed, "Princy watch Pup. I'll deal with it," he passed Carlos over and eased through the crowd coming up behind them, hand glossing over Evie's ass before resting on her lower back, "Princess you look like you're about to stab someone with scissors."

     “I... she accused me of stealing my tiara,” Evie said, “Same old Audrey, she can get away with anything without any punishment.” she leaned into Jay, she wanted to make this Prissy Princess look as ugly on the outside as she was on the inside.

     "And what did we tell her?" Jay asked frowning slightly.

     "That I made it for her," Mal replied glancing at him, he looked good.

     He nodded, "Well you did. I like it, fits Princess perfectly almost like magic."

     "I'm glad you do. E did a great job, you look fantastic," she smirked stepping away to give him room, "What do you want to do about Audrey?"

     "Nothing Mainland friendly..." he shrugged a shoulder, "But it's my job not yours."

     "Fair, but I have access to the Crown Prince. I'll let him know," she backed away.

     “Let's just go,” Evie sighed pushing hair from her face, she didn’t feel much like being here anymore. At least Mal hadn’t told Jay what Audrey had called her, she hadn’t taken too well to seeing Evie with Aziz. She had expected some nastiness from the other girl later about being with Aziz but, well Audrey calling her a money grabbing gold digging whore, that only knew one way to get a guy's attention. Well Evie would get even for that later.

     Jay's eyes narrowed and Mal jutted her chin out slightly, the details were unimportant and she would deal with them. "Go Jay, E wants to leave and given the state of you, probably for the best."

     Jay snorted, "Always so pushy Mal." But he pressed gently on Evie's lower back, a silent command to move. "We'll leave you to the bitches. Tell Ben Happy birthday for us."

     Mal nodded suppressing a shiver, it was better this way. If Jay found out everything he'd be more than pissed, there was a very real chance he'd do it again. Especially for one of his.

-*-flashback-*-

     Mal glared at the sea colored hair. Glared at Uma as she stood opposing her at the end of the alley. Shrimpy was a nuisance for everyone with her ‘I'm the baddest girl on the Isle’ attitude. 

     “Oh look boys, its Mal, her puppy, her princess and her whore,” Uma sneered.

     Mal frowned slightly at the last name, Uma wasn't talking about Jay was she?

     “Looks like you struck a nerve Uma,” One of the guys snickered, “Come here whore I got a few spare coins for you to suck my cock.”

     Her head turned as she felt Jay moving closer to her, “Stand down Jay.”

     “Aw you going to get on your knees and lick her cunt too Jay? I mean do you make her pay for it, or is it free cause that's what a whore like you enjoys doing?” Uma jabbed with a wide grin as she watched as they looked at him confused, “Oh... did they not know you sell yourself?”

     “Jay?” Mal asked carefully hearing his knuckles pop.

     “Say it again Uma and I will crack your skull open,” Jay snarled near vibrating with fury. How dare she judge the things he had to do to survive? Especially not when he had slept with her for a deal.

     The boys exchanged a look and grinned, “Whore.”

     Mal stumbled as Jay shoved her out of his way. As they came down the alley to meet Jay, Mal, Evie and Carlos went after him. She would ask once they were done. She knew he was pretty fine with sex for deals, and while she didn't agree that was his business. However that information about him selling himself was news to her.

     Jay wasn't thinking, all he wanted to do was crush their heads in. That wasn't much like him but maybe his runs down to New Wonderland had started affecting him. Especially since he wanted to hear them scream, wanted to watch them bleed. As Uma lunged at him with her sword he sidestepped and threw her back behind him into Mal. Mal would deal with her for him. The other two jumped at him and Jay kicked one's knee the wrong way. As that one collapsed he grabbed the other one's head with one hand ignoring the punches to his ribs. He slammed the male's head into the bricks, pulled him back and slammed him back into the wall until his eyes went glossy. Throwing that one down Jay moved towards the other who was trying to crawl away. His fingers curled around the knife handle in his belt and he drove the blade just above the male’s ear with all the fury he had in him. Adjusting his grip he ripped the blade out and dropped the body.

     Both sides stared at him as he stood there breathing hard. He felt, he felt better. He felt satiated, justified even, he had shut them up for good. They would never judge him for what he had to do. They would never say that word to him or anyone else ever again.

     Mal stared at Jay, her and Uma had stopped their fight when there had been a blood curdling scream followed by a crunch. The thief stood there with a bloodied knife in his hand that Mal knew he had stolen from a Jollyroger pirate. He seemed oblivious to the fact he had crushed in the skull of one of them, blood and brain matter stuck on the alley wall. He even seemed oblivious to the gaping head wound he had made ripping the blade free.

     Uma gagged as Jay turned wiping his cheek, smearing blood across his face. She and the remaining few she had ran back the way they came staying out of arm's reach from Jay.

     “Jay?” Carlos asked cautiously, “You okay man?”

     “Yeah, we're good.” Jay shrugged wiping the blade clean on his forearm before tucking it away in his boot this time.

     “You don't look good Jay.” Mal stated looking him over at the blood splattered over him and his seeming lack of notice.

     “Well neither do you Mal,” he sneered at her.

     “Jay...” Evie paused looking at him, “You killed them.”

     “No, I shut their fucking mouths for good. Don't you get it? No one can die here,” he felt the anger coming back before he shook his head, “I need to wash up.”

     “Was she lying about the selling yourself?” Mal asked and saw him freeze, “It for your payments isn't it?”

     “I do what I have to do to survive. No one has any right to judge me for that. Not you and not them. Bring it up again, and I can't promise I won't do that to you Mal,” Jay's body was shaking, but he wasn't lying, because he acknowledged the fact he would do it again. Not because he had to, because he could feel his want to.

     Stopping at the small broken sink in the hideout Jay scrubbed as the dried blood on his hands and arms. The already brown water even darker. As the anger drained away, he felt the dark thoughts bubbling back up. What had he done? The feel of blood between his fingers, the way the boy's mouth opened blue grey eyes wide in horror, the feel of the scream on his skin. What had he done? Jay felt his stomach flip and he gagged glad to have not eaten today. He was worse than his father. If the barrier wasn't there, he would have killed them. They would have been dead because of him. Dead at his hands, not just collateral damage like his father perfered to do.

     His hands squeezed the sink edge, as he squeezed his eyes shut. Yes he was the son of a villain, but he didn't want to be even more monstrous than the man who begrudgingly raised him. Hastily he wiped at his cheeks and stared at the blood smeared on his finger tips. Why did him let them push him that far? Why had it felt so damn good, when all he felt now was horror at himself for feeling justified in the first place?

-*- end flashback-*-

 

     Aziz was no stranger to whispers, hell since he had befriended the VK's he'd been victim to them. But this felt different. When he spotted Evie's expression he knew he wasn't wrong.

     “Well that can’t be good” Carlos looked at the approaching two, “She sent me to talk to Annabella about chocolate when Audrey came over” 

     “Hey guys, mind if we cut the night short?” Evie asked looking at the two guys. She knew Carlos wouldn’t mind but, well Aziz was representing Agrabah.

     “Yeah no big, it's a lame party anyway” Carlos shrugged.

     "I will catch up with you three in a little bit," Aziz was going to get to the bottom of it. He kept his word, especially to people who never had someone do it for them.

     Jay nodded, "We'll be in the room. Don't be a stranger."

     “Come on E, lets go raid the kitchen and then head back to the room” Carlos suggested putting a hand on her arm. It was easy to forget that while Carlos was considered the weakest physically among them, Evie could be taken down with words from the right person.

     “Sounds good” she nodded, she wasn’t sure she’d eat much but it was something to do.

     Aziz watched the three of them leave. Now that they were gone and out of harm's way, he was going to deal with Audrey. Slipping through the crowd he looked for the Princess of Pettiness, Audrey.

     “Honestly Audrey, do you have to pick a fight with someone at every major event?” Lonnie asked looking at the other girl as if she would rather be anywhere else.

     “It's not my fault, it's not like she’s a real princess. Yet she comes in here and starts picking through the prince’s and noble boys like it's her right. At least when she was with that dwarf boy she wasn’t flaunting it around,” Audrey snapped at her.

     “Oh really and what was your excuse last time?” she ask glaring, Jordan still wouldn’t let her lamp out of her sight unless it was locked away.

     "Pettiness," Aziz stated looking at the two girls, "Care to tell me exactly what it was you said to my friend Audrey?" He did not like her, mainly because she was a snake and though he rather liked snakes, but not her.

     “I don’t really remember, but I know it was nothing but the truth,” Audrey shrugged looking at him as she played with the end of a curl on her shoulder.

     Aziz hummed disbelievingly, "Lonnie? And don't leave anything out please. I am in no mood to deal with Petty Princesses who don't tell the truth because they can get away with playing dumb."

     “Lonnie,” Audrey looked at her.

     “We aren’t friends Audrey, and quite honestly calling Evie a money grabbing gold digging whore was bad enough in front of everyone, but to say the only way she knew how to get a man’s attention was with sex on top of that. Maybe you need to make another wish and wish yourself lost this time” Lonnie shook her head at the pink powder puff.

     Aziz clenched his jaw and was glad he made sure the others had left. He took a deep breath, "Thank you Lonnie. You know Audrey, you are a very poor representative of your country. Especially since the only reason you were with my best friend was for his crown, whereas the girl who had nothing but her intellect and creativity has never gone after a prince for more than his friendship. I am sure the Crown Prince and Fairy Godmother will be thrilled to hear your candid opinions of Auradon's wards. Especially after that incident involving Auradon's Princess."

     “I...” Audrey was cut off.

     “I have to agree, I would recommend taking your finals early and then starting your summer break” Ben’s voice came from behind her. Audrey turned looking at Ben in his blue suit Mal at his side, “I have tolerated your presence here Audrey, but it seems like quite honestly you learn nothing from your mistakes and seek to only cause harm to others”

     “That’s not true” Audrey pouted looking at him.

     “I know it's true, not once have I heard you apologize to anyone” Ben’s eyes hardened on her as his voice lowered, “You probably killed my sister, you should be happy that my father loves peace so much. If it was my daughter or anyone else's daughter you would be a prisoner.”

     "Crown Prince," Aziz inclined his head, "One Happy Birthday. Two, it is Agrabah's formal request that Princess Audrey not be allowed to return to Auradon Prep in the Fall. As we are brokers of peace and tolerance, we like to keep such allowances as we help those who have never had a kind hand in their lives." He may be a little pissed about Audrey's actions.

     “Thank you friend, for the birthday wish. Please bring your request to the council meeting tomorrow I will second it, as I am sure Fairy Godmother will support it as well,” Ben nodded, “I believe the hour is quite late for you to be out unescorted Princess Audrey, you should probably retire. Less people talk.”

     Audrey looked between the two princes in horror, her eyes narrowed on Mal with venom before she dipped into a curtsy and made her exit.

     "Absolutely will be my pleasure Ben," Aziz smiled coldly watching her go, "You look good you two, sorry it went a little differently than expected tonight."

     “It's not a problem, when Mal said she was causing trouble I figured I'd see if there was a way to get her out of here early” Ben shrugged.

     "Jay and Carlos took Evie away from the party and Audrey. I won't be far behind to make sure they are okay. You mind if I borrow those three this Summer? I would ask you Mal but you're going to be the one to make him sleep."

     Mal smirked, "No worries, thank you for getting our backs."

     “I don’t mind they are free to travel if they wish for the summer” Ben shook his head with a fond smile.

     "Thanks, mom will be super happy to hear that. We will talk more tomorrow about all this before the meeting. I'll let FG know we need to meet with her. Till then you enjoy the rest of your birthday," Aziz clasped arms with Ben before leaning down kissing the back of Mal's hand, "Make sure he has fun."

     Mal flushed slightly embarrassed by the physical gesture as she spotted the claim around his neck, Jay probably hadn't taught him what it actually meant yet, "I can do that."

 

     Jay looked at the door as Aziz came in and closed the door behind him. Good grief, what else happened?

     "Good news, Ben is forcing Audrey to take her exams early and leave. Other good news Agrabah with the backing of the Crown Prince are requesting that the bitch is kicked out and not allowed to finish her schooling anywhere near you three." Aziz gave them a smile dropping into a chair.

     “You guys can do that?” Carlos looked at him from his place on the bed.

     "Perks of being a foreign representative," Aziz smirked, "And she made that bed she can fucking sleep in it. I need to spend less time with you Jay, your foul language is wearing off."

     "Not the only thing wearing off on you," Jay muttered looking over his new mainland prince with a bit of concern.

     “So... she’s not coming back?” Evie asked from her place at the desk, “That is... great news”

 

Chapter 95: Crocodile Returns (Isle: April)

Notes:

Warning:
-graphic violence
-implied prostitution
-implied cannibalism
-sort of cannibalism

     There was something wrong. Rumple knew it, heard it and saw it. And it took everything he had not to destroy Long John Silver for daring to hurt his daughter. It had taken over a full month for her to heal entirely, and she had been all too eager to fire back. But he had forced her to wait, and be patient. The time would come. They were nearly halfway there and he needed to keep her on task. If she fought now, she would tear everything apart too soon. The four who left would be back soon, and her curiosity with Jairaj would be seen through. So many paths, and he wouldn't be there to guide where she would go once she was released upon the world.

 

     Penny tossed her ponytail over her shoulder again as she worked in re-securing the main sail lines, Io hadn’t been around much this last week and Harry has been on edge.

 

     Rumple brushed a hand over Io's head as she sat at the spinning wheel, "Not much longer now my dearie, then you can always destroy them. Be patient, just be patient."

     "I have been patient Papa," she leveled coldly, "But I want his undying head on a pike."

     "And that is a path Darlene, but you will not like where it leads. So let me put you on the most fruitful one. I haven't guided you wrong before. Have I?" He adjusted her hands on the wheel.

     She sighed heavily, "No..."

     "Good, then listen to your Papa, you'll have your fill of carnage soon enough my dear. Now finish this basket and head to the ship." He kissed her cold cheek and pulled away.

 

     Penny finished her chores up and glanced over at Harry. She wanted to go out to the bazaar, but well he’d been super protective lately. Maybe she could ask Koga to go with her.

     Io walked up the gangplank, eyes roving over the deck and the already completed chores. Clearly Penny had been bored.

     “Crocodile,” Harry looked her over as he came up from his room.

     "Harry," she nodded her head, looking him over in reply, "I miss anything important?"

     “Nothing besides a near rabid princess. I swear she’s dangerous when she’s bored,” Harry shook his head, “Since I don’t see her I’m betting she went around me and asked Mr. Smee if she could go to the bazaar.” 

     "Most likely, since all the chores are done already." Io sighed softly, "Shall we go and find her, or do you have something else to do?" She was out of sorts still, unable to shake the vicious cold in her chest. The want to fly into a bloody frenzy against the Silvers.

     “Nothing else to do,” he shook his head, “Gil went with a few of the crew to help carry supplies,” he said, “let’s go find out what our princess gets up to when we’re not watching”

     Io grinned wild, the expression an old comfort she had dropped to put their Stickpin at ease. After a few months she had simply neglected putting it back on. But she needed to come back to herself, the wild and vicious creature.

     “There’s our Crocodile,” Harry grinned taking in the look he hadn’t seen in far too long.

     "She's been with us long enough, it has been far too long since we've made them shy away with only a grin." Her hand brushed his as they walked, "Terribly sorry I kept away for so long my dear first mate. Took forever and a day to heal up." Wild and a touch mad, the purring and grinning Crocodile would be back in full bloody swing soon enough. Sure her preferred dance partner was gone but she could make another out of any willing or unwilling body.

     “Ye needed to heal up, it's good to see you back though” Harry nodded letting his knuckles brush over hers as they walked.

     Penny smirked as Kitten as they walked stall to stall looking over various wares. She had snagged a few bangles while Kitten had sweet talked the boy at the stand.

     "Good being back, can't let them think they won after all. If they think Pin made me weak, they are in for a very nasty surprise."

     “No one could ever think you would go soft” he snorted looking at her out of the corner of his eye as they entered the bazaar. He smirked using his hook to swipe an apple, the vendor swacked at him but otherwise didn’t bother once she saw Io’s face.

     "Looks like your right my darling," her grin widened as she gave a short laugh, "Shall we find our dear..." her head tipped seeing one of Morgana's whores who reminded her of Gil, "What are you doing here little lost lamb," she purred brushing Harry's hand to direct his attention.

     “Browsing, getting off the ship for a little bit” Penny said looking at Io as Harry wrapped an arm around her shoulders holding the apple up.

     “Shopping, I had a client, now I don’t” Kitten shrugged looking at the Crocodile.

     "Oh that sounds believable Pussy cat," Io purred brushed a blonde curl.

     “What can I say, he finished a little faster than he thought he would,” Kitten shrugged again. Looking to Penny as she leaned forward taking a bite from the apple before Harry pulled it back.

     Io hummed, "Who would have figured you could get a man off so fast," she teased, "How is your boss doing?"

     “Still the same old Morgana, this is too expensive that is too expensive, I should sell some of you useless bitches to Shere Khan” she said, “Empty threats, mostly anyway”

     “You should tell her about the Silvers and the Black Beards” Penny advised as they moved towards the semi privacy of an alley.

     “I could, but I already gave that information to you so...” she stuck her tongue out at the younger girl.

     Io lifted a brow, "Shere doesn't have a blonde in his collection. He'll be delighted to have a female Kitten of his own."

     “Hard pass thanks, I'm not much into carving off pieces of my body” she made a face, “Besides the same guy every time would get boring.”

     "Well you will just have to find a way to deal. Unless you want to give me that information." Io smirked flashing sharp teeth.

     “They’ve been a lot more active, both Black Beard and Long John Silver were in Morgana’s office the other night, and it wasn’t for nookie of that I’m sure” she shrugged crossing her arms with a sour face, “It's getting tense on that side of the red.”

     “Yes I can imagine,” Io replied giving Harry a look, “Morgana isn’t terribly fond of any sort of Pirate unless the money is worth it. Not that having eight tentacles and two arms would make things difficult...” So LJ was using that night against them was he. She would make him regret that decision.

     “Mogana isn’t terribly fond of fucking any one unless need be,” Kitten added, “I should be heading back. And you, I want that coin purse back next time,” she pointed at Penny.

     “I have no idea what you’re talking about,” Penny snickered watching her go.

     Io spun one of Kitten’s bracelets around her finger, “Pity pity LJ’s going to be like that,” she mused tossing Penny the bracelet, “Have a good time without me Pin?”

     “Are you feeling better? Cause if I hear one more person suggest I polish or mop something on that ship this week, Harry’s head is gonna be the mop,” she said.

     “Hey now what did I do” Harry laughed holding out the rest of the apple, she took it from him.

     “Besides being all jumpy and not telling me why?” she raised an eyebrow.

     “Aye all better,” Io nodded, “And jumpy is good in this place remember? Now then shall we collect the rest of the crew?” 

     “Him being that jumpy makes me nervous,” Penny admitted, “Yep, who first?”

     Io grinned, “Mimzy, she’s the closest to here and Gil will be a while getting things for the ship.”

     “Then to the black magic alley we go” Penny nodded spinning the bracelet on her wrist as Harry draped an arm around her holding her close as they walked.

     Io walked with them, smiling wide and carnal, let them spread the word the Crocodile was out for blood. She was going to get it, she was going to have her carnage, she was going to put Long John Silver back in his place under her and the rest of the Jollyroger’s crews where he belonged.

     Penny rolled her eyes but let Harry hold her as they walked. She watched people move out of their path with one look. Glancing over at Io, something was different, she just wasn’t sure what.

     Harry let his hook hang in his grasp at his side. They had all been... lighter versions of themselves since their little Stickpin’s arrival. It had helped her but now it was time to remind people they were as nasty and vicious as they came.

     Io pondered the idea of collecting a new few bodies for her crew but decided against it. There were more than enough of them, and when she added in their personal minions there were a bounty of them. Black and blue caught her eye and she paused briefly. Glancing over the female Agrabahian as she moved through the crowds back towards her part of town. Curious and curiouser today was turning out to be she decided as they walked into Madame Mim’s shop. 

     Mimzy's customer greeting died on her lips. Crocodile and Harry were back. Her lips curled into a poisonous smile, it was about damn time. She may not be the strongest or most vicious of them but she was tired of playing gentle, at least when they were all patched up.

     “Hello witchy, want to come play” Harry teased tilting his head as he peered at her.

     "Nothing would warm my pitch heart more," Mimzy cooed, whisking her bag out from its hiding place and slipped a few extra vials inside. "MOM, it's ship time. Don't poison anyone till I get back!" She called over her shoulder and bounded around the counter on light feet. "Welcome back Harry," she purred against his skin as she pressed a kiss to the corner of his lips before linking arms with Crocodile.

     Io grinned a touch wider, "We're off to see our tigers, our wonderful man eating tigers," she sung out the bastardized version of the Wizard of Oz song she had heard a long while ago. It felt good being back to her normal state of wild abandon.

     Penny raised an eyebrow at Mimzy. She hadn’t ever seen the other girl really touch Harry let alone kiss him, it stirred up a few nasty feelings.

     “Now now love no plotting for a little peck” Harry smirked seeing the look on the Princess’s face.

     “I wasn’t plotting anything... yet,” she shrugged.

     "Don't be so touchy Pin, it wasn't even on his lips," Mimzy prodded leaning into Crocodile's shoulder looking wistful, "We've done much worse."

     "Hazards of rum," Crocodile snorted, as they walked eyes taking in the increase of other pirate crew tags. "But that stopped when I picked up Gil."

     "She means stole from Uma." Mimzy laughed like tinkling bells.

     "Technicalities," Io purred mocking innocence, "She left him open and I am a much better deterrent than she is. I also have a handsome sweet talking first mate." Her knuckles dragged over his jawbone, "Who needs to shave."

     “Yeah, I do.” He agreed with a nod, he’d only really started needing to think about shaving a little before Pin showed up, “Besides it’s just ye, me and Gilly. Unlike someone who seems to have hooked a blonde kitty”

     “That’s a little different” she elbowed him lightly.

     “Hardly” he snorted letting his fingers draw up her neck.

     "How did you manage to hook her? I thought that was one of Harry's things," Io asked knowing he had spent quite a bit of time with Jay.

     “I did what I do,” Penny shrugged, “I figured something out and she was surprised.”

     Mimzy rolled her eyes, "Like a baby crocodile," she mused as they walked past Jafar's Junk Shop, "You know I kind of miss the pretty thief... he was such a flirt."

     "You're just upset you can't use him as another art project." Io snickered.

     “He’s something alright” Penny nodded, "And well if I have the information why not see what it’s worth if it’s harmless”

     And therein lay the difference between them Io didn't part with any information without a price. She stopped in front of the door and knocked loudly, "PLAY TIME KOGA!" 

     Harry shook his head at the thought, there was still a princess in there not knowing how to use what she knew. Well in some cases anyway, she knew what to do with what she learned about him and Gilly for sex.

     Penny looked at the door, Shere Khan still gave her the creeps. Koga she trusted, when he wasn’t pawing at her. But well he’d learned his lesson when she stuck him, probably.

     The door swung open to Shere Khan. His massive frame filling the doorway before he threw his arms around Io with a loud rumbling purr, "Little lamb," he rubbed his head against her head.

     Io cooed rubbing behind the massive cat ear, "Yes Shere I'm all healed up. I will get you some piglets soon swear. But-"

     "You need my son," Shere pulled back with a huff, "Never come to see just me..."

     "That's because I don't want you getting any ideas dad," Koga growled from behind his father, "Crew meeting?"

     “Aye, something like that. Thinking the Crocodile wants to play a little today. Been a long time since we played” Harry smirked at Koga.

     Koga grinned, flashing massive teeth, "Bout damn time."

     “Then let’s go tiger boy,” Harry tipped his head back as he watched Pin’s reaction to Shere Khan.

     Shere pulled away and watched them walk away, he would have the lamb one of these days. Especially with that scent on her skin.

     Koga followed after the crew as Io guided them up towards Bargain castle where their prime hunting grounds were, especially since the dark fairies were gone. He had suggested Io move into the castle, but she had just laughed. So they hunted Maleficent's minions instead for sport.

     Mimzy ran her fingers over Io’s wrist, “I have missed our play sessions.”

     Penny looked between the other four, she knew the castle from listening to Mal talk about it every now and then. But, what were they doing here? She looked at Harry who seemed to be searching for something with his eyes. She didn’t want to flat out ask but, she didn’t understand what was going on.

     “Crocodile how would you like to play today?” Harry asked as he spun away from Penny to walk backwards in front of them.

     “Well there is hunting... I’m in a bit of a snappy jaws mood. We need to get our edge sharper, especially if the others are thinking of moving in on our territory,” Io smirked watching Harry move.

     “Noticed the tags did you?” Koga rumbled throwing an arm over Mimzy’s shoulders, “I’ve been keeping them away from my end of town. No one likes getting mawed.”

     “What are we hunting?” Penny finally asked, looking at Io. She couldn’t do anything if she didn’t know what they were doing or hunting or whatever.

     “Minions. Specifically Maleficent's minions,” Io watched the princess near daring her to back down, “Nothing you can’t handle right my dear?”

     “Of course not, I just wanted to know what we were doing,” Penny said, the real question she wanted to ask was what happened to them when they caught them. But with Koga here that seemed like a stupid question.

     “Yer gonna like this Pin,” Harry smirked, he wasn’t sure but well they needed to have some fun and she needed to be a part of this. After this if she proved soft hearted like Gil he’d leave her back on the ship.

     “If not at least you and Gil will have lots of alone time on the ship,” Mimzy giggled as they came within view of what served as the old queen’s minions. The pig faced monstrous brutes freezing still at the sight of them.

     “Hunting time my dears,” Io called maddened glee on her face as she and Mimzy separated, pincering around a minion as Koga bum rushed another alongside Harry claws fully extended. 

     Penny hung back watching the two sets of the crew. She didn’t want to get in anyone’s way, she took in the reactions of the minions the one trying to fight off Koga’s claws and Harry’s hook. Then the one trying to flee from Mimzy and Io.

     Koga claws finally hooked into flesh and he closed his hand dragging him in mouth opening wide. He left the minion open for Harry as he bit down into the shoulder of the minion with all his once held savagery.

     Io nodded to Mimzy and her witch pulled a vial throwing it at the feet of the minion. It let out a shrill cry as acid ate away at skin and clothes. They always made such delightful noises when they were hurt.

     Penny felt like she should feel something at the minion’s cries but that part of her was oddly quiet. She leaned back on the wall behind her trying to figure out if she pitied these not quite pigmen.

     Harry ran his hook almost gently up the minions thigh as he withered against Koga.

     Koga pulled his head back, ripping flesh out as he snapped it back hungrily. He missed this, missed the hunts and the feasts he would have. So worth the time away as it tasted like their prey had gotten sweeter.

     Mimzy stepped around the down minion, "Tusks are in relatively good condition. Decent meat on his bones. Should be a good haul for the Khan's."

     "After Mimzy, after," Io giggled running her blade down his chest tearing the clothes away, "Take what you want now. I'll knock him out when you're done."

     “Come here Pin,” Harry held out a hand to the girl as he slowly sunk his hook between ribs. Penny went to his side only to be spun around so her back was pressed against his chest. He guided her hand over his own on his hook, “Ye feel it right there it’s just resting between his ribs. But a little turn” he smirked at the scream, “And pull” the rib popped out tearing skin.

     "Why don't you give it a go Pin? Right here," Koga all but purred blood dripping down his chin as he tapped another rib, "Just twist the hook the other way and you'll catch the next one."

     Penny nodded, adjusting her grip slightly Harry’s hand staying over hers as she struggled to turn the mostly blunt weapon. Harry chuckled a little before helping apply the pressure needed to turn it.

     “Now pull back” Harry said as his free hand played across her waist.

     She pulled back sharply feeling the resistance of the bone as well as the struggling man, with another tug the rib popped out cracking. She jerked back as some blood splattered onto her.

     “Easy love,” Harry soothed as she thumped against this chest.

     “There you go Pin,” Koga licked his lips and opened his maw ripping into that place again on the minions shoulder hungry for more.

     “You good?’ Harry asked softly in her ear. She was very still after the jump.

     “Yeah I think so,” she nodded letting him take the hook fully into his hand.

     Koga tore another piece off and snapped it back looking her over as he swallowed, “Ain’t no shame in saying you ain’t got the heart for it. Harry, Mimzy, Crocodile and I grew up made for the blood and violence, some more than others.”

     Penny’s eyes flickered up to Koga’s, “Yeah,” she sighed. She felt Harry sag a little behind her, before pressing his lips to her temple.

     “Off ye pop, don’t go too far,” he said, letting her out of his hold, he’d hoped that she would enjoy this with him.

     Koga watched her go, yellow eyes returning to Harry, “She’s still one of them. No matter how long she’s been with us, she’ll always be one of them underneath. I can smell it, she’s afraid, just a little.”

     “I just wanted her to be able to do something with us, something that... isn’t work,” he sighed, “You going to eat the spleen?” he tilted his head thinking about tearing his hook through the organ.

     “Not on this one, I’ll grab the one the girls downed. Just leave me a kidney intact, his meat is better than usual. Seven months off prime hunting will do that I suppose.” Koga rolled a shoulder, “As long as she ain’t gonna make herself a target we won’t have any issues. At least Gil will fight back if need be. Pity you couldn’t convince the thief to stick with you, he at least didn’t mind a little blood.”

     “Yeah he knew how to wreak some havoc,” Harry nodded watching as blood gushed around the hook as he pushed it through the soft fleshy organ.

     Penny watched the boys for a second as she tried to clean off her face. She didn't know if she’d ever be able to just do this like them.

     “Havoc wasn’t the only thing he liked to wreak,” Koga chuckled darkly as he snapped the collar bone, “That’s why you liked him right?”

     “That is true,” Harry chuckled looking back up at the fur covered face.

     Penny glanced over at the girls and quickly looked away, yeah she didn’t need to see that mess.

     Koga hummed, that was why he liked the thief too. 

     Mimzy sighed happily as Io finally knocked the minion out, the spilling intestines turned into pretty bows, his tusks now safely nestled in her pouch for later use in the shop, “You know I rather missed this. Missed you being... well you. No one lets me play like my Crocodile...”

     “I missed it too,” Io purred wiping the knife on a patch of nonbloody fabric, “It’s never the same when I have to play nicer.”

     Penny wandered along the side of the castle looking at the people that still scurried around as if in the shadow of Maleficent.

     Koga snapped the minion’s neck letting the body fall to the ground as he looked over his shoulder at the hoofless and disemboweled body the girls had made, “I feel one upped.”

     “Ye and me both,” Harry nodded looking at the art project.

     “That’s why they call them the crazies and not us. I just eat people,” Koga muttered as they walked towards the girls, “News Crocodile.”

     Io turned looking at her boys, “Let me guess, our dear little lamb doesn’t do hunting,” she nearly sneered, “Ah well more company for our Gil.”

     “I think she’d do it if she had too, but well blood. How’d I end up with two soft hearted ones,” Harry shook his head.

     “You have me,” Io replied, shrugging a shoulder, “You tossed the other one you liked away because his stubbornness pissed you off.”

     “Well kinda hard to protect him when he wouldn’t let us make him crew. And he followed that little fairy around,” Harry defended.

     “I am fully aware he followed that fucking fairy,” she snorted, “He had a point in all his protests, he was smack dab in her territory and it would have been hell keeping it. Especially after he laid claim to Mal’s other two.” 

     “Well maybe we’ll catch him. I’d love to give him a few more piercings,” Mimzy sighed, “He looked so good with nipple rings.”

     “They were fun to look at that was for sure,” Harry smirked thinking of the rings and everything else he did with them, “Pin’s waiting outside for us.”

     Koga nodded plucking out a few easily accessible organs, “Alright let’s get our second little lamb.”

     “Maybe I can-”

     “No Mimzy,” Io cut her off, “You leave her alone bad enough Koga already ripped her face open.”

     Koga huffed looking away, “Not going to let that go are you?”

     “Fuck no. She poked you with a barnacle scraper and you were a baby about it and cut her face open.”

     “Was kinda funny after the fact,” Harry snorted, “She just cussing up a storm cause now there’s blood on the deck. And kitten cat there is licking his paw like it’s a great wound,” of course at the time he’d been ready to hook the cat.

     "It fucking hurt," Koga snapped all teeth as they walked.

     Mimzy shook her head, "Lucky you didn't get too deep."

     “Pin” Harry called the girl over as he spotted her. She turned looking at him and came over letting him put an arm around her again.

     "Hunting not to your liking Pin?" Io asked her arm slipped in with Mimzy's. The lavender haired witch watching Penny curiously.

     “It is entertaining, but I’m not much for blood shed that isn’t in a fight,” she shrugged as Harry pulled her into his side.

     Mimzy giggled, "She's soft like Gil, just means more fun for us like before."

     "Fun is a very good word for it," Io laughed all teeth, "Hit up the wharf party tonight? I'm in a good mood and I think we deserve a drink."

     “When do we ever need an excuse to drink?” Penny asked raising an eyebrow at Io.

     "Never but normally we don't drink with the crew."

     “Yeah, we should mingle or whatever it is with the adults of da’s crew” Harry nodded

     “Mingle...” Penny made a face, “I always hated mingling” she did always hate those parties, she was always expected to play nice.

     "Well my dearest lamb they are Jollyrogers and Jollyroger pirates look over one another. We tend to have preferential treatment because Harry is the Captain's son. But we have to show up every once in a while and play with the others."

     “Besides we always have fun after words” Harry smiled, “We get all worked up and when its almost done we go off and have our fun”

     “We do have our fun” Penny nodded.

     Mimzy looked at Koga, "What do you say to a little hide and seek later?"

     Koga smirked, "Almost as fun as cat and mouse."

     Io rolled her eyes, "You lot and fucking."

     “Should try it some time,” Harry snorted, “Maybe when yer thief comes back.”

     “Like he’s coming back here” Penny rolled her eyes.

     “He’ll be back” Harry nodded.

     "You and him always had a sizzle," Mimzy nodded, "And he has experience."

     "And he'd eat out of your hand if you told him to," Koga added, "Especially since we have something of his."

     "Enough," Io hissed, "He owes me and he knows what I'll do to him if he doesn't deliver. It's just a matter of time."

     “She’s not his anymore” Harry looked at Koga.

     “She is right here” Penny snorted

     "He doesn't know that." Koga shot back, "He will figure it out when he comes back. Maybe he'll bring my Puppy Dog back."

     Mimzy cackled, "Oh his face when you called him that. White as bone and all shivery."

     “He must have liked it cause I heard Jay call him Puppy a few times,” Penny shrugged.

     "Oh he really liked it," Koga chuckled tearing a hunk out of the kidney.

     "And Evie is his Princess," Io snorted, "She was always so terrified of Koga and I."

     “Well Evie is a princess,” Penny nodded looking at the different marks on the wall.

     “She’s something alright,” Harry guided them back towards the wharf.

     "Do you blame her really though? Evil Princess played coy but she could be a mean bitch," Mimzy shook her head, "You scared her because you looked at Mal and laughed when her eyes went all green. Koga scares just about everyone."

     “He can be pretty scary” Penny snickered.

     “Careful Pin, hate for him to use you as a scratching post,” Harry warned as the ship came into sight.

     "I technically already did, but if she wants a different kind of scratching she is welcome to see just how scary I can be."

     "Behave kitten cat," Io warned, "Or I will pour rum down your pretty little throat."

     "But Crocodile..." Mimzy whined, "I want him functional."

     "Well then make sure he doesn't claw my Stickpin anymore."

     “Hey there you guys are” Gil smiled waving at them. Penny moved out of Harry’s grasp and into Gil’s embrace.

     “Sometimes I wonder if she would have let me fuck her if Gil wasn’t around” Harry tilted his head watching his two.

     "Probably not. If the thief couldn't seduce her I doubt she was going to let you fuck her without him there," Io shrugged eyes roaming over them, "Koga finish eating and wash up."

     "Pushy bitch," he grumbled but did as she asked anyway washing the blood away in the bucket.

     “You guys went... hunting?” Gil glanced over at Koga and then down at Penny. He didn’t like hunting, Penny didn’t like blood much so. Maybe she was just trying to be tough for Io.

     “Yeah they went hunting,” Penny nodded, “I watched from a distance.”

     "Crocodile wanted to play, so we played. Tonight we are going to party with the adult crew." Mimzy smiled widely bouncing on her toes.

     "And you know how much fun we have there," Io smirked, "Since Penny didn't take to hunting you'll be keeping her company Gil."

     “Just have to follow the rules ye two,” Harry eyed both of them.

     “And if we don’t,” Penny teased Harry with a smirk.

     “Then I get to punish both of ye,” he smirked back. Gil shifted at the sound of that, maybe he and Penny should misbehave the next time the others went hunting.

     Io gave her first mate a look and snorted, "I don't think you have it in you to punish them. At least not in a way that will discourage them."

     “Truer words have never been spoken,” Penny laughed.

     “Watch it, yer gonna end up sleeping on the floor,” Harry raised an eyebrow at her.

     “See it’s like Crocodile knows yours,” Koga snorted as they hung around the ship’s deck.

     “She knows almost everything. That’s what makes her the Isle’s best leader,” Mimzy nodded, “Or at least knows everything of any importance.”

     Io rolled her eyes, “Which is why we all know you’d never let them, either of them, sleep on the floor. Now then, we wait for the Captain and then we head to the party.”

     “Yeah fun night,” Gil nodded squeezing Penny’s waist as he smirked.

     Koga snorted, “More like frisky night.”

     “Same thing,” Penny chuckled as Harry came to stand behind them and wrapped his arms around both their waists.

 

     Killian looked at the collection of kids on his deck. He had just gotten back from the Deal Maker’s with a rather firm warning that if Io got hurt again, he would be given the same treatment. Seeing her there with the familiar grin of teeth, he had got the impression Rumple had told her something very different.

     “Hey da,” Harry looked at his da standing there watching them from the gangplank.

     “Do I want to know why ye kids are sulking about me deck?”

     “Waiting on you Captain,” Io purred, “We were thinking about playing with the rest of the crew.”

     Killian lifted a brow at her, she never waited for permission, which meant she wanted to talk to him while the both of them were in sight of the crews, “Does this mean ye want me to escort ye lot?”

     Mimzy batted her eyelashes, “Would you Captain?”

     “Feels weird if we go without ye da,” Harry shrugged.

     “Alright, alright stay put I’ll be right back,” Killian nodded heading towards his cabin. He dropped the small bag on his desk before heading back out to the kids, “Come on then ye lot.”

     Penny slipped from the boys' hold letting them walk, Gil leaning into Harry’s side with his goofy grin. She rolled her eyes moving to walk next to Mimzy.

     Koga followed behind them eyes roving over their backs as he sniffed the air making sure they were clear.

     Killian walked beside Io, “Ye feeling better Io?”

     “Like I’ll let LJ keep me down,” Io snorted, “Bastard is going to get it.”

     He glanced at her, his Crocodile, “Ye leave LJ to me. Ye been hurt enough from him.”

     Penny adjusted her hood back as she looked at Mimzy, she could pick up some of what Io was saying but, well she wasn’t over concerned about what Io was saying unless it dealt with her.

     Mimzy glanced at Penny taking her arm, “So why didn’t you ever play with the thief?”

     “I didn’t understand what he was hinting at for starters. And well that one kiss was nice even if he was drunk. But I don’t know, I heard Evie once tell him that he should treat me like Dizzy,” she explained as best she could, knowing what she knew now, she’s not sure she wouldn’t have gone for it.

     “So he kissed you while he was drunk and you missed the signal he wanted to fuck? Do you not talk about fucking or actually fuck where your from. Because we just about live for it here.”

     “I am aware of that, seeing as Gil, Harry and I do it like every night in one way or another. But no they really don’t talk about it, it’s up to parents to decide when their kid is ready to know. I think mom was going to explain on my 16th,” she shrugged thinking, “And add to that, that Jay had just gotten done telling me how much he missed Io and how I reminded him of her but different. Wasn’t sure if it was a compliment or not then.”

     “Three things here. One, that sucks about the fucking thing. Two, that is kind of cute that he misses her, cause I’m pretty sure she is going to stab him the minute she sees him. Three, being compared to Io is one of the highest Isle compliments which you now know.” Mimzy nodded sighing softly, “Maybe I can give him some more art. He looks so good in silver...”

     “I know it's a compliment now, and you have to add in the fact that I went to an all girls school for like 10 years before I was allowed to come home... I’m not sure it’s really home” she laid her head on Mimzy’s arm.

     “So what you went to an all girl’s school. Fingers can be just as good as dicks. And when you wanna have a fun time a girl will know all the right places to blow your mind. But this is your home now anyway, you’ll always be welcome here with us. Afterall you are a Jollyroger Pirate and we are the Wolves of the Sea,” She tipped her head kissing the top of Penny’s head, “If you ever get bored of the boys, we could have a good time.”

     “I’ll keep that in mind, and for me to get it on with any of the girls there they had to be willing to talk to me. Might be a shocker but I wasn’t that popular,” she thought about the other girls that used to pick on her. She was sure the word came from Audrey somehow.

     “Really? Why not? I mean we are very good judges of character, in a warped sense at least.” She gave the girl an odd look.

     “I’m odd, the family used to joke I was more Beast than Man,” she shrugged half heartedly, “I also may be punched the daughter of Sleeping Beauty in the face when we were kids,” she smirked at the memory of watching the older girl cry and holding bleeding nose. Of course her parents had claimed it didn’t have anything to do with sending her away but they managed to keep her and Audrey apart after that. As a consequence she ended up separated from her family, maybe that was why she didn’t really feel the loss when she’d finally stopped going home when she was 10.

     “As you might have noticed we like beasts here,” Mimzy giggled, “Especially Io. Koga was a loner before she convinced him and his father to join the Jollyroger, and sometimes I wonder if she doesn’t feed the lions.”

     “She seems like the type,” Penny glanced at Io’s back.

     “True, but she is the one willing to do whatever needs doing,” Mimzy smiled slightly, “What else can you hope for?”

     “Around here, nothing,” Penny agreed as they came to where the party seemed to be starting up.

     Killian pulled the door open and ushered the kids inside. He couldn't help but wonder why Koga had come considering he couldn't drink. His half conversation with Io told him she was preparing for war.

     Harry chuckled at something Gil said as they passed through the door. Penny smiled watching the two of them. It was nice to see them laughing together. 

     As the others wandered around sticking close to each other Io stayed near Killian, following after him to his normal look out spot. "I assume you had a talk with him?"

     "Aye. He is worried about yer safety given what John did to ye. Not that I blame 'im, ye were a mess. But ye be planning a war love, call me concerned."

     "The tags are changing up around the Bazaar. The Kahn's are no longer a deterrent for the other crews. He informed me to be patient, but frankly if there is about to be an Isle wide mutiny in leadership I need the crew, all of them, ready."

     "Ye know something he doesn't. Out with it." At her amused look he sighed leaning back, "One I am yer Captain lass, and two if ye want me to prep me ship for a War ye are going to need to tell me what ye know."

     "Nothing is free Captain."

     "Fine. What is it ye want this time?"

     "When it gets real bad you let me off my leash and keep the pretty from trying to do anything stupid."

     Killian looked her over and mulled it over, unleashing his Red Mad Jaws. Letting her loose to wreak carnage on his enemies, it was very tempting, "Alright deal, on the condition I say when it is bad enough to let ye run rampant."

     "Morgana has allied Black Beard and Long John against us." Io ceded to the demand, she knew how to convince him to do what she wanted.

     "Ye sure?"

     "Little birds sing when threatened," Io replied, she was certain it would be inevitable.

     Killian frowned, "Alright go play with the crew. I'll walk ye home tonight. No argument, that's his demand. Ye don't like it whine to him."

     Harry nodded to a few of the crew as he pulled Gil out onto the dance floor. His eyes found Penny over in the corner with Mimzy.

     “It's funny seeing them relax together. I haven’t really gave them much time with just them,” Penny nodded to Harry as she saw him looking.

     "Well you're his. They split their time."

     “I know I am, but I don't know, sometimes I feel like I'm just between them all the time” she sat on one of the barrels along the wall, “I think we make a good set.”

     "Well let me tell you a little story then," Mimzy settled down on another barrel. "When I was a kid, about 5 or so I met Harry. It was just him and his dad's crew. No Io, no Gil... just a 5 year old Harry and occasionally a 4 year old Milton. I for some reason decided I would be his ally. Even if I was in Black Magic Alley with Mom and him on the Jollyroger with his dad, we would be allies. He was always so excited to see me whenever we happened to meet on the streets, and I felt like I was helping him not be alone, even if I knew we were in the same boat. Then Io appeared when we were 8. Just out of the blue. She had helped Harry escape from chores without even knowing who he was, in fact she was just so... unnatural sometimes. Always smiling, always watching, learning, adapting, and knowing things that 8 year olds shouldn’t know. But he adored her. Harry couldn’t stop talking about her, about how amazing she was, of how great she was at learning to be a pirate. I felt like I was between them. Like I was keeping them apart whenever I hung out with them. But Io wouldn’t hear it, she considered herself the add on of the crew and told me we were each other's. No matter what it seemed like we were going places because we were together. The point of that was that, while it may seem like your butting in, here on the Isle we would flat out tell you if you weren’t welcome. And honestly if Harry told you that Io would make you hers and only hers.”

     “I understand that... Sort of, it’s just a feeling I’m so used to having that when I get it I tend to listen to it,” she explained as she tried to picture Harry or any of them as little kids, it also sort of stirred a little jealousy in her, they had, had each other, they hadn’t had anything else but they had each other.

     “Then you just ignore that feeling, cause we are keeping you.” Mimzy laughed.

     “That’s good to know, not sure where I’d go if you weren’t,” she smiled at Mimzy.

     “No where, Io will never let you out of her sight,” she smirked leaning over and kissed Penny’s cheek. “I am going to grab us some rum, and we’ll chat and or dance the rest of the night.”

     “Sounds good,” she nodded, “Io would never let her little pet escape,” she chuckled at her own dry joke.

     Koga snorted, “You aren’t her pet, you are her Stickpin.”

 

Chapter 96: The War Begins (Isle: April)

     Penny moved through the men working on wharf heading towards the red district. She was doing the low run today, she wanted to check on Dizzy and maybe try and drag Kitten with her. The red district while being Jollyroger territory didn’t really enforce it since... well in the Captain’s opinion it’d be cruel to cut off men from the whores. So, she ignored the looks she got when she came across a Silver or whatever that other crew was. She ducked into Medusa’s first, she owed a little extra since she wanted something specific. Medusa paid up easy enough, complaining that Hook needed to come see her soon.

     She went through about half the other brothels easily enough. When she walked into one about half way down things seemed to turn sideways. They said they weren’t paying to Hook or his little beasts anymore. She’d pushed, even placing a hand on her sword before she was shoved out of the door and it was slammed in her face.

     “Fuckers” she muttered turning from the door and going to move on to the next one, only to find that door closed before she even got there. She looked down the street to see them all closed, she scanned the district trying to figure out what to do, going back to the ship and saying she couldn’t do her job was not an option. She stilled in the middle of the street as she spotted two tags placed over the Jollyroger, she swallowed looking around quickly as she started to back up, the tags where everywhere. How had she missed this?

     “What’s this a pretty little Jollyroger so far from her ship?” The man snorted blowing smoke to the sky as he eyed the half cloaked girl with the Rose moniker.

     “Nothing interesting” she swallowed watching him, “Just heading back to check in with my captain.”

     “Is that so? With our money?”

     “Don’t know what money you’re talking about,” she shook her head as a few more seemed to pop up, this wasn’t good. Her hand slowly moved up as if to flick the end of her pony tail over her shoulder getting it closer to her sword.

     “You know coy ain’t your strong suit,” He pushed off the wall cigarette between his lips, “The money girly, or we take it out of your skin.”

     “I don’t have your money,” she shrugged moving to the side as one of the bigger men reached for her arm.

     “District is ours, so all of its money is ours,” he sneered, “Or didn’t your captain teach you the basics, the fucking poof.”

     “Get out of my way, my captain is waiting. Like I said I don’t have your money,” she hissed.

     “She ain’t so smart is she? Can we play with her please. She looks so soft.” the largest of the group asked almost like a whiny kid that wanted a toy. He reached forward to touch her arm. 

     Penny snarled pulling her sword and catching the tips of his fingers, she’d show him soft, “Back off.”

     He chuckled, “Alright boys have at. Just don’t make me have to call a runner when you’re done playing with her.”

     “Oh fuck,” Penny growled trying to find an escape route. She needed to get out of here, cause there was no way she could take these guys on her own.

     “Don’t think yer getting up to those roofs on us” one growled reaching for her dodging as she swung the sword. She yelped as one of the others slammed into her side. 

     Penny scrambled for her sword as it clattered to the ground as she tried to stay standing. She twisted trying to pull away as a hand grabbed her ponytail.

     “Still don’t have our money?” one chuckled shoving her face into the street.

     “Fuck off” she growled rolling away as a boot came at her ribs.

     “Now there’s an idea” the big one chuckled still holding his bleeding stump fingers.

     “You know Captain said not till after everything,” the other shook his head. He winced as the heel of Penny’s boot slammed into his jewels, “Bitch,” he wheezed as the other two managed to pull her to her feet, kicking her sword further out of her grasp.

     “I would say I’m the bitch, but I think you’re already acquainted with her,” Penny snapped before a fist connected with her mouth. 

     “What that mean?” the one still holding his jewels asked confused, watching as the others beat on her. 

     At some point Penny ended up on the ground again, trying to cover her head as the blows came. She couldn't even reach to try and keep the money pouch as the ringleader pulled it from inside her shirt.

     She curled into herself as they started to walk off chuckling to themselves. One of them picking up her sword as they left. She slowly pushed herself up, looking around as she spat blood to the side and wrapped an arm around her middle. She needed to get back to the ship, laying here she was easy picking for Snatchers.

-*-

     Penny limped her way up the gangplank stopping to spit more blood and probably a tooth off the side. She was not cleaning this deck again today. She ignored the looks she received from the crew lounging around. She made her way towards the captain's cabin and opened the door quietly slipping in, wincing slightly as the movement made her ribs ache.

     Killian didn’t look up as the door opened, “Just set it down on the table Penny.”

     Penny bit her split lip trying to figure out how to explain herself, this was a run she’d done what felt like hundreds of times. She’d never come back empty handed.

     His eyes slowly lifted when there was no coin pouch and the girl stood there silent, “What happened?” he stood slowly, he was concerned and angry but he didn’t want her to think that it was directed at her. 

     “The Silvers and some other crew took the Red District,” she said softly not meeting his eye.

     “And what happened to ye? I will deal with the district after this.” Killian looked her over concerned as he grabbed at a handkerchief. 

     “They jumped me for the money, didn’t take to kindly to me kicking one of them in the family jewels either” she tried to crack a smile only to wince.

     “Aye can’t imagine they appreciated that at all. Come here girly and let me see ye, clean ye up.”

     She hobbled her way to the desk trying to relax as she moved closer to the Captain. But everything hurt at the moment.

     “Got you good,” Killian wiped blood from her face and sighed softly, “What else is hurt?”

     “Took a few kicks to the ribs, mostly just bruised I think” she shrugged before stilling with a wince.

     He nodded, “I’ll ‘ave Mr. Smee give yer ribs a look over. Me hook ain’t much use in this case.”

     “The down side to looking like a badass” she gave a probably flat joke.

     Killian chuckled softly, “Here I was thinking it was the pirate thing, not the hook thing.” 

     “Probably a little bit of both,” she smirked shifting her weight a little.

     “They get your sword?” Killian asked seeing the empty sheath.

          “Yeah” she blushed, “Knocked me over and then kept kicking it out of my reach” she gave him the full story as best she could before he sent her off to find Smee. 

     Smee had checked her ribs, he didn’t feel anything broken but had wrapped them just in case. He’d also checked her head before telling her to go lay down and try to rest. He’d move the chores around for a few days to let her rest and not strain her ribs.

     Killian leaned back in his chair looking out the massive window. They had taken the Red District and made it very clear that they were unwelcome. That was the quickest way to the other kids, thankfully not the only one. He looked at the books already knowing the conditions. They would stockpile food, send Io and Koga hunting near the DeVil place, as far from their enemies as they could get. If he had just listened to her, listened to the girl who was her father's daughter.

     Harry laughed smacking Gil in the side as he took both of their dues, “Go down stairs Gilly, I’ll be right there” he headed towards his Da’s cabin, he and Gil had gone out to put in the ships supply order and pick up dues from a few stands that were on a different schedule then the others.

     “Got the order in, picked up Lefou’s dues. Probably the only person out that way happy to see Gil” Harry smirked as he set down the bag.

     "No trouble then?" Killian kept his gaze outside, focused on the sea.

     “No... why?” he asked watching his Da’s back.

     “The District was taken last night.” he didn’t need to explain to his son what that meant was coming next. 

     “The district...Pin” Harry’s eyes widened, “is she back?” he needed to go get her.

     “She is down below. I cleaned her up some and had Mr. Smee attend to everything else. Do not go looking to take revenge. I need to figure out how deep this goes. Avoid the District but proceed as normal. No need to panic the whole Isle just yet.”

     “How... I’m gonna go check on her” he shook his head his hands clenching and unclenching as he headed for his room. He was expecting her to be banged up, he wasn’t expecting her to be as bad as it was. She was sitting up in bed with Gil fussing over her.

     Killian stood and rested his hand and hook on the window ledge, these kids were in danger and he knew they wouldn't sit idle. Not with Crocodile in charge. John had riled her up out of the softer side she had adorned for the princess. It was only a matter of when she stopped hissing and snapped back. He needed a drink.

     “Captain, are we pulling all the kids in?” Smee asked gently, he was worried after seeing Pin.

     "Aye. Safer if our Crocodile hears the news from us rather than on the streets. Send a few men to bring Khan and Mimzy in. I'll go get her meself."

     “I’ll get it taken care of Captain,” Smee nodded going to dispatch a few of the crew to bring in the two in.

     Killian nodded to himself collecting his gear before heading off the ship to Rumple's place. He was not looking forward to seeing the man so soon.

     Rumple looked at the pirate Captain as the man slowly opened the door and walked inside of his Pawn Shop, "Another visit so soon?"

     "Ye know where me Crocodile is? I need her on me ship. Something happened in the District." He gave Rumplestiltskin a long look.

     There was no one in his shop, "She's running an errand for me. I will send her-"

     "Errand where?"

     "Close by. Percival was stirring the pot. I have her putting him back in his place."

     "I will bring her back when we are done." Killian walked out heading towards the poacher. Rumple may have said errand, but Killian wasn’t so sure he believed that not knowing the Dark One.

     He was not surprised, or attempted not to be when she stepped out of a house knuckles bloody. She looked so passive, as if orders from her father were a very serious ordeal and not to be treated with a smile like his orders were. Licking his lips he folded his arms over his chest.

     Io looked over her Captain standing there in the alley, “What happened?”

     “They took the district.”

     “My Stickpin was on that run today.”

     “Aye, which is why I came to get ye,” he opened his arms and motioned her to follow him.

     Io all but stormed after him, “How bad is it?”

     “Ye will see for yerself. I am not riling ye up out here,” Killian replied as they moved back towards the ship. 

 

     “When Io gets here we’ll deal with those slimy bastards” Harry assured gently running his hand over her hair as Gil held her in his lap.

     Smee directed Mimzy and Koga towards Harry’s room as they came aboard the ship.

     Gil looked at the door as he worked on undoing Penny’s braids, “Hey guys.”

     Mimzy froze, “Oh cauldrons... What the hell happened?”

     Koga sniffed at Penny, “You going to stab me if I check you over?”

     “Depends on if you’re going to get handsy” she chuckled before wincing.

     “Have to get handsy,” he snorted running his hands over her legs and arms before up the front of her ribs, “Where is Io?”

     “Da probably went to get her, them fucking Silvers are pushing at our territories” Harry answered not taking his eyes off Pin.

     “I would say I'm proof they are doing more than pushing,” Penny said pulling away slightly as Koga found a bruise.

     Koga growled lightly at her, “Don’t move, I know you're hurt but you need to stay still.”

     Mimzy opened her bag and rifled through the contents looking for her Bruise Balm and Bleed Stop, “Just behave Pin, let us patch you up.”

     “Just don’t poke too hard, their boots must have had rocks in the toes with how hard they were,” she sighed tipping her head back onto Gil’s shoulder.

     “I’ll go see if Da’s back with Crocodile,” Harry stood slipping out of the room heading above deck.

     Io looked at Killian as he told her to go below and see the girl before they had a meeting. Near growling at his gall she headed to the stairs and nearly collided with her first mate, stepping sideways and dodged him.

     “See da found ye” he nodded looking at her, “Those fuckers need a good lesson,” he turned leading her towards his room.

     “How bad is she?” Io asked following after him.

     “It’s not pretty, Koga and Mimzy are looking her over. Mr. Smee looked her over earlier,” Harry shook his head as he opened the door.

     “Must be bad if they don’t trust Mr. Smee to have patched her up.” Io muttered looking at him, “She’s not un-dying right?”

     “Nope, as far as I can tell there aren’t any new holes in her so she just took a beating,” Harry shook his head as he motioned to the black and blue girl sitting on the bed.

     Io looked at the scene before her and felt Harry’s hand curl around her wrist a silent anchor before she flew into a rage. How dare they touch her Pin.

     Koga looked at the door, “She’s just banged up. No broken ribs or anything.”

     “Then you can stop poking at me now,” Penny raised an eyebrow at Koga as she waved at Io.

     “Pin no stabbing, cutting or slicing anyone. You can’t take the hit right now” Harry snorted knowing that look.

     “Give it a few weeks” she snorted

     “Pin” Harry warned closing the door.

     “Fine fine” she held her hands up in surrender.

     Koga grabbed one Penny’s breasts with a wry look, “Tits seem in tack.”

     “Koga paws off my Pin,” Io growled and he pulled away in surrender, “How many?”

     “You notice Harry left out biting, and kicking from that list right” Pin growled as she weakly thumped her heel into Koga’s knee, “8 or 9 maybe 10,” she looked at Io acting as if she hadn’t just said she would bite their cannibal.

     Koga dropped a heavy hand on her head and mussed her hair, “Like you’ll do any damage with those little blunt teeth of yours.”

     “Don’t challenge her, I don’t want to know what she’ll do in that state,” Harry snorted, “What you thinking Crocodile?”

     “I think we are going to have ourselves a little revenge,” Io purred, “I see they took your sword.”

     Mimzy looked at Io and smiled, “Can I turn some of them into art?”

     “Only if you don’t get hurt,” Koga huffed looking at her.

     “Picked it up as they left, took a few fingers off before that though,” she admitted.

     “Da doesn’t want us running off. Made me say I wouldn't go looking for revenge,” Harry looked at Io.

     “Good he didn’t make me promise such things, aside from saying we are having a meeting,” Io rolled a shoulder, “Because if nothing else we are getting your sword back.”

     “Then we should probably find out when he wants to do this meeting of his,” Harry nodded, "Ye stay in bed Pin, ye look like something Kitten Cat over there chewed up and spat out.”

     “And yet I still look better than you,” she snorted with a smirk.

     “Ye hit yer head today,” Harry teased smirking back at her.

     “Call me Kitten Cat one more time Hook and I am taking a chunk out of you.” Koga growled.

     “Whatever ye say Cat boy” Harry nodded, “Let go see what Da wants to say” he motioned the others out of the room.

     Io grabbed Koga’s hand as he went to hit Harry, “Don’t you dare. You’ve spilled enough blood of our crew,” she snapped.

     “I’ve got him Io,” Mimzy smiled taking Koga’s arm and held it tight.

     “Shouldn’t make him mad Harry,” Gil warned as he helped situate Penny in the bed before following the others out and up.

     “Well it could always be worse” Harry shrugged looking at Koga as they came out into the open air.

     “Yeah I could take your face off.” Koga snapped back ignoring the sharp look he got from Captain Hook.

     “Alright that’s enough ye brats,” Killian demanded giving them all an even look, “As ye all know Pin was attacked on her run today. The District was taken by a rival crew, and they ain’t looking to keep to the same policy I had about things. That means ye all stay out of the district, the others know yer apart of me crew and I don’t want ye all tussling with them until I know how many opponents we are looking at.”

     “Are you serious?” Io asked blankly.

     “Aye me serious. I want ye keeping an eye on Pin making sure she heals up. And no blood baths,” Killian looked at Io, the one most notorious, and likely to go off the handle.

     “So ye want us to just sit here twiddling our fucking thumbs while they bloody get away with beating one of ours?” Harry looked at his da like he’d lost his mind. He was expecting a plan, retaliation, not be good kids and stay here.

     "Aye that is exactly what me expect. They will get what's coming but not until me know how many are against us. I mean it ye lot, ye will get yer revenge but only when I tell ye, ye can have at." Killian could almost see the defiance on his son and Io's face, and he issued a small silent thank you that she went home every night. "And ye are taking one of the older crew with ye on the runs. Just to be safe."

     "Oh? Which of your crew will be willingly to come with me on the Underland run?" Io asked giving him a bland look.

     “I’ll go with you if we can’t find anyone,” Smee sighed with a nod.

     She snorted, "Alright Mr. Smee, I won't be offended if you bail. There is a reason I am the only one willing to do that run."

     "Yeah, you don't mind the stench and you already caught the Red." Koga commented, thick arms folded over his chest. 

     "Details," she waved a hand dismissively.

     Killian bit back a comment, sometimes he could see her father in her movements, "If ye don't mind it Smee, I would appreciate ye going with her." 

     “I will do my best to stay with her,” Smee said, he didn’t like it down there, and quite honestly it may be the safest run now, but Captains rules where the rules.

     She looked over the First Mate. He had already lost a son this year, she wouldn't put him at risk. Even if it meant breaking Captain's rules. "Anything else Captain?"

     "No. Stay as long as ye like with Pin, but ye leave for home with an escort." Killian said waving them off.

     Harry growled biting the inside of his cheek as Gil pulled him back below deck. 

     Gil didn’t like the angry bristling feeling everyone was giving off.

     Koga pulled Mimzy under his thick arm as Io's eyes narrowed dangerously as she turned away. Yeah that wasn't a good sign.

     Io stormed after Harry and Gil. Backseat, stand down, her? Never. 

     “What happened?” Penny asked looking at them as they came in.

     "We wait until she heals and no longer. Then we hunt them down," she growled as Koga closed the door behind him.

     “I’m looking to do more than hunt,” Harry looked at her as Gil released him to go sit with Penny, “I’m looking to slaughter.”

     “Is that a good idea?” Penny asked looking at them.

     Io hummed pointing at him, “I like that plan. The bloodier the better.”

     “So flat out ignoring orders then?” Koga asked licking his chomps, “Mean I am free to eat?”

     “Of course,” Mimzy smiled, “Wouldn’t want you to starve.”

     “Not sure they’re gonna taste very good they smelled really bad,” Penny made a face.

     “Not a good idea to ignore Captain,” Gil said softly.

     “We aren’t ignoring orders. We are selecting what orders we want to hear,” Koga shrugged a shoulder, “It’s a different kind of smell.”

     “If you say so, they were practically rancid,” Penny shrugged before wincing.

     “You shouldn’t do that,” Gil said as he brushed her hair with the broken brush he’d found a few weeks ago.

     “Careful Pin... Do you want me to get you a seaweed wrap?” Mimzy asked.

     “Yeah, that would probably help,” she nodded. She hated how they smelled but she was hurting too bad to turn it down.

     “I’ll help you get this off,” Gil sighed pulling her shirt up slowly revealing the black and blue ribs.

     Mimzy saw them and darted up the stairs to grab the seaweed.

     Io looked at the bruised ribs and growled, “I’m going to rip them apart.”

     “Right there with ye” Harry nodded sitting down to get a closer look.

     Koga opened the door as Mimzy rushed back with the seaweed, “Port side?”

     “Hush you,” she smacked his chest, “Okay just stay still Pin, we’ll take care of you.”

     “No murder and mayhem until there’s a plan in place please,” Penny looked at Harry.

     “We have a plan, I do anyway, I’m gonna hook out their innards and feed em to em” Harry smirked he liked that plan.

     “Only if you leave me the kidneys,” Koga grinned.

     “All the kidney’s ye want promise,” Harry nodded as he watched Mimzy wrap Pin.

     “Not that I think you guys are overreacting or anything, but these were full grown men and I’m sure they have friends,” Penny looked at Harry and Io.

     “And your point little lamb,” Io purred, “We’ve been dealing with adults for years. Trust us, there are worse things on this Isle than them.”

     “I know there are, but... well large groups are dangerous,” she supplied.

     “Oh like that safety in numbers thing you told me about,” Gil nodded getting what she was trying to explain.

     “Just means more targets to hit. If you're surrounded, just means you can’t miss,” Io snorted.

     “More blood to shed, more to hook” Harry agreed, he knew it wasn’t always the case but with the Crocodile and Koga no one would be too much of a threat.

     Penny and Gil looked at each other, this was a bad idea. But, when Io wanted bloodshed nothing was going to stop her.

     Mimzy sighed softly, she clearly needed to make more poison vials before this.

Chapter 97: Running the District Red (Isle: April)

     Penny chewed her lip as she adjusted her hood again. The bruises were all just the right side of green if not gone, Io had decided now was the time to hit back. 

     Harry had lied to the captain about just going down the wharf for a little time off the ship. So the three that lived on the ship were standing in the shadows waiting for Io to bring Koga and Mimzy.

     “I got a bad feeling about this,” Gil crossed his arms and stayed close to Penny.

 

     Mimzy looked at Io, their arms locked, "I don't think this is the best plan but I'm with you."

     "You know she's doing it to show we aren't going to tolerate them pulling this shit," Koga replied, "At least I'm hoping that's why we are doing this."

     "I am one of the jaws of the Jollyroger, what they did is a call to arms. I'm not about to let them think we will ignore such blatant disregard to the wrecking order."

     "Which means you're pissed and out to bleed as many as you can get to." Mimzy completed as they reached the others.

     “It’s going to be fine Gilly just a bit of fun,” Harry assured with a smirk before turning to Io, “We are ready when ye are Crocodile”

     Io grinned wide and wild, "I am always ready." She guided them towards the District, she was going to get that blade back, hell or high water. Preferably the former.

     Harry moved next to Mimzy as they moved, adjusting his hook. He glanced over his shoulder at his two soft hearts.

     Gil tensed the closer they got to the district, this wasn’t right. A quick glance at Penny showed she felt the same.

     She stalled recognizing faces and tags immediately, Silver and BBs standing alongside Morgana’s. No time, there was no time to back up, no time to do more than warn them, “Trap!”

     Gil ducked pulling Penny down with him as a sword swung out from the alley next to them. Penny rolled away as Gil pushed himself to his feet again.

     Harry pulled his sword in one hand and hook in the other.

     Koga caught a blade barehanded and yanked the adult closer to him with a sneer, “Bad move asshole, I’m hungry.”

     Mimzy twisted away from Harry trying to fall back to the softies, her needles in one hand and a vial of flesh eating acid in the other.

     Io deflected a blade with one knife before stabbed her opponent in the throat. 

     Penny dragged her scraper along a few men’s ankles as she rolled and tried to get her feet back under her. She stood off to the side watching the crew rip through the men. It looked like they might be ok, until Diego showed up with more men, “Fuck,” she breath ducking under a grab for her.

     Harry sunk his hook into a larger BB as he swung his sword at a Silver, “Crocodile, we be needing a plan.”

     “Plan is try and fucking retreat,” Io snapped at her first mate, “But I don’t know how well that’s going to work with fucking four gangs on us.” She whirled ripping blades through bellies.

     Koga ripped his claws through one of the faces close by, letting the animal go just a little bit more. If the boss wanted to back out, he’d do what he could as he lost Mimzy’s scent in the crowd.

     Mimzy splashed the vial’s contents on every enemy in front of her with savage glee, she’d take as many of them out as she could. Put them down and out of the fight, no matter how many more they tried to bring here. The District was going to go a little more red today as the brothels lit with screams of panic at the all out war that had erupted.

     “Easy boys, no need to bang her up too much” Diego laughed as Penny was knocked into a wall. She growled slashing her scraper across hands that got too close to her. “Morgana’s said she’s worth some good money.”

     “The fuck is with people trying to sell me,” Penny snarled dropping onto her knees stabbing the large guy in the knee first then going for the inner thigh.

     Diego jumped forward grabbing her wrist as she stood again.

     “Let me go” she snarled trying to spin the scraper in her grip to stab him. He twisted her wrist until she dropped the scraper. He twisted her arms all the way around behind her back.

     “Time for us to go little pretty,” Diego said picking her up.

     “Put me down,” Penny screamed as she looked around trying to find something to help her, “Gil” 

     Gil looked up as he slammed another head into a wall, “Pin” he bulldozed through the other crews going after Penny.

     Killian was going to string the kids up when he collected them. Sure he didn’t believe his son entirely about where they were going, but he did not like having a ‘bird’ tell him there was a bloodbath in the District centered on his kids. He grabbed his battle hungriest men and went to go rescue his kids before one of them ended up with Frollo. And it was good he did because they had been separated and surrounded, but Io had done something he hadn’t managed. She had managed to show him just how over their heads his kids were, and that terrified him.

     Harry dropped his sword and sunk his hook into the temple of the man bearing down on him. They were being overrun.

     Smee used his knife into the neck of the last of the men around Koga, “Are you hurt?” he looked at the fur covered boy.

     “No. It’s all their blood,” Koga offered licking his lips, “Where the hell did all these guys come from?” he asked sniffing the air, “Where’s Pin and Gil?”

     “We need to find them and get back to the ship,” Smee looked around.

     He nodded, seeing Mimzy had been given back up by Aarosh and the others were fighting towards Harry and Io, “Let me catch their scent. You keep up?”

     “In this case yes” Smee nodded following after him.

     “Good,” Koga nodded catching that sweet scent throwing bodies out of his way as he headed after her like a battering ram.

-*-

     Gil raced after Diego as he carried the kicking and struggling Pin along the dock, “Let her go” Gil yelled as he tried to catch up.

     “Come on Leglum, she’s just a piece of ass” Diego taunted as he stopped to look at the teen.

     “I said let her go” Gil snarled grabbing Diego’s arm, he started to squeeze.

     “Fuck” Diego gasped shoving Penny away from him as he felt his arm breaking.

     Penny stumbled away trying to get her feet under her, she gasped as she went over the edge of the dock with a splash. She tried to keep her head above water, “Gil, do something” Gil shoved Diego from him running to the edge of the dock and falling to his knees.

     “What do I do?” Gil looked at her panicked as her head went under, “PIN.”

     Koga saw Gil leaning over the pier, damn girl must have gone under, “MOVE!” he roared at Gil already preparing himself for the cold water.

     Penny kicked off her boots trying to get some of the weight off her so she could get back to the surface.

     As soon as Gil was clear Koga dove into the water, spotting her through the murk in seconds as well as the hulking and quick approaching Tic Tock. He jetted towards her grabbing her around the middle and kicked them to the surface.

     Penny thrashed against the hold on her, “Let go” she gasped as they broke the surface.

     “Fuck no,” Koga snapped shaking wet hair out of his eyes, “Grab around my neck, Tic Tock’s about under us.”

     “Koga” she turned looking at him as she wrapped her arms around his neck quickly.

     “Hurry,” Smee barked seeing Tic Tock.

     Koga saved his snark for later as he plowed through the water now that he had both of his arms and the mainland princess was pressed against him on instinct. He guided her up and into Smee and Gil’s waiting grip as he felt jaws close around his leg. Taking a deep breath he let himself get dragged under as he unsheathed the ‘unnecessary’ blade he carried. He slammed it into one of Tic Tok’s eyes and was released letting him kick back towards the surface blade tight in his grip.

     “Come on boy” Smee reached out a hand out to the teen.

     Koga grabbed the offered arm sliding the blade away as he was helped out of the water, “Girly you need to fucking learn to swim,” he coughed as he slowly stood before giving himself a firm shake to get as much of the foul smelling water off as he could.

     “I can float... most of the time” Penny defended looking down at her bare feet.

     “We’ll talk about it when we get back to the ship,” Smee said ushering the children back towards the ship.

     He looked Gil over, kid looked okay, Pin looked okay. Neither of them smelled like blood so they would be okay. And he’d heal, he sighed limping after them.

-*-

     Harry hooked another man trying to get around him to Io, they needed to get out of here.

     Io whirled trying to wreck as much carnage as possible seeing as her back was against a literal wall. 

     Killian grabbed his son’s arm with his hook as he got close enough swinging his sword through the last of the men before sheathing the sword and dragged Harry after him towards Io. All but one kid rescued, thankfully. 

     “Da,” Harry looked at him as he was dragged along, he wasn’t sure if he was terrified that his da was pulling him out of the fight or relieved that he was.

     “I will deal with ye later,” Killian snapped hooking a man through the chest to get to his Crocodile. The girl looked like a wild war dog, not that he could judge given his years on the sea in the same position. He swung his hook down and got her through the side of her pants, dragging her out of the fray like the disobedient child she was, “MEN RETREAT!” he bellowed hauling his Jaws after him.

     “Come on you three after the men,” Smee shepherded the three teens into the group retreating, Penny shivering in Gil’s hold. Smee looked at Captain dragging the two ringleaders of sorts with after him.

     Koga spotted Mimzy under Aarosh’s arm, the anchorman pulling her close as the hoard of them retreated. He could smell Harry and Io close by and nodded limping in the crowd back towards the ship. His eyes glossed over the windows where terrified faces were pressed, to say this portion of the Isle knew there was a war going on was an understatement. Their opponents weren’t going to be able to keep this quiet for long.

     Gil picked Penny up putting her on his back after she stepped on a few things.

     “We told them it was a bad idea,” she muttered to Gil. He nodded knowing it didn’t mean anything though.

     “Maybe,” Koga muttered, “But no one had accounted for that kind of gang up.”

     “Still it... we shouldn’t have done that,” Gil looked at him.

     “Like we could change Io’s mind. Harry is the only one and well he was thinking the same thing as her.”

     “And we couldn't just say no, cause they would have come anyway,” Penny sighed as they walked up the gangplank.

     Killian threw Harry up the gangplank feeling Io trying to pull away, “Oh no ye don’t Crocodile on me ship.”

     “I will if you fucking unhook me and let me walk on my own,” she snapped at him grabbing at the hook’s connector trying to get herself loose before he made her trip up the gangplank.

     He whirled on her, yanking his hook out of her pants before her grabbed the front of her belt with his hand, “I am not giving ye the chance to run.”

     “I’m not going to run Captain, they are my crew. I don’t abandon my crew,“ she hissed voice low and near snarled at him.

     “Smarter than your last big idea,” he tossed her next to Harry, noting a blade at her hip that wasn’t hers. It was Pin’s...

     “Here Lamb,” Io handed it to Penny, “Went swimming with Koga did you?” her eyes glossed over them, took stock of their injuries because she hadn’t been patient enough. But she had gotten what she wanted, she got what was theirs back.

     “Swim would imply I was above the water.” Penny took her sword back, “I went for a sink.” 

     “Course ye did” Harry muttered, getting a sharp look from Gil and Smee.

     “Your ok though,” Gil rubbed her shoulder.

     “We’ll work on it then,” Io nodded, “You can still swim under water. Thank you for retrieving our Pin, Koga.”

     “You can thank me by finding me new leather pants,” He grumbled, yellow eyes focused on their Captain.

     “Deal.” she glanced at Killian who was regarding them with diststain, worry and annoyance.

     “Are ye done?” he kept his temper because he could not fault her for checking over her crew before dealing with punishments especially given the state of all of them.

     “Yes Captain,” she grumbled looking away, he was such a damn sour puss, she had accounted for a lot of things just not her fucking Stickpin suddenly growing a yellow belly but it was fine. Girl was a mainlander, she didn’t like spilling other people’s blood, it was fine she didn’t have it in her, because it was something Io could account for in the future.

     “Good, that’s good, because I want to know what ye all were fucking thinkin’! Ye lot disobeyed me orders. Flat out ignored sense and went straight into the lion’s den! I told ye all to wait, told ye specifically not to go lookin’ fer revenge, and what do ye do? Ye lot walk right into a bloody trap I’ve got ta fish ye out of! Ye know how that makes me crew look when me Jaws are off making war with enemies they can’t handle?!” Killian seethed at them.

     She clenched her jaw shut, biting her tongue. Letting him see her anger at him was not going to make things better, it was going to make it worse for her crew. She would handle a stricter punishment from him on her own but not for her whole crew. They didn’t deserve it, they were just following her orders.

     “So what, we were just supposed to sit here like good little kids?” Harry snapped, “Wait for them to start picking us off one by one.”

     Penny looked at him in shock he wasn’t thinking straight. She looked at Gil quickly. The blonde nodded going over to Harry’s side to try and calm him.

     “No Gil, they went after Pin. Made a good guess she’d be easiest to get at. Then he expects us not to react like we’re supposed to,” Harry shrugged out of his hold.

     “Harry...” Io warned lowly, she was just as pissed as he was but she wasn’t about to voice it in front of the full crew.

     “Ye were supposed to follow me orders. I told ye to stand down until I knew how many were against us. But no, ye and her go off and decide to do yer own damn thing. Put yerselves and yer crew in danger. Danger ye had no business being in.” Killian snarled at his son gesturing with his hook.

     “It was one of us they went after it was our business,” Harry growled at him. Why couldn’t he bloody see that.

     Smee shook his head, lad was too big for his britches and it was going to end badly, he motioned Gil back over to his side.

     Killian growled, there was just no arguing with his son like this. Petulant little child who had no idea how close they had all come to being sold or sent to Frollo. All his son saw was that he was paying the other crews back, and for what? They had hurt Penny, and then nearly made off with her while his son was too damn busy fighting to notice. Not that his Crocodile was much better, but she was wisely choosing not to open her mouth to protest. 

     He grabbed his son’s arm dragging him from his crew barely noticing Io moving to make sure the others didn’t go after Harry, “Ye little brat, ye disobeyed direct orders and then ye have the knackers to tell me it was ye business to deal with. Ye want ta act like a child raised on a silva spoon, me gonna treat ye like one.” 

     “Ain’t acting like a child,” Harry pulled on his arm, “Ain’t anyone even seen a silver spoon let alone been raised with one.”

     Killian dragged Harry in yanking the boys pants down with his hook as his human hand whipped his belt off, “I taught ye respect boy,” he snapped bringing the belt down across Harry’s pale cheeks, “I taught ye to follow Captain's orders,” The belt came down again, “I damn well taught ye not to give me lip.”

     Io made a face watching as their Captain belted his son in front of the entire crew for acting like a brat. Sure she and Harry had the same idea, they had chosen the same ruling for the other crews, the difference was she not comfortable in voicing those things in front of men she would need later. She and the Captain would have their spat later, because she needed this ship. Her future plans required this ship and its crew to be at hand. So she could have stepped in, could have taken blows for her first mate, but this was a hole he dug on his own against her warning. 

     Koga looked away from the public obedience lesson, he was glad his father never tried that with him.

     Mimzy winced at every sharp smack, better him than her. He earned it all on his own, maybe not in front of the crew but their Captain seemed too riled up to care about that.

     Penny looked down at her bare feet, she’d heard of kids getting spankings on the mainland. But to see Harry being belted was something she never thought she’d see.

     Gil winced in sympathy, his dad has belted him a few times for stuff but it never got easier.

     Killian shoved his son away from him when he saw the welts forming, “Koga Mimzy, ye two go home to yer parents and ye fucking stay there. Ye five take them home, I don’t want to hear they got injured heading home from me ship.” The men ayed and grabbed Koga and Mimzy even as Io snarled at them, “Crocodile my cabin now, I will deal with ye after I’m done with me son and his fuck buddies.”

     Harry righted his pants glaring at his da. He couldn’t believe he had done that in front of the whole crew.

     Io looked at him and then back at her two remaining, she was going to clean Harry’s clock when this was over. He had made things worse by pissing his father off. With a seething hiss she stormed into Killian’s quarters resisting the urge to fly into a red rage as she paced.

     “Ye three are confined to this ship until further notice, ye’ll work separate shifts in different parts of the ship. And since I can’t trust ye, yer not sharing a room. Gil ye be sleeping in Milton’s old bed with Mr. Smee, ye brat,” He pointed to his son with his hook as Harry fixed his pants, “Me feels ye need some alone time, so I’ll let ye keep yer room all ta yerself, Girly yer sleeping in Harry’s old bed,” Killian snarled at them, “Mr. Smee will watch ye grab what ye need from the brat’s room then take ye where yer supposed to be.”

     Gil bit his lip, he wanted to cuddle up with Harry make sure he was ok.

     Penny made a sour face, but nodded.  

     Both followed after Smee, Harry gave his da one last nasty look before going after them.

-*-

     They said monsters were made when good men went to war. He wasn’t sure if the Daughter of the Dark One was ever a good ‘man’, but she had become a monster. He refused to let her off the leash, that was the condition, he got to decide when it was bad enough to let her loose. And she had lost her patience with the way the ship worked, she was too wild, too many things he had tried to contain.

     So when she went off on her own and nearly sent her whole crew into a bloodbath they couldn’t win he was done. Done with his son who had tried to argue with him. Done with all of the kids who didn’t seem to understand that he was trying to keep them safe and away from this disagreement between the Pirate crews. He slammed the door behind him fixing her with a dark look.

     “WHAT THE HELL WERE YE BLOODY THINKING!” Killian roared at her slamming his hook into the old bed frame.

     “That you aren’t doing anything about the problem... So it’s my job to spark a fire under your ass and get you to WAKE UP!” Io seethed at him that rage pulling under her skin, nails biting into her palms, “WE ARE BEING UPROOTED AND YOU ARE SITTING ON THIS SHIP DOING NOTHING!”

     “DON’T YE TELL ME I AM DOING NOTHING WHILE YE NEAR LOST YER ENTIRE CREW! REMEMBER WHO HAD TO SAVE YER POSSESSED ASS WHILE YOUR TIGER FISHED THE GIRL OUT OF THE SEA!”

     She flew at him, all seething rage, eyes glowing like blue suns. Killian took her weight spinning them and slammed her into the hardwood door. Holding her there was the real task as she thrashed, wild and savage, his Red Mad Jaws of the Jollyroger. Possessed. She was too close to her father, his need for power seeming to have passed to her in the form of needing revenge. His human hand covered her eyes not wanting to see the power in them any longer. He needed to be the adult, needed to reel her back in.

     "Io ye have spilled enough blood today. Why hasn't it slaked yer hunger? Yer crew, the ones ye claim as yers were near butchered today and ye don't seem to care. Yer princess got grabbed and dropped into the sea while ye were busy playing butcher. Do ye not care? Because those kids out there need yer head on straight, not filled of rage and all other manner of dark thing ye got up there. I told ye I would let ye loose when I decided things were getting bad, things aren't bad enough yet. I know ye don't like people touching what is yers but ye went too far. Ye put too many people in danger because ye ain't thinking." He didn't mind the slowly decreasing swings, she wasn't aiming to hurt anyway, just to lose herself from his grip.

     His arms ached as she finally cooled off enough to consciously recognize the position, "Mah crew deserves ta make 'um pay. Ah am doin' wha' ah am meant ta be doin' on yer ship." Her voice was heated purring with her father's old lilt and Killian's own inflections.

     "Ye are meant to do it when I tell ye to and not a moment before. I won't punish ye like I punished me son, but ye are getting punished for yer insubordination. Ye are to go home and stay home till I come and get ye. Am I clear?"

     She scoffed pushing his hand away to fix him with a viciously cold look, "If ye think ah'm goin' ta sit an watch me home be taken from me, ye be very wrong Captain. Ah will do what needs doing, because if ah don't ye are going ta bring the whole machine ta its knees. An' no one 'ere can afford that, not ye, not me, an most certainly not ar ticket outta this fairy made hellscape."

     "Then do ye want to end it? Ye want to go off on ye own with no crew to back ye? Because as much as he talks about paths I can see the road ye are on. I walked that road and look where it got me, stuck with me son unable to show him the sea, unable to teach him the stars. Ye be right this is a hellscape, but ye wrong if ye think more blood is going to fix it. No amount of blood will make up for ye carelessly risking yerselves. Just because we can't die doesn't make us immortal. Ye think the others give a damn yer a kid? All they see is me beast on leash, a savage little monster I can't seem to control. John swung at ye because he had it with yer attitude, and he proved ye bleed. Yer actions are why we are under attack. Ye think the others aren't going to touch ye because yer mine? No. They are going to keep coming until they wear ye down and they get what they want. I want no part of watching ye walk yerself into that. So ye tell me ye want out and that's that."

     Io watched him curious. She had finally found the end of his tolerance, the limit of his willingness to go. Her lips curled in a smirk, "And there ye are, the man under the flag. Ye know who ah am, why does it bother ye so ah am so at risk?"

     Killian blinked, the cold savage thing not the brutal beast he believed she was, "Because I looked after ye since ye were a wee little thing. Before yer ambitions overcame yer sense, and I am trying to save ye from yerself cause I care."

     She looked away from him, "Fine you want to keep me muzzled so be it. But if they come for me, I will make them regret it. I will not be told to hold my wrath for those who threaten what is mine. I refused to hand them the keys to my kingdom without making them work for it. I don't need my teeth to fight a war Captain. It only makes things quicker."

     His insides clenched with icy cold fear, "What have ye done Io?"

     "If you need me, he will point you in the right direction. Until then I'll subject myself to your punishment and steer clear of the Jollyroger. But if you don't keep my crew safe, I will give you another shiny hook for a hand. My Captain," she gave him a bow and a grin of vicious teeth before throwing the door open and walked off the Jollyroger like the hellbent monster she was. Let them come. She would show them just how savage she could be.

     Penny watched Io go before sighing. She held her few change of clothes in her hand, as she hesitantly knocked on the door.

     Killian took a deep breath, “Come in.” he looked at the girl as she opened the door. She looked so... small... without the others.

     “Hi,” she waved a little unsure what to do with herself.

     “Don’t be like that girly, I know it ain’t yer fault,” Killian sighed motioning her in.

     Penny came in shutting the door behind her before putting the clothes on the bed, “I lost my boots,” she looked down at her feet. She wasn’t sure why she said that but, not having shoes was bugging her.

     He looked at her feet, “Lost them to the sea did ye?” he smiled slightly, “Lost many a good pair of boots myself that way.”

     “They got heavy once they were filled with water,” she shrugged, “If all I can do is float it works better if I’m not weighted down.”

     “Aye, floating does work better if ye ain’t weighted down. Harry should have left a pair of boots in here. Should be in there, ye welcome to see if they fit ye.”

     “I can make them work if they’re a little big” she nodded, “How long are we in trouble?” she asked sitting on what would be her bed.

     “As long as it takes ye leaders to have learned their lessons,” he plunked down in his chair, “Ye alright? Not hurt?”

     “More embarrassed that Diego managed to pick me up and drag me off like a doll” she shook her head.

     "That's alright, ye should have never been put in that position in the first place. I am sure ye did yer best with only yer scrapper. See Crocodile found yer sword though. Want me to teach ye how to use it proper? Our secret?" Clearly the girl needed more training and the hell he wasn't going to give it to her.

     Penny tilted her head looking at him for a second before nodding. The problem she kept running into was that everyone was bigger than her, another teen she could take most of the time, but adults 3 times her size were an issue.

     "Good. Not that I don't trust me son taught ye well enough, but he forgets I trained him and Crocodile. Ye got taught by someone ye size roughly," Killian wanted her to know he wasn't pissed at her, so much as disappointed she had disobeyed his orders and followed after the instigators.

 

Chapter 98: Taking Sides (Isle: April)

     Harry cringed at the slight burn of whatever was in the cleaning bucket. He shot a look at his da over his shoulder to see if he was still watching.

     “Bloody bastard,” Harry grumbled as he scrubbed the deck. Harry knew it was stupid to try to argue with him, in front of the crew no less, he still couldn’t believe his da had yanked him over saying if Harry wanted to behave like a child instead of nearly a man then he would punish him like a child. Penny was amazed at how fluidly Killian managed to hold onto Harry and pull off his belt. 

     “It could have been worse,” Penny said softly to him, it was an odd occurrence for them to be on deck at the same time. But Mr. Smee had sent her out of the gally to get some air.

     “Don’t ye defend him,” Harry snarled looking at her. How dare she take his Da’s side, he’d humiliated him in front of the crew.

     “I’m not, but you need to think about what could have happened,” Penny rolled her eyes.

     “We would have been fine, probably would have left those fuckers a mess as a message. Well we would have if Gil hadn’t had to chase after yer useless ass,” Harry snapped tossing the scrub brush into the bucket.

     “Excuse you?” she raised an eyebrow, crossing her arms.

     “Ye heard me, Yer Majesty” he growled matching her stance, “All that time I spent teaching ye, and yer still a useless powder puff.”

     “First off Dickhead, it’s Your Highness. And second off, I told you it was a bad idea, Gil told you it was a bad idea. And it was three to one, they were grown men” she spat at him.

     “I don’t need a bloody speak lesson from ye” he stood taller, “Should have told the Crocodile to leave yer useless ass in the brig”

     “Oh fuck you” she snapped squaring her shoulders.

     “Already done that Princess, let me tell you not really worth doing again,” Harry laughed darkly as he towered over her, “Only let ye stay and play cause it makes Gilly happy.”

     Penny let the hurt show on her face for all of a second before the prim proper princess mask took over her face, of course he had just been using her. No one on the mainland wanted her, it was stupid to think that maybe someone would want her here.

     “Hardly my fault if my teacher is piss poor at it” she sniffed giving him an almost dead eye look.

     “Why ye little...” Harry snarled stepping further forward as he raised his hand forgetting about his da just up on the upper deck.

     Killian hooked his son’s wrist like a shepherd, “HAROLD!” he thought they would just argue and make up, not this. He was expecting angry sex not his son nearly hitting the princess that really belonged to Io.

     “WHAT? YE GONNA TAN ME HIDE AGAIN? PULL ME PANTS DOWN IN FRONT OF THE WHOLE CREW AGAIN,” Harry yelled at him turning to look at him face red. 

     “At least he cares about how you behave, just let him teach you something for a change instead of fighting everything he tells you,” Penny rolled her eyes, why couldn’t he see that Killian had been scared, she could see it plain as day on his face when they had gotten back to the ship.

     “Ye shut the fuck up, he ain’t yer da. It don’t concern ye” Harry snarled whirling on her, Penny looked at him with a raised eyebrow as she stepped back from him. She wasn’t about to let him touch her.

     “I know he’s not my Da, I wish he was,” Penny said in a quiet voice that almost seemed to suck the anger out of Harry, “My father doesn’t even care if I’m dead or not, if the fact that no ones come looking for me is any indication. Do you know what they call the second born of a royal family? They call us the spare, we only really matter if their first born dies. That’s all I am to them. My family chose another princess over me for almost 10 years.” she looked him dead in the eye, “I would have taken the danger and hunger of here to the loneliness of knowing you’re nothing of importance to anyone on the mainland.” There was a dullness in her voice that didn’t go with the sharp look of her eyes.

     “Pin,” Gil looked at her with big sad eyes.

     “You know I thought maybe... just maybe I’d found a place where my title wasn’t what people were after. That I actually mattered as a person,” her fingers moved swiftly to undo the knot of Mila's necklace, “Here this is yours,” she tossed it to Killian.

     “Pin are you ok?” Gil was worried, he’d heard Harry yelling at her. 

     “I suppose I should thank you for reminding me of the rule I learned at just 5 and I promised myself I’d never forget” she breathed as she moved across the deck.

     “What rule?” Harry was confused now, where was his little fighter.

     “The only person that will ever want me is me,” she shrugged, as she reached the gangplank.

     Killian watched the girl go catching the necklace as he carefully unhooked his son and knocked him on top of the head with the curve of his hook, “Ye are the biggest dolt some days. Pin where are ye off to?!”

     “My little hiding hole, Crocodile will know where,” she called back already onto the wharf, Jay had always said her speed was her best advantage.

     “Damn it...” Killian growled watching her run, now he had to go find his damn Crocodile because during daylight hours she could be bloody anywhere on the Isle, “Ye are an idiot Harry, did ye learn bloody nothing at all?”

     “It's not my fault she took off,” Harry snapped.

     “You were going to hit her” Gil said softly looking at Harry with lost eyes, “She said something you didn’t like and you were going to hit her. That’s how dad acts...” Gil moved away from Harry.

     “Gilly” Harry looked at him with large eyes as he went back below deck.

     “I don’t know what has gotten into ye, but ye need to get yer head on straight. I expect this behavior out of Crocodile not ye, though she’s never almost hit her crew because she didn’t like something they said. Now ye go figure out a way of making it up to yer boy while I go tell Crocodile her Princess took off cause ye were a prick to her.” Killian snapped, “Oh,” he slapped the mermaid tear into his son’s hand, “Ye wanted something of yer mums, have it.”

     Harry looked at the bobble in his hand, then at the stairs leading below. What had he done? “Damn it,” He growled kicking the cleaning bucket over before heading below.

-*-

     Penny slipped down the side of one of the buildings near the bazaar, she pulled off her cloak and turned it inside out to obscure the Jollyroger stitched onto it. She was going to need some supplies for the hideout. It wouldn’t be hard to pick up a few apples, and even managed to get a few pieces of dried meat before heading to her hideout.

     Once she was safely out of sight up in the hideout, she sank down to the floor staring at the painting on the wall of the core 4. She pulled off her cloak tossing it on the table.

     “What do I do now?” she asked herself.

-*-

     Killian stepped into the Pawn Shop promptly ignoring the amused look on Rumple's face, "I don't want to hear it. Where is my Crocodile?"

     "You know what I don't understand Captain is why you always come here looking for your lost Jaws." There were others in the shop perusing the pawned goods of their companions here on the Isle.

     "Because ye old bastard have eyes and ears everywhere. Ye always know where everyone is on this Isle." Killian was not amused in the slightest.

     "No one knows everything Captain," he gave him a teasing look, "She's probably near New Wonderland, given the fact she is called your Red Mad Jaws."

     Killian scoffed storming out, he hated having to deal with Rumple. Of all the people that could have kids, why did he have to reproduce? He headed towards the warehouses near New Wonderland, one of these had to have her in it. Either that or he would have to go down into New Wonderland and find her himself which he really didn't want to do. That place was not fit for the sane. He was saved as he spotted her closing the gate behind her.

     Io looked at him curiously but tossed the fat coin sack to him, "Know what I adore about New Underland? They fucking pay up when I come round. They don't fuss or whine, they just hand me the dues and tell me to have a wonder filled day. Now what the fuck happened this time?"

     Killian snorted catching and pocketing the money, "Harry and Penny had a blow out. She left the ship."

     Io took a long measured breath, "You are lucky I know where she would go. Am I allowed back on the ship?"

     "Aye, I'll let ye back on me ship," he walked with her back to the ship noting the easy grin of teeth on her lips, the silent ferocity she pushed out despite the thigh high leather boots with 3 inch blocky heels. "New boots?"

     "Yeah. Deer hide from the winter hunts. Stole the soles off some atrocity Lady Tremaine was attempting to sell. Since you gave me copious free time I decided to make myself something more practical," she replied lifting her jacket slightly to display the knife handles extending from the tops of the boots.

     "Ye put knife sheaths in ye boots?"

     "What? It is easy access to my blades, made a few extra slots just in case."

     Killian shook his head, this is how he knew he had near raised the carnal girl, "Well I'll have to get ye back to doing chores then."

     Io smirked, "Never thought I would be happy to hear those words."

     He laughed softly as they moved up the gangplank, "Don't bleed yer first mate."

     "Killjoy," she muttered before lifting her voice singsong, "Harry."

     Harry looked at her at the tone of her voice, this was not a good thing. He had the urge to run but, well that would just make it worse.

     Io threw her arms around his waist with a wild smile of teeth, “Where is my Stickpin Harry?”

     “Around,” he chuckled nervously.

     “Oh really?” Io’s eyes glittered, “Tell me then why did Captain bring me back to the ship? Couldn’t have anything to do with a fight right?”

     “She stuck her nose where it didn’t go,” Harry said evenly, Penny was around somewhere on the isle.

     “Stuck her nose where it didn’t go...” She purred out, “And what did you in your infinite wisdom tell my Stickpin that had her becoming ‘around’ somewhere?” her tone went dangerous, she was going to get to the bottom of it and she would deal with it.

     “I don’t really remember” Harry swallowed.

     Her eyes shifted to Gil who had just came above deck, “Gil darling, did you happen to overhear Harry and Pin’s little fight?” someone here remembered the words Harry was risking pain to conceal. He knew she did not like being lied to, even if it were tiny omissions.

     “Yeah, I heard it, saw part of it,” Gil nodded, as Harry shook his head at Gil.

     “Excellent,” Her teeth snapped with her glee, “Tell me everything you heard and saw my dear. The truth mind you or I stab our dear Harry.”

     “You might stab him anyway,” Gil said looking down, “He... they were argueing, and Pin said Fuck you, he may have...” Gil shifted uncomfortably, “He told her she wasn’t very good at that, that the only reason he let her stay with us was because of me. She told him he must have been a bad teacher... he tried to hit her, captain stopped him.”

     Io’s grin went feral, “I wouldn’t stab him, you told me the truth my good little lamb. You on the other hand Harry, are a fool,” her fingers tightened around his belt.

     “Like I said she put her nose where it didn’t go, how was I supposed to know she’d run off.”

     “And that was grounds for you to try and hit something of mine? And they call me the mad one. Tell me then what did she put her nose in?” she snarled at him already formulating what she was going to do to him.

     “Trying to defend my da giving me a thrashing where everyone could see. Tried to defend how fucking useless she was in that fight,” Harry said.

     “Captain was well in the right for you running your mouth while he was dishing out punishments. Also my Stickpin had a scrapper in case your rage had you miss me handing her your sword back. Still not a good enough reason to try and hit my Stickpin.”

     “I didn’t hit her” Harry defended.

     “And I am going to make sure you never do,” Io spun them, flinging them to the deck of the ship, pinning him under her as she grabbed a fist full of his hair, “Make sure you never even think about raising your hand on one of my crew ever again, first mate or not.”

     “Shit, Io let up.” Harry gasped, “I won’t touch her again, promise.”

     “Not that she’d let you touch her anyway,” Gil snorted.

     She cracked his head against the deck before pulling his head back with an eerie grin on her lips, “You know I really don’t believe you. I mean you already somewhat lied to me today. So you and I are just going to make sure we have an understanding, Harold Liam Jones. I am the captain of this crew, I give an order I expect it to be followed. If I’m not around it is your job as my first mate to PROTECT MY FUCKING CREW! Not hit them or almost hit them, or think about hitting them, Harold... Protect them. Do you understand?”

     “Aye, I understand,” Harry winced as his head thumped.

     “Good!” she chirped, cracking his head against the deck again before pulling it up, “Then I hope you realize that you sent a very important member of this crew of mine off one of the safest places on the Isle. And right now she is somewhere on this Island of ours with four other crews who would very much so like our heads in jars or our bodies owned like pretty little birds. Hopefully I don’t need to explain to you why that is a problem, now do I?”

     “No... there’s only one place she’d go,” Harry said, Gil winced a little for Harry but he kinda deserved it.

     “Very good,” she purred, “Look at you learning. Because if this ever happens again I will let my darling black witch make you her next art project. Only because our Captain wouldn’t be very pleased if I gutted you and fed you to my tigers. Are we clear?”

     “Understood,” Harry nodded closing his eyes.

     “Perfect,” Io nodded shoving his head down as she pushed herself up looking at Killian who was biting the side of his hook, “What? You told me I couldn’t bleed him. You never said I wasn’t allowed to bludgeon him.”

     He lifted his ‘hands’ in defense, “I didn’t say anything.”

     She smirked, “Good. I’ll be back around Captain. Going to go have a chat with my Stickpin.” 

     Killian watched as she sashayed down the gangplank, “Ye alive Harry?”

     “If I say no can I go back to bed,” Harry didn’t open his eyes as he answered feeling a little nauseous.

     He snorted, “She wasn’t gentle about cracking yer head on me deck. While ye feeling so docile, advice man to man, never tell a woman she’s a bad lay even if she is. It’s a quick way to either lose yer dick or never get laid again.”

-*-

     Penny lay on her side facing the back of the couch, she’d pulled the old ratty blanket over her along with one of Jay’s vests. She just wanted to sleep for like a week.

     Io let herself in ignoring the large gray cat that followed after her as she spotted Penny laying on the couch under a very familiar and bloodstained leather vest. Odd it was Jay’s things the girl used when she didn’t much care for him at the moment. On soft steps she moved close to the girl.

     Penny didn’t move as she heard the ‘door’ move. She clenched her scraper where it was against her chest.

     “You know you aren’t to be off the ship right?” Io asked.

     “Tired of being places I’m not wanted,” she didn’t look at her.

     Io rolled her eyes, “You know I am getting real tired of people not following orders,” she reached down pulling Penny’s head around careful not to hurt her, “I am aware of your argument with Harold Jones. I disciplined him, so he will be a gentleman. If he’s not you can just let me know.”

     “I don’t want to go back there,” she sighed, “I spent my whole life playing a part so I could be allowed to be with other people, I’m not playing anymore. I need a place that is just mine.”

     “Too damn bad. We all have to do things we don’t want to do. You made a deal little lamb and I have been upholding my end of that deal.”

     “I’m not saying I want out of the crew, I don't. But I need somewhere away from them. I’m still going to take them with me if I ever get off this fucking isle, not that I think I’m ever getting off,” she sat up, “Please I need this.”

     Io looked the girl over and took the vest away from her, fingers finding the holes the cursed bear had left behind when Jay had bled for her. Deals. He would have told her about the deals, the danger of not setting the price, “Everything comes with a price on the Isle. What am I getting out of allowing you to keep this piece of freedom?”

     “What do you want for it?” she asked, watching Io’s movements. She would keep her word but, she needed something more than the pirate crew, then Gil. Cause if she was honest she didn’t really need any of them, she only needed Io.

     “Letting me set the price then?” she looked up.

     “What do you want? Cause I don’t exactly have much to offer anymore,” Penny shrugged. 

     “Fine, then some time down the line, you owe me something I want. Anything I want. Deal?”

     “Anything within my shady morals, no asking me to kill anyone” she hashed back, that was the last thing she needed even if she could think of a few she wouldn’t mind killing so much back in Auradon.

     “You may be my Stickpin but you are no killer. So no worries there, if any one needs killing the rest of the crew will take care of it,” Io shrugged, “Then you and I have a deal. You get this place to escape to, and you owe me one thing whenever I want.” 

     “That is the deal” Penny nodded, “It's what I need and you always make sure we have that.”

     “Too true, too true. But I hope you realize this means that I will be coming to collect you for the runs. Captain may require one of the older crew, but I will see if he’ll make an exception if I bring you around myself.”

     “I can take the roofs if that's a problem, I mean those Silvers aren’t too bright but they are big, too big to get onto the roofs,” she added it was unlikely but it was a way from her to not need a babysitter all the time.

     “Three crews you aren’t accounting for. BBs, Blackbeard’s crew, big brutes with real agile females. Snatchers, you don’t need me explaining them to you. And your kitten minion’s crew, Morgana’s girls. They will climb and come after you, you piss um off enough.” Io perched on the arm of the ratty couch as she set the vest on her lap, it had been a while since she had been in here.

     “And pissing people off is my superpower,” Penny rolled her eyes.

     “Yes, yes it is. I can assume you don’t want to go back to the ship tonight?” Io asked as the large cat leapt onto the couch next to Penny, “I think his name is Beezlebub, Carlos’ pet.”

     “No not really,” she shook her head, “I find the thought of Carlos of all people having a pet slightly odd."

     "There is a reason he is here and not at the DeVil place," Io smirked, "I suppose then I will be keeping you company the rest of the night unless you want me gone."

     “I don’t mind” she said placing a hand down for the cat to sniff, “I was just going to see if Evie left any interesting books behind.”

     The cat purred rubbing his head against her, "The black crate is hers." Io supplied helpfully.

     Penny looked at the crate and nodded as she scratched the cat behind the ear.

     “Curiosities? Would you rather be mine or Harry’s?” Io asked, drumming her fingers on the vest, she may have claimed the others in word but to have a physical mark on the princess would send the message that she belonged to the Red Mad Jaws of the Jollyroger. It would give the others pause, or at least the one that thought they could touch what didn’t belong to them.

     “I thought I already belonged to you,” she looked back to Io her eyes flickering to the vest. She never really thought about it, but given her latest interaction Harry she didn’t want to belong to him.

     “Not entirely yet. Think of this like you're wearing Harry and Gil’s colors. You would fall under them. If you would rather fall directly under me then you would wear something of mine.”

     “And what would you have me wear exactly?” she asked, she had Gil’s bandana, but not really anything for Harry’s anymore.

     “Something of my choosing. Jay had his wear ruby jewelry, sort of, Carlos was more like a moving clip on thing,” Io explained, “Make sense?”

     “That makes sense, but you didn’t answer the question of what it is,” she could remember seeing Evie’s necklace.

     “For you... a golden crocodile,” There was no mistaking her moniker for anyone else's.

     “Ok, like a necklace or on my cloak?”

     “For now, if you want to be mine, on your cloak. I’ll make you something more fitting once I collect a few things.”

     “That’s fine with me, why didn’t you do it before?” she reached over to grab her cloak off the table.

     “Because it didn’t make sense to do so. You would be on the ship under the flag, always considered to be mine. But then someone decided she was no longer content to stay put. So you were given a moniker of your own and Harry and Gil gave you their colors. But now you want away from them, so now I have to go through the trouble of making it official.” 

     “I don’t mean to be trouble for you, seems like all I am though,” Penny looked down at the fabric in her hands.

     “If you were trouble Princess Penelope, I’d toss your ass back into the brig where you couldn’t cause any more trouble,” Io smirked setting the vest down before moving to paw through Evie’s old things, “The fact I am trying to accommodate your needs should make it rather obvious you don’t cause me trouble.”

     “Well if you’re going to throw me in the brig again, probably shouldn’t give me a butter knife if you want me to stay in the brig”

     “Certainly not any more,” she laughed softly pulling out the golden colored thread along with the copious black. 

     “I was determined to get out of that cell one way or another,” she snorted.

     “Oh trust me you weren’t getting out of that cell until I was ready for you to come out of that cell. But I could tell you were determined to get out one way or another.”

     “So I looked like a fool, but a determined fool,” she shrugged with a smirk.

     “Aren’t we all determined fools at the end of the day?” Io perched on the arm of the couch taking the cloak before starting to stitch her crocodile onto the left edge of the hood, “We are a bunch of evil doers trapped in a fairy made hellscape fighting one another for dominance over what? A bunch of scraps and garbage. Determined to prove we are the strongest of nothing.”

     “It’s a cruel joke isn’t it,” she laughed.

     “I’m sure the Mainlanders who chose to trap us all here are all having themselves a laugh. They can’t possibly know the monsters they have bred here, that is the cruelest thing, the lies the Mainlanders tell themselves to justify a punishment far crueller than any deed the villains trapped here committed.” her lingering smile dropped away in favor of the cold cruel thing below for just a moment before she smiled once more, “But what do you expect from a bunch of good doers? Expecting them to see past their own moment of glory is too much to ask.”

     “I feel like some of them don’t know, but some do and that makes it worse I think,” she stood going to the crate to look through it.

     “All it takes is one blind eye for a wound to fester. One blind eye for something to slip out of place,” That was her father’s purpose, to work in the blind spot to achieve an end, and there were plenty of blind eyes focused on the Isle.

     “I know that one all too well,” Penny nodded pulling a book out looking at the spine.

     “Pity it has come to that really.” Io rolled a shoulder, “ Anything interesting in her reading collection?”

     “Bunch of romance, a few etiquettes,” she shrugged, before deciding on something that seemed trashy.

     “Well her mother was dead set on her finding a wealthy prince to bang her and knock her up. Pretty sure Grunhilde didn’t know about Jay,” her lips twisted in a smirk.

     “I’m sure she wouldn’t approve of Doug then,” she snorted sitting back down on the couch.

     “Who’s Doug?” Her head tilted slightly, “You know I don’t actually know much about your... acquaintances on the Mainland.”

     “He’s the son of one of the dwarfs, don’t remember which one,” she explained, “Evie was totally heart eyes at him. What do you want to know?”

     “I suppose whatever you want to part with. It’s hard to know what I want to know when I don’t know what I don’t know.” these were the things Mal hated about her and the things that made Jay look amused before changing topics.

     “Well once you know, then you’ll know what you want to know cause you’ll know what you don’t know,” Penny snickered, “Well as you can guess I’m not very popular, in fact most people go out of their way to avoid me.”

     “I did know that, hence why I used the term acquaintances.” 

     “Um, well there is Ben, my brother, he’s... well he’s kinda like a doll. Does whatever dad and the council tell him, until Mal showed up anyway. I don’t really interact with many people,” she chewed her lip trying to think, “There’s Audrey but well she’s on the stab first say hello later. Oh, I know Jane, she’s fairy godmother’s daughter, super bubbly. She is also kinda the reason Maleficent escaped.”

     “Oh so she’s the one who broke the barrier the first time. There would have been an outpouring of us ‘bad guys’ but Maleficent, the fuckin fairy, spelled it so no one could follow her.”

     “Yep that’s her, now that I think about it she didn’t really get into any trouble for that. Oh right you guys don’t know, Maleficent is a Lizard now, like she lives in a tank and everything” she blinked thinking about how she met the Core 4.

     “A lizard? Seriously... well then, that is oddly disappointing.”

     “Yeah a Gecko I think. That was my first day back in Auradon.”

     “Oh and before then you were where?”

     “Flora, Fuana, and Merryweather’s Academy for Princesses and Young Noble Girls. I was shipped off there when I was 5-ish,” she explained, “Its a school that specializes in making sure girls are trained to fulfill their roles for their nations.”

     “Right so, Princess school.” 

     “Pretty much, I didn’t realize how much until I was back in Auradon. I was so far behind is some subjects, like history. Certain subjects are considered...” she tried to find the right word, “Damaging to our development. Most of the girls there are second born or their parents had chosen to have a younger brother to rule instead. So we were being groomed to marry who we were told, to be consorts. Not all, some were given regular classes and stuff.”

     "I don't think I know what subjects are damaging or regular. Different schools, Isle vs Mainland. Unless Potions and Poisons is a thing at your school," Io tilted her head. 

     “See that class I might actually pay attention in,” Penny said, “Classes that deal with violence, such as wars or executions would be considered damaging. Like we have a history of the seven seas class, the teacher likes to use a good section of it to talk about pirates and battles, at least at Auradon prep. At Merryweather’s even if such a class was offered I wouldn’t be allowed to take it since I have no need to learn such terrible things. No, I was stuck taking charity accounting, floral healing. At auradon prep I had to take princess behavior and etiquette, with Mal” she had hated that class so much.

     "Piracy one of my favorite classes. But what's charity accounting? Also, Mal, the green eyes, is taking princess behavior and etiquette?"

     “Well she is a princess now, future queen consort of Auradon.” she shrugged like it didn’t matter, “Charity accounting... well I would say it was useless and boring, but it’s like learning to do the ledger for the ship. I can read and understand all the captains ledger”

     "Huh, I understand, I think. Queen Consort is your mother's title correct?" She understood the Captain's logs, but there was a time where he buried himself into a bottle and she learned the books to keep things running while Mr. Smee pulled the Captain out of his funk.

     “Yep that’s my mom’s title, until my dad dies,” she nodded, “Then it’s Mal’s crown and everything.”

     "Unless your brother ditches her. Then you wouldn't get anything unless a prince or something marries you? What would happen to your mother after the king dies?" She tied off the golden yellow string and tucked the knot between the hood's layer.

     “She becomes dowager queen. And pretty much, unless I marry a prince I don’t really get anything. I’m still a princess but, once Ben has kids I don’t really have a claim to the throne.”

     "Yeah I don't think that will happen. Mal isn't a baby maker. Really none of us Islers are, Shere being the exception. So you'll have at the throne eventually I'm sure."

     “After Ben dies, I’ll be old and married off, in theory if we ever get off this isle,” she furrowed her brow, “And I am only the heir apparent to Ben, the council can choose someone else. Succession is a complicated topic.”

     "Patience dearie patience. We will get you home, one way or another," Io knew that, her father knew that, it was just a matter of patience and prudent planning. "Put you where you belong, on a throne."

     Penny looked at Io for a moment before shaking her head and looking away, Penny would never be allowed to sit on a throne of her own. Her only chance involved both Ben and her father’s death without Ben having kids and her father not having another son. In theory if she married and had a child and her husband died before the child was 18 she’s sit as regent, it was too many what ifs. Until today she would have said she’d be perfectly happy to abdicat her title and claim if it meant she could be free with Harry and Gil. But, with Harry’s words she didn’t feel like he’d let her hang around if she wasn’t Princess Penelope anymore. After all who wanted a walking disaster around if they weren’t getting anything out of it. She didn’t know what to say to Io, she didn’t want to get her hopes up so to speak, but given who Io’s father was if any one could make Penny a queen it was Io.

     Io handed her the cloak, "Anyone who touches you without my permission now, will be dealt with swiftly and as painfully as possible."

     “What happened to Harry?” she asked taking the cloak, she was angry with him sure. But she didn’t want him maimed or anything.

     "I cracked his skull on the deck a few times," Io shrugged, "He deserved worse but Captain told me I couldn't bleed him."

     “Probably a good thing, I don’t think Koga would be a very good first mate,” Penny nodded, “Would have beat his head in myself if I could. He doesn’t seem to appreciate having a parent that actually cares.”

     "He's just pissy cause Captain came and dragged us out of a losing battle. That and getting belted in front of the crew, but I warned him. And Koga would be a very accommodating first mate, let me do whatever I want and never tell me no. He'll be all shaped up when you go back, if not by our aggressive talk, then by the mark." Io smirked at her Princess.

     “Exactly why Koga wouldn’t be a good one, first mates suppose to advise you you’re off your nut on occasion” Penny snorted, “Harry probably does that on occasion.”

     "Pretty much always. Except for this time. The stars aligned and we agreed. That's the phrase right?"

     “Yes that’s the phrase” she nodded, “Probably would have been better if we didn’t get our asses kicked.”

     "I planned for everything aside from a four crew gang up trap," She admitted shamelessly, "If I had planned for that I would have armed you accordingly."

     “Wasn’t expecting Diego to pick me up like a fucking doll either,” she sighed rolling her wrist.

     She snorted, "And then throw you into the sea. Koga is all healed up from your little Tic Tock incident."

     “Wasn’t so much thrown as pushed away and I tripped.” she shook her head, “Did you know someone was willing to pay for me? I mean I understand with the Snatchers everyone is worth something, but the way Diego said it made it sound like there was someone specific that wanted me and was paying.”

     Io hummed softly, “Not any one specific, but I will be finding out who’s taken a fancy to you. Likely it’s one of the bigger villains, they would be the ones with enough capital to swing around. I know a few offhand that would pay good money for me whole or dismembered. But don’t worry yourself too much with it, unless your Kitten says otherwise. Do I need to account for her wanting to join up like Dizzy did?”

     “She doesn’t want to be a pirate,” Penny shook her head, “She wanted to be moved to Medusa’s. She likes being a whore, go figure. But, for now she’s happy to play spy until Morgana is dealt with.”

     “Still don’t get the appeal of fucking but if that’s what she wants we will work it out when the dust settles,” Io shrugged happy to not have to count on another body being added into the crew. 

     “That’s what I told her. We’d figure it out when the time came,” Penny tilted her head, “You know who she is right?”

     “Gil’s sister,” Io stated having used her copious free time to do a little poking and prodding until the desired result fell out.

     “Gil’s twin,” Penny nodded, “Those bimbeet girls are good at having more than one at once.”

     “Might be Gaston... No one knocks um up like Gaston,” she snickered.

     “Should tell Lefou to add that to the song,” Penny laughed

     “I doubt Gaston will be as entertained as we are by the thought though. Pity the all male set is pig headed, we could use the extra muscle about now. Not like they would join up given our history...”

     “Plus they probably aren’t too fond of me after I tried to hamstring one of them” she mused.

     “Not any worse than Koga clawing ones chest open, or me cutting matching marks into their sides. Or the mild acid Evie threw at one or the scissors she embedded into the other,” Io remembered fondly, “They are highly entertaining....”

     “Take your word for it,” she hadn’t been impressed by them, not in the slightest.

Chapter 99: A Pirate’s Tale (Isle: May)

     Io pushed the door to the hideout open, “Come on Pin, Captain wants us on the ship.” the ship had been at an impasse for weeks now. The barges only coming every 2 and a half weeks if that. Soon they would be back to their once a month and no more schedule. Of course that meant everyone was getting cranky in the wharf and she was spending a lion’s share of time off ship hunting with Koga for the ship. Which meant Harry was getting testy with the constant chores and not being allowed to swap out with her.

     “Not that I'm questioning orders but, why?” she asked twisting her hair up into a twisted bun on the back of her head. She smugged some of Evie’s lipstick on her lips, with Kitten’s help she’d regained some of that confidence she had lost in herself. She had reminded Penny that she was Princess Penelope Rosita Beast, she was the princess that didn’t get mad, she didn’t get hurt. She got even, and then some.

     She was going to make Harry regret ever looking at her wrong. Let him twist and think about what he didn’t have anymore. She adjusted her long sleeve off the shoulder top before pulling her cloak on.

     "Who knows, Captain just sent the word," she had noticed the changes and knew who was responsible for such things, Kitten.

     Kitten clearly had permission with Penny to do such things even if Penny didn't understand that it was Io that needed to give permission. Not that Penny knew she and Kitten had a quick and bit awkward conversation after the first time.

     “Alright then, I'm good to go” she nodded, slinging her sword over her shoulder. She looked at Io, she couldn’t tell the other girls take on how she was changing. She didn’t want to step on Io’s toes or anything like that. But, for more than half a year she’s lost herself to uncertainty, to not being sure how to act.

     "Problems Stickpin?" She wasn't oblivious to the look over, to the nervous reaction that flickered briefly in her eyes. If the girl was thinking the changes bothered Io it was quite the opposite. She had told Kitten she was allowed to play as she pleased if she coaxed the fire out of wherever her Pin tucked it away. She wanted a fighter, not a soft hearted lamb. There was nothing but blood coming, and there was no room for sentiments in war.

     “Nope” she shook her head, “You don’t have a problem then neither do I.”

     "Good," She smirked as they headed down to the street, "You should visit Dizzy and get your hair fixed. Blonde isn't your color anymore." She posed it like a request to soften the order it was. 

     “I was gonna go check on her tomorrow if that’s ok” she said, “I can have her fix it up then.”

     "That is fine. Koga and I will swing by before our hunt and make sure you get there. There has been movement I don't care for down that way."

     “Should I be worried about Dizzy?” she asked, the younger girl didn’t wear a Jollyroger, so no one should be messing with her. After all lady Tremaine would never stand for just anyone defiling her granddaughter. That didn’t mean that some horny snatcher wouldn’t get any idea or that Anthony wouldn’t try something.

     "No. She may be your minion, but you don't understand what that means so no one knows. Which is for the best currently." Io guided them through the bazaar eyes spotting a familiar tag, a snake eating the sun, if she pushed this far north... Io put it aside for now, she would deal with the Sand Snakes later. At the moment she had more pressing issues with Pirates.

     “I don’t recognize that mark,” Penny commented as they moved getting to the wharf pretty quickly.

     "Because it is usually around the Silvers and BB territory," Io replied crossing into Jollyroger turf with a near sigh, "I'll deal with it later."

     “Right then,” Penny nodded pushing her hood back as they made it to the Gangplank.

     Killian looked the two girls over lifting a brow at Penny's makeover but chose not to comment. "Took ye sweet time."

     "Maybe you should try navigating the cluster fuck that is territory lines right now. Then talk to me about taking my time," Io snapped back at him, "There are Sand Snakes in the bazaar, which means the Rats aren't far behind. I cold clocked a Wolf Cub who was tagging the cross road by the last entrance of the wharf not taken by the other pirate crews."

     Killian took the venting in stride, "I'll send some crew out after hours to secure the paths. But for now galley ye two, we be having a little story time to lift morale."

     Penny raised an eyebrow at that, story time? Like a bunch of children? She looked at Io for a second before heading down into the galley. She stopped the boys sitting off to the side towards the back. Gil sat up straighter when he saw her, looking hopeful she would come over. She gave him a small smile before seeing near the front.

     Harry scoffed watching her sit, he knew it was partially his fault all the nastiness between them. But she really shouldn’t have tried to defend his da.

     Io sighed following Penny down and dropped down beside her curling her arm around the girl and back into her shoulder. That should make it plain enough for Harry who the princess belonged to.

     Harry felt something in his chest twist watching Io wrap around Penny. She wasn’t his, but... she had been in a way. He could feel Gil’s want to have her back, he wanted someone to protect, just like Harry protected Gil.

     Killian settled down in front of the crew and noted the obvious friction in his kid’s crew. Friction Harry had caused, so maybe this story would straighten them all out.

     “Not long before we ended up in Neverland, we were making a supply stop. Mihla being Mihla she’s supposed to be off getting medical supplies, but she comes back with something extra. Here she comes up the gangplank bags of bandages and aloe and the likes in her arms. Right behind her is this tiny slip of a lad, carrying this crate... well I say carrying” Killian smiled a little at the memory, the crew that had been there chuckling.

     “Course I try to shoo the boy from the ship after he thumps that crate down, nearly on me foot, don’t think Mr. Smee’s toes where so lucky. Mihla she whips around like a bloody viper, that woman could be dangerous when she wanted to be. Starts tellin me that she’s hired him, he’s part of the crew now. Course I have to open me bloody yap and tell her I’m captain and I didn’t hire them so he ain’t crew. My Mihla though she won't hear nothing of it,” he sent Harry a meaningful look, “She gave me his sob story, no ma, no da, starving... well that part I could see meself. Those that were there no this went on fer awhile. Finally I tell her she wants him she can have him, but when he don’t like life at sea that’s her problem cause we ain’t bringing him back. Should have seen the trouble that was gonna be,” he took a drink passing the bottle to one of the crew.

     “Doesn’t take long before it's obvious that he's pretty damn much natural at sea. He also seems to have wormed his way into the crew's affection, but he was shit at following orders, maybe it's a kid thing. We’re at sea for about 4 weeks before we hit a storm and when the storm clears we are in a land the likes of which I'd never seen, Neverland. We searched for 2 weeks for a way away from that hell land, before we had to go ashore to see if we could find anything of use or just to eat. Wasn’t long after we landed on the shores that we noticed things missing every time we stopped. Started noticing little dirty fingerprints on things, us being us thought it was the cabin boy screwing around. I strapped him good when me brother’s watch went missing. Course turned out it wasn’t him, didn’t know that at the time though. It wasn’t long after that that he showed himself. Pan all his ranting about abuse and miss treatment, he want our cabin boy. Said he was a kid belonged with other kids, course our little...”

     “Jason,” Penny said without thought, she knew this story, of course from a very different view.

     Killian looked at the girl with a raised eyebrow, “Aye, Jason,” he nodded, “I realized Pan wasn’t going to take No for an answer, told Jason he was to stay on the ship and either below or in me cabin with Mihla. After about 3 days of this back and forth fight with Pan and his miscreants, Jason decided he’d had enough of being cooped up. Took all of 2 seconds for him to be scooped up. We looked and looked, never did find the boy. Probably for the best though, kids like to be with other kids. Pan wasn’t wrong on that front.”

     Harry looked at Pin in confusion, even he didn’t know that story. How did she know who the cabin boy was?

     Io tipped her head, that explained a few things.

     Killian glanced at Penny, "No one outside of Neverland knows about me old cabin boy. How did ye hear about it?" All of his crew by now had figured out the girl his Crocodile claimed came from the Mainland. None of them treated her any different she was just one of the crew.

     “I’ve heard the story before, just from a different point of view,” she supplied, “I know Jason.”

     "Been to Neverland and Pan let ye leave?" Killian was now confused, the Pan he knew would have never let any kids go.

     “Can’t say I’ve ever been to Neverland. Parents don’t tend to let their kids go there, but Pan’s not in charge anymore. He left to grow up... well to be with Wendy. Rufio is in charge of Neverland. And Jason is one of my teachers, we call him Mr. Lost” she explained, he was probably one of her favorite teachers if not her favorite.

     Killian laughed softly, "Rufio in charge?" He shook his head thinking of the balsy second to Pan, "Aye that makes sense why Jason was allowed to grow up. But the kid is a teacher?" He honestly didn't think Jason had it in him.

     “History, he also does survival week, where the kids get to go camping and learn to work together. Not sure how he got roped into that” she rolled her eyes, she’d hadn’t been allowed to go last year, it was considered inappropriate for the princess.

     "He's the one who teaches pirate wars?" Io asked curious because it would mean there was a Jollyroger on the Mainland. They may think of him as a Lost Boy, but a Jollyroger was crew until death or treason did them part.

     “Yeah that’s him, Mr. Lost. not a big fan of royalty, spoiled brats, or Peter Pan” she nodded, ''I like him though, didn’t matter who you were in his class all he cared about was the work you did.”

     Killian chuckled, "A pirate is all we can be."

     Aarosh spoke up, "Think it's about time we teach the little one. We could all use the reminder Capt'n."

     "Fine, fine," he rolled his eyes as he cleared his throat starting to sing their Ship's chanty, the crew rocking as they sang with their Captain.

     Penny looked around the galley at the bellowing crew. This was new... sort of, she’s heard the tune before but never the words.

     Harry’s lips twitched up a little as he started to sing with the others.

     Io smiled slightly singing along, this was as close as they could get to feeling back to normal.

     Penny smiled getting a feel for the tempo of this chanty.

     Killian could feel the tension all but dissolve by the end of the song. They needed this, they all needed this, "Alright crew who's telling the next story?"

 

     Io stood on the deck, Penny had been forcibly tucked in to Captains quarters as he didn't want any of the kids off the ship while his men retook the paths. Which meant she couldn't leave either.

     “See ye put a mark on her,” Harry came to stand next to Io.

     "That happens when my first mate makes my things go running for the hills. She doesn't really understand what it means but it will give her what protection she needs." She glanced at him, "I assume I've twisted your heart strings?"

     “I don’t have a heart,” Harry snorted, “she’s changing."

     Io smirked at that, "Sure I can prove you do." She shifted to look at him head on, "Is she changing? Or is she finally leaving her claws out where you can see them?"

     “I... she’s not a little mouse anymore. It's not a bad thing, maybe she won't let herself get snatched,” Harry sighed

     "My darling, she was never a mouse. A kitten maybe, but never a mouse. Mice don't make deals with beasts like me because the sight of me makes them afraid." Io watched him entertained by his current state, "You pushed and found the edge of her shell and she reacted."

     “So she’s ready to be dangerous?” he asked raising an eyebrow.

     Io laughed, "Harry every woman is dangerous. Sometimes it just takes some coaxing to make a woman leave that dangerous side out in the open for all to see. I have spoiled you in that regard, but Penny is not me. I didn't need coaxing to keep my teeth bared. Her on the other hand was content to let you and me fight for her. You shoved her away and reminded her she has claws all her own."

     “I don’t suppose she had help with that from a certain little Kitten of Morgana’s,” Harry mused, “I notice the change in clothes and what not”

     "With my permission. I don't fuck, Kitten on the other hand rather enjoys fucking my Pin. So she's allowed to do so as long as she reminds my Pin to keep her claws out." Io smirked, "Clearly such things don't affect heartless men like yourself," she purred teasing.

     “Nope don’t care either way,” he said through gritted teeth, he was going to bed with blue balls or having to take himself in hand. And she was off getting her jollies with a whore.

     Io leaned in with a wide grin, "Apparently some male forgot to tell her she was supposed to be having fun in bed. At least that's what Kitten went on about when she came round to ask if it was alright. Can't imagine a male who tried so damn hard to have the pretty thief enjoy himself forgot the same courtesy with his next conquest," oh she was enjoying riling him up, "Guess you're just going to have to prove Kitten wrong aren't you?"

     “She had fun, it is fun,” Harry sputtered. 

     "It sounds messy. If she had fun she wouldn't be fooling around with Kitten. And if it was fun, you would have convinced me of it by now," she stated dryly.

     “I’m a little afraid yer cunt has teeth” Harry half joked, “she never said she wasn’t havin' fun. She seemed to be enjoying it”

     "Hilarious," Io rolled her eyes, "She was a virgin not even Jay could seduce into bed. You're a two trick dog who likes being in charge. You really think she would have said if she wasn't enjoying it. Whores fake it all the time to make their partners believe they are the best lay."

     “Maybe the thief wasn’t on his game over there” Harry gaped at her, “She would have said something to Gilly.”

     She pulled back giving him a look of disbelief, "Yeah okay, let's just ignore how many people perked up every time Jay started pacing the corner. But sure he was totally off his game." She shook her head, "Doubt it, Gil would have been confused as to why she didn't enjoy it. Also that girl is only required to tell me everything."

     Harry looked at her for a second, “Fine I’ll give ye that one” he nodded, he didn’t want to think of their little Pin keeping secrets from him.

     "So question is, are you planning on making me that deal you came out here to make? Or were you just bellyaching about my officially claiming my Pin and doing as I see fit?" 

     “I want ye to make sure her and Gil get the food first,” he said, “No matter what Da says they come first. Suppose I do have a heart, I can go without as long as they are taken care of,” he looked off the side of the ship, “I also want another chance with Princess”

     "And what am I getting out of this?" 

     “Ye get to keep the princess in better shape then she'll be in without. But if ye want more yer going to have to tell me what, cause we don’t have much left. I already gave ye my loyalty, I gave ye me word to never raise a hand to yers.”

     “Didn’t much give you a choice in the last one,” she commented, “You give me the Mermaid’s Tear. You want another go at my Princess it will be at the cost of the tear. The rest I will do because you gave me your word.”

     “It’s not mine to give ye, whether she wants it or not its Pins,” he said holding up the tear from his pocket.

     “All the more reason you make the deal then,” She smirked, “Because that is the price.”

     “Here,” he held it out with a sigh watching the moonlight hit it, “Just have to nick her something better.”

     Io tucked the jewel into her jacket already having plans for the small item, “Don’t look so sad my darling Harry, you’ll see it again,” she kissed his cheek, “I can guarantee that.”

     “Just ...” he shrugged it was all he had of his Ma, and it was Pin’s he’d given it to her.

     She cradled his head knowing that lost look, “Harry Jones, if I tell you that you will see it again, then you will. When have I ever lied to you or let you down?”

     “Ye never lie, maybe pigheaded some times but ye ain’t a liar” Harry sighed.

     “Precisely,” she pulled his head down kissing his forehead, “Come on, lets get some sleep. Your dad’s not letting me off the ship, so I think you're in need of some bed company anyway.”

     “Be nice to have company again, try to keep my hands to myself,” he linked arms with her.

     She snorted, “You keep your hands off my ass, tits and cunt you can hold me all you want. Magic knows you haven’t been handling sleeping alone well.” she rested their shoulders together as they walked down to his room.

     “No, I miss Gilly’s snoring” he nodded, he missed the hard arms of Gil over his shoulder, the soft curve of the Princess held between them. He tossed off his shirt as soon as the door was closed.

     “Strip for me?” Io teased laughing softly as she undid her jacket and tossed it over the nail before starting to undo her thigh high boots.

     “If ye would like a show all ye had to do was ask,” he smirked.

     “It won’t get you any closer to bedding me, but if you want to give me a strip show, it’s whatever you need.” It finally felt like before, when it was just him, her and Mimzy. “I missed it just being us on the crew. Not saying I don’t want the others, but it was so much easier to manage this crew when there were only three of us. Though at this stage I don’t know how I would handle everything with so few.”

     “We couldn’t,” Harry shook his head flopping down, “Besides I wouldn’t give up my Gilly for nothing. Man eating half-tiger is nice to have around too.”

     “He is isn’t he,” Io laughed kicking her pants to the floor before crawling into bed next to him after shutting off the light, “Gil is better with us than Uma in any case. We actually deal with the rest of the Gaston clan.” she yawned pressing her back to his ribs, hand curled around her knife under the pillow.

     Harry wrapped his arm around her middle after making sure his hook was nearby.

Chapter 100: Uncovering the Plot (Isle: May)

Notes:

Welcome to chapter 100!! 🥳
Thank you to all the regulars and the newcomers, we are glad you have all stuck with us and hope you are enjoying the story!
~Kevyon

     Harry wasn’t entirely sure how they got the drop on him. But he found himself in a tussle with a few of the younger snatchers, they were forcing him into a side alley just before the bazaar.

     They pushed the red coated Harry Hook towards the alley where Milton was standing and waiting. The Jollyroger traitor had been waiting for a golden opportunity like this one. Harry was supposed to be the smart one between him and the blood thirsty bitch, clearly not as he came into enemy territory without backup. But that was fine with Milton, he would take advantage of the situation.

     “Get yer hands off me,” Harry snarled swinging his hook at one of the snatchers. He stilled as he spotted Milton, “Ye bloody traitor, I could of sworn I told ye I never wanted to see ye again,” a small whimper of pain left Harry as he felt his wrist being turned the wrong way and his hook ripped from his hand.

     Milton smirked as his Harry was disarmed, the hook vanishing down the alley behind him. He made the motions for crybaby as he moved closer. He was going to get a taste of his Harry now. Morgana could wait a little longer.

     The Snatcher behind Harry grabbed his wrists twisting them up behind his back before kicking the back of his knee. This was what Milton wanted. Milton wanted Harry Hook, they were going to make sure Milton got Harry Hook. Especially with no sign of the remaining Jollyroger crew.

     Penny pulled her hood further up as she headed back to her hideout. She stilled as she spotted a few younger Snatchers, they normally didn’t come to the bazaar. As she turned to find a different path, she didn’t need to deal with them right now. A flash of red caught her attention, Harry? What was he doing with a group of Snatchers? 

     She rolled her shoulders moving towards them in the shadows. She was not going to take another person trying to sell her again. Not that she thought Harry was that stupid.

     “Milton ye rat, ye bring that dick of yers near me and I’ll remove it” Harry spat as he struggled against the hold.

     Penny peaked around the corner of the alley taking in the whole scene. Milton was standing in front of Harry, Harry was cursing up a storm and making threats. She rolled her eyes, Harry had a big mouth. No matter how mad she was at Harry she wasn’t going to let Milton use him. She reached up for her sword, stopping as she spotted the hook a few feet away. Well, if they were just gonna leave it there, she couldn’t be blamed for using it to inflict a little pain, she slowly reached forward snagging the hook back to her.

     “Milton if ye have any sense left, any love fer yer Da ye’ll stop this right now” Harry watched him start to open his pants. Harry struggled harder wincing as the brute behind him smacked him in the still healing bruises.

     Milton left his pants and grabbed Harry’s chin, leaning in and gave him a hard kiss before pulling back putting a finger to his lips before opening his pants. Sure he loved his dad but he wanted Harry more and he was going to have what he wanted. No one was going to stop him. Another Snatcher grabbed Harry’s head keeping him still Milton even as his eyes roved around, this was a little too easy.

     Harry tried to shake the man off, this wasn’t happening. He would bite Milton’s dick off. But then these guys might send him to Frollo.

     Penny took a deep breath, she was probably only going to get one shot at this. She made sure she had a firm grip on the hook before she came around the corner quickly. Before any of them noticed her she slammed the hook into Milton’s side between two ribs.

     Milton’s back bowed with a silent scream of pain as something was slotted between his ribs. The Snatchers holding Harry froze, this was not a part of the plan.

     “Fancy running into you here Mildew,” Penny hissed as she turned the hook slowly, “You’ll have to bear with me I’ve only done this once, may take a few tries to get your ribs out. But you know, if it’s any consolation maybe I’ll pull a lung out instead.”

     Harry blinked, what was he seeing right now? Was Pin hooking Milton... Little Pin was standing in the middle of a gang of Snatchers hooking a traitor to the crew. Yeah, he didn’t want to explain this one to Io... ever. He turned his head quickly, biting one of the hands holding his face.

     Milton grabbed at her hands wishing he still had his dagger that the fucking thief whore stole. The gang was starting to run, high tailing it out of there as they spotted Koga Khan and Crocodile on their way.

     “I’m not done yet, it’s rude to interrupt,” Penny snapped at him as she turned the hook viciously hearing something pop, “Let's see if I got that in the right position shall we?” she pulled back hard feeling the bone catch. She pulled harder ignoring the fleeing snatchers as she felt the the bone pull through and snap. She kept her eyes locked with Milton’s as she felt the blood splash in her face, “Well will you look at that, I got the first one in one go... but maybe we should try another to make sure you know. Hate for it to be beginners luck,” she jammed the hook back in.

     Milton all but crumpled in pain. The other snatcher holding Harry running as Crocodile started clapping.

     Io looked over the scene before her, “Look at you Pin, such a quick little learner.” the girl was splattered with blood and her first mate was kneeling on the ground defenseless.

     Penny turned looking back at Io, when had she gotten here? She pulled the hook from Milton letting him fall the rest of the way to the ground.

     “Good timing Crocodile” Harry nodded to her as he tried to stand on shaky legs, “Evil that was hot” he looked at the Princess still holding his bloody hook, blood on her face and cloak. He wanted to fuck her against the alley wall, wanted to lick that blood off her face.

     “I think you dropped something,” Penny held the hook out to Harry. 

     “Aye, I may have” he nodded with a laugh as he reached out to take it from her. He grabbed her wrist and pulled her to him.

     “I told Koga to find you,” Io shrugged watching her Princess and her first mate, “Well go on kiss and make up here so you two can fuck and makeup on the ship.”

     Koga looked at Milton, “So can I eat him? Smells edible.”

     “I wouldn’t recommend it” Harry told Koga before he had Penny’s mouth covered with his own, he pulled back slightly in shock when she bit him. He smirked after a second, he liked that. He kissed her again pushing her against the wall. Penny wasn’t having that, she spun them pushing Harry into the wall briefly before pulling back. 

     “I think we have places to be Harry” she smirked pulling just out of his reach.

     “Damn, Pin found her claws,” Koga laughed, “Come on you birds.”

     “Bird? Who ye calling a bird” Harry gaped at him as he tried to not stare at Pin’s back as they walked.

     “I’m a big fucking cat and she has me hunting you two down. So your birds.”

     “Why where you hunting for me? I went to the bazaar just like I said I was, I just happened to run across a damsel in distress” Penny said

     “Damsel... oh yer for it later” Harry smirked, this was going to be fun.

     “I was hunting him and smelled you, two birds, one man eating cat.” Koga explained as they walked, “Sure he wasn’t edible?”

     “Almost positive,” Penny answered for Harry.

     “Trust me Cat boy, ye don’t want whatever he has from hanging out with them snatchers” Harry shuddered at the thought.

     Koga reached back and smacked Harry upside the head, “Two people can call me a cat that ain’t me and both of them have pussies,” he glowered. 

     “Behave Koga,” Io snorted, “No issues in the bazaar? No more tag movement?”

     “A few new sand snake marks but nothing that changed much. Jafar is hoarding food. I think, if the small riot in front of his stand was anything to go by,” Penny shrugged, “Kitten told me Milton had been hanging around and had orders from Morgana to do something. I think we took care of that problem though.”

     “Yes I do believe you saved our dear First mate from getting forced by the Turncoat.” Io smiled glancing over her, “Just what I expect from my Stickpin,” she was proud the girl had found her claws.

     Harry wanted to object to Io’s view on what had almost happened but she probably wasn’t wrong. It wasn’t hard to imagine that if Pin hadn’t shown Milton would have gotten his way maybe even have let the others have a go before dragging him off to evil knows where.

     "It would figure Jafar would, he knows something is changing and he knows he can make money that way. So he'd rather make money than try and "help" someone not starve forever."

     “That’s kinda his mo” Harry nodded, the bastard would do anything to get ahead.

     "I know, no matter how many times I stab him he never seems to learn anything." Io sighed, "But I ever do love hearing him scream."

     “Gets tiresome dealing with him over and over again” Harry sighed as the ship came into sight.

     "Yeah it does." Koga commented rolling his eyes.

     “He refuses to learn, and he thinks Jay’s the stupid one” Penny tedsnorted 

     Koga shrugged, "Thief is... well we ain't exactly a good judge. He only made deals with us."

     “He’s not stupid, he just has challenges,” Penny shook her head.

     “The longer we’re on this Isle the more I thinks it’s more than challenged,” Harry raised an eyebrow at her.

     "We will see," Io smirked, "Just a matter of patients. Even in copious amounts."

     “I’ve never known ye for yer patients” Harry teased her.

     “I have patients for certain things. Unless it’s revenge, I got no patients in waiting for that.”

     “Well as long as it doesn’t get us killed it shouldn’t hurt to be patient” Penny nodded walking up the gangplank.

     “Oh your back” Gil smiled seeing them.

     “Isle of the Undying remember?” Koga snorted, “Nothing here will get us killed.”

-*-

     Penny threw an elbow as she was dragged into an alley not far from the wharf.

     “Ow, fuck,” Kitten winced catching it in the ribs.

     “Fuck are you doing sneaking up on me like that?” Penny asked pushing her hood back as she looked at the older girl.

     “Yeah, not going to apologize for that. I needed to see you,” Kitten pulled them further into the alley.

     “It couldn’t have waited until tomorrow?” Penny raised an eyebrow at her, they normally met up at Whore’s Hole on days Penny wandered the Bazaar.

     “No, Morgana and the captains are planning something big,” Kitten shook her head.

     “What are they planning?” Penny looked at her seriously. Kitten explained what she had heard, how they were planning an attack. The plans to take the kids, to sell them off, “We need to tell this to Captain and Crocodile” she grabbed Kitten’s wrist pulling her back towards the ship. 

     She stopped at the bottom of the gangplank looking at Kitten, she wasn’t supposed to bring anyone on the ship without permission. But this was an emergency, she’d take the thumping for it, “Come on” she pulled her the rest of the way onto the ship.

     Killian looked up as his door opened, “Pin?”

     “We’ve got a problem, you need to hear this” she said, “get in here” she pulled Kitten into the cabin.

     “I know I told you I wanted to see the ship, but I was thinking something a little more intimate” Kitten joked a little looking nervous.

     Killian stood, hand and hook on the table as he stared at the blonde beside their Pin, “What the hell ye thinkin’ bringing one of Morgana’s girls on me ship!?”He didn’t understand why Pin would even be interacting with such a girl any way.

     “Tell him,” Penny ordered Kitten.

     “Look just come with me and...” Kitten cut off as Penny growled at her, “I overheard Morgana and the other Captains planning to draw you and your crew off the ship. After they get you to stash the kids,” she crossed her arms.

     “Get me to stash me kids? Ye clearly don’t know me kids. I give em orders and I pray they be followin’ them. As ye noticed they didn’t take well to me trying to make them stand down when yer friends went after me Pin.” Killian growled not trusting the girl as far as he could throw her.

     “They are not my friends” Kitten hissed like her namesake, “Look they are planning to go after one of them and hurt them badly enough that you ground the other kids. Then they are going to call for a parley, what ever the fuck that is, while you are off they are going to come and take the kids. Once they have them all separated, they are going to try and get you to back down using Harry. Milton was suppose to grab him but well the way I hear it Pin fuck that up pretty good.”

     “And why would ye tell me crew? Why would ye warn us?” Killian asked calm and deadly as he tried not to think the worst. If they managed to get Io again, he didn’t know if the Dark One would stay idle. Even he had a point of no tolerance. 

     “I want out of Morgana’s, most of the girls there do.” Kitten uncrossed her arms putting her hands on her hips. No one else needed to know she as Gil’s twin, the fact that Morgana knew was bad enough.

     Penny raised an eyebrow at her, normally she wouldn't be about giving up facts unless it was Io. “She’s Gil’s twin, Mogana’s looking to have a twincest special” 

     “You brat” Kitten growled at her.

     “Ye mean more than usual?” Killian sighed softly, “Pin ye tell Crocodile yet?”

     “She knew they were related already, I just gave her the final piece” Penny nodded

     “With the right backing most of us would be willing to act against her” Kitten looked at her nails.

     “And what makes ye think I am letting ye off me ship Kitten?” Killian smirked, “Ye making yerself a very important piece in all this trouble John stirred up.”

     “Morgana will notice if I don't come back. And you will lose your ears in her hell house,” Kitten looked at him, “But through me in the jail or cell, what ever the fuck its called.”

     “Brig love, it’s called the brig.”

     “Kitten...” Io feigned her surprise in seeing the blonde there, “New Underland payment Captain,” She tossed the fat coinpurse on to his desk, “Do tell why you are entertaining whores your sons age?”

     Killian fixed her with a dark look, “Watch yer tone with me Crocodile, I am yer Captain.”

     “Yes and the pretty blonde,” she pulled on a loose lock of hair, “Is my Stickpin’s minion, which means she falls under my protection on the ship.”

     “If my older clients looked like him, I wouldn’t have to fake it,” Kitten tilted her head.

     “Ok, that’s gross” Penny made a face, “And Kitten came and tracked me down with news.”

     Io pulled on the hair roughly, “Behave you. Now what news?”

     “Do I have to go through this again? I need to get back before I’m missed. And I was being polite, he’s a fit man,” Kitten winced at the pull.

     Penny raised an eyebrow at Io’s hand in Kitten’s hair, Kitten was a big fan of people messing with her hair.

     Killian rolled his eyes, “Ye giving her a pardon?” 

     “Aye that would be what I’m doing.”

     “So does that mean I can go?” Kitten looked between the two batting her blue eyes.

     “Short version, yes. But you keep your head down, I won’t help you do what you want after this if you find yourself on the other side of our blades.”

     “Head down got it. You get me that transfer and I might be tempted to offer a few freebees” she nodded to Io. Giving Killian a wink, as she quickly made her escape.

     “That’s gross, I’m sorry. I can get behind a lot of things but that is gross” Penny shook her head, “Don’t get me wrong, I’m hoping Harry looks like you when he gets older but, eww.”

     “Creepy when this one joined me crew, 8 year old calling me handsome.”

     “You and your ship are good on my eyes. We have long established I want nothing else from you or your son.”

     “Like I said creepy,” Killian snorted opening the pouch.

     “Agreed” Penny nodded.

Chapter 101: Plans for Summer Vacation (Auradon: June)

     Evie rolled her neck as she packed up her stuff in the room she’d shared with Mal. Ben had made a comment about trying to get her a single for next year. That would be nice, she’d have her own space to work and relax. Plus no nosey roommate asking where she disappeared to, and possibly tell Fairy Godmother.

     Mal watched as Evie left their room. If the Mainlanders hadn’t noticed there was something odd between the VK’s, they would know now. Audrey had left school nearly a month ago. Ben and Aziz had held their word and they had gotten the girl kicked out. It was... odd. The girl had been Ben’s fiance just a year ago, and now she was gone. All it took was Aziz stepping in on Evie’s behalf, which baffled her because she wasn’t so sure when he had worked his way so deep into the Core 4.

     Jay had wanted to help Evie move out but she had shooed him and told him he had a very important meeting with Princy this morning. However after being handed a mug of tea he wasn’t really sure he was going to like this. Jay shifted uneasily in the chair across from his Princy as Aziz dialed his father’s number on the tablet in front of him. The mug of warm tea was sitting within reaching distance but Jay made no move for it. Sitting on his hands seemed like a better plan as he knew running was not an option at all for this thing. Aziz had asked, Jay told him no, Aziz told Evie, Evie informed he was going through with it or no sex. He should have been pissed about being ganged up on like this, but really he was mostly just proud Aziz was proving to be able to be a little wicked.

     Aziz spoke to someone on the tablet in Arabic, which Jay still couldn't speak or understand but at least recognized given Aziz had fallen into the habit of muttering darkly in his native language. Or when Jay was de stressing him, which was way more entertaining for Jay at least.

     The prince’s golden eyes lifted off the screen and he nodded, “Of course he’s here. I wouldn’t have video called elsewise.”

     “Well I don’t know, maybe you just wanted to see your old man’s face,” the older male on the tablet laughed softly, “Hello Jay. It’s just me over here, I may have locked my wife out of the room so she couldn’t overwhelm you like she did at Christmas. I am sorry about that,” he offered. 

     “Come on you, Baba can’t get to you through the tablet. Promise he’s still in Agrabah.” Aziz crooked a finger at his stubborn friend, “Do I need to get Evie?”

     He heaved a sigh, “No,” he pushed himself to standing and walked around the table with the other chair before sitting down next to Aziz.

     Jay looked the dark haired male over. He was wearing a very simple and inexpensive white shirt, and a purple vest made out of some sort of leather it looked like. His confusion must have shown as he was given a crooked smile.

     “Yes I am Aziz’s baba, the Sultan of Agrabah. But I’m human, it’s early, I am leaving court to Jasmine, so I don’t have to be all Sultan like if I don’t want to be. Plus I thought this would make you more comfortable.”

     “You’re not wrong,” Jay bit his cheek trying not to be so wary, the guy was so less intimidating than his father.

     “Good,” Aladdin kept his smile on, “So Aziz was telling me he was trying to convince you to come and visit our home for the summer.” When Jay only replied with a nod he pressed on cautiously, “I would love to have you over if you and your friends were interested. But if you aren’t comfortable with that idea for whatever reason I understand, no matter the reason. It is pretentious of me to guess at what you’ve been through on the Isle, but I know life with just Jafar couldn’t have been easy. Having to deal with the rest of the villains there on the Isle likely only added to the hardships you experienced.”

     Aziz could tell his baba had lost Jay, but was surprised when Jay looked away, “Baba just had high standards is all. I... I tried to meet them, but it’s hard when the guy used to be an ‘all powerful djinn’,” Jay made a face of mild disgust like he was sick of hearing the words.

     “Still on that is he?” Aladdin asked latching on to the opening Jay had given him.

     “Yeah, that was the story he always went to when I was a kid. That and how he was almost Sultan, he was right about one thing though...” 

     “Oh?”

     “Yeah your wife is gorgeous... from a safe distance nowhere near your djinn friend,” Jay added wryly thinking about Christmas.

     Aladdin laughed as Aziz went to smack Jay’s chest only for the younger male to catch his hand, “Jay that’s my mother!” he hissed.

     “Yeah and a gorgeous woman is a gorgeous woman. Again that whole skin is just skin thing you mainlanders don’t seem to grasp,” Jay shrugged a shoulder.

     “I take it things were very open on the Isle?” he asked curiously.

     “Not like privacy was really a big thing. Wasn’t a street you could go down that didn’t have people...” His head cocked slightly and he looked at Aziz, “I don’t think I know the Mainlander version words for this. Cause this particular string of words made Penny real uncomfortable when I told her.”

     Aziz covered his face, “The worst is when I already know what your talking about and you don’t have to say anything.”

     “Are we talking about sex?” Aladdin figured they were open about things but not that kind of open, “Sex on the street.”

     “Yeah,” Jay stated, “But not like Mainland sex, cause I mean... I wouldn’t know anything about that,” he hid the wince as Aziz stomped on his foot.

     Aladdin smiled slightly, “Agrabah used to have places like that before I even met Jasmine. Do remember I wasn’t always a Sultan.”

     “Just a street rat,” Jay replied softly, “You weren’t the only one that heard it from my baba.”

     The two native born Agrabahian’s just looked at Jay’s expression, “I’m sorry to hear that, I know from experience names like that wear on you.”

     Jay rolled a shoulder, "It's whatever, according to your son I ended up being a lot like you. Probably why he wasn't one to hold a proverbial punch, he would tell you exactly what he thought of you." He left out the physical parts, the hitting, the whipping, the fucking, and the verbal parts, with the long list of names that still echoed around his brain.

     "I would very much enjoy hearing about your adventures in person if that would be okay."

     He bit his bottom lip, "Depends on how you feel about Macaws."

     "Iago is on the Mainland with you?"

     "Yeah, he kind of thinks I'm his kid so he came and found me when he had a chance." Jay gauged the expression.

     Aladdin nodded, "As long as he behaves I don't see the harm. You know him better than the rest of us."

     "Okay." Jay nodded glancing at Aziz, "But-"

     "But we expect nothing from you and your friends, aside from enjoying yourselves. Jasmine's offer will always stand, but we won't push it. I will make sure she doesn't push it." Aladdin sighed softly, "What The United Kingdoms of Auradon did in deciding to put or leave the children of Villains on the Isle of the Lost is inexcusable. What happened to you and all the others because of that, no one can make up for. The best we can hope for is your forgiveness, and to be given a fair shot at helping you grow. I personally just want you to see the home of your friend, my son, and hope that you enjoy your stay with us enough to want to come back and visit."

     He looked at the tabletop, "Deal. We'll come and visit, as long as don't expect anything from us."

     "Good. Aziz and I will make the arrangements for you three, or four I suppose with Iago, to spend the Summer." Aladdin nodded seeing there was more there than he saw at Christmas, but he would get to know Jay, get a feel for him.

     Aziz looked at the male next to him as the call ended and the tablet went black, “Thank you for giving us a chance.”

     Jay nodded licking his lips, “You’re my Princy. You wanted us to visit, I can live with that. I won’t like it, but for you I will deal with it.” He pushed himself to standing and downed the tea, “Let’s see if Princess is done moving in.”

 

     “Evil Evie how much stuff do you have” Carlos looked at the stack of boxes in the corner of the room. It seemed like a lot given they had each only come with maybe one small bag of stuff.

     “It didn’t seem like that much when it was spread out in the room” she too was a little shocked at how much she had acquired.

     Jay and Aziz opened the door, "All mo... evil Princess, you went to town with clothes didn't you. Cause I am pretty sure I didn't steal you all this."

     "I am going to pretend you mean from the isle." Aziz snorted, "You need any help with anything else?"

     “Everything is here. And I might have gone a little overboard. But well Ben did give me that shopping spree to say sorry for Audrey” she tilted her head a little.

     "Ah yeah that would do it. Risky business giving a fashion queen a shopping spree with the Crown Prince's budget," Aziz smiled, "But it will come in handy in a few weeks."

     “What’s happening in a few weeks?” Carlos asked confused as Evie’s eyes lit up.

     "Well you three plus Iago will be accompanying me back to Agrabah for the summer," Aziz smiled, glancing at Jay as the parrots beak dropped open.

     "Are you fucking joking!? There is no way you-" Iago ranted through Jay's firm voice.

     "You are coming with me Iago end of discussion. Iago. Iago!" Jay barked finally and the beak snapped shut as Iago scratched at his beak seemingly unable to open it, "Quit whining, the Sultan is allowing you to come with us to supervise. I want you there, you know the city in case something happens."

     Aziz jumped at the raised voice, "Nothing will happen. You are my guests, my friends, I won't let anything happen to you while your in Agrabah."

     “It is our experience Princy that it is better to have a plan and not need it then need a plan and not have one,” Evie supplied, before turning her attention to Jay, “Thank you, the fashion alone is going to be dream worthy. I need to work on a wardrobe for us.”

     Jay gave her a blank look, "Princess don't take this wrong, but I'm good on the clothes thing. I have more than I know what to do with as it is."

     “You still need more, you need lighter stuff for Agrabah. Plus I want to make sure you have stuff for winter this year” Evie started listing all that she needed to make.

     “Dude, we’re gonna need an extra room to hold all these clothes,” Carlos flopped down on the bed.

     "Princess," Jay waited until her attention was back on him, "Leave the winter wear until we come back. And I have enough to last alright. I don't care how hot it is, leather and jeans."

     “But... I'll work on stuff for you when we get there,” she shook her head, “Carlos you don’t get a say”

     “Jay” Carlos whined, he didn’t want to sit through fittings for hours.

     Aziz bit his tongue, "Jay, I'm going to go and make the arrangements."

     "You do that, I will be here handling... this." he gestured to the room tipping his head into the kiss Aziz planted on his cheek before departing, "Outfits as in 2 total Princess. I want you both on guard because I have no idea how this is going to work." He didn't say he didn't know how he was going to handle being there, so close to the heroes of his baba's story. Or how Agrabah was going to handle the son of Jafar being there.

     “But...” she chewed her lips, “for you guys two outfits. But, well I was thinking I need a few different dresses and pants. I mean I’m going to have access to agrabian silks and linen”

     “Always on guard” Carlos nodded to Jay.

     "Evie... I don't care if you decide you want to make stuff while we are there. I meant before we leave. I know I won't be able to stop you once we get there."

     “You mean it?” she asked, “Cause I have some many plans that I’ve been waiting to get the chance to work on.”

     “Princess you aced Potions and Posions class, yeah I’m going to let you do your fashion thing. But remember you only have some many hands to carry everything so try not to go bat shit. For Carlos and my sanity, give him warning if you need him to stand still for you...” Jay knew a losing battle when he saw one. This one was better if he just ceded to, because elsewise she was going to go all haughty princess on him and he had a bad feeling he was not going to have his normal copious amounts of tolerance.

     “I won't forget to look for my ingredients for the potion,” she said, “It’s just fashion is my passion here. I’m allowed to have a want to be more than just a pretty princess.”

     “You mean want more than you already are?” Jay gave her a half smile glad she was bouncing back finally.

     “I’m going to be more than any of them expect. I’ll come back at the beginning of the school year with a nice tan, and I won’t have had to deal with any of these bitches,” Evie smirked.

     “Just whatever bitches we find in Agrabah,” he snorted feeling his gut twist with nerves, what the ever evil hell was he thinking agreeing to this?

     “I’m sure Princy will deal with it, and if he doesn't well. I haven’t practiced my court manners in a while,” she said.

     “Manners? Punching people, or stabbing them, oh or splashing acid on them?” Jay asked rubbing his face, “Iago would you stop doing that before you hurt yourself?”

     The macaw fixed Jay with an infuriated look and pointed at him and then at his sealed beak. Did the kid seriously not realize what he had done, at all? Clearly not as Jay tipped his head and looked confused.

     “Not if he can’t talk,” Carlos snickered.

     “Oh you poor thing” Evie winced looking at Iago, “And I mean the art of words, of twisting them to mean more than they say.”

     Iago threw his wings up in frustration and gestured to his kid and waved his wings around.

     “Oh, yeah I have enough problems with words as it is, I’m going to leave that shit to you and Princy. Iago what the hell are you trying to say?”

     “I think you may have magicked him silent,” Evie informed Jay.

     “Oh.” Jay stated blinking, “Oh! Fuck dammit...” he cringed as it finally clicked, “Why? Why did she have to give me magic? I should not have magic...” he muttered moving closer to Iago and rubbed the macaw behind the cheek, “I didn’t mean to literally shut you up, swear.”

     Iago watched sparks fly through Jay’s eyes and felt the pressure on his beak release, “It’s fine kid. Your baba had magic, it was going to happen eventually. Plus you can do a few things without any issues, stealing her panties being the main thing.”

     “You always had magic,” Evie assured putting a hand on his arm.

     “No, I... I was fine before I touched her staff. I touched it and she...” Jay shook his head, “She looked scared of me. I mean right before she green eyed me. Those eyes man, creepy as hell, also don’t like the fact she was feeling me up like I was still on the Isle...”

     Iago looked him over warily, “You managed to grab onto Maleficent’s staff?”

     “He like went full attack mode to get it away from her,” Carlos nodded.

     “It probably woke up your dormant powers. I mean you were using them sort of when we got here,” Evie thought about it.

     “I was?” Jay looked concerned, felt concerned because he had no idea when he was using magic.

     “Yeah that explains why you didn’t realize before then,” Iago shook his head, “Touching fae stuff is always a little iffy. Considering it was an evil fae staff you grabbed, your lucky you didn’t get turned into an animal. Take the wake up bolt to you magic as a blessing,” he offered looking the kids over, “You use your magic don’t you Blueberry? I’d ask you Puppy dog, but your mom wasn’t magic, just crazy.”

     “On little things, I’m more about potions. But I can do little glamors here or there,” Evie nodded.

     “Dude I’m pretty sure you were using it to get some of the stuff you stole,” Carlos looked at Jay.

     Jay made a face, “Come on now I am the best damn thief on the Isle. I only had one mark I couldn’t steal from. These Mainlanders are easy marks, and I... I sometimes steal stuff I don’t mean too. But I did that on the Isle too. I was running from your mother and stole a fucking vase cause it caught my eye.”

     “Oh is that where the vase in the Eel tank came from? I was wondering where the hell you had found it,” Iago fluffed his feathers out, “Your mother is Queen Grunhilde the Raven Witch Queen and you can make little glamours? That can’t be it...”

     “I need practice, maybe a teacher. More of the bigger stuff just fizzles out. Unlike Mal’s who seem to work almost too well,” Evie shrugged to the bird.

     “Mal is a half fae, who has been using her limited magic since it woke up. Barrier suppresses magic, but it cannot stop magic from showing up. The glowing eyes are the dead giveaway your magic is all charged up with nowhere to go,” Iago lifted a wing, “But Agrahbah is a magic hot spot, they’ve been using magic there since it was just a small outpost. Djinns flock there, and since the Cave of Wonders appears in the area every 1000 years, magic users just kind of stay in the area. I’ll help you two find someone who can help with your magic for the small price of keeping the old Sultan from feeding me fucking crackers. You puppy dog, maybe we can find you someone who can give you a magic artifact or something.”

     “I still think magic is just a different form of science,” Carlos said, “Just one that no one is sure about the origin of.”

     “Magic spawned science, alchemy actually, which lead to chemistry,” Iago clarified, “Jafar used to dabble in all of it, he used to know that magic couldn’t fix everything. Big magic, means big costs. Alchemy formed equivalent exchange, the worth of something has to equal the worth of something else. And chemistry was magic to non magic users.”

     “So it is science,” Carlos said choosing to take what he wanted from that.

     “Don’t waste your breath Iago, Carlos will only hear what he wants to hear about magic.”

     “Hang on I got science for you Pup,” Jay smirked focusing on what he wanted, it was way easier when they are in the middle of fucking, but never the less Evie’s panties formed in his hand in a flurry of red gold sparks, “Science that.” she happened to be wearing leggings today.

     “Your making the atoms separate and then reform. You must be able to control the vibration around them or something,” Carlos shrugged.

     “Good thing I didn’t need those,” Evie raised an eyebrow at Jay.

     “And I would need to know what any of those words mean to make sense of what you just told me,” he retorted giving Evie a wink, “It would have been his pants, but let’s be honest I am much better at snatching your panties.”

     “Oh you really are, and to think I hear it's so hot in Agrabah that people don’t wear them at all. What will you take from me then” she smirked a glint in her eye.

     “Easy, you. Everytime I’m hard and your soaked. I mean since my Princess loves her skirts.” 

     “Wow... that was shockingly smooth even for you kid,” Iago muttered.

     “He’s learned a thing or two since we arrived here,” Evie’s smirk widened, “It sounds like we will be spending a lot of time with just us then.” 

     "Fucking my third favorite thing to stealing and fighting," Jay grinned shamelessly, "Fourth on that list is turning Pup into a post bliss puddle."

     "I think you have a problem kid. But honestly I can't say I'm surprised. Considering everything I had to witness you are shockingly well adjusted." Iago flapped his wings landing on Carlos' shoulder. He had gotten used to having three mobile perches, even though only one was willing to pet and hand feed him.

     “It’s a wonder any of us even talk to people” Carlos said looking at the bird out of the corner of his eye.

     "It is a wonder really," Iago agreed shuffling back and forth.

Chapter 102: Trip to Agrabah (Agrabah: June)

Notes:

Welcome officially to the Agrabah Saga, we hope you like it!

~Kevyon

     The trip to Agrabah was entirely too long for Jay’s tastes. 14 hours of riding in the car and the train had led to a whole lot of him pacing up and down the small area unable to sit still. All three of them had offered to help him relax but Jay just shook his head. He was questioning his own decision well before halfway through the trip. There had to be a shorter way to get from one place to another, but it kind of explained why Aziz almost never went home. Especially when he kept running through everything his father had ever told him about the place. And the look on FG’s face when she came to see them off and spotted Iago. So he paced just to cover the fact his hands were shaking, that the air didn’t seem to be making it in his lungs like it was supposed to. When the train finally pulled into the station Jay was all about grabbing their bags and running. 

     Evie quickly looped her arm through Jay’s digging her heels in to slow him. She was not going to have him causing a ruckus by appearing before Aziz, he was the prince he had to exit first.

     Jay tensed at the contact before forcing himself to relax as he shot her a look, “Come on I want out of this damn thing...”

     Aziz stood slowly, “Thanks 'amira... I thought we were going to have to tie him up if this train ride lasted much longer.”

     “No problem but I would make our exit quickly before I’m not enough to keep him still,” Evie gave him a small nod.

     “As you can tell he’s not a big fan of small spaces,” Carlos added.

     “Okay, okay,” Aziz soothed worried, “We’ll be at my home soon, okay? Promise. We have a car ride and then that’s it,” he carefully moved around Jay, knowing better than to touch no matter how much he wanted to.

     “Just let me out off the fucking train,” Jay bit out as Iago landed on his shoulder. He needed out, needed distractions because his father’s voice was screaming in his head, and he needed to breathe.

     “In a second, Aziz has to go first, then we can follow. Just listen to my voice,” Evie tried to sooth watching as Aziz exited the train before walking Jay beside her.

     He tightened his grip on her arm and felt Iago squeeze down on his shoulder, “I’m right here kid, all yours are right here. I need you to breathe.” the bird whispered close to his ear.

     Jay took a deep breath as they moved towards the exit, he had to do this. He made a promise and he had to keep it. He promised all of them, he couldn’t be made a liar again. He had already broken his word to a girl who had desperately needed him to keep it, he couldn’t do it again. Not ever again.

     “There we go, now just the car,” Evie said as they came out into the sunlight. She looked around taking in the beauty around her.

     Aziz noticed the shift in their attention and cleared his throat softly redirecting the guards’ attention off the VK’s and Iago, especially when Jay looked about ready to drop everyone in sight. He wasn’t sure what was causing the reaction either, but he could tell Jay was tense, very tense.

     “Welcome home Prince Aziz,” one stated opening the door to the limo, “We notified the council and your family of your arrival. We will see your things arrive at the palace shortly.”

     “Thank you,” Aziz turned slightly, “Come on you four, home stretch I promise.”

     Jay swallowed back the sick twisting in his stomach as the guards eyed him for a moment before Princy distracted them. Prison, they were so going to throw him in prison. That’s what they did to thieves and street rats here, he was all of those things. Why was he even here? Why did he even take the Prince of Agrabah on as his? But he moved nevertheless and eased into the limo with it’s gold and jewels that screamed at him to steal them. That they should be enough to appease his father, that it may be enough.  

     “Evil is it always so fucking hot?” Carlos asked as he slid into the limo.

     Evie raised an eyebrow at him, she’d tried to warn him but he hadn’t listened. She shook her head before going back to rubbing circles on Jay’s arm with her thumb.

     “Yeah it is, but the breeze is nice and night is cool here,” Iago offered not liking the quiet treatment from Jay.

     Aziz looked at them as he closed the door and touched the table by Jay’s legs, “Are you okay Jay?”

     “I will be, eventually,” Jay stated softly not wanting to worry any of them.

     “What exactly is the plan once we arrive? I’m feeling like we may need a few hours to wind Jay down after all of that travel,” Evie asked looking at Aziz.

     “More than a few probably,” Carlos snorted, they probably should have figured out how to stop the train every few hours and take a break or something.

     “I take you on a quick tour, dinner and then nothing. My family knows I just want to sleep when I get home,” Aziz offered, “I’m sorry Jay, I knew you would get restless, I didn’t think it would be this bad on you. If there is something I can do, just let me know.”

     “Stop putting me in confined spaces, one. Two, don’t judge me if I end up stealing things by accident.”

     “Well, if you do, you can hand it to me and it will be like you found it. How does that sound?” Aziz did not like the tension in Jay’s body, he hadn’t seen it since they had first arrived on the Mainland. He stretched slightly further and touched Jay’s knee cautiously, jerking back when Jay nearly threw a punch at the contact.

     “Don’t touch me right now Princy, okay? Just don’t touch me.” Jay did not want anything on him but the ones who knew what to do and what not to do with him like this.

     “Sleep sounds amazing.” Carlos moaned before flopping onto his side across Aziz’s lap.

     Evie’s lip twitched seeing what Carlos was up too. Sneaky puppy was giving the prince something to touch that wasn’t Jay. While at the same time acting as if nothing was wrong so maybe Jay would relax a touch.

     Aziz smiled softly running his fingers through Carlos' hair, "It does, doesn't it? Sorry it is too hot here for you. It gets better we get a nice breeze off the water the closer we are to my home." He glanced out the window over Jay's shoulder, "It's been a while since I've been home..."

     Jay looked at Carlos in Aziz's lap, at the calm on his puppy's face. Iago rubbed his beak on his cheek before lifting to nibble on his ear. That was when Jay realized he had a death grip on Evie's arm and quickly loosened it before he did any more damage. Especially since he had nearly punched his Princy in the face in his Princy's own country. He needed to chill, needed to straighten his head back out before he hurt the people he swore he would shield.

     “Is it common here for parents to send their children to study away from home for long?” Evie asked remembering that Penny had been away for years as well.

     "It depends..." Aziz shrugged, "I'm the oldest of three. My younger sister went to Merryweathers with Penny. And my little brother goes to school here in Agrabah. For royal families it's kind of the norm to have their kids study in other kingdoms, it brokers peace. Since Agrabah is so far away and I'm the representative for our kingdom on the council I don't come home as often as my sister does. Part of that is me, before I met you all I would go home once a quarter. Work out exams with the teachers and stay home for a week before going back.

     The situation with Princess Penny was a bit more complicated from what Ben mentioned. Tensions between her and Audrey were too damaging to the relations between the two kingdoms so the adults tried to keep them separated." Aziz explained passively running his hands through Carlos' hair the way he had learned the boy liked, soothing both of them as Jay's tensions seemed to wane for the moment.

     “So they really did choose Audrey over Penny” Carlos said looking up at Aziz. He knew parents choosing stuff over their kids was normal on the isle but it felt wrong here.

     “You have siblings?” Evie asked a little surprised.

     "In a way they did, but like I said it's complicated and I don't have all the details." Aziz rolled a shoulder, "Yeah. 13 and 10. I'm roughly six years older than my sister. Have I never mentioned them before?" He frowned slightly.

     "No you might have forgotten to mention siblings. Where were they at that party?" Jay bit out not wanting any more surprises while he tried to shrug off the feelings he had been letting build for far too long with nothing to distract him that he was comfortable doing on the train.

     "Which party?" He did not like the storm brewing in Jay's face, "I didn't mean to catch any of you off guard with the news. I just... I didn't realize I had never mentioned my siblings before now."

     “Christmas,” Evie supplied, “I’m sure they are lovely” she squeezed Jay’s arm gently.

     "Oh... I know my sister spent Christmas with her friend and my brother stayed here with Jordan's mom. Again I-"

     "Princy it's fine. Next time more warning," Jay cut him off as he tilted his head and pressed his lips against Evie's temple as she kept him from flying any further off the handle.

     “So, what exactly are they like?” Carlos asked, “Did your sister and Penny know each other?” Penny seemed like a loner for the most part, but that may have been because she didn’t have friends at Auradon prep.

     "I'm sure they knew one another, they were friendly when they first met but honestly I don't know," Aziz really didn't know, "My sister is quiet around people she doesn't know. My brother will ask a million questions. But I mean I'm partial, they are my siblings, I love them."

     “Its like that with girls sometimes Carlos,” Evie sighed softly, girls didn’t make friends on the spot.

     Aziz licked his lips as the car pulled to a stop in front of the palace, "Jay can you look at me?" He waited until he had the younger male's attention, "Thank you for giving me a chance to show you my home. It means a lot to know you were willing to go through the effort."

     Jay nodded, "Just don't push today okay? I... I need the night to adjust."

     "Of course, whatever you need Jay," Aziz smiled softly.

     “Alright, looks like we are here,” Evie smiled seeing the palace through the window.

     Aziz nodded as the driver pulled the door open. He slid out in the fading Agrabah heat and smiled seeing his family standing there on the palace stairs. He was finally home.

     Jay stepped out onto the marble drive with its golden trim and shoved his free hand in his vest pocket despite the heat. Everything here felt too perfect, too pristine and he was just a blight on the landscape here as he noticed every guard was looking right at them. The attention making him hyper aware of the lowering sun, and the heat still clinging to the air. The fact Iago shifted uneasily seeming to notice the attention or at least that he had gone from wound up on edge to about to run like it was All Hallows Eve on the Isle.

     Aladdin took a deep breath and headed down the stairs, there was a look about Jay that told him the kid was uncomfortable about the attention on him, on them. He smiled softly glad he was wearing his street clothes for this, "Welcome home Aziz, and a warm welcome to you three. It's not often we get our oldest to bring friends home."

     "baba..." Aziz groaned looking at his father not wanting to be teased about his lacking want to invite friends over.

     Aladdin laughed softly, "It's even good to see you Iago."

     "Yeah, thrilled to be back in Agrabah's heat," Iago huffed sarcastically, "Got yourself a batch of kids I see."

     The sultan nodded not minding Iago's words, "Looks like you picked up a few yourself. Right, you three are probably baking out here, come on I'll introduce you to the rest of the family then I'll let Aziz show you around before dinner." Aladdin motioned them after him, "Aziz mentioned you three want to be close by so we have rooms set up next to one another. But if you rather a different arrangement do whatever makes you comfortable."

     “That sounds perfect,” Evie agreed easily, they could work out what they needed without bringing attention to it.

     Jay swallowed hard, forcing himself to follow after the Sultan as he could feel the eyes searing on his back watching his every move. He had to get through today. After that he would have the capacity to be there for all of them. He hated how apparently incapable he was of feeling like he was walking to his undoing. Every step felt like he was headed back to the shop day of payment and painfully short, his body preparing for a punishment.

     Jasmine stood there in her blue silks watching them, particularly watching Jay. The closer he got the sharper his expression turned and the more blank his eyes became. Aladdin told her she could not push him, could not pester him. He made her promise that she would just let them be, as much as she wanted to be there, she had to give them space. So she focused her eyes on Iago who was leaned close to Jay’s head looking worried. Her children looked towards her and she tried to clear any negative emotion off her face smiling softly, as maternal as she could possibly be.

     Evie squeezed Jay’s hand as they moved up the stairs. She’d protect him from Jasmine if need be, while she knew the rules of court she was not going to let anyone hurt Jay. Even if they didn’t mean too.

     “You three know my wife Jasmine, this is our daughter Rajiya and our youngest son Adir,” Aladdin introduced the children who waved sheepishly at the others, “Officially this is Jay, Carlos and Evie.”

     Aziz was praying that his siblings would be kind because he cared about the ones who had let him into their lives and Jay was reverting enough as it was.

     “It’s nice to meet you,” Rajiya said as her eyes drifted over the three, she didn’t care much for new people. These three seemed alright, Aziz liked them enough to bring them home.

     Adir looked at the three of them his head tipping slightly and he ignored his older brother’s pleading shake, “It’s that Iago? Isn’t he supposed to be evil? Why-” he kept talking even as his mother covered his mouth.

     “Sorry. He gets ahead of himself sometimes,” Jasmine apologized for her youngest, “It is good to see you three again. Trip wasn’t too rough was it?” she glanced at her oldest who had cringed the minute his brother started asking questions.

     “It was a long trip mom,” Aziz offered as Jay seemed unnerved by his younger brother, “You mind if I take them inside and get them settled?”

     Jasmine shook her head, “Of course not. We had their rooms made across from yours.”

     “Thanks mom,” Aziz smiled giving his mother’s cheek a kiss as he ruffled Adir’s with a half smile at his sister, “We’ll catch up over dinner Raj.”

     “Yeah” she nodded looking at him. She gave the three a small forced smile.

     As Aziz led the three into the palace Aladdin gave his youngest a patient look, “Couldn’t help yourself could you?”

     He pulled his mother’s hand down, “But seriously was that Iago?”

     “Yes. He’s looking over those three like a parent. So at least give them the night to settle in before you play 20 questions please Adir.”

     “Fiiiinnnneee....” he groaned leaning back into his mother.

Chapter 103: Jay is Not Okay (Agrabah: June)

Notes:

Warnings:
-NSFW
-References to past child abuse

     Jay looked around the white palace with it’s massive arched doors and thick brightly colored curtains. And gold. So much fucking gold it was getting hard for Jay not to understand why his father seemed so obsessed with it. 

     Iago sighed softly, “Good to know this place hasn’t changed in the slightest.”

     “Then you can help us get around, if princy is busy” Carlos smirked at the bird.

     “I thought that was the only reason I was here aside from keeping my Jay sane,” the bird huffed, “Trust me to have an exit strategy, just in case you all need to run.”

     Jay snorted, “You’re doing a piss poor job at keeping me sane old man,” he commented, “Cause this whole place is really starting in on my impulses.” that was a lie, he was well past the starting line for that already.

     “There is a lot of gold here,” Evie observed, it wasn’t tacky like most gold decoration but it wasn’t her style of decorating. That maybe because she knew how Jay interacted with gold.

     Aziz glanced at Jay, “Jay... I’m just saying my house is not going to fit in your pocket.”

     “That would be funnier if I wasn’t having issues,” Jay resisted the want to flick the back of his prince’s ear.

     He rolled his eyes and pushed open a massive door to another massive room with turquoise tapestries around a massive bed with dozens of white pillows, “There are two more of these rooms, one on either side of this one. I’m directly across the hall. You three can decide how you want to stay here. I’m pretty sure baba has already pegged you three as likely sharing one room. Bathroom is that door, balcony is through those curtains there.”

     “This will be perfect for us,” Evie looked around she liked the way this room looked so soft and the bed and all those pillows.

     Jay just stared at the bed, he was finally getting used to his school bed, that thing looked like it would swallow him whole. He glanced at Evie who seemed to be in heaven and then at Carlos who just seemed to be taking everything in. They deserved this, he... he didn’t. He hated that feeling pooling in his chest of not being good enough, the near painful feeling in his chest at the phantom whispers in his mind, 'What makes you think you deserve it? You don’t deserve anything.' 

     “That bed looks like it will swallow us,” Carlos smirked.

     “I think those pillows will be a wonderful frame for my masterpiece,” Evie smirked at Jay.

     Aziz shook his head, “You three can unwind later I promise. I would join you but I want to catch up with my family if that’s alright with everyone?” He wanted to make sure they would be okay together, he could adjust his plans if need be to give Jay whatever he needed most. Whatever would wipe the growing unsettling blank look off his face.

     “How much later?” Carlos asked as he sat on the bed.

     “Well dinner is in an hour?” he said, glancing at his cell phone, “We can skip the tour until tomorrow if that will help you settle in Jay. Jay?”

     Iago bit his ear hard stirring him from the insidious whispers that had been eating him all day, “What?” Jay asked softly trying to focus on anything but his own head.

     “Yeah we’ll just skip the tour until tomorrow. You three just relax here, I’ll settle back into my room and grab you for dinner,” Aziz assured not wanting to be in the way of them pulling his younger friend out of whatever headspace he was in, because he had never seen Jay like this.

     “Of course, we’ll see you then,” Evie assured.

     Carlos slipped off his jacket and pulled off his shirt with a little more effort than normal due to all the sweat.

     Jay pulled away from Evie once Aziz was gone moving shakily towards a familiar looking cabinet and sat down pressing his back against it. It looked like the one at his baba's house, the one that served as his bed until he couldn't fit inside any more. Pulling the beanie off he pulled at the roots of his hair squeezing his eyes shut. Why was he doing this? Someone was going to see the scars, someone was going to find out, he was going to be locked up. They knew who he was, who’s son he was, they were going to come after him, he already felt their eyes on him waiting for him to let his guard down. His knees pulled up to his chest as he pulled at his hair harder trying to push it back, trying to force himself to play it off like always. He had to be okay, he couldn’t abandon them, they needed him. But he couldn’t shake it, he used to be able to shake this feeling, he used to be able to shoulder everything. When did he get so weak he couldn’t even handle this?

     Iago looked down at the curled up body from his position on the cabinet, “Kid?”

     “What do you need?” Evie asked as she sat down on the end of the bed facing him.

     “I don’t, I don’t know...” Jay tried to keep his voice steady as his baba's voice whispered insinuously in his mind, 'Wipe those tears boy villains don’t cry. You want to cry I’ll give you something to cry about. Worthless boy, dry those tears, feeling bad for yourself won’t change the fact that you did this to yourself. It is your fault.' 

     “He won’t shut up, I can’t get him to shut up. I just want him to shut up, I can’t... I can’t... I have to do this, I promised, I gave my word. Why won’t he just stop? I’ve been doing my best I swear, I’ve been trying...”

     Evie frowned a little, “He’s not here, he can’t get you here. I promise. Even if he could Aziz wouldn’t let him anywhere near you. We are going to protect you, cause you are ours just as we are yours. Take a breath and listen to my voice.”

     Jay wanted to scream, wanted to run, wanted to hide, wanted to lose himself in anything, “No... I won’t let him hurt you. It’s my job, I’m the one that deserves it...” He whispered, feeling like he was a child again the first time he had come home and saw that his father had locked him out of the house with a new padlock. That twist in his chest that he had done something horribly wrong. “I always deserved it. I just have to do better, have to...”

     Iago shuddered, it was eerie hearing the words he had used on the Isle after a punishment when Jafar was thousands of miles away incapable of hurting him. “Kid, your doing good. Your doing good, just listen to your Princess okay? You know she won’t lie to you.”

     “Carlos come here” Evie ordered as she stood. Carlos raised an eyebrow and came to stand in front of her, “Down,” she smirked, pushing him down onto his knees. She undid the buttons of her flowy blue dress she’d made new for this trip.

     Jay lifted his head up slowly at the commands, when was the last time he heard that tone? Hell he was half expecting his back to be on fire as his wrists throbbed under the bandages and bracers. He forced himself to focus on them, they were real. They were right there, in front of him. They were the ones who needed him to listen, not the sound of his father’s words.

     “Be a good puppy, and start working,” Evie said letting the dress fall from her shoulders revealing the deep red panty and bra set. The dress had barely concealed it, she’d stitched a yellow cobra on the front of the satin panties.

     Carlos raised an eyebrow at her before he started kissing up her thigh at her urging.

     “Look at that kid, she’s wearing your colors. Your moniker, your cobra,” Iago pressed, “Are you going to keep listening to something that’s been running around your brain since Jafar put it there, or are you going to let yours help you drown him out?” this wouldn’t fix it, not really but it would help his kid who had been on the verge of a mental breakdown from all the stress he had shouldered.

     A breeze caught the white curtains and the dim light flickered off a golden domed roof like sparks, a very different moment came to mind that had been caused by his father. A moment of awe he would have never witnessed if not for his father. Golden sparks filling the black sky as massive fists dragged across the barrier, the hard press of Mal’s body against him as he kept her from trying to stop the monster they called Chernabog, the one night he was free to roam. The shockwave against him as those fists stopped dead unable to reach its goal, unable to do damage to the invisible shield. She was shielding his Penny, they were waiting, waiting on him to free them. And he couldn’t do that if he couldn’t even free himself from the memories of the past words his father had thrown at him. People needed him. They were counting on him. He had to keep pushing, he had to keep fighting. His father’s words were the monster, and his were the invisible shield to ward them off. 

     Iago watched concerned as the air around his kid rippled with red gold magic as Jay rocked forward to his hands and knees, “Jairaj be careful!”

     His name startled him out of his concentration, “It’s just Jay Iago...”

     The miasma was gone and Iago breathed a small sigh of relief because whatever Jay had been thinking about had been anything but good, “Well maybe I like your given name better.”

     Jay rolled his eyes and resumed his path, crawling towards his, needing them. They would drown the words out.

     Carlos moved the panties to the side as he licked along the outside of Evie’s lower lips.

     Evie kept her eyes focused on Jay, she was going to pull him out of this funk, out of his head.

     He needed them, he ignored the shaking in his hands and made short work of Carlos’ pants. Fingers easing the barely hardened flesh out of its prison and stroked it as he pushed his head against Evie’s thigh. 

     “There he is my masterpiece,” Evie smirked letting her fingers sink into Jay’s hair.

     Carlos whined bucking against Jay’s hand.

     “Not really feeling like one right now,” Jay muttered eyes fluttering shut at her touch, “Need you both to remind me.”

     “Then I suggest you get on the bed so we can show you what your value is to us,” Evie whispered, “Because it will take a while and Princy is coming back.”

     “Don’t need him, just you two right now,” Jay pulled his head from her thigh and swallowed Carlos to the root, ignoring the way his throat clenched at the rough treatment. He needed the rough, needed the jarr of them to shake him loose from the words in his own brain. He needed to devour their kindness.

     “Oh evil,” Carlos groaned as Evie nodded, they needed to be just them for right now.

     Jay grabbed Carlos’ hip as the kid tried to pull away and continued to swallow around him. Normally he would take his time, he would drag it out, but she said Princy would be back. He needed to get his head on straighter before he had to deal with Aziz and his family. He wanted to build his armor back up, because clearly it had broken somewhere along the way.

     “Jay... That feels so good. Evil I’m not gonna last,” Carlos gasped as Evie brought her other hand to his head.

     Jay looked up at him, eyes flickering colors as he hummed. He was more than ready for that, because then he was going to devour his Princess. Then maybe, just maybe, that would be enough until dinner was done and it was just them.

     Carlos watched the colors flash through Jay’s eyes before his own fluttered closed letting go as pleasure overcame him.

     Jay pulled away slowly swallowing hard as Carlos dropped back onto his heels sedated. He shifted his weight and tugged Evie's red silk panties down. Guiding her closest leg up and out of her panties, he settled it on his shoulder. His tongue licked across the pale expanse of her thigh before he buried his face into her sex. He wanted them, needed them, he could force himself better the only way he knew how. Devour whatever affections they gave him, every scrap of kindness and tender moment, torn from them to force the dark poisonous words away from the front of his mind where they tore at him.

     Carlos scooted back trying to catch his breath as he watched.

     “Oh, I swear that mouth” Evie started running her fingers through his hair with both hands.

     Jay pressed harder, tongue and teeth working her flesh. Six years of experience and learning every inch of her skin driving him near blindly. He needed her, the words were fading back wavering under his need to please them, to have them with him.

     “Jay...” she could feel the magic in the room, could feel the sparks of it across her skin. She reached back to the bed before falling backwards into it.

     He followed after her dragging her hips closer as he tossed both her legs over his shoulders. He needed this, needed her to show him he was wanted, that he was needed, like Carlos had just done. Jay ached, there was a coiling burn under his skin that he forced himself to ignore as much as the ache between his thighs. He would worry about that later, worry about it after his helped him remember they needed him present, not lost somewhere when he was choking on the vicious words. His eyes flicked up her flat stomach to her face, her dark eyes were flickering with sapphire blue flecks. Beautiful, it looked so beautiful that he wanted to make her eyes glow like sapphires, prove to her she was priceless to them.

     Evie moaned tossing her head back. If this had been for anything but bringing Jay back to himself, she would have looped her feet under his arms to rub at his piercings. But right now was about something else. She closed her eyes, she focused on the coiling heat briefly before it exploded out of her.

     Jay licked her clean, easing up slowly with a ragged breath as he braced himself on the bed between her thighs. He closed his eyes, listening to their breathing, there was nothing else. Other than the flutter of Iago's feathers and the sound near the door, he glanced at it almost knowing that Aziz was debating on interrupting them. Let him stew Jay decided as he backed up and sat on the floor.

     “You okish now?” Carlos asked looking at him. 

     Jay hummed softly, "He finally shut up..." he didn't have a better way of telling them he was still trying to put distance between himself and everything in the past. But Evie knew what he meant, knew how hard it was to shake loose. "I didn't hurt either of you right?"

     “No, just surprised, ” Carlos shook his head, “I mean how do you breath dude.”

     “No, but I need a good fucking from my masterpeice later,” Evie sighed eyes still closed.

     "Through my nose. It is only a bitch if you get hiccups. No offense but your dick also isn't big enough to choke me," Jay shrugged, "I can do that Princess. I can do that."

     “Compared to you and princy, yeah it's not much,” Carlos rolled his eyes good naturally.

     "Don't sell yourself short, your thicker than either of us. And I wasn't comparing you to ours anyway," he shot back shaking his head as Aziz finally knocked on the door, "I am rather fond of your dick, swallowing and riding," he smirked.

     "Hey you three, is it alright if I come in?" Aziz asked not wanting to interrupt some Isle time he wouldn't be able to help with anyway.

     “Yeah, come on in” Evie called as she sat up finally.

     Aziz stepped in carefully closing the door behind him before surveying the scene before him. Jay sitting fully dressed on the floor, Carlos on his knees shirt off, cock out and Evie sitting on the edge of the bed in just her bra. This was an odd image. "Everyone okay?"

     Jay nodded, "Yeah. We're okay." He licked his lips looking his princy over with his worried gold eyes and slight frown on his lips. “What’s with the look?”

     “Nothing, just not used to you being fully dressed after one of these ‘unwinding’ sessions,” he offered trying not to feel awkward standing there in his loose linen pants and shirt.

     “It’s all about getting our head on straight,” Evie chuckled, she stood bending to pick up her dress.

     Aziz’s head tipped watching her bend over with interest, “And what, oral is what does it for Jay?”

     “Not always,” Jay pushed himself to his feet, “But this was enough to pull me back for now. After dinner with your family, I’m going to need a hell of a lot more. Maybe teach you a better use for that mouth that isn’t frowning.”

     “I’m going to take that with a grain of salt, because I did trap you on a train for 14 hours straight,” Aziz did not like this side of Jay, this abrasive, on edge and ready to pick and end a fight side to his Jay. 

     “We probably should have thought about it,” Evie added as she pulled her dress back on leaving it open as she looked for her panties.

     “Again I’m sorry, I didn’t think it was going to be like trapping Rajah in a cage. Had I known then what I know now, I would have planned a small detour along the way. Your underwear are by the side of the bed.” Aziz offered curling an arm around his chest to rub the back of his arm, “I’ll schedule us a detour for the trip back. Any place you three would like to see? I can bring up the map later tonight and give you some options...”

     “We’ll look over a map tomorrow” Evie nodded as she picked up her panties letting her hips sway as she bent at the waist and lifting them on her fingers.

     “Yeah not sure where I want to see” Carlos shrugged tucking himself away.

     Aziz cleared his throat looking away from Evie having caught the request, “Tomorrow then, we’ll have dinner and then you three can come back here and unwind while I catch up with my family. I know Adir is a little much Jay, but please don’t take offense he’s still just a kid.”

     Jay snorted lips curling in a sneer, “Glad he had the luxury.”

     “Jay!” Aziz snapped at that furious at the younger male, “Do not take your frustration with me out on my siblings. I know your still out of sorts but do me a favor and treat them the way you wish someone had treated you growing up.”

     His head recoiled okay maybe that had been a little too much for his mainlander, “I...”

     “Carlos please put a shirt on, dinner is in ten minutes. I’ll be waiting outside while you three finish getting ready,” Aziz turned on his heel and stormed out the door. As he stood there in the hallway he cringed at the words they exchanged, he hadn’t been thinking, a VK never really had a childhood. Trying to defend his brother’s questions by saying he was a kid had been all the opening the already temperamental Jay had needed.

     “I’ll see if I can distract the brother,” Carlos said pulling on his shirt.

     “If that doesn’t work, well he’s boy I’m sure I can get his attention,” Evie supplied buttoning up the dress leaving the top few undone.

     Jay nodded as Iago landed on his shoulder and pecked at the side of his head, “You had best damn apologize kid. I may not like him, but he has been going out of his way for you and your pals. The least you can do is play nice while your guests in his home.”

     “Come on you two, best not piss the Prince off even more by making him later to dinner with his family,” Jay did not like the guilty feeling in his stomach but he also never wanted to utter the word sorry again so long as he lived. He had apologized to Mal the last day she was with them.

     “Let’s go see how this family interacts,” Evie nodded opening the door.

     Aziz looked at Evie and gave her a tight smile, “You three ready then?”

     “Yeah we’re good,” Jay felt the apology burning his tongue so he left the words unsaid, “I’ll try not to cause any trouble over dinner.”

     Aziz gave Jay a long look, the fact the kid wasn’t meeting his gaze but the tone of his words where somber at least so he knew the kid felt bad at least, “Thank you for that. Come on then.” 

Chapter 104: Dinner with the Family (Agrabah: June)

Notes:

Author's Note:
Hi all, Kevyon and I are loving all the comments. We wanted to let you know that while we have given Kevyon’s lovely photo edits for how we see the characters, we would love to see anything that you may be inspired to create. We know how we see the characters but, maybe you are seeing them differently than us. So if you have been inspired by any scenes or characters please share.
~Karma

     Aladdin looked up as Aziz brought his friends in, they seemed different. But he wouldn’t ask, he knew better than to ask, “Glad you all could make it,” he gestured for them to sit on the low cushions surrounding the large table filled of food.

     “It’s food baba, the one thing everyone can agree is appreciated,” Aziz smiled softly dropping down beside his mother and across from his sister, “Sit wherever you three want.” he covered up the small tiff he just had with Jay, had to since he didn’t want to worry his parents.

     Evie moved to sit beside Aziz giving Jay a brief look before Carlos also moved to be next to Evie putting Jay across from Aladdin.

     Jay took the hint that his were a little miffed at him, he got it, he did. If he didn’t want to be his father he needed to try and not act like him. Grudgingly he sat down across from Aladdin

     Carlos placed a hand on Jay’s knee under the table. They weren’t really upset they just wanted to keep him separated from the unpredictable of this family. Jay had already had interaction with Aladdin that hadn’t ended it running.

     “It’s good to have you home,” Jasmine smiled at Aziz.

     “It is good to be home,” he smiled at his mother, “I know, I know, you should come home more often Aziz, I miss you.”

     Jay’s leg flexed at the touch, he could do this. Iago dropped down to the other edge of the table and fluffed his feathers as Aladdin gave the bird a half smile.

     “Not too much to take in all at once right?” he asked looking between the boys.

     “Its... we’re not use to so much of everything” Carlos motioned around with his free hand.

     “You should come home more then,” Raj snickered at him, “After all, it's not like you’re actually in school anymore.” she pointed out.

     “Hey now, I have responsibilities in Auradon proper. Someone has to represent Agrabah, make sure the council is considering what is in our best interests. And I need to keep the Crown Prince in check so he doesn’t blindly agree to everything,” Aziz rolled his eyes.

     “But you could come home more often. I mean sure you’ve finally got some friends that either don’t live in town or are lost boys, but we want to see you too,” Adir whined making a face at his older brother.

     “It’s something we’re still getting used to,” Jay added softly.

     “Don’t worry, I am too. I didn’t grow up with much, so this was a bit of a change for me too. That’s why I take my kids into town while they are still growing, try to keep them humble and grateful for what they have,” Aladdin looked them over, took in the oddly mature expressions and felt, sad, the council had robbed these kids the chance to be a kid. Even though he had a rough life, the time his father was there allowed him to be a kid at least.

     “Good to know we’re not the only ones” Carlos nodded.

     “We are glad to have him as a friend. I’ll try and badger him to come home more often” Evie smiled at the boy as she pushed her hair out of her face.

     “That would be appreciated,” Jasmine smiled at the girl her eyes flickering to Jay. he didn’t look very comfortable, maybe bringing him to the palace was a mistake, maybe they should have set something up off grounds.

     “Really you would?” Adir perked up at the blue haired girl, “Aziz was supposed to teach me how to sword fight but he never comes home.”

     Aziz groaned, “I told you I would teach you when you were older Adir.”

     “Well I’m older now, and now, and now, and-”

     “Okay fine clearly you don’t want to learn,” Aziz made a face and Adir pouted.

     “Mom! Aziz’s being mean to me!”

     Jay glanced towards the commotion and caught Jasmine’s eyes the golden color the same as her son’s, he looked away down at the plate, he did not belong here with them. He wasn’t nearly enough to be sitting with them.

     Aladdin looked at Jay as a dark expression passed over his face, “I know it’s a bit of prying but how did your first year of school go at Auradon Prep?”

     “The classes were... different,” Carlos tried to think of how to explain, “The goodness class thing is kind of a joke.”

     “Honestly Adir stop being a brat and maybe he’d teach you,” Raj rolled her eyes, as she looked around the table. Her eyes lingered on Jay, he wasn’t anything like she had heard. There was a rumor at Merryweather’s that he was ugly and disfigured like Quazimoto, but he was handsome. She blushed at the thought looking down.

     “Rajiya,” Jasmine warned sharply breaking eye contact with Jay.

     “I’m not a brat, your a brat,” Adir shot back.

     “You’re both brats,” Aziz snorted, “If you behave Adir and you take it easy on my friends, when your 12, I’ll start teaching you.”

     “Very different classes,” Jay smiled slightly, “Goodness class is pick the least fun answer and it’s generally the right answer.”

     “Well what class did you have on the Isle that isn’t here?” Aladdin asked happy to see Jay perking up.

     “I can make you a list,” he offered glancing up at Aladdin, “Cause our very optional schooling on the Isle is a far cry from the mandatory schooling here.”

     “You and Mal had better things to do,” Carlos smirked, “I only went for the chance to use the labs.”

     “12?! But that’s so far away. And you’ll probably come up with some excuse to not be here anyway,” Adir pouted at him.

     “Gods why are you so annoying,” Raj looked at him, “Not learning isn’t that big a deal.”

     “Says the girl who already knows how to use her dagger,” Adir stuck his tongue out at her.

     Evie looked between the two, “You’ve had weapon training?” Evie looked at Aziz, she figured he knew enough for that silly sport of his but, not to actually fight.

     Aziz nodded, “Yeah. I mean I am not nearly as good as Rufio. But it comes in handy around here, we do have the occasional nomadic tribe get rowdy.”

     “I find being prepared is better than getting caught off guard,” Jasmine nodded, “12 is a fine age Adir, if Aziz can’t teach you I can have his old teacher teach you.”

     Jay grinned wide at that, “Better? More like mandatory. You know how hard it is to find food for parrots and eels?”

     “Don’t you rope me into this kid,” Iago balked grabbing a piece of fruit off the table.

     “Eels?” Aladdin frowned honestly confused.

     “I have two back on the Isle, present from EQ on Evie’s birthday way back,” Jay nodded as Jasmine started passing the food around.

     Aladdin smiled slightly, “Well that sounds like it was fun.” a birthday celebration was a piece of normality he was hoping all his oldest’s friends had.

     “She gave away animals as party gifts,” Carlos nodded thinking of his kitten, “No one else really does birthdays on the isle. At least not that I’ve seen.”

     “But mom” Adir whined as he took a spoon full of rice.

     “He’s very energetic” Evie observed to Aziz.

     “Yeah, next to my siblings I’m the reserved one. He got all mom’s easily excited gene,” Aziz joked avoiding his mother’s gentle swack.

     “That’s, that’s a shame. But I know life is very different there,” Aladdin wanted to say more but Jay gave him a thin smile.

     “Everyone does it different on the Isle, I know some celebrated, some didn’t, some were lucky to even know the day they were born. It’s up to their parent. I know my cousin celebrated with my Auntie.” 

     “My mom never saw the point, after all I just ruined her stunning figure” Carlos snickered, it hadn’t been funny at the time with flying ashtrays and all but now it was kinda funny.

     Jay passed Carlos a look, “Yeah it was hilarious,” he hated having to rescue Caros from his mother sometimes.

     “Did you celebrate your Jay?”

     “No,” he lied remembering hands in his hair, on his skin, “He wasn’t big on doing anything with me.”

     “But nothing,” Jasmine shook her head, “12 is just barely old enough.”

     “No fair taking his side on everything,” Adir grumbled as he took some curry chicken over his rice.

     “I think the saying is Life’s not fair” Raj snorted at him as she cut at her chicken pieces.

     “I can see it,” Evie chuckled her hand touching his briefly before taking the serving bowl from Adir.

     Aziz smiled at her, she was a natural at this, “Mom didn’t used to take my side, that was always baba’s job, because once Raj was born, Mom always sided with her little angel.”

     Aladdin frowned, “I would say I was surprised, but in a way I’m not. Now you said you had an Aunt and a cousin there on the Isle?” he passed the boys the bowl of greens.

     “Yeah. Auntie Nasira and Jade, they lived kind of far off so I didn’t see them too often. But I don’t know,” Jay shrugged he had always like his relatives, Auntie had patched him back together a few times and Jade had his back in a pinch. 

     “Is that the other scary girl?” Carlos asked trying to remember if he knew Jade.

     “Well that’s a mother’s job, or so I've heard” Evie smirked taking a small serving before passing it to Carlos.

     “So you’ve heard? You don’t have a mom? I thought your mom was the Evil Queen or something” Adir tilted his head in confusion.

     “My mother is the Evil Queen, but well things are very different on the isle then they are here,” Evie tried to explain as vaguely as possible.

     “Why would that matter she’s your mom, she’s supposed to take your side,” Adir made a face.

     “Her mom’s a villian, they don’t follow the same rules,” Raj supplied her idiot brother, “or well...” she chewed her lip looking down at the look on Evie’s face.

     “Just because someone is a mother, doesn’t mean they are very maternal,” Aziz offered, “Being a good guy, bad guy or something in between doesn’t really matter.”

     Jasmine sighed softly, were they all like this, mistreated, forgotten? “I’m sorry to hear you and your mother had a strained and complicated relationship.”

     “Chick who had the blue bandana and the long braid,” Jay supplied, “Sand Snake leader.”

     “Its is nothing to dwell on, Your Majesty. Our lives are what they were, no one can change that, and even if they could we wouldn’t be us anymore,” Evie shook her head as she looked down at her plate.

     “Dude, she’s like the second scariest girl on the isle,” Carlos said paling as he served up his food.

     "With a serious hard on for Crocodile. She gushes to me about that girl." Jay snickered, "But she ain't that scary, I mean girls in general terrify you."

     "I know, I can't change it. But I am glad you and your friends are here," Jasmine smiled softly, "Hopefully you will enjoy your time with us."

     Aziz knew what that look was, his mother putting in her silent opinion about him needing to start dating. "Like I tell Jay, I'm more than happy to know you as you are. And mom is going to dwell on it, that's what my mother is notorious for. I remember leaving for school and coming home to mom yelling at me for something I had forgotten to do before I left months previous."

     “What was it you forgot to do?” Evie smirked at him.

     Rajiya looked between her brother and the blue haired girl, that was new. Since when did Aziz pay attention to any girl at all. 

     “Yeah I’m just glad I was never the focus of her... well focus,” Carlos said.

     "That's cause of me, she knew better than to mess with mine. Plus we were cousins, crossed that don't steal my stuff I won't steal your stuff bridge the day we first met." Jay shrugged stabbing the green substance with tan somethings in it. 

     Aladdin watched the boys interact, listened to them talking about Jay's biological family on the Isle. He took note of the word of possession the older boy used, and how casually he mentioned stealing. Aziz had mentioned that Jay had a rough life, they all did, but Jay seemed to have it the worst. It was odd to think the Jafar would be so oppressive to his own son, but clearly Aziz hadn't been wrong. His eyes drifted to Iago as the macaw munched on some fruit keeping close to Jay, watching and waiting.

     "Clean up his room," Jasmine supplied, "That was the last time he ever left his room messy."

     "She thinks of that as successful parenting," Aziz smirked glancing further down the table to where Carlos and Jay were. They seemed to be doing okay. Jay seemed to be lightening up talking with his baba and Carlos at least. 

     “Well then thanks for drawing that line” Carlos nodded taking a piece of the chicken between his fingers and popping it into his mouth. He sucked the mild sauce off his thumb passing the bowl to Jay. 

     Evie turned to look at the boys. Her eyes narrowed as she elbowed Carlos in the ribs. Really out of the other 3 of the Core 4 he was the other one that should have table manners.

     He jumped a little looking as her, she looked pointedly at his fork then back up with a raised eyebrow.

     Jay snickered, "And to think she calls me a pig when I eat," he took the bowl trying to identify the stuff in it before shrugging, it was food, what did he care. He took some and passed it to Aladdin.

     "Pretty sure she's never seen you cook," Iago commented hopping closer to pluck a nut off the platter closest to Jay.

     “Can’t say that I have” Evie shrugged her eyes still glued on Carlos as he picked up the fork blushing.

     Jay shifted, "Well I don't have to cook here... and I clean up my mess when I make them."

     Aziz could attest to that, Jay cleaned up as if he were never even there. It was unnerving how well.

     Jasmine looked down the table at the boys, at how different they seemed, and yet worked together. She supposed that was from spending so many years together. Her eyes flicked to the macaw, "Do you want me to have them bring something just for you Iago?"

     Iago looked up at the woman her face firm, "That's alright, this works. My Jay keeps me well fed."

     “Do you always act like you’re the boss?” Adir looked at Eive, “Cause one of the girls at my school is bossy too”

     Evie turned back to the youngest boy, “It's not bossy if we’re right” she shrugged.

     "And a woman is always right," Jasmine added giving her youngest a look even as Jay snorted, "You disagree?"

     "Absolutely not," Jay replied, "Evie just isn't what we call bossy. She keeps us in line during these royal things."

     “Well someone has to” she said, “and well mother did make sure I understood royal interaction if nothing else” 

     “Why? There aren’t any other royals on the isle are there? It's not like you guys were having balls or anything like that” Raj looked confused at her, she wouldn’t have learned that stuff if she didn’t have too. That class had been so boring, she would have rather been working on her dagger moves then walking around with perfect posture and knowing just when to smile.

     “Well, mother wanted to make sure I had all the education that a princess would need I suppose” Evie tried to explain, at least she hadn't out right told Evie she wasn’t a princess.

     "There are other royals on the Isle." Jay supplied, "And they had their own royal balls and stuff but I kept us away from them as best as I could." He wouldn't out the Wonderlanders, especially not since Penny seemed very confused when he had mentioned it. 

     Aladdin noted the change in tone, the differing roles, Evie seeming to be in charge of keeping them on their best behavior here on the Mainland. Jay sounded like he was in charge of keeping them safe. Which made him wonder where Mal and Carlos had fit it. 

     “The other royals were not the right type of royals, as my mother put it. No princes.” Evie supplied looking at Raj.

     “No princes? Why would that matter?” Adir looked at her, “I mean girls are icky anyway. always giggling and making face”

     “Dude, they do that when they like you,” Carlos laughed, thinking of a few girls that had done more than like him. Jay normally drew their attention away though.

     “Your mother only cared if there were princes?” Raj looked down at Evie’s hand resting near Aziz’s on the table.

     Evie followed the line of sight and quickly pulled her hand away, with a smile, “she had her obsessions, but there is more to life then Princes and tiaras I’ve found”

     "Namely fashion," Aziz teased her, "Rufio calls her the Fashion Queen. Made all of Jay and Carlos' clothes."

     "I reel her in every once in a while, I swear," Jay knew Aziz well enough to know when he was trying to divert the conversation away from something that was making Evie uncomfortable.

     "Oh, you were the one that made that lovely dress you were wearing during the Christmas party at King Adam's castle?" Jasmine smiled.

     “Yes, I threw that together,” Evie nodded

     “Don’t let her fool you, she made almost all the dresses at the party, and the coronation, and Ben’s birthday. She’s wicked with designs” Carlos added.

     "She even dressed your son for Ben's Birthday when he was so caught up with council stuff he forgot what day it was," Jay offered as Aziz groaned.

     "You aren't letting that go are you brat?" Aziz made a face as Jay smiled wide.

     "Nope. It was a priceless moment I cherish."

     Jasmine raised a brow at the boys, "Maybe you and I can sit down some time while your here Evie. My wardrobe could use some new life."

     Evie’s eyes lit up, make clothes for the Sultana? She was in heaven, she smiled nodding, she was going to need fabric, and lots of sketch paper.

     “Evie don’t forget to breath,” Carlos teased getting another elbow to the ribs.

     "Evil help us," Jay snorted, "You have no idea what you signed yourself up for."

     Aziz grinned, "Well you did tell her she was allowed to make whatever she wanted while she was here didn't you Jay?"

     "Yeah but this is not what I was thinking when I said that."

     Aladdin smiled, this felt more natural on the four of them. Playful banter with good natured jabs. "Don't work our guest too hard my love."

     Jasmine waved him off, "Hush you, your content to wear your simple clothes. Some of us like to make an impression," she gave her husband a teased look eyes glittering.

     “Men are all the same when it comes to clothes I find. Jay won’t let me dress him in anything that isn’t leather and denim. He only let me make 2 outfits for them for this trip, 2 can you imagine only having 2 outfits for the whole summer” Evie shook her head.

     “Oh no, I don’t want any new clothes, baba. I don’t have to get new clothes right?” Adir looked horrified at the thought of being fitted for new clothes.

     "That won't do, not at all," Jasmine shook her head looking at Jay, "You're going to be dying in leather and denim here."

     "Not unless your mother says you have to," Aladdin assured his youngest.

     "I'll survive," Jay bristled, "Leather and denim are my thing."

     "Mom leave it, he is stubborn. He'll relent when he's sweating bullets," Aziz smirked slightly looking at his plate, "Either that or Evie will be hovering and waiting to tell him 'I told you so'."

     Jasmine pursed her lips, "We will just have to do something about that." She was not having any of them getting sick on her watch, maybe it was good she put them up in the palace where people could make sure they would be alright as subtly as possible.

     “He’ll be fine,” Evie shook her head, “he likes what he likes” 

     “I’ll take some of the linen stuff you were talking about though,” Carlos said

     “I think it looks good,” Rajiya looked at Jay.

     Jay passed her a sultry half smile on instinct, "Glad someone else appreciates my leather."

     Aziz shook his head missing the look on Jay's face, "We will see how long it takes before you agree with Carlos about linen. Breathes better than leather."

     "If you need fabric just let me know," Jasmine offered, "I'll point you in the direction of the shop that supplies all the fabric for us."

     “I think we just lost Evie for the rest of summer,” Carlos looked at Evie’s face.

     “She’s that into fashion?” Raj looked surprised, she’d heard other girls being like this at Merryweathers but they were mostly about what designer they were wearing.

     “She’s into fashion that much” Carlos nodded.

     "Remember to spend some time seeing Agrabah," Aziz bit back a laugh seeing her face, "That was the point of this trip, not so my mom could rook you into designing clothes for her."

     “Fashion is important, and you can still show me around. On the way to get fabrics and other needs” Evie smirked at him.

     “So you’re one of those girls” Raj looked at her, “That fashion is the only thing that matters”

     “There is more than fashion, but it is my passion,” Evie met her gaze.

     Jay bit his tongue on the comment that fucking was a close second to fashion, "She really enjoys school. Drags me through my Chemistry work cause it makes no sense to me."

     "I dare say you're almost as bad as Jay," Aziz sighed.

     “I have no idea what you’re talking about,” Evie flirted at him.

     "Uh huh, sure," he smiled wide at her, "At least I don't have to worry about you climbing everything you can climb."

     "Hey now," Jay balked giving his Princy a harsh look.

     “No, climbing is not my thing... most of the time,” she brushed her knee against his.

     “Most of the time?” Adir asked looking between his brother and Evie, “Are you being gross?”

     Aziz lifted his brow at his younger brother, "No. I've heard tale that she got mad enough at Jay to chase after him when he tried climbing up the side of a building on the Isle." He let his knee rest against hers.

     "In heels mind you," Jay grinned, "She is something else when she's pissed at you." He had deserved it after stealing her necklace to get her out of a funk, especially when she caught him and rode him right there on top of the roof.

     Jasmine watched them curiously, if she wasn't mistaken her oldest seemed to be quite taken with Evie, "Isn't that dangerous, climbing buildings?"

     "Only if you fall," Jay replied before taking a bite of food to avoid saying anything else, Queen Belle near had a heart attack when she heard it was normal for him to do such things.

     “No one gets away from me when they deserve what’s coming,” Evie nodded, “It's the best way to get around.”

     "I definitely deserved it," Jay grinned looking at his plate after swallowing.

     "Honestly I don't miss the days of having to use the rooftops to get around," Aladdin stated, "But it was just what one did to avoid crowds."

     “Or adults” Carlos nodded, “Angry stand vendors,” his ears turned red as he looked down, that had just slipped out.

     "Rasputin was the worst," Jay agreed, "He hates kids."

     Aladdin exchanged a look with Jasmine, this was what they had worried about. The kids being forced to steal to survive, "Had my share of those as well. At the time it was a necessity to survive."

     “Rasputian was the worst” Carlos agreed with Jay, “He’d catch at least one a week daring enough to try and steal from him.”

     "And what would he do with them?" Jasmine asked not sure she wanted to know.

     Jay shrugged, "Not sure. I bailed a few out if I saw it happen. He always gave up after I got up onto the roofs."

     “I saw a few of the ones that weren’t that lucky” Evie shook her head.

     “What does he do?” Adir asked looking at the three older kids.

     "Probably just gives them a stern talking to," Aziz smiled thinly, he was sure it was worse but his younger brother did not need to hear it at 10.

     Jay frowned slightly at the lie, "Not really a table talk thing." He remembered that from Evie's manners lessons, "But it wasn't all bad, the bazaar had all sorts there, selling whatever they found or made or fixed up."

     “But...” Adir started

     “How about I make you a deal,” Evie pulled his attention to her, “You don’t ask about it again, and when your 12 when Aziz comes back to teach you how to use a sword. If Sultana says it's ok, I’ll explain.” 

     He made a face at being made to wait, but nodded.

     “What sort of things did they have?” Raj asked.

     "Bits and bobs, cracked jewels, repaired jewelry, yarn, basic supplies, halfway decent food. Someone had taken broken electronics and made little boxes that made noise when you turned the handle."

     "Music boxes?" Aziz guessed.

     "Uh, I wouldn't call it music," Jay shook his head, he had played with one that kind of groaned, "And fabric, lots of fabric."

     “Of all sorts, I managed to make a dress out of a shower curtain and safety pins,” Evie nodded, she had loved that dress, her mother not so much.

     "That dress was awesome," Jay stated wistfully, "Oh and furniture. Mostly those poofs with the white or clear little beads in them. I don't remember what you call them."

     Jasmine was taken aback at how easily Jay talked about living on the Isle. As if those living conditions were anything less than horrible. She wasn't naive, she read into what they didn't say if a child was caught. That child was hurt, and that infuriated her, because a child was to be cherished. But she schooled her expression, she would pester her eldest when they were alone about a number of things.

     “They are like chairs,” Evie supplied not knowing the word for them either.

     The Agrabahian natives were looking at them confused and Jay felt a twist of uncertainty in his chest, "You know their about this big," he gestured with his arms, "Round things with beads in them. Came in all sorts of colors. I think you're supposed to sit on them, I mean that's what we used them for. Evie was always sewing the holes up so the beads didn't come out."

     “Are they like a fake leather?” Raj asked tilting her head, “Cause it sounds like a beanbag, my roommate has one.”

     "Beanbag?" Jay's head tipped, "Yeah that would make sense, ours were like plastic fabric."

     "Sounds like a beanbag," Aziz agreed, "I am always shocked when we get on these topics when it's a VK trying to explain a Mainland thing because it never had a name on the Isle."

     “Do a pretty good job of describing them though,” Carlos looked between Evie and Jay.

     "That you do. Though I did make the mistake of asking Jay for a picture of it because I did not understand what he was trying to describe." Aziz laughed.

     "I was talking about the warehouse we used to terrorize," Jay offered, "And forgot the word for that thing I was always swinging off of. He has never asked me to draw anything for him since."

     “Jay’s not the best artist,” Carlos laughed, “That was kinda Mal’s thing. But Evie’s pretty good too.”

     "Oh I learned that real fast," Aziz laughed softly as the staff came around to clean up the dishes from dinner.

     "I have a small collection of things I am good at, and none of them are really useful here," Jay shrugged not minding that he wasn't good at art or school or really anything his were good at. He was good at making sure they had what they needed, and right now sitting in the palace of Agrabah, they were all he had to keep him from running.

     “Your good at lots of things,” Evie looked at him, “We just need to find a way to apply them over here. Oh, um...,” she floundered trying to find the right words, “I did want to look into potion ingredients”

     "Potion ingredients?" Aladdin asked confused.

     Aziz nodded, "I know where we can go to find those ingredients for your fabric dyes." He knew that wasn't the truth but until he knew exactly what she was trying to brew up, he figured that would be coverage enough.

     Aladdin gave his eldest a look, he didn't believe that lie entirely but he would ask in private. There were a growing list of things he needed Aziz to answer.

     “Great I really want to try and get that shade of red,” she smiled at him.

     "Well with luck Agrabah has what you need." Aziz nodded deciding he needed to ask later.

     Jasmine smiled standing, "Thank you for joining us for dinner. We won't keep you all, since I know your exhausted from your trip. Hopefully we will see you all for breakfast tomorrow morning."

     “Thank you for letting us into your home,” Evie smiled to her as they stood.

     "Of course," Aladdin smiled, "We are happy to have you all here with us. Friends of our son are always welcome here."

     Aziz flushed slightly in embarrassment, "Come on you three, I can take you back upstairs before I spend some time with my family."

     "Sounds good," Jay nodded, "We're just going to crash anyway, you never need to tell us if you want to spend time with your family."

     Jasmine blinked surprised by the exchange watching as the four of them left the dining room. Iago flapping after them before landing on Jay's shoulder.

Chapter 105: Stabilization (Agrabah: June)

Notes:

Warnings:
-NSFW
-Mild use of safewords

     Evie looked at Aziz as they opened the door to their room, “Thank you for dinner. It was interesting to see a family here in the mainland.”

     "Of course, hopefully they weren't too much for you guys," he watched as Jay ran a hand through his long hair.

     “We’ll deal with it,” Evie said, she wasn’t sure how the interaction had gone.

     Aziz nodded and took a deep breath, "So potions? What potions?"

     "The stuff we used to use on the Isle," Jay supplied making a face, "Why did you lie for us?"

     "Because I'm yours, I prefer to know all the facts before I get thrown a curveball, but I adapt. If it's actually that kind of ingredient I do know where we can go, but there is magic there. Lots of magic. If I get asked, is it alright I confirm you two have magic?" He asked glancing and Evie and Jay, "If you aren't comfortable with that I understand. But know neither of them will think any different of you."

     Jay licked his lips, "Your mom already knows about me. I had a slip when she came at me."

     “Its to stop us from having kids,” Evie answered about the potion, “I don't mind if you tell them.”

     "The red vials?" Aziz asked, "That's what those were for? Thank you."

     "Yeah, works instantly on girls and takes a little longer for guys. That's what she told me, and considering I have never knocked anyone up I believe her," Jay shrugged.

     Aziz took pause at the wording but decided he didn't want to know, "Thank you for telling me. I'll catch up with all of you in the morning," he went to leave and Jay cleared his throat, "Yes?"

     Jay mustered up his willpower, "I'll be back to your normal in the morning okay?"

     "You had better be, who else is going to destress me," Aziz smirked giving Evie a kiss on the cheek before he slipped out of their room to meet his parents head on.

     “Now then, what can we do for my masterpiece” Evie asked as the door closed.

     Jay let out a ragged breath, "Make me feel like one." He unzipped his vest, "I am way past horny and way too wound up. I need you two to wear me out."

     "Have you met you kid," Iago snorted landing on a perch that had been brought in for him, "It would be easier to drain an oasis than wear you out." 

     “Oh we can certainly try,” Evie smirked undoing the buttons of her dress.

     “How do you want it?” Carlos asked pulling off his shirt again.

     "Like we used to do at home." Jay was out of his clothes in a heartbeat. He needed the rough, those moments when it was fast and dirty. Didn't matter what happened after, as long as it was good enough to make their pain go away. He hated remembering the want of the hand curled at the back of his neck. He gave himself a firm shake, no that, that hideous thing, that could stay on the Isle where it belonged.

     “Do you want me in the middle or you?” Evie asked tossing her dress over a chair as she looked at him.

     Jay licked his lips, "I am pretty sure that's up to you and how you feel about getting it from both of us." It had been a real long time since she had told them that she had wanted them at the same time. 

     “Then what side do you want?” she smirked take off her bra, “Do you want to feel my breasts pressed into your chest as puppy looks at you over my shoulder with each thrust? Or do you want to watch puppy’s face as he feels you moving inside me from the other side” she licked her lips.

     “Oh evil” Carlos whined looking at Jay as he pulled off his own pants.

     Jay felt his cock twitch as he gave her a wicked look, "I want to bend you over and hear you scream for us. My perfect princess. If your still in the mood in the morning we can switch Pup and I, so you didn't miss out on either of our expressions as your perfect form works us over." 

     “You heard him Pup,” she tilted her head towards the bed. Carlos nodded shucking his underwear off before laying down in bed, “Then I suggest you get the lavender oil from my bag” she was always prepared for this stuff, even if it had been awhile.

     Jay padded silent to her bags and opened a few before he found the pouch he was looking for. It had been a long time since he had seen this bag, but he was very much so looking forward to this. Walking back to her, he set the bag down on the table. Turning he gripped the side of her head and kissed her softly, "You tell me if I hurt you. Remember the rule," they hadn't applied rules to their experimenting since they were 13, but when they started wanting it rougher, Jay told her that they needed rules. Rules to make the other back off before they got hurt. Jay was always the one who tapped out, because sometimes she dug in too deep to parts he did not want anyone knowing about.

     “Of course, if I want you to stop I say Lamp,” she popped the p at the end of the word, “Does that satisfy you.”

     Jay growled at her whirling her around, from extensive practice shoving her shoulders down towards Carlos, "Yes Apple, I am giddy you remember your word," he purred happy to fall into that role, he was the one in charge and he was going to give them everything they ever wanted. Reaching over he kept a hand on her back as he grabbed the lavender oil.

     Evie crawled over Carlos, she took his wrists in her hands as she ground down against him. She raised her hips again pressing her chest to Carlos’ as he nibbled at her neck.

     Jay canted her hips a little more and poured some of the oil on her skin before coating his fingers. Circling her hole he eased a finger inside of her. This part was the part he took his time with, didn't matter the partner, if he was topping he made sure he didn't hurt them unless that was what they wanted. He worked her open pouring more oil as needed onto her skin watching as some of the excess slid down around her quickly wettening skin.

     Buried to the knuckles inside her he thumbed her clit, "How bad you want us now Princess?"

     “Oh yes, I want to feel so full I'm ready to burst,” she pushed back to him.

     Jay pulled his fingers out of her and slicked his aching skin, "That my wicked Princess." Tossing the closed bottle onto the table he guided her down onto Carlos, slow and deliberate before he kicked Carlos' legs closed and sank into her ass. "Such a wicked princess for us," he breathed heavily kissing the back of her shoulders.

     “Oh that’s... so good, evil too long,” Carlos panted into Evie’s neck.

     Evie flexed her fingers around Carlos’ wrists as she tipped her head to the side.

     Jay rolled his hips and groaned despite himself, "We need you in the middle more often. I like getting fucked, but this ass of yours," he gave a quick snap of his hips, "Divine."

     “That feels so.... Evil, I forgot how full,” she moaned biting at Carlos’ shoulder.

     “So good,” Carlos muttered bucking up a little bit.

     "Your going to be full of something else when we're done with you," he grinned covering her back squeezing her between them as he kissed Carlos messily over her shoulder.

     Carlos ran his tongue over Jay’s teeth as he felt Evie ground down into him, her breasts crushing into his chest.

     Jay chased Carlos' tongue with his own as he rutted hard and steady into her. She would tell him if it was too much for her, well... probably not. But he and she both liked to drag it out or have a few rounds, granted his stamina was much higher than hers. He liked to over achieve in sex.

     Evie gasped trying to move her hips back against Jay’s. She could feel the burn of the movements but it felt so good.

     Jay slowly eased away from Carlos' mouth and gripped Evie's hips, fingers digging in as he helped Carlos move Evie up and down them both. His head dipped down watching as her body eagerly moved with theirs. He squeezed her hips feeling a coil under his skin a coaxing almost to do more.

     Carlos looked at Evie’s face as he captured her lips. As he pulled back he saw the blue glow of her eyes the way sparks seemed to form around her skin.

     Jay felt it, the tingling in his palms, and the way the air around her skin seemed to glitter, “Princess...” he trusted her wholly, he just wanted to know what she wanted.

     “Harder” she breathed tipping her head back onto his shoulder.

     He pressed a hand against her ribs keeping her body trapped in the arch as he hardened his steady pace slamming into her with every snap of his hips as Carlos seemed to follow into his pace alternating thrusts so their Princess was always filled, “Anything for you,” he breathed the words feeling her magic curling against his skin.

     “Jay... don't know if I can keep this up” Carlos panted out feeling the build up in his lower stomach.

     “Let go puppy,” Evie looked at him her eyes glowing as she stared at him.

     He nodded shifting his position enough that they could finish off their puppy, “Go on Pup, finish for us.” Jay was still moving the hot coil of pleasure in his lower belly near intoxicating. 

     “Evil so good, so good” Carlos closed his eyes tossing his head from side to side. He finally exploded.

     As soon as Carlos finished Jay fell back taking Evie with him, keeping her legs spread so Carlos could watch like she liked them to, as he chased after their bliss. Pounding into her as he scored lines over her hips, marred her flawless skin with his lusts as he felt himself falling into her magic.

     “Jay,” Evie moaned eyes closed as she turned her face into his. This was something she had been missing, she’d just forgotten.

     He wanted to kiss her, but it was impossible in the position they were in so he pressed kisses into what skin he could reach as he let their heads rest against one another, “Such a wicked princess,” he purred feeling a bit punch drunk, “I could fuck you for hours.”

     “Didn’t we do that once,” she breathed her eyes flickering open as she looked at him.

     Jay looked into sapphire blue eyes and grinned, “Yeah we did, you thought you could outlast me one winter. Mal was so pissed when she came in to see me fucking you into a puddle.” he bit her shoulder gently sucking a heated breath in around her skin. He reached around her hip and flicked her clit before easing the tips of his fingers into her opening not minding the cum as he used it as makeshift lube to slide his fingers in enough to curl up into her G-spot as he gave hard swallow thrusts into her. 

     “Oh, yes right there and I’m gonna... come apart,” she lipped at his neck.

     Jay kept on it, kept giving her what she wanted as he tipping his head giving her more room to work on, “Shatter for me then Princess, I’ll be right behind you.”

     Evie rolled her hips feeling the magic seem to make her skin glow, she closed her eyes as the coil came undone and the sparks rolled off her.

     He tucked his face into her shoulder as she clenched around him and he gave one last thrust before he was gone. With a groan of satisfaction he loosened his grip on her and lay boneless under her. “Apple...” he muttered under his breath, eyes closed.

     “So good,” Evie rolled onto her side.

     “Damn good,” Jay confirmed cracking his neck, “I owe you two for snapping me back...”

     “It’s what we do,” Carlos shook his head as he curled up next to Evie.

     “Still,” Jay yawned into the back of his hand, “Sometimes I don’t deserve the things you help me with.”

     “You deserve more than we can give you,” Evie curled into Jay’s side, “Go on the other side Puppy” she yawned. 

     Carlos nodded rolling across both of them to curl up on Jay’s other side.

     “Hey Iago... You mind?”

     Iago rolled his eyes and turned the lights off before settling down on Jay’s chest, “Brats,” he muttered, “Horny teenage brats.”

 

     Jay eased out of the bed hours later padding through the curtains to the balcony. He leaned against the railing overlooking the city, it was nearly pitch black so he hadn’t bothered to put his clothes back on. His were fast asleep, but he couldn’t. He was exhausted and he could not seem to find sleep. So he stood there and looked over the quiet city below them. He was here, in the one place he had dreamed about as a kid, dreamt about being able to see one day in more than his imagination. And all he felt was homesick, he did not miss his Baba, but he did miss his Auntie and his cousin. This should have been their home, hell Auntie Nasira’s house was out there somewhere in the city. An odd pang he hadn’t felt in a real long time come back, he should have grown up here with his mother if she was even still alive. He knew his mother wasn’t on the Isle, his Baba had mentioned that much in passing, but most times all he ever heard was that he looked like her. Rocking back he looked up at the clear sky dotted with thousands of stars, the slim moon glowing white. He had never known a sky could look like that.

     “You okay kid?” Iago asked landing on the railing.

     “Thought you were asleep...”

     “I woke up when you put me on your pillow,” Iago admitted shuffling around. 

     “Oh...” he looked back at the city for a long beat of silence, “Was Baba always like that?”

     “Jafar? No... he started out as a good man full of visions of bettering Agrabah. But sometimes people take a misstep. Jafar took a misstep and his greed made him cruel, he became a villain while still thinking he was doing the right thing for Agrabah. To be honest, you are why I went with him to the Isle. Genie, the great blue idiot, went to bat for me to the council, saying I was just an enchanted parrot and I helped Al. But... making sure Jafar didn’t make you like him was more important to me than freedom. I did a decent job despite not being able to talk much.”

     “You kept me going, when all I wanted was for those fucking TV’s to crush me. You, Lagan and Derelict. At the time I believed Mal would take care of Princess and Pup, if anything happened to me. Guess it’s good nothing ever did...” he admitted softly, “This place isn’t like Baba said it was...”

     “Well if we were on the other side of the palace, you’d have a room overlooking the river and port side of the city. It may get hot as Hades’ ass here, but there is no place on earth like Agrabah. Prettiest city I have ever seen at least when it’s like this.” Iago rubbed his face against the leather cuffs around Jay’s wrists, “Come on kid bedtime. You’ve been up for long enough.”

     Jay sighed softly picking the Macaw up before walking back into the room and settled back down between his Princess and his Pup. 

     “You ok?” Evie asked sleepily not opening her eyes.

     “Yeah just having a hard time sleeping is all. Sounds stupid since I’m exhausted,” Jay sighed softly.

     “Its ok” she said moving so her head was on his chest.

     "You feeling alright? Been a few years now since I was so rough with you," he asked looking up at the white ceiling.

     “I’ll be a little sore in the morning but nothing I can’t deal with, ” she muttered, “Go to sleep.”

     "Just don't skin me over the state of your hips," he smiled softly closely his eyes, trying to go to sleep.

Chapter 106: Morning After (Agrabah: June)

     Carlos rolled over as the sun was coming through the windows and curtains. Evie wasn’t in bed, he sat up a little looking around.

     Evie sat leaned back in the deep bath letting the warm water soak into her. She was glad she had brought her bruise balm along, her hips were black and blue.

     Jay's legs swung back and forth as he sat on the railing, dressed in his jeans and his open leather vest. He was mindlessly braiding and unbraiding a section of his hair. Evie's hips were worse than he thought, he didn't think he had been that rough. He was almost never that rough on anyone when he was fucking. 

     “Hey, what time is it?” Carlos asked Jay as he came out in his boxers.

     "Early?" Jay offered not turning, "Shops are just starting to open down there. You okay? I... I didn't hurt you last night right?"

     “I’m good, last night was good,” Carlos shook his head.

     "Glad I didn't hurt you," Jay smiled tossing a leg over the railing to look at Carlos, "I wasn't thinking too well yesterday."

     “That’s an understatement,” Carlos smirked, “We take care of each other no matter what”

     “He’s right,” Evie said as she came out wrapped in a towel.

     "I didn't mean to bang you up so much," he looked her over liking the look of her in the heavy white towel.

     “It happens when we need a night of freedom,” Evie shrugged, “It will heal.”

     "Well normally I'm not that kind of free," Jay turned to face them straight on, "Want to get dressed for me Princess? I don't know when Princy is coming to get us. Not that I don't lust over seeing you in a towel."

     “Then come and watch the show” she smirked backing into the room. She dropped the towel half away to her bag.

     He dropped back down onto the balcony floor and walked in humming at her naked form, "Worth everything I own and then some." He muttered despite the dark bruises on her hips.

     “Let see, I feel like lace today,” she smirked pulling out a pair of black lace panties and a flowy skirt. She looked through her shirts to find one that would cover the bruises.

     Jay's head tipped the other way, "How about that pale blue one?" He gestured to the one he spotted in her collection.

     “Good choice” she nodded pulling out the lace up shirt with cut off sleeves.

     "That's a good sign for today, I succeeded in picking Princess' shirt. Time to stay in the room before I find a way of fucking everything up," he joked, rubbing Iago's beak as the macaw landed on his shoulder.

     “Oh no, you are coming with us wherever we go,” Carlos rolled his eyes.

     “I think we are touring the palace then maybe the market, ” Evie supplied, “After breakfast.”

     "Fine, fine. I'll just have to come with you both to make sure nothing happens to you," he smirked as there was a knock on the door, "Right on time."

     Aziz flushed as Jay opened the door, his eyes locked on the exposed torso. No matter how many times he saw it, he was always put in a mild stupor by it. Those skilled fingers pressed under his chin and Aziz pulled back face on fire, "Morning."

     "Morning Princy," Jay purred next to beaming that he had reduced the older male to this without a word.

     "You three almost ready? Breakfast will be starting up soon," Aziz cleared his throat trying to avoid Jay's look because he was getting an urge to kiss him.

     “Yes, we are almost ready, Carlos just needs to put on some clothes” Evie supplied as she looked at Aziz over Jay’s shoulder lacing up her shirt.

     “I’m almost done” Carlos called as he pulled on the khaki cargo shorts Evie had made and a light button down, “Did you seriously only pack me shirts with buttons.” 

     “Pack your own bag next time, and we are at the palace. You need to look nice. Also the regular shirts are at the bottom of mine” Evie shrugged.

     "And you wonder why I didn't let her touch my bag," Jay snickered leaning on the door frame. He had packed his Tourney bag of clothes, and the essentials. Then proceeded to keep moving it around the room so Evie couldn't paw through it.

     Aziz nodded looking up, "Are you planning on wearing a shirt Jay?"

     "No," he shook his head and zipped his vest up halfway, covering the scars on his belly and hiding his piercings, "It's hot and I'm lazy."

     “Plus we get to look at him all day,” Evie smirked at Aziz as Carlos finally appeared.

     Aziz lifted his eyes to the ceiling, "Murder me now, what did I do to deserve torments like this," he muttered in Arabic as Jay started laughing.

     Jay patted Aziz's chest as he said something in his native language, "Chill Princy I haven't even done anything to you yet. We've got breakfast and a tour we can get distracted on..." he smirked suggestively, "Lots to do." He pushed off the door and let his move out of the room.

     “Don’t worry Princy, he won't do anything where anyone can see,” Evie assured with a snicker taking his arm with hers.

     Aziz sighed softly as Jay moved to take her other arm, "At least no one who already hasn't seen 'amira."

     "Details," Jay flicked his fingers in a manner he remembered from Mimzy as she had a habit of waving off his concerns about not starting trouble. 

     “Needless to say we are all feeling better,” Carlos chuckled letting them lead the way.

     “Much better,” Evie nodded with a smirk at Jay.

     He smirked at her, "I always keep my word. Almost always at least."

     Aziz guided them into the dining room once more expecting the same seating arrangement as before.

     Raj looked at Jay over the top of the book she was reading. She blushed bringing the book higher to hide it.

     Jay dropped down next to Aziz, with a playful look at Evie. He really didn't want Jasmine getting any ideas that his Princess and his Princy were anything close to Mainland dating. Islers didn't date, they fucked clean and simple.

     Evie raised an eyebrow at him before stick her tongue out and sitting where Jay sat last night.

     “Why aren’t you wearing a shirt?” Adir asked looking at Jay.

     "It's hot and I'm lazy," Jay replied with an easy half smile. This was way better on his nerves despite being closer to where Sultana would be once she and the Sultan arrived. His eyes flicked to the doorway as a short man with white hair toddled in with a cane.

     "Morning Grandbaba," Aziz smiled as the old man blinked before letting out a noise of delight as Aziz got back up to embrace him.

     "Oh your home Aziz! It is so good to see you!" He laughed clutching the oldest of his daughters children.

     "It is good to be home. I brought some friends home with me. You remember me telling you about them?"

     "Yes, yes of course. I may be old but I'm not senile quite yet," he patted the boy's cheek as he pulled back and toddle towards the table sitting down across from Carlos with a groan, "Welcome to Agrabah Jay, Carlos, and Evie. It is- Iago?"

     The macaw on Jay's shoulder cringed, "I am here for my Jay, and my newer kids. Someone has to make sure they survive here."

     The old Sultan frowned, "You were a very bad bird."

     "Grandbaba, Iago has been looking after Jay, I think he turned over a new wing," Aziz said softly, "He's been very well behaved."

     Jay rubbed Iago's belly with a finger as he felt the feathers move, "Settle down."

     Iago huffed but settled harder onto Jay's shoulder, "Fine kid. Fine."

     “Iago is like our guardian here, he helps us navigate the mainland,” Evie explained.

     The old sultan looked surprised before smiling brightly, "Well then I suppose he doesn't need a talking to."

     Jay raised a brow at that, he was expecting worse than a talking to.

     Jasmine walked in with Aladdin, "Baba! You were supposed to wait for us to walk you down."

     "Oh don't worry about that my dear, I was just fine. It is good to stretch my legs." He beamed at her as she took her seat, Aladdin moving to the end of the table across from Evie.

     “Grandbaba was asking about Iago,” Adir said as he looked at his mother.

     “I wouldn’t recommend trying to give Iago a talking to unless you want to get bit,” Carlos warned.

     Aziz hid a grin, "Unless your Jay."

     Jasmine sighed, "Baba I know we told you about Iago."

     "And I wanted to be sure. He has switched sides before and I would hate to see good children getting bad advice from a bird of all things."

     Jasmine rolled her eyes, sure she didn't trust the macaw but he was a macaw. Clearly not Jafar's evil minion anymore as he looked rather content to be petted by Jafar's son. She actually couldn't remember Jafar ever petting Iago, ever.

     “I’ve seen him bite Jay a few times” Carlos shook his head, “It's never too hard though more a warning than anything.”

     "I ignore the bites at this point," Jay shrugged his free shoulder leaning on the table as his thigh rested against Aziz's.

     Aladdin decided to change the subject, "You three settle in alright? The rooms okay?"

     “The rooms are great, I love the bathroom. The tub is huge,” Evie nodded.

     "Good, I am glad to hear it," he smiled at her, "Jasmine and I were a little worried we were going to overwhelm you all."

     Aziz pressed his leg against Jay's, the snapping, abrasive version of his friend seeming to have vanished overnight. Not that he was surprised as he had likely done what he usually did. Aziz firmly stopped himself before his brain could imagine what exactly they had done last night in lieu of reaching for the coffee pot and poured some for Jay, straight black before pouring his own fixed with milk and honey.

     "Thanks," Jay muttered under his breath to Aziz who nodded silently as he stirred his own. Jay took careful note of which canteen had coffee in it as they all looked similar.

     "Coffee," Aziz passed it to his mother, "Papaya juice, that is a local fruit, its sweet, and that one is water." He had noticed the intense look on Jay's face and assumed he was trying to figure out what was in each.

     Jay carefully took the one with juice having already nicked Carlos' glass and poured some in, "Hand me Princess' cup." He kept his voice soft as the other talked amongst themselves.

     Carlos grabbed Evie’s cup passing it over as she looked over the plates of fruits and nuts. There looked like a porridge of sorts in the middle of the table.

     Jay poured the juice into her glass and handed it back before placing the canteen back exactly where he had picked it up from. This close to Sultana, he did not want to get yelled at for not keeping things perfect.

     Jasmine watched as Jay set the canteen down and adjusted it ever so slightly. She frowned slightly, her children would have set it where it was convenient and moved on, not make sure it looked like they had never touched it.

     Jay picked up his coffee and nudged both Carlos and Aziz, and nodded ever so slightly to the food. Aziz rolled his eyes, not used to this behavior from Jay in the slightest. Jay was usually hands off until needed, but he was defaulting to a different setting today. Them first, then himself.

     “Mom can’t I have eggs,” Adir whined he hated the rice porridge.

     “It's too early for you to be whining,” Raj snapped at him before setting her book down and serving herself a scoop of porridge and put fruit on top of it followed by cream.

     "No Adir," Jasmine stated firmly, "Eat what we have on the table. If there is nothing to your liking you don't have to eat." She did not want food to go to waste, especially not given her husband had very little or nothing when he grew up on the streets of her city.

     Jay was getting the impression he was going to be spending most of his time around Aziz's family in a state of confusion. Here was a Sultana and Sultan with a whole lot of money, based on the state of the palace, and she didn't cater to her children's wants.

     Aziz cleared his throat to catch Jay's attention, the warm dark eyes flicking to him, "You want porridge? Or..."

     "Uh sure," Jay honestly had no idea what porridge was other than some white gloop that looked kind of like the slop he cooked on the Isle for his father. He spooned some out deciding to eat it like Aziz ate it. Carefully he set it back where he knew it had been taken from seeing as Carlos and Evie had already grabbed their breakfast.

     Evie restricted her breakfast mostly to the bright juicy fruits. She’s only been allowed Porridge once, she couldn't remember where, but her mother had been horrified when she heard about it.

     Carlos though took a good helping of the goop and cream on it.

     "Will you be joining us for lunch?" Jasmine asked looking over the line of older teens.

     "Not likely, I'm going to take them on that tour I promised them and then into town." Aziz explained.

     “So, your eating in town?” Raj looked at him, “Can I meet them for lunch?” she looked at her mother trying to keep her eyes off Jay.

     Aziz opened his mouth to protest and promptly closed it, "Of course Rajiya, I'm sure your brother would love for you to eat lunch with him and his friends," Jasmine smiled looking at her eldest daring him to say otherwise.

     "The more the merrier," Jay smiled coffee mug by his lips, "Hate to keep Aziz all to ourselves."

     Aziz felt the heat race up his neck, he kicked Jay's ankle under the table. He was going to kill him later, "Of course Raj."

     “Great, why don’t we meet at that little place that does the kebabs?” she suggested looking at him her gaze lingering over Jay at his side.

     "That sounds good," Aziz nodded, "kebabs are ground meat on skewers cooked over fire," he explained knowing Jay and the others pretty much were familiar with any of the food in his country, "I'll point you at the not so spicy ones."

     "Spicy?" Jay asked setting his mug down in favor of his spoon.

     Aziz blinked, "I actually don't know how to explain that to you..."

     Jay rolled a shoulder before swallowing the porridge that tasted exactly like the slop he made only well fresh.

     “It's a taste, it's like a burning in your mouth but a good way, ” Raj tried to explain, “I'm sure you wouldn’t mind a little spicy.”

     Evie almost choked on her juice looking at the princess, was that her trying to flirt. God that girl needed help.

     Jay bit back the near instant response, oh so like alcohol, "Huh, maybe."

     "If you don't like it, you don't like it. We planned a very mild version of dinner last night. Auradon isn’t exactly known for their spices." Aziz gave his sister a look, seriously Jay hadn't even tried to flirt with her.

     Jasmine watched the exchange with a smile. Aladdin glanced at them, "Well is there something you liked on the Isle?"

     Jay glanced at his Isle two, how to explain the food thing without offending anyone?

     “Um...we tended to eat what we had in front of us” Evie tried to explain delicately.

     “More like whatever we could find that was edible” Carlos snorted, why sugar coat it for these guys, the sultan seemed to get the just of it. And if they wanted to change stuff maybe he could throw his weight around or something.

     Evie gave him a look and a sharp elbow harder then last night.

     “What? It's the truth,” Carlos defended.

     “How is food not Edible?” Adir looked at his father.

     "I made this stuff for Baba," Jay offered, "Didn't know it had a name though."

     Aziz felt a twist in his chest and he looked down at his half eaten breakfast.

     "Food that goes bad, moldy or rancid, is not edible," Aladdin said softly.

     "It's edible enough on the Isle," Jay did not like the turn this conversation took, "We made do with what came in on the barges. If we looked hard enough someone could find an animal. I managed to find some eggs one time, at least that's what he said they were, I never saw them after that."

     “There’s more food than people think on those barges just have to get there early,” Evie nodded digging her nails into Carlos’ leg. He was in so much trouble later.

     “Why would...” Raj put a hand over Adir’s mouth and shook her head. “Ask Baba later” she whispered to him.

     "We will just have to do something about that," Jasmine stated with a forced smile, the council had been telling all of them there was plenty of food and fresh water going to the Isle every week.

     Aladdin looked appreciative to his wife, "Yes, I think that would be a good idea. I didn't realize, I'm sorry."

     Jay's brain screamed fix it, "Since we got here we picked up food we liked. Carlos likes those sweet bread triangles-"

     "Scones," Aziz interrupted without thinking.

     "Yeah that; And Evie loves berry salads. Me I'll eat pretty much anything..." Jay nearly cringed despite the smile Aladdin passed him.

     "I'll talk to the cooks, see if they can make something like that for Carlos. I know we have everything on hand for salads here. Maybe not berries, but maybe you'll fall in love with some of our local fruits Evie," Jasmine offered almost grateful Jay had tried to help lighten things up.

     “I also love chocolate, if we are you know making a list,” Carlos pipped up.

     “You too?” Adir looked at Carlos with an excited smile.

     “Anything is fine with me,” Evie smiled, she may have to scratch puppy up later for this.

     “You might like the prickly pears,” Raj suggested to her.

     "Chocolate here is less sweet than in Auradon, just warning you," Aziz glanced at Carlos as Jay finished off his breakfast.

     Jasmine laughed softly, "I will see what I can do. If you do find something you like in town while you're walking around, just let us know."

     Jay slowly looked at Jasmine at her laugh. Soft, dainty, warm. He shook himself picking up the last of his coffee, no, he wasn't going to start wishing for things he never had, or deserved. The Sultana seemed like a good woman, like Queen Belle, kind but firm. He didn't deserve to be around people like that.

     “He doesn’t care, as long as its chocolate,” Evie snorted, “We’ve had to stop him from putting his head in the fountain a few times.”

     "Don't remind me," Aziz groaned.

     Jay leaned back slightly checking Evie's plate, mostly empty. He was glad about that, all things considered.

     "Well don't let us keep you four if you've finished up breakfast." Aladdin offered noticing Jay's checking of the plates.

     “Well are we ready then?” Evie asked, as Carlos woofed down the rest of his porridge.

     Aziz nodded standing, "I'll text you when we are headed to the kebab stand Raj."

     Jay smiled, "Thanks for the food." As he followed after Aziz, Iago fluttered his wings for balance, "Well that was painful," he muttered to the bird.

     "You ain't kidding kid. Glad that trainwreck is over," Iago agreed settling back down, "I swear the old Sultan was waiting for me to bite you while you were passing me nuts."

     “What is wrong with you,” Evie hissed at Carlos as she hit him with her purse in the shoulder a few times.

     “What? They asked and well, maybe they can help fix some of it,” Carlos tried to defend.

     "You could have had better timing Pup," Jay glanced over his shoulder as Aziz guided them through the halls, "Any time not over food is a better time. Even my dumbass knows that."

     Aziz looked at them walking backwards, "Baba... he didn't know how bad it was. It's not the easiest thing to discuss and it isn't like you three like talking about it either."

     “We know that, it's just well. You guys don’t need to know how bad it is. Those you let be in charge, decided we’re not worth the food or water,” Evie said softly before giving Carlos one more wack, she moved to walk next to Aziz.

     "The people holding the gold make the rules," Jay quipped getting a wing smack from Iago, "What Baba wasn't wrong? The people in charge just so happen to have a lot of fucking gold."

     "Not the point," Iago snapped, "Things are bad on the Isle Prince. These kids are expected to live off trash in buildings no one has any business living in especially when no one can die. Can you imagine being crushed and living through it with no medical attention, that's actually medical attention?"

     Aziz cringed looking away.

     "My Jay has bled out before. The barrier the only damn reason he lived through it. The barrier and Nasira, a sorceress who never practiced healing. So you can believe the pretty lies the people in charge tell you, or you can ask the people who lived there. Unless you don't like the uncomfortable questions," Iago spat wings splayed as Jay looked away, his didn't know about that thing.

     “We live the lives we had, now we just don’t look back,” Evie said trying to defuse Iago.

     "And how does that help the kids still there, living like you used to live? Hm Blueberry, how does that help them?" Iago couldn't believe his kids right now.

     "Iago." Jay said it in a calm, even, and deadly tone that made the bird freeze, "I will only say this once. Drop it." He did not want his minion rounding on any of his.

     Aziz shivered at the tone, "We will talk about it when you are ready to talk about it. I don't want any of you pressured or bringing up things that you want to leave alone. What you went through there is not up to me, or anyone else, to decide when we go through. It is insensitive to force any of you to go through it before you are ready to do so."

     “Thanks for that Princy,” Evie gave him a smile, “So where to first on this tour?”

     Aziz took a deep breath and gave himself a shake still thrown by the combination Jay son of Jafar and his minion Iago made. "I think we'll head towards the gardens. We'll stop along the way to various parts of the palace." 

     Jay looked at Iago coldly he hated the fact that Iago could talk in full sentences sometimes. The bird did not know when to quit unless Jay was forced to turn into his father to shut him up. Of which Jay hated, he hated even being reminded of his father from people with similar ticks.

     “Well that sounds like fun,” Evie said.

     “Yeah, let's check out this place.” Carlos nodded.

     Aziz nodded relieved to be back out of the terrible talks about the Isle. Sure he wanted to know about their lives previous but he also knew it was a minefield. So instead he talked about his home as they walked. The history he knew of it, the stories he was told by his grandbaba about different areas. He guided them through the library, kitchen, wine cellar, the various meeting rooms, pointed out bedrooms and offices. Until he made it to one of the rooms he hope Jay would appreciate as the kid had been quiet and near expressionless the whole time.

     "This is our gym. Grandbaba said it's always been here, but Baba gave it a facelift when he married mom. Raj and I learned combat here, and gymnastics. She's much better at it than I am, so is Adir. I have a small thing about heights." Aziz explained opening the door.

     “You don’t like heights? That explains why Jay climbing would make you nervous, ” Evie giggled a little.

     "No not a fan of them. Jay makes me more nervous when I know he's been drinking and he climbs." His eyes followed Jay as Iago was brushed off his shoulder, "If you want to fool around your welcome to whatever."

     Jay looked Aziz over with a smirk, "Careful Princy or I'm going to take that the wrong way and help myself to something a little different."

     Aziz flushed immediately, "Jay, that was not what I meant."

     “Well, I could take it a certain way too,” Evie smirked at Aziz with a tease as she looked at some of the equipment.

     "I meant with the gym equipment, I swear," Aziz flushed covering his face.

     "Kinky," Jay snickered, "You blush any harder and we are going to have to do something about that embarrassment problem."

     “Very kinky, but maybe a little more privacy is needed,” Evie looked at Jay as she looked at the uneven bars.

     “You guys are nuts,” Carlos shook his head.

     "I don't know..." Jay drawled jumping up to a bar before he swung himself up and around so he was hanging upside down, "Princy could be into that getting caught thing. Ben's birthday was pretty telling."

     “Probably not by his parents though. I mean so what if all those pricks at school know that he’s fucking with the hottest guy in school,” Carlos shrugged.

     “I like that position” Evie looked at Carlos.

     "Would you three settle down," Aziz was feeling hotter than usual especially as Jay stretched and rolled off the bar he was hanging from like a cat landing on his feet, "We are not doing anything like that, in here."

     "Should we wait till night time then? I see a few things in here that could put even Islers in new fun positions," Jay teased watching Aziz's expression with interest.

     “We could but what if we get caught?” Carlos said looking at Evie and Jay.

     "See listen to Carlos. Please just listen to Carlos."

     Jay rolled his eyes at the desperate tone, "Killjoys. Here I was thinking we could have a little fun."

     “I think Carlos has talked enough for today,” Evie raised an eyebrow at him.

     “Are you going to punish me all day?” Carlos whined at her.

     “Mm... there is an idea,” Jay grinned.

     “And we are leaving the gym, gardens are the last stop and then into the town. Before either you or ‘amira start taking clothes off,” Aziz stated turning to leave.

     Jay gripped Aziz’s wrist pulling the Prince back into his chest with a wicked look, “What makes you think I need to take anything off to get you off?” he purred before pushing his Princy back, “But I would hate for anyone who wouldn’t enjoy watching to interrupt us.”

     “Probably,” Evie nodded to Carlos, “Is Rajah in the Gardens?”

     “The tiger?” Carlos asked, his mother had a tiger fur coat. He’d liked the strips when he was younger, he had slept right under it so he could see them while he fell asleep.

     “Yes he is out there,” Aziz nodded, “That isn’t an issue right?” he swallowed trying not to imagine what it would be like to have Jay like that.

     “Not really,” Jay shook his head as they walked out of the gym, “Remember we had a cursed tiger and lions on the Isle. As long as it doesn’t try and maw us we’re good.”

     “I want to see more animals I mean mother always said they were dangerous but, I want to see them in person,” Carlos said, “She was wrong about dogs after all.”

     “Tigers can be dangerous, but Rajah has been part of the family for years now. It’s called domesticated. Tigers in the wild, and most animals in the wild are dangerous. There are a few zoos in Auradon I can take you to if your interested. That’s where they keep animals from different kingdoms to help teach those who don’t get a chance to travel and see them in their natural habitats.” He explained as they headed out towards the sprawling garden that overlooked the port side of their city.

     “I’d like that” Carlos nodded, “The thought of getting to see more animals is appealing.”

     Jay reached out and flicked the back of Carlos’ ear at the word he didn’t know, bad enough Princy did it to him. Carlos knew better, knew Jay was an idiot with words. 

     “Means he’d like it” Evie supplied for Jay.

     Aziz glanced back at Evie and Jay as they walked arm in arm, “You two are welcome to tell me if there are things you want to see.”

     Jay shrugged, “Wouldn’t know where I’d want to go. Anywhere they want to go is fine with me really.” he rubbed Evie’s arm gratefully.

     “No idea really where I'd want to go” Evie shrugged.

     “Then we should all go to the... zoo when we get back,” Carlos looked at them.

     “Yeah I’m cool with it,” Jay nodded glancing at Evie.

Chapter 107: Palace Gardens (Agrabah: June)

     Aziz pushed the door to the gardens open, “Here is the last stop on the house tour.”

     “Wow,” Evie looked at all the greenery, and the fountain. It was stunning out here even with the heat starting to rise.

     Aziz watched their expressions with a smile, this is why he chose it last.

     Jay stepped away from them and into the greenery, this wasn’t real. Couldn’t be real. How were places like this real? His fingers dragged over the rough bark of a tree as he walked past the fountain to the edge of the garden, eyes locked on not the garden but the water. Water a blue he had never seen in his life with tiny little ships that were actually moving over the water. Not like the Jollyroger in all her massive glory, but small dainty ships with large triangles for sails. How was it real, how was it possible? He had never seen a ship sailing and he tried to imagine what it would look like with the Isle ships on the water but he couldn’t picture it, he had never seen the ships with their sails open. 

     “This is beautiful,” Evie said running her fingers through the water of the fountain.

     Aziz smiled as a large head butted against the back of his legs, “Hello Rajah,” he offered rubbing the tiger between the ears as he purred rubbing his cheek against Aziz’s hip, “There’s a good boy.”

     “This can’t be real,” Jay stated softly feeling Iago land once more on his shoulder.

     “It is very real kid. Welcome to Agrabah,” Iago expanded his wing out gesturing to the city below them, “The home you should have had.”

     “A home he can still have if he chooses,” The old Sultan said tottling over, “It is a beautiful city, with a beautiful people and a culture all its own.”

     Jay looked at the ex-sultan as the short man came to stand next to him, “I don’t... I don’t belong here. Not after-”

     “You are not being held accountable for the actions of your father,” the man said sharply, “Not so long as I still live and long after.” he shook his head with a sigh, “Your father was my advisor. He was a good advisor, a brilliant man with a brilliant goal to see Agrabah grow so much more than it has. I was a bad sultan, I chose not to listen to the man I picked to help me be the best Sultan I could be. I was content in leaving my home the way it was, your father disagreed, but I was Sultan. I suppose he eventually had enough of my lack of doing, and resorted to extreme measures. Don’t think I am making light of his actions, you know what he is like better than all of us, Jafar became a wicked and cruel man trying to do right for our home. But he did achieve what he intended in the worst of ways, he made me do something about the state of our home.

     Over time Agrabah has recovered from Jafar’s actions, recovered and is thriving. My daughter and her husband threw open our doors as a haven for people with magic like you and your father. Wanting to prove that magic was not inherently evil as the King of Auradon would have everyone believe. It is foolish to think so. Good men do good things, evil men do evil things, magic or not. Our doors will always be open to you and your friends, not only because you have magic, or you are Jafar’s son which makes you, by default, a son of Agrabah, but because my grandson is your friend. I saw the way you two acted; like brothers.”

     Jay looked back to the sea throat tight, “I don’t know if I have it in me to live here where he was.”

     “Well like I said it is your choice, because you may be his son by blood, but you Jay are a far cry from your father,” The old Sultan patted the back of Jay’s hand, “Something I am sure your mother would have been proud of.”

     He turned but the ex sultan was already walking away headed to a small cage of brightly colored birds. Jay closed his eyes hands clenched into fists. Why weren’t they angry at him like Audrey’s grandmother was at Mal? Why didn’t they scorn him like the daughters of Snow White did to Evie? Why did they want him, when his mere presence was such an inconvenience for his own father?

     “That’s a big cat,” Carlos looked at the now lounging Tiger.

     “Yeah he is, been with my mom since she was about your age. So Rajah is a very old cat, I’m pretty sure he’s got the same longevity spell on him that Iago has. Only since they both have lived well past their life expectancy,” Aziz smiled down at the tiger laying on his feet.

     “Huh, I would like to read about that,” Carlos mused, he was finding animals interesting he already had like 50 books on dogs.

     “Our library is always open to you. Not like you aren’t spending the whole summer vacation here or anything,” he laughed softly watching the large cat carefully bat at Carlos’ shoe laces.

     Jay shook his head, dislodging his hair from the back of his neck. Princess or Pup, just grab the most convenient one and keep contact so he wouldn't go find the drink that he was getting the urge to have. He could do this. This wasn’t like the nightmares, these were just people he wasn’t expecting kindness’ from. Kindness he was not equipped to handle in the least, because he had prepared himself for the treatment he had gotten at home. The kind he had gotten from the guards. Turning his back on the water and the boats he moved towards Evie, the closest to him and he slid an arm around her waist. Silently he pressed his lips to her temple feeling the tension in his chest loosening, he was fine. He was fine. He would be fine as long as they were there.

     Evie turned slightly to wrap her arms around him, in concern.

     Jay glanced around quickly making sure no one could see them and gave her lips a short reassuring kiss, “Don’t worry about me,” he soothed letting her stay wrapped in his arms as they hugged. He told himself he just hadn’t been ready for the ex sultan, that’s all he hadn’t been ready. He would do better, he would do better and be prepared next time. 

     “Alright, if you say so. Just don’t push yourself too hard,” Evie said putting her head on his shoulder for a second.

     “You have met me right?” he teased as they pulled apart and headed back to the others as he wiped her lip gloss from his lips, arm still curled around her waist. He needed to keep himself steady for just a little bit longer.

     “Exactly why I told you not to push yourself,” Evie smirked back, “Alright, I think we are ready for the market.”

     Aziz nodded looking them over, “Come on then, follow me. Let me show you the city.”

     “This is so exciting,” Evie bounced a little as they followed after Aziz.

     “Okay chill Princess before you distract me too much,” Jay muttered watching her breasts bounce in her shirt, “Have a little pity on a horny guy.”

     “Your always horny,” Aziz shot back opening a large gate out one side of the garden, “We can’t come back in this way-”

     “I beg to differ. I can climb that easy.”

     “Okay, well I prefer you didn’t climb over the fence Jay. So maybe just this once you’ll use the doors as doors and not things in your way your too lazy to deal with?”

     “Do I have to?”

     “No, but-”

     “Cool. Then I’ll climb around like normal.” Jay grinned cheekily as Aziz threw his hands up with a noise of frustration.

     “You kinda left that opening for him,” Carlos sighed shaking his head at Aziz.

     “I know losing battle with Jay when it comes to climbing,” he groaned letting them out into the streets of Agrabah, “Stay close, and I can’t believe I am about to say this while your here Jay... We have pickpockets so just keep an eye on your things.”

     Jay snickered, “Don’t worry I’ll make sure you don’t get robbed blind Princy. The rest of us can handle pickpockets, pretty much an Isle trait.”

     “If you can’t you don’t survive the Isle very well,” Evie added, remembering cutting a few unclaimed that had tried to take her purse.

     “Good to know. I know Jay says he was the best on the Isle...”

     “Only one mark I couldn’t steal from and no, it wasn’t Mal. I used to steal her shit all the time. People covered their pockets when I was around, that’s how good I was. Still am to be honest. Habits,” Jay shrugged body lax even as his guard went up. This felt like home, a cleaner version of it but there was a hustle and bustle he knew all too well here.

     “And I normally just let Jay hold my stuff. Cause well people are more interested in keeping their stuff then taking his,” Carlos explained to the prince.

     “Especially when I was real fond of decking and throwing people who grabbed me,” Jay shrugged, “Ah, those were the days, can’t get away with punching anyone I don’t like in the face any more. Except that one time with Chad, that was totally worth it.”

     Aziz narrowed his eyes, “The more stories you tell me the more I am confused on how you seem so easy going all the time.”

     “Trade secret,” he smirked, that had been Mal and Seduction class’ doing, being personable made it easier to rob someone blind.

     “Oh...” Evie pulled away from Jay to look at a jewelry stand, there were some many colors and it was all so shiny.

     Jay glanced where she had gone and quickly looked away, of course it was jewelry. He felt his hands start tingling and he clamped down on the magic as hard as he could, shoving his hands in his vest pockets so he couldn’t physically steal anything. He could do this, he could be neutral, he didn’t need anything they had. 

     Aziz smiled stopping next to her, “See anything in particular you like?” 

     “I’ve never seen some of these stones,” she said looking at the more muted ones like the jade, and turquoise.

     “Hey lets go look at something else” Carlos looked at Jay.

     “Anything else,” Jay got out through gritted teeth, “Before I accidently magic something.”

     Aziz glanced back over his shoulder as Carlos guided Jay away, “I didn’t realize how bad his thing was,” he shook his head, “These here are tiger’s eyes,” he pointed to a brown stone with a band of yellow gold through it, “The stripe moves as you do. These here are Amber, Perodite, Onyx, Labrolite, Obsidian,” he pointed to each stone as the vendor smiled knowing the Prince bought her jewelry often for pretty girls, the blue haired one with him would be no exception. “We call them semi-precious stones, because they are a little more common and easier to mine. Mom is very fond of turquoise. Raj prefers rose quartz, amethyst and topaz.”

     “They are beautiful,” she picked up a turquoise pendant with a flower of some sort etched into it and filled with silver.

     “You like this one?” Aziz asked more than willing to pay for whatever she wanted, “Do you know what that flower is?”

     “Yes, I like it. No I don't recognize it, we didn’t have many flowers over there” Evie shook her head turning it in her hand.

     “That is a water lily, they grow in the Oasis’. That is a natural water source that crops up in the desert and fertilizes the ground so the plants grow. They are more common in ponds in Auradon,” Aziz explained, “Since you like it it’s yours,” he smiled handing the woman some money before he took it from Evie’s hands and slipped it around her neck.

     “You know you don’t have to buy us things right? Its lovely, thank you,” She ran her fingers over it as she looked for the boys, only to spot them looking at a stand with pottery of some sort.

     “Have to no. Want to yes. Last I checked that Isle ownership thing went both ways,” He smiled guiding her towards the boys.

 

Chapter 108: City of Magic (Agrabah: June)

     “No, that looks like the one I grabbed from your mom’s place,” Jay pointed at a dark blue vase with gold streaks, “Only tiny and all in one piece.”

     “Well I suppose a little, but I had to clean that thing is was more blue than gold” Carlos shook his head.

     “Are you guys arguing about that vase again?” Evie raised an eyebrow at them.

     “Hey Lagan and Derelict adore that vase, and it was kind of the perfect hiding place since baba didn’t want to lose his arm to my boys,” Jay shook his head, “It was here, we were here, I said it looked like the one now in their tank...”

     “And why did you put a vase in an eel tank?” Aziz asked as the four of them headed back onto the streets.

     “Ursula said eels like to have hiding places, and I mean I had already stole the damn thing by accident, so I put it to some use,” Jay shrugged leaving his hands in his pockets, “Nice necklace Princess, good to know our Princy will spoil you too.”

     “I like the color,” she said with a shrug happy to be away from talks of that stupid vase that had gotten Carlos a few bruises at least.

     “It matches your shirt.”

     Aziz shook his head, “Come on then, I know you said potions ingredients, so let’s head over there. That way Raj doesn’t decide she wants to tag along after lunch and we have to skip it.”

     “Your keeping your sister from there why?”

     “Not keeping her from it, I just don’t want my 13 year old sister asking questions about what you are actually planning on making. She’s still, in my mind, an innocent child and don’t you fucking dare open your mouth to say otherwise Jay,” he pointed at the grinning male.

     “I’ll give you child, but I’m not sure on the innocent part.” Evie giggled, “She did try and flirt with Jay... at least I think it was flirting it was really bad”

     “Plus she kept stealing looks at his chest while she didn’t think anyone was looking,” Carlos added laughing.

     “Oh to be 13 again, we got up to some wild things” Evie smirked at Jay.

     "Fucking on that roof comes to mind," Jay grinned shamelessly as they walked, "And when we convinced Pup to play with us."

     Aziz groaned, "I noticed her flirting. How, how do you do this? You didn't even flirt at her, or do to her what you did to me."

     "And I won't, I went for you because you told me you wouldn't fall for my seduction. Why would I go for someone who doesn't challenge me? I like challenges, I like the subtle back and forth when someone tries to deny me what I want. I rather enjoy watching you fall apart for us," Jay purred.

     Red gold magic flickered in Jay's eyes and Aziz flushed, "Swear to me."

     "Princy, you are mine," Jay sighed tossing an arm over his shoulders leaning close, "I already broke that tight ass of yours in, why would I ruin the system by trying to get more than I need?"

     Aziz thumped Jay hard in the chest with the back of his hand, "You had better make this shit up to me."

     "Always," he grinned backing off as they eased down another street that reminded Jay of Black Magic Alley only functional.

     Smoke twisted in purposeful shapes delighting small children. A man was shaping a bird out of clay only for it to burst to life in his hands. A young woman dancing in front of a shop with instruments that played themselves. Jay was instantly distracted by her because across her shoulders were two large black snakes. There were red silks crossed up over her breasts and over the back of her neck, and a red skirt with flat bronze discs hanging low on her hips. The discs chittered and jangled against one another with every roll and tick of her hips to the beat the magic instruments were making. The thin veil over her nose and lips did little to hide her face.

     But Jay did not care as he watched mesmerized by the rolling of her bare torso, the flex of her muscles as she turned slightly moving towards them, him. She stretched her hand towards him and the snake struck, Jay grabbed it just behind the head before the fangs could make contact.

     Aziz started staring at Jay and the woman whose eyes flashed emerald in response to Jay's red gold flicker as they watched one another silently.

     Evie moved next to Jay, staying just out of strike range. Her hand in her purse clutching her scissors.

     The woman smiled twisting away the black snake withdrawing as Jay opened his hand. She settled the two snakes on her stand and came back towards them. Hands on her curved hips she started talking in Arabic.

     Jay looked at Aziz, "Do what now?"

     Aziz shook his head, "She's asking where you learned to do that. Almost no one can grab a Charmed Snake."

     "And she stuck it on me why?"

     "You are the son of Jafar, nephew of Nasira," she said words accented heavily, "My snakes do not like you."

     "Just your snakes?" Jay asked flatly, this is what he was expecting.

     She laughed head throwing back, "I knew Nasira when I was a child, she was a good woman then. And you are in the company of our Prince, so if he finds no fault with you, then until you prove you too are a snake like your father I do not have the same problem my snakes do."

     Jay's head tipped confused, these people were seriously throwing him, "Thanks, I think?" He settled a hand on Evie's wrist to settle her down.

     “Yeah just maybe less snake strikes next time,” Carlos said coming to Evie’s other side.

     Evie remained quiet as she studied the woman grip staying in the scissors.

     "Apologies," she bowed, smirking as Jay's eyes followed her movements warily, "Your Majesty."

     Aziz nodded and ushered the three away, "Alright come on then. I thought you liked snakes Jay?"

     "I do like snakes. I don't like it when they try to bite me. My boys are much nicer," he wrapped his arm around Evie as they walked.

     “To be fair your boys are eels and not snakes” Carlos pointed out.

     As they left the woman behind Evie released her grip on her scissors, with a sigh.

     "Eels are water bound snakes," Jay thumbed Evie's shoulder, "I told you, I got you. Still have that mini blade in my cuff and everything. Thanks for having my back," he unzipped his vest and sighed as the hot breeze cooled the sweat on his stomach and running down his back.

     "You two are alright right?" Aziz asked looking over his shoulder at them flushing at the slick exposed abs.

     “Yes, just a bit of a flash back if that’s what it’s called,” Evie gave him a small smile.

     Jay leaned in sliding a ring on her finger, "So later tonight after Pup goes to sleep, what don't you and I have some fun? You know so I can properly thank you for having your scissors handy."

     "Hopefully we can avoid any more of those," Aziz bit his lip and guided them into what seemed like a small shop. The sign simply read Spirit Shop, "If they don't have what you're looking for 'amira I don't know who will."

     “We could use one of the other rooms,” she suggested with a smirk as she felt the ring with her thumb. She gave him another smirk before pulling away to look at the ingredients, she’d never seen so many fresh ones, or really any.

     "Something specific I can help you dears find?" A large squat woman asked, her grey hair pulled in a bun with small glasses perched on her long nose.

     “Yarrow root, and mandrake,” Evie supplied looking at the woman.

     "YUBABA! FETCH THE MANDRAKE!" She yelled over her shoulder, "Yarrow root is right this way. Very odd combination, brewing up something specific?"

     “Not necessarily,” she shook her head, if she was on her own she might had mentioned a vague use but, with Aziz here she would rather not.

     "Oh don't worry about him," she laughed waving a hand that fluttered with magical rings, "You just tell Zeniba what your brewing up and my sister and I will get you everything you need. Isn't anything we haven't heard before. When the world was a different place," she sighed softly guiding Evie through the maze of shelves.

     Jay looked around curiously and tried not to touch anything. Witches on the Isle were real particular about things and he wasn't taking any chances with Witches that had access to real magic.

     Aziz smiled at the boys as Zeniba took Evie deeper into the store, "I don't know much about this place but I know that mom has some of the staff pick up some spices and things she can't get elsewhere."

     Evie looked over her shoulder before looking down, “Contraceptive potion.”

     Zeniba paused briefly but smiled, "I see, explains the ingredients, a bit archaic but it is very effective. Here let me get you a few others that will prolong the effects of the contraceptive potion. Just takes a little longer in the brewing process. I'll write down the adjustments you will need." She snapped her fingers body lifting up into the air a few inches, "Take my hand dear, we will get you in and out in no time."

 

     "Zeniba take the girl around then?" An identical squat woman asked touching down with a cloud of clove smoke as she blew it over her shoulder.

     "Yes Ms. Yubaba."

     "Prince Aziz, a pleasure to see you. You are looking well." Her eyes drifted to Carlos and Jay, "Carlos DeVil, a pity no magic. But you boy," she took in Jay's guarded stance and her eyes locked on the locket, "Where did you get this?"

    “Yeah, magic isn’t my thing,” Carlos shook his head.

    Jay's swing stopped in midair and he froze stiff as she hovered in front of him fingers hovering over the tarnished silver, "The Isle."

     Her eyes slowly lifted as she smiled, "Yes, yes you did. Such a tiny thing to carry so much weight."

 

     Evie took her hand with a little hesitation reassuring herself that could do this.

     Zeniba smiled, "Untrained witch then, so much potential. Don't worry I won't let you fall," they took off through the air, racing through the shelves. "You'll need this, wormwood, oh yes poppy petals from Oz, Neverland quartz, it must be ground into a fine powder, and Wonderland dried heart fruits."

     “I am familiar with heart fruits,” Evie nodded taking the items.

     "Wonderful!" Zeniba smiled as she whisked them down to the front of the store once more, "Yubaba! Leave that boy alone! She forgets her manners my sister. I am very sorry."

     Jay nearly sighed as the twin backed off, "Good trip?" He asked seeing her hovering in the air hands full next to the nicer twin.

     "Mandrake is on the counter Zeniba," she grumbled, "I am headed to take care of the baby," her fingers snapped and she flashed off leaving a trail of clove smoke behind.

     “Yeah, I've got a few things to upgrade with,” Evie nodded to Jay, “Oh I also need something to make a deep red dye,” better have something for their cover story.

     "Hm..." Zeniba tapped her lips before holding a finger up, "Oh I know, dragons blood," she shot up to the ceiling and grabbed a jar of thick sap.

     "Upgrading sounds good to me," Jay nodded moving closer to Evie watching the woman, "As someone who never wanted magic, that is insanely cool. Use that to leap over gaps I can't jump."

     “Not that there are many of those,” Evie teased him.

     Jay grinned as the woman popped back down, "True, very true."

     Zeniba smiled ringing everything up, "A good friend of yours?"

     “Very good” Evie nodded.

     Aziz watched them curiously for a moment not really sure how he fit with them. Even when Jay pulled money out of his pants and paid for everything. They seemed so natural together, the Princess and the Prince of the Isle Thieves. Shaking himself he guided them out of the shop to Zeniba's goodbyes and good lucks missing the scroll she passed to Evie.

     “Well that was easy,” Carlos said as they exited the shop.

     "There is a reason they call it the Spirit Shop." Aziz smiled, "They have pretty much everything."

     "Except for a way of taking cold air out of the shop with you," Jay complained as the dry heat hit them again, he had palmed the locket into his internal vest pocket by his heart.

     "Mom did warn you that you were going to be dying in leather and jeans," Aziz said leading them once more through the streets, "Did you get everything you needed 'amira?"

     “Yes, even managed to get the red dye for my clothes like I told your mother."

     "Glad to hear it," he smiled at them, "How are we feeling about lunch?"

     "Like I can always eat," Jay replied easily as he warily looked around at the magic users at the various shops surrounding them.

     “Totally down for more food” Carlos smiled, “And some water.”

     "Alright how about something to keep you going then, we have about another hour before Raj starts hounding me anyway." He led them to a stall with orange and purple hued drinks, "Two of each please."

     Jay took a purple one as he glanced at Aziz, "Okay?"

     "No real translation into Common, but roughly fruit drink. Yours is dragon fruit, and yours are mango."

     “I don’t think we’ve ever had either of those,” Evie took a drink from the orange drink. It was sweet and thick.

     Jay eyed it a little longer before taking a sip, it was thick and syrup like, "Okay this ain't bad. Want to try Princess, Pup?"

     “This one isn’t bad either, here trade with me,” Evie offered Jay the orange cup.

     “I... I like this its like a candy drink,” Carlos said.

     Jay took her cup and tried some, nose crinkling at the cloying sweetness, "And these don't have sugar in them?"

     "No, fruit and ice. That is it," Aziz smiled sipping on his dragon fruit one as they walked, "Since you all seemed hot, I thought it would be a good treat."

     “Good call,” Carlos smirked.

     “This one is a little sharp,” Evie tasted the purple one, it wasn’t bad but she liked the sweet one better.

     "Good cause this is way too sweet for me," Jay traded her back and happily sipped on it. He liked the sharper taste of it.

     Evie took back her drink sipping on it with a smile, this was nice. No one was harassing them, besides the snakes no one seemed to be attack them.

Chapter 109: New Food with a Side of Flirting (Agrabah: June)

     Aziz trailed them around the streets, showing them various places he frequented, and the places he thought they would like. Pulling his phone out he smiled, "That would be Raj. Everyone ready to try some kebabs?"

     “I’m down for anything that can be eaten,” Carlos cheered

     “Oh really? I’ll have to keep that in mind,” Evie smirked at him.

     Jay licked his lips pulling his hair off the back of his neck, he wished he had pinned it up before coming out but he would remember that for tomorrow. "Lead the way princy."

     Aziz texted Raj they were headed that way, "You all enjoying it so far? Snake Charmers not included?"

     “Its like home but, cleaner,” Evie smiled looking around at the people.

     "And less violent," Jay redirected his attention to some of the buildings, "Not falling apart."

     Aziz cringed a little internally, "I am glad you all are enjoying yourselves," he smiled as they reached the kebab stand, "It makes me feel a little bit better knowing my home place reminds you a little of yours."

     Jay smiled wide, "You really were worried about us hating it here. Princess and Pup would always love it anywhere new."

     "Honestly I was worried more about you Jay," he admitted softly, "Worried that when you graduate we wouldn't be spending any more time together."

     He shook his head, "Why worry about that now? We have time, and your my Princy. I may not like it now, but if you need me I will be there. Same as I have been for them for years."

     “We’re kinda hard to get rid of once we’ve claimed you,” Carlos smirked at him as he finished his drink.

     "We come as an all or none package deal," he leaned against the shaded side of a building. The heat here was something else entirely.

     Iago preened a few damp strands back having spent all the time here in the street silent, "You doing okay kid?"

     "Yeah it's just hot. I know you said it was going to be but, I was not ready for this kind of hot," Jay said pulling a few nuts out of his pocket and offered them up to the macaw.

     He bobbed understanding as he carefully took the nut and just held onto it for a little later. 

     “Well aren’t you a sight,” Raj giggles as she approached them.

     Aziz raised an eyebrow at his sister, oh hell no. "Sorry we took so long Raj, got caught up walking them around town."

     Jay nodded sliding the rest of the nuts back into his pocket, "Let me know when your hungry then old man," he shifted so the vest opened a little more to catch a slight breeze before it went away. His eyes looked over the 13 year old sister of his Princy, she was interesting at least as he saw the tell of a hidden dagger at her hip. At least he kept his in his boot, and a small razor blade in his right cuff.

     “Are you enjoying the town?” She asked blushing slightly at the bare skin.

     “Yes we are” Evie moved in front of Jay.

     Jay grinned, head ducking, oh his were really not taking her flirting that well, "It is interesting," he said pushing off the wall, hand resting on the small of Evie's back.

     Aziz gave Jay a hard look over his sister's shoulder, especially since she was ignoring him in favor of making eyes at Jay's sweat slick abs exposed by the open vest. The brat was getting his kicks out of this, out of his sister looking him over like he was a piece of meat she had a chance at. At least he wasn't trying to flirt back. Not that Aziz hadn't seen girls fawn over a single smile directed their way, or a wink, or any silent gesture that pre Jay would have been ignored. He knew half the cheerleaders wanted to bang Jay, not that he seemed interested in doing more than riling them up. 

     “That’s good I was worried Aziz would bore you with facts and history,” she smiled.

     “Nah, our Z knows us pretty well,” Carlos shook his head trying to contain his snicker. 

     "I've got the attention span of an eel," Jay snickered, "Not that I don't enjoy listening to your brother jabber about something he is interested in. I rather listen to his venting though."

     Aziz covered his face, "Why? I hate venting at you." 

     "Venting is good for you Princy. That and I like watching you pace and gesture in frustration, it's funny." Jay eased around his protective princess and moved out of shade, "Food?"

     “Yes, let’s head inside and get a seat,” Raj nodded.

     Evie rolled her eyes but followed, Aziz would deal with Raj if she crossed a line she supposed.

     Aziz headed after Raj, who had gotten them a table. He contained his glare as she made sure she was sitting as close as she could to his Jay. He sat down between Evie and Carlos so he could help them through the menu since none of the Isle kids could read Arabic. What he did notice was the fact that Jay had zipped his vest pretty much all the way up once more.

     Jay looked at the menu with the scribbles that looked like the ones in his father's books. The pictures only being so helpful, when everything looked about the same. His eyes flicked to Aziz and kept his expression passive as his Princy looked about to spit fire at his own sister.

     “I was thinking we could order the sample platter for the table once everyone has had a taste we could order order,” Raj said to Aziz as she finally looked at him.

     “That works for me,” Aziz nodded passing her a thin smile. 

     “You will tell me what I’m eating right? I mean I ain’t picky but you know reference...” Jay asked looking at Aziz, knowing his were a little more choosy about food than him.

     “Of course,” he looked surprised, “You never have to ask Jay. I know all of this is new to you three. I’d be a shitty host if I just expected you to know everything,” his lips curled in mild humor as Jay grinned leaning on the table.

     “What does everyone like to drink?” Raj asked sipping on her water.

     “I treated them to Tamar Hindi while we were walking around,” Aziz replied, trying not to glare at the fact his sister was mostly focused on his Jay.

     “Water is good for me,” Jay supplied leaning back as Iago leapt off his shoulder and landed on Aziz’s carefully. Apparently those two were on the same page that he needed to see the expressions Rajiya was missing, “You want to sit over there, don’t bite him.”

     “That was once,” Iago glowered, he did not like getting his beak rubbed by anyone but Jay. His annoying kid that lifted a brow that said he wasn’t amused by the biting of his allies.

     “They are some of my favorite drinks,” Raj tilted her head, “Which did you try?” she directed at Jay.

     “I think water would probably be best for all of us,” Evie supplied, “It looks like there is a date and nut plate from the pictures, did you want something Iago?”

     “Kid has a pocket full of walnuts,” Iago shook his head shuffling closer to her and brushed a strand of hair back over her shoulder with his wing, “Thanks for thinking of me.”

     “Purple one,” Jay looked at Raj leaning ever so slightly to look at her more, “It’s your brother’s favorite.”

     He blinked, how did Jay know that? He hadn’t mentioned it, he just grabbed the two flavors he knew they would like. It wasn’t hard, Carlos and Evie liked sweets and well Jay had similar tastes to his own, he guessed because Jay was a trash can. Kid ate anything.

     “Dragon fruit then, I like guava one my self” she smiled, “Have to try that one next.”

     “Guava is sweeter than the mango one.” Aziz informed Jay whose nose crinkled.

     “Los should love it then,” Jay shrugged a shoulder, “He’s big into sweets.” 

     Deflection, Jay was using deflection to try and change her attention. Aziz could have kissed him for it, not that his sister seem to pick up the hint Jay was just being ‘nice’. Was nice even the right term to use when it came to Jay? Aziz looked up as the waitress came back around. He ordered them the sample platter very aware of the fascinated look Jay was sending at him, or lecherous, it was hard to tell sometimes.

     “You like sweets then,” Carlos tried to draw her attention to him.

     “I like sweet juices, but I prefer spicy food,” she glanced at Carlos briefly with a small smile.

     Aziz could have said something but Jay beat him to it, “Spicy food, right you tried to explain that last night. Not sure how I feel about my mouth being on fire.” 

     “It’s not actually on fire Jay, and I made sure it was toned down, since you all have to be introduced to our kind of spice,” he said trying to stress that this was all new to them.

     “I’ll point out that ones that are spicy and mild on the platter,” she said, “There’s also a sweet one,” she added for Carlos and Evie.

     “I point you to the ones I think you’ll enjoy. Or if you want to try something else I can help you through the menu,” He offered to Carlos and Evie knowing they may not like something. Especially since Evie preferred salads to this kind of fare.

     “Thank you Princy,” Evie smirked at him, “I'm sure we can find something we like.”

     Raj glanced over surprised at the nickname. Aziz wasn’t much for nicknames and she’d heard 2 in the last few minutes.

     “Of course,” he passed her a warm look at the name Jay had deemed was his. “Can’t have any of you starve on my watch.”

     Jay snorted at that, “At least now that it is actually bad for us,” he gave Evie a pointed look, “But we’re getting used to living with food, we might as well see if Agrabah is a good fit for us right Princess?” he already knew she loved it here, her eyes constantly looking over the native fashion. And after she grew up being denied a choice in where her life was going other than to a prince for his satisfaction, Jay would give her all the mainland could give. If he had to steal it or not.

     “When is starving not bad for you?” Raj asked curious.

     Carlos looked like he wanted to say something but one look from Evie kept his mouth shut.

     “Its an isle thing,” Evie supplied, “I'll have to see what I like on the platter.”

     “Lot’s of things are Isle things for us. Princy stopped asking us questions he wasn’t sure he wanted the answer to,” Jay smirked giving the older male a look.

     “Hopefully everything,” Aziz grinned shaking his head at Jay, “I hadn’t expected you to give me the answer you know.”

     “Then you shouldn’t have asked,” Jay shrugged having told Aziz after they fucked just how he had gotten so good with his mouth.

     The platter was set down between them and Aziz thanked the woman, explaining three of them were new to Agrabah and needed some time to decide. She nodded telling him to wave her down when they decided.

     “Ok, what are we looking at? Cause it all smells delicious,” Carlos said as his stomach growled.

     “The light yellow is a mild curry chicken like last night. The reddish one is a beef chili, its spicy so I’d be careful. The orange is a curry beef, there is a mango chicken that has the chunk of mango on stick with the chicken.” Raj explained it this was her favorite place after all.

     “Those are the more traditional ones, beef and lamb mix, should be mild to spicy,” Aziz gestured.

     “What’s a lamb?” Jay asked head tipping.

     “Smallish, four legged grass eating domestic animal that has a wool coat, and often sheared, like an animal haircut, for that to be turned into the wool ‘amira uses during the winter.” Aziz explained in the most basic layman terms he could for Jay.

     “Ah,” Jay nodded glancing briefly at Evie, not even close to sure what the eating protocol was for this stuff, because she had been all over Carlos for his table manners and Jay really didn’t feel like being added to the list of needing to be ‘punished’.

     “Its finger food, mostly... I think” Evie looked at Aziz.

     “It is unless you want to use a fork,” Raj said grabbing one of the Chili Beef.

     Jay nodded, “Wicked,” he had one of the medium heat traditional ones in hand in seconds. It was a habit, open plates triggered his need to get what he and his needed before it was grabbed by someone else. 

     Aziz grabbed a curry beef and choked on a laugh, he had forgotten how quick he was about food. Seeing Jay’s head tip, “Remembering the first tourney pizza party you came to is all. Carlos try the mango one, did you like the curry from last night ‘amira?”

     “I did it was very good” she nodded watching as Carlos grabbed a few sticks of the Mango chicken.

     “Then try this,” he handed her the curry chicken.

     He took a bite of the meat stick in his hand and made a face, it wasn’t bad, but he wasn’t sure what they meant by spicy. It hit the back of his throat as he swallowed. That’s what they meant by spicy, he had never been more thankful for a poker face and drinking on the Isle. Aziz lifted an eyebrow as Jay suppressed a cough, and then bit back a smile as Jay flipped him off hiding the gesture from Raj.

     “This is so good” Carlos moaned biting into the grilled mango and chicken.

     Evie daintily ate the chicken off the stick, she liked the flavor explosion that went over her tongue.

     Raj watched the other princess as she ate, she didn’t seem like the type that would want to eat with her fingers.

     “You okay over there Jay?” Aziz prodded taking a bite of his kebab happy to have heat over Auradon’s bland food.

     “Apple,” Jay got out, before realizing that Aziz had no idea what that even meant, “I’m great Princy, just great,” he winced even as he kept eating it, a matter of pride now.

     “I am choosing not to ask,” he stated before looking at Evie, “I pick okay?”

     “Yes, this is perfect for me” she nodded

     “We’ll have to see if we can get stewed apples with dinner tonight. You’ll probably like them... Carlos” Raj said looking at the boy woofing down the Mango chicken sticks.

     “Pup leave one for Princess,” Jay gave him a look, as he finished off his kebab.

     “Way ahead of you,” Aziz gestured to the two he had separated out before Carlos could eat them all, “Eat this Jay. The other is for you if you want to try it ‘amira.”

     Jay took the offered food from Aziz, fingers darting across his palm before he pulled back, “How much worse are those to the one I just ate?”

     “Depends on how bad you think the one you just had was.”

     “I have nothing to compare that to...” Jay narrowed his eyes as Aziz pulled off a beef cube from his stick, “Okay?”

     “Try this. If it is too hot, eat the mangoes,” Aziz was acutely aware of Jay’s aprehension so he took another bite and Jay whisked it out of his fingers and into his mouth.

     “I’ll try it,” Evie nodded taking it from Aziz.

     “Ok,” Carlos sulked before deciding to try the chili beef. He tentatively took a small bite, he let it roll around for a second before swallowing. His eyes watered slightly as the heat hit the back of his throat. He sniffed for a second before looking at the stick, it wasn’t bad but, wow that was something that burn.

     Jay looked away, “Evil Princy,” he coughed, “How are you eating that?”

     Aziz laughed softly, “I’m used to it, give it twenty minutes. You’ll be fine with it.”

     “Why twenty minutes?”

     “That’s how long it took Ben to get a spice high from our food when he decided he wanted to try our native food in Auradon,” Aziz grinned finishing off his kebab and grabbed another, “You know that feeling you get after scoring a goal, think like that.”

     “I will stab you if you’re pulling my rings,” Jay bit into the mango trying to get something other than the flavor of burn in his mouth.

     “Pulling your rings is fun,” Carlos smirked taking another nibble, it seemed to be ok in small bites.

     “What is wrong with your mouth today?” Evie looked at Carlos in shock.

     “You have rings to be pulled on?” Raj raised an eyebrow at Jay.

     Jay laughed softly, “We clearly need to fix his talking thing for today, and I have rings yes, and I don’t always liked them pulled.” 

     “Jay!” Aziz stared at his friend.

     “I don’t think it takes me twenty minutes,” Jay gestured trying to stop the bubbles of laughter in his chest, “It feels like I did that stupid thing again just less glowy.”

     Aziz just looked confused at Jay as he covered his face, shoulders shaking before he seemed to get a better hold of himself and leaned on the table finishing off the mango chicken kebab. He looked at Evie for an explanation of any kind.

     “Um, are you going to need to recover again?” she asked eyeing Jay.

     “We’re gonna find out,” Jay coughed picking up another spicy kebob, “Can’t be any worse than that stupid.”

     Aziz eyed him, “So your just going to keep eating the spicy ones?”

     “I can’t feel my mouth any way, and stuff,” he shook his head not knowing even how to explain the near out of his mind bliss his body was in. Not seeing things was a nice change from the last time.

     “Well I’ll keep an eye on you then,” Evie looked at him with a smirk.

     “I like this plan, it’s a wicked plan,” Jay grinned back full teeth.

     “There is a story here I don’t know isn’t there?” Aziz asked looking between the two that starting to get that look around them again.

     “I don’t know it either,” Carlos shook his head, “This isn’t too bad.”

     “Somethings you’re better off not knowing,” Evie said, “I think some of that curry chicken would be nice.”

     “Jay do you know what you liked best?” Aziz asked the teen who looked at him with eyes promising things.

     “The medium version of these?” Jay pointed to the traditional kebob, trying to keep himself enough in check to not say something in front of Raj that should never be said in public.

     “You want the Chili Beef or the Mango Chicken ones? I think they make a beef and mango one too don’t they Raj?” Aziz tried to catch his sister’s attention as she looked Jay over trying to find something.

     “Yeah there a mango beef, it's more of a sweet rub though then a sauce on the meat,” Raj nodded trying to figure out where these rings where.

     “I want the mango chicken,” Carlos said, they had been so sweet but not too sweet he liked the juice of the grilled fruit with the slight heat of the chicken.

     "Alright then," Aziz kicked his sister's foot, "You want your usual?" He gave her a scolding look to her eyeing.

     “Yes” she nodded sending him an annoyed look.

     Aziz waved the waitress down and gave her their order with a smile before looking at them as they finished off the sample platter.

     "You know unless you can see through clothes, you ain't going to find them," Jay snickered looking at Raj.

     “I can imagine though,” she batted her eyes at him even as she blushed, their parents had always been straight forward with them about sex and the likes. Raj had snuck a peek or two on a few of the servant boys bathing once upon a time.

     "I can't exactly stop you imagining," Jay shifted ignoring Aziz's darkening look, "But you got to work on your flirting. I'm a terrible candidate for you to try it on. Princy could tell you about the whole cheerleading squad."

     “This is the problem with going to an all girls school, no boys,” Raj huffed looking down.

     “You can flirt with me,” Carlos volunteered, his voice died as Evie fixed him with a glowing blue gaze.

     “That's enough barking out of you puppy,” she warned feeling the magic gather around her a little.

     "Princess settle down, or he won't be the only one not barking," Jay purred feeling her power coiling against his skin, "Public."

     Aziz looked between the two of them, red gold and sapphire, "Okay no one is flirting with my little sister."

     “I don’t think that is your call brother” Raj looked at him.

     Evie closed her eyes trying to feel where the magic was bubbling up from so she could cut it off. She hadn’t had this problem before.

     Jay licked his lips watching her, "We can take care of his barking later Princess, promise." He felt it on his tongue magic gliding like silk of his lips.

     Aziz gave Raj a look, "I invited them here to see our home not-"

     Iago cleared his throat, "Public brats, we are in public. Kid stop talking. Blueberry just take a deep breath it will pass. Prince nothing you say is going to stop you sister. Girls are like that. Puppy dog, use that incredible mind of yours before talking. What are you grinning at kid?"

     Jay shook his head, hands up in surrender to the macaw who was currently in scolding parent mode. After last time Jay was trying not to order the bird around, that and this was Iago's purpose here.

     “Well he’s a smart one,” Raj looked at Iago.

     “You guys know my mouth gets away from me sometimes” Carlos blushed.

     Jay gave him a smirk, "Princess is the only one that minds when that happens in public. We like making her happy, so you can make it up to her later."

     Iago fluffed his feathers looking at Rajiya, "Smarter than you girly. You touch my Jay and I will bite you princess or not."

     Aziz huffed looking away even as he let his knee brush against Evie's hoping the contact would soothe her.

     Evie gave him a small smile as she tried to reel in this burst of magic.

     “I won’t touch unless asked,” Raj raised her hands in surrender to the puff ball of a macaw.

     Satisfied Iago hopped onto Evie's shoulder preening her hair, "Had to have a handsome kid didn't I? Fucking ridiculous," he griped under his breath as he preened knowing it soothed Jay.

     Jay settled back looking them over, Raj had made everything so tense. So grating to his. He looked at her, she didn't even seem to notice, "Curious, Princy knows both Ben and Penny. Did you know Penny since the two of you went to school together?" He was going to get things comfortable for them once again. Needed to so Princess would calm down like he was.

     “We knew each other in passing” Raj said, “she helped me when I first arrived at Merryweather. She ran a few of the other princesses off when they were bullying me”

     “That sounds like her alright, ” Carlos laughed.

     "She was cool like that. Didn't take shit from anyone," Jay smiled, "I liked hanging out with her, reminded me of home. Any reason you two didn't hit it off?"

     “I am younger, we didn’t have any classes together. Plus she didn’t really seem like she was looking for a friend more like she was sticking it to Cindy,” Raj shrugged, she’d tried to reach out a few times but Penny had kept her distance.

     "Huh, weird," Jay frowned slightly, Penny had always said no one wanted to be her ally. "Cindy, daughter of Cinderella right?"

     Aziz nodded, "Yes that would be her, Chad's younger sister. She's a lot like her brother."

     “Then maybe Penny was trying to make sure that Cindy just left you alone” Evie suggested thinking about it.

     "Maybe," Jay shook his head as the waitress set the food down in front of them with bowls of rice and vegetables.

     Aziz thanked her with a smile.

     “How did you guys meet her?” Raj asked as she dished some rice onto her plate.

     "She started Auradon Prep early this year. Transferred after Ben's big thing for the Crown, the whatchamacallit?" Jay looked at Evie, her eyes back to a rich brown. He was going to see if he could get the pretty blue back when they were alone.

     “Coronation,” Evie supplied.

     “Yeah she was a bundle of energy,” Carlos laughed.

     "Yeah that," Jay flashed Evie a grateful smile, "She is all for us Isle Kids, and she tried hanging with Mal, girl thing I guess. But she and I just ended up spending more time together. I liked her, like I said reminded me of home. The better parts of home, if that's a thing."

     Aziz listened to Jay, at the fact he avoided saying anything about her disappearance and how it happened. He was impressed the kid didn't give his candid opinion, but that might have been from Evie being right there.

     “I’m glad, she always looked so lonely” Raj smiled a little, “I hope she feels better soon. Maybe she can come with you guys next time.”

     "Maybe that would be nice to have her come and see Agrabah," Aziz nodded not missing the clench of Jay's jaw as he busied himself with getting rice and vegetables. 

     “I’m sure she’ll love it” Evie gave a small smile.

     "Maybe for Christmas, when it isn't so hot. How are you three doing with the heat?" Aziz asked.

     "Its hot," Jay shrugged, glancing at his arms, "I mean I was warned by multiple parties it was hot here."

     “Yeah, it's hotter here than I thought it would be” Carlos nodded. 

     “I packed correctly so I am enjoying the heat for the most part,” Evie smirked at the boys, they should have listened to her.

     "Don't give me that look, leather, denim or skin. That is it. You forced me into silk once, and only once," Jay pointed at Evie as he prodded at his vegetables, green and white somethings.

     “Eat your vegetables,” Evie rolled her eyes at him.

     “You dressed him in silk? Tell me there are pictures” Raj looked at Evie hopefully.

     “Sorry nope” Evie shook her head.

     "Thank Evil for that," Jay muttered popping a slice of green into his mouth.

     Aziz shrugged, "You looked good, I don't know why you get so huffy about clothes she's kind enough to make you."

     "At least there were leather pants," Jay ceded, he liked the feel of the pants, particularly when Aziz was blowing him.

     “How’s that leather treating you now?” Evie smirked as Raj giggled.

     "Depends on if you want me to hug you when I open my vest back up outside or not." Jay smirked back popping a sliver of white in his mouth, peppers and onions.

     “You act as if your sweat bothers me,” she licked her lips, “But if you want to be like that, then fine. We’ll finish our tour then head back and see how much you like your leather.”

     "I told you when you made it for me. I'll always wear it unless you force me out of it. I even patch it up when something happens. Except that one I left at home... there was no good fixing that." Jay made a face subconsciously rubbing the scar curled around his right bicep.

     Aziz watched them, they were always in some state of flirting with one another. At least they were both eating food this way.

     “I can make you one out of something lighter” she suggested, “So you don’t sweat to death”

     "Am I really going to have a choice in this?"

     "You want to sweat to death or do you just want to let Blueberry do her thing?" Iago snorted.

     Jay made a face biting into his kebab. He was not winning this, "After today, alright..."

     “Good, I'll start working on it tomorrow,” Evie nodded.

     "Maybe I should ask 'amira to sit in on all of our study sessions if you roll over that quick."

     "Watch it Princy," Jay threatened pointing with his kebab, "Or I stop playing so nice."

     “You don’t play nice anyway,” Carlos pointed out.

     “You and I have very different ways of getting him to study,” Evie looked at Aziz.

     "For the record I like her method better."

     "Well she doesn't have to help you through History of the Seven Seas," Aziz shot back, "And I don't think you know what I consider to be nice."

     "I am nice, for me. But I mean if you prefer-"

     "No, I do not prefer your brat days."

     “I take it you guys spend a lot of time together then” Raj looked between the two with a raised eyebrow.

     "A lot of time, when he can make it for me. He took it upon himself to catch me up on school," Jay gave her a half smile, "Your brother likes being a prince like that."

     “Well that's good cause as future Sultan he needs to know how to care for all of his people,” Raj answered with her own smile.

     "Not one of you though, just an Isle brat," Jay had enough smarts to know not to say street rat in this city.

     Aziz smiled slightly, he would convince Jay and the others. Because he wasn't sure how he was going to survive without them after everything they had been through.

     “You’re more than that,” Evie gave him a fond smile before focusing on her food.

     “I think technically you’re an Agrabian citizen,” Raj added.

     “He is, but it is up to him if he wants to believe it. But really I just enjoy spending time with the brat as he tends to tell you exactly what is on his mind without filter.” Aziz knew that look, “I mean it Jay. It is your life, you get to pick where it goes and no one else.”

     “You are the sappiest shit some days you know that?” Jay took another bite of his kebab, the burn a little less intense than it had been previously.

     “Sappy but sweet,” Evie smiled. 

     “It’s... nice that someone cares about us,” Carlos nodded.

     “Someone needed to, I thought it was about time you all were given a helping hand,” he knew it was something they had all mentioned before, not being able to trust anyone on the Isle, no one but each other. Though some days he had seen the way Jay regarded everyone, waiting for the blow, the words, prepared to be cast out for something Aziz couldn’t even fathom.

     “We appreciate it.” Evie nodded as she worked on her rice.

     As the table fell quiet Jay shifted uncomfortable. Silence was always so weird to him. He was used to the sounds of the Isle. The screams and fighting, the hustle and violence had blended into the background there. He was aware of all the noises but they had stopped bothering him. But here where there was only the low drone of talking, he felt the hairs on the back of his neck stand on end as that paranoia built up. Swallowing hard he buried the feeling dragging those good things back up out of the depths to keep him grounded, hands on a cane with golden rings and the faint memory of kind words off the man. The calm settled back down over him as he finished off his food, the wistful calm lingering in his head as his mouth seemed to tingle with the heat. He was kind of enjoying the feeling of it, he wasn’t entirely sure if that was a good thing or not. 

     “I hope you guys liked this place it’s one of my favorites when I’m home for the holidays,” Raj said as they finished up their food.

     “Yeah it was good,” Jay offered, “We’ve never had anything like it before so it was good.”

     “I’m glad to hear it,” Aziz nodded paying the bill for the food, “I am glad you all are so willing to try new things.”

     “It’s the only way to adapt,” Evie smiled as Carlos stretched getting ready for them to head back out into the heat.

     Aziz stood watching as Iago leapt off Evie’s shoulder and landed back on Jay’s happily rubbing his head against the male’s cheek. It still surprised him how easy Jay made it look with the bird that was so iconic to his father.

Chapter 110: Streets of Agrabah (Agrabah: June)

     Walking back into the dry heat of the afternoon Jay unzipped his vest all the way letting it fall open as he tried to pull his hair off the back of his neck with Iago sitting on his shoulder still. The macaw not seeming to mind his struggles in the slightest.

     “So where to now?” Carlos asked putting an arm around Evie’s waist.

     Aziz shrugged, “Figured we could just finish walking around town while I show you three everything.” 

     “Oh, what are you going to show them?” Raj asked as she tried to get into a position to get a better look at Jay.

     “Things...” Aziz gave her a look, “Didn’t have anything specific in mind. We’ve just been walking while I-”

     “Played tour guide. He’s much better at it then Ben,” Jay gave Aziz a searing look that was ignored. 

     “Aziz seems to be better then Ben at a lot of things,” Carlos snorted with a smirk.

     “Be nice,” Evie warned him.

     “I don’t think I've ever met Ben. Is he tall or short? Is he nice, I mean I assume he’s nice but well you never know,” Raj tilted her head looking at Jay, “Oh do you want a hair tie? I could braid it for you to keep it off your neck.”

     Jay tilted his head at her, “He’s nice, sometimes too nice...” he looked over his shoulder to Evie, “This is a girl thing isn’t it. The braiding my hair thing...”

     “It must be,” Evie giggled a little watching them.

     “Do a lot of girls try and braid your hair?” she asked looking confused as she offered the hair tie from her wrist. 

     “Yeah a lot of them,” Jay nodded, “I don’t really get it,” he took the hair tie from Raj.

     Iago sighed taking flight so his kid could pin his hair all the way up in a quick messy bun, before landing back on his shoulder.

     “Well it looks soft, do you condition it or it is just natural? Why do you wear it long?”

     “Condition?” Jay asked confusion, “Baba stopped cutting it, so I let it grow.”

     “Conditioner, you put it in after you wash. There's a leave in kind for after a shower or a wash out type of while you shower,” she explained walking backwards as she looked at him talking. “Are your nipples pierced?” she blinked as she spotted the silver glint in the sun.

     “Yeah no idea what your talking about. I have a one bottle thing for the shower,” Jay shook his head as he opened the left side of his vest slightly to flash one of his rings without showing her much of the scars, “Yep. You might want to watch where you’re going.”

     “Do it all the time,” she shook her head, “Did that hurt?” she asked as she sidestepped a crate of something behind her.

     “No, then again,” Jay shrugged, “You might not want to try to get yours done. Probably hurts,” he reached out and grabbed her shoulder as a small child raced behind her, “Not that I don’t trust your keen sense of your surroundings, but I don’t trust them.”

     “Oh they do that on occasion to see if I’ll fall over and take a fruit stand with me,” she shrugging, “One of the girls at Merryweather’s has a pierced belly button. She’s older around Penny’s age... she use to hang out around Penny, I don’t think she liked Cindy very much either.”

     “Really?” Jay asked curious, “Ears, tongues... other things were more the thing on the Isle. I don’t think I ever saw a belly button piercing.” He released Raj’s shoulder as he noticed the sharp looks he had gotten for daring to touch the princess. “Penny never mentioned any girls she hung out with, actually she said she didn’t have any friends at her old school.”

     “I wouldn't say they were friends after all she did tell the headmistresses that Penny was the one that sent... Mona onto the lake on an air mattress.” Raj thought about it, “Of course that was after Penny put Nair in her shampoo, but then again that was after she tricked Penny into thinking she was invited to a sleepover then locked her in a storage closet.” Raj looked Jay up and down, “The same girl mentioned that people get their bits peirced, is that a thing? Like a real thing?”

     Evie nearly tripped over her feet as her head whipped to look at them, her eyes glowing blue in warning as she looked at Jay.

     “What is Nair?” Jay deflected seeing Evie’s look, “Okay don’t answer that I get it... Geeze...” he muttered under his breath, his pocketed hands flashing out to either side without thinking as he gave Evie the surrender motion.

     “Its a... its a... what happened to your side?” Raj asked giving up on ignoring it, her mother always said she lacked tact.

     Jay looked down at the thick roundish scars in an oval pattern on his right side. At Evie’s not glare this time around, “Long story.” he really didn’t think the girl wanted to know about the bite, not really, and her brother was prone to trace the scars after they fucked, looking at him with those golden doe eyes actually wanting to know but never asking for fear of upsetting him.

     “Hey what’s this place?” Carlos asked quickly pulling the princess’ attention away from Jay. He looked at the plain looking building with a few scantily clad girls sitting in the upper windows.

     “That is Mama Jaunie’s Lady of the night house,” Raj shrugged, “The girls are pretty chatty when they have the time,” she remembered getting lost when she was little and one of the girls bringing her here until they were able to take her home. Her mother had been scandalized her father had laughed his ass off.

     “Huh,” Jay mussed eyes tracing over the woman, “Didn’t realize you mainlanders had brothels. Figured it was just an Isle thing...”

     Aziz’s head slowly turned to look at Jay, he seemed so... there wasn’t even a word to describe how bland he made it sound. Like these places were typical on the Isle. He flushed immediately at the thought of Jay in one of these places for the hell of it considering what the kid could do.

     “Are you ok?” Evie asked coming to stand next to Aziz.

     “Oh so you have been to one before? There are a few around town,” Raj looked at Jay.

     “I don’t think a princess is supposed to know about that stuff,” Carlos looked confused.

     “What I do when I slip my guards is my business,” Raj smirked good naturedly at him.

     “Um...Jay, man can I... can we...” Carlos couldn’t find the words.

     “Yeah you can say that, Isle has a whole path of these. We call it the District,” Jay shrugged looking away from the woman who had realized they had an audience, “Sure Pup, whatever you need.”

     Aziz looked at Evie, “Just thinking things I shouldn’t be thinking about while in public with my sister...” he spoke softly as the group continued on their not direct path through the city.

     “Ah, well she is... different from what we were expecting I suppose. She’s quiet around your parents,” Evie glanced back over her shoulder raising an eyebrow at the boys.

     “That was... a lot a women all of a sudden,” Carlos looked back.

     “I think sometimes they can smell new people,” Raj laughed.

     “Give me a break it was worse on the Isle,” Jay rolled his eyes this time, “Your still traumatized over Morgana’s twins. I don’t know about smelling, unless their half tiger then I can see it.”

     “She’s normally like this, I did warn you about questions right?” He joked softly trying not to look back in case he started thinking about Jay again. It was hopeless, when the kid was behind him half dressed.

     “Are you telling me you enjoyed being ganged up on by those two?” Carlos made a face at him.

     “Who are the Morgana twins?” Raj asked looking between the two boys.

     “As a matter of fact yes, yes I did. Not exactly the way I preferred but, it was fine with me. Twins of Morgana,” Jay was clearly missing something here.

     “Who’s Morgana?” she asked, feeling like they were talking in a circle.

     “Scary octopus lady, I think she’s Ursula’s sister” Carlos told her, “You guys don’t know the villains?”

     “We know our own, we know a few of the bigger ones,” Raj said sheepishly.

     “Morgana, younger and more powerful sister of Ursula,” Jay snickered, “Thin and green skinned to Ursula’s large and purple grey. Still with all eight tentacles and two human arms. Their alright I guess.”

     “They are talking about female twins aren’t they...” Aziz asked over hearing the bickering.

     “Yeah, Morgana’s little whores,” Evie rolled her eyes, “The male twins are the Gastons, nothing good about them in anyway shape or form.”

     “Oh Queen Ariel’s villain,” Raj nodded, she didn’t really pay attention in that part of history.

     “Yeah Jay mentioned having a class with them. Said they would love Chad, well more Jay speech than that but you know what I mean,” Aziz took pause at the word she used.

     “Uh sure,” Jay nodded, “I have Urusla’s grand eels as pets. I miss them, like water bound snakes.”

     “You should check out the manangory then, we’ve got a few snakes. I know not the same but maybe it will help with the missing,” she suggested.

     “I’m sure they would drag Chad off into a corner and take turns fucking him until they got board,” Evie snorted, not a bad idea letting those two have Chad if they ever got off the isle. It would be a win win, Chad would learn to leave people alone and the twins would be sent back to the isle without any work.

     “Um... that was a thing those two did?” Aziz blinked at her.

     “A mana what now?” Jay’s eyes narrowed at her, really not sure if the word she used was a real word in the first place.

     “Manangory, it's like a private zoo,” she explained, “We’ve got all sorts of animals when they aren’t being used for this or that.”

     “So I heard, I may have poured acid on one of their legs, so they left me alone,” Evie shrugged giving him the innocent eyes.

     “Poured-,” Aziz stopped shaking his head, “This, this is what Jay meant when he says you aced Potions and Posions.”

     “Then why not say private zoo? Princy explained those earlier to us. Why do you all need fancy words for everything?” Jay grumbled.

     “I did ace that class, I just also took supplies with me for academic reasons,” Evie looked at his face, he was learning a lot about them today.

     “Don’t know that’s just what its called,” Raj shrugged to them.

     “Don’t kid, people make up words all the time, it’s not you,” Iago soothed patting the top of his head with his wing.

     “Like these Dyes you’ve been working on?” Aziz asked, “I’m going to ask because I cannot stop my brain dwelling on it. Did he... did he ever go to one of those, for that?”

     “I can’t tell you either way, I don’t think so but your better off asking him.” Evie said, she couldn’t really see Jay paying other people to fuck when he could get paid for it.

     Aziz laughed softly shaking his head, “It’s such a silly thing to get caught up on. It doesn’t change anything, not even knowing or in this case not knowing. He just... He does a whole lot of talking without actually saying anything. It’s frustrating sometimes, it took me making a deal with him for him to tell me about his thing. And he still hasn’t told me why he’s tanking History so hard, he knows it when I go over it with him...” he let his hand brush hers, “I want to know about you. Know you, good, bad, everything in the middle I don’t care, I just want to know my,” he paused looking for a suitable word for the thing he had entered into with them, “Companions? That is the closest word suitable for public I think.”

     “In private I’ll be happy to answer anything you want to know that isn’t too painful,” she nodded, “And that’s how he works, I make deals with him to get him to do things, he makes deals with me to get me to do things.”

     “So everything revolves around deals for him. Good to know bribery will continue getting me what I need to know. I know there are a few things he wants from me...” He went pink again, “Stemming from your suggestion to helping him through Ben’s birthday. That night could have gone so much better, for him at least.”

     “That night could have gone better for everyone,” Evie grimaced, at least Audrey was gone for now. Evie had no doubt that her parents and grandmother would try and get her to be allowed back.

     "Very true, but she is gone now. King Phillip and I had it out about his daughter's behavior. He was not happy about what I had to say, really not happy with her when I was done," Aziz knew that look, "Now if only I could get rid of Chad that way. Sadly his family is too rooted in the council." His lips twisted up slightly, "Before I met you three I would have never dreamt of dealing with Chad or Audrey. I just rolled my eyes and called them childish. Now I have to worry, because I don't know how long Jay is going to hold out before he snaps on Chad."

     “Queen Belle is already on that front. She’s been pretty protective of Jay from the parental standpoint... or at least that’s what I think a parent acts like,” Evie smiled, Belle didn’t seem to care what they did; she had made it clear she was going to protect them no matter what.

     Aziz smiled, "Her and my mom both then. Though I imagine he takes Queen Belle's 'parenting' much better than he took my mom's first attempt. To be honest I was very impressed she didn't start hovering already. She was rushing about the palace before you got here according to baba, making sure everything was perfect. You don't have to do the wardrobe thing with mom if you don't want to, by the way."

     “Fashion is what I enjoy doing. I don’t mind working on your mom’s wardrobe.” Evie shook her head, “and Belle knows to let Jay come to her unless she needs to intervene. Your mom not so much."

     "We call them Tiger moms fondly here in Agrabah. Means they are very protective. Mom... she wants to be there for Jay... I vaguely remember mom having a fit when I was a kid. Something about the council denying her from taking one of the Isle Kids in." Aziz glanced over his shoulder at the two boys, he knew about Carlos, but maybe Jay too, their heroes had wanted them.

     “Well it's a new generation coming into power maybe you and Ben can change things,” Evie suggested, she really hoped so, the kids on the isle didn’t deserve to be there, well most of them.

     “I’m trying trust me. The little I do know, that I was allowed to know from you three, I don’t think anyone deserves to be there. Ben and I are trying, hell Rufio has been telling us he’ll throw his vote in if he thought it would be heard. But that’s the problem, the council still in charge, the ones who come to meetings, they won’t hear it. Ben has a list, a healthy list of kids he and Mal made, but they denied it. Told him it’s too risky to bring so many over, especially with things not being a proven success with the four Ben already brought here. Of 15 seats, 5 to 6 of us show up to make decisions.” Aziz shook his head, “Sorry I know there is nothing you can do... But know I am trying, I am trying to fix things.”

     “Well maybe there is something we can do? How do we prove that we are... a success?” Evie asked, “Who sits on the council? Everyone is rather quiet about that.”

     “Graduate, all of you with high marks. Or showing potential because I am not prepared to let them get away with anything more,” He sighed softly, “How much do you know about the other kingdoms of Auradon? We’ll start there.” 

     “Well I know most of their names and who rules them, their family bloodline. Mother wanted to make sure I knew which prince’s were more worthy then others of my attentions,” Evie flicked her hair over her shoulder.

     “And did I make the cut?” He asked with a smile to let her know he was only curious, “I will be dutifully offended if I didn’t.”

     “My mother felt your blood was sullied by... well your father, but you were acceptable before a few first generation royals. She would have preferred if King Stephan had a son but well if a princess was unavailable I was to make a royal available by any means.” 

     “Heart warming,” He muttered, “Well lucky for you ‘amira I am a fabulous candidate, our handsome cobra assed Prince of Thieves saw to that,” he snickered, “But back to your questions, there is a seat for every ‘major’ kingdom. Agrabah, Auradon proper, Charmings, King Phillip and Queen Aurora hold one seat jointly, Atlantis, Neverland, the Tribes of the Scotts, Faery, Camelot, Olympus, Wonderland, China, Arendelle, Carona, and well your mother’s old kingdom held by the White’s.”

     “You mean Snow White’s kingdom,” she nodded, “Mother didn’t like to talk about them much for a kingdom that she ruled for over a decade.”

     “I’m honestly not sure. She... well she never shows up to the council meetings unless she has to, and spends her time bitching that she isn’t getting a strong enough vote,” Aziz shrugged, “I try and stay away from her, especially now adays. But the other part of your question is that the seats, aka the kingdoms I mentioned, all have appointed voices. I am Agrabah’s, Rufio is Neverland’s, you get where I am going with this, but there are things where it requires the actual head of the kingdoms to have a vote. They haven’t had one of those since the council decided to leave the kids on the Isle. Fairy Godmother wasn’t allowed at the time to vote for Faery, King Adam ruled her an unfit candidate to decide the fate of a human.”

     “Then who has the faery vote?” she asked, she couldn’t think of who would represent the faeries if it wasn’t Fairy Godmother.

     “The Blue Fairy, but something happened in Faery over the creation of the barrier I think. I don’t know what happened but Faery was sealed off entirely. The only ones allowed to come and go are Fairy Godmother and the Blue Fairy. But we haven’t seen her in years. I can’t imagine what our world would be like with that place still open. Neverland did something similar not long after, Rufio doesn’t like talking about it. He’s the only Lost Boy outside of Neverland.” 

     “Then we need to start getting allies,” she nodded, “We start with who we can convince with no effort. Then we work our way up.”

     “It would help if more than 5 seats showed up. I have Ben and Rufio, but Ben doesn’t have the vote, his baba’s advisor Farris does. Rufio, well he doesn’t show up even when I tell him I need him there. I get support from Queen Aurora but, King Phillip is the one who mostly shows up. Charmings are out. I could make you a list of people who’d side with Agrabah, but zero of them show since that last big vote.” he pinched the bridge of his nose, “Sorry... I know you don’t want to actually hear me complaining about politics and such on your very first vacation to a different kingdom.”

     “First vacation ever, but if you need to talk about it, then I'm happy to listen I had this stuff stuffed into my head for years while I was trapped in the castle with my mother” she took his hand in hers.

     He looked at their hands and smiled softly, “I will try and resist my want to complain. Making sure you have a good time here is more important than anything else,” he tucked a strand of hair behind her ear, “I need time to breathe away from fighting battles, before I wake up one day and realize I spent my whole life trying to fix everyone else's lives without ever living a life of my own.”

     “That we can understand, we know a thing or two about fighting.” 

     “Are they dating? Cause I think mom would like that,” Raj looked at the two in front of them

     “Yeah I got that Miss. Aced-Potions-and-Poisons,” he teased, “Jay... he has been helping remind me to breathe. Sometimes when he leaves I feel guilty because he spends time helping me and I don’t have the time to help him through school work.”

     “Right Mainlander...” Jay smiled slightly seeing his two, “We Isle kids are hands on. It helped us without needing words or the mushy crap you guys have. I hear people say the word love like it’s air. Important but no meaning left to it. It’s stupid. I hate that shit when couples say it and a week later they break up.”

     “So is that a yes or a no?” Raj looked confused, “I suppose I don’t really care, I walked in on him once with some girl I didn't recognize.”

     “That’s a no, their holding hands because he needs the comfort,” Jay stated looking over the tension in Aziz’s shoulders the subconscious hand running through the thick hair, “He’s talking about work. Like he’s not home on break. Wait you walked in on your brother f-” he cut himself off looking at Carlos, “Mainland word I always forget.”

     “Having sex, yeah. It was... not to be done again” she shook her head.

     “Huh, I don't have any brothers but I don't think I’d want to walk in on them like that” Carlos thought about it.

     Jay made a face, yeah he was pretty sure he was broken, because he would have totally interrupted and made commentary. Oh wait, that was exactly what he had done to Jade once. He snickered remembering having to dodge the knife she had thrown at his head screaming she was going to skin him. “Can’t imagine how your parents took it.”

     “I don’t know, but they were always really open with us about sex,” Raj licked her lips.

     “Really? I mean it’s a real hush hush thing in Auradon. I asked your brother at some point if you guys just didn’t do it at all. That and Ben went all red when he realized what we were talking about one time. But I am also a terrible can... cani...” Jay huffed unable to get the word off his tongue, “Terrible person to talk to about this stuff.”.

     “Candidate” Raj said, “Every kingdom is a little different, it is ultimately up the parents I think.”

     “Huh, must be nice...” Jay muttered, he had been introduced to sex via Evie, who was forced into it by her mother. He just, well he took it way into the deep end, but it was something he was good at and he tried to perfect whatever he had that he was actually good at.

     “So... do you like talking about Sex?” Raj tilted her head.

     Jay looked at Evie’s back warily, “There is no answer here that doesn’t have me getting hurt later. But I will say, life here is not life on the Isle. So I know that I shouldn’t just keep talking about it...”

     “Ok, that’s boring,” she sighed.

     “What are you guys talking about?” Evie looked over her shoulder at them.

     “Absolutely nothing,” Jay said quickly, “Nothing is boring Raj.”

     “Right,” she raised an eyebrow at them before turning back to Aziz.

     “She’s a little wound tight,” Raj observed.

     “Eh, not really, she’s in her Perfect Princess mode. We’re in public with the Prince and Princess of Agrabah, she wants to make a good impression. Pup doesn’t give a shit, he’s not allowed to yap any more today. Me, well I am trying not to climb a building to escape the looks I keep getting from people.”

     “Eh, we’re nothing too special around here,” she shrugged tossing a few coins at a vender as she grabbed a few apples and tossed them to a few lurking kids.

     “I am thinking that’s because of your baba,” Jay paused looking at the kids, he remembered being one of those kids, only there was no one there that would feed him. He only ate when he had stolen enough to sate everyone else first, and most times it was bits of hard bread he shared with Iago.

     “Probably, he made a point of bringing us down to the places in town no one goes so that we knew what it looked like,” Raj nodded.

     “Like a cleaner, more safe version of home. I wish home had been like this place is...” Jay muttered as the kids took the apples and ran down the darkened alley.

     “Things would have been better. Probably would have risked sleeping in the alleys,” Carlos nodded.

     “I would have took the boys and left if it was like this. Would have had options in where to squat and not have to worry...”

     “Yeah the tank would have been the only problem,” Carlos looked around, “Maybe we could look around while we’re here, see if we can find somewhere to be ours.”

     Jay looked at him, and rubbed the back of his neck, “If we find a place we all agree on... maybe will convince me...”

     “We can talk to Evie tonight,” Carlos said watching Evie interact with Aziz.

     “Mom would probably buy you anywhere you wanted it if meant you where in country,” Raj shrugged, “So just a thought.”

     Jay look at Raj expression dark, “Don’t take this the wrong way, but I don’t want a hand out from your mother. We have some money from allowances and I’ve got things I can sell, we will make it work on our own if we chose to be here.”

     “Ok, if that’s what you want,” she shrugged good naturedly.

     “Yeah that would be what we want,” Jay nodded turning away from the alley, “Yeah Pup, we’ll talk to Princess tonight.” he rolled his shoulders back trying to shake off the tension that had built up.

     “It’s not like whatever was left over from them liquidating your moms company wouldn’t cover a place here,” Raj looked at Carlos.

     “What?” Carlos looked confused at her.

     “Your mom was a fashion mogul before everything. When she was arrested her company was liquidated, part of it went to help take care of the puppies. But the rest went to an account that’s been frozen” Raj explained, “I found the story about the Dalmatians interesting. Mom would probably know more.”

     "Which means what exactly?" Jay asked confused by all the words he didn't understand in the slightest.

     “Meaning that Carlos has money once he figures out who has the account info,” Raj said, “I’m sure it’s not that simple but it’s a start.”

     "Money... you, have money Pup... why did no one tells us this?" Jay asked confused, if it was Carlos' money why didn't they give it to him, it would have saved them the whole allowance thing from Ben and Queen Belle.

     “I’d ask mom, like I said she’d probably know more on that front I just found out about it online."

     “Seriously, online..." he looked at the kid who was always online.

     "Huh, I never thought to look up us or our parents,” Carlos blinked.

     "This is oddly not surprising. Why do we need to look up people we 'A' don't want to think about, and 'B" are intimately familiar with?"

     “No idea, but I know some of the princesses look themselves up for whatever reason,” he shrugged.

     “It’s to see what people are saying about them,” Raj supplied.

     "Another thing I never understood. We just always assumed people were talking shit and punched them. Though I have been told by a lot of people, I'm not supposed to punch people I don't like in the mouth. Shame really because there are a few people here who could use a good thrashing." Jay sighed as they met back up with Aziz and Evie.

     “No argument there” Raj nodded, “Where to brother?”

     "Back home? I think we have seen everything on this side of town. I was going to take them to the port side tomorrow." Aziz offered his hand still with Evie's as his tensions continued to fade. "You three find something interesting?"

     “Maybe, need to check some facts,” Carlos seemed lost in thought.

     Aziz frowned slightly reaching out to ruffle Carlos' hair, "Everything okay Los?"

     Jay nodded to Evie, they would need to talk and relax together soon because well Jay was antsy now they were standing still and there were eyes on him. They may have thought they were being stealthy but Jay had spotted the guards as they got closer to the palace.

     “Yeah just thinking about something” Carlos nodded to Aziz.

     "Alright, well then let's head on back home. We'll have some time to cool off and relax before dinner." Aziz smiled turning slightly to Evie, "You didn't spot anything else you wanted to see today did you?"

     “No today was perfect. Now I am thinking about the bath” Evie smiled as they moved towards the palace.

     "That sounds good," Jay nodded, they never had a bath big enough to fuck in before, it could be fun.

Chapter 111: Thinking of Settling (Agrabah: June)

Notes:

Warning:
NSFW

     Evie had gone straight to the waterfall style shower to rinse off the sweat and sand of the day. Once she was satisfied that she was for the most part clean, she slipped into the deep tub filled with cool water to relax in. She had seen Jay’s eyes earlier when he’d heard her say bath, so it was a matter of waiting for him to appear. He was probably making sure Carlos was comfortable before coming in here. Once they had closed the door to the room it became obvious that Carlos may have had a little too much sun. Luckily Evie had packed aloe, she’d given the tube to Jay with instructions before heading into the bathroom.

     Jay finished rubbing the last of the aloe on Carlos' neck and stepped back from the near naked pale freckled skin with its large bands of pink wherever his skin had been exposed. 

     "Okay Pup you just relax under the fan and cool off some. I'm going to wash up," he gave the half asleep boy a kiss before tossing his damp vest onto a chair and kicked off his jeans and boots. He walked naked into the bathroom taking the hair tie out and looked over Evie in the massive tub, "I'm going to shower first," he didn't wait for a response just eased into the shower and turned the water on lukewarm.

     His eyes spotted familiar bottles and he grabbed for them as he stood under the spray. Flipping them open he sniffed them until he found the right one, the one he used at home in the half working bathroom. Closing it he set it down and went about washing up. His mind wandering to an old vague memory of his father giving him a bath as a very young child.

     "Sit still Jairaj. You have to have patience boy. Now then, which one do you want today?"

     "This one Baba. It smells pretty," he looked up at the softer expression his father wore before those long fingers worked the oil into his short hair.

     "Very well boy, but we are almost out of it. What will you ask for when it is gone?"

     "Nothing. I'll go find more. I know what it smells like."

     "When you are older perhaps Jairaj, but you are still too young to be running amok the Isle. I have great things planned for you, plans that will require you to be here with me."

     "Yes Baba, that sounds nice," his hands curled around his father's moving wrists as he smiled brightly.

     Jay shook himself loose of the memory and turned the water off. Standing there dripping water with his eyes closed, body and hair clean.

     Evie tipped her head up looking at the shower as it turned off, she studied Jay’s out line threw the glass waiting for him to move. “You ok in there?” She asked.

     Jay wrung his hair out, surprised at how long it had gotten without him noticing. Hanging somewhere around his waist, he tried to remember if it had ever been this long. "Yeah this place is just..." how was he supposed to explain that it was dragging up memories he wanted to forget, because they confused him and he didn't like the way they made him feel about the man who punished him and touched him and ingrained things into him he knew nothing would free him of. 

     Jay slid out of the shower, wet hair over his shoulder as he moved towards her and eased into the warm water, "Don't worry about me, I'm working on getting my head all sorted out is all. I am glad to see you and Princy are getting on so well," he thumbed the new necklace inspecting it, it wasn't expensive, but it was worth enough, good craftsmanship, nice stone and setting, pristine condition. He dropped it back against her chest, he had to stop. He was not his father.

     “It's nice to have someone to talk protocol and politics with. My passion is fashion but... there has to be a point to me knowing all of it. Helps me feel better about knowing it all when I can use it,” she ran her fingers over the side of his face, “Did you want me to trim your ends?”

     "Yeah, could you? I don't know when my hair got this long. Last I remember it was like mid back," he leaned into her touch hands resting on her waist as he sighed, "I know it does. Makes all that time and effort feel worthwhile for once. I can't help him with that. It's all gibberish to me, but your super smart and in the know, maybe you can help him with those council issues, I don't know advise or whatever the name is for it."

     “Well the council sounds like a boys club.” she shook her head, “How short do you want it, just half an inch off or do you want me to take it to the middle of your back?"

     He shrugged, "Don't know Princess, the super long locks doing it for me?" He preferred letting her decide how short to make it, though it was never too short, she liked playing with it. "Probably is, if your mom's teachings are anything to go by. But if anyone is going to change it, it'll be you."

     “We’ll see. I think I'll take it up to mid back make it more manageable for you” she played with the end of his hair.

     He watched her toy with it and smirked, "Anything is manageable for me if you like it. If you want to just trim it and take off the split ends first, I'm okay with it. I know you like playing with it... should go back to what it felt like on the Isle. At least while we're here," he had liked it on the Isle, soft and smooth, it was always getting snarled up and fuzzy when he got to the Mainland.

     “Maybe for a little bit, before we go back to school” she smirked, “I can find out what they have here so we can take some back with us.”

     Jay shifted uncomfortably for a second embarrassed, "Same stuff my Baba kept at his house. I didn't, I didn't realize it came from Agrabah. Exact same stuff actually..." it was stupid he should have realized. As much as his baba ranted about Agrabah, why wouldn't it have come from here? He should have been able to make a stupid little connection like that. 

     “Oh... are you ok with that?” she asked moving him to sit so she could sit across his lap.

     Jay nodded slowly, "Yeah... I always liked the way it smelled." He would never admit he liked the way his father smiled in the mornings after Jay bathed the night before. The way he desperately clung to the flickering memory of a man who once tried, no matter how much he wanted to bury it. He was still trying to achieve something he knew would never reach. He hated that part of himself, hated that being here was bringing that part of him back to life. It was bubbling out of the grave he tried to bury it in. 

     He pressed his face into her neck, pulling her closer to him, "I don't mean to be like this."

     “You are only you, and that’s all I want” she kissed his temple.

     "Princess," he lifted his head pressing a kiss to her jaw, "You deserve more than me. You deserve a real Prince, someone that deserves the kindness you always have to give me..." he just wanted her to be happy. But he would never deny her what she wanted, she was his and he would give her whatever her wicked heart wanted.

     “Well right now I want you,” she said, “And I think... I know I'm going to want you always.”

     "No matter how fucked up I am?" He asked as he shifted her on his lap easing inside of her. 

     “No matter how fucked up you get, no matter what you do,” she nodded kissing him.

     Jay groaned against her lips kissing her hard as he slowly rolled his hips up into her careful of the bruises he inflicted the night previous. "Then who am I to deny my Princess's wants. You want it slow or rough, I am in a very need to please kind of mood. Though I would have loved to have taken you or Princy over some of that stuff in the gym, maybe Pup if he was feeling experimental."

     “Give me a week and we can figure out playing in the gym,” she breathed, “Lets go slow today.”

     "That I can do," Jay nodded lips trailing down her neck and shoulders. He canted his hips body dropping deeper into the water as he gave himself more leverage to move without hurting her. The water was a nice addition to the mix actually.

     “This is nice” she tipped her head back.

     "Much easier too," he licked his lips not minding the ripples he was making as he glided in and out of her with next to no resistance. Taking his time and going as deep as he could, letting her take his lusts from him.

     Evie moved her hands up his arms to rest on his shoulders feeling the build up in her of that odd little tingle of her magic coming to the surface. She opened her glowing eyes finding Jay’s eyes.

     He felt it coiling against his skin, her magic and he leaned up slightly taking in her glowing sapphire eyes, "Such a pretty color," he breathed, his own beginning to flicker, "So perfect for my wicked princess." His eyes fluttered closed as her hips rolled down, grinding against him.

     “I like your colors better,” she leaned in for a kiss as she dropped down causing a splash of the water.

     Jay jerked against her and kissed her hard feeling his own magic pulling into his chest. He grabbed her hips with one arm and swung them around bearing down on her as he braced himself on the edge of the bath.

     Evie looped her legs around his hips with a moan of pleasure. Sparks of gathering magic along her skin making the water around them sparkle.

     Jay rested his head against her shoulder and snapped his hips against her. The red gold miasma forming around him once more above the glittering water. So good, this felt so good. Good to have her in the water, new was exciting for him. Especially this kind of experimenting what they liked.

     “I can feel the air vibrating around us,” Evie groaned, this was better than anything she had felt in a while.

     "And water," Jay panted teeth brushing against her collarbone as pleasure curled up his hips, "Want to let go..." he reached between them, fingers wedging between their moving hips as he played with her clit.

     “Oh, yes” she let the coil in her stomach coming undone and her magic came rushing out around the room.

     Jay followed after her and felt the magic crackle in the air like a storm had filled the room. "So this place is really doing things to our magic," he breathed letting himself relax around her. "Oh right... Pup wants to look around town for us. Since you and him both seem to want to stay here. I, I would be willing to be bribed to stay here. Under the conditions, this vacation goes well and everyone still likes it here and us being here. And we agree on a place we can afford..." he had wanted to live here a long time ago, as a child who looked at the barrier wondering what things were like on the other side. And now he was here, it... it was oddly Isle like.

     “I would like that, a place to call our own out here. But it doesn’t have to be here if you don’t want it to be,” she laid her head back on the edge of the tub.

     "Baba used to tell me stories about this place when I was little. When he stopped I used to stare up at the sky and try to imagine this place. Never knew what sand was but I tried. One day I just stopped. Surviving him, and Mal and everything else took over. Making sure mine had what they needed, that we stayed at the top of the pack, mattered more than some stupid childhood dream of seeing a place that might as well have been a fairytale. I wasn't supposed to get off the Isle, I wasn't supposed to be free of that place. Being here... I just I don't know..." he sighed slowly pulling out of her to hover there above her as the feeling of magic finally vanished all together.

     “We deserved to be free, and now that we are we should find a home of our own,” she sighed letting all her tension release, “Princy should be back soon for dinner.”

     Jay watched her expression, he was conflicted over it, always had been. Being free was good, it meant food, and water when he needed it. It meant safety, because people weren't trying to jump him, force him, hunt him here. But being free made him lose purpose, he had a job on the Isle, protect, provide and steal. That was his job, his mission, the reason he didn't let himself fall into the words tearing and eating at him. But here, he wasn't needed like that. Wanted yes, but they weren't in danger here. Not really. Jay pulled back running a hand through his long drying hair, he needed a drink. Or a run or something else to stop himself from thinking. The sex calmed him down sure, but his brain was not letting go of this.

     "Yay dinner," Jay cheered unenthusiastically, "Try new things, it's all about trying new things. Gotta keep Princy happy." He eased out of the bath and looped a towel around his hips before extending one to her, "Pup was pretty much out cold once I put the stuff on him."

     “I imagine he is, you know Aziz would get you anything you want if you ask. He’d probably get you a burger or whatever,” Evie smiled wrapping the towel around herself.

     "Eh, it's fine I don't want to bug him. Shit I almost punched him the day we got here. And I snapped at him, hell you're being a better leader than I am at the moment." He rubbed his face, she was his non verbal second.

     “I don’t want that job thank you,” she shook her head, “I'm gonna go grab the scissors.”

     "To bad, it's yours if something happens to me," he called after her, "As long as you never pull on me what I did to Mal. I'd take the fight before I ran off tail between my legs."

     “Then it’s my job to make sure that nothing happens to you,” she came back with the scissors, “Sit on the closed toilet,” she made sure her towel was secure before approaching.

     Jay closed the lid and flopped down for her, towel falling open from the position before he pulled the edges back up.

     Evie ran a comb threw his hair trying to decide how much to take off. She chewed her lip thinking before nodding to herself before she started cutting taking off about an inch.

     Jay waited patiently until she was finished, "I kind of missed this." Evie had taken to cutting his hair when it got to be too much, her or Dizzy.

     “Well, I can do it more often if you want help keep it tamed,” she smiled running her fingers through it, “Pup’s passed out by the way.”

     Nodding he leaned slightly back into her, "That would be nice yeah. Figured that kid looked worn out when we got back in. Luckily with this heat my vest will have dried out."

     “He’d probably sleep thru dinner if we let him,” Evie smiled.

     "And have him be cranky? Nah. I know how to wake him up," Jay smirked as he stood, "Since he missed bath time and all."

     “Jay be nice” she laughed

     "Define nice," he shot back walking into the bedroom to see Carlos just where he left him. His eyes flickered as Carlos' underwear vanished to the bed before he lifted the boy up carefully and walked into the bathroom easing them both back into the bathtub.

     “What...” Carlos flailed about in shock at the water.

     “Well at least you didn’t throw him in” Evie sighed with a small chuckle.

     "I was thinking about blowing him, but call me picky, but if I don't have to suck sweaty cock I'm not going to." He snickered dropping Carlos the rest of the way into the tub, "Wash up Puppy Dog. Princy will be here soon to grab us for dinner."

     “I’m gonna remember that comment about sweaty dick next time you want a blow after practice,” Carlos sputtered

     "Could just fuck you in the showers instead," Jay smirked getting out, "See how good you are about staying quiet."

     “You got princy for that,” Carlos rolled his eyes as if that was obvious.

     “Oh evil that’s an image,” Evie smirked.

     "Princy doesn't know what quiet means. Pillow biting is a thing for him. Showers out of the question," he toweled off running a hand through his nearly dry hair.

     “Then we’ll have to give it a try here,” Evie licked her lips of that was a glorious image in her head.

     "You know I am game for whatever you want." He watched as Carlos washed up in the tub for a moment longer before heading to get clothes on.

     “Come along little puppy,” Evie crooked a finger at him before heading out to find something to wear. 

     Carlos rolled his eyes at them before climbing out and following.

Chapter 112: Dinner talk (Agrabah: June)

     Black sleeveless shirt, open vest, dark jeans, that seemed dinner appropriate. At least in Jay's head as he dug through his bag and found the small silver clip Mal had found for his hair. Snake motif of course. He pulled his hair half up and pinned it with the clip before pulling his vest back on and the jeans up his legs. Hair tie, Raj's hair tie, he quickly patted his vest down before remembering it was in the bathroom. Or on his wrist... he just looked as the band as it appeared over his reattached bracers in red gold sparks. Yeah he really wasn't used to it being this easy to do magic. He looked at his fingerless gloves debating on the leather even if it did cover the scars on his palms.

     “Look at you dressing appropriately all on your own,” Evie teased as she clipped her dalmation print bra. 

     "Only so long I can handle a 13 year old looking me over like her next project. Especially not when her older brother is ours. I already explained to her that you and him aren't dating." He shook his hands out looking over the spotted bra, "Look Pup she's getting all dressed up for you."

     “Where’d you get that,” Carlos looked at her with wide eyes.

     “Last time I went shopping, I saw it and it made me think of you,” she smirked at him as she slid a dress over her head.

     "Guess some puppy is going to be on his very best behavior tonight," Jay smirked arms curled over his hips, "After all your yapping today Princess is allowed to do whatever she wants to you. Don't worry I will supervise and make sure she isn't too mean to you."

     “I’m never mean” Evie looked at them as she sat to put her sandals on.

     “You’re worse than he is,” Carlos snorted pulling on shorts.

     "Ouch," Jay teased pulling back as there was a knock on the door. Sauntering over he opened it and gave Aziz a half smile as he leaned there, "Heya Princy."

     Aziz looked Jay over, "Black clothes really?"

     "Matches my black heart. Why you want to see if you can make it red?" He pushed back teasing, "You can always take them off me if you rather."

     He shook his head, "Alright horny simmer down, it's just about time for dinner and no one wants to sit near my family with a boner."

     “Yeah I don’t see that being a good time” Carlos shook his head.

     "Awkward moments I try to avoid," he nodded, "Got a little toasted I see, you have aloe Los? I can have someone run and bring some back to your room."

     “I brought some, I just didn’t think about Carlos burning this morning when I was putting sunscreen on,” Evie showed him the bottle still on the bed.

     "Okay good," Aziz nodded, "I didn't think about it either. We Agrabahians don't generally burn so I wasn't even thinking about it."

     “It's not something we tend to think about,” Evie nodded back, “It happens.”

     “It's no big Z, doesn’t even hurt,” Carlos assured.

     "You know I am going to worry," Aziz offered, "Come on then dinner as long as everyone is ready." He watched as Jay pulled his boots on.

     “Yep we’re ready to go,” Carlos nodded, as he looked back at Evie.

     Aziz nodded and guided the three of them plus Iago out into the hallway and down towards the dining hall. What he wasn’t expecting was Jay to swing an arm over his shoulders as they walked. He glanced at the younger male, the smirk near permanent on his lips, so he chose not to comment rather he leaned into the gesture. He spent some time with his siblings and they all but drilled him about his companions.

     Jay let his thumb rub a circle against his Princy’s neck, “Thanks for showing us around today.”

     “I did promise you a tour.”

     “Fair.” Jay agreed letting the topic drop as he continued to rub Aziz’s neck relaxing the both of them.

     “Is this place good for him? I think I maybe said something wrong asking him to stay here,” Carlos wrapped an arm around Evie’s waist.

     “I can’t tell, I think he’s stuck between ok and not ok.” Evie ran her fingers up and down his back.

     “It makes me worry that he won’t tell us if he’s not ok... Are you not wearing panties?” he looked at her as his hand felt along her waist.

     “Part of the make him feel better project” she smirked wickedly.

     Aziz reached up patting Jay’s cheek, “You okay?”

     “I’m always okay Princy,” he assured flashing a smile that would ease Aziz’s mind, it was a lie, but he didn’t think he needed to worry the older male who had enough on his plate. That and Jay could be okay, like he had made himself okay on the Isle, with pure force of will. His arm slid down Aziz’s back and squeezed his hip before retreating entirely.

     Aziz nodded, “Good, I am trying not to shove anything down your throat,” his hand paused on the door, “At least nothing you’ll complain about.”

     Jay whistled at that, “Damn, look at that bit of wicked in you,” he teased as they walked into the dining room.

     “I have my moments.”

     “Princy’s learning,” Evie giggled as they entered the dining room.

     Aziz shook his head dropping down next to his mother’s seat, his father was here which meant she would be here shortly.

     “How did that tour go Aziz?” Aladdin asked looking the friends over as they seemed to have a silent conversation before pushing Carlos next to his son.

     “I think it was very enlightening for them. They tried spicy food for the first time, everyone survived,” he snorted as Jay gave him a dark look, “Some of them liked it better than others.”

     Jay smiled thinly dropping down at the end of the table, letting Evie sit in the middle so he could both make sure she ate and so she could elbow Carlos at her whim, “It was nice. Never saw a ship moving on water before.”

     “You take them to the docks?”

     “No, up to the garden, he must have seen them in the distance. I’m taking them to the docks tomorrow.”

     “That sounds like fun,” Evie smiled at Aziz as Carlos sat next to him.

     “I hope it turns out being as fun as it sounds.”

     “I like the docks” Adir smile looking at them, “I go down there on my way home from school.”

     “Do you? Are the ships as big as they look from here?” Evie asked giving him a small smile.

     “They are huge. Some of them anyway, some are small, only a few people on them,” he nodded.

     “Sounds nice,” Carlos smiled thinking of the boats on the water, he didn’t much like the look of the boats on the isle but; maybe here things just were different.

     “Maybe I can go with them tomorrow?” Adir looked at Jasmine hopefully.

     “You have lessons tomorrow,” Jasmine shook her head at him, “Maybe your Baba can take you later this week,” she sent a look at Aladdin.

     “But mom” Adir whined with a pout, “Can’t I skip just for tomorrow, baba?” 

     “Your mom said No Adir. I can’t help you when you fail classes” Aladdin raised his hands.

     “It's not my fault, all the letters move around,” Adir pouted looking down at his plate pouting harder.

     “No it’s not honey, but that’s why your taking the class again here with the special tutor” Jasmine sighed looking at him.

     Jay's head slowly turned at the mention, he wasn't the only one? For all his life he was told he was an idiot, broken, defective. And there was someone else... who's parents said it wasn't his fault. It was always his fault. He looked down at his plate, he knew his baba was an ass, a terrible person as villains tended to be. But that, seeing it, seeing the other side of the spectrum from his father's heroes. That felt like he had been stabbed, knife twisted in between his ribs. 

     Aziz glanced towards Jay, he hadn't told Jay about Adir's dyslexia. Hell he didn't tell Jay he knew exactly what it was once he had admitted it rather angrily. As touchy as it was that he even had a problem, Aziz did not want to lose his friend over something Jay had absolutely no ability to combat. 

     Aladdin noticed the look, the confidence seeming have been sucked right out of Jafar's son. What was it about that conversation that would have caused that hollow expression. It didn't seem right to ask his son either, but he wasn't sure how to approach it.

     Evie placed a hand on Jay’s knee under the table. 

     “But its boring” Adir muttered before serving up his pasta to put the buttered chicken over.

     Jay held her hand under the table, squeezing it tight. Why was this shit always happening just when he thought everything was okay again?

     "It may be boring, but if it helps then you should do it," Aziz smiled, "How about this? You go through your class and I will bring you back one of the treats you like from the docks."

     “You promise?” he looked at Aziz with wide eyes.

     Carlos looked at Jay, quickly deciding to change the subject or well try to, “Um... I had a question if that’s ok,” he looked at Jasmine.

     "Yes, I promise," Aziz nodded smiling at his little brother.

     Jasmine nodded, "Of course Carlos, ask whatever you like."

     “Raj mentioned earlier that... well, that there was an account that had all my... m-m-mothers money in it.” he stumbled over his words, “She made it sound like it might be mine” he looked down waiting to be told he was being foolish, that no one would ever give him money.

     Jasmine glanced at Raj for a moment, "Did you... did you not know? I had thought King Adam would have gone over this with all of you. Your parents money, it is yours. That was what all the queens decided was better than leaving it sit."

     “No one said anything about it to us... Ben’s been giving us an allowance. Buying us what we needed” Carlos shook his head looking back at Evie.

     “All of our parents?” Evie asked evenly, she’d always assumed that their parents lost everything.

     "Yes, all of your parents." Jasmine confirmed firmly, "Ben must not know... I will make the arrangements to get you the information, if that is what you want."

     “Yes, please if you would,” Evie nodded, having their own money would be helpful. It may even help with getting Jay to new clothes for the season.

     "Before you ask or say anything Jay, I am not forcing you to take Jafar's and your mother's money. If you don't want it you can say no." Jasmine said as Jay's mouth opened.

     He closed it nodding slowly instead. His fingers still locked around Evie's.

     "Good then I will make sure those accounts are transferred into your names promptly."

     “Thank you” Evie squeezed Jay’s hand trying to soothe his twitchiness.

     “Wow, so we have real money” Carlos breathed

     "Yes, and I trust you three will be responsible with it," Aladdin asked, "You know the real value of it."

     “Of course” Evie nodded, “once we have taken account of it all, I'm sure we will find responsible ways to use it and save it.”

     “Yeah, maybe get ourselves a home” Carlos nodded, “little place to be ours”

     Aladdin smiled, "I think all three of you deserve to have a home of your own."

     "I can finally afford to get you a real perch."

     "Don't worry about me kid, your shoulder is where I would rather be. Who else would keep you out of trouble?" Iago fluttered his wings, "Besides nuts I don't need anything. Now give me the damn pistachios in your pocket, I'm starving."

     Jay snorted happy to have the distraction of feeding Iago. This was an old comfort he liked.

     “Leave it to Iago to think with his stomach at the same time he is all mushy” Carlos laughed

     “Do you like all nuts or are their certain ones you don’t like?” Raj asked Iago.

     Iago munched a nut out of Jay's fingers, "Short list of things I hate, acorns, pecans, crackers and hard bread. I eat then only if I have to. Used to be longer but when you had to raise a kid on hard bread you get less choosy."

     “So, you don’t like crackers like Azula does” Adir asked thinking of the blue parrot in the managory.

     "No. No parrot really likes crackers, the ones your grandbaba used to feed me were the worst."

     “Huh, well I’ll have to make sure she gets more fruit and nuts,” Raj mused.

     "The good stuff, my Jay can tell you. Made sure he knew what to look for. Always brought me such good treats."

     "Like I don't keep an entire pocket full of nuts for you now." Jay rolled his eyes giving Iago another.

     “We all have pockets full of nuts for you” Evie chuckled.

     “Dude is so confused why we don’t carry treats for him in our pockets,” Carlos laughed.

     "Because I am better than some mangy flea bitten mutt," Iago snapped, "Handsome, intelligent, raised a somewhat ungrateful brat with my own two wings."

     "Pretty sure it was the other way round but sure oh thumbless bird of mine," Jay scoffed hand darting to safety as Iago snapped his beak. "Who had to unlock the padlock on your cage again?"

     "Ungrateful brat," Iago smacked Jay with both his wings, "Blueberry move your hair."

     Evie quickly flipped her hair over one shoulder to make a perch for the red bird.

     Iago launched off Jay's shoulder and gently landed on Evie's, "Look at that a perch who doesn't sass me or give me grief." He stuck his beak up to Jay's amused expression, good his kid was snapping back.

     “Why would I sass such a pretty bird,” Evie said holding up a macadamia.

     "Because you value your fingers," Iago happily munched on the nut settling down happily into her shoulder.

     Jay rolled his eyes setting a spoonful of food on his and Evie's plate, some sort of veggie thing he couldn't identify but it smelled good.

     Evie glanced at her plate nodding slightly. She could eat most of that.

     Jay gave her a patient look, "It's just rabbit food. There is like nothing but water in it, pretty sure. I try not to listen to cheerleaders talking about calories, whatever that is," he spoke softly as to not have anyone over hear them.

     “It... hard to explain,” Evie shook her head, “I know, I’ll try just ate a lot today.” 

     "Trying is all I ask." Jay ceded if she was still full from lunch he could lie to himself and say it was fine. She was just still full. 

     “And I will,” she nodded, picking up her fork.

     Jay nodded taking a little more before telling himself it was plenty, if Evie wasn't hungry than he shouldn't be so hungry. He stamped down his need to match her. He had damn near passed out the last time, so he ate more and just tried to give her the support she needed with healthy food.

     Evie looked over at his plate and nodded at the amount, he was more active then she was. And with this heat he needed to take more in.

     Aladdin took in the odd interaction in front of him, whispers and nods proved just how long they had known one another. It was the lack of food that gave him pause, but they could have just had a big lunch. It wouldn't do him any good to worry over it, he trusted the kids to take care of each other like street kids did.

     Jay who could inhale an entire pizza in 15 minutes, ate slowly. If he dragged it out it felt like more food. Maybe he could fill up tomorrow on fruit or something. He slid his leg against Evie's, she really was helping. Even if he was getting that feeling in his chest he didn't like. He should have been able to handle this.

     “Are you allergic to Pasta? There's a kid at my school that’s allergic to pasta and bread,” Adir looked at Evie before he slurped up a few noodles.

     “Uh...” Evie glanced down at her plate barely half filled with vegetables and a few pieces of chicken.

     “I don’t think we know what that means,” Carlos looked at him confused.

     Jay shook his head, "She just didn't want any. We Isle kids eat pretty much everything without any issues. Iron stomachs, we just had a big lunch for us is all." He covered, he didn't have any idea what Adir was talking about but he was good at lying and bullshitting his way out of just about anything.

     “Those kebobs are pretty filling,” Raj said with a nod, she didn’t really think it was that big of a lunch but, maybe for them it was.

     “Carlos I think is about to go through a growth spurt," Evie added glancing at Carlos’ full plate.

     "Can I vote no? Who am I going to lean on if he has a growth spurt?" Jay grinned tucking into his plate.

     “Finally” Carlos laughed, “Maybe if I catch up with you guys in height Chad will back off”

     "My fist would be more effective," he snickered.

     "You aren't supposed to punch people Jay," Aziz stated dryly as Jay mouthed the words on the other end of the table.

     “At least not where people can see you,” Carlos said looking at him.

     "Don't encourage him," Aziz elbowed Carlos gently, "We don't want Jay getting in trouble for fighting remember?"

     “If Chad deserves it” Evie shrugged, “But no, no getting in trouble for fighting”

     “Take it out on the Tourney field” Carlos suggested.

     "During practice..." Jay grinned, "I like body checking."

     Aziz groaned, "I know nothing about your plotting to put Chad in his place. Nothing."

     “But Princy we are going to need you to make sure that he’s on the other team at practice,” Carlos laughed.

     "Just because I know nothing doesn't mean I won't make it convenient for you to help Chad to learn how to play better."

     “And he needs a lot of help being a better player,” Carlos nodded with a snicker.

     “If he’s not a good player why is he on the team?” Adir asked.

     "Because his parents screamed when I tried to kick him off the team. Fairy Godmother caved and forced me to keep him. So I bench him. And he complains, because Jay, who actually can play the game like a one man army, gets more field time." Aziz explained.

     “But I thought... aren’t you supposed to get stuff like that by yourself?” Adir tilted his head.

     “You should,” Evie nodded at him.

     "I was kind of forced onto the team, but I ended up liking the game. It's nice being allowed to be... intense?"

     "Aggressive within reason," Aziz corrected, "You amp the team up, run plays the other teams don't understand, we win games. It's a good mix, which is why we gave you that pretty MVP title and got to watch Chad throw a fit."

     “That’s our Jay, he comes up with plays that are genius,” Carlos smiled at Jay.

     "I just run it like a mass haul from Frollo's," Jay shrugged having raided his warehouse a few times for supplies with a few other gangs they were okay with that week, "I just don't tell them that."

     Aladdin shook his head, so the rumor was true Jay had been a thief. His son had said as much but he hadn't seen the twitches most thieves had. That and well Jay came off rather sincere and giving, fixated on helping and protecting.

     “Those were interesting days,” Evie remembered the other gangs, remembered the fall out when they couldn’t agree on a split, it was awful. She’d pulled Carlos from the middle once running and hiding when it got bloody.

     "I don't know I kind of liked them," Jay had lived for that kind of thing, "Was a bunch of fun."

     Aziz rolled his eyes, "This is why you do well on the Tourney team."

     “Yeah for you, you never had to be the bait,” Carlos chuckled.

     “Perk you run fast,” Evie looked at Carlos

     "I was the muscle, that's why you were bait. I always had your back." Jay smiled as he finished off his food. "Patched you up if you got hurt and everything."

     “Yeah, you patched me up alright, or Evie did,” Carlos shrugged.

     “We did that,” Evie nodded, “Always made sure you’d be alright.”

     "You're our runt, got to make sure you would be okay."

     Jasmine smiled slightly, they wouldn't say it and she doubted they understood it really. But they were a small family, looking after one another as best as they could. These kids had deserved better than the life they had been given. But now maybe with money they could realize their own dreams that seemed out of reach before. They already had happiness with one another.

     “Not a runt for much longer,” Carlos said, “Hopefully."

     "Pretty sure you are always going to be their runt," Aziz laughed softly. 

     “Z, not cool” Carlos looked at the older boy.

     "Sorry I know not helping."

     "Your helping, just not him." Jay leaned back slightly.

     “He’s like that, he takes sides,” Adir nodded at Carlos, “He doesn’t understand being the littlest."

     "I was the littlest when I was an only child."

     "You were also a small terror," Aladdin joked, "Though as soon as I took you up on the roof or on Carpet, you just attached yourself to my leg."

     "Shut up Baba..." Aziz grumbled, "I don't like heights. Much better with my feet firmly planted on the ground."

     "Yes you did much better when you learned swordsmanship," Jasmine reached over ruffling his hair despite the face he made at her, "Grew right up into being a very good child. Only a little terrorizing to our kitchen."

     “He’s still a terror” Carlos snickered.

     “Maybe just a little” Evie smirked at Aziz.

     "Terror to the council at least." Jay added.

     Aziz flushed slightly, "I am not that bad!"

     "You are like your Mama, you get all hellbent on getting your way."

     “Well when your way is the right way. It's just a matter of making others see that, ” Evie squeezed Jay’s hand.

     Jay squeezed her hand back, thumb rubbing the back of her hand.

     "My way is mostly always right," Aziz made a face, "Treat people like people."

     “Good policy” Raj smiled, “Treat people how you want to be treated.”

     "I have heard the way he snaps about his work stuff, I don't think that's the way he deals with them." Jay laughed softly.

     "Hey now, your supposed to be on my side brat."

     "Didn't say I wasn't, I find your rants very entertaining."

     “It's a good thought, but well we know that’s not how it always works,” Carlos looked at Raj.

     “Well maybe you can show me how your world works,” she smirked at him, Carlos cracked a smile laughing, “What you said I could flirt with you.”

     “You can but that... that was bad,” he laughed harder at her pout.

     Jasmine looked between them and then at her oldest.

     Aziz raised his hands in defense, "I tried to ixnay it, she revolted."

     “I did not revolt, he volunteered,” Raj defended.

     "That's not your call," Aziz retorted in a mocking voice, he wasn't against giving it back to her, "You revolted."

     "Okay, okay you two not at the table," Jasmine knew a sibling fight when she saw one.

     “Tattle tail,” she stuck her tongue out at him.

     “Wow, harsh words,” Carlos laughed.

     Jasmine held a hand up as Aziz opened his mouth, "You're almost 20 don't even."

     "Ouch mama, ouch." Aziz cringed.

     "Just means you should be the bigger person and not pick on your baby sister. She's only 13. Now is anyone interested in dessert? If not you are more than welcome to wander about."

     “There’s dessert?” Carlos lit up getting a chuckle from Evie.

     Jasmine laughed softly, "Just like Adir," she smiled as the staff cleared the table and set down plates with sweet fruits and small pastries.

     Carlos reached out grabbing a few chocolate covered pieces of fruit as well as an interesting looking flaky pastry.

     Evie smiled watching his excitement, she looked at the different plates maybe just a piece couldn’t hurt.

     Jay wasn't much for sweets but he looked at the plates curiously. Maybe there was something here he would like. But he didn't want anything too sweet.

     "If you want to try anything try the triangle shaped ones. Or the little puffs, they are filled with custard which isn't too sweet," Aziz suggested already knowing Jay just wasn't all the fond of sweets for some reason.

     Evie nodded picking up one of the little puffs, she took a small bite enjoying the smooth custard.

     Jay cautiously took one of the triangle things Carlos had picked up. It was sticky and full of nuts, he sniffed at it smelled good at least, kind of cinnamon-y. He took a bite, the crunch turning into a soft sticky mess. Pulling it away he looked at it confused why it wasn't all that sweet. No he did not want any more than one of them, because there was a heaviness to it he wasn't sure about but he popped the rest in his mouth regardless.

     “Any good?” Evie asked as she finished off the puff.

     "I like it, wouldn't eat more than one but its gooey," Jay offered, "Puffs good?"

     “The custard was nice and smooth” she nodded.

     He nodded debating whether he wanted to try one or not. Shaking his head he decided to try it some other time. The lingering taste of the triangle was good enough for him.

     Aziz leaned into his mother and kissed her cheek, "I'm headed to the garden, if you-"

     "You are on vacation Aziz, your father and I will handle the council. Go relax," she assured patting his cheek.

     Jay's eyes followed Aziz movements silently, "You three are welcome to join me if you want. But I won't keep you if you want to wander some more."

     “If you want to go, pup and I will be fine” Evie said softly to Jay.

     "You sure? I just want to make sure he's good." Jay asked softly as Aziz headed out.

     “Yes, go spend some time with him” she nodded 

     Without thinking Jay kissed her cheek before following after Aziz. The prince was not hard to track and Jay did not mind a small batch of stalking. He just wanted to make sure Aziz was okay, especially since his Princy had been leaving them alone at night time.

     “You help me put more aloe on my back?” Carlos asked Evie.

     “Always, as soon as you’re done we can go back to the room and do that,” Evie nodded as he finished the chocolate apple.

Chapter 113: Need to Reconnect (Agrabah: June)

     Jay perched on the roof watching Aziz as he sat on a swinging bench with a book. The Prince making it through a page before he closed it and set it down head tipped back covering his face. He was clearly not okay, but Jay couldn't figure out why not. 

     Aziz started as Rajah dropped his head in his lap, "Hey big guy. I'm fine, just worried." He smiled as the cat purred rubbing his head against his arm, "Want me to talk about it, do you? Fine," he sighed, "You met them today, the three that let me into their lives. And I care about them, but one of them is pulling away and I worry it's my fault. That I pushed too hard too fast and didn't... I don't know.... I just don't know. He just gets this look in his eyes sometimes and I don't know who is there behind those eyes anymore. I am looking for advice from a tiger." Rajah stretched up into him, "No wonder Mama wanted to leave the palace if you were all she had to talk to."

     Jay pulled his legs up to his chest, he didn't think he was hurting his Princy. He was, he was just trying to keep him safe from himself. Trying to get himself together before he lashed out. Licking his lips he dragged himself over the roof, he'd make it up to Aziz. That was the only choice, he had to make it up to him. He padded silently over the roof pulling himself up the wall, climbing across the smooth bricks until he reached their balcony and pulled himself over the railing.

     “Enjoy the climb?” Evie asked from her place on the bed stradling Carlos’ upper thighs as she rubbed aloe into the red along his back.

     "Yeah," Jay kicked his boots off and padded into the room. "I..." he shook his head pulling the clip out to run a hand through it. "You two have fun without me?"

     “We did alright, I think pup’s almost asleep. Go figure having his back rubbed down makes him sleepy” Evie chuckled as Carlos groaned in half sleep. 

     Jay perched on the side of the bed and ran a hand threw the black and white strands, "You sleepy pup? Already? Guess everyone did get a little worn out over the heat."

     “Yeah, its hot,” Carlos nodded closing his eyes, “But I'll get used to it.”

     “How's princy?” Evie asked

     "Talking to a tiger." Jay didn't know if he wanted to talk about this. Especially not really knowing what Aziz had meant, other than to paranoid Jay, it sounded like Aziz was a little afraid of him.

     “Well, I suppose that is something,” Evie tilted her head leaning back to look at him.

     "Yeah it is. I didn't want to bug him if he needed some him time," Jay tried to explain away why he hadn't actually staid, hadn't talked and spent time with one of his.

     “Maybe check on him later?” Evie suggested, as she swung her leg over Carlos to sit facing Jay.

     "Yeah maybe..." he sighed softly hand running through his hair again. "He seemed okay, for a guy talking to a tiger." 

     “Maybe, well we talk to a parrot... he talks back but still,” Evie mused as she pulled her dress over her head.

     "Well I mean," Jay looked at the bird before he caught the movement.

     “I’ll have to wear his treat again later this week,” she reached back undoing the print bra.

     "Especially since he's asleep again," Jay watched as she stripped naked, the bruises obvious on her hips, "I didn't mean to be so rough on you last night."

     “I told you it's ok, I asked for it rough. I wanted you to mark me up a little”

     "A little is the hickeys I used to leave you everywhere, not the black and blue finger marks I left you last night," Jay shot back moving towards her, kneeling beside the bed.

     “Its ok, I’ve had worse. You’ve seen worse on me, they’ll be gone in a few days with a bruise balm,” she assured putting her hands on his shoulders.

     He leaned in towards her resting his head against her chest, "Maybe I don't want to see that kind of damage on you, even when you ask me to do it," he sighed softly closing his eyes, "I don't want mine to be afraid of me when I'm trying not to make them afraid."

     “I’m not afraid of you,” she moved her hands to his hair, “Its ok, we just won't be that rough again ok?”

     “We can have rough sex, I will just make sure I’m not grabbing you when we do,” he kissed her warm belly, “Rough sex is good for both of us on occassion. Maybe not for our sleepy pup, but for us. Today was, nice actually. Even with the crazy witches we met, I felt like I was back in Black Magic Alley only working. Penny would have loved it, she always went on about wanting to see more magic than the hair spells Mal did.”

     “She was fixated on the stuff, probably because she went to school with three fairy headmistresses” she nodded combing his hair with her fingers, “We’ll bring her back here when we get her back”

     “Then what’s our excuse? We have a fairy headmistress now,” he snorted, “Yeah we have to, especially if you two got your hearts set on living here. Got to make sure she has somewhere she can hide out.”

     “I like it here, but if we are going to make somewhere home we should all like it,” Evie said, “Plus yeah giving her somewhere to hide would be nice for her.”

     “Well maybe it’ll grow on me... Princy did...” Jay had been terrified the child of Aladdin and Jasmine would be all over him like the other asshole princes and princesses were over his and Mal, but the dude had just been super chill. Waved, smiled, talked to him like a normal person. Hell Aziz had been happy to welcome onto the Tourney team, and Jay eventually forgot that he had been waiting for a blow that never came.

     “He grew on you alright,” she smirked, “Going to go see him tonight?”

     “Probably should. Once I work it all out. I know plans were Mal’s thing, but I don’t wanna wing it and make it worse...” he shifted back slightly to loosely cradle her hips and rest his head on her bare thigh.

     “Just go and talk it out or fuck it out, what ever the two of you need to do. Don’t overthink it just go with what you think is natural,” she muttered.

     “What I think is natural isn’t ness... nessa... a thing,” he huffed, “What I would give for a working brain,” he muttered.

     “Necessarily?” she suggested the word she was pretty sure he was looking for.

     “Yeah that. What I think is natural isn’t necessarily a normal thing for other people,” he huffed, “But if you think it will be fine, then it probably is. I try too hard sometimes.”

     “He likes you because you are you, not because you try to be normal,” she rolled her eyes.

     “I don’t try to be normal, I know I’m defective. I just try to blend in.”

     “Not defective, just different then they are.” 

     Jay made a soft noise closing his eyes for a moment, “Sometimes it doesn’t feel like it. You know what I mean, that feeling like you're not really there?”

     “I know the feeling, I see the other girls at school, those snotty ones with their perfect prince boy toys and I wonder what’s wrong with me. Then I remind myself I have you, the prince of thieves and princy and pup. I have three while they have one.”

     “And we live to please you,” Jay grinned kissing her thigh, “We don’t play that stupid mainland dating game. We belong to one another because we want to, well now. At home it was more of a necessary thing.”

     “And you chose us, so you wanted us. Just as much as we want you” she tilted her head back.

     “I wanted the girl I could make blush with a smile, the one who kissed me and never wanted to stop. The one who looked at my back and threatened to kill my Baba, before screaming at Mal to do her job because I was hurt. I wanted the runt who gave me shit. The one who looked at me when he was cleaning up his own blood and refused to leave until I had finished the job for him. The one who told me I made him feel safe. I chose them because they gave me a purpose more than stealing for affections.” He swallowed hard smile bittersweet.

     “And we still choose you, because while we don’t have to look over our shoulders here we need you to feel safe. I used to get up to check that lock on mine and Mal’s door 2 or 3 times a night. I still carry my scissors because I don’t trust people. We need you even when you can’t see it,” she studied him.

     “It’s funny really... not in the funny haha way but the other one... I remember being pretty drunk and having it out with Mal, I told her I felt useless here, that you all didn’t need me. And she, she just gave me that pitying look and said, ‘you don’t know what you're saying you're drunk.’ Never, in all the time we knew each other, did she tell me I was wrong, that I was needed. Hell she told me to find another gang when she found out I had made a deal to get us access to the wharf. I was trying to fix things, I was trying to make things better, I don’t want to lose any of you because I always seem to make things worse when I try to fix them. You and Pup were happy with your Mainland crushes and I ruined it. I tried to pull Mal back to us and pushed her away. I don’t... I don’t understand why you want me when I can’t seem to do anything right anymore...”

     “Because we do, I want you because you’re a part of who I am. I’m selfish and want to keep you with me and the others,” she would deal with Mal later, probably loudly.

     “Even when I fuck up?”

     “Even when you fuck up, cause then I get to teach you a lesson,” she smirked at him, “Just like you get to teach me when I fuck up.”

     He snorted looked up at her, “Those are so much easier for me to deal with than the whole stern talking to thing. Want to punish me, punish me, don’t talk after me and tell me you're disappointed. I don’t know what that means in the way they use it.”

     “Neither do I. I just nod and pretend I know what they are talking about,” Evie admitted.

     “Wicked, I thought it was just me being an idiot. Why do they think talking is going to make me not do that thing I just did?” he pushed himself up straighter and kissed her lightly, “Makes no sense.”

     “Because it's the mainland, and if they actually punished people here Chad Charming would have more scars than you” she shrugged

     “Pff, that wuss? Please if he went through half the punishments I went through he would be watching that attitude of his. Bitches get Stitches. Hell he would be sobbing after one. I got my ass up after the first whipping cleaned myself up and made it the Hideout where you found me trying to sew my vest shoulders back together trying not to pass back out. Never could figure out why he cut it off in the first place...”

     “With him who knows, but exactly my point. Chad probably would have been someone's bitch for protection. Just picture him cowering under the Gaston twins,” she almost cackled at the thought.

     “More like stretched out between the twins,” Jay snickered, “I would do a lot of horrible things to watch those two have at him.”

     “I normally wouldn’t want to watch that but, for Chad I’d make an exception,” she smirked, “Feeling better?”

     “You naked, talking about... Chad getting tossed on the Isle. Not sure how we made it there actually. But yeah, feeling better, what do I owe you oh wise and beautiful second of mine?”

     “Go make Princy feel like he’s still part of this, cause he thinks you don’t want him. I could see it in his eyes. And if you can make him scream well... the noise wouldn’t bother me,” she smirked twirling a lock of his hair around her finger.

     “Have I mentioned pillow biting? My favorite thing to do is to get him to cover his own face because he thinks he’s too loud. It’s so heartwarming.” Jay snickered letting her play with his hair.

     “I’ll have to get a show from you two when we get back to school... if he’s alright with that,” she stuck her tongue between her teeth at the thought of watching Jay take apart princy piece by piece. 

     “I’ll see if he is. Hope so, I know you like watching me work,” Jay purred watching her expression, “I am more than happy to give you a few.”

     “What can I say you're a masterpiece of art, and art is meant to be looked at and watched,” she smirked.

     “Expensive art,” he laughed softly, “I do what I can,” his hands rubbed up her thighs and kissed her warmly, “Always for mine. I’m exhausted but I promise I’ll prove to him he’s wanted when I wake up okay?”

     “Priceless art, and I can live with that come lay down with us,” she flopped down the rest of the way on the bed.

     Jay pulled himself up to his feet and striped his shirt and vest off before flopping into bed with them. He’d get up early and show princy.

     Evie closed her eyes curling up to his side, she had her boys here in a beautiful place away from their parents and full of magic. She hoped everything was going to work out for them.

Chapter 114: Being Outed (Agrabah: June)

Notes:

Warning:
NSFW
Past trauma

     Jay stirred early, and carefully pulled himself out of the pile. He pulled the covers over Evie’s naked skin and slid into the bathroom cleaning up. Glancing back at the bed where his two were still asleep he smiled and climbed up to the roof, easing across the building and down into Aziz’s bedroom. It was just a habit to never use his door, and he wasn’t going to get caught this way either. Silently he landed on the balcony and padded into Princy’s bedroom. It was clean and warm, the curtains a light grey with teal, the bed covered in a light teal sheet and grey bedding. Aziz was sprawled in his bed, bare torso exposed as the sheet covered everything waist down. Jay’s lips curled up slightly, the other male was fucking gorgeous in his sleep.

     Aziz shot awake as a hand covered his mouth. Through the dim early morning lighting he could make out Jay's half dressed form leaning over him. Confused he tugged Jay's hand down.

     "What's wrong? Are you okay?" Aziz whispered.

     "I snuck out of the pile," Jay whispered back bracing himself against the ridiculously soft bed. "I kind of realized that I have been kind of hands off since I got here. It... It isn't you, it was me."

     Aziz relaxed back into the bed with a soft smile, "It was really eating you huh?"

     "Little bit," he admitted letting his head rest against the hand Aziz had lifted, "You don't deserve me being an ass."

     "Fair enough," he guided him down into a long slow kiss, "I forgive you."

     Jay blinked slowly, "Forgive me?"

     "Yeah. I realize this forgiveness thing isn't an Isle thing, but it means I won't hold it against you. Do you feel better now? After having some time to adjust to being here."

     He pressed his lips back down and eased his hand under the covers gripping his Princy carefully, "I guess so. But I had plans to make it up to you. Unless you aren't interested."

     Aziz canted his hips rocking them against the rough palm on him, "Oh well I would hate to ruin all your hard work," he groaned against Jay's lips, "Can I know what I have to look forward to?"

     "Figured I'd blow you, unless you want me to fuck you? I'd offer to ride you but..."

     Aziz looked at Jay curiously, "But what?"

     "You aren't exactly what I would think of as a top." Jay snorted softly as the prince rolled his eyes and kissed him hard again.

     Talented fingers eased down into the briefs past the hardened shaft and balls. Aziz automatically lifting a leg to give Jay room to work, rocking his hips up and into the fingers circling him. Humming against Jay's lips he shoved his covers off and dragged Jay on top of him. The younger male instantly adjusting his position to roll their hips together grinding down on him. Aziz let out a long hungry groan one hand buried in Jay's hair, the other hand gliding down his bare side for purchase.

     Jay pulled back slightly, "Is this the not so subtle, you wanna fuck?"

     He rolled his hips up against Jay's jean covered ones, "I won't forgive you if you don't."

     “Who am I to deny my Princy what he wants?” he purred lips trailing down Aziz’s jaw as his eyes flickered sending the grey briefs across the room.

     Aziz shuddered at the feeling of the magic against his skin like butterfly wings, before Jay’s fingers dipped down between his thighs once more. He paused momentarily to stroke Aziz, before pulling back to kick his pants off. Jay dug around his side table before finding what he wanted and returned between the Prince’s thighs. He dragged the younger back up, kissing him hard as he kicked a leg up over the back of Jay’s hip meeting the slicked fingers halfway and moaned into that sinful mouth. 

     Jay worked fast wasting little time on the prep before plunging in making Aziz arch into the movement. They kissed hard and rough as Jay gave Aziz what he wanted in the slow building light. Aziz pulled back, head tipping back and panted swearing under his breath trying to keep his voice down as Jay took him apart. 

     “Az- Oh god I am so sorry!” the door opened and slammed shut, “Aziz we talked about this! Get decent, you have 30 seconds!”

     Jay froze for all of a moment before he launched back, both males scrambling apart. Aziz looked around for his underwear finding them all the way across the room before they vanished in red gold sparks before appearing in grabbing distance. He yanked his pants on and was halfway out the balcony when Jasmine reopened the door and closed it behind her. This, this was why he just wanted to blow Aziz, it would have taken so much less time.

     “Oh no you don’t,” Jasmine stormed towards him and hooked the back of his pants yanking him back into the room, “Sit,” she snapped pointing at the bed.

     Jay cringed waiting for the blow, when none came he cautiously looked at her murderous look and slunk over to the bed where Aziz was sitting bright red. He was in so much trouble, prison at the least, especially since he was utterly shirtless. His scars mostly all exposed. He sat on the floor by the bed, he had more escape routes on the floor.

     “What have I told you about locking doors?!” she hissed glowering at her son, “Rajiya and Adir could have walked in on you. Honestly did you even think about your siblings at all?” 

     “Sorry mama...” Aziz muttered looking down at his hands.

     “And why didn’t you tell me? I mean I was going to ask about you and Evie, but if-”

     “Mama!” Aziz hissed in horror, “It’s... it’s not...” he buried his face in his hands in embarrassment, “I like girls, and Jay... and Carlos...”

     Jay licked his lips not liking where this was going, “Everyone agreed to it, it’s just fucking. That’s it...”

     “Not helping Jay.”

     “Just sex? Casual sex with how many people?” Jasmine rounded on Jay.

     “Currently? Just the four of us. We’re safe about it, it’s just us. Was just three of us, but...”

     “Jay stop helping.”

     “But what?”

     “But we asked Princy if he... if he wanted to join in?” Jay had no idea how to explain this in the least offensive mainland terms as he could. Most people tried kicking his ass if he was fucking their kids and they didn’t like it.

     Her golden eyes went to her oldest and narrowed, “You said friends Aziz. This is a little different than friends,” she snarled, “How long has this been going on?”

     “The sex specifically?” Jay asked wincing at the two golden glares, “Beginning of March...” he decided that he really didn’t need to tell her he had been sleeping with her son for longer than that.

     “Can I guess the relationship with the other two has been going on for the same duration?”

     “No. We’ve been fucking since we were 11, 12...” he was confused at her horror, “What...?”

     “You stay put both of you. We clearly need to have a conversation,” She reached the door and looked at them, “Carlos and Evie will be dressed correct?”

     “Carlos is dressed, Evie... she’s covered up...”

     As she moved across the hall Aziz groaned flopping back into his bed, “Fucking damnit...”

     “You're the one who wanted to fuck. If you let me keep to my plan, you would have gotten off and I would have gotten out before anyone was the wiser,” Jay looked up as Aziz blindly smacked the air, “I don’t know why your whining... You're the prince, she isn’t going to do anything to you. I’m the one that’s going to get tossed in prison for touching you. Princess will be fine, she can just say the two of you are together. I’ll take the heat for Pup, he doesn’t deserve any more punishments.” He pulled his legs up to his chest, he had just wanted to make it better between them, prove to his that he was still wanted. 

     “You don’t either,” Aziz looked down at Jay from over the edge of the bed. “You don’t deserve any more punishments either.”

 

     Jasmine knocked on the door to their room, she had already heard it from the staff that the kids were all in one room, not even bothering with the others. But if that was what they wanted, she informed them to leave it alone. The kids were guests, in a sexul relation with her oldest son. She flushed, covering her face, she had walked into her Aziz’s room to wake him up and instead found him in bed with Jay. A very bare Jay. Her hand lowered to her lips as it finally dawned on her, scars, his back was covered in hundreds of scars, scars she hadn’t seen since the punishment for thieves and debtors had been banned in Agrabah.

     Evie stirred as she heard knocking, she blinked looking at Carlos who was sitting up looking at the door.

     “Where’s Jay?” There was a slight edge in his voice.

     “Probably went to see princy” Evie said standing, she grabbed a silk robe and took a quick look in the mirror to make sure her hair was under control. She nodded glancing back at Carlos one more time before opening the door.

     “Your Majesty,” Evie looked at Jasmine unsure what to do, “Is everything alright?”

     "I need to speak to you and Carlos in Aziz's room. Jay is already there. Promptly if you would Princess Evie," Jasmine stated smile thin as she tried not focus on the scars, rather focusing on the fact she had just found out she had not a group of friends, but a group having casual sex with one another for several months now.

     “Of course, just give us a moment to get dressed,” she nodded closing the door. She turned to look at the pale Carlos, “Get dressed quickly” she ordered as she pulled on leggings and a camisole, she threw the robe back over it.

     “We’re in trouble aren’t we?” Carlos asked as he pulled on a T-shirt and pulled on his boots.

     “I don’t know,” she shook her head sitting as she pulled on sneakers. She grabbed her small purse and put her scissors into it along with the money from her wallet and the bruise balm, “Alright let’s go” she took his hand as she opened the door and led him over to Aziz’s room. She knocked waiting for a reply.

     "Come in," Jasmine said sitting across from the two boys, Jay still on the floor legs pulled up defensively. Aziz sitting on his bed with sleep pants on now instead of just his underwear, "Please have a seat." She gestured to the bed watching the way Jay tensed.

     Aziz glanced over his shoulder at Evie and Carlos, "Sorry..." he knew they were worried, but this was his doing, "Come sit with me?"

     Carlos sat beside Jay on the floor, while Evie perched delicately on the edge of the bed near Aziz. It didn’t take a genius to figure out what had probably happened, she just couldn’t get a good read on how Jasmine was taking it all. 

     Jasmine looked at the four of them, the way they looked on edge, "Thank you for being so quick. I was just made aware of a very different situation, than my son informed me of previous to your arrival. In a way I would have preferred to have avoided. Let me make myself very clear. I am not angry, I am not going to punish you, I am not going to send you away or whatever it is you think is going to happen. I pulled you all here because I want a better explanation than my son's 'don't want to talk about it' and Jay's 'I don't know how to explain it'. We are adults, but I have rules. Two rules and only two rules, one of which my son has a bad habit of forgetting."

     Aziz flushed looking away, he was the reason they had one of those rules in the first place, "Sorry Mama..."

     "Aziz please inform your," she paused trying to find a good word for them, "Your lovers what is rule number one in this house when regarding sex."

     "Always lock the door before getting naked," he grumbled eyes firmly planted on Jay's knees.

     "Good now explain to me why I walked in on you and Jay having sex this morning?" She was not holding Jay accountable for it, he probably hadn't been told the rules regarding sex in the house.

     "Because we didn't lock the door..."

     "And now tell them what rule number two is."

     "Have safe sex. I don't care if you have it, just always use protection." Aziz felt his body heating up in embarrassment. This was his punishment for not warning her.

     "Very good," she gave him a terse smile, "Now why don't you four explain to me the nature of this relationship you have. And don't hold back, you'll be surprised how little I am fazed by things these days."

     “Not sure relationship is the right word,” Carlos said quietly, he was a little freaked out by all this to be honest.

     “We...” Evie tried to find the right wording, “For the three of us, it’s about being what we need from each other. With Aziz it’s... I don’t know how to explain it.”

     “It’s about him being our friend, but I guess a little more than by mainlander standards,” Carlos looked at Jay for a sign he was phrasing that correctly.

     "Friends don't generally sleep together." Jasmine replied dryly, "A relationship is the word we use to describe something that is between people. The nature of that relationship is very varied."

     Jay bit his cheek hand settling on Carlos' thigh to settle him down, "We don't know how to explain this to mainlanders. Things work different on the Isle..."

     Jasmine pinched the bridge of her nose, "Oh I am beginning to understand that. Explain it to me like you would to someone younger on the Isle."

     "Mama..." Aziz looked at her worried because it was going to come off as possessive.

     Jay took a deep breath hand clenched on his thigh, "Okay. Evie, Carlos and Aziz are mine. I claimed them. They wear something of mine to show everyone that they are under my protection. If someone hurts one of mine then I deal with it. In turn they look after me."

     "Explain. Most of this seems prior to Aziz entering into this arrangement." Jasmine shifted uneasily but reminded herself that they grew up like her husband had, the life they had was very different from hers.

     "I made sure they had food, water, supplies. If they needed anything I made sure they had it, if it was physical then we got physical. They patched me up when I got hurt, made me clothes when I outgrew what I had. Or were bait so I could do what I needed to do for Baba. They keep me... focused. Make me useful."

     Aziz watched his mother's stern expression soften, "They use physical contact instead of words. Like the hand Jay has on Carlos is to calm him down. I... I grew into their system, they let me in. And I would be lying if I said I wasn't attracted to them, that time with them has an odd habit of calming me down. Jay has an innate ability to know what we need before we do and he knows exactly what we like without us saying anything. Evie knows to press and how to do so to help us talk. Even if we didn't want to. Carlos will just sit with you, and joke and shove to distract you from whatever is bothering you. When it gets sexual, it's always consensual. They understand that no means no; they never push."

     “With out each other we don’t really work anymore” Carlos shrugged as he leaned against Jay, “With out Jay and Aziz watching E’d probably starve herself, I wouldn’t interact with people at all.” 

     "Without all of them, I wouldn't have the will to keep fighting," Jay let his head rest against the bed feeling Aziz's hand smooth over his hair, "I can't function if I don't have a purpose, a mission."

     Aziz felt the urge to hug Jay, to pull them all close and never let them go, but he settled for a hand on Jay's head and his fingers between Evie's, "They have given me a reason to fighter harder for what needs fixing. Even if Jay reminds me I need a break every once in a while, and Evie gives me someone to eat lunch with. Carlos taught me how to fight against both of their terrible habits."

     “The boys do make sure I have something to eat if they are around. But they also remind me that my life is mine, not some princes or kings and definitely not my mothers, it’s mine to do what I want with” Evie added her bit as she ran her thumb over Aziz’s knuckles.

     Jasmine nodded quietly taking it all in. This was why they didn't know how to explain it. It was codependency, a physical need to fill in for what the others were missing. Jay seemed to be at the center of it, needing a reason to keep going. The words they used were clear signs of the state of the place they grew up on. "I see," she said finally, "And you four support one another. Sex is just a part of the self care you used on the Isle then?"

     "It helped, still helps." Jay looked at her judging reactions from the woman who had desperately tried to pull him in at Christmas, "Most times it was the only affection we ever got."

     As a mother that sent a surge of pain through her. Abandoned, they had sent children to be abandoned because from the sound of it, "Did your parents love you?"

     "We don't know what love is." Jay bit out.

     “Our parents saw us as help they didn’t have to pay,” Carlos snorted.

     Jay snorted, "I paid him to live there."

     Her eyes narrowed dangerously, it wasn't hard for her to connect the dots, Jafar had inflicted those wounds likely when his own son couldn’t pay. She pulled herself back in reigned herself back, "I understand now... why this relationship is what it is." She took a deep breath standing up and looked at her son, "Do you care about them?"

     "Of course I do. I don't want anything to happen to them, I want to help them however they'll let me," Aziz felt panic in his chest like she was going to try and take them from him the ones who let him inside their world.

     "Good. Then I expect you and them to follow the rules. I'll explain the situation to your Baba. Don't worry about needing to hide here, if you need each other, do what you need to. Your health, happiness, and well being are all I care about. I didn't get where I am today by listening to a man with old world ideals," she looked at Jay, "I did away with that old Agrabah, because it wasn't the one my people needed. Jay, when you are ready, preferably before you leave, I would like to talk. You can choose whoever you want to sit with you, but that is all I want to do. Just talk." She clapped her hands with a wry smile, "Now then, see you all find yourselves in appropriate clothing, breakfast is in 2 hours." 

     “Yes, ma’am,” Carlos nodded glancing over at Evie who was quiet as she looked down at the bed spread.

     Jay was frozen. Why did she want to talk to him? Had he said something wrong again?

     Aziz watched her leave and winced, “That was not exactly how I wanted anyone to find out... Sorry Jay. Sorry to all of you. ‘Amira are you okay? She didn’t say something that upset you did she?”

     “No it just... I know this isn’t normal, they we aren’t normal. I try not to let that fact affect us but, I just feel like we’ve just shown how not normal we are to her” she struggled to find the words.

     “I know I’ve said this to you before; Define normal. Your normal isn’t my normal, just as normal for Carlos and Jay isn’t normal for you. But that’s okay, you are allowed to be you. If this is the normal you need, then that’s your normal. Mama is... she’s processing. You three just painted her a picture of the Isle that she wasn’t ready for. Remember she fought for you kids, she fought to keep all the kids off the Isle. She must have been trying to hold out hope that your parents could be halfway decent human beings to their own children,” he cupped her cheek and rested their foreheads together. “You all went through a life no child is meant to go through, and you walked out the otherside, a little worse for wear but that’s okay. You all have me to help you heal as long as you let me. As long as you still want me...”

     “I feel more exposed then I want to be” she crossed her arms.

     “I think we all do” Carlos looked at her.

     Aziz gave her frowning lips a soft kiss before pulling back, “How can I help?”

     Jay ran a hand through his hair, “Do we have to go to breakfast? Because I don’t know how to act like everything is fine after that.”

     “Not very hungry at the moment anyway,” Evie agreed

     “Maybe we could head out early grab food while you show us around,” Carlos suggested.

     He gave them a weak smile and nodded, “Sure, I’ll let you all get ready while I let mama we won’t be at breakfast.” Carefully he got off his bed and pulled a shirt on before switching into actual pants. Maybe he should just leave them be for today, he had seemingly traumatized them enough.

     Jay watched the unfamiliar expression fill Princy’s face. He didn’t like it, he also didn’t like any of the heaviness in his chest either. But he pushed off his problems and stood silently moving closer. Waiting until he straightened before Jay pulled him back into his chest holding Princy hard, “We still want you. We just don’t like letting people see us, we know we don’t fit in your mainland world, so we hide us so you don’t send us back.”

     Aziz squeezed the near crushing hands on his chest, “I. Will. Never. Let. Anyone. Take. You. From. Me,” he spelled it out for them in a way they would understand, “As long as you want me, I won’t let you go. Do remember I would go to war for you if that is what it would take to get you back where I can help you.”

     “Good to know,” Evie looked at him as she stood.

     “But wouldn’t that just prove what the council thinks about us?” Carlos tilted his head still on the floor.

     “You know what the council can go fuck it’s self. It makes shitty decisions and is run by corrupt old men who decided what is only good for them and not the people,” Aziz snapped finally forcibly detangling himself from Jay’s grip, “There are more evil men on that council than the four kids raised by actual fucking ‘evil’ people. Sure you guys have your moments, but you never just do things because it makes you more money, or fucks over some small country that doesn’t have a voice on the council so you don’t care about it.”

     Jay blinked smile slowly forming on his lips, “Oh that’s what your Baba meant last night.” he snickered.

     “We’ll be sure to use our money for better things then,” Carlos nodded.

     Aziz puffed out his cheeks and huffed, “Just tell me what you all need. Let me help you. I just want to help you.”

     “Right now we just need to get out of here,” Evie held her hand out to help Carlos up.

     “Okay, go get ready for a day out. I’ll go deal with Mama, I’ll meet you in your room.” Aziz nodded.

     Jay turned and nodded to his Isle two, “You heard Princy, let’s let him do what he needs to do.”

     They nodded to Jay heading back to their room. Evie felt the need to shower and to do her hair. She needed to be pretty right now, to make sure the others looked right.

     Carlos watched her twitter about the room pulling out clothes for the boys.

     Jay just let her do what she needed to do as he went and sat down in the corner. He sunk his hand into his hair, “Your a fucking idiot Jay,” he muttered to himself, “Lock the door, why didn’t you lock the door? You always lock the fucking door. There were 17 locks on the back door and he locked every fucking one of them every night. You unlocked them and you relocked them behind you. Why can’t you fucking remember to lock one lock on the mainland? It’s not hard Jay, even an idiot like you can remember to lock one lock. You could have avoided all of this if you had just locked the damn door.”

     “Dude you don’t use doors, locking them not your thing,” Carlos looked at him as he sank down next to him in the corner.

     Evie nodded as she put sunscreen on top of Carlos’ pile of clothes and disappeared into the bathroom.

     “I used to unlock and relock 17 locks at least twice a day. Why is it I can’t fucking remember to lock one lock since we got here? That is two times now I have been walked in one trying to take care of one of mine. All I have to do now is have someone walk in on me taking care of you and I’ll have a whole fucking set.” he snapped head smacking against the wall with a solid thud the sharp burst of pain enough to jarr him out of his mood, “I was just trying to make sure he knew he was still wanted... and I instead let in someone I never wanted to see into us. All because I didn’t think to lock the door. Right thinking, not my thing.” He resisted his very childish urge to scream fuck at the top of his lungs, it really wouldn’t help right now.

     “Well she didn’t throw us out, so not all bad. And I'll make sure to remind you if that makes you feel better” he laid his head on Jay’s shoulder.

     “I wasn’t lying when I told Coach you were my brain,” he sighed leaning his head over to rest on Carlos’, “That’s very true, she didn’t lock me up for fucking her son. Didn’t throw us out when she found out we were all fucking her son.”

     “So maybe we just be careful to watch our manners,” Carlos closed his eyes, “E will help with that.”

     “Since when did I have manners?” Jay snorted letting himself relax, “I didn’t mean to get you and Princess involved. I was going to take the heat from my dumb decision. And then I tried to help, I must be totally broken, because I can’t even help without making things worse.”

     “Um have you noticed my mouth running away lately,” he snorted, “And you got manners in there somewhere or E is going to be elbowing and kicking you a lot.”

     Jay grinned, “I was just figuring you were trying to have your mouth running between Princess’ thighs instead. I guess we are going to find out if I have any manners, since she is making us her dress up dolls for today.”

     “Well she’s in the defensive mode,” he started to stand up as he heard the shower shut off, “We should see what she’s picked out for us before she goes and raids princy’s closet.”

     He helped Carlos to standing and looked confused, “Why would she go and raid princy’s closet?” he stood and walked towards the bed realizing Iago was missing, but he decided to ignore that until his scars were all covered back up.

     “If she’s dressing us, what makes you think she’s not dressing him,” Carlos snickered looking up as she came out of the bathroom in a robe hair in a towel. 

     “Why are you two not dressed?” she asked looking at them as she pulled out her own clothes.

     Jay grabbed the shirt and his vest ignoring the pants she pulled out in favor of the ones he had on as he dug through his bag finding his hair tie. A quick few twists and all his hair was up in a messy bun, “I need to check the balcony,” he gestured to the curtains and walked into the morning light, not seeing the macaw he frowned and hauled himself up to the roof, “Where the hell did you go?” he breathed standing there looking around. 

     Carlos pulled on the shorts and light weight red shirt, he looked up as Evie pulled the towel off her hair and went out the door. “Called it,” he muttered.

     Jay sighed as a weight landed on his shoulder, “Where the hell were you?”

     “If you can get ass, so can I,” Iago huffed, “What happened you don’t smell like him?”

     “Got caught fucking him,” he sighed lowering himself to sitting, “By Jasmine...”

     “Oh. And?” Iago hopped to sitting on Jay’s knee.

     “And nothing. She pried into us, and that was it...”

     “Pried?!” Iago squawked, “The nerve of her, you kids have been through enough you shouldn’t be forced to relive it. Where is Puppy dog and Blueberry?”

     “Under us. I think she is dressing Princy too today...”

     “I want to check on them,” Iago leapt into the air, “Come on kid.”

     Jay rolled his eyes but followed after the bird and back into the room seeing only Carlos, “Princy’s room?”

     “Yep, didn’t even get dressed before she headed over there.” Carlos nodded towards the pile of her laid out clothes.

     “Huh, lucky him,” Jay said looking at the clothes.

Chapter 115: Fall Back (Agrabah: June)

Notes:

Just wanted to thank you all for all your kindness and support on this story. Reading your comments really brightens my day. We hope you'll continue to enjoy as we work through the Agrabah arc.

Thank you all and enjoy the next chapter!
~Kevyon

     Aziz paused seeing Evie in the hallway in just a towel, “‘amira everything okay?” His parents had not been happy but they understood that they needed time away from ‘stressers’.

     “Just need to look at your clothes make sure they’re right,” she said looking at him.

     “Make sure they are right... I am going to guess this is my fault,” Aziz guided her into his room, “Prepare your little fashion filled heart my ‘amira,” he opened the door to his walk in closet and stepped aside.

     Evie stepped into the closet her fingers running over the material as she took it all in. This was a closet from her dreams, everything was neat and orderly. 

     She quickly located the more casual clothes flipping through them until she found a simple light blue shirt, and pulled it out looking it over before holding it out to him, she moved onto pants quickly finding lightweight white linen pants. Rubbing the material between her fingers she nodded again holding them out.

     “Those should look good,” she said turning to look at him. Now she just needed to do her hair and get dressed.

     Aziz took the clothes and set them down setting his hands on her shoulders, "I am sorry I put you in a place you aren't comfortable with. I never wanted to put any of you in a place where you were exposed before you were ready. Please forgive me."

     “I told Jay to come see you. I ignored where we were because for a moment I forgot that even though our parents aren’t here it’s still dangerous for us to be ourselves. I told Jay you needed him because you do, I can see it in the way you hold yourself. It’s not his fault no matter how much he thinks it is, it’s mine” she crossed her arms around herself.

     "Then you'll be proud of him, because he was thinking about not getting caught. He came to see me with the intention to just blow me and slip off. I wanted more, I wasn't thinking about anything other then I wanted him to feel good too. In a way we are all at fault here, all the things we decided, Carlos not included, lead to this morning. Both of us pushed Jay and because we are his he caved to what we want over what he wanted," he slid his arms around her pulling her close to his chest in a warm hug, "I would never change what happened, because tell me honestly would you have ever walked into my room in nothing but a towel if they didn't know? Because that's one of those court no nos I am positive you know. Not that we give two shits here, it's hot as anything and my mother, married a commoner that she loved. Baba understands that out there things are different."

     “Probably not, it’s just I hate what this does to him. He gets lost in his head, starts thinking his baba was right that he is stupid, we both know that isn’t true,” she leaned against him.

     “Then we pull him out of his head, prove him wrong. He’s not stupid, sure he has some learning trouble like my little brother does, but he has a mind like a steel trap when he is intrested in the topic. You know he was expecting to be imprisoned for this morning, ready to lie about our system and take the blame for everything. Because you and Carlos didn’t deserve any more punishments. It really bothers me that he was punished so frequently that he thinks he deserves it. I watched him stand there in front of Mama eyes closed braced for a blow before he realized she wasn’t going to hit him. It hurts me knowing that you all are like that, flinching from things that used to hurt you. Knowing that you don’t eat for the same reasons he thinks he’s stupid, your parents said it enough times you believe they are right.“

     “Yes we were told things over and over again. Doesn’t mean that they weren’t right at some point, it’s my mother wanted a daughter that was beautiful so she drilled things into my head, she fixed any problems. But that doesn’t mean she wasn’t right at least partially. No one wants a fat or blemished princess” she shrugged.

     “I guess I am the wrong kind of prince then,” Aziz smiled softly, “Because I find the most attractive thing about you is your mind. I’ve had fun with pretty thin girls, girls with curves, and girls with ‘unattractive’ features. Want to know why I didn’t keep them around? Because they tittered and fluttered and couldn’t hold a conversation with me. At least nothing more than surface level. You are unapologetically intelligent, I can pick a topic and talk to you in depth about that topic. Call me what you want, for wanting a princess I can actually talk to, not talk at. It’s a bonus your drop dead gorgeous, maybe could stand to have a little more meat on your bones,” he teased, “But no one is perfect.”

     “I have just enough meat” she rolled her eyes, “Despite my mothers best efforts I absorbed and retained things that didn’t have to do with court life”

     “Well I am very thankful for your mother’s failings,” he ducked his head down kissing the top of her damp hair, “Would you like to watch me change into Wicked Princess approved clothes or should I release you to get dressed?”

     “If I watch you change we won’t be leaving for a while,” she pulled back, “We’ll see you in a few minutes.”

     He nodded watching her go before leaning back against the doorframe of his closet. Them. Today would be about them, he would cater to them, more than usual at least. He had to make it up to them, had to find some way of apologizing for earlier this morning. Changing quickly he walked out of his room and into theirs without bothering to knock. Bonuses of having seen them all naked before.

     Evie glanced up at him as he came in. She had her bra and underwear on sitting in front of the mirror braiding her hair back.

     Carlos looked at him from his place on the bed, “Hey Princy.”

     “Hey Los,” he smiled, “How are you doing? You are looking a little less red than yesterday.” he didn’t spot Jay or Iago.

     Jay turned slightly hearing Aziz in the room behind him as he sat on the railing of the balcony. Legs dangling over the dead drop to the ground as Iago sat warming his wings on his right thigh. Princess had already given him the look seeing he hadn’t changed into the pants she had pulled out for him, outdoors was his only escape for the time being.

     “Yeah it feels better too,” Carlos nodded.

     “Good. Now you going to put sunscreen on? We are headed down to the docks, and that means the sun is going to be even more intense. Will be cooler down there though, it’s a nice breeze off the water.”

     “Yeah E left it out for me,” he held up the bottle, his eyes going to Evie as she stood to pull on her dress.

     Aziz watched her pull the dress over the simple blue lace underwear set. His eyes smoothing over her thin frame and smiled softly, “Need help putting it on?”

     “Do the laces in the back for me?” she turned showing the him the laces.

     “Of course,” he nodded carefully sweeping her hair out of his way as he threaded the laces through the small holes and tightened the dress against her frame careful not to pull it too tightly to her skin. 

     “Thank you” she turned back to him.

     “You are very welcome,” he nodded tying the end in a bow with a nod, “All done,” he pulled her hair back over her shoulder and stepped away to Carlos, “Did you put the sun screen on or do you need help?”

     “I got it” he said, “Took me a second but I got it.”

     “Good,” he nodded, “Now where is our dear thief?”

     “Outside avoiding E” he pointed to the balcony.

     He sighed softly and headed that way brushing the heavy curtain aside seeing Jay sitting there on the railing as if he weren’t one wrong move from death. Gathering up his nerves he moved closer carefully curling an arm around his waist, other hand on the railing, “I hate it when you do this...”

     Jay snorted patting Aziz’s arm feeling the prince hiding his face in his long hair, “Come on now, I’m not going to fall. You didn’t have to come out here if you don’t like heights.”

     “I do hate heights, but I hate seeing you being reckless more,” he swallowed breathing in the scent of jasmine and vanilla, “You're not using that god awful 3 in 1 shower gel.”

     “What you don’t like the way it smells? I mean it’s strong but gets the job done,” Jay smiled feeling Aziz wind their fingers together.

     “No this smells much better.”

     “Yeah I always liked the way it smelled... used to go out of my way on barge day to find as much as I could of it,” he gave his head a little shake, “You came out here to get me. If you let go and back up I’ll go pull myself to your version of safety.”

     Aziz pulled away slowly and stepped back to the opening of the balcony where his anxiety was a little less intense. He watched as Jay rolled backwards, hands planted on the ground as Iago took to the air as his legs came flying into the air, “Show off.”

     “For you Princy, always,” he gave the prince a smirk and a long look over, “Princess did a good job.”

     “When doesn’t she do a good job,” Aziz extended his hand feeling a touch childish until Jay rolled his eyes and took it letting himself be pulled inside to Carlos and Evie, “Shall we?”

     Jay avoided looking at Evie, not wanting to get yelled at anymore today about his ‘wrong’ pants and unbrushed hair.

     “Come on princess,” Carlos took Evie’s arm.

     “Lead the way princy,” Evie nodded.

     Keeping a hold of Jay’s hand he guided them out into the hallway heading towards the front door where they could take the side street and head straight down through the dock side of town. It was a little longer and a bit out of the way but he didn’t know if they wanted to deal with the marketplace proper. No, they would like it, the chaos there would remind them of home, there was no reason not to, he was safe with them. And he had his dagger on him anyway, not that it was an actual concern but he tried to think about his own safety.

 

     “Wow there are a lot of people,” Carlos looked around as they moved through the crowd.

     Aziz looked back even as Jay adjusted his grip from his hand to his waist, “This is the marketplace, our mid sized one, the largest is down by the docks where most of the food comes right off the ships. I was going to avoid this one, but I was hoping it reminded you of home.”

     Jay lifted a brow at the sentiment and the fact he had his hand on the hilt of a dagger. Smiling slightly he looked around feeling the familiar building tension, the hyper awareness of his surroundings as they passed through the crowds. A hand reached for his pocket and Jay grabbed the wrist giving them a look before he handed them the coins he had lifted from them. They grinned nodding as they pulled away with a quick flick of fingers. He took that as the silent sign that they weren’t to be hassled any more, but Jay would believe that when he saw that they were getting avoided.

     Evie smacked the hand that went for her purse, she glanced at the kid that quickly backed off. She nodded to Carlos who tossed the kid a coin before they continued on.

     “There are a few places to eat breakfast here. Did you want to stop somewhere?” Aziz knew a few street vendors from the trips he took with his father. 

     “That’s up to you princy. Is there somewhere you like?” Evie asked.

     “There is, but it’s not what Auradon considers to be breakfast food,” He made air quotes with his free hand as Jay pulled him out of the way of cart.

     “Would you focus on where you are going?” Jay laughed softly patting the Prince’s hip before easing him back to his side.

     “That’s what I have you for right?” Aziz teased, rather liking the way Jay held onto him knowing the younger didn’t actually mind, “Seriously though if you're interested we can go and get some.”

     “Sure we’ll try anything, but what is it?” Carlos asked.

     “It’s... it’s like breakfast soup. Sort of,” Aziz bumped Jay with his hip, “Come on,” he twisted in the firm grip and grabbed Jay’s and Carlos’ hands pulling them after him through the crowd. He didn’t know why he was starting to feel rather excited to show them things his father had showed him. Maybe it was knowing that he could show them parts of his childhood no one else knew about or even cared about. 

     Evie laughed following after the boy, Princy was so excited and bouncy like a little kid.

     Jay shot Evie a look, since when did their level headed no fun prince get excited about things? Not that Jay was complaining really. As they passed a small book stand and a small leather book with a golden design on the cover caught his eye. He couldn’t help himself and sighed mentally, he’d give it to Aziz to return later or leave some money when they came back down this way since it was too late to go back as the older male dragged them down another alley to where there was a gathering of people in front of an older woman sitting on the ground with a large pot. 

     Aziz guided them into the ‘line’ and smiled warmly at the woman as she clapped happily seeing him. She beckoned him closer but he waved off her want to serve him first, gesturing to the others in front of him. They had been here longer and he was in no rush.

     Evie looked at the people around them, this wasn’t a part of a kingdom that was normally seen.

     “Z that smells great,” Carlos leaned out to look around all the people.

     “Some of my favorite memories as a kid were when my Baba brought me to places like this where his father took him. To really see how people live,” Aziz explained as they walked through the line until they reached her. He crouched down,“You look good Grandmama Mahi. Could I trouble you for four bowls of your special?”

     “For you Prince Aziz anything,” she laughed patting his cheek lovingly, “Grown up as such a handsome boy. You need to come home more often though, your people need to see their future sultan as much as Auradon sees you.” as she talked she spooned out broth and camel meat with local vegetables into paper bowls before topping them with spices and rice porridge. 

     Aziz passed them to Carlos, Jay and Evie, “I will try and come home more often Gandmama Mahi, but my friends are still in Auradon, I am trying to bring them here to stay with us.”

     “Make them fall in love with our real food and they will never want to leave,” she laughed patting her belly as he put money into her bucket before taking his own bowl and standing, “Come back and see me soon Prince Aziz.”

     “Of course I will, where else am I going to get such good breakfast?” he smiled at her nodding to his, “Come on your three we can eat over there,” he pointed to a place near the other end of the alley where it opened into a small garden area.

     Jay took the spoons out of Aziz’s pocket and passed them out to the others. He felt a twist in his gut hearing how easily his Princy switched between English and Arabic like his Baba and Auntie did. His Baba had deemed him too stupid to learn more than baba in his native language, he only learned the word for mother out of knowing Jade.

     “So... do I want to know what exactly this is?” Evie asked looking at the bowl as she stirred it.

     “Breakfast soup,” Aziz replied cheekily taking a bite of his, “Try it and I will tell you what it is.”

     Jay gave him an odd look before taking a tentative bite of the meat cube, it was... there was not a real good word for the beef, not beef flavor it had. It was tender and near melted in his mouth with heavy warm spices that tingled across his tongue. He made a face before taking another bite with the rice porridge, he hummed pointing at it with his spoon. That was a breakfast he could get behind.

     “Are you even tasting that?” Evie asked looking at Carlos who was slurping it down.

     “Yeah, it’s good,” he nodded swallowing as he answered her.

     “Eww” she shook her head at his manners, before spooning a vegetable up and taking a bite. She let the flavors roll on her tongue, it wasn’t bad she wasn’t sure what she thought about it.

     “So what you all are eating is bone broth soup with camel meat, okra, prickly pear, and pumpkin with rice porridge spiced with a little bit of every spice you can buy here in the market.” Aziz explained between bites.

     “What’s a camel?” Carlos asked between bites.

     Evie chewed on the butter meat for a second before deciding she preferred the rice to anything else, but food was food.

     Jay extended his bowl to her, “You don’t want the meat I am more than happy to eat it for you. You can take the circle things with seeds.” he was not a fan of the slimy texture to it.

     “That is a camel,” Aziz pointed to one of the shop vendors who had his camel loaded up with carpets, “The hump is full of water, so on long journeys through the desert his owner doesn’t have to bring water for his animal. It’s complicated to explain how that works.”

     “Ok so it’s kinda like a horse,” Carlos asked.

     Evie scooped the meat into his bowl and shifted through to find the veggies he wasn’t fond of.

     “Yes, just better suited for a desert than a horse. Though we have those here too,” Aziz nodded watching the exchange with a half smile.

     Jay happily woofed down the now meatier breakfast soup thing Aziz had bought them, it was just enough to fill him up but not make him feel full.

     Evie finished her’s enjoying the spices and flavor. She could place some of the taste with some of the smells around the market.

     He collected up their empty bowls and spoons and motioned them to follow him, he tossed them into a trashcan they passed and jumped slightly as Jay curled his arm back around him.

     “So I can move you out of the way if need be,” Jay smirked seeing the curious look Aziz passed him, “Would you rather I just grope your ass?”

     He smacked Jay’s chest with the back of his hand, “Don’t you fucking dare Jay.”

     “Bitchy Princy,” he teased reaching back to wind his fingers in Evie’s. Connecting all four of them as they reached the thickest part of the crowded marketplace.

     “This could almost be home,” Carlos sighed he didn’t miss the isle much but things were simpler there.

     “Could be, if you wanted it to be,” Aziz reminded, “Not that I would ever try and convince you to move here instead of staying in Auradon with Ben.” he stated innocently as they passed a fabric stall rather purposefully.

     Evie pulled on Jay’s hand as she turned to look at the shining fabrics of all color.

     “We’re thinking about it” Carlos assured, he liked it here.

     Jay looked up as he was pulled back to the stall, “I am thinking we made you a little wicked.”

     “Haven’t the foggiest idea what you mean,” He snorted as Jay dragged him around so they could stand with Evie in front of the stand, “I am glad to hear you are thinking about it, I would be thrilled to have you all be apart of my world here.”

     “Bad to the bone with even worse intentions,” Carlos smirked at Jay.

     “We gonna steal the show and leave um all defenseless,” Jay replied back

     “A fairytale life an be oh so overrated” Evie murmured along as she ran her fingers along the fabrics, “So raise your voices and lets get it activated” she glanced back at the boys with a little smirk.

     “Long live having some fun, We take what we want,” Jay hummed softly looking the fabric over as Aziz looked at them confused but slowly smiling, not used to hearing them sing.

     “There’s so many ways to be wicked.” Carlos moved taking Evie’s arm with smirk.

     She shook her head with a laugh, when was the last time they had sung to themselves? When was the last time they had sung anything at all? Maybe when she sang to Dizzy before they left the isle? She couldn’t be sure.

     Jay smirked at Evie, "Such a shitty thing they did, the way they said goodbye. You can take it out on me if you like. Fuck away the pain, erase um from your brain. Fake it like you lust for me, come on baby touch me. Show me where it hurts, this dirty little curse. Don't have to be ashamed if you wanna scream my name. While I fuck away the pain."

     Aziz felt himself heating at the very Isle lyrics as Jay held him close Evie on Jay's other side. Jay had a rich voice, and the kid could sing. He was glad to hear them letting loose their old selves.

     “That ones new,” she glanced at him, before going back to looking at a rich blue silk with gold edge.

     "Not new so much as, well, something I picked up from my runs," Jay smirked, Whores Hole wasn't exactly what he frequented but he got pulled there a few times by girls who didn't want their boss knowing they were paying Jay not the other way round.

     "Can I ask you something Jay?" Aziz asked softly as Jay nodded, "Did... did you go to places like we passed yesterday?" He tried not to give anything away.

     "Not for that. I most times hit um for their purses. You know had to make rent." Jay shrugged, "Why you jealous Princy?" He looked over the other male who huffed without replying, "Wow, didn't know you had that in you either. I'm liking this trip more and more."

     Aziz flushed, "See something you like 'amira?" He asked changing topics to avoid Jay's widening grin.

     “The silk is lovely, don’t know what I would use it for though,” she nodded, she had rough ideas for the blue but she liked the dark pinks and greens as well.

     "Well when you figure it out I am more than happy to bring you all back out here so you can get as much as you need."

     Jay rolled his eyes, "Come on Princess, we have the whole summer for you to stock up on Agrabahian fabrics."

     “Ok” she nodded letting herself be pulled away.

     “I’m sure that you’ll have like everything you could want if you really do work on Z’s mom’s clothes.” Carlos added to her.

     "Honestly, there is a special one I want to show you on the docks," Aziz nodded with a smile as they continued on their way.

     “A special fabric stand... you’ve doomed us for hours,” Carlos looked at him.

     “Quit your yapping pup, you need clothes anyway,” Evie stuck her tongue at him.

     “I was thinking Jay could stand to have less clothes on by owning more clothes,” he smirked even as the mentioned male pinched him.

     “Watch it you, unless you want to learn what a punishment looks like for you.” Jay growled wanting nothing to do with having more clothes he couldn’t afford.

     “I could design a few things, that are... fun to look at,” Evie smirked at Jay.

     “Yes please,” Aziz grinned, “I pay and Jay wears them.” 

     “Hey now do I get a say in this?” Jay squawked looking between them.

     “Not really, you can be picky about what you absolutely won’t wear,” he smirked leaning into Jay’s grip as he headed through the crowds to the docks. He always found the smell of fresh fish unappealing as a child but as it grew stronger it was near nostalgic. 

     “Wow,” Carlos looked around feeling the air cooling the closer they got to the hustle and bustle.

     “I’m with Princy on this one” Evie smirked.

     “Fucking hells...” Jay muttered, “Fine. If you two aren’t going to let me out of this, I get to say no on things I won’t wear.”

     Aziz smiled as he submitted to their wants, “Thank you. Now then,” he extended his arm to the open air market on the docks, “Welcome to the Port of Agrabah.”

Chapter 116: Port of Agrabah (Agrabah: June)

     Jay stared up at the ships next to actual docks, swaying on the blue water. The ships coming in with their massive white sails billowing in the breeze as the ship’s crew worked on docking the ship. This... this was nothing like at home, where there were three total massive ships pulled up to the edge of the wharf or streets not going anywhere.

     “This is... different” Evie looked around in awe.

     “Very different,” Jay confirmed looking around, “These ships are so tiny...”

     “Tiny? What ship have you seen that is bigger than these on the Isle?” To Aziz these were rather large, taking a dozen men to crew. He took a deep breath, glad that they seemed to be getting back to themselves even if he had to be more outwardly excited than he was comfortable with.

     “The Jollyroger,” Carlos answered, “My mother was always complaining there were too many Pirates working for Hook”

     “My Mother called it a small palace of the sea,” Evie agreed, her mother hadn’t meant it as a compliment.

     “The crew mostly lives in a warehouse off the ship,” Jay said, “30 to 50 men I guess.”

     Aziz stared, he was aware the Jollyroger was a large ship but not that large, “Must be a Man of War. That is the largest ship they make.”

     “Types of ships had different names?” Carlos asked.

     “Yes, there are different sized ships, and they had different names and crew sizes,” Aziz nodded.

     “Huh, so where do all these ships go?” he asked looking at a few of the crews that weren’t Agrabian.

     “China, Wonderland, the Scottish Isles, the Southern Isles, Arendale, Corana, Mt. Olympus, pretty much any port city they can reach,” Aziz explained.

     “That’s a lot of places” he nodded

     “And that’s not even half the world” Evie looked at Carlos, “Its funny to think that we spent our whole lives on an island smaller than some of the cities out here.”

     Aziz nodded gripping Jay’s hand and dragged him towards another fabric stand this one filled of all the imported fabrics from the other ports, “Here you go Evie. If you want anything let me know. I’ll have them send it up to the house for you.”

     “Oh evil” she pulled out of Jay’s hold, “These are” she looked at all the colors.

     “Do these all come from... different places?” Carlos looked wide eyed at all the bolts.

     “Yep,” he nodded, “Silks from China, those ones are from Wonderland. I figured this would be the best place for Evie to find things she liked. Don’t worry Jay I am sure I can find you something you and Carlos will like here too.”

     Jay shook his head rubbing Princy’s side, “Don’t worry about me, I like pretty much everything. Even if it is just seeing her all excited.”

     “Look at these colors” Evie turned in circles taking in the rainbow of colors around her.

     “Is that fur?” Carlos asked looking at a roll of something behind the counter.

     “Aye, deer from the Scottish Isles,” The woman said leaning on the counter with a smile, “First time to the Dock Market?”

     “Evie I know what my mom does with most of the furs, but what does one do with deer?” he asked pulling her from her thoughts.

     “About the same I imagine, fur isn’t my area,” Evie looked at him.

     Jay looked down at his vest and looked up, “Huh... Princess look, it’s the same stuff you used on my vest.”

     “Boomslang leather from Wonderland,” the woman patted the bolt, “These ones here are all from Wonderland.”

     Evie looked at the leather before looking back at Aziz her eyes going to Jay, she could make him so many outfits, she didn’t have access to so many of these materials in Auradon.

     “You just tell me what you want and how much of it you’ll need,” Aziz smirked picking up on her idea, “I mean since someone refuses to wear anything not leather or denim.”

     “About 20 yards to start will give me enough to dress him in a few new outfits.”

     “Which ones do you want,” Aziz asked as Jay groaned head falling back as he went to stand next to Evie, “You don’t mind having everything sent up to the palace?”

     “Of course not Prince Aziz, you just tell me what your girlfriend wants and I’ll have everything sent that way.”

     “The muted red, the yellow, brown and 10 yards of the dark wash denim,” she listed off.

     “How much of each of the leathers?” She asked writing down the order.

     “Lets see...3 yards of the red and yellow, 10 of the brown,” Evie tilted her head thinking about it.

     “Sure thing,” she nodded and look at Aziz, “90 gold for it all, that includes delivery your highness.”

     Aziz nodded pulling his purse out setting a platinum coin on the table, “Thank you.”

     She smiled and gave him the change, “I’ll have some of the boys drop it off when I’m down cutting it all.”  

     Jay sighed, “I hate both of you...”

     “You are going to look great,” Evie smiled as she wrapped her arms around Aziz, “Plus I can do some sexy things with leather,” she whispered in his ear.

     “On any of you I would be very interested,” he replied curling his arm over her waist.

     “Oh I have some very good plans already,” she smirked.

     “Wonderful, I look forward to seeing what you do.” he guided her away, “We can get as much as you need for your projects. And if you need something during the school year let me know and I will have mama send me some for you. After school, I mean if you're here in Agrabah, all of this is right at your fingertips,” he went for innocent sounding at least.

     “Oh, I could get used to this royal treatment,” she smiled.

     “You are going to have so many new outfits dude,” Carlos looked at Jay.

     “I knew this was going to happen, those two are on a mission to dress me up like a royal. At least I packed light,” Jay sighed watching his Princy and Princess head away from them, “You have any issues with pick-pocketers?”

     “Put my stuff in your pockets dude, all they got was lint,” Carlos shook his head, he’d felt a few try but with nothing in his pockets they were disappointed.

     “I know you did, you always do,” Jay shrugged, “Pick-pocketed the guy who tried. He seems to have sent the word around I’m a thief cause no one has tried after that. Figured it was safer for Princy if I kept a hold of his distracted ass.”

     “It is a nice ass,” Carlos smirked with a chuckle.

     “It is a very nice ass,” he agreed, “And it’s going to be a very punished ass when we have time to us. Because he is getting it for getting on this dress Jay band wagon.”

     “Um something in the way she looked at him tells me that that leather isn’t all for public use or for you” Carlos looked over at where Evie was curled under Aziz’s arm.

     “I’m aware there is no way she is making just me clothes out of 26 yards of leather and denim,” Jay shrugged, “Doesn’t mean I can’t get some enjoyment out of teaching him a lesson,” he tossed his arm over Carlos’ shoulder. 

     “Do we get to watch or is it a private event?” Carlos licked his lips.

     “Oh since we’re outed, it’s a full gang event,” he grinned shamelessly, “I won’t keep him all to myself, that would be terribly cruel of me, and I don’t do cruel to mine.”

     Evie glanced over her shoulder at the boys, “I think you have earned yourself a punishment,” she chuckled looking at Aziz.

     “I doubt that, I’m just helping you. I mean you want him in new clothes, he only wears leather and denim, I’m in those boundaries...” Aziz glanced back at Jay’s expression before looking back at Evie, “He wouldn’t right?”

     “He would, you spent what he feels is way too much money on him. Not that he knows that Ben spent twice that to get the same material in less quantity so I could make just one outfit,” she raised an eyebrow, “Perk to your mom knowing, it will be a group activity. He probably won't let me touch myself or you as payback for getting you on my side.”

     He went pink, “So I’m not allowed to spoil you all, but he can? Also, does he enjoy these punishments?”

     “Depends on what it's for,” she said, “These types of ones normally, it's more to say he’s not happy but we are gonna do what we do. Carlos hid an injury once, that was a punishment that was not enjoyed by anyone.”

     “And what about him. Who is the one who calls him on his shit? I mean he punishes you, who punishes him?”

     “I call him on it, I'm his second. Not a job I enjoy, but it's what I do. I look at everything and see if I see a better way and if I can convince him of a better way,” she answered.

     “I see,” Aziz understood, the punishments were a way of correcting ‘bad’ behavior, things that would interfere with their unit. “Hopefully it won’t be too bad?”

     “If you're lucky he’ll just make you beg to cum while he fucks you and keeps stopping,” she smirked, “Had me in tears doing that once.”

     He looked at her, “Wait what?”

     “What what?” she asked raising an eyebrow, “The release after that is... well you turn into a pile of limp everything. Before that though, I would have agreed to anything. In fact I did agree to make less clothes for him and more clothes for Carlos that time.”

     “This clothes thing... this is one of those things where he doesn’t think he deserves it right?”

     “Exactly, he feels like he doesn’t need it to survive so it’s unimportant. And with his father well, he made Jay think he didn’t deserve anything.”

     “Anything but punishments at least,” he shook his head, “It drives me crazy how ingrained it is in him. I know you have the same issue, hate watching him tear himself apart for not getting it the first time.”

     “I do, so I give him a reason so not think about it. When I study with him, it's about playing the game better than he does. You distract him, not have him distract you,” Evie explained.

     “I guess I need to work on it because he distracts me when he has had enough,” they trailed through the people on the dock looking at the ships coming and going.

     “What did you want to show the boys down here?” she asked as the light breeze moved her hair about pulling some strands from the braids.

     “The ships, this side of the city is cooler too. More food options for the boys, and I thought it would be nice to show you around the rest of the city. I always liked it down around here, the people, the breeze, the little shops. I used to buy books and birds for Raj when I was younger from here.”

     “You sound like a good big brother” she smiled, “If only we could do something about that terrible flirting. I can only guess it’s a by product of going to an all girl school, when you don’t like girls,” she laughed.

     "I try and be a good brother. I guess? I know it is some very bad flirting that's for sure." Aziz laughed softly, "Admittedly I'm the reason we have rules about sex at the house. I liked to walk into rooms unannounced as a child."

     “We figured you guys weren’t exposed to sex to early in life,” Evie nodded, “For us it was just something that happened, then it was something we did.”

     "Jay mentioned that it happened right in the open. Life on the Isle is very different than life here or anywhere on the Mainland I suppose. The things we do here aren't the same as they are there. It has always been my hope that my home could at least remind you of yours. I... it's silly to be so concerned now about it, but I don't want you to choose to stay with Ben in Auradon. I want to have you all close to me, so I can help you, give you what you need, be there for you in ways Ben is too naive to really understand. He is my friend, yes, but sometimes I worry his overly positive outlook in life is going to ruin him. This want for Mal, thinking everything is sunshine and rainbows with her once allies, he just doesn't understand. He doesn't understand that there is bad blood there between Jay and Mal. Probably running deeper than I even realize but I know it is there. I know Jay put his foot down and took you two away from her. He won't tell me what happened and that's fine really, but I know it is why he's going back to the way he was when he got here."

     “That is one you’ll have to ask him to explain. I know what it was but, he would have to explain exactly what happened,” Evie shook her head, “Yes, sex is just out in the open. It’s a way of life on the isle, because everything has value. We learn young because we need to know what to protect ourselves from. There are kids younger than Adir snatched off the streets by snatchers for brothels, some parents even sell their children to which ever will pay more. So for us someone walking in on us is more about protection, it’s when we are somewhat vulnerable.”

     Aziz was silent taking it in, children younger than his brother taken off the streets and sent to work in a brothel. Parents selling their children to another for money. It was, it was worse than he thought, “Did... did any of your parents try it? You know what don’t tell me, I don’t, I don’t think I would trust myself knowing. That place is a nightmare, the more I know the more livid I am at a decision that was made just a year or so after I was born.”

     “I told you I would give you an honest answer to your questions if you asked them, if it was my answer to give. You’re right for a mainlander it is a nightmare come to life, but that is the point, to be a punishment. For us though it wasn’t a nightmare or a punishment, it was just how life was.” 

     He sighed softly, “ ‘amira the life of a child should never be to pay for the sins of their father or mother. A child is an innocent. A child has no choice in their parentage, it should never be assumed that it will be evil simply because it’s parents were evil. That is what I disagree with the most. I know there is no changing what you went through, I just wish your lives had been different. Less what they were, less being surrounded by monsters.”

     “You are one of the few that believe that. I know that Ben does in his own way, but I don't think... sometimes I think there’s something a little wrong with him.”

     “You are not the only one,” he shook his head as they walked up into a line of shops and close together houses, “But he’s the crown prince and the best I can do is try and help him not be a moron.”

     “He’s smart... at least book smart, but everything else I find it hard to believe he’s related to Penny some times.”

     “I don’t know Penny all that well so I am not much for trying to compare the two, but I do know they are very different. The same can be said about me and my siblings though.”

     “Yes but I can see how you interact with your siblings, they are happy to see you. Those two, I honestly think Penny would lock him in a closet and leave him there,” Evie shook her head.

     “That’s because I didn’t pick a girl over my siblings. The brief moments I saw, yeah I would lock him in a closet over that too.” 

     “She cares about him I think, but she’s so... well I feel like she wants to strangle him and anyone that agrees with him,” she chuckled, “Probably why she got along so well with Jay, she wanted nothing to do with the rules”

     “That I did notice. Admittedly there were days I wanted to strangle Jay, or at least shake him until he got out of his funk. Those seemed to get far and few between though once we... you know...”

     “Oh I know, it's his favorite way to weasel out of a lecture” she giggled.

     “He is an absolute horn dog,” he snickered, “Every time I try and get him to do things he doesn’t want to do, he distracts us both.”

     Jay rolled his eyes listening to them talk, he was not that bad, mostly not that bad.

     “Well they look less serious,” Carlos looked at Jay.

     “Yeah they do,” Jay nodded, “I think she told him he’s getting a punishment, cause he looked real panicked there. Just need to figure out when.”

     “It’s Evie, she told him if only to day dream about it with him,” Carlos laughed.

     “Sometimes I think she gets too excited about punishments.” Jay snorted looking around at the houses, they looked kind of like the one his Auntie had.

     “She’s wicked, and she’s never gotten a pissed you off punishment,” Carlos pointed out.

     “Well she didn’t hide things from me,” Jay retorted giving him a look, “I don’t like having to actually punish you for shit. I don’t enjoy it, you don’t enjoy it, Princess sat there watching with that scared stiff look. Probably the only reason she’s never managed to really piss me off.”

     “Well she’s the smart one on that front.” Carlos shrugged, “Wow” he looked over at a stand with animals around it.

     “Yeah she is,” he ruffled Carlos’ hair, “But you learned quick what I won’t put up with. I can’t do my job and look over you if you try and hide shit from me.” he had found out the hard way about the twins and his pup, and he somewhat unwillingly ended that thing. Not that Carlos knew what he had done, just that it had ended. He whistled and Aziz turned slightly pausing at the noise before back peddling with Evie to the stall Jay was guiding Carlos to.

     “Oh my he’s found the animals” Evie watched Carlos move from animal to animal.

     “He looks happy about it too,” Aziz nodded as Jay looped his arm around Evie’s waist.

     “It’s what he likes,” Jay stated, “Machines and animals.” 

     Carlos laughed as a small monkey grabbed his hand looking it over for food.

     “At least once he realized they weren’t going to eat him,” Evie nodded, “In any sense of the word.”

     “Wait... there is a different version of eating?” Aziz looked at Evie and Jay confused.

     “Oh you poor little mainlander,” Jay snickered, “You really haven’t spent enough time around us to know what we mean.”

     “Oh I want to teach him” she smirked at them.

     “Hey Jay check this out it’s like a whole flock of Iago,” Carlos pointed at the large cage of red birds.

     “Sure when I’m done with both of you tonight,” Jay replied squeezing her in warning, “Macaws,” he smiled looking the birds over as Iago landed on the cage.

     “I will have you know I am smarter than the whole lot of them. So don’t get any bright ideas Puppy dog, this is a one bird show.”

     “Even if it’s a lady bird?” Evie asked raising an eyebrow at the bird.

     “Don’t demean me Blueberry, I have you featherless brats to raise. I am not letting any old bird, female or otherwise, think then can come in here and get the easy job of watching all my hard work,” Iago squawked as the birds under him chirped and squawked, “Shut up you bird brains, they are mine and you can’t have them.”

     “Well that’s a clear no” Carlos chuckled, “Aren’t you smarter because Jafar enchanted you?”

     “For a brat who doesn’t believe in magic, you sure seem fine with the idea of enchanted birds,” Iago huffed landing on his shoulder, “Now mush Puppy dog, before I start biting you.”

     “Fine” he sighed going back to Jay’s side.

     “I don’t think Dude wants another bird around,” Evie added.

     “I don’t think Dude could handle another bird around,” Jay shook his head, “Especially not when I have watched Iago sit on his back and order him around the room.”

     “The scary part is that he listens,” Carlos snorted.

     “As the mangy mutt should,” Iago snorted.

     “Alright old man whatever you say,” Jay rolled his eyes arm curling around Carlos’ waist as well.

     “What else you got for us Princy?” Carlos asked.

     “Just more walking around,” Aziz offered with a smile, “I tried not to plan everything out.”

     “Just let us go to what calls to us,” Evie smiled.

Chapter 117: Punishments (Agrabah: June)

Notes:

Warnings:
-NSFW
-sexual torture
-unintentional magic

     Jay stretched out on the floor of their room, dinner had been painful. Aziz’s parents had been, well normal, as if they hadn’t just found out all the older teens were fucking one another. He had been prepared for reprimands, imprisonment, anything but just two parents eyeing them. Maybe they hadn’t said anything because Adir and Raj had been there at dinner. He grumbled more to himself than anything else closing his eyes.

     Evie was inspecting the yards of fabric and leather while Carlos had taken over the bed for an after dinner nap. He on the other hand was bored, the book he had stolen carefully stashed in his bag until he could find a minute to drop it off with Aziz. 

     “Jay what color would you like your new vest,” Evie asked.

     “Yellow?” he asked more than answered shifting restlessly for a moment before falling still once more, “As long as it’s leather in my colors with the cobra, I don’t really care. Not like I need another one really...” 

     “One of them is falling apart,” she pointed out, “I'll make you brown pants” dinner had been tense for her, she’d been on edge watching the boys manners. Her eyes flickering to Jasmine to watch her face for reactions.

     “I can fix it,” he insisted, “Really I can just sew it back together Princess...”

     “I want to give you a new one, new clothes it makes me feel good,” Evie looked at him.

     He sighed, “Fine. Do what you want.” he relented as he shifted again before sitting up, “Them being normal is bugging the shit out of me.”

     “Why? Because my parents aren’t making a big deal out of us?” Aziz asked closing the door behind him locking it just in case.

     “Because that's not the response we were expecting from the parents around the mainland,” she explained.

     “Well I’m sorry they didn’t do what you thought they would do?” he offered, looking the three of them over, “Just means we don’t have to be so, I don’t know, secretive about it?”

     “Where do your siblings sleep?” Jay asked curiously.

     “Other side of the house... Why?” Aziz asked slightly worried.

     “What are you thinking?” Evie looked at Jay, “Are you going to make princy scream?”

     “You and him both earned a punishment,” Jay replied standing and shook Carlos’ leg to wake him, “I’m bored, you’re both here and our Princy already locked the door.”

     He backed up at Jay’s cool smirk, oh he didn’t think he was going to enjoy finding out what a Jay punishment was.

     “What we doing?” Carlos asked sitting up blinking.

     “Fixing this little gang up our royalty has decided on,” Jay smirked moving towards Evie, “You Princess know what to do, why don’t you tell our Princy what I expect to happen when I say punishment time.”

     “Come on now, you needed some new clothes. I was helping ‘amira get what she needed,” Aziz did not like the carnal look in Jay’s eyes at all.

     Evie reached back undoing the laces on her back, “Are you sure you don’t want to unwrap me?” she tilted her head.

     “Where is the punishment if I give you what you want?” Jay asked in reply, “Now be a wicked Princess and do as I asked, and maybe just maybe I’ll be a little nicer to you. As for you, Princy, you know I don’t like owing people. You know I don’t have that kind of money to pay you back, and you’re making me owe Princess things on top of that. Not looking good for you.”

     “And what if I don’t expect anything in return? I know you like deals and stuff but I’m yours I can take care of you like you’ve been taking care of them.” his back hit the door as Jay moved in on him.

     “That ain’t how this works. You don’t make it so I can’t pay it back, I always pay my debts, because I make it so I can afford them. Now strip or I’ll cut the clothes off you.”

     “I would just take them off,” Evie advised as she pulled her dress off. She placed it over the back of the chair before undoing her bra.

     “You wouldn’t-” Aziz cut himself short as a blade flicked into the open, “Okay, okay... I’ll strip,” he edged away from Jay hands up, as he smiled tip of the dagger pressed to the tip of his middle finger.

     “There is a good Princy,” Jay purred watching the older male pull the shirt over his head before he slid the knife back into his belt, “So much easier when you just do as I ask.”

     “It is, but sometimes it's more fun to misbehave,” Carlos chuckled moving off the bed.

     “Only cause you lot enjoy your punishments some days,” Jay shook his head, he would be lying if he said he didn’t enjoy them too. 

     Aziz felt uneasy about this as he stripped down to his underwear, Jay’s fingers flicking to him gesturing for him to continue. He glanced at the naked Evie and sighed dropping his briefs. Punishments generally didn’t have you naked.

     “Relax” Evie came over to his side, “You can say no, he’ll listen if it’s really too much.”

     “People say punishments here and it’s generally not get naked time...”

     “We’re not from around here,” Jay smirked, “So which one of my troublemakers wants to be first? Unless you think you can manage to sit through Princy’s punishment without creaming Princess.” She was always good about it, only had one time where she came watching Jay punish Carlos first which Jay teased her about when he had the chance.

     “I’ll go first, let Princy see what’s coming,” Evie smirked at him.

     “Princy why don’t you make yourself comfortable somewhere. Since you're new to this, you don’t touch you. Understand?” Jay watched the blush flood his face as he nodded, “Wicked. Princess on the bed, that way I don’t give you any more bruises.”

     Evie moved towards the bed flicking her hair over her shoulder as she looked at the boys. She laid down on the bed, smirking at them.

     “Why don’t you come sit with me over here,” Carlos suggested sitting on a bench at the edge of the bed.

     “Yeah okay,” Aziz nodded still unsure of what was going to happen because Jay was still fully dressed. He carefully sat down next to Carlos watching as Jay undid his belt setting the knife on the table.

     Jay left his belt undone as he knelt on the bed spinning her so she could see Carlos and Aziz’s faces, granted upside down but still. It would be harder on her seeing them watching her punishment and not come undone for him. “Now then, you know you don’t go taking advantage of ours. Especially not when it comes to clothes for me when we already settled on Carlos and you before me.” he spread her legs a little wider fingers ghosting the inside of her thighs.

     “But, we have so many outfits and you only have about 3 or 4” she shuddered looking at the boys.

     “Which is plenty for me. I have all I need,” his thumbs caught the outside of her lips and spread her open, “I told you over and over again, when I need more I will make a deal with you for more. You got a free pass for these ball things the mainland insists on,” he shifted and lowered his mouth to her skin licking her spread opening, just teasing her flesh as he pulled back, “You always let me pay you for them when we slip away during the event.”

     “You could still pay me for the new stuff I make, it makes me happy,” she groaned.

     “There is no way I could give you anything for the amount of money you just made our Princy lay down for clothes and your wicked little plans for later. I ain’t that kind of expensive,” Jay growled, lowering again as he sealed his mouth over her clit and suckled on it.

     “We all bring something to the table, he brings money” she fisted her fingers in the comforter.

     Jay almost bit her clit chiding, “If I wanted a fucking pimp I would have staid on the Isle Princess,” he was less gentle as his thumbs sank into her quickly wettening opening, “I am pretty sure you know that very well. So why would you just guess I wanted him cause he has a big purse?”

     “Oh it’s not the money purse of his you want,” she smirked before giving a small cry.

     “That purse is definitely big,” Carlos chuckled looking at Aziz’s lap.

     “Not his money, his ass most definitely. That pretty mouth of his when he’s all in a rage,” Jay smirked looking at Aziz who flushed, “The way he helps us when we don’t know what the mainland rules are. He is the happy medium between us and them. Oh so willing to do whatever for us,” he shifted his grip plunging two fingers into her as he shifted his thumb out of the way to hold her open for him. Then he curled them up into her spot, rubbing it slow and steady as he returned his gaze to her face.

     Aziz clenched his thighs, at least he knew he wasn’t intended to be the piggy bank. But he thought Jay was worth every penny he had, they all were. That did not help the fact his body was reacting to Evie’s noises and the now wet squelch of Jay’s fingers inside of her.

     “He wants to see us happy give us what we deserve, the things that should be normal,” her eyes fluttered closed.

     “I know what I deserve and that does not mean my Princess spending my Princy’s money on me. I am happy when mine are happy. That is all I have ever needed, that is normal,” he eased another finger into her, returning his mouth to her clit as his free hand eased up her leg holding it behind her knee firm but not enough to hurt her. He was going to make sure she understood he just deserved to see them happy, to know he had helped them become happy. That was all he needed.

     “You deserve more than any of us to be happy,” she whined. 

     “She’s gonna push it,” Carlos muttered shaking his head, as his fingers ran under the edge of his boxers.

     “And what happens if she pushes it?” Aziz asked looking away from the scene in front of him.

     “Well Jay can either give her what she wants or she's going to have blue balls so to speak” Carlos snorted.

     “That seems unpleasant,” Aziz muttered looking back over as Jay lifted up licking his lips in a manner that reminded him of a large dog licking its chomps.

     “Its not, but well its his way of making a point” Carlos pulled himself out.

     “Oh and why is that Princess?” Jay baited as he slid a fourth finger into her, careful not to push in this position as he curled his fingers up into her, her slick pooling in his palm as he worked her.

     “Because without you I’d be locked in some dark room somewhere, Carlos would be in that horrid closet petting the fur coats and Iago would probably be a boa in that same closet” she tipped her head up looking at him.

     Jay’s lips curled back over his teeth, that had pushed it, “And I would be somewhere far worse than all of you. I do what I do so you can be happy, because making you all happy is the best I can hope for some days,” he pulled his hand away from her pulling back and slapped her pussy, “Off the bed, you're not cumming tonight.”

     Evie rolled over with a whimper looking at him with a pout as she slid from the bed her eyes flashing every few seconds.

     Jay felt her power pulling across his skin and he hissed at her eyes flashing in reply, “Bed now Aziz.”

     He jumped at the snap, at the sudden near snake like hiss Jay loosed in his anger, swallowing hard he eased onto the bed spreading his thighs for Jay as he felt like a mouse in front of an actual snake.

     “Hush Princy,” Jay stretched out over Aziz’s form and kissed him softly, “Calm down I’m not going to hurt you. Not the bad kind of hurt anyway. Princess on the bench next to Carlos, Pup try to behave and not touch her.”

     “I can try” Carlos glanced at Evie as he ran his fingers over his lower head.

     “All I ask is you try,” he nodded easing back and grabbed the lube, “Try not to tap out on me too early Princy.”

     “Tall order, you are kind of terrifying when you're pissed,” he lifted up looking at Jay.

     “Real annoyed sure, but no one likes me when I’m actually pissed,” he smoothed a hand down the darker skinned thigh, “So if you think I’m scary now, pray you never see me actually pissed off,” he teased gauging reactions to the soft touches, soothing and calming the Mainlander down, “Now just relax, your in for the same treatment, we’ll see if you push it too far like Princess did.”

     “I am stating this now, and getting it out of the way. In my opinion, you and yours are worth every cent I own. I value you Jay. I know you don’t think you are worth that much but to me you are,” Aziz was hoping to avoid the sexual torture all together.

     Jay looked at him amused, “You know you aren’t getting out of this right?” he eased his fingers into his princy and watched him flop back, back arching, “Damn you're still loose from this morning and everything for me. Now then, what have you learned from listening to Princess’ session?”

     “Mmm... fuck...” Aziz groaned as those damned fingers pressed against the bundle of nerves, “You believe we are worth more than you.”

     “Very good, now how do you expect me to pay you back for all that money you just laid down? I don’t-”

     “You don’t have to pay me back,” Aziz panted, “I want to see you have more clothes. In less clothes... I just, I want to see you happy.”

     Jay added another finger and Aziz curled towards him face flushed clearly not used to this kind of punishment, “Okay clearly you weren’t listening to the conversation I just had with Princess.”

     “Or he agrees with me, my masterpiece,” Evie sighed as she curled her fingers against her thighs wanting nothing more than to finish herself off.

     “No I was listening, I was listening,” Aziz shook his head flopping back with a whine as Jay sunk over him, “She wants you to be happy, because of you taking care of them. I,” he moaned as Jay did that thing with his tongue, “I am happy when you are happy.”

     Jay pulled up with a wet pop, “Why? You have-”

     “Because I never had someone who saw more than a Prince that wasn’t family. You don’t give a shit, and I hate seeing you hurting and I can’t help you because you won’t let me,” Jay had stopped staring at him in utter confusion, “So if I have to be a little wicked and use your allies, your original chosen against you, so be it.”

     He smirked, “Oh I have been a terrible influence on you. Do not spend money on me. I don’t need material shit to be happy. Seeing mine happy is all I need.” His fingers twitched and Aziz all but howled, hands clawing at him desperate, “Agree?”

     “If you don’t let me cum no,” Aziz whined as Jay kept up the assault with a smirk, “You bastard you have denied me one orgasm already today.”

     “No your mother denied us both that this morning,” Jay snickered as the prince bucked into his hand, “So no spending money on me?”

     “Compromise? I can buy it if you say yes.” Aziz whimpered, “Please, come on that’s fair.”

     “I don’t know, what do you think Pup?” Jay purred tongue running up the red cock.

     “I think that sounds fair, he has to ask before he can buy,” Carlos said distractedly as he rolled one of Evie’s nipples in his free hand, dragging a whine from her lips.

     “Fine, I’ll take that deal. You want to buy me things you have to ask permission,” Jay nodded and swallowed his cock. 

     Aziz shook his head grabbing at the long hair and Jay pulled up looking paitent, “Fuck me, please... I want to finish what we started this morning.”

     Jay nearly came at the desperate whine, the sex hungry need on his lips, “Oh I definetly can’t deny a request like that.” he pulled off the bed dropping his pants and coated himself before sinking into Princy, the other’s legs pulling around his hips.

     Aziz’s moaned at the feeling, head tipping back eyes locking onto glowing blue and chocolate brown as Jay tore him apart. He didn’t remember coming undone, but he remembered the feeling of Jay coming inside of him.

     It seemed almost minutes from them starting to when Aziz’s body went stiff bowing up into him as he screamed painting all the way up to his throat with cum. Jay kept at it even as Aziz went boneless, the prince not minding Jay’s chasing of his own pleasure. When he came Aziz was coming back around breathing hard as Jay looked him over near fondly. 

     Carlos groaned his eyes closing as his release came, something about seeing Jay on top of Z made him excited and helped bring him to release. He looked over at Evie once he’d calmed down, she was practically vibrating with magic.

     Evie tried to calm, it wasn’t the first time nor would it be the last the Jay denied her. But this felt different there was always a small buzz under her skin since they left the isle, normally she could calm it or it went away. Right now she felt like her very bones were vibrating, she wanted it to stop, but the only way that seemed to disperse this feeling was her release.

     “E... Evie,” Carlos asked gently, she was practically glowing with all the magic gathered along her skin, her eyes were almost entirely blue.

     Jay looked at her and Aziz followed his gaze, "Jay..."

     "Yeah?"

     "So I mean I'm no expert on magic but that doesn't look like a good thing."

     Jay looked down at Aziz and sighed softly, "And what needs to be done about it?"

     "Well given how much you two use sex as pretty much everything, she may need to get off for her magic to settle down."

     "But she's being punished." Jay frowned.

     "I think we can punish her later Jay, you have magic, if you don't use it what happens?"

     "My hands and chest feel like they're on fire," he sighed catching on to Aziz's train of thought, "Fine... fine." He pulled out of Aziz slowly leaving the Prince in the bed as he crouched down in front of Evie, "Am I hurting you right now?"

     “I... I don’t know. It feels like my bones are vibrating to rip threw my skin,” she curled her arms around her middle, “It doesn’t feel right.”

     Jay nodded and shifted to kneeling spreading her thighs as he canted her hips, "Okay Princess, I think you had enough for today. Let me take care of you," punishments were not about pain, he never wanted to hurt them. Not now, not ever unless he had to. This, this he didn't have to do, so he buried his face between her thighs and gave her what she wanted.

     Carlos moved over to the bed next to Aziz watching the two.

     Evie whimper at the contact, the magic swirled around her almost violently. She could feel the pleasure of Jay’s actions. Could feel it building quicker and harder then she’d ever felt..

     Jay could feel it rushing over him, her power enough to make his hairs stand on end like he was in an electric storm. But he pressed on, hands dragging her closer to his mouth, eating her like it was his job because he wanted her to drown in that release like he had done to Princy. He would pamper his afterwards, clean them up, kiss them, soothe them after their punishments.

     Evie felt her release at an almost painful level as her magic flooded the room. A scream passed her lips before all her energy left her, flopping back onto the bench. She gasped for air as she struggled to keep her eyes open.

     Jay eased back and slid to his feet sweeping her up, "Come on Princy, Pup, bath time." He held her against him with a soft shushing noise, "I got you Princess, I've got you." His chest was tight, magic sizzling under his skin, but he ignored it, buried it, shoved it down as deep as he could.

     Aziz shuddered at the feeling of her magic, he was going to step on toes. So he would ask maybe while the four of them cleaned up as it seemed Jay did not like being out of the plans.

     “She ok?” Carlos asked as he stood some of his muscles twitching from contact with her magic.

     "She should be," Jay nodded and he stepped into the massive bath with Evie's limp body, cradling the back of her head as he eased her down into the warm water before helping his other two in with him, "You okay, no one hurt?" He was sure he felt it, but the other two didn't have magic, maybe they just thought he was crazy for asking.

     "I'm okay," Aziz offered as Jay guided him to sit next to Evie. He carefully wiped the drying cum off his chest making a face, he wasn't used to cumming that hard.

     “Feel a little tingly” Carlos said as he sunk down into the water, “Are you ok?” he looked at Jay.

     "Me? Yeah I'm fine," he smiled slightly.

     "Bullshit," Aziz coughed getting a glare from Jay, "Your eyes are all sorts of glowing."

     Jay frowned, his eyes were glowing? "I'm fine really. Just worried about you three."

     “Man if your magic is acting up then you should... I don't know do something. E’s like passed out after having tried to not use hers” Carlos looked at Evie who had moved to rest her head on Aziz’s shoulder.

     "It's fine," Jay insisted, he could live with the coiling heat, he had others to worry about then him.

     "You have no idea how to handle the magic do you? You or Evie?" Aziz asked without judgment as he rubbed Evie's thigh under the water.

     “E you awake over there?” Carlos raised an eyebrow, Jay wouldn’t admit it but Evie would if it would help them.

     “Don’t feel well, leave me alone pup,” she muttered.

     Jay winced, "Didn't mean to hurt you Princess..."

     "I am going to take that as a no. Pardon my stepping on toes, I am going to find you a teacher. Someone that can help you both, because neither of you should be getting hurt by your magic." He squeezed Evie's hand gently. "Okay?"

     “Yeah, okay” Evie nodded, “Pup I will drown you if you say anything right now,” her eyes lazily opened looking at Carlos who held up his hands in surrender.

     Jay nodded silently before turning away, busying himself in collecting up things to clean his off. 

     Aziz didn't much care for the tension in Jay's back, but he also knew Jay hadn't liked hurting them no matter how unintentional. When he turned around the glow was a flicker in his eyes, his hands filled of soap and washcloths. The younger male leaned over and kissed him gently hand gliding into the water with a soft touch.

     “Jay?” Evie muttered lifting a hand towards him along the water's surface.

     Jay pulled back slowly and gave Evie a half smile as he eased the wash cloth down her skin, “Right here Princess, just relax, I’ll take care of cleaning you up.”

     “Tired, so tired” she breathed grabbing his hands.

     “Yeah I know. Magic explosions and big orgasms do that,” Jay tried to keep his tone light, “Going to have to make you have another one of those big orgasms later when you are feeling better.”

     “Maybe less explosion” she yawned floating over to him so she could curl into his chest.

     Jay stood there with her pressed against his chest and he eased the washcloth around her hip. Freeing one hand he pulled one of her legs up around his hip and carefully cleaned her sex, “Orgasm explosion only, how about that?”

     Aziz smiled watching them, the way Evie seemed to do nothing more than cuddle against Jay while he tried to wash her. They looked so good together. 

     “She doesn’t normally get like that, normally tries to be strong,” Carlos said quietly moving over to Aziz.

     “No reason to be strong when we’ve got Jay, it’s odd seeing him being so careful. Not that he isn’t careful, just that I haven’t seen him being this kind of gentle and careful to us," he said leaning against Carlos, he was exhausted but awake.

     “Yeah but she’s his second. I’m normally the cuddler,” Carlos shrugged.

     “So because she is the second she can’t have moments like this? Didn’t Jay have moments like this with Mal, him being her second before the big split?” Aziz didn’t understand why Evie wouldn’t want to cuddle, it wasn’t bad, vulnerability with another person was normal. The want to have that tenderness.

     “Dude, Mal doesn’t do this... like any of this.” Carlos shook his head, “And it's a yes and no, she can have this with Jay if she wants but, on the isle there is always the chance it gets used against you if you have to push as the second”

     “I figured Mal wasn’t sexual with you all, but she never comforted any of you? I guess I am not clear on the difference between slot one and slot two in an Isle gang because Jay seems to be doing to same job before he split you off from Mal.” Aziz frowned watching as Jay pulled Evie up onto his hips as they kissed slowly.

     “Cause he was... is, Mal didn’t do friends she had minions. Then we got here and she was so focused on Ben and all that court crap. Jay’s always been our protector, Mal had better things to do.” 

     “So Jay... Jay has been doing the job of leader and second for as long as he’s been in the Core 4? Then what the hell was the point in Mal?” 

     “Her mother,” Carlos explained, “Maleficent held the part of the isle we lived on, Mal gave us protection by association. That and Evie really wanted to fuck her.”

     “We should go to bed,” Evie laid her head on Jay’s shoulder.

     “Oh... well then, I think you successfully used Mal to your advantage,” Aziz nodded looking them over, “I think it would have been a very different scenario if you weren’t allies.”

     Jay nodded, “Yeah? You going to fall asleep on me Princess?” he teased keeping his hands on her thighs.

     “Already halfway there,” she muttered.

     “I think... when we first got here that we thought maybe we were friends, that maybe she did care”

     “But she didn’t,” Aziz had picked that up, “And that pissed Jay off enough that he stopped letting her pretend she was in charge while he was doing all the work?” he watched as Jay walked himself and Evie to the edge of the walk in tub.

     “You two finish up, Princess is about to fall asleep on me again. I’m going to lay us down in bed,” Jay looked over at his male two as they sat leaning on one another talking.

     “We’ll be in, in a second,” Carlos nodded, watching Jay carry Evie back towards the bed, “No what Mal did that tipped Jay was much worse.”

     Jay nodded walking into the bedroom, laying Evie down gently as she was nearly dead weight on him anyway. He moved towards the door and flipped the light off before easing into the bed beside her. It was way too comfortable but he knew she’d rather he’d be right there, especially now. So he forced himself to relax as she pulled in close to him once more.

     The split had been silent, it had gone unnoticed by the school. Hell he had known something had changed, but it took him until the day before Ben’s birthday for him to even know how it had changed. “It’s why she stopped eating, why you stopped going to class on your own, why he was suddenly always there in sight. What the hell did Mal do?”

     “She rejected us” Carlos supplied, “We thought she was finally becoming part of us and she knee jerked back.”

     He sat there processing the words unsure why the phrase ‘Rejected us’ made his blood boil in possessive fury, “She did what?” he growled, “How fucking self absorbed to you have to be to reject people who have been standing there with you in hell watching your back hoping that you’ll be watching theirs?” 

     “She didn’t want what we were offering, Evie took it harder then me and well Jay is protective,” Carlos pulled himself out of the tub, “We should head in there soon or he’s gonna come looking.”

     “Who wouldn’t want you three?” Aziz asked following after Carlos not wanting to worry Jay, “I am rather warmed by the fact you want me at all. I was happy to just be tolerated by you all.”

     “Z you are like the whole package, you get Jay, you're a prince for Evie, and well you’re big enough for me to hide behind if it gets nasty” Carlos said toweling off.

     Aziz snorted, “I will be honored to be your human shield if it comes to that, but I do not get some of Jay’s eccentricities, but I do my best to navigate his minefield.”

     Jay looked over as the room went fully dark. He listened to them walk across the room, body tense waiting for them to crawl in the large bed and secure him under their weight.

     Carlos curled up against Jay’s side his hand reaching across him to put a hand on Evie’s arm. He made sure he was curled close enough for Aziz to lay behind him.

     Aziz tucked himself in behind Carlos closing his eyes with a soft sigh, he had missed this. Which was odd because he normally hated sharing a sleeping space with anyone but with them it was just more comfortable to lay with them. He smiled feeling Jay’s extended arm flex under his neck the fingers gently brushing skin before falling limp once more.

 

     The next morning Evie turned her face into the pillows feeling like she had a hangover, which didn’t make any sense, since they hadn’t been drinking last night.

     Jay had slid out of the pile and fell asleep on the floor when the cushion around him was way too aggravating. 

     “Jay?” Carlos sat up blinking as he looked around the room.

     "Kid is passed out cold on the floor," Iago yawned gesturing to where Jay was curled up on his side arm tucked under his head on the rug.

     Aziz lifted his head up looking at the rug and the hump of naked muscles, scars and long hair that was asleep, "He cannot be more comfortable on the floor than on the bed..."

     “That’s how he slept at home I think” Carlos looked at Iago for confirmation.

     “Please shut up or talk quieter,” Evie mumbled.

     Iago bobbed up and down, "Yep rug under a shelf of TV's. Still better than that cabinet Jafar tried to keep him in until the kid physically couldn't fit into it anymore." He hopped across the pillow and rubbed his beak on Evie's forehead.

     Evie didn’t open her eyes but brought her hand to gently rest a finger across one of his little feet.

     "Bad headache Blueberry?" Iago asked trying to keep his squawk down.

     “Like a hangover,” she agreed, “We didn’t drink anything though.”

     "Explosive magic does that," Iago nodded rubbing her face, "Coffee, food, sweets, that will help."

     Aziz slid out of bed and crouched down next to Jay. He knew better than to touch, but that didn't stop him from brushing a long strand of hair away from his face. Jay grabbed his wrist one eye blurrily looking up at him before he yanked dragging Aziz down on top of him. Aziz shook his head as Jay locked his entire body around him.

     Jay hummed happily as Aziz just went lax in his grip. Closing his eyes he rubbed his morning wood against his Princy's hip, "What time is it?" He asked softly.

     “My guess it almost time for breakfast” Carlos said.

     "Wonderful," he muttered as Aziz smacked his rolling hips.

     "Quit it you," he huffed, "Now let me up. I need to go get changed and you all need to get dressed."

     "Bah clothes," Jay yawned rolling onto his back to release Princy without moving much.

     “Clothes are required” Evie rolled over to look at the boys not on the bed.

     “Yeah I don't figure they are for nudity at breakfast” Carlos chuckled.

     "Fine, fine." Jay groaned as Aziz stood and pulled his briefs and pants on before slipping out of the room to change in his, "I wasn't too rough on punishing you and him right?" He asked looked at Evie as she lay nestled under the covers.

     “It was fine” she said sitting up and running a hand over her face.

     Nodded he sat up cracking his neck before standing. Walking to the bed he kissed her cheek and then Carlos' before sliding into the bathroom to get ready. His fingers were still tingling but he ignored them. He needed to get that book to Aziz and then he'd feel hopefully bad about taking it, because he was pretty sure he didn't feel a damn thing over stealing it.

     Evie watched him go before she stood going to her bags to find clothes for the day.

     “You sure you’re ok?” Carlos looked at her.

     “Yeah just... lets not do that again,” she shook her head

     Jay ran his hands through his hair, he had to be careful. He had to think about what he did to Evie now. Her magic was getting out of control, not that his was in control, but he knew how to manage himself, force himself better. Taking a deep breath he walked out and looked over her bent form. "Am I allowed to pick my own clothes for today?"

     “Yeah, just make sure they are really clothes” she said pulling on a pair of blue tights and a loose fitting blue top. She twisted her hair up into a messy bun and putting on a light makeup.

     "What you didn't like my skin shirt?" He teased grabbing the pants she had pulled out for him yesterday. He noticed the lack of "effort" she put into herself, "I really did it on you didn't I? Look if you need me to get you anything just tell me how I can help."

     “I feel like that time you raided Cruella’s liquor cabinet and your baba’s wine stash” she said softly.

     “We were so sick after that” Carlos snorted.

     "Oh I remember that," Jay made a face pulling on a blue tank top with a yellow and red Cobra embossed on the front, "I'll see if Princy has pain killers or something. It's too much to hope they have that bright green stuff that cured hangovers." Yzma charged him an arm and a leg for it.

     “Probably... does anyone know what we are supposed to be doing today?” she asked turning to look at them.

     “I don’t think anything,” Carlos tilted his head.

     "As far as I know, we are just hanging out. I'll ask," Jay nodded palming the book into his vest as he pulled it on, "You two finish up I'll be back shortly."

     Aziz looked over from fixing his hair and smiled at Jay, "All good?"

     "You got pain killers? Princess is still feeling it from last night." As Aziz nodded heading into his bathroom Jay followed him, "Two other things, we have plans for today, and I may have accidentally stole this yesterday..." he extended the book to Princy who looked at it then up at Jay setting the pain killers on the book.

     "Pain killers, instructions on the bottle. No plans for today, figured we all could just hang out indoors where its cooler. The book you can keep. Really, you can, you can keep that one." Aziz had read the title, and decided that a book on Kama Sutra belonged in the hands of the guy who used sex for nearly everything.

     Jay swallowed not liking the look but nodded, "Okay... you know I'm not much for reading right?"

     "Then you haven't opened that book. You are probably going to enjoy it," he curled an arm around Jay's shoulders, "Come on back to your room then breakfast."

     Licking his lips Jay let himself be pulled to their room, "Pain killers, and a chill indoor day." He smiled looking at his two, book back in the safety of his vest.

     “Maybe I can work on the potion today then” Evie said as she pulled out the scroll of instructions.

     Aziz nodded, "Do you need any thing from me? I figured I would go see if I could locate someone who may be willing to help you and Jay better control your magic so no one is getting hurt."

     “I can’t think of anything” Carlos said looking at Jay.

     "We will be fine. Do what you need to do." Jay nodded still not liking the learning magic thing but it was getting painfully obvious here that they were spiraling out of control.

     Aziz nodded, "Then I will start my quest after breakfast. Evie take a few painkillers and then we will fill up before I let you all have a nice and relaxing day."

     Evie turned the bottle in her hand looking at the label and direction before taking 2 of the pills.

Chapter 118: Secret Laboratory (Agrabah: June)

     Jay sighed as they made it back to their room. Stripping off his vest he dropped back onto the cold stone floor. Normally he was fine with heat but with his own magic still in a tizzy he was kind of overheating. Sighing he closed his eyes, "Your head feeling better Princess?"

     “A little the eggs helped” she nodded gently.

     "Good," Jay nodded, "If you need anything have Pup help you. I don't want to mess anything given how bad at Potions and Poisons I was. I'm going to be right here heating the floor."

     He opened one eye watching as they read over the yellowed scroll before shaking his head and pulled the book from behind his head. He was sure the words on the cover were gibberish so he opened the thankfully English book. As his eyes traced over the picture of two naked people tangled in a position he had never tried before he smirked, now he got it. Book on sex positions. He took a deep breath and looked at the words beside the image, he was going to read this book no matter how long it took him to slog through the words. That seemed weird, but he was interested in seeing if the words told him how to get into that position.

     “We are going to need a heat source,” Evie explained to Carlos who nodded, “Why don’t you ask Iago if he knows a place to brew” 

     “Will do” Carlos turned to look for the red bird, he stilled at seeing Jay with a book, “uh... Jay you know where Iago is?”

     "Balcony," Jay stated gesturing as he tried to make out the words on the page, it was reading less like an instruction manual and more... well he wasn't sure really but the bits he could read right away were interesting something about learning through sexual activities. Which he could be fine getting behind.

     “Hey Iago, Evie needs a place to brew, do you know anywhere in the palace?” he asked trying to shake the image of Jay with a book from his head.

     "Brew potions?" Iago asked looking over his wing as he sunned himself. "I know a place. Come on then," he hopped on to Carlos' shoulder, "Jay! Off the floor, Blueberry grab all your shit we are going on an adventure to a place your Prince doesn't even know is in his palace."

     Jay closed the book blinking hard. He really wished it wasn't so damn hard for him to read. Shoving himself to his feet he looked at the two keeping the book with him as he pulled his vest back on. Wasn't like he was going to be contributing otherwise.

     “Alright just a second,” she nodded grabbing her bigger purse and gently placed the ingredients and instructions into it.

     Iago waited until they were in the hallway before taking to the air. Flapping down the familiar halls and stairs heading to the one place his kids could do what they needed to do without interruption. As long as Jairaj kept his mitts off the wine they needed to pass getting there. He landed on Jay's shoulder and pointed at the handle, "Open this door, and leave everything the way it is on the other side."

     Jay rolled his eyes crouching down and picked the lock opening the door to a wine cache, "Damn... don't know why we are here though." 

     "All the way to the end of the 3rd row, there is a brick that doesn't match. You need to push it," Iago explained, "Puppy Dog close the door behind you."

     “Where are we going?” Carlos asked looking around at all the barrels.

     “Alcohol” Evie looked at the barrels with a sour look.

     Jay got admittedly distracted and sniffed one of the barrels, "Wine. Smells good. Ow! Damn it Iago I'm not touching it," he hissed as the Macaw bit his ear. 

     "Focus you fatherless brat," Iago snapped angrily gesturing to the wall.

     He rolled his eyes and looked at the wall spotting the stone immediately and pushed it. He leapt back arms out shielding his as the wall moved crunching as the bricks all shifted and moved to create a doorway.

     Iago launched off his shoulder and into the dark room, using his beak to flip the light on. The electric lights illuminated the dusty and cobweb covered equipment. Half finished plans strewn on the table next to old spell books and ciphers. An ancient dark green bottle sat on a tall shelf that Iago landed next to, "Come on kids door will close itself behind you." 

     “What is this place?” Evie asked as she moved into the room looking around.

     Jay followed Evie and Carlos into the room turning as the stone wall sealed itself back up. He had a bad feeling he knew where they were.

     "This was Jafar's old lab. Obviously it's been abandoned for the last 20 years give or take, but I doubt anyone knows this is even here. Jafar made a wish for a lab, and spent 5 years searching for the damn thing. At least that's what he told me, back when I was just a basic parrot without all these good looks," Iago stuck his beak up, "Figured if you were getting into brewing up anti-fertility potions you might want to do it in private and not in the kitchens." 

     “Are you alright with this Jay?” Evie asked looking at him, she could feel the tension in him from where she was.

     Jay looked around slowly careful not to move, "Going to have to be. He's not here. They are never going to let him off the Isle." He lied, his father's memory was always there with him. Hands, words, looks, everything still trapped in his brain. He could do this. Baba was not here. 

     Iago watched his kid, watched the slow cautious steps he took as if he was waiting for Jafar to spring out of the shadows and punch him. It was painful to watch. Why had he never realized just how paranoid his kid had gotten over the years?

     “We’ll have to clean it up a little but this place should do,” Evie nodded.

     “Good I figured you could at least get some use out of it.”

     Jay set the book down carefully and picked up a broom, busying himself in the cleaning. That, that he could help with. Wasn’t like his baba did the cleaning. Jay was taught to clean almost as soon as he could walk. He remembered lessons on cleaning up after himself. The blows he got when he didn’t tidy up. Turning at the sound of his name only to be punched in the nose for leaving crumbs in the kitchen. So he made sure everything he moved was put back exactly in the place he had taken it from. Just so the touching of his father’s old things didn’t summon him or something.

     “Thank you,” Evie started working on cleaning the area where they would be brewing.

     Carlos picked up a rag and started wiping the table tops and tools down.

     Jay looked over the plans still strewn about and carefully organized them into a neat tidy pile before rolling them up and slid them away in an empty slot where the other similar sized papers were. He was praying that he put them in the right places, that his Baba wouldn’t be pissed that he had moved them in the first place. Had to make it perfect, everything had to be perfect.

     Evie filled a pot about halfway with water and put it over the fire to start a boil as she pulled out the ingredients, “We’re going to need vials.”

     Jay nodded opening a cabinet carefully poking around until he found a box of little bottles, “These work?” 

     “They should probably be washed out. I don’t remember if they had anything in them,” Iago offered from his perch, “Kid it’s okay if something isn’t perfectly in its place,” He watched as Jay meticulously nudged a piece of equipment back into alignment that Carlos had cleaned. In fact Jay was moving everything back to the places he had found them, or putting them away.

     “Carlos clean out the mortar and pestle for me please I need to powder the mandrake,” Evie ordered.

     “I got it,” Jay said going to grab it only to get a handful of red bird instead.

     “No, you sit your ass down. Before you drive yourself crazy fixing shit,” Iago snapped from Jay’s hands.

     “Jay relax please, no use you fretting about,” Evie said as she started chopping the yarrow root.

     “But-”

     “No sit,” Iago snapped before clearing his throat, “Sit boy.”

     Jay felt his entire body cave immediately as Iago used his father’s voice, his legs tucked under him cringing.

     “Good Jay,” Iago soothed rubbing his beak against Jay’s nose.

     “I hate you,” Jay grumbled reaching up to grab the book before he tucked himself into a corner near throwing Iago into the air.

     Iago huffed landing on the table, “Ungrateful brat, like I enjoy using his voice to make you listen to me.”

     “Don’t do that again,” Carlos looked at Iago, he didn’t like hearing any of their voices.

     “I will have you know I only use it when I have to,” He pointed at Carlos with his wing, “You want him bustling around tidying like a manic? He’d tidy you and Blueberry right out of your work.”

     Jay aggressively opened the book, he wasn’t that bad. He’d just clean up whatever they were done with and put it away. 

     “It just freaks Carlos out,” Evie said tossing the yarrow into the pot to boil down.

     “Like you’d want to hear your mom’s voice” Carlos snapped back at her.

     “Okay one, I have to actually hear them often, two my girl voices aren’t that great,” He cleared his throat, “Chill Pup and help Princess.” he spoke in Jay’s voice his kid looking up from his book slowly.

     “Yeah don’t do that, ever again. That is fucking creepy,” Jay did not like Iago’s mimic, he may have forgotten the bird liked using it when he couldn’t really talk.

     “That is creepy” Evie agreed as she looked at Iago, as she passed the mandrake to Carlos.

     “No respect, none at all...”

     Jay rolled his eyes before going back to the book, eyes roving over a different position he had gotten into once or twice before. But he looked back at the words and did what he could to sort through them. The begining of the book at least seeming to be nothing but sex and fulfilment of life through it. It was going to take him forever to read it but luckily he was determined to do it. To finally finish at least one book in his lifetime. Particularly one all about a subject he was very educated in. When the words swirled once more he looked back at the picture mentally sorting out how he would get into and fuck in that position.

     “Speaking of creepy,” Carlos motioned with his head at Jay. Evie turned looking at Jay over her shoulder. She did think it was odd but well maybe he was getting better at reading.

     Jay’s head tipped at some of the not translated words but shrugged to himself, figuring they were just made up names for things. He looked up at Evie and then back down at the first picture, she was flexible, maybe he could get her into that position. Shaking his head he went back to the words. 

     Iago looked at the book in Jay’s hands. How? In all the books in the world, how did he manage to get his hands on that?

     “Something interesting in there?” Evie asked coming to his side.

     Jay turned it around for her, “You think we can try that sometime?”

     “Oh that is interesting, we could one night” she nodded with a smirk.

     “Wicked!” Jay flashed her a sultry half smile as he twisted the book back around to go back to reading. He was totally strong enough to hold her in that position or maybe the floor was safer first. It would be fun to try with Carlos, he himself was flexible enough for it, Carlos maybe not so flexible.

     “E I think this is ready,” Carlos called to her. 

     She gave Jay one last look over before going to see to the potion.

     Iago looked between them and sighed, “I cannot believe I am doing this...”

     Jay felt the weight on his shoulder, “What?”

     “I am going to help you read the Kama Sutra. Your father is going to pluck me if he ever finds out about this I will have you know,” Iago huffed.

     “The what now?”

     “Kama Sutra. That is the book you are reading, it’s like a guide book to sex, sex positions, loving ones self in sexual and non sexual manners, and how to be... with some one. Actually kind of like your relation with yours. How did you get it?”

     “Um, I tried to give it back but Princy said I would probably like it. He wasn’t wrong,” Jay replied tapping a word too jumbled to read.

     “Fellatio, for you blow job.”

     “Why is there a fancy word for it?”

     “You got me,” Iago shrugged, “Now go on keep reading.”

     Jay rolled his eyes and went back to reading and sorting through the word jumble. This reminded him of home;

     He was settled in the living room before Jafar finished in the store for the day. Iago was perched on his shoulder preening his hair as he stared at the book on his legs. The words were moving again but Jay did his best to slog through them. He had to do this, he had to be smarter, he had to at least make it through this fucking book. As he pressed the heel of his palm against his head Iago hopped down from his perch. 

     “Jay stop. Jay stop.” He chirped softly making Jay open an eye to look at him.

     “I can’t. I have to do this, I have to get smarter Iago,” he whispered to the bird who cocked its head confused, “I have to be smarter so Baba will give me my name back. If I don’t get smarter…”

     “Jay smart. Smart Jay.” The macaw moved closer fluttering its wings so they bushed Jay’s forearms before it settled its head against his chest, “My Jay. My Jay.”

     His lips curved into a smile as he cradled the bird to his chest, “Thanks Iago.” 

     Tipping his head back against the wall, he stared at the crack in the ceiling watching as the dull sunlight slowly crept across the room. On guard, he should have always been on guard, but he couldn’t help but feel those tensions slowly easing away. His dad had already got him this morning, so he should be okay for a little bit. A throat cleared and Jay glanced away from the crack to where his father was looming in the doorway eyes dark. Jay all but leapt to his feet pushing Iago to safety in his cage. The book thumping to the floor as Jay’s heart lurched in his chest. 

     Jafar moved closer, his eyes on his panicked son; before he stooped and picked the book up, it was the same child’s novel he had his idiot spawn reading when he was six. “Still trying to learn how to read?”

     “I’m trying Baba… the words-“

     “I do not want your excuses boy,” Jafar leveled watching as the child swallowed hard, “Now do you have the payment?”

     Jay shook his head slowly, “Not all of it baba. I, I’m still working on it. You said-“

     A hand cracked him in the side of the face cutting off the words, “Do you want me to double the amount boy?”

     “No, baba.”

     “Then you will have me the rest of what you owe me tomorrow, or else,” Jafar smiled thinly as the boy nodded determined, “Good boy. Now make me dinner.”

     Jay blinked the childhood memory away with a measured breath, it was just being here. Everything about Agrabah was bringing these memories back up to the surface. 

     “This is ready,” Evie said after about a half hour, “Bring me the bottles.”

     Jay stood pushing himself up glad for the distraction and grabbed the box of bottles and handed them to Evie sniffing at the familiar bright red brew, “Yeah that smells like it too.”

     “Good cause it’s not one I’m familiar with,” she nodded taking the bottles.

     He shrugged, “You didn’t like the taste of them so you used your mom’s recipe. This made me sterile so I didn’t care what it tasted like. Couple of weeks and I will be back to my no chance of knocking anyone up.”

     “Or you could just use the condoms I saw in your dresser.” Iago mentioned.

     “I don’t exactly trust them. I trust what I know fucking works,” Jay stated backing away from the table to give her room to work.

     “The yarrow root is bitter I preferred my mother's mandrake, rosewood and wild carrot,” she shrugged.

     "If it worked for me I would take it, but it won't so this stuff," Jay grinned going back to his book, leaving it on table as he tried to sort out a few more words while they bottled up the potions.

     “Iago?” Evie turned to him as she finished bottling the red potion, “Is this room blood warded or can any of us enter it if they like?” she may want to come back to snoop through the books that were in english. Her mother had warned her once that most witches and wizards, or whatever they called themselves warded their place of practice against outsiders.

     Iago shuffled back and forth on Jay's shoulder, "Don't know honestly, kid otherside of the table. You or Pup push the brick and we will find out. Knowing Jafar getting in won't be the issue, it will be getting out."

     Jay closed the book again and walked go the other side of the table. Setting the book in the box he held it carefully watching Evie and Carlos.

     Evie went to the wall and gently pushed on the brick, she looked around the door didn’t open, “Well that’s good to know I guess” she chewed her lip, “Hate to get stuck down here”

     "Yeah that would suck," Jay nodded taking him and the box and pressed the brick door folding up on itself, "You want back I guess you need to bring me with you. I don't care I can just chill out..."

     “I’ll think about it” Evie nodded as Carlos hooked arm with hers and they headed out.

     Jay turned to look back at the room and felt his chest tighten, it looked like they had been there. He felt the need to fix it, put it back the way they found it. Iago's claws dug into his skin and he turned away forcing himself back down the row of wine barrels the stone door shut behind him. "Princess, thank you for making these for me..."

     “We all need them, and I know how to do it with a little direction,” she gave him a small smile.

     “Plus it's better than those rubber things the mainlanders use,” Carlos added.

     Jay nodded, "I still don't understand why Mainlanders like them. Our way is so less in need of clean up afterwards. Still doesn't save me from Princy's bitching when I don't use them though." He smiled slightly trying not to feel that unease as they walked out of the wine cellar and he re-locked the lock behind them, "Iago guide us back to the room." He remembered the way, but it gave Iago something to do that wasn't massaging his tense muscles with his little claws.

     “Yeah, don’t get why they use them, I heard the girls talking about some sort of pills that stop them getting pregnant,” Carlos shook his head.

     "Pills?" Jay crickled his nose, "Yeah Blondie was chattering about that. Something about taking it every night. I wasn't really paying attention, other than she was playing with my hair and attempting to convince me to fuck her." He shrugged a shoulder. It wasn't that he wasn't interested in sleeping with her, it was just that he didn't want her to assume they were dating or something.

     “Blondie? Goldie Locks daughter?” Evie asked, “That girl is looking for the one that is just right” she snorted, she was fine with sex and sleeping with who ever you want, but Blondie seemed to have a different guy every hour and none of them seemed to understand that she was just playing.

     "Yep that Blondie," Jay nodded, "She flat out asked if she could try me on for size. I'm cool with fucking but I have a serious concern that she's going to decided I'm the one who is just right. I am not dealing with that."

     “She’s... interesting, told Chad he was too small for her,” Carlos snickered.

     "Having seen his dick while changing for Tourney, not all that surprised," he snickered.

     “That would explain so much” Evie laughed as they turned down the hall with their room.

     "His better than you shit is him making up for-" he cut himself off seeing Raj in the hall with Aziz, "Trouble?"

     “Take those to our room I’ll find out” Evie said heading over to Aziz’s side, “Hey Princy how’s it going?”

Chapter 119: Ulterior Motives (Agrabah: June)

Summary:

Warning:
-NSFW

     Jay nodded walking into their room with his new book and the box of potions. He glanced over his shoulder and licked his lips tossing one back. Never hurt to start early on making sure he couldn't have kids of his own.

     Aziz looked Evie over, she seemed better at least a little better, "Well Raj," he looked pointedly at his younger sister to let her know he didn't like finding her in their room, "Was looking to see if Jay or Carlos could be her 'sparring' partner," he doubted that was what she wanted but she said she wanted to practice her sword skills.

     “Oh that’s...” Evie chewed her lip cute was the right word but she didn’t want to offend the princess, “You’ll have to ask them”

     "Agreed. Now that you all are back. You have a good time wherever?" He asked looking at Evie. 

     “Yes we had an enjoyable time, Iago showed us around the palace, some of his old perches” Evie nodded, “The boys are in the room” she motioned

     “Do you think they will say yes?” Raj asked as they moved.

     “I honestly don’t know” she shrugged.

     "I'm glad to hear it. I was almost worried leaving you three to your own devices was going to be a bit boring." He smiled as they moved into the room to Jay feeding Iago.

     Jay looked at them curiously straightening from his leaning position on the cabinet, "All good?" He tucked the box in one of Evie's massive bags for safekeeping and the book was at the bottom of his.

     “Yeah” Evie nodded.

     “I need a sparring partner, either of you game?” Raj asked looking at the two males.

     “I’m not much of a fighter” Carlos shook his head.

     Jay glanced at his, "Yeah alright." There wasn't any harm in it and he could use the workout, "Room with all the equipment in it?"

     Aziz could have sighed, really he didn't want his sister getting any ideas with Jay. He knew how Jay was after Tourney and Swords and Shields.

     “Actually I was thinking the garden, a little more real world so to speak,” Raj smirked.

     Evie and Carlos raised their eyebrows looking between the two.

     "Okay..." Jay drawled, he wasn't going to back down, he gave his word, "The tiger going to be alright with that?"

     “Rajah will be fine, probably just lay out of the way and watch” she shrugged, “He’s old doesn’t get very active”

     “Well then, we should head down for the show” Carlos nodded looking between the two.

     "Yeah guess so," Jay nodded eyes focusing on his Princy who was fixing him with a dark look.

     "It will be something," Aziz ceded with a tight smile at Jay. If his sister tried anything he was going to have... he was going to have to suck it up because his mother would yell at him if he yelled at his sister.

     “I wanted to practice with swords, you good with that?” Raj asked 

     "Very fine with that. I would hate to leave bruises on you if you wanted to actually fight," Jay smirked. 

     “A few bruises won't matter, it's part of learning” she shrugged passing him one of the practice wooden swords.

     Jay spun the wooden sword in his hand getting a feel for it. It was so weighty to the ones he was used to but balanced weight. Nodding he made a face, "Alright wooden weapons are new for me but okay. Head to the garden then?" He asked as Iago landed on his shoulder Aziz taking Evie's arm as everyone left their room heading towards the garden.

     Carlos nodded looking around the garden once they arrived, he took a seat near where Rajah was lounging in the shade.

     “Well, then do you want a few minutes to get use to it,” Raj nodded towards the sword.

     “Yeah give me a few swings to get used to the weight,” Jay nodded not used to actually being given a minute to get used to the weight of something. Iago took off and landed on Aziz’s shoulder to watch as Jay twisted his wrist, swinging the blade a bit. He didn’t understand how his kid was going to get used to the weapon in a few minutes much less the fact he slid into an easy stance tip down, “Alright I’m good.”

     “Ok, then,” she smirked dropping into her stance, waiting for him to make the first move.

     Jay took in her stance and took a long steady breath, he had been taught by their own ex-royal guard captain, perfected it on the streets of the Isle. He took an easy swing at her, baiting her moves, he had the luxury of patience here. 

     Raj stepped back blocking easily enough.

     He took the step forward, smiling as she didn’t react to the bait. She knew enough. Rolling his wrist he flicked the weighty blade, putting a small force behind the swing. He was going to test her limits at least so he knew how well she would handle him moving like he did on the Isle.

     Raj tilted her head studying him, trying to see what his next move would be. She was trained to be patient to watch and learn.

     He stepped shifting weight twisting his blade, pulling it across his body guarding before he swung out towards her once more. She, like him, seemed to have learned the same watch and wait technique. So he would move them, move to offense so she would move, see how she reacted on the fly without a rhythm to the battle. He had never found the rhythm of practice useful when the real battles had a different pace to them.

     She blocked forcefully as she backed towards the fountain.

     Jay followed, constantly moving, swinging the blade in every opening she gave him, “You want me to back off so you can take a swing?” he asked near teasing the younger girl.

     “Where would the fun in that be?” her lips twitched up a little before she lunged at him.

     “Figured you’d want to do more than block,” Jay snorted as he sidestepped with a twist off her back swapping their places, “Not that you aren’t good at blocking.”

     “I play the defense until I know your offense,” she shrugged, “Or until I get you where I want you” taking a swing moving closer.

     “Learned the same thing,” Jay replied blocking with a sweep, “Found real battles a little less in the taught direction. Real weapons, real battle, a good offense is a good defense.” he did not like how close he was to the fountain, if he caught the edge he was going back into it. Not ideal but he had been sent to the ground before in the middle of battle. He’d just kickflip back to right side up.

     “Good to know that someone knows the value of my technique,” she swung and as the sword clacked with his she threw her body into his to take him off balance and both of them into the fountain.

     Jay grabbed her on instinct, shielding her head as they went splashing down into the fountain. He grunted as his shoulder clipped the raised edge around the center. Thankfully they weren’t dead on the fountain, because his head would have cracked into that raised lip, “Bitch you did that on purpose. If you weren’t Princy’s sister I would have swung you.” 

     Aziz nearly growled as Raj sent them into the fountain, he should have known, should have known she was going to do this.

     “Oh it’s not that bad, but to be honest I figured you were a little studier than that on your feet,” she pushed her wet hair from her face with a laugh.

     Jay gave her a challenging look and rolled them dropping her into the water as he levered himself up, wooden blade tip under her jaw hers under his boot, “You’re right I know when they are trying to get close. I’ve always found close quarters to give me more targets to hit.” he purred from his position leaned over her.

     “Makes using my daggers easier,” she tipped her head up.

     “Those pants are not meant to get wet” Evie growled, really leather did not belong in the fountain.

     “Dagger, fists, knees, head, boots, whatever is handy really. You yield?”

     “I cannot believe her,” Aziz hissed looking at the two of them in the fountain, Jay the clear victor of the match but his sister was enjoying every minute of this.

     “Depends on if you’re going to give me enough time to escape my brother, cause if not then you might as well drown me” she quipped rubbing her foot against his ankle.

     “Deny mine what he wants, never in a million years,” He laughed softly, “Plus there is a reason why I am on top of you and not the other way around.” Jay stood shaking his long hair over his shoulders, “Wanna come grab your sis Princy?”

     “Do I ever,” he snarled storming towards them, “Rajiya what the hell are you thinking? You could have hurt both of you pulling that move!”

     “To be fair I wasn’t expecting both of us to end up in the fountain. I actually figured he would just catch me not fall over,” she defended, “Plus well, now that everything is all stuck to him... yum.” 

     As Aziz started in on his sister in Arabic Jay stepped out of the Fountain and undid his boots pouring water out of them before tossing them over his shoulder walking to his other two.

     “Are you ok?” Carlos asked standing up.

     “My shoulder bleeding?” he asked turning so they could see where he had clipped the fountain.

     “You are lucky all he did was grab you,” he snapped glancing back over at Jay, “No absolutely not! I am serious Raj you back off this fixation you have with him right now!” he was ignoring the fact that Jay soaked to the bone was in fact a very good look on him.

     “It’s not like you're sleeping... Oh my GOD” Raj looked at him, “That’s not fair,” she stamped her foot.

     “It doesn’t look like it is, when we get back to the room I’ll see what I can do to save those pants” Evie said looking him up and down. 

     “Then yeah I’m fine,” Jay smiled wringing his hair out, “If you can wicked because I like these ones. Had I known she wanted to see me wet I would have worn jeans.”

     Aziz went red, “Not fair!? What did you think you were going to get him with that terrible flirting? Trying to get a peak at him? And I told you to leave him be, just leave them all be. They deserve to be treated like people not your meat candy.”

     “You can’t have all the women and all the men, and I am not treating them like candy or meat. And how would you know how bad my flirting actually is” she gave him one more look before storming off to the other end of the garden Rajah loping after her.

     Aziz glared after his sister, “In this case I can,” he muttered storming towards them.

     Jay gave him a look as the older male grabbed his arm, “Do I want to know? Normally when Baba switched to Arabic I was in trouble about something.”

     “You're... you're not in trouble. Except maybe a little in danger about being aggressively face mawed,” he seethed if not a bit guiltily, “She’s pissed because you're not available for her to play with.”

     “You told her?” Jay drawled out looking the male over.

     “She guessed all on her own after the third time I have told her to back off,” he huffed relaxing as Jay thumbed his chin, “What?”

     “You jealous is kinda fucking hot.” Jay smirked watching Aziz flush red immediately, “Come on Princy, we’ve got a pair of leather pants to save. And you can show me all about this aggressive face mawing.”

     “Maybe he can help you with your book as well,” Evie smirked leading the way.

     “Wait you actually decided you wanted to open that book and read it?” Aziz asked yipping as Jay smacked his ass chiding.

     “If you had told me it was a book on sex I would have sat my ass down in your room,” Jay shot back, “Now you are going to let me play with you.”

     “I already agreed to try out some of the poses,” Evie told Aziz a wicked gleam in her eyes.

     Aziz looked her over, “I am seeing this is going to be a game for Jay. How many positions he can get us into.”

     “Well you know, I’m flexible, she’s flexible, I saw some for all four of us to try while I was flipping around looking at the pictures till the words sorted themselves out,” Jay curled his arms around Aziz and Carlos’ waists. “It will be fun you know.”

     “I’m only sort of flexible” Carlos said, “I want to see the pictures.”

     “No worry Pup, I am more than happy to limber you up some,” he teased, “Gladly. I don’t mind giving you a taste for later.” 

     “Pups going to need lots of stretching,” Evie opened the door to their room.

     “I think that’s what the ‘foreplay’ is for...”

     “You have no idea what that word means do you?”

     “Not really no,” Jay shook his head undoing his pants as he tossed the sword on the floor near the door, “But you can always explain it to me in a hands on kind of way.”

     Aziz stopped Jay’s hands as they went to remove his pants, “It’s that thing you always do when you go riling us up,” he was blushing embarrassed as Jay gave him that look, “Your actually really good at it, even if you didn’t know there was a word for it.” he carefully pulled the soaked leather pants off Jay’s legs on his knees as he looked up at the younger male who used his shoulder to stabilize himself.

     “Well hand those to Princess, Princy and stay right there for me. Let me show Pup those pictures. Then I’m going to teach you how to use that sweet mouth of yours and you can practice on Pup and I while Princess does what she needs to.” Jay purred thumbing Aziz’s chin as he leaned down and gave him a slow kiss catching his bottom lip as he pulled away.

     Evie took the pants and disappeared from sight to try and salvage them.

     “Blow jobs... I can get behind that. Although Jay’s the only guy ever willing to blow me, most guys want me to blow them if that’s what we’re doing,” Carlos licked his lips, he was pretty sure it was his size. Because he was smaller than most of the guys they decided they were the dominant ones, that was part of the reason he tried to stick to Jay and Evie only.

     “If you are okay with it, I am fine with you and Jay teaching me...” Aziz said watching as Jay showed the book to Carlos and the two of them flipped through the pages together.

     Jay smirked at Carlos, “See he wants your cock as much as I do,” he set the book back into his bag, “If you want to flip through it, I’m cool with it.”

     Carlos looked at Aziz and then back at Jay, “Okay, sure as long as you're willing.” he stripped his clothes off as Jay tossed his wet shirt into the bathroom sink.

     The two boys came closer and Jay touched his chin, Aziz looking up at him all doe eyed. He opened his mouth as Jay eased his thumb against his lips. Carlos leaned against Jay's arm as Jay shifted him closer and guided his mouth over his dick. He breathed slowly sealing his mouth over the tip. Sucking on it as Jay hummed softly.

Chapter 120: Kama Sutra (Agrabah: June)

Notes:

Warning:
-NSFW
-basically a whole chapter of smut

     Evie glanced in on her boys from the balcony, she nodded seeing they were having their fun. She turned back to the leather she had laid out along the rail, they would dry and hopefully not crack. 

     With the pants taken care of Evie eased herself into one of the chairs out there. She was still feeling rung out from last night, but she didn’t need Jay’s guilt over it there was no way he could have known her magic would react like that. She let her hair down and enjoyed the midday heat from the shade.

     "That's it Princy," Jay shifted his grip guiding him down his length slowly. He jerked slightly as Aziz shut his jaw enough to scrape his teeth against Jay's intruding flesh. As he drew back those teeth caught the ridge of his head and he groaned.

     Aziz swallowed carefully and tried to do to Jay what Jay did to him. He didn't think he was doing a very good job at all. Especially when Jay pulled out of his mouth entirely. What he wasn't expecting was Jay to crouch down and rub him through his linen pants. "Jay..." he moaned softly against the younger's lips.

     "Hush, why don't you try that on Pup for me?"

     Aziz flushed but nodded, his experiences with Carlos were more cuddling and less sex. The monochrome male normally gave him blows and not the other way round. He gently pulled Carlos in and eased the tip into his mouth sucking on it like he did Jay. He tasted different than Jay and his mouth felt more stretched out but he was going to try and make it good.

     Carlos closed his eyes putting his hands on Aziz’s head. It felt so good, he was learning so quick.

     Jay watched Carlos disappear into Aziz's mouth. His Pup's eyes fluttering shut as his Princy worked him over. It was a little surreal seeing the older male so willing to appease them. To be honest it always surprised him how quickly Aziz caved to whatever he wanted, letting him control the situation in the bedroom. Especially when outside of the bedroom Aziz was firm, dominant and definitely did not let him get away with anything. 

     Aziz whined around the member in his mouth, teeth gliding against skin as Jay shoved his hand down into his tight pants. How was he supposed to focus when Jay was slowly jerking him?

     “Do that again,” Carlos gasped at the whine. The way his mouth vibrated was beyond enjoyable.

     Aziz did as he was asked, mainly because Jay was making it hard not to moan and whine as he practiced on Carlos. He pulled off with a gasp as Jay flicked his wrist that had him jerk, "Jay, slow down... please..."

     Jay paused his strokes, lifting an eyebrow, "Apparently we need to work on you endurance levels Princy. Go on back to practice. Just tap me if you need me to slow down."

     He nodded slipping Carlos back into his mouth, hand sliding up Jay's scarred muscular thigh. As Jay went back to slow strokes he went back to 'practice' as Jay called it. His jaw was starting to ache being held open like this but he didn't mind as he looked up at Carlos to check his opinion on how he was doing.

     “I’m not going to last much longer” Carlos muttered looking at Aziz threw half closed eyes, “My endurance isn’t much on blow jobs.”

     Jay grinned, "But he's a beast on recovery time from them." He reached up and gently pushed Aziz's head further on Carlos, "Breathe through your nose," he rather liked watching this particular practice, though Aziz tapped out before Jay could guide him into the deep throating. Aziz pulling back till just the tip lingered between his lips, before going back to what he had been doing before, "Don't worry you'll get lots of practice on me."

     “Evil Jay I’m gonna cum,” Carlos whined, he figured he’d at least give them a heads up before Aziz had a mouthful of cum.

     Jay nodded, "Go ahead Carlos," he shifted to his feet knowing Aziz was not one for swallowing as he grabbed the trash can putting it in range, "You know what to do Princy."

     Aziz pulled back teeth grazing as he did that thing that made Jay lose it. Teeth catching under the head as he did what he could for Carlos.

     “Fuck,” Carlos rocked his hips towards Aziz as he came.

     Aziz's nose crinkled at the mouthful of warm cum. He pulled off when Carlos had finished and spat it out in the trash can.

     “So not a swallower,” Carlos teased as he flopped down on the bed.

     "No, not a fan... no offense pussy tastes better," Aziz turned looking at Carlos, "Was it okay? I know I've got nothing on Jay but..."

     “Its was good Z, trust me it takes practice, lots of practice to get as good as Jay,” Carlos chuckled.

     “Practice you can get right now,” Jay smirked turning Aziz’s head, “Don’t worry I won’t give you blue balls. Unless you want me to.”

     “Why would I want blue balls?” Aziz made a face, “I wasn’t sure if it was going well to be honest...”

     “Because you don’t have much experience. You’ll get better and more confident the longer you are with us. I mean you know what to do with Princess, that didn’t happen overnight.” Jay leaned down kissing Aziz, “Want to try a thing I saw in the book?”

     “Am I going to like it?” 

     “Yeah. Kind of weird cause I never thought of it when I was on the Isle, would have made things so much easier,” Jay smirked, “One of the few times I’m going to make you be on top.”

     “Z on top, this I want to see,” Carlos smirked, he hadn’t seen many guys on top of Jay whether they were riding him or pegging him.

     Jay pulled Aziz’s clothes off and dropped onto his back. He guided his Princy’s knees around his shoulders, “Get to practice.” 

     Aziz flushed and leaned down over top of Jay resting his weight on one hand as he guided the length into his mouth not minding the hands gliding up his outer thighs. He moaned around Jay, as that sinful mouth swallowed his length. He just let the weight of him sit in his mouth until Jay started thrusting shallowing into his open mouth. Trying to focus he tightened his mouth and tried to work through the pleasures Jay was giving him.

     Jay hummed softly as his Princy finally caught the hint his mouth was supposed to be busy. He kind of did like this position, he got a blow and he could unravel them with his mouth. Princess would be hard to convince to try it, not that he didn’t love seeing her red painted lips wrapped around him, they both just liked the fucking better. 

     “Not what I was thinking,” Carlos looked at them, “That’s hot.”

     Aziz pulled his head back, “Fuck Jay...” he panted head resting against the raised thigh.

     Jay pulled back laughing as he mouthed the dripping tip, “Just my name is fine. Now I’m not even close to done with you,” he tipped his hips up, “Come on Princy.”

     “You are insatiable,” he breathed before taking up his work.

     “Yep,” he popped the P on the red tip against his lips as he relaxed giving the older male a few moments reprieve, “That’s it. If you want to try, ah yeah, you can do that again. Like all day again.” he felt the teeth against him and tried not to just force him all the way down. Dude knew how to use teeth in the most non aggressive way ever.

     “Why didn’t we think of this?” Carlos stood up circling them.

     “I have no idea,” Jay groaned fingers digging into Aziz’s ass, “Very good idea,” he smacked the outside of his thigh as Aziz nipped at the tip of his dick, “Needy Princy,” he muttered brain churning up a different position for the three of them but he decided to back burner it until later. Turning his head he swallowed the entire length and felt Aziz nearly choke out a scream around his own. That would teach Princy to bite him.

     “Well isn’t this an interesting scene,” Evie looked at them from the balcony entrance.

     “New things E,” Carlos smirked as he ran a finger down Aziz’s spine.

     Aziz arched into the touch, especially since it forced him somewhat out of the ravenous mouth on him. He was breathing hard through his nose and could barely focus on what he was supposed to be doing.

     “You boys seem to be enjoying yourselves,” Evie moved to sit in one of the chairs watching them.

     Aziz pulled back again, “Jay gonna...” he whined as Jay firmly denied his orgasm, “Ass.”

     Jay laughed softly, “I said practice, in this position I can teach you endurance and you can practice giving blow jobs.”

     “But I want to cum.”

     “Too damn bad, now use that mouth for something more productive than pouting at me,” Jay smirked as Aziz sank back down over him, “Better,” he groaned running his hands over Aziz’s legs, “Enjoying the show Princess?”

     “Very much so,” she smirked at him.

     “Wicked,” he breathed mouth open as Aziz focused all of his attention on his tip, hand stroking the rest, “Practice makes pervert...”

     Aziz shifted his hips trying to rengage Jay’s attention on him as he whined softly.

     “I believe Princy wants your attention,” Evie snickered looking at the boys with a leer.

     “Think he deserves it?” Jay smirked lips trailing along Aziz’s inner thigh.

     “He’s been a good boy today... I think,” Evie tilted her head.

     Jay hummed and gave his Princy exactly what he wanted. Swallowing hard, letting his tongue do all the work as Aziz’s mouth opened entire body curling towards him.

     “Oh, fuck, Jay,” he clamped his hand over his mouth to stiffle the scream as Jay tore him into pieces, eyes squeezing shut as he exploded into that sinful mouth that didn’t let up it’s assault until he was milked dry.

     Jay had to physically shove Aziz off of him and the Prince dropped onto the floor breathing hard, “You going to be okay Princy?” Aziz made an incoherent noise and flapped a hand at him, “Alright then.”

     “I have your pants laying out in the sun, I'm hoping the leather doesn’t crack. But if it does I've got plenty of supplies to make more for you now,” Evie rested her chin on her hand.

     “Appreciate it Princess,” Jay nodded getting off the floor moving towards her and leaned down, running his nose over her jaw bone, “What can I give you in return?”

     “I’m not sure yet” she shrugged, “I’ll think of something.”

     He nodded kissing her cheek as he backed away, “Just let me know when you figure it out.”

     “You know I will, I think pup needs to give you hand or are you going to walk around like that all day?” she glanced down at his erection.

     “I try not to give myself blue balls all that often thanks. If pup wants to help he is more than welcome, if not I got two very functional hands.”

     “And what type of help is it you want?” Carlos smirked at Jay.

     “Depends on if you can get it up for me or not,” Jay smirked looking at him.

     “Please,” Carlos rolled his eyes with attitude, “I've had it back up since you swallowed Z.” 

     Jay smirked, “Puppy Dog barking at me? Now now now Puppy,” he purred trolling towards Carlos, “That’s not any way to treat me,” he sunk his hand into the thick monochromic hair and pulled him in, kissing him hard, teeth clashing as he took them down to the floor.

     “Puppy dog also bites,” Carlos breathed as he nipped at Jay’s lower lip.

     “So do snakes,” Jay hissed eyes flashing as he shifted his weight pulling Carlos into another long hard kiss as he twisted his arm around to guide himself down on Carlos’ lap. 

     “Evil it feels good when you’re on top of me,” Carlos’ eyes fluttered between open and closed.

     He rested there for a moment, magic raging under his skin, “Just wait until I’m moving,” He panted eyes burning as he squeezed them shut trying to pull himself back together. Hands pressing against Carlos’ belly as he began to rock against Carlos.

     Aziz shifted leaning against Evie’s legs watching as Jay rode Carlos. Sure Jay didn’t always bottom, but it was odd to see him so wild. Then he saw the air around his shoulders shifting, red gold magic flaking off of him. He must have been lying when he said he was fine from yesterday’s ordeal or this is what charged him up. 

     “Jay likes to be fucked every once and awhile has to be the right person though. Someone that knows how to handle him. With Carlos he’ll ride him for hours but Jay’s still the one doing the fucking,” Evie supplied as she watched.

     “And Carlos can keep up with him?” Aziz asked looking up at her, so regal in her position watching them like a queen on a throne.

     “Evil no, I don’t think anyone can keep up with Jay. I tried once, it didn’t end well,” she smirked at him.

     “No one? So then why did you try it?” Aziz asked glancing over as Carlos hissed.

     Jay dug his nails into the soft pale skin, hunger pooling in his belly mixing with the magic. He wanted more, he had missed the feeling of being in control over his own skin. Of having his Puppy in him, under him so willing, it felt so good.

     Evie felt her magic fizzle about at the brush of Jay’s. She wasn’t sure it was going to do more then that, “We were kids and stupid,” she gave Aziz his answer.

     “I feel like that is the sum of ever story I get out of Jay. I was young and stupid,” Aziz shook his head looking them over as Jay’s head fell back expression a cross between a grimace and enjoyment.

     “I’d explain more but well it would give away stuff that is Jay’s to tell you not mine,” Evie explained to him, it wasn’t her place to tell Aziz about Jay’s clients or how he had built up such stamina.

     Aziz turned away from the scene in front of them, “Can I ask an odd question that you can just nod to answer if it’s too close to giving me information about Jay he doesn’t want me to know?”

     “You can always ask,” she shrugged her eyes fixed on Carlos and Jay as Carlos leaned up to suck on one of Jay’s piercings.

     “Does this all have to do with his rent?” He asked tracing over the hundreds of scars on Jay’s back and the backs of his hips.

     Jay groaned hand sinking into his hair holding Carlos to his chest as he kept the rhythm, trying to hold himself together as it felt like his body was trying to rip itself apart. 

     Evie’s eyes flickered to Aziz thinking over whether or not she could answer that. He’d make his own assumptions based on her answer, and Jay would react when confronted with it. She nodded slightly to him, Aziz was with them, he chose them he could know some of this.

     Aziz closed his eyes, this was just confirmation of what he had guessed, “They did this...” he whispered feeling his chest ache, “They thought you would be okay, because you were their children. We should have done more, we should have done anything to save you. The council keeps track of your parents, why didn’t they save you from them? Why didn’t they protect you?” it pained him to know for sure that the scars weren’t from battles.

     “It was a decision made before you could probably talk, it's not your fault.” Evie assured running her fingers through his hair, “We are who we are because of what we lived through.”

     He pressed his face against her leg, “But they still have their hands on you. No matter how far I have taken you from them, they are still with you.”

     “That’s just the way it is. But we don’t need people to be sorry or pity us, cause you know that’s what he sees it as.” Evie leaned back in her seat leaving her fingers in his hair.

     He was quiet watching Jay and Carlos, he knew they would see it as pity, but for him it was guilt. Guilt that he didn't do something about it as soon as he was able, maybe there would have been less scars of Jay's back, more confidence that she was beautiful in Evie's mind, less panic in Carlos.

     Jay let out soft little moans as Carlos nibbled on his piercings. The sparks of pleasure moving across his chest only added to the coiling heat in him. Carlos reached between their bodies gripping Jay's neglected length and jerked it. He whined breathing hard, moving faster not caring about the pain from being completely dry. He needed it, needed it to pull him back, back to some semblance of functioning properly here in Agrabah.

     Evie twisted a few strands of his hair around her finger. She watched the movement of Jay’s back his muscles bunching and un-bunching.

     Jay felt Carlos push back from his chest, "Not going to last," the words fanned over his overheated skin now slick with sweat as opposed to water. He dipped his head down catching those slightly swollen lips as he ground down on Carlos and felt his puppy release. The moan swallowed by his mouth as he took himself in hand and jerked himself off. 

     Golden eyes watched as the air sizzled to life as Jay went stiff head tipped back with a silent scream. It was like magical fireworks dancing over the tanned scarred skin, red gold glimmering in the afternoon light. "Beautiful..."

     “They are” Evie agreed, “I think it’s bath time boys."

     Jay released Carlos and sagged slightly before pushing himself to standing. He could feel the cum slide down the inside of one of his shaking thighs and his own coated his hand, "Shower first." He muttered feeling exhausted, which didn't make sense to him because he bounced back pretty quick but maybe it was the magic thing.

Chapter 121: Something Off (Agrabah: June)

     Aziz watched as Jay shuffled by and into the bathroom. Kid looked wrung out, like he hadn't been sleeping kind of wrung out.

     “I’ll take care of pup, why don’t you go make sure he’s ok,” Evie stood easily, looking at Carlos laying flat on the floor, eyes closed.

     "Yeah sure," Aziz scrambled to his feet and jogged into the bathroom after Jay.

     Jay felt Aziz's soft hands on his hips as one of his knees gave out, "Princess?"

     "Of course," he nodded smiling softly, "Let's get you cleaned up okay?"

     He tried to pull away but Princy's grip tightened, "I'm not going to be allowed to shower on my own am I?"

     "Not saying you can't but maybe I want to clean you up. Can I please take care of you?" Aziz asked as Jay flipped the water on.

     "Why would you want to do that?"

     Aziz ran his fingers down Jay's back, over the thick ridges of scars to the base of his spine, "Because I want to. You just rode Carlos without lube or prep-"

     Jay turned  kissed him biting his bottom lip to shut him up, "I'm fine. You want to shower with me fine, but leave it there."

     Aziz felt the bite in his words, Jay's hostility that someone was trying to care about him, and nodded. He followed Jay into the shower, "May I wash your hair?" Right now he felt small compared to the younger male.

     Jay looked at him as he stood under the warm spray. Aziz looked sheepish and Jay sighed, "Yeah okay. That bottle," he pointed at the one he liked and the Prince nodded determined.

     Evie watched Carlos slide into the tub, relaxing into the hot water. They both looked towards the shower watching Jay and Aziz.

     “You should go replace Z, Jay seems a little rough around the edges,” Carlos advised, Evie nodded as she stripped off her clothes and opened the shower door.

     “I’ve got it from here Princy,” she said as he lathered Jay’s hair.

     Aziz decided against complaining, simply nodded and let her take over as he slipped out of the shower drying off. He fingered the necklace passing Carlos a smile as he stepped out of the bathroom to redress. They didn’t need him being in the way. He needed to find a way to usurp the council, he needed to save the rest of the kids. That was his job, deal with the politics so he could make sure they could live comfortably. 

     Jay looked at her, “You didn’t have to take over, not that I mind seeing you in the shower with me Princess.”

     “Your tense, defensive,” she said softly, “What are you thinking about?”

     “Nothing,” He stated shortly putting his back to her. 

     “Something you can’t even tell me, that is something,” she mused finishing, “Rinse.”

     Jay stepped fully under the water closing his eyes as he ran his hands through the soaked strands. He didn’t have to tell them everything, he could have his secrets. They wouldn’t want him if they knew, no one would. He was twisted, warped, unsalvageable. As he stepped back out from under the water shaking water from his face he caught Princy leaving out of the corner of his eye, “I’m just tired Princess. That’s it. Just tired.”  

     “Then we should lay down and have a nap,” she said taking his hands and placing them on her waist.

     “I can’t sleep on that thing, and you can’t sleep without it,” He shook more hair back, “You and pup can lay down and get some rest on the bed.”

     “Then you lay down next to the bed, I want to hold your hand,” she tilted her head.

     He bit back his irritation blaming it on being tired and the magic, “Fine. I’ll meet you in the bedroom. I need to wash up.”

     She stepped back and nodded, if he didn’t want to share with her then she’d let him be. She slipped out, and tapped Carlos on the side of the head as she walked by.

     Flipping the hot water off he plunged himself under the cold spray and scrubbed his skin. He should have never shown Princy that side of him, he was the smart one, he’d ask questions. He knew how to back him into a corner so he had to answer them, no matter how much the words burned leaving his lips. Taking a deep breath he finished cleaning up and got out of the shower if she wanted him in the bed he would get into the bed.

     Evie laid across the bed, her hair hanging off the side as she watched the bathroom door. She’d moved the small rug over by the side of the bed, Jay needed sleep she was going to make sure he got some.

     “You coming Pup?” Jay asked as he dried off before standing in front of the mirror and braided his long hair like Jade had shown him. The long braid hanging over his shoulder dripping slowly down his chest as he looked at the relaxing Carlos.

     “Yeah, I'll be there in a second,” Carlos nodded to him.

     He nodded in reply before walking into the bedroom and dropped down beside her in the bed. She wanted to cuddle, he wasn’t going to deny her when she so seldom wanted it.

     “I moved the rug over for you,” she looked at him as she licked her lips.

     Carlos watched from the doorway. Things always went a little off kilter after a punishment but, this seemed to be a little more.

     “You wanted me in reach, this way you can keep on me without issues,” He replied trying to force the gentleness back into his voice, he had hurt her twice already.

     “You said you were tired, you should sleep. And you said you can’t sleep on the bed, it is way too soft compared to home,” she ran her fingers over his arm.

     He gave her a soft smile, “I’m pretty sure everything is too soft compared to home. It’s okay,” he brushed her cheek, “How’s your head doing? I... I didn’t mean to hurt you. Not like that. Guess this means no more punishments for you huh? You’re going to be unbearable,” he tried to joke.

     “I’m sure you’ll think of something otherwise you're going to need a walk in closet like Princy” she muttered, “It's better, I think my magic is just tapped out.”

     “There’s an idea, throw all the clothes at Princy,” he snorted, “If there is anything I can do just tell me. You know more about this magic stuff anyway, I’ll try not to do whatever it is that makes it act up around me.”

     “Unless we are going to stop having sex, which is not an option.” she snorted, “Cause I'm not going back to how it was when I was trying to be good. I could make you stuff and if you don’t want it you could give it to princy.”

     “He and I close enough in size for that?” he asked thinking that was the best option, he was good at giving people things without them knowing, “You don’t play a game where you change with a bunch of other guys. The good thing about being a near silent lay, I can jerk off in the showers after games and no one is the wiser.”

     “Fair enough point, but at least puppy and princy are there with you,” she nodded, “and I think so, your shoulders are a little broader but it shouldn’t really matter.”

     “You mean that Prince who’s life I’m trying not to fuck up by being obviously fucking him? Pup isn’t big on the whole sex in the shower thing,” he rolled his eyes with a shrug, he had more excuses than his baba about prices, “Fine, then do that. That way you can fashion to your heart’s desire and Princy can have some Isle stuff he can wear if the mood takes him.”

     “You know he cares about you, he wants you to be happy. I think he’d burn his world down for you.” she mused

     “I’m not big on people seeing us, if you want to fuck in the locker room then sure what ever,” Carlos rolled his eyes and flopped down on the bed.

     “I know you don’t like it, that’s why we don’t do it,” Jay rolled his eyes in reply making a face, “I can be happy when I’m dead,” he stated, “Until then I’ve got to make sure my three brats are happy and kept safe. Oh and keep one chatty minion fed. I’ll kick his ass if he even thinks about throwing away his kingdom for one Isle rat. He’s the kind of person people need in charge, he, unlike Ben, knows what the word no means.”

     “We can just wait for everyone else to clear out then do it,” Carlos shrugged.

     “Do you want to leave? You haven’t been doing very well here,” Evie asked.

     “No, I know you and Pup like it here. It’s just me,” he sat up resting his forearms on his thighs, “I took on the future sultan, it’s either I turn around and reject him or I fucking suck it and deal with it. He can give you the future you wanted Princess, I can’t. The best I can do is make sure you're safe and looked after. A Prince of Thieves is a prince of nothing. We aren’t leaving. I gave him my word, and I won’t be made a liar twice over fucking Mainlanders.”

     “Aziz told you, you can leave anytime. We can go back to Auradon, or we could go somewhere else,” Evie looked at him, “And it's the life my mother wanted, the only life I want has you, happy just like we are.” 

     “It's nice here because it reminds us of home out there, I’m happy wherever we all are” Carlos nodded.

     “Maybe...” Evie chewed her lip sitting up to look out at the city, “Its like home... maybe we just need to run a little wild. Escape for a little while.”

     He turned slightly to look at her, “You... you want to run?” that was one of the least Evie things she had said since they had gotten here.

     “Maybe I do, I haven’t done it in a while,” she tilted her head, “I've got tennis shoes with me.”

     “I could chase you guys from the ground,” Carlos shrugged again, Evie was graceful when she ran along the roofs, she didn’t move like Jay but she was almost poetic to watch.

     “Fuck it fine,” he stood grabbing a dirty pair of jeans and wrung out his tank top before pulling it on, the cold damp fabric making goosebumps erupt across his skin, but it felt good.

     “We don’t have to go today, if you’re tired,” she said standing up to slide on some clothes.

     “When has it ever mattered if I was tired?” Jay asked setting his boots to dry outside, “I can be not tired real fast.” or he could force himself to stay awake, if this worked out though, he’d slip out before they woke up and go running.

     “I just don’t want you too worn out” Evie said pulling on yoga pants that stopped below her knees and pulled out a breast binding.

     “I thought we wanted me worn out,” he smirked, “I tend to be more cooperative when I’m worn out. At least Beezlebub thought so.”

     “No he liked to lick the salt off you” Carlos laughed getting dressed.

     “Ok, yeah I want you worn out” Evie gave him a wicked smile.

     “And here I just thought he liked sleeping in my lap,” Jay snorted easing himself towards the door. “You two take forever to dress. Come on...”

     “Coming” Carlos pulled on his shoes quickly. He glanced over at Evie who nodded throwing on one of the loose cotton shirts she’d made for Jay.

     A quick double check over them and he nodded letting them all out the door, his bare feet silent on the marble floors. The three of them made their way through the hallways with Iago flying behind them like a troop of bandits. Quickly they exited the palace and found the closest building, “Normal signal if you lose us.” Jay stated to Carlos who always ran the low ground when he took the high ground. 

     “Yeah I'll let you know” Carlos nodded.

     “Lets have some fun” Evie tied her hair up looking at Jay.

     Jay nodded to her and grabbed onto a brick easily scaling the side of the building, there was a reason why he ran barefoot. He had his father to thank for not finding him shoes for nearly 5 years, and then Jay went and stole his own, maybe after a little ribbing from Carlos. As he hauled himself onto the roof he looked down over the edge at Evie, ready to pull her up to where he was. After that she was on her own.

     Evie looked at the wall glad she hadn’t done her nails today. She grabbed the brick sticking out and started to pull herself up. This wasn’t her thing, but maybe running a little wild would help Jay and it got them out of the palace for a little while. She grabbed the edge of the roof and struggled for a second to pull herself up.

     Jay grabbed her arm pulling her up, “Do I need to steal your necklace Princess? Cause I distinctly remember you chasing after me in blue pumps over Isle roofs.”

     “You stay away from my new shinies,” she raised an eyebrow at him in challenge.

     “Too late,” Jay smirked lifting his hand into view with the necklace Aziz had bought her dangling from his fist, “Got to encourage you somehow.” he blew her a kiss before he took off with a short loud whistle to let Carlos know they were running.

     Evie narrowed her eyes taking off after him on her own path, she couldn't make the same jumps as him but she was going to catch him this time.

Chapter 122: Running Free (Agrabah: June)

     Carlos started moving through the streets looking up to catch a glimpse of one of them as they moved.

     Evie moved along the edge of the buildings like a balancing beam, jumping as one of the edges cumbled a little.

     Jay was flat running. Trusting himself and never second guessing his moves. He ran full tilt off an edge and into the air necklace tied to his wrist as he ran and tucked it under a bracer to protect it. His hands flew out catching his weight as he rolled through the landing and back to his feet bounding off a short brick wall and up onto the edge of the building. When he was the bait they chased, he could control where they went, scouting ahead in case there was danger. The static in his brain falling quiet to the quick on the fly pace of running.

     Evie panted as she stopped at the edge looking at where Jay was. This was her problem she looked before she leapt. She backed up again to get a full on sprint before she jumped stumbling into a roll as she cleared the other side. She pushed herself back up and was back after him.

     He ducked under a clothes line and jumped across a short gap that was spanned by boards. Normally he would have taken them but why not give Princess a fighting chance as he quick turned using a pole of some kind as he sounded off to Carlos. Mal was always calling him reckless, and maybe he was, but it let him escape in a place he could never leave. His eyes scoured the area in front of them, it was a big gap that he couldn’t jump. If he couldn’t jump it Princess wouldn’t stand a chance in doing it so he adjusted his plan.

     Evie darted across the rickety board between buildings and turned slightly hoping to catch him mid adjustment.

     Carlos called back, he was with them even if he couldn’t see them fully.

     Jay nodded, good hadn’t lost Carlos yet. There it was, a building he could hit. Not waiting for his brain to protest he leapt off the edge right over where Carlos’ was running and slammed down into the roof with another roll. He flew at the barred window and grabbed them leaping up as he moved up the side of the building.

     “You fucker,” Evie gasped taking the jump, she caught the edge of the building hard and kicked her feet to pull herself up.

     Carlos stilled seeing Evie hanging for a second before she was up and back at it.

     His hand slipped off a loose brick at the lip of the roof and he swore as he lost momentum and had to use his feet to scramble at the bricks to get the leverage he needed to pull himself back up. Taking a second to breath and recover he plotted out the path. Giving himself a shake he was back to running looping the buildings so they would do a 180 and eventually end up back next to the palace.

     Aladdin blinked seeing a familiar blue haired girl running the edge of a roof from the street. He quickly located Carlos running the ground below her. Spotting Jay was harder as the kid was hauling ass without a care if he was at risk or not. Sure he had had his fair share of risky jumps but nothing close to the flying leap Jay took off a roof. He really needed to make sure the kids didn’t get hurt. He eased down an alley and pulled himself up to the roof before taking off parallel to the kids. 

     Evie took advantage of Jay’s little slip closing the distance slightly, “Your not getting away this time,” she puffed.

     Jay went flying across another gap and landed already halfway across the next building rebuilding his steam. His chest was heaving as he bolted, glad he had never really stopped running even if it wasn’t like this. 

     Evie swore again trying to figure out a path to cut the distance between them. She was going to catch him she just didn't know the city like she knew the isle. She glanced down briefly spotting Carlos.

     Carlos shook his head watching them, they were both going to pass out before dinner at this rate.

     Aladdin swung out across the building gap wrapping his arm around Evie as he landed beside her, "Put my heart at ease and head down to Carlos if you would please Princess Evie. I don't mind that you all are all free running, but it would make me feel better if I took you around to tell you what buildings aren't stable."

     Evie nearly screamed for Jay as she was grabbed. She stopped her moves to fight back once she heard the Sultan’s voice.

     She nodded pulling away from him, “I wouldn’t grab Jay like that” she advised before making her way down.

     "Understood," Aladdin nodded watching the male darted across another rooftop. He sighed now he had to get in front of the bolting boy. Good thing he knew these roofs better than Jay did.

     Jay was never in the habit of looking back. But something was tingling the back of his head, alarm bells going off that something was amiss. He landed on the edge of a roof and crouched, turning around. Evie was nowhere to be found and he panicked. What if she had fallen? They could die here, he didn't care about him but he cared about her. Darting to the very edge he searched the crowds below him. Carlos where was Carlos? He spotted the white and black hair several buildings back, the kid had stopped for some reason but hadn't let him know anything was wrong. Jay hovered on indecision, go back or go forward. He squeezed his eyes shut, blocking out the whispering sneer of his father. Go back. He was going back, run or no run, he was not Mal, he would make sure they were okay. Licking his lips Jay jogged across the roof he was on and ran leaping back over the gap he had just crossed.

     “What happened?” Carlos asked as Evie came down.

     “The sultan” she sighed, she could understand concern but there couldn’t be anything worse than the buildings back home.

     Aladdin hadn't expected the kid to turn around. He thought Jay would just keep going, but seemed he was far more aware of the situation than he was giving him credit for. Instead of trying to head him off Aladdin paused and waited. Jay was no longer focused on the way ahead of him, he could see the kid keeping his eyes on the street below them searching. He braced as Jay slammed into him. As he stumbled back Jay fell backwards with a noise of complaint.

     Jay swore there hadn't been a wall there before so what the hell did he hit. He felt the blood rush out of his face as his heart skipped a beat. The Sultan, he had ran right into the Sultan on a roof top.

     "You okay Jay? Nothing hurt too bad?" Aladdin asked hoping the concern would be enough to stir Jay from his panic as the kid paled.

     Jay was on autopilot, switching his position, moving his legs under him head bowed, hands braced in front of his knees, "Sultan..."

     Aladdin blinked at the position Jay went into. Back when he was a kid he had seen servants sitting like this in front of the Sultan or his Vizior. But that had gone away with servants, they had staff now, staff that just bowed. He crouched down and made sure Jay could see his hand as he lifted his head up, "Jay it is okay, I'm not mad, I am just worried if you got hurt is all."

     "I'm not hurt Sultan," Jay tried to keep his voice steady as he forced himself to remain still even at the gentle fingers under his chin. 

     "Good," Aladdin smiled trying to break through Jay's panic, "Let's get down to your friends shall we? Don't panic, you aren't in trouble. I just want to make sure you know what buildings to avoid if you plan on free running. Put my heart at ease?"

     Jay's brow furrowed in confusion but he let the Sultan guide him to his feet. "Why... why do you care?"

     Aladdin paused at that and laughed shortly, "Because you three are in a relationship with my oldest son. Over and above that you are street kids like I was, I don't want to see any of them getting hurt because they didn't know their surroundings. Which means I don't want to see any of you getting hurt when I can keep you safe."

     "But why? We're villain kids. I'm-"

     "I am very aware of who you are Jay. You are not your father. Your father wouldn't have come back for his friends. Your father would have left them to their fate, telling them it was their fault they got hurt or couldn't keep up," Aladdin didn't mean to snap and he watched as Jay looked away uncomfortable, "Something I am beginning to understand you heard quite a lot of," despite the flinch he set his hand on Jay's shoulder, "You are just kids to me, Jay. Jay, Carlos, and Princess Evie. Children from a different kingdom who came to spend the summer with my oldest son. That's it. No more no less, aside from now I know what those looks he kept giving you were about."

     "We... we didn't want anyone to know. We know it's not a normal thing here," Jay shifted away from the hand, it was burning him.

     "If it is what you need, then it is what you need," he gestured to the ground and Jay followed near obediently after him, "Jasmine made it abundantly clear much to Aziz's embarrassment, that he had better not be toying with any of you or she'd be fixing him herself. I think my wife rather adores you three."

     "I don't know why. She was kind of pissed when she found out, dragged me back into Aziz's room by the back of my pants."

     "Of course she was mad, she gave Aziz rules and he broke them. She wanted to make sure you were aware there were rules." He explained as they dropped down to ground level, "Now let's get Carlos and Princess Evie, then I'll give you all a proper lay of the land."

     Evie looked at them as they approached. She chewed her lip, it seemed like every time she suggested something they ran into trouble.

     Aladdin smiled warmly at the kids, "Carlos, good to see you. Now how about I give you three the tour Aziz didn't. Come on." He motioned them to follow him and he waited until the three children from the Isle of the Lost were indeed following him, "Since you three are new to Agrabah I am going to show you which buildings are unstable. I don't mind you running the roof tops, I just don't want any of you getting hurt doing so. That's what I taught my kids, you can do anything as long as you're safe about it."

     Jay looked at his two, the Sultan couldn't be serious. They had run in worse conditions before, more rotted than this place in any case.

     “Don’t take this the wrong way, cause you know we appreciate being shown around. But, I haven’t seen a building here that can possibly be more unstable than the stablest building back home,” Carlos looked around, he could feel Evie’s insecurity from here. They liked it here, but it was like being somewhere like home brought back all the problems they had shoved into the shadows in Auradon.

     That gave Aladdin pause and he turned slightly, "What?"

     Jay shrugged a shoulder uncomfortably, "At home you actually had to worry about the boards giving under you. Creaks were bad. But here everything is pretty sturdy. Hell you guys don't even really use wood."

     Aladdin frowned slightly, "Just because it looks sturdy doesn't mean it is..." he was going to have a talk with Jasmine about living conditions on the Isle after this.

     “That is something we all learned the hard way,” Carlos nodded, “How many times did one of us drop in on someone before we managed to find the right buildings?” those were actually pretty funny memories, like the time Jay had landed in the middle of some pirates lap, or when Carlos himself had ended up in the bath at Medusa’s.

     "Don't remind me," Jay had gotten his ass kicked when he landed on that pirate.

     “Speak for yourselves boys, a princess always ends up exactly where she’s supposed to be” Evie teased

     “Right and that time you ended up on top of Mal,” Carlos snickered with a raised eyebrow.

     “Strategy, completely planned,” she smirked.

     "I would have traded good money to have been there in person," Jay had been in the middle of a punishment when that happened.

     Aladdin looked between the kids and pulled himself up a fire escape, "Alright then I will just point out the area of condemned buildings."

     "The what buildings?" Jay asked looking at Sultan.

     "Means buildings no one should be in. Like most of the Isle," Iago panted landing on his shoulder.

     "Oh so like all my old holes." Jay nodded thinking about the building he had stashed himself and the loot before rent drop offs. Also the places he hid on All Hallows Eve for The Run.

     “That’s what it sounds like” Carlos nodded in agreement.

     Iago shugged his bird feathered shoulders, "Wasn't allowed out unless it was to your Aunt's house remember?"

     "Yeah well," Jay shrugged his free shoulder looking around, "Wasn't like he let me stay in the house during business hours." 

     Aladdin listened to them and felt sympathy towards them, "Those buildings down that way, just past the end of the docks and the small spire, those are the ones. We are working on rebuilding still from the last bad sandstorm we had."

     “How bad are the storms?” Carlos asked, they didn’t really get weather weather on the isle, other than snow and rain... humidity.

     "Normally not too bad, but they were very bad a few months ago. Bad enough we had to rebuild some of the city."

     “Huh, that sounds... bad,” he tilted his head glancing over at Evie who was studying the city line.

     "It was, Genie said it was some sort of magic wave that supercharged one of our sandstorms," Aladdin shook his head not knowing what that meant really.

     Jay looked at Evie, maybe that was what had put him on that angry drinking binge. A magic wave. Evil knows he had his fair share of magic issues since he got here. Thinking of drinking he could really use one.

     “That could explain a few things,” Evie nodded to Jay, they had both been slightly volatile since arriving.

     Aladdin nodded slowly, "Oh?" He asked looking between Jay and Evie.

     “Our magic has been a little off since we arrived,” she shrugged.

     "Hm..." Aladdin nodded, "You and Jay would have magic and Agrabah is a bit of a magic hub. Have you two been having more trouble with your magic since you got here?"

     “Mine’s only been active since we arrived in Agrabah. I could feel it in Auradon but here it's like it’s alive” Evie tried to explain.

     Jay licked his lips, "It's been a bit out of control."

     He nodded, "Come on then. I know someone who should be able to help. If you are willing that is."

     “We can always try, see if it helps,” Evie looked at Jay, “I think Aziz was looking.”

     He nodded, if he couldn't get this magic to shut off then he had to control it.

     Aladdin smiled and motioned them on guiding over the roofs towards a small section of town where the houses were. He figured she was home by now. 

     “Necklace,” Evie held out her hand as they moved along following after the Sultan.

     He handed it over with a cheeky smile, "You did wicked trying to keep up."  

     “One of these days I’m going to actually catch you” she looped the chain around her neck.

     "One of these days," Jay snickered, "Maybe." He scaled down the wall near a small little house after the Sultan. 

     Aladdin knocked on the door and waited.

     “Well this is a surprise,” Sadira looked at Aladdin as she opened the door, “Been a while."

     "It has been a while Sadira. Do you have a few minutes?" Aladdin asked as the kids lingered confused behind him.

     “For you I have any time you want,” she teased.

     He laughed shaking his head, "Well good because I have a proposition for you. My oldest, Aziz, brought some friends home for the summer, but two of them have been having some problems with their magic."

     “Magic friends? From where” she asked while magic wasn’t common outside of Agrabah anymore it did happen.

     “The isle” Evie said looking at the older woman.

     “Well well, you always did bring me the best projects” Sadira looked at the three kids.

     Aladdin stepped aside, "Sadira, this is Princess Evie Sherriden, Carlos DeVil and Jay ibn Yahya. Princess Evie and Jay would be your new students if you’re willing."

     Jay looked her over curiously, she looked so plain, but then again his own Auntie didn't look like the powerful sorceress she had been. 

     “More than willing” she nodded, “Sadira, Mistress of the Sands” she held her hand out to the two.

     Jay looked at the hand cautiously before taking it, this was a Mainland thing. Handshakes, and he hated them. Especially as the contact made his eyes burn, heat filling his chest before it fizzled out. 

     “Oh... you are a strong one, I can help with that,” she gave him a little smile, “and you?” she looked to Evie.

     “Evie” she took the offered hand, she felt the slight rush of her magic and it fizzled out quickly.

     “Huh, a little burned out I see” Sadira smirked at her.

     Aladdin smiled at Carlos, "You don't have magic right? I know your mother didn't, but if you do that's fine."

     "How can you tell what's wrong?" Jay asked confused because he thought it was his fault for punishing Evie last night.

     “Years of practicing magic you learn to read others magic. Plus in a desert this is my strong place.” Sadira explained.

     "Strong place?" He really had no idea about this magic thing. His father wasn't big on teaching an idiot.

     “I’m a sand witch, yes you can laugh I know it sounds funny. Being in the desert means I’m in a place where my magic has a connection to its element so to speak. Plus Agrabah was originally the kingdom of the sand witches so I get an extra boost” she tried to explain.

     "You don't laugh at witches. You laugh and they throw acid at you," Jay stated giving her a bland look. So if he remembered enough of his Baba's stories that sounded like that same thing that made the Cave of Wonders appear every 1000 years.

     “Ran into a few of the bad ones I see” she raised an eyebrow.

     “I think he’s talking about Evie actually,” Carlos laughed

     “You can sleep by yourself tonight,” Evie gave him a hard look.

     "Oh I'm not talking about Princess," Jay shook his head, "Yzma, Madame Mim, Witch of the Waste, Freddy Falcifer, etcetera. I may have pissed off all of Black Magic Alley one day."

     “That wasn’t a good day” Evie shook her head, she’d had a hard time getting ingredients for a few weeks after that.

     "So much shrieking," he shook his head.

     Aladdin smiled, these two would just be fine, "Why don't you come up to the palace tomorrow Sadira? I will get a room set up you three can work in."

     “Yeah no problem. Been a while since I’ve seen Jasmine” she nodded, “You two should try and take it easy on the magic if you can”

     Jay looked embarrassed, "It... it kind of just happens on its own."

     Iago who had been stewing on Jay's shoulder fixed Sadira with a hard look, "Don't you dare get any fancy ideas about fooling with the royal family again. Or my kids."

     “I thought that was you, you know I was thinking I need a new hourglass” she smirked at Iago, “And you should be fine with little things, its Blue I’m worried about” she assured Jay.

     "Fuck you bitch, mmmfhph," Iago charged on even as Jay closed his beak with a easy half smile.

     "Don't magic my macaw. Just leave him be, he enjoys squawking," Jay kept his tone light, sultry smile on his lips as he kept his fingers clamped over Iago's beak, "We'll try to keep the magic to a minimum."

     Aladdin could feel the sudden tension around Jay despite the fact he had seemed to have softened. That was a dangerous combination.

     “Don’t worry kid, I’ve never done anything to hurt him... at least not intentionally, and I'm not going to start now. Although if he wants to try some of my new cooking he should be weary probably,” she snickered, that soup had been a disaster, of course the fact she’d mixed magic and cooking wasn't great either.

     "I will make sure he keeps that in mind," he nodded releasing Iago's beak. "Wicked to meet you though." He backed up tension easing away.

     Aladdin sighed softly, "Thank you Sadira. We'll see you tomorrow say lunch time?"

     “Yep that’s fine with me. I’ll see you guys then” she nodded.

     “She’s... interesting” Evie looked at Jay.

     Jay nodded rubbing Iago's cheek, "Don't piss witches off old man. Did you never understand that?"

     "Brat," Iago huffed looking away.

     He looked back at Evie as they headed back to the palace with the Sultan, "At least we know what happened. I didn't know you could burn out. Even if it kinda is my fault, but I guess we can tell Princy his Baba found us a teacher. Not that I am sold on learning, but I can't just keep doing what I am doing."

     “We’ll learn together” Evie looped her arm with his, “and I suppose it makes a little sense that you can burn out”

     "You will probably be way better than me at it," he smiled slightly, "Just like always." He felt himself calming down, the tensions about having hurt her easing away slightly as he covered a yawn. After dinner he was going to have to drag Princy off and catch a nap. Make it up to his, assure him he was wanted and all that. Being officially in charge was so exhausting.

     “I wasn’t even sure I had real magic until we got here,” she shook her head.

     “Come on, you’re the daughter of the Evil Queen, the witch who put Snow White into a Deathlike Sleep with a poisoned apple. You memorized every page of her spell book, I knew if anyone was going to have magic it was you,” he kissed her temple, “Don’t sell yourself short Princess, you are magic even when you don’t try. You’ve had me be... bewi... bewitched for years,” he managed to force the odd word off his tongue and beamed at the success. 

     “Knowing how and being able to are very different. You don’t need to know how you just can,” she leaned into his side.

     “And we both know how well that works out. I steal things I don’t mean to, I explode windows and lights, I seal people’s mouths shut, and I have managed to burn you out. Yeah my just can do with magic is real fucking helpful,” he repiled more annoyed with himself than anything else, “You would be so much better with it that I am, you actually know what to do with it.”

     “You do exactly what you need to with yours. And you didn’t burn me out with your magic, my magic just overloaded.” 

     “Agree to disagree?” Jay gave her a look, because he didn’t think super destructive magic was very much what he meant to do. He tried not to break everything.

     “You’ve got a skill at making our underwear disappear,” she smirked.

     “About the only thing that works mostly when I want it to,” He smirked back, “I’d prove my point but you're not wearing any and I don’t really want to hurt you again this week.”

     “Your magic isn’t what hurt me, it was my magic” Evie smirked wickedly, “Like I said it gets hot enough here not to wear any.”

     He looked her over, “Okay well,” his eyes flicked back to the Sultan, “You want to wear me the rest of the way out after dinner? Then I can grab Princy and we can all get some much needed sleep?”

     “If you want me too. I do so love to serve my prince of thieves,” she flicked her tongue over her lips.

     “Then wear a skirt for me Princess?” he asked as they stepped into the palace, the Sultan waving to let them go get changed for dinner.

     “If that is what you wish,” she nodded leading the way to their room.

     “Well you know you have a say in this right? I mean otherwise I’m going to be shoving you into walls to fuck your pretty little brains out. Just an idea...”

     “Oh, I know, but if it makes you happy,” she shrugged, “I’m sure I've got a few skirts around here somewhere,” she teased.

     “You and happiness,” he rolled his eyes teasingly, “Thanks for the run by the way. Aside from literally running into the Sultan, it was nice to run again.”

     “We can do that again some time,” she said, “And you deserve to be happy just like we do.”

     “You know we are never going to agree on what I deserve right?” they walked into the bedroom and he pulled his shirt off rifling through his bag till he found another suitable shirt. At this rate he was going to need to wash everything he owned before the trip was up. 

     “Then trust that I know what you deserve, just like you know what we deserve,” she suggested pulling out a mid thigh length skirt and a blouse.

     “You two are crazy” Carlos snorted pulling out a clean shirt.

     “Crazy? Us? Never,” Jay snickered grabbing the leather pants from the balcony, “Looks like they survived the water.”

     “Good, they are some of my best work,” Evie nodded, “What do you think?” she put her hands on her hips over the edge of her tight blue skirt.

     His head tilted to the side and he resisted the urge to grab her, “I approve,” he smirked swapping pants, “Very much so approve. I’ll show you how much after dinner. Coming pup?”

 

Chapter 123: Sadira Last of the Sand Witches (Agrabah: June)

     Aziz guided Jay and Evie up to the cleaned out room where his parents had set everything up for them to learn magic, “Don’t worry about Los, I figured the two of us can hang out in the library or play some video games while you two are with Sadira.”

     “He’s gonna love that,” Evie nodded, “I can tell he’s been itching to play.”

     “That’s what I was hoping,” Aziz smiled, “Afternoon Ms. Sadira. Your students, Iago come on.”

     “Hell no. I am staying to make sure she doesn’t try anything.”

     “Suit yourself.” Aziz shook his head giving Jay’s arm a reassuring squeeze as he headed back towards where they had left Carlos napping after breakfast.

     “Hi you two, Iago you may want to get out of the firing range, so to speak” Sadira suggested with a smile.

     Iago fluffed his feathers indignantly, “Why are you going to be shooting spells at my kids?” 

     “Iago just go find a perch elsewhere before you accidentally end up as parrot barbeque,” Jay drawled tired of the macaw’s whining. 

     “Ungrateful featherless brat,” Iago puffed heading towards the railing.

     “It's more so he doesn’t end up hurt, we are not shooting anything. We’re going to work on control, I want to see what you two are capable of,” she said as she waved a hand at a jar of sand. It rose up forming into a sand statue of Iago with his wings spread.

     “That’s... I don't think I can do anything like that” Evie looked at it.

     “Its ok Blue I’m just trying to see what comes natural to your magic. That’s one of the first things I ever did, making statues out of sand.” she nodded.

     Jay looked at it then at Sadira, “Yeah pretend like we don’t know how to turn the magic on or off. Only don’t pretend.”

     “I didn’t know either, it’s just a want. Want something and imagine it happening,” she flicked her fingers and the Iago took flight.

     Want. Want something? He didn’t want anything though. Granted that explained the panties thing, and the liquor bottle. But he wasn’t even good at that, really. He chewed on his cheek glancing at Evie, “I’m not really big in the wanting things department...”

     “Ok... think more like need then. I got my sand to steal for me, then hide what I’d stolen so I could get away from the guards,” Sadira tapped her lips trying to think.

     “Our... our magic has been not really... mainland friendly so to speak,” Evie chewed her lip.

     “Oh...” Sadira looked between the two, “That’s ok, it's a thing, there are people that their magic is all about all sorts of things. I’ve met one crazy old bat that her magic is really, I mean really, focused on carving wooden bears. She can do other things but that’s her focus point.” 

     “Okay, stealing, stealing I can do,” Jay nodded he was good at it anyway, “Been doing that for years. Granted not with magic, that’s an unwelcome new thing.”

     “I can work with that” Sadria nodded, “How about you Blue? Something led to your burn out.”

     “Mine acts up with... Sex,” Evie shrugged trying not to look away.

     “Sex... I may need to bring in some help for that but let's see if we can work it out on our own first” Sadira nodded again.

     Jay did look away she wasn’t the only one who’s magic acted up during sex, granted he was used to shoving it all down. Heat coiled in his chest and he looked at Sadira, “So you want us to do what then? I guess this is me asking how exactly you want us to show you what we can do.”

     “This is going to sound bad, but... I’ll talk to Aladdin about it. You and I are going stealing,” she looked at Jay. “Blue I want you to try and do something, anything” she crossed her arms.

     Jay looked at Evie, “I don’t mind if you want to use me as a target,” he flexed his hands and her necklace formed in his fist, it helped someone else gave it to her. Plus he liked it when she chased after him.

     “Hey” she raised an eyebrow at him, she raised her hand palm up trying to focus on taking the necklace back from him. She felt the slight vibration that she was used to, not painful, but there. She closed her eyes trying to focus, she blinked as something landed in her hand. That was not her necklace... in fact that looked like Carlos’ shirt. Well that was going to take some explaining later.

     “I’m going to guess that’s not what you were after,” Sadira smirked with a chuckle.

     Jay snorted, “Stripping our Pup from afar? Come on that’s supposed to be my thing. It’s in my left fist.”

     “Well I’m sure he and Princy are having fun now,” Evie snorted, “Let’s try that again,” she tossed the shirt to the side and held out her hand trying to visualize her necklace in Jay’s hand.

     “You did that very effectively,” Sadira complimented Jay.

     “Like I said been stealing for years,” He opened his right hand showing her, her own earrings.

     “Very good, but you should be more aware of magic around you,” she pointed down to the sand snake slithering around his feet in a circle.

     “So maybe close things are not my thing,” Evie sighed as her ruby heart necklace appeared hanging from Jay’s wrist.

     Jay looked at it and shrugged, “I like snakes. Maybe not but you are getting closer. It’s at least one of your necklaces this time.”

     “Its ok Blue, it shows me you have focus just directing problems. We can work on that,” Sadria assured, “Good to know, you are going to be right at home here.”

     “I doubt that,” Jay replied, “But I’ll do what I can,” He stepped over the sand snake and hung the necklaces back around Evie’s neck, “Maybe with practice you can steal your stuff back from me,” he offered softly before handing Sadira her earrings back.

     “Hard to steal from the Prince of Thieves,” Evie pushed her hair over her shoulder.

     “We’ll have to put that to the test at some point,” Sadira nodded taking her earrings.

     “Put what to the test exactly? My stealing? I don’t test well really. And it’s not impossible to steal from me, promise,” Jay said even though he couldn’t think of a single person who had managed it.

     “Yes your stealing or stealing from you. Don’t worry about there’s no passing and failing with my tests” Sadira shook her head.

     “I was under the impression stealing generally was a bad thing here. No matter how good I am at it.” 

     “For learning purposes,” she shrugged, “I'll sort it out with Aladdin, maybe get him to come have some fun.”

     He gave her a disbelieving look but shrugged a shoulder, “So what about in the meantime?”

     “I’m sure you have a system in place already with Aziz. You're too smart to not have one,” Sadria said

     “See someone else sees you smart,” Evie smirked.

     “More like I have a stealing problem and mine like to keep me in check. We have a lost and found bin at school just for my bad habits,” Jay rubbed the back of his arm nervously.

     “But you let them help, that’s smart,” Sadira nodded, “Right feather brian?” she smirked at Iago.

     Iago humphed, “You shouldn’t be encouraging him to steal. My kid is smart. Smarter than you.”

     Jay rolled his eyes, “Whatever,” it was pointless to argue with them, he wasn’t smart he just trusted that his actually smart allies could keep him afloat through school. It was Carlos’ idea about the Lost and Found after he found Jay’s stash of accidentally pilfered goods.

     “We work with what we have, then we work on the correct use,” Sadira shrugged

     “And what is the correct use? Because not using magic isn’t apparently an option I have,” Jay had tried not to use it, tried to bury it, and then he lost his temper and things exploded or his hands would start burning and suddenly his pockets were full. Then it started cropping up during their piles and Jay couldn’t figure out how to shut it off and keep it off.

     “You shouldn’t try to hold it back all the time. If the lost and found thing works at school then use it” Sadira watched him, “Trying to hold it back, letting it build with no outlet can be damaging you too.”

     “Auradon’s not very magic friendly” Evie said

     “No they are not, I don’t know how to help with that part other then try and keep it smallish.” 

     Damaging to him, hell he would never even notice as damaged as he was already. It was a wonder he was as functional as he was, well mostly functional. Here in Agrabah he might as well be a train wreck waiting to happen. How many times had he already snapped? He wasn’t supposed to be happy, he wasn’t supposed to be here in Agrabah, hell he was never supposed to have gotten off the Isle. Jay cringed as something above him cracked. Yep he confirmed it he was a walking train wreck. Closing his eyes he shoved the coils of heat down further, he had to get it to stop reacting, intentionally using it was one thing, but he was going to keep hurting people if he didn’t get it chained down or something.

     Iago sighed as the air around Jay simmered for a moment before settling. He had a bad feeling about his kid using magic, but he couldn’t just keep doing whatever it was he was doing as the lights in the room formed cracks in them.

     “Ok, ok calm. Um... Carpet you around,” Sadira’s eyes widened as she pulled sand around ready to shield anything that needed shielding.

     Jay snorted, “Define calm.” he took a slow breath, “Calm really isn’t the problem.”

     “Kid you okay?”

     “I’m fine Iago.”

     “You don’t look very fine,” he shifted on his perch uneasily.

     “Bullshit, I’m the finest piece of ass you ever seen,” he shot back automatically, “See this is what I meant about not using is not exactly an option because this shit does whatever it wants most times. You sure it doesn’t have an off switch Sadira, like a permanent off switch?” He wrangled it down, and carefully looked up hoping he hadn’t broken anything.

     “Trust me, I know that’s hard cause you just met me. It gets better, it will I promise. Right now I’m thinking we take a little trip away from the city for a little bit,” Sadira tried to soothe him.

     “Jay you’re doing fine,” Evie moved towards him her own magic seeming to respond to his.

     Sadira looked between the two, she was going to have to consult with Genie on this, but it looked like their magics where almost codependent on each other’s. But magic was a deeply personal thing it wasn’t meant to connect with other persons like what she was seeing. But Evie’s magic was flaring up to match Jay’s, “Carpet, any time now would be good” Sadira barked looking at the window.

     “I don’t trust anyone but mine,” Jay replied softly, “Princess I don’t want to hurt you again.”

     Carpet whisked into the room and looked at the three of them and swirled around Sadira nervously. Using it’s tassels it pointed at the two and then at itself. 

     “Exactly” Sadira nodded hopping on, “Come on you two” she held out her hands.

     “You won’t, and you didn’t I told you that was my magic not yours” Evie shook her head letting Sadira pull her up onto the carpet.

     Jay didn’t believe her, if he hadn’t denied her she wouldn’t have gotten hurt, he did that not her or her magic. He was the one that left her hips black and blue. How many times had he already hurt his mainland prince since getting here? He grabbed Sadira’s hand letting her pull him up onto the carpet as Iago landed on Sadira’s shoulder.

     “Don’t get any funny ideas about me liking you,” Iago stated as he looked at Jay, and the full on glow in his eyes, “Kid stop thinking about whatever you're thinking about.”

     “I’d have to have a functioning brain to think anything worth anyone's time,” he hid the wince as it felt like something popped in his chest, the savage heat unfurling under his skin desperate to lash out.

     Carpet did not wait. It took off into the open air with its three passengers and headed for the desert. It was hot and it didn’t much care for the heat but it did not like the feeling of uncontrolled magic on it’s back.

     “You have a functional brain, you are a strategy person. That's why you're so good at sports and shit,” Evie said, “And that's him talking, don’t you dare listen to him. If I’m not fat then your not stupid.”

     Sadira looked between the two with wide eyes, “I think you and I need to talk later feather brains,” she muttered to Iago.

     “I don’t need to talk. That is the son of Jafar,” Iago stated, “But I will answer what you want if you can help him. Because magic like that is out of my league. I have watched him control the Daughter of Maleficent without even thinking about it.”

     “I don’t think about it Princess, I don’t give myself time to think and second guess I just do,” Jay muttered, “You aren’t fat, you’re skinny, even Princy says so. Your mother is just jealous you are prettier than she is,” he didn’t think, if he tried to make plans they always went sideways. That’s why his Baba always said he wasn’t good for anything, more trouble that he was worth. How many times had he heard that? How many times had his Baba given him that look, that look that screamed he was a disappointment? He was never good enough, never fast enough, strong enough, quick enough, never anything enough. He was always second rate compared to his Baba, he would never amount to anything more than a thief. His eyes squeezed shut as he curled an arm around his aching burning chest, he had to control it, he had to contain it, because he had to be able to do something else right. Anything else.

     Carpet flew into a small oasis as far from Agrabah as it could manage as the magic on his back only grew in strength. It landed, dumped them all on the ground and hid behind a tree, watching the three warily.

     “Right” Sadira sighed this was going to be harder than she thought, “Blue over here please” she swirled the sand around them as she looked at Jay.

     Evie looked at Jay hard before moving next to Sadira.

     “Jay I want you to let it loose, all of it.” She ordered, he’d been holding back too long she could feel it.

     Jay looked at her like she was crazy, "I don't think that's a great idea."

     "Kid listen to me," Iago started hoping as close as he dared to the sand, "I know you've been out of sorts since we got here. Let this piece go okay? The Sand Witch is keeping Blueberry and I safe, it's okay, you won't hurt us. I have never lied to you kid, it's okay to let loose this once. You do this for me, and I'll show you something I know you'll like."

     Jay looked at Iago, before his eyes landed on his Princess, the look in her eyes, the disappointment there that he was listening to the whispers in his head. Something else popped in his chest and a whine left his lips. Let go. All he had to do was pull his hands off the failing bonds. Let go, and fall into it. Just fall into the heat, how hard could it be. Golden sparks in a dark sky, ice blue eyes on a bloodthirsty monster, vibrant green eyes behind a black staff. All it was was power, cold hungry power.

     Sadira pulled Evie down into a crouch sand at the ready. 

     Evie kept her eyes locked on Jay, her magic reaching out to his own.

     His eyes squeezed shut, feeling Princess' magic against his, the feeling making his skin felt too tight, like he didn't fit into it anymore. No he had to contain it, couldn't show them how destructive it was. He had to keep it a secret. 

     A thick deep gravelly voice formed in the back of his head from an old memory, back when he wanted to learn how to be stronger, to be more valuable to Mal, "Razoul you can teach him how to fight all you want. But you need to teach him to know when to fight. Listen to me kid, you are going to get pulled into fights you can't win, you have to recognize them and retreat. There are some fights worth the pain, sure, but there are a few you just got to throw your hands up and walk away. Live to fight another day."

     "Live to fight another day," Jay muttered the words Aarosh had told him before agreeing to teach him to fight as power exploded out him.

     Iago could have sworn under the red gold glow in his kid's eyes, they had changed into snake eyes. The air was thick with the red gold miasma as he watched Jay continue to fight the power, desperate to keep it in. Then it exploded, red gold power raging out of him, like some star. He knew his kid was powerful, but how long had he been letting it build?

     “Sand Scarabs,” Sadira breathed taking in the scene he had so much power built up, what was his base level?

     Jay felt like he had just been fucked by the Gaston twins. His legs gave out from under him and his eyes rolled back as he collapsed. The power slowly petering out, red gold sparking over his skin, sinking back inside like he was drawing some of it back.

     Iago cleared his throat, "Any questions Sadira?" He watched as Jay just laid there breathing hard limbs all akimbo. The power finally settling down.

     “That was extreme, how much power do you think he’s got at a base level? To bottle that much up... it could be a side effect of the isle maybe, not having access to it from childhood,” Sadira looked at the two teens as Evie kneeled next to Jay, “Is he alright?”

     "Probably stronger magic than his father. He's been having lash outs since I got here. It has only gotten stronger since he came to Agrabah. Day he got here he had the same magic field around him," Iago offered as he shifted on Sadira's shoulder, "Can you actually help?"

     Jay felt all of the lack of sleep as he felt Princess kneel next to him, her magic tingling over his burning skin, "I feel like I just got played with by the twins," he grumbled to her not opening his eyes or moving at all, "I didn't hurt you or Iago, right Princess?" 

     “I don’t know” Sadira softly answered the bird, “but I’m not going to leave him alone to deal with it”

     “No one ones hurt, just worried about you” Evie shook her head.

     Iago nodded, "Good. Because I can't help with his magic thing. We can talk more later. I'll answer what I can."

     Jay snorted, "I'm tired, feel like I got used as a fuck toy, but elsewise fine," he forced himself to move, rolling towards her, "Your magic feels nice. Kind of tingly. Mine doesn't feel all that wicked, more like fire under my skin." He reached settling his overheating hand on her legs.

     “Rest” she ran a hand down his back as she moved so his head could rest in her lap.

     He hummed softly as he more than happily passed out on her lap.

     “Alright, I think we should head back so you two can rest while I do some research,” Sadira looked at the teens as she waved Carpet over.

     Carpet carefully made its way over and shimmied under Jay’s limp body and Evie’s kneeling form, carefully lifting the teens up before drifting over to Sadira and Iago who landed on the small of Jay’s back and settled down preening the ends of his hair.

     Iago looked at Evie, “He’s okay right?”

     “Yeah, just worn out,” Evie nodded, it wasn’t like she was going to be able to explain in front of Sadira.

     Iago nodded his beak as Sadira climbed on Carpet and it took off back to Agrabah, “I was worried about him coming here.”

     “Carlos and I told him we could leave if he wanted. But he’s refusing” she said softly.

     Sadira glanced at them but tried to give them some privacy.

     “He is stubborn. Best trait he ever got from his father. He’s bulling through it because you and the Puppy Dog are happy here, and when he was little Jafar told him stories of this place. You are happy here and he is trying to find a way to be happy here too.” 

     “We don’t want him hurting for us though, we’ve all hurt enough,” she shook her head.

     “I have found that he will do something even if it hurts, because he is stubborn,” Iago waved his wings, “Before he unleashed the magic storm, he was still trying to hold it in. It was hurting him and he still wanted to contain it. Stubborness is a double edged sword, but don’t worry Blueberry, after this ordeal, he should be okay.”

     “I just want him to be better all the time, not hide stuff because he doesn’t want to hurt us,” she sighed.

     “I can’t help with that. I used to ask him if he was okay when I knew he was hurt. Every time I got the same reply,” Iago used Jay’s own voice as a child, “I’m fine Iago, don’t worry about me, you know I don’t like it when you start pulling your own feathers out.”

     “I forgot how squeeky his voice use to be” she chuckled

     “I know puberty hit him like a freight train,” Iago snorted, “I was worried he was never going to hit puberty.”

     Carpet landed them back into the room letting Sadira off as it remained floating for Jay and Evie.

     Iago looked at the carpet, “Do you need Jay and Blueberry here Sadira for your research?”

     “No they can go,” Sadira shook her head, “Rest, we’ll meet again in a few days”

     “We’ll try,” Evie nodded

     “Carpet take them back to the room across from Prince Aziz’s,” he flapped off of Jay’s back and landed on the edge of the jar.

     Carpet saluted using a tassel and took off out the window with the teenagers in tow. 

     Iago waited until they were gone before looking at Sadira, “You have questions. Ask.”

     “I’m trying to think on how to phrase this, I can tell they are sleeping together. Have you seen their magic mingle?” she asked

     “They have been for a long while now, and since I got here, yes. It’s been happening more and more. It’s like his magic is trying to pull hers out. Their magic seems to feed off of one another. That answer your question?” Iago replied, this was for the good of his kids, Sadira had seen the weight his first featherless kid was carrying around. It would only be a matter of time before they all saw how powerful Evie was.

     “Iago, that’s not good. Their magic shouldn’t be pushing and pulling on each other,” she shook her head, “I... maybe a focus point will help him.”

     “They are his focus. You have to understand something, they are kids from the Isle of the Lost. Jay, Evie, Carlos and Mal ran together from age 8 until about 4 or 5 months ago. Jay has been protecting Evie and Carlos for that entire time, and took over when Mal got the collective boot when she regretted what she had done one night. Everything he does is for them, because of them, with them. And yes I mean that just like it sounds.” Iago sighed softly fluttering his feathers.

     “I was thinking something to focus his magic through, because if this continues I’m not sure what will happen. Magic isn’t meant to mix like that as far as I know. You mentioned him controlling... Mal was it.”

     Iago bobbed his head, “Yeah a half fae. A feat Jafar couldn’t have pulled off, not even with his cobra staff.”

     “I wish his mother was here, it would be easier to come up with a plan if I knew what worked for her. Cause I don’t think he’s going to be down for a staff or something to help focus his magic off of them.” she ran a hand through her hair.

     Iago ruffled his feathers, “I don’t know what happened to her. What I do know is just before the Isle, he reappeared with a baby boy. I went to the Isle hoping I could at least watch over the kid. Good thing, because Jafar is not parent material in the slightest. Nasira tried to take Jay a few times but he kept coming back...”

     “Loyalty? Or something else?” she asked trying to find a way into Jay’s head. He was like her and Aladdin, but she needed more. Blue was easy she just wanted to have approval.

     “Not to Jafar. Loyalty to me, to his eels maybe but, he...” Iago sighed, “Jafar brian washed him as you may have noticed. Convinced him that if he tried hard enough he’d earn anything from Jafar.”

     “Then we need to find someone else for him to listen too, another voice. But years like that aren’t easy to overcome.” she sighed, “I need to go over some of this with Genie see if he’s got any ideas”

     “Ask him about Jay’s mother. He may know,” Iago nodded, “Because kid isn’t real good at listening to anyone. Well, there was one person he listened to, but they are still on the Isle.”

     “I will, for now though will you keep an eye on their output. Neither of them should have enough built up yet to do anything major but if they do for whatever reason it could be dangerous.”

     “That I can do,” Iago nodded, “If you have more questions I’ll be around.” Iago flapped his wings and took off out the window leaving Sadira to her own devices.

 

Chapter 124: Magical Anchors (Agrabah: June)

Notes:

Warning:
-Past Trauma
-references to child abuse

     Aziz leaned back into the bottom of the couch, eyes focused on the screen. 

     “So, did you hear they were talking about a knights quest 3 online?” Carlos asked as he moved his character around the screen.

     “I did, but I don’t know I feel like forcing everyone to play online instead of local co-op with online capabilities is a misstep,” he shook his head. 

     He and Carlos had settled on video games instead of walking around town when Carlos's shirt suddenly vanished in a flurry of sapphire sparks. It had been nearly unanimous to return to the room so Carlos could redress if that had been the proverbial start of Jay and Evie’s first real magic lesson. Not to mention Aziz thought this would be nicer on the pale skinned boy who seemed to burn rather easily.

     “I find the thought of online play interesting. But I do like just being able to sit and play with people in the room” Carlos nodded as he dodged a ‘goblin’.

     “As you may have noticed, I'm not terribly social if I have the choice so online play really doesn't interest me unless my game is solo and I can chat as I feel the need to.”

     “You not social?” He teased, “None of us really are besides E” it was just easier sometimes to not have to worry about other people and just focus on them.

     Aziz smiled head hanging briefly before he refocused on the game, “I don't know, Hubibi is pretty social, though I'm not sure if that is his preference or habitual at this point. But you've known him and Amira longer.”

     “Jay’s good at charming people cause he had to be” shaking his head as he looked for any dropped loot, “Just as happy to just be with us.”

     He considered it, having to become a people pleaser even when he just wanted to be left alone. That was a terribly uncomfortable thought actually. Sighing Aziz opened his inventory and dropped a piece of gear, “Here that should be better for your build. I suppose we all like spending time with the people we choose rather than people we don't really like. I know I would rather you all be here hanging out with me all summer rather than be left to my own devices until Rufio felt like coming to visit,” he rather liked spending time with Carlos, especially since he didn't have to fend off any sexual advances.

     As they finished the level and came back to the castle Aziz stretched, looking at his phone, “Well as long as everything went well they should be back. Want to take a break and check on them?”

     Carlos nodded, “Okay. Hopefully everything went okay and E is feeling better.”

     “Agreed, I've been worried about her,” slowly he got up and yawned slightly before heading to their room. He blinked seeing a slightly sandy Jay and Evie laying on the bed asleep, “Well I guess we'll just stay here for now until they wake up.”

-*-

     Genie sighed as he settled down at the breakfast table with Jordan. It had been a bit of an emergency trip back to Agrabah. At least that’s what it sounded like when Jasmine called him in a heated moment about something. The only one sitting at the table currently was Adir. 

     “Hi uncle Genie” Adir smiled at him.

     “How are you doing Adir?” he asked as the door to the dining room opened and three vibrant teens and one prince came in. 

     Jay stiffened seeing Genie sitting at the table with Jordan. He glanced at Aziz, who seemed surprised but not concerned. He was feeling better after sleeping for almost an entire day after his magic explosion and a few days of nothing but relaxing while Evie started on new clothes for him.

     “Uncle Genie? What are you and Jordan doing here?” Aziz asked feeling Jay’s hand on his lower back.

     “Your mom called in a huff,” Jordan supplied covering a yawn, “Morning you guys.”

     “Hey Jordan,” Carlos waved to the other teen.

     Evie nodded to her with a small forced smile.

     “Morning. Cold shoulder from you Jay?” she called out the boy’s stiffness.

     “No, just not coffeed.”

     “Caffeinated Jay, you mean caffeinated,” Aziz rolled his eyes as they joined the table. “It is good to see you two.”

     Genie smiled slightly looking the teens over, “Hand out Jay,” he watched Jay cautiously hold out a hand, he zapped a cup of warm coffee into the kid’s hand.

     Jay blinked at the mug and sipped at it, “Thanks,” he offered sitting down next to Adir, “Morning gorgeous.”

     “Better,” Jordan smirked, “You’re looking good guys, getting tanned and everything. Agrabah treating you well?” she was trying to keep things light knowing that it was tense between them still.

     “They’re tanning, I’m burning” Carlos chuckled 

     “It’s nice here,” Evie nodded, “The fashion alone.”

     “I’m glad you guys are liking it,” she smiled as Sultan and Sultana came in with Raj, “Morning.”

     “Genie, oh thank goodness.” Jasmine sighed seeing the djinn there, both she and Aladdin needed to talk to him about the VK’s.

     “Jasmine, Al, little Raj,” he smiled at them, “More than happy to come over. It was just Jordan and I practicing this week anyway.”

     “Jordan,” Raj rushed over to sit next to the older girl.

     “Hey kiddo,” Jordan smiled giving her a side hug, “You tormenting your big brother for me?”

     “When he lets me” she shrugged 

     “She terrorized him with her terrible flirting,” Carlos teased.

     “Oh come on it’s not that bad” she rolled her eyes.

     “I’m not allowed to comment, Mama yelled at me about picking on my sister,” Aziz muttered as Jordan lifted an eyebrow at him, “Later Jordan later.”

     Genie made sure the kids were occupied in chatting over food as he looked at his friends, “What was that emergency about Jas? You two were in a big huff.”

     “Our conversation can wait. I don’t want any of the kids to overhear.”

     “Understood,” Genie nodded serious as he looked at Aladdin, “You’re turn.”

     “Jay and Princess Evie have developed very active magic. I set them up with Sadira to teach them, but she said she needed to consult with you. Since Jasmine needed you I figured I could get you to go and see her.”

     Genie looked at the two in question before nodding, “Sure however I can help.”

     “We appreciate it” Evie nodded back

     “Yeah it’s nice to have help,” Carlos forced a smile.

     “Even if it’s just the world’s fastest cup of coffee,” Jay gave him a half smile.

     Genie flapped a hand at them and smiled softly, “Don’t mention it kids, really, you deserve all the help in the world.” 

     “So are you gonna be able to do magic like uncle genie?” Adir looked at Jay.

     “Nope. Your uncle is a djinn, means he can pretty much do anything he can dream of. Me, I’m just good at parlor tricks,” Jay twisted his wrist eyes flickering as Adir’s half moon earrings appeared in his hand, “This is about all I got.” he lied offering the earrings back to him. Aziz had been a bit forceful in informing Jay that he had to practice, especially when a frustrated Jay had shattered a lightbulb by accident.

     “We aren’t quite at that skill. Just trick,” Evie nodded wagging her fingers at Jay making his hair twist into a braid.

     He made a face her, “You are lucky I stopped caring about people playing with my hair,” he said without bite, “Honestly.”

     Genie smiled seeing them use their magic. Evie’s like a soft whispering wind, Jay’s a warm heat. Seemed like despite their parentage and upbringing, their magic was still so innocent. Which gave him pause as to why Sadira needed to consult with him.

     “Well you have the best hair out of all of us” Evie shrugged, “plus Carlos doesn’t look good with long hair”

     “I looked great” Carlos smirked.

     “I doubt that” Raj snicked eyeing him.

     “I liked you better when you flirted” Carlos dead panned.

     “I’d love to pet your short strands of oh so soft hair,” she smirked at him.

     “No, just no,” Evie shook her head, as Adir giggled.

     “So your going to be like Ms. Sadira and make cool things happen” Adir nodded.

     "I don't know about cool," Jay shrugged as he carefully put Adir's earrings back in for him, "But yeah Ms. Sadira is trying to teach us."

     Jordan snorted, "Wow Raj, I think we need to work on your game. Jay is good practice," Aziz fixed her with a venomous look, "If your brother wasn't so damn protective of his pet project. Chill out Aziz, its harmless. We both know Jay doesn't do the whole dating thing."

     "Don't encourage her," Aziz kept his tone flat even as Jordan grinned, "Not a word."

     "Wouldn't dream of it your highness," Jordan snorted, that explained the venom, Aziz had a massive crush on Jay and he was trying to keep his chances good. Maybe she would see if Jay's mind could be changed on the dating front.

     Genie pushed himself up, "Well I am going to go see Sadira. Jordan be good, I'll be back." He kissed the top of his daughter's head before snapping his fingers and disappearing to Sadira's front door.

     “Genie, good of you to visit,” Sadira looked at him from the door, she had felt his magic stir the sand.

     "Morning Sadira. Al told me you needed to talk." Genie smiled at her, "Mind if I come in?"

     “Yeah, do you want any tea?” she asked moving from the door.

     "That would be lovely thank you," Genie smiled walking in and closing the door behind him, "So what is this all about? I know Al asked you to teach Jay and Evie, they are practicing by the way."

     “That’s good to know,” she nodded, “But I noticed a few things that... as far as I know doesn’t happen when I was with them.”

     "What kind of things?" Genie asked sitting in the air arms over his chest worried now more than before about the kids.

     “Their magic... it's codependent, I’m not talking about the normal some one flares so some else's magic response. They are literally pulling off of each other. Jay more than Evie, she uses his magic to get her to go a little wild, but he’s using her's to stabilize, they don’t even realize they are doing it,” she poured the tea.

     Genie hummed softly, "Sleeping together?" He asked because sometimes magic got a little tangled up with partners, especially the longer they were together.

     “For a while apparently, but I don’t know its... that isle,” she shook her head, she didn’t know.

     Genie took the offered tea snapping his fingers, making the Isle appear floating in front of him. "Subject of the week it seems. Jasmine called me home to talk about the Isle. About the conditions there. Malnutrition, unsafe living conditions, the DeVil boy said no one can die there. Add in Villians with no regard to human life to start with and you get a recipe for disaster. I don't know what they were thinking, anti-magic barrier okay, prison island fine, but kids living there..." he shook his head, "Now they are off the isle, their magic is going to be lashing out built up over the last 16 plus years with no outlets. If they were functioning as a codependent unit on the Isle their pent up magic would come pre conditioned."

     “That’s not a good thing though is it?” she looked at him, “I know for my type of magic that's not ok."

     "Good? Oh no, very not good. But at this point, trying to separate them may do more harm than good. Their magic is essentially stuck in survival mode. It could take them years to finally break free from it. But..." he shook his head, "There is more than just the magic here. When you learned magic you were in a healthy headspace, your magic does what you want it to do. I don't know if you have seen it, but Jay's magic is pure emotionally driven right now. He gets frustrated or angry and it lashes out. That tells me their headspaces are questionable at the moment." Genie tried to explain.

     “Then how do we get them more stable,” Sadira tilted her head, “It's going to take more then a few weeks during the summer.”

     "We make a little magic and give us a little more time. First step is getting to the root of their internal mind set. Evie will be the easier of the two at least from what your saying. If she is only pulling on his power to get a little fired up that is an easy detachment. We pull her out of him, then we go find out just how deep he's rooted into her. Because if he is using her as his anchor, we are going to need to replace it or the kid is going to go off the deep end in a way that would make Djinn Jafar proud."

     “How do we help him? Cause I'm not letting him do this alone, adults have let him down enough,” she leaned back in her seat.

     Genie sighed wiping the floating isle away with a gesture, "That will be that million dollar question. I don't know him too well, but my daughter talks about him. In 10,000 years I have never heard about someone so hyper focused on the happiness of his peers. He's a people pleaser, smiles, flirts, talks a good game, to deflect their attention away from anything going on with himself. Jordan says he's a good kid, but is hard on himself, a case of the try hard. But if you want to help him, forget it. Jasmine offered to adopt him, offered him a life here in Agrabah and he put up a wall. And yet here he is. Staying in the place at Christmas he wanted nothing to do with. Something changed his mind."

     “Wait... Jasmine wants to what exactly? Cause I feel like miss royal may have overstepped again” Sadira snorted that was Jasmine for you meant well but really stepped in it.

     "Adopt him. Not because he's the son of Jafar, but because he's the son of Mahala." Genie gave a bittersweet smile, "Kid takes after his mother in looks. She was a good woman..."

     “What happened to Mahala? Iago didn’t seem to know, just that Jafar showed up with a baby,” Sadira looked off to the side.

     "I don't know for sure, but they had a fight over their son. Jafar did something to her. I couldn't, I couldn't find any trace of her. Just the Cobra Staff laying next to his crib. I tried to get him back, Jasmine tried to get him off the isle back then, but the council refused." Genie looked upset, "She asked me to hide her and Jay, and I did, but he found them. He found them and he took his son by force."

     “God that man,” Sadira growled, “I'd like to teach him a thing or two.”

     Genie nodded, "He should have never been allowed to raise a child. If he did raise Jay at all, the signs point to no. I just don't understand why Jafar had to have him. A baby wouldn't have done him any good."

     “Who knows with him, Iago mentioned Nasira.” 

     "Nasira? Jafar's twin sister? If I remember correctly she had a daughter around Jay's age. Was she taking care of him? She of the two I would see being a better parent," he leaned forward finishing the tea. "Regardless, he's the son of a sorcerer and a snake charmer. We can thank magic he isn't a djinn. But I still worry, if he went through significant trauma while he was with his father, it may have been why he relies so heavily on Evie to stabilize him."

     “And she relies on him to be her confidence,” she nodded, “What ever the fuck went on over there no kid should be exposed to."

     "No one should be." Genie agreed, "Now at this stage time is of the essence. Shall we go sort these two out or is there something else we need to confer on? I will help you with them, it's the least I can do."

     “Just try not to be overwhelming with him. And Iago is super protective, I suppose that’s a good thing. Also don’t comment on the stealing I said I’d be talk to Aladdin”

     "He stole Adir's earrings at breakfast. I won't say a word," he smiled slightly, "Hold on tight." Genie surrounded them and dropped them inside the palace in the room Al had set up. "Carpet, do me a favor and collect Jay and Evie," he asked as Carpet saluted before taking off for the kids.

     “Still don’t like traveling that way” Sadira tried to smooth down her hair.

     "Come on now it's a great way to get around."

     Jay looked over as a moving something caught his eye. They were crashed out in the game room since Jordan was there. He patted Evie's legs as they lay across his lap, "Looks like Sadira's here," he said softly looking at her, "Carpet is by the window."

     “Then we best not keep her waiting” Evie looked over swinging her legs out of his lap.

     Jay nodded following after her ignoring Jordan's curious look as he opened the window guiding Evie onto Carpet before slipping out and closing the window behind him. "Good to go Carpet." He still felt a little ridiculous talking to the flying rug.

     “It’s nice of you to come get us” Evie patted one the tasseled corners.

     Carpet curled up its edges happily zipping them up and around the palace and into the room, gracefully landing for the two to get off as Iago followed swearing about ungrateful children.

     Jay froze at the sight of the djinn, what the hell was he doing here.

     Genie smiled, "Sadira asked for my help with your magic," he held his hands up placating. Jay shifted slowly, wary but accepting at least which was a start because Jay made a habit of getting out as soon as he could normally, maybe giving the kid coffee this morning had helped.

     “Is there something wrong with it, our magic?” Evie asked chewing her lip.

     “No you guys are just a little tangled together” Sadira shook her head.

     "Meaning?" Jay didn't really know if he wanted to know the specifics.

     "Magic between people isn't generally supposed to be tangled. Sadira asked me to help get you two untangled. Which will help your control, so it's a little less reactive to one another," Genie's fingers twisted together and untwisted as he talked.

     “And how exactly are you going to do that?” Evie asked twitching.

     Genie looked at Sadira, "Well that depends on why its tangled up."

     Jay gave them a distrustful look hand shifting to Evie's wrist moving ever so slightly in front of her, "And how are you planning on figuring that out?"

     “We are going to ask some questions, that the answers of will never leave us. Maybe have you guys try a few things” Sadira said assured Jay, feeling the magic start to build.

     Genie looked at the boy, at the way he placed himself in the path of his perceived danger, "But you have to be truthful about the answers."

     Jay glanced at Evie, she was the one with the brain, the decision maker. He was prepped to have them out the window in moments. He didn't want to talk but he didn't like the sound of tangled magic either. Reactive, that meant cause and effect, whatever he did made Evie come with him. He didn't want that. She deserved better.

     “What if we don’t want to be untangled?” Evie asked her free hand moving to Jay’s back.

     “That’s... we can talk about it but it’s dangerous. You could accidentally hurt each other, but we aren’t going to force you to do anything,” Sadira looked at the teens.

     Jay looked at Sadira sharply.

     "Can I guess that means you might have already accidentally hurt each other?" Genie asked carefully.

     "I, I was the reason she was burnt out when you met us," Jay was taking the blame, if his magic was with Evie's then he was the one to blame.

     “My magic went a little haywire,” Evie nodded.

     "Okay, then maybe it would make sense to at least figure out how tangled up you two are," Genie suggested, "Then we can decide if leaving you two tangled is a safe option for both of you."

     “Is that alright with you two?” Sadira asked it hurt to see the two teens on the defensive.

     Jay took over, "Yeah. I don't want to hurt her. Sorry Princess but I never want to hurt you, accident or not."

     Genie nodded, progress, and insight into Jay's mindset. Protect her, above all make sure you aren't the reason she is hurt, "Okay good." He snapped his fingers and the room around them shifted into a softer looking room with closed windows and low couches a small coffee table set with four mugs of tea and a bowl of fruits and nuts, "Let's sit and have a chat. Yes Iago you can chime in if you feel it is necessary."

     The macaw sighed, nodding, "Fine. Just fine. In the interest of making sure my kids are being properly looked after."

     Evie licked her lips and nodded taking a seat pulling Jay with her. She made sure her hand stayed in his, “Do you want some of these nuts Iago?”

     Jay understood, winding their fingers together as his eyes flickered. The bowl moved between them as Iago sat on his shoulder, "Whenever you’re ready." He tried not to bristle as they sat down on the other couch and his fingers tightened marginally around Evie's.

     Iago bobbed his head preening her hair back over her ear, “I won’t let them bully you two into anything.”

     “We need to know about your relationship,” Sadira tried something easy.

     Jay looked at Evie, another one of these things, he sighed heavily, “What exactly do you want to know about our arrangement?”

     “How long has it been going on, and how involved are the two of you?” Genie requested taking care not to call it a relationship.

     “We’ve been experimenting, fooling around, fucking, whatever you want to call it since we were 11,” Jay replied easily, it wasn’t like they hadn’t already suffered through this once this week. At least this time his other two weren’t involved, he could keep them from this.

     “11? Ok, how... I’m guessing it’s still going on” Sadira nodded, she’d heard of kids on the street starting that young when she was younger but now a days it didn’t happen.

     “It’s not that young there are kids younger than that working in brothels on the isle,” Evie looked at her.

     “You had to be careful, there was a whole gang that’s purpose was to snag kids and sell ‘um to the brothels,” Jay added, “But yeah we’re still having sex.”

     Genie nodded slowly, “How often are you two having sex?”

     Jay looked down, “Every day. Some times more than once,” he was the one that needed it, needed them to keep him together so he couldn’t fall into the whispers, he devoured that tenderness, their kindness from their lips and hoarded it away. That was his gold, they were his greed.

     “Does your magic... interact each time?” 

     “Generally? Back in Auradon it was just mine,” Jay shrugged.

     “Okay in Auradon what would happen when your magic started appearing?” Genie asked trying to suss out the source.

     “Clothes would vanish and reappear across the room?” he felt like cringing because he had always locked down on the heat in his chest and hands, forced it into submission. Not to mention he was going into detail with ‘the bumbling blue idiot’ about his sex life with Princess. He was still thankful Carlos wasn’t magical because this would be very awkward with Carlos’ recent word vomit problem.

     “He suppressed it,” Iago supplied nibbling on the nut in Evie’s fingers, “When he didn’t it would take over his better sense and from my angle it looked a lot like control.” 

     “It’s feels like a release of worries,” Evie tried to explain, “I could feel my magic under the surface, but it wasn’t really there.”

     Genie glanced at Sadira, that did not sound good magically speaking. It was sounding like Jay’s magic had been out of control for a while now and all he was doing was compacting the problem.

     “Ok, I'm gonna be honest, Jay that doesn’t sound good for you,” Sadira shook her head.

     Maybe it was just him being here in front of them, talking about things he didn’t want people knowing about, bedroom life was bedroom life for a reason. But his mouth opened and the words just fell out, “When does anything sound good when it involves me? I generally find a way of screwing everything up, try and fix it then make it even worse.”

     Iago rapped on the side of his head gently, “You try and that’s what counts.”

     “Your good a tourney, that’s a good thing with you. They named you MVP for a reason” Evie looked at him, “You make me and pup better”

     “Well the other players suck,” Jay snorted, “All afraid of getting a little bloody or banged up. I’ve had bigger bruises than the ones they leave on me. You and Pup, well you're mine. It’s my job to look after you, keep you safe and happy and all that stuff. Got me up in the morning before-” he stopped himself shaking his head, “Doesn’t matter, point is I look after mine. Aside from the whole dating thing, no one should ever try and let me help with that. Ever.”

     “You helped Carlos with that,” Evie pointed out.

     “Before what?” Sadira asked, “I promise it won't leave this room.”

     “I don’t want to talk about it,” Jay said firmly no one knew, well Iago knew, he saw what happened when Jay slept in, but no one, not even his knew.

     Genie settled a hand on Sadira’s knee, “Jay this is important. All of it. I’m sure Evie knows since she’s been with you for so long.”

     He looked away, “I don’t talk about it, not with anyone. She doesn’t know.”

     Iago puffed up his feathers, “That is it, Kid I love you. I do, I love you like you're my own. But you have been silent about it for too damn long.” Jay didn’t reply, he just fixed his gaze on the floor and set his jaw in that stubborn ignore it way he did. “Jafar would kick him awake if he slept in, then drag him into the kitchen by his hair. Tell him to make breakfast and then he’d throw Jay out the door and tell him to be useful for once.”

     Evie looked at the table, she had seen the bruises, she’s made her assumptions. Turns out most of them were right.

     “That man,” Sadira hissed, “Blue?”

     Evie looked up at her, raising an eyebrow.

     Genie frowned his blue going darker, the council had left an innocent child in the hands of Jafar, and that bastard had abused him, “Did something similar happen to you Evie? Because I have a feeling that is just the tip of the iceberg of things we are going to glean from this conversation.”

     “How is this going to help exactly?” Evie asked squeezing Jay’s hand in hers.

     “Magic reacts to trauma, what kind of trauma causes magic to react differently,” Genie explained.

     Jay squeezed her hand back, “I didn’t want you to worry. Bad enough you had to patch up my back the first time.”

     “I had an idea,” she nodded to Jay, “... my mother used to correct blemishes... fat anything that would be considered unattractive” she sighed, they did not need to know about the pleasure lessons.

     Genie closed his eyes, “And he makes you feel attractive, like she makes you feel useful.”

     “Your beautiful, what could she possibly find unattractive?” Sadira looked at her with wide eyes.

     “Whatever she wants, she used acid to erase any blemish or mark,” she looked at the covered window.

     “Acid... she burned you,” Sadira blinked, this was... they were worse off then any street kid she’d ever seen. What parents did that to their child.

     “Burned, cut, starved,” Iago pipped in, “Lets not forget the men she let have their way with Blueberry.”

     “Iago kindly button your beak,” Evie hissed at him with venom, she hadn’t felt the need to explain to Jay about the men. He knew in a vague sense, he didn’t need to know the full details.

     “Not a chance, this is to help you two. I don’t like telling the blue idiot about you two, but magic shouldn’t be played with,” Iago squawked at the two kids, these were his kids and they were hurting even if they weren’t willing to admit it.

     "She did what?" Jay growled and was promptly bitten by Iago.

     "No you don't get to be angry for her. You put yourself through worse for him. She didn't have a choice," Iago snapped.

     “That would explain your magic responding to sex blue,” Sadira rubbed her brow.

     Genie took a slow breath, "You said worse?"

     Iago nodded, "Yes you blue baffon. I consider being constantly beaten, whipped, and verbally berated bad. Worse when he kept enduring it every time he couldn't pay 'rent'," he seethed as Jay paled.

     “This helps us understand how to help your magic.” Sadira said looking between the two.

     “How does knowing that my mother paid or was paid by men of higher class to fuck me help?” Evie asked.

     "Because it makes us understand why your magic is tangled." Genie said carefully. He took another deep breath, "I hate to say this, in this way, but it is very not safe to keep your magics tangled up with this kind of trauma."

     Jay clamped down on the building heat in his chest, it happened. It wasn't happening ever again, Evil Queen or not. Anyone touched his Princess without his permission he was going to kill them.

     “Jay you need to calm down. Can you feel that you're flooding the room?” Sadira asked him swallowing, she eyes flickered over to Evie who she could see the blue magic starting to spark.

     Jay closed his eyes, "I am-"

     "You are not calm," Genie stated, "I don't blame you. I would be angry to hear about what happened to someone I did my best to keep safe. But your anger is affecting the person you are trying to protect. Step back from it, breathe and step back from it."

     "I don't know how, I'm trying to turn it off," Jay hated how inept he sounded about magic.

     “Alright, it's alright. Why don’t we head out to the oasis again. You can let it go and not worry,” Sadira asked. 

     Genie frown at that, "Again? When was the last time this happened?" He pushed himself to his feet coffee table vanishing.

     “Almost a week ago,” Sadira said, “Carpet we need a ride.”

     Genie crouched down and took their hands apart, keeping a hand on each of them, "Evie, can you do something for me. I want to see something before we go whisking off to the Oasis." He focused his attention on her, "Can you do what you normally would to calm Jay down?"

     “I’m not sure they will work with an audience but, I can try” she chewed her lip as she reached out to lightly trail her fingers over Jay’s vest to the small patch of skin that was exposed. She leaned into him, “Do you want to see one of my little side projects? I finished it last night, put it on special just for you this morning?” she muttered in his ear.

     Jay turned and looked at her as Genie rocked back, "When we're done this, I would like that," he felt the anger easing off the urge to kiss her growing.

     Genie nodded letting the two go settling back next to Sadira, "I see."

     “Good cause I was thinking of making princy and pup something like it if you liked it” she leaned into his side.

     "Then I can't wait till this is over," he gave her a half smile wrapping their arms back together. The heat slowly simmered out to a quiet heat.

     “Neither can I” she nodded putting her head on his shoulder as her eyes flashed blue the shirt under his vest vanishing.

     Iago looked his two kids before sighing, he could practically feel himself molting with worry. The look on the two bumbling morons faces wasn’t a good sign, he flapped over landing on Sadira’s shoulder, “Alright you blue moron give it to me straight, can you help my kids?”

     "Yes, but it will take time. We have to separate their magic. There is no other option, what Jafar put him through with as powerful as he is. Having lost control not even a week ago, he should still be out of juice," Genie said softly before looking at Sadira, "Put them in the Dream Sand. It will help them relax while we work. I will figure out Jay's anchor problem. How does he feel about jewelry? His mother wore earrings to help her power."

     Iago nodded, "Earrings are fine. No rings and no staff."

     “I can put them under the dream sand, I’m not sure how ok they are going to be with that though,” Sadira nodded.

     Jay gave Evie a smoldering look, "Simmer down Princess, soon alright," he refocused his attention on them, "What's Dream Sand?"

     “It's one of my specialties nowadays, it's a little sand to help people sleep. But with you two it will be something a little more, it will put you into a dream world so you can’t feel as genie untangles your magic. It will also help you face the root of your control problems.” Sadira explained.

     Jay felt the blood drain from his face, "And what's the other option."

     "You stay awake through the process and it will be painful. Less for Evie, more for you," Genie leveled, "Your power is anchored in her, taking your magic and uprooting it to re-anchor in a healthier place will be torture for you. But you won't have to face the root of your control problems."

     “Jay,” Evie looked at him, “I don't want you in pain for this.” 

     “I’ll be in the dream sand with you, I can break the connection if its really needed. But it will be a dream, it won't be able to hurt you,” Sadira watched him.

     "He's going into the Dream Sand. I have watched you be tortured enough, I won't let you chose it this time," Iago squawked.

     "Okay..." Jay breathed, he didn't fancy being tortured. Not in the slightest, but he also didn't want to face whatever the issue was either.

     “It will be ok,” Evie nodded, she wasn’t sure she wanted to face whatever it was either but for Jay she’d do it.

     Genie nodded, "Sadira." 

     Sadira nodded rolling her hands around themselves pulling sand into them, it glittered as she spun it, “You two should lay back, this is going to hit you instantly”

     Evie nodded her lips thinning as she laid back on the pillows.

     Jay leaned back closing his eyes, he could do this. He had to do this. If this was the only way he would stop hurting his Princess he would do it. He would live through any and everything for her, for any of his. Shoving the magic and the panic to the back of his mind he dragged up the stolen tenderness he had taken from their lips and crushed it to his chest desperate to hold onto it as long as possible.

     Sadira nodded to Genie as she sent the sand out watching fall over the two before she kneeled and threw the excess around her in a circle.

     Genie sighed softly, "Good luck Sadira. I'll start with Evie. Anchor her to this necklace here," he gestured to the crowned heart.

     "No anchor her to the ruby and silver ring. She never takes that one off," Iago corrected perching on the back of the couch.

     Nodding Genie reached into her feeling out the twisted mangled magic. It was like small little roots latched on the thick band of Jay's power. He wasn't wrong she was easy to detach, if not stubborn to let go. She could grow up his magic vine her way up him and out, but she latched to the ring just as quick. Digging deeper he found the problem, the reason why it took her coming here for it to bloom. Jay's magic had rooted itself to the base of hers. Growing around it protecting as much as suffocating.

     Sadira looked around the dark room, trying to spot Evie, this didn’t seem right. She turned in a circle before she heard the wimpers of pain. She blinked as a spot light snapped on, Evie was standing there curled into herself naked, Sadira’s breath caught in her throat as she saw the imposing figure standing over the girl. The way the girl’s mother scowled and roughly moved her about.

     “Please, this isn’t... you're not here. Stop” Evie screamed as she was pushed against the wall.

     “But my daughter, I am always here. You just choose not to listen, you let that filthy boy of Jafar's touch you, lord knows what he’s infected you with,” the Queen sneered, “But perhaps I expected too much from you, after all one that is only second best in beauty can hardly be expected to know they are ugly.”

     “Don’t listen to her Blue” Sadira snarled trying to get closer.

     “I... I’m not ugly... mother please, I’m your princess,” Evie cried feeling something building up inside her.

     “A princess does not argue with their queen. If I say you are an ugly, fat, pleasure chasing slut then that is what you are. After all, all you had to do was intice that Charming brat between your legs but you couldn’t even do that. Too smart, for him to fuck, I warned you about such things, ” the gold talons digging into the sides of Evie’s face.

     “No that’s not...” Evie shook her head her eyes closing, “He wasn’t good enough for me” she repeated what Jay and Mal had told her.

     “That’s right Blue, tell her she’d wrong. She can’t hurt you here,” Sadira urged as she watched the magic started to swirl around the princess’ hand, “Push her away, you can do this”

     Evie blinked her eyes open and glanced over at her hand, at the sparkle of the ring... Sadira came into focus standing there.

     “This isn’t real... you’re just in my head” Evie breathed looking back at her mother, “let go” she snapped her eyes glowing blue, “I'm strong, I’m magic just like you. I’ll get my prince my own way” her fingers wrapped around her mother's wrist watching as she aged and withered away. Evie fell to her knees panting.

     “Its ok Blue, I’ve got you. Time to come out a little bit, I can’t wake you all the way but maybe somewhere nicer” Sadira wrapped her arms around the princess, she looked around as the palace garden formed around them in a shimmer of blue, “much nicer, just relax... dream” Sadira pulled away, she needed to get to Jay.

     Jay's magic was difficult, stubborn and near unwilling to budge. It took Genie's own magic to force it out of the base of Evie's. When she was finally released it raced out, rushing through her into the ring. He sighed extra hand still firmly locked around Jay's magic root as it squirmed defiantly in his grasp desperate to return to its place in Evie. He looked at it and nodded, definitely not a golden anchor, no something stronger, something near unbreakable, with the fire in him, obsidian. He snapped his fingers and pressed the black hoop into the root. Once it locked on he set it on the kids leg. He was praying this was the only anchor he had, but given the fact he wasn't close to tapped out Genie doubted it would be.

     Digging into Jay's magic nearly broke his heart, it was scarred and battered, chained down and contained. A monstrosity mangled and yet still fighting, two more thick strands lead out of the boy, two more anchors. To need two more anchors showed the level of damage he had gone through. Genie whispered a piece of himself down the closest anchor tracing it back to Carlos DeVil. Jay was similarly rooted, twisted around the boy's body instead. This one came loose easier, without a firm grip on a magic source Jay hadn't been able to affix himself to the boy properly. So Genie dragged the unruly anchor piece back like a bad child. Shoving another obsidian hoop into its grasp he set the new anchor in his lap. The last was thinner, weaker, struggling to hold on without the constant feed of the other two. A gentle tug and it snapped in his hand, Jay let out a soft whimper at the sensation wrapping weakly around a third anchor. Genie kept it separate from the other two, it was going to take time to heal. Anchors reset he reached into the monstrosity, now to undo all the chains.

     Jay looked around the house. His father's house. He was standing in the living room by the fireplace in front of Iago's cage, his eyes on the hook behind the door the stains from his blood splattered in the area.

     Jafar stepped into view from the shop. The man moved towards him with that smile, that smile of superiority, "There you are boy."

     "Baba..." Jay felt his throat tighten as a hand settled on his shoulder, glittering with gold and sapphire rings.

     "Don't speak boy, you were never any good at it. Terrible liar, couldn't spin a tale to save your miserable life. So illiterate, pity I thought you would be worth more than that Street Rat Aladdin. You're not even worth his time. Who would ever want such a stupid soiled child? And now you want to learn magic? You who can't even read? Please, don't make me laugh you worthless whore." Jafar snickered as Jay looked away cringing, "Oh are you going to cry now? Oh I will give you something to cry about."

     Sadira looked around the junk shop, trying to find Jay. She moved through the house until she sported them, the sight of Jafar made a shiver go up her spine, “He’s not real Jay, he can’t get you here” 

     Jafar hit him and Jay stumbled back cheek bleeding from the cuts the jewels had made, "I stopped crying over punishments Baba. I deserved them. I didn't do anything this time."

     “You don’t deserve anything he did to you” Sadria shook her head looking at the boy.

     "Oh growing a spine are we pretty boy?" His lips curled up in a cruel grin as he moved in on Jay, "That is so adorable. But what makes you think you are anything more than second rate brat?"

     "Because I give a shit. I am stronger than you. I may not be smart, or cunning or cruel like you, but I do whatever I have to," Jay's hand curled into fists eyes burning, he could fight he would fight he didn't do anything wrong this time.

     "Yes you do don't you," he sneered, "So eager to appease. On your knees or on your back, it's a wonder I didn't just sell you myself." His fingers curled around Jay's jaw, "But I taught you obedience boy, and I'm going to rather enjoy putting you back in your place."

     Jay felt the fire in his chest go out as his father drew his head up with ease. He was going to cave, he could feel his knees going weak, his mouth dry. His father's face inches from his and that old sick want reared its ugly head heating his face. 

     And his Baba grinned knowingly, ropes lashing his wrists together as his vest simply disappeared. Jay squeezed his eyes shut, why wasn't he fighting? Why wasn't he moving? He felt his arms loop over the hook. Fight Jay why aren't you fighting back? You don't deserve this. 

     “Jay, you can stop him. He’s not here, you can make his stop,” Sadira said moving closer, she wasn’t going to let him go through this alone. Genie just needed to put the anchors in then she could pull him out.

     He could feel her, but he couldn't see her, "Sadira? I can feel you, but I can't, I can't fight him, I've tried. And I can't. I can't win," he pulled at the hook yanked on it twisting his wrists ignoring the painful bite of the ropes, "I need..." how was he going to explain that he needed a reason to fight.

     “Jay, I watched Evie turn that old hag of a mother into a pile of dust. She’s waiting for you in the garden,” Sadira urged, “Don’t leave her waiting Jay.”

     Evie was safe. Evie was safe and waiting. Jay felt something inside him snap and he whined knees giving out. What the hell was that?

     "Pathetic," Jafar sneered whip whistling through the air.

     Power ripped through his hands, the ropes burning away. Sadira was going to get hurt if he didn't get her out of the way. He turned grabbing at the feel of her, not caring at what he grabbed as he turned them. Whip cracking against his shoulder as Jay didn't make a sound at the heat and pain of it. Protect Sadira. A weight was being dragged off his chest, and he felt power unfurling under his skin coiling down his arms. Protect Sadira, Evie was waiting. Fight. He was going to burn it to cinders, every last inch of this house. It wasn't real, Lagan and Derelict weren't here. He could destroy it all and keep them safe.

     Sadira gasped as Jay grabbed her, she could feel the heat of his power, “Its ok Jay, let it go. You can make this all disappear.”

     Jay looked at her as she appeared in his arms, body crushed to his as he smirked, "There you are gorgeous. Just hold on a second Baba's payment is due, and he's a right bastard if I'm late," he tipped his head kissing her cheek before stepping away and facing Jafar before he could lose his nerve and think. "I am not yours. I will never be yours. I won't give you anything else, but I will take from you like you made me take from them."

     Jafar stepped back or tried to as Jay cracked his fist right into the man's smug face. Fire licked up and around the image. Jay stood there watching oddly calm and smiling as it twisted away burning. It was about damn time he shut up.

     “That's it, you did it. Now, let's go somewhere better. Evie’s in the garden” Sadira moved to him, all that power and he wasn’t even winded.

     Jay blinked shaking back the red mad haze that was trying to set in and he turned. He looked at her and gave a slight smile, "Anywhere but here would be wicked." 

     Genie sighed plunking down. The chains had refused to budge until the anchors were physically in place in his ears. Which would take some soothing later, but once they were in, the chains had been all too happy to shatter. The mangled thing under it freed, it instantly shot towards the anchors until they glowed, even the shattered anchor piece. Everything now was up to Sadira.

     “Ok, come with me then” Sadira urged him as she waved her hands the sand shifting around them.

     Jay nodded following after her, when he looked down at his trembling hands there was no damage. His vest was back, and after a quick check his cheek wasn't bleeding. He wasn't hurt. He snorted shortly, it had just been all in his head. He looked around the palace gardens and spotted Evie.

     Evie looked up from her place sitting at the fountain her fingers in the water, “Jay” she smiled at him.

     “I’m going to leave you two here to wake up on your own” Sadira gave a small smile as she dissolved into sand.

     Jay knelt in front of her, "You okay?" His hands were instantly on her outer thighs, he had to make sure she was real.

     “I think so, I don’t want to ever do this again though” Evie put a hand on his cheek.

     "That makes two of us," he took a deep breath it was just the two of them and he needed to say it to her of all people, "I'm sorry I put you through this. I never wanted to hurt you, magic or not, or whatever it is I did without knowing. I needed you, Pup and now Princy, still need you. But I never want to hurt you because of my magic. I would never forgive myself if it hurt you, because I give a damn about you..." he didn't even know if those were the right words to tell her she was a part of the world he had built for himself to survive his father.

     “Its ok, we needed help. I just wasn’t... that room, I never want to see it again” she shook her head, “And you’ll never let me go back.”

     "I'm going to kill your mother if she touches you. Anti-death barrier or not," Jay growled, "You are my Princess not hers." He leaned in kissing her lips softly hand glossing up her leg to her hip, "I gave you a real life by blood Prince anyway," he purred against her lips.

     “And he is gorgeous but he’s nothing on my masterpiece” she purred back before taking another kiss from him.

Chapter 125: New Normal (Agrabah: June)

Notes:

Warning:
-NSFW
-Uncontrolled magic use
-Slight non-con

      Sadira blinked open her eyes and with a wave of her hand broke her sand circle, “How did it go?” she asked Genie.

      "It was rough. Evie is going to feel very different when she wakes up. Jay's anchor was choking her power. But it anchored pretty easy to the ring. Our problem child had three anchors. Unfortunately one of them snapped before I could figure out where it went to detach it properly. They've been reattached, and the chains he had around the mangled mess Jafar made of his son's magic have been pulled off. How did it go on your end?"

      “I learned more about their parents and how they grew up. They should never have been able to keep the kids” Sadira shook her head standing, “Living on the streets here would have been better”

      Genie looked at her, "That is what I was afraid of. Can you handle it from here? I need to speak with Sultana. We need to stop fooling around fighting battles about magic restrictions and start fighting to get the rest of the kids off the Isle as soon as possible."

      “I have them, you can go do what needs doing. Maybe it's time they were reminded that magic put most of them where they are,” she said softly, thinking of the Charmings, of those that had been cursed along with the beast.

      "That is what I am hoping we can accomplish," Genie nodded before snapping his fingers, the room returning to normal sans one couch of sleeping teenagers.

       Sadira watched him go as she formed a chair out of sand and leaned back, “He’s going to be a lot stronger now,” she looked at Iago.

      "I know. The earrings were glowing when the blue idiot finally backed up. But he's a tough kid, he can handle it. Blueberry will be stronger too." Iago ruffled his feathers as Jay shifted in his sleep.

      “They are going to have to practice all summer, even then I’m not sure I’m comfortable with them going back to Auradon, ” she sighed, “But they are wards of the kingdom unless it is decided otherwise.”

      "Then help them find somewhere to live here. They just got access to their parents funds. Prince Aziz offered them a home here, Jasmine wants the kids here. Puppy Dog and Blueberry want to stay. My kid is the hold up."

      “And how do I convince him?” Sadira asked, “When I was his age I didn’t want to listen to anyone” her eyes went to Evie as the girl started to stir.

      "Give him a reason to stay. He is stubborn but he will go to the ends of the earth and back if he gives a shit about something," Iago offered as Jay made a noise of pain hands reaching for his ears, "Que panic in 3, 2, 1..."

      Jay shot awake as his fingers brushed something in his earlobes that ached with pain.

      “Jay deep breath,” Sadira stood moving to the teens side.

      "What the fuck did he do to me?" Jay groaned, he felt off, lighter but dizzy like he had lost a lot of blood. He slowly pushed himself to sitting, not trusting that he wouldn't  pass out if he stood up.

      Iago shuffled around and settled on the arm rest, "Helped you. Gave you some new earrings. Not a bad look on you either."

      “You do look sexy with a little bit of shiny,” Evie said softly, she felt like she’d fallen off a roof.

      "I'll take your word for it, they kinda hurt right now," Jay reached over helping her sit up, he could feel her magic under her skin like he had felt Sadira's. It made one of his new piercings throb and he caught himself before he yanked her into him.

      “You’ll need to get a care kit for those.” Sadira knelt before them, “They do look good. They should heal pretty fast, and I’m sure Adir would be happy to show you how to clean them”

      "A what?" Jay shook his head, "Right Mainlander. I'm good, I'll just do what I did for my nipples. Can't be any different," he shrugged as Iago covered his face with his wing.

      “I’ll help him, I took care of my ears when I was little,” Evie said as she stretched out her arms magic rolling over her finger tips.

      "Look at that Princess," Jay gestured to the magic, "And I don't think I'm doing anything this time. Doesn't feel like it at least."

      “No... this is different,” she looked at her fingers bring them closer to look at them. Her eyes being drawn to the new glimmer of her ring, she can’t remember it ever looking like that.

      "That is all you this time." Iago offered, "I had him anchor your power to the ring my kid gave you."

      “Its... I can still feel it but its not as violent” Evie explained.

      “It's going to feel different almost out of control for a little while. But it's completely in your control. We are going to work on it all summer,” Sadira smiled at them.

      Jay snorted, "I don't think it can feel any more, lighter, for me. At least it can't be any less manageable than before."

      “Well we let your magic loose so it's going feel lighter,” Sadira nodded, “Jay I was thinking we could go through the market next week and see how it goes.”

      Jay frowned slightly, "But it... it lashes out if I don't keep a hold of it." He wasn't good at explaining it, but it was very dangerous if it was loose, wasn't it?

      “It's going to act different now. Before it was acting like everything was a threat, because it was responding to not only you but to Blue,” she tried to explain.

      "And to your other two anchors. That's why you have three new earrings, you had your magic split apart." Iago added.

      "And that's a bad thing?" Jay knew about djinns, he knew next to nothing about magic.

      “It's not healthy, it can create a conflict in you” Sadira shrugged, “its happens at times, but generally with older more experienced users. They do it on purpose to keep track of things or people like their children”

      "Oh..." Jay felt a little stupid thinking that had been normal.

      “Not very many people do it anymore. Like I said it’s not healthy for them or the person they attach to” Sadira put a hand on his knee.

       Jay flinched at the contact but didn't move feeling her power against him, "I don't think I understand what that means. I know the basics, have to eat, drink water and sleep." He glanced at Evie, "I think healthy for us isn't the same thing for you..."

       “That's ok, it's different for everyone... sort of. But there are things that are just bad for everyone,” she shrugged standing, “Now do you two want to try out some magic?”

       Jay nodded slowly getting to his feet, swaying like he was drunk and off balance, his hearing muffled and he breathed through it. His senses would sort themselves out, they always did. He just had to wait and adjust.

       “You ok?” Evie asked standing next to him.

       “We don’t have to practice today if you two want to do something else” Sadira’s eyes flickered between them waiting for a response.

       "I think so?" Jay didn't know how to explain it, "We can practice a little. Might speed up our getting used to however we are now." Then he was going to go find a wall to go take his Princess on because the longer she stayed close to him the more he wanted to have her like he had her in that dream world, assuring both of them they were okay.

      “Alright then show me what you got” she stepped back.

      Evie tilted her head trying to think of what she should try and do, her magic hadn’t been very cooperative last time. Her eyes flickered to Iago before she flicked her fingers at him moving him from his perch to Jay’s shoulder.

      Iago squawked at the move, wings smacking Jay in the face. 

      Jay made a face, "Watch it," he grunted. He gave Sadira a look over and took her earrings or attempted to at least.

      “You alright featherbrain,” Sadira chuckled as one of her earrings vanished, “Why don't you try something a little different.” 

      "Fine, not used to being winged around," Iago huffed.

      Jay sighed handing the earring back, "All I got is stealing or stripping Princess. Pretty sure you don't want me doing that last one."

      “If you could not do that around me that would be good,” she nodded, “Try something else anything you want.”

      Jay was at a loss. He wasn't used to wanting to use his magic. He remembered the dream world he forced Sadria to see, maybe he could show her the part he liked about the house, show her his boys, the eels he had raised. She used sand, the sand was still on the floor, he could maybe use that? He closed his eyes and pictured them, Lagan and Derelict curling around his arms as he leaned down into the tank to pet them and make sure they were okay. Maybe if he could figure out a way of getting them here he could enchant them, no he wasn't smart enough for that. Maybe Princess could do it for him. She was much smarter than he was.

      Iago watched the sand shift as ribbons of red gold magic poured out of Jay's hands twisting into two separate shapes, what in the world was his kid doing. The longer he kept at it the more obvious what they were, the near 8 foot long twin eels Jay had a bit smaller here as they were roughly Jay's current height about 6, 6 and a half foot in length each.

      “Very good, do they have names?” Sadira asked studying the eels, they were shaky but he wasn’t used to doing this type of magic.

      "Lagan and Derelict. These are my boys, I raised them since they were about the size of my hand long." The 'eels' lifted up at their names as Jay tried to make them hold their shape.

      Iago looked at them, "As of January they were pushing about 8 foot long."

      Jay frowned, "But I didn't make the tank big enough for that... is Baba feeding them?"

      "He is using it as his vault. And your stabby gal pal feeds them every two weeks. Cat boy and Pin unknowingly keep him occupied while she slips in."

      “At least they are being taken care of,” Evie smiled softly.

      “Maybe we can find a way to bring them over,” Sadira nodded, “This is very good work.”

      Jay closed his hands letting their images go, "But how does she even know about them? I never... I mean it's her but I didn't think she kept that kind of eye on everything," he nodded to Sadira, "Yeah maybe. They need a bigger tank if they're almost 8 foot long a piece. And they'll bite anyone who tries to move them that isn't me."

      “Territorial,” Sadira nodded as she waved a hand clearing the sand away, “They are important to you I’m sure we can figure something out” 

      "I guess?" Jay shrugged, "I don't know, it was always just me and Baba at the house. And they don't like Baba. Me I can climb into the tank and they don't much care."

      “I would love a picture of that” Evie teased, “My masterpiece all wet and happy.”

      Jay gave her a half smile, "Well we figure out how to get them out of the Isle without killing my boys in the process, not a problem. I will need to make them a bigger tank any way. And then figure out what to feed them since I don't think I can get their usual fare on the Mainland."

      “All little things that can be worked out,” Sadira assured him, glad to see a spark in him after what she’d seen in the dream, “You two are free for now. Why don’t we meet here again the day after tomorrow?”

      "Sure Sadira," Jay nodded giving her a smirking look, "Come on Princess." He curled his arm around Evie's hips and crushed her to his side as his front left piercing ached.

      “Yes my masterpiece” Evie giggled a little letting him pull her off.

      Sadira shook her head watching them go.

      Jay made it about as far as around the corner before he submitted to the pull, crushing their mouths together, hungry for the old comforts. Seeing his father, going through it with an audience made him feel things he didn’t like. Knowing that he would have stayed and let himself be hurt for no reason if Sadira hadn’t been in the way, stung in a way no physical pain could. Why couldn’t he fight back? Why wouldn’t he fight? He shoved the questions back and focused on Evie, focused his whole self on her. He would worry about himself when they were sated in the physical.

      Iago rolled his eyes and flapped off towards Carlos and Aziz, he would let them know the two were done with Sadira for the day.

      “Need something,” Evie teased with a smirk before she sucked on his lower lip.

      “Maybe just a little something,” he purred grinding their hips together, “Since my Wicked Princess banished my shirt and told me she made a side project for me she wants my opinion on.”

      “Well you didn’t really think all that leather was for you did you?” she teased putting a leg over his hip.

      He pushed her back into the wall hand sliding up her thigh, “I was hoping not, but with you I can never be sure. After all you like making me dress-up.” his lips hovered over hers, his earring aching and throbbing like it was trying to keep his attention.

      “Then I would undo my top,” she licked her lips.

      “Right here where everyone can see?” he teased free hand deftly undoing her top as he kept her weight pinned with his hips.

      “Well I am very adventurous,” she smirked as he revealed the yellow and red leather corset she’d made the night before.

      Jay’s brain took a moment to pause, as he let out a low and utterly too pleased moan, “I think I need to take you back to our room immediately,” he buttoned her shirt hastily back together, “Carpet you around?”

      Carpet rapped on the window beside them and waved.

      Jay squeezed Evie’s ass before stepping back readjusting before he tossed the window open and crawled out reaching out to her, “Princess.” he gave her a half smile oozing all the sex appeal he had on the Isle.

      “Like it do you?” she smirked let him manhandle her.

      As he pulled her onto Carpet not bothering to close the window he kissed her, “I’m going to show you how much my Wicked Princess,” he gave her another kiss, “Carpet our room if you could.”

      Carpet clasped his tassels together thinking they were so cute together before taking off hovering beside the balcony.

      “I could get use to this” Evie kissed along his jaw as they moved towards their room the wind blowing her hair around.

      When Carpet stopped Jay got off and reached back pulling Evie into him, holding tight to her hips as her legs fell around his. He was going to make good on his words.

      “Shall we enjoy the fluffy bed or did you want something else,” she tilted her head back.

      “How about we start on the bed?” He purred laying her down on it, eyes flashing, all but the corset and her panties vanishing and reappearing across the room. He eased back taking in the uninterrupted view of her bare breasts framed by his colors, the leather curved over her thin frame flared at the hips hanging over her royal blue panties, “I approve,” he groaned hands reverently touching her careful not to grab too hard.

      “So you can help me make something for the boys for play time,” she raised her hands over her head.

      Jay stretched out over her as he settled between her thighs lips trailing over her jawline, “I can certainly try to help, you’re the creative brains here. I just look good and punch annoying Princes,” he reached down opening his vest, “Got something specific in mind?”

      “I was thinking a collar for princy, and give Pup is own corset,” she tilted her head with a moan.

      “Any chance we can toss in a set of cuffs for our Princy?” Jay grinned was he kissed down her neck and to her bare chest, “Pup I would be interested to see in a corset, not used to seeing them on guys. But he could roll with it,” he licked her breast watching her nipples harden before he began one of his favorite routines to rile her up, play with them till she squirmed.

      “He’d be gorgeous, and we could tie Princy up,” she smirked closing her eyes in pleasure.

      He lifted his head up slowly, “Kind of my thought Princess, tie our Princy up and have some Isle fun with him. I think he’d be into it, he rolls over so quick in the bedroom.” He could feel warm coils of heat unfurling down his neck mainly from the left and down to his lips as he returned to his work mind working over all the things he and she could do to their Pup and Princy. An image of Aziz kneeling before his Princess as she kept his face buried between her thighs came to mind and he groaned into her skin. 

      “Oh so much fun to be had” she shifted her legs pulling him closer, “Now less clothes.” her eyes flashed as his pants vanished.

      Jay looked up at her and smirked, “Want to play that game? Let’s see what this fixed magic can do,” his eyes flashed pulling her up the bed so he could climb up onto the ridiculously fluffy bed, “Alright, that’s a thing I can get used to,” he licked his lips as he pulled her panties off her, “Complaints about me fucking you with that corset still on?”

      “None at all,” she smirked her wicked smirk at him.

      “Good,” he didn’t waste time on playing with her, it was an odd feeling, like he needed to be in her. He eased into her, catching one of her legs and pulled it up holding it in place over his shoulder as he sunk in deeper. Best thing he ever did was steal that book. He was going to make it a mini mission to try every one of those positions with his.

      “That feels...” she shifted he always knew just how to take her.

      “Good, bad, meh?” He asked rubbing her leg as he rocked slowly back and forth liking the way it felt for him. 

      “Good” she licked her lips, “We need to get you more books on sex.”

      “Oh you want me to keep trying new positions with you?” Jay asked as he leaned down making her trapped leg come down closer to her chest as he readjusted so he could pound her without restricting her movements, “Because there are a lot of them in that book.”

      “Oh I want to try every one of them,” she rolled her hips as a hand went to his hair.

      He shuddered feeling her magic fluttering across the back of his head at the roots of his hair, “You say the sweetest things Princess,” he groaned softly as their bodies fell into an easy rhythm.

      “Only for you” she bit at his neck

      Jay’s grip tightened as he exposed more of his neck to her. How often did she let him mar her near flawless skin? His hips snapped against hers, eyes fluttering shut, this, he needed this. She was his, a slice of perfection just for him when he screwed things up, there was always her. He would protect her, keep her safe, just like always. 

      “Oh evil, it feels so... different... better almost,” she breath as her magic seemed to flood around her.

      “Always for you,” he breathed hungry to appease her, to give her whatever she wanted. Her magic was against his skin, it felt so good, like all the pleasures he stole wrapped around him. The heated coils were racing down him eager for that connection, the twist of her under him, under his protection.

      “We are like two night lights,” Evie giggled looking at the colors filling the room.

      Jay blinked back the haze of her magic clogging his brain and he snorted, “Yeah but I like seeing your magic. So pretty, so shiny, so...” he trailed off the words vanishing back under the magic haze of her desires.

      “Evil if I was sure what love was I’d say I love you right about now,” Evie gasped as pleasure shot threw her.

      “Lust for me,” Jay supplied helpfully, “We know what that is,” the heat coiled down his tongue as he spoke dripping on to his Princess as her hand tangled in his hair kept him fed on her wants and needs so he could wring her out of every pleasure she had in her for him.

      “I don’t think this is going to last much longer,” Evie withered under him, “I’m so close.”

      His hand dipped between them, catching her clit, “Come undone for me Princess. Let me feel you.” his power was pulling out of hers, unfurling from the mind numbing bliss she was pushing on him. His hips reflected the change, slow and hard thrusts shifting to quick snaps as he chased her pleasures. Trying to return to his place in her so he could bear the weights she didn’t deserve to carry.

      “Evil” Evie moaned letting everything flood out of her with her release her magic wrapping around Jay to let him feel  her pleasure as she came eyes closing as her head was thrown back.

      Jay was not expecting the sudden crash of an orgasm, but his body exploded alongside her as her magic coiled around him. His eyes rolled back and his whole body felt it went weightless. Her leg slipped from its place and Jay caught himself from crushing her on instinct. He felt, way more exhausted then he figured he should be after cumming once. His head resting against her collar bone as he tried to remember which way was up. “Serpents...” he muttered under his breath.

      “I agree, that was intense. Like nothing we’ve ever felt before,” Evie panted licking her lips, “I think I need a nap before we find pup.”

      “I am way ahead of you Princess, I gotta figure out what you did to the rest of my brain,” He laughed softly pulling out of her and lay down pulling her into his side. “Princess this is going to sound weird, but I miss being tied to you. I can feel my magic still trying to get back to you, I’m sure it will get better over time though. Hope so, cause you all riled up is fucking hot.”

      “I could feel it, your magic.” Evie nodded curling up to him, “It was so intoxicating, I felt like I didn’t need anything else”

      "And yours, all I wanted was to please you, give you everything you wanted," he kissed the top of her head. "Hours Princess, you and me are going to have to be careful we don't fuck for hours."

      “Unless we want to,” she chuckled letting her eyes close all the way enjoying the feeling of his body next to hers.

      "True," he agreed letting himself drift, the bed was still too much for him, but he was exhausted and she was warm and comfortable next to him so he would just lay here and relax.

 

      Aziz peered into the room alongside Carlos. They were asleep and mostly naked. His eyes traced over the leather corset pulled tight around Evie's torso, her top leg tossed over Jay's exposing her. They had definitely had sex when they came back, Jay's chest exposed, leather vest open and nothing else. As they slipped in closing the door behind them and locking it Aziz felt a little jealous of both of them. Jay with his undeniable sex appeal and ability to make even him want something he had never wanted before. Evie with her seemingly effortless beauty and grace being able to bring Jay to his knees without any effort. The two of them together like this made him feel a little bit like an outsider, like he was intruding into their perfection.

      “Z your face is doing a thing you ok?” Carlos asked looking at the older boy. He could see something in the way he looked, he just wasn’t sure what.

      Aziz glanced at Carlos and nodded, "Yeah Carlos I'm okay," he smiled hoping it was convincing enough. Maybe it was just the way he was pushed aside when they thought they were being too Isle for him. He didn't mind, he never minded the roughness to them. It wasn't unpleasant really, he didn't take it personally until they started pushing him away. Maybe he didn't belong with them, no matter how much he wanted them.

      "I can feel you thinking from here Princy," Jay grumbled from the bed, "Get over here. You too Pup. Princess and I could use a little contact with the rest of mine." The second piercing in his left ear had woken him out of the half asleep state he was in. The front one he figured was the anchor Genie had pulled from Evie, which meant the second one was likely an anchor he had around his Pup and not the Prince who was a rather new addition to his life. The third held separate from the other two remained silent aside from the normal pain when it was jostled.

      Carlos rolled his eyes and pulled off his shirt and shorts climbing next to Evie who looked at him for a moment before closing her eyes again.

      Aziz hovered uncertain for a moment until Jay lifted his head up and red gold magic whisked all of his clothes away to the same pile as Evie's. He shook his head and eased up to Jay's side. The younger male brushed his hip, gliding up his waist and applied a gentle pressure.

      "Lay down with me," Jay stated giving the Mainland prince no room to argue.

      Aziz curled into Jay's other side resting his head on his shoulder, "You sure-" he winced as Jay pinched him.

      "Stop worrying so much. You're ours, now rest," Jay kept his tone soft but firm, the same he used on Carlos all those years ago when he claimed the kid as his. As Aziz settled down, Jay kissed the top of the older male's head before closing his eyes and returning to his half sleep, feeling the warm coils racing across his skin and circling his. He would keep them all safe.

      “This is nice,” Carlos smiled putting his head in Evie’s shoulder. He reached across to put a hand on Jay’s chest.

      Jay's eyes rolled back at the contact, the draw to pull the younger smaller boy into him pouring through him, "Pup..." he was right, Carlos was his second anchor and he had the same craving as he had with Evie. The need to shower the boy with lust and protection.

      “Hmm?” Carlos lifted his head to look at Jay. 

      Jay reached for Carlos as best as he could eyes filling with magic as he tried to pull him over Evie and reconnect with him, “My Pup.”

      “Oh wow ok that’s new,” Carlos asked as he ended up on top of Evie face level with her breasts.

      “Come here Pup,” Jay purred magic on his lips trying to coax Carlos closer. Wanting to feel the boy against him like he had been hours ago.

      “Happily,” Carlos rolled the rest of the way over to Jay landing on Aziz’s arm.

      Aziz jerked as a weight landed on his arm and he opened his eyes to see Jay half raised up kissing Carlos. There was a red gold glowing band in Jay’s ear, faint ribbons of magic unfurled from it twisting around the youngest male. Earrings he had never noticed Jay had earrings before, so they were likely from Genie, and if they were from Genie it was probably not a good thing he was having this reaction.

      “That’s tingly,” Carlos muttered against his lips, he liking this feeling.

      “My pup,” he groaned rocking his hips up into Carlos’. 

      “Oh, Jay this feels...,” Carlos tried to find the right words to describe the pleasure Jay was brought to him.

      Aziz should stop him, should stop them, but at the same time this was incredibly powerful. There was something so right about the two of them.

      Jay kissed him harder trying desperately to reconnect himself around Carlos, trying to pull all that protection around him once more. Pup was his he had to make sure he enjoyed this, that he was safe. Jay could keep him safe and wanted and lusted for. “All for you pup. Always for you.” Heat coiled down his chest twisting around the hands Carlos had planted on his lower ribs as they rocked against one another. 

      “Good cause I don’t want to ever not have you,” Carlos nodded leaning down for another kiss.

      Evie cracked an eye open at the feel of Jay’s magic coiling out.

      “Like you could ever be rid of me,” Jay canted his hips wanting to feel more of his Pup, but not wanting to disturb his other two either.

      “As long as you never leave us I’m good,” Carlos kissed along his jaw.

      “Do you two just want to fuck?” Evie asked pushing up a little to look at Jay.

      As Jay’s head tipped to the side Carlos’ lips brushed over the new earrings and Jay’s mouth opened in a silent whine as power raced out of him causing the lights to flash on above them.

      “Oh... like that?” Carlos asked rolling his hips down into Jay’s with a chuckle.

      “Serpents,” he moaned eyes fluttering shut as he jerked his hips up, “Trying not to wake Princy.”

      “I think that ship sailed,” Evie snorted glancing over at Aziz with a smirk.

      Aziz snorted ducking his head down and ever so carefully pulled the closest nipple ring into his mouth, giving it a gentle tug.

      Jay’s grip on Aziz tightened, crushing him to the side of his ribs, “Mm fuck...” his magic was encircling Aziz’s body and he felt the vibration as his Princy moaned.

      “Go Princy,” Evie laughed letting her own magic out to roll over the two newcomers.

      Aziz rolled slightly pulling up on the nipple grinding against Carlos’ leg in the process as Jay grabbed a handful of his ass.

      “You wanna fuck Pup?” Jay asked through long breaths as Aziz pulled on his piercing, “You wanna play with us too Princy? Show us how good you’ve gotten with your mouth.”

      “Evil I want to fuck,” Carlos nodded shifting to push against Aziz.

      “Princess can you get our Pup ready?” Jay requested as Aziz pulled off his nipple with a whine as he and Aziz rubbed against one another.

      “Gladly” she smirked waving her hand and the oil appearing in her hand.

      “Well Princy you game?” his hand eased up Aziz’s back cradling his head to pull him down for a kiss as Evie prepped Carlos to ride him.

      “Yeah if that’s what you want,” Aziz submitted softly against Jay’s lips.

      “What do you want?” the coils of heat were gliding up and around Princy’s throat and lips, invading him.

      “To be yours, all of yours...” Aziz whimpered at the spicy tingling feeling in his mouth before Jay kissed him hard and rough, the talented tongue pushing into his mouth shutting all of his brain function off.

      “You should do this more E,” Carlos panted pushing back onto her fingers as she twisted them around looking for that spot.

      “I’ll keep that in mind,” Evie chuckled watching Jay and Aziz over Carlos’ shoulder.

      Jay pulled back feeling his head spinning as the magic seemed to be running way out of his control, but he didn’t much care as Aziz shifted exactly where he wanted him. Presenting Jay with his cock before he dipped down swallowing Carlos’.

      “Evil Z, that... worn a guy,” Carlos whimpered as he rocked between Evie and Aziz.

      “Practice makes perfect Princy,” Evie flashed her teeth in a smile.

      “Such a wicked Princy,” Jay breathed licked the cock in front of his lips lifting his hands up the taught thighs, “Princess you want to do that to Princy when Pup is all ready?”

      “Anything for my masterpiece,” Evie smirked as she eased a fourth finger into Carlos. Her magic rolled over the boys making her blood thrum with excitement.

      “Wicked,” Jay’s mouth opened hungrily before he closed his lips around the tip hearing Aziz’s muffled moan around Carlos. 

      “Evil evil,” Carlos almost chanted as Evie pulled her fingers from him, “Go ahead Pup you’re all set,” she kissed the side of his head before moving around too Aziz. She magicked her hand clean without thought and then slicked it again before sliding a finger into Aziz.

      Jay’s eyes flashed, power pulling Carlos down onto him. He hummed around the tip as his hand slipped from Aziz’s hip and dipped between Evie’s thighs curling his fingers up into her. His fingers instantly coated in his own cum as he spread her open. 

      Aziz whimpered unsure which direction to push. Back into Evie’s finger, Jay’s mouth, or Carlos’s dick. Jay made the decision for him, warm magic pulling his shoulders down into Carlos’ rolling hips, head bobbing as the position left him fully open to Evie and Jay to do whatever they want with.

      “Jay,” Evie gasped rolling her hips down onto his fingers. She could feel the caress of his magic against her, her own responding. She quickly added 2 more fingers to Princy.

      Carlos grabbed Aziz’s head moaning at the feeling of the wet heat and being filled by Jay.

      Aziz would have winced at the sudden addition but he was too lost to them. They were everywhere, controlling his movements, taking what they wanted from him as he freely gave them himself. His knees were sliding out as Jay dragged his hips closer so he could get more of that sinful mouth around his skin. Carlos’ fingers dug into the back of his head helping keep him in place with every shallow bob of his head. Evie’s fingers inside of him was different but welcome as she added to the sensations rolling across his body. 

      Jay groaned around Princy’s cock as Evie’s magic twisted out of her filling his brain of a pleasant buzz, their magic twisting over their Princy and Pup super charging this pile they had gotten into. His hips rolling up into Carlos’ loose slick heat, his fingers matching the same pace on Evie. The earrings holding the power that had once been inside of them hummed and pulsed feeding his hunger for them, his need to them.

      “So... good,” Carlos moaned as he pushed down on Jay. His fingers tightened on Aziz’s head as he looked at Evie, this was what they had always wanted, to be wanted.

      Aziz’s mouth was falling open and loose around Carlos as he took deep breaths, trying to outlast the torrent of pleasure he was under. Not to mention the feel of the magic roaming all over his skin. This is what he had wanted, he just wanted them to see him as more than their Mainland Prince. He could take what they dished out, he could handle whatever they wanted from him. Mostly at least as he felt the back of Jay’s throat tighten around his head, and he would have blown had those damn fingers denied him again. The younger male backed off some letting him cool down marginally before he returned to his mind numbing work.

      Evie drew her fingers almost out before shoving them back in curling them as she searched for the elusive spot. She hissed in pleasure as she felt Jay’s thumb over her clit.

      Aziz pushed back with a grunting hum as Evie brushed over that bundle of nerves that whitened his vision at the edges. He closed his mouth back around Carlos letting the youngest male take over and fuck his mouth as he saw fit.

      Carlos shifted his hips and angle throwing his head back as he felt what could only be both their magics urging him on to completion, “I’m gonna cum” he panted out pulling his fingers from Aziz’s hair.

      Aziz tried to pull away but Jay's magic kept him down, urged him to finish Carlos off. So with that curling around the back of his head he swallowed hard around the youngest.

      Jay snapped his hips up and into Carlos, intent on driving him over the edge. If Princy wanted to be theirs he wouldn't let him pass up the chance to be claimed inside and out by all of them. He wanted to play with the Isle Kids Jay would treat him like one. On the other side he was hungrily swallowing around his Princy hand locked around the base of his balls denying him the release he wanted. Four fingers deep in his princess thumb positioned so she could grind against it. 

      Carlos exploded with a yell, a ripple running threw Evie’s magic making her eyes flash at the second hand pleasure, as well as the first hand.

      Aziz choked slightly at the flood of cum but swallowed it down. Magic releasing him so he could pull back coughing. As the coughing fit subsided he whined hands gripping Carlos' thighs as he arched. "Jay please..."

      Jay slowed the roll of his hips barely able to stop himself from releasing. Pushing up on Aziz's hips he hummed softly as the cock slipped past his lips with a sinful pop, "Our Princy want to come?"

      "Yes, Jay please," Aziz moaned as Evie rubbed that place again.

      "You in the mood to be filled with your other Prince, Princess?" Jay asked knowing by feel alone their Pup was spent for the moment, the earring a soft contented hum.

      “Evil yes” she smirk pulling her fingers out slowly from Princy.

      Carlos flopped backwards on the bed, that was so... something he could get used to this feeling.

      He shuddered at the loss of her fingers as he was moved off of Jay the three of them adjusting around Carlos, Evie on the bottom as Jay gave her a smirk.

      Evie stretched out looking at Princy with a smirk of her own, “Come my sweet prince let's have some fun.”

      Aziz let Jay move his limbs into position crouching over Evie, "Let me-"

      "Don't worry Princy," Jay muttered against his neck, "You can't knock her up if you tried. Go on." He coaxed. 

      “I took my potion earlier today,” she assured him being a hand to cheek.

      “Potion?” Aziz asked as Jay guided him into her, “Jay I-”

      “You’ll do as your told Princy,” Jay replied softly lips ghosting over Princy’s ear as he settled into him, “You want to play with the Isle kids like you’re one of us, you toss that Mainland shit out the window and you fuck our Princess like its the last thing you’ll ever do.” he could feel the thrum of her under them as his hips slowly rocked into the older male who whimpered at the sensation.

      “It’s alright, Princy. Promise, nothing bad is going to happen, just a lot of fun,” Evie breathed wrapping a leg around him. She rolled her hips up into his, giving him a little pout.

      Aziz’s eyes fluttered shut as Jay filled him and Evie surrounded him, “Fun I can handle,” He panted magic guiding his hips into an easy rhythm, “Just don't want to get you pregnant,” he moaned bending down over her kissing her lips softly as Jay rutted into him.

      “You won’t,” she assured before biting at his lips, “Trust us on this, we’ve been doing it for a while,” her eyes glowed in pleasure.

      “I know but I-”

      “Stop being so fucking mainland Princy, “ Jay bit the side of his neck, “You did good Princess,” he hummed, “He and Carlos were perfect for me.”

      “I only aim to please my masterpiece,” Evie smirked at him, “Come on Princy a little harder, I’m not going to break.”

      “I’d kiss you if I wasn’t fucking our prince,” Jay smirked in reply forcing Aziz to slam deeper into Evie, “Go on Princy show us how you can fuck.”

      Aziz breathed hard letting them convince him to throw his care to the wind, “Whatever you want my ‘Amira .”

      Evie moaned putting her arms around Aziz’s neck fingertips just brushing against Jay’s upper arm.

      Jay panted as he moved him and Aziz taking his Princy as the male pressed open mouthed kisses against Evie’s lips and jaw as the three of them rocked hard into one another. Aziz happily letting himself be pinned between Jay and Evie. Pounding into her before pushing back onto Jay. The duel magics twisting around him making him think about nothing but them.

      “Come undone for me Princy,” Evie breathed into his ear, before she started nipping her way down his jaw.

      Aziz bit his bottom lip stifling a scream as he came on command, vision whiting out as he filled Evie. Jay relentlessly pounding into him brushing the bundle of nerves wringing him out all together.

      Evie almost yowled in pleasure as the waves rushed threw her magic, “Evil I don’t think I ever want to stop fucking.”

      “You either Princess?” Jay panted feeling his body want to keep the pleasure drawn out, keep feeding his need for them.

      “Jay please,” Aziz whimpered under the assault head resting on Evie’s collarbone, “Too much...”

      “Its ok... oh yes,” Evie moaned with her own release.

      “Almost there Princy, just a little...” Jay panted feeling the wash of Evie’s magic whisking him away as he emptied into his Princy, “Such a good prince,” he slurred collapsing over Aziz’s back.

      Evie closed her eyes enjoying the aftershocks coursing through her and her magic. Even the weight of the two boys didn’t bother her.

      Aziz forcibly pushed back, Jay slumping off to one side of them as he dropped back next to Carlos, “Good flipping sandstorms,” he groaned feeling his body melt into the mattress.

      “I know this could be so much more fun now that they have magic,” Carlos nodded curling up to his side.

      Aziz happily pulled Carlos into his side, “More like mind melting,” he snorted, “Our sex bunnies are the ones with magic, you know we are never going to keep up right Los?”

      “Z, we couldn’t keep up before,” he snorted with a smirk.

      “Totally not the point,” he yawned eyes still closed, “I do okay?” 

      “You did better then ok” he nodded closing his eyes.

      “Awesome,” Aziz nodded tipping his head down to kiss the back and white hair, “Your hair is so soft,” he muttered rubbing his face in Carlos’ hair. 

      “Yeah, your guys soap and shit here work really well,” he yawned.

      “Mean you might stay just for super soft hair? I really would like you to stay here. If not here here, like in town somewhere. When I have to be Sultan, I don’t think I can handle all the politics without you three with me. You always know how to calm me down...”

      “Z I know that I would like to stay here, but the hair ain’t the reason,” Carlos snickered, “More like what you got between your legs... and that you play knights quest with me,”

      “Let me dress you up, and make me feel pretty,” Evie added.

      Aziz smiled feeling his face flushing, “Then could you stay here in Agrabah with me after your done schooling? Let me stay close to you all?”

      “That’s up to Jay,” Carlos mused, “But I think you could probably convince him.”

      “Why is it up to Jay? Don’t you two have a choice?”

      “Cause I’m the one in charge,” Jay replied, “They can tell me what they want but I decide what we do.”

      “Exactly how he put it, he’s in charge of protecting us. Just cause we want something doesn’t mean it’s good for us,” Evie nodded.

      “Don’t stress the details Princy or I’ll have to destress you again,” Jay yawned.

      “Maybe after I make their treats this week,” Evie smirked sitting up.

      Jay hummed, “I like that plan.” he pushed himself upright before running a hand up Evie’s back feeling the earring hum in contentment, “I’m glad your feeling better Princess.”

      “So am I,” she nodded, “I’m glad that you seem to have control now.”

      “I don’t know about control, but instincts yeah. I do my best work when I ain’t thinking after all,” Jay grinned leaning into her to kiss her shoulder.

      Aziz snorted, “You do excel at just winging it.”

      “It’s a gift, he doesn’t need plans,” Carlos laughed

      “But when he has the they tend to work,” Evie finished for Carlos.

      "Kind of not really at all," Jay gave Evie a look, "I made lots of plans, you know what would happen? Shit would go sideways and I would have to wing it anyway. All it took was not being quick enough."

      "How quick do you have to be? You're like one of the most agile people I know. You caught a snake mid strike. You can move out of the way before anyone can even touch you," Aziz opened an eye to look at him in confusion.

      "Quick as a snake and twice as deadly," Jay rolled his eyes shifting some more to run a careful hand up Aziz's leg, "Not too much right?"

      "What the sex? No, we're good. Two gorgeous people magicked us into very much so enjoying ourselves. No matter how many orgasms you denied me today," his eyes narrowed playfully at Jay who snickered before giving him a soft kiss then Carlos, "Also we are positive I won't-"

      "We take potions. Mine from the Isle keeps Pup and I sterile. Princess makes and takes the one from her mom's spellbook. Keeps her same way as us, that was the baby control on the Isle. No condoms or whatever else you use over there. But with a whole slew of villains and evil witches, they figured it out," Jay explained as he settled back against the pillows pulling Evie to his chest.

      “Trust us on this none of us want to be parents right now,” Evie said, “I just brewed it a few days ago.”

      "Some of us never want to be parents," Jay nodded.

      “He means only Evie wants to have kids. I’ll keep my family crazy to myself” Carlos curled more into Aziz’s side.

      Aziz looked at the three of them, "You're still young. Maybe you'll want them later?"

      Jay shook his head, "Not here. I know Carlos won't either. We just... not our thing."

      “I don’t want to somehow pass on whatever is wrong with my mother” Carlos looked at him, it wasn’t his place to bring up that Evie had never really expressed a want one way or the other. He didn’t think she actually knew what she wanted, it was just something she was told she was expected to do. He’d ask her later when Jay and Aziz were off doing something or whatever, she’d tell him even if she wasn’t comfortable talking about it with Jay or Aziz.

      Evie looked at Carlos, he was thinking about something she just couldn’t tell what.

      Aziz rubbed Carlos' back, "I get that. Really. It's fine, some people know they don't want kids. The fact you are thinking about that says something about you. Something good. "

      “I thought all you mainlanders where all about having kids and rainbows and sunshine and shit” Carlos snorted.

      "Agrabahian remember. We kind of do our own thing here. Don't get me wrong I want kids of my own, but I have loads of time." Aziz yawned eyes fluttering shut.

      “I forget you guys are different here,” Evie laid back letting her head rest on the pillow as their feet mingled.

      "Very different," Jay agreed. He let himself relax with his, the two earrings a soft hum in his ear.

Chapter 126: Bitter Truth (Agrabah: June)

     Jasmine closed the door to her office looking at Genie as Aladdin poured them some seltzer water.

     Genie looked at her with a slight thin smile, "Thank you for letting me have some time with Jay and Evie before our talk."

     “Anything that can help them,” Jasmine nodded taking the drink from Aladdin, “do you want one?” she asked Genie.

     "No thank you," He shook his head waiting until Al sat down. "I have concerns about the kids. Things I want to address with you two."

     “Anything we can do to help,” Jasmine looked at him as she crossed her legs, she was willing to do anything to help those kids.

     "Get all of them off the Isle. Particularly all the ones with magic," Genie wasn't around the bush. Seeing what Jay had done to himself unwittingly had rather rattled him. The abuse on top of that was icing on the hell cake King Adam had created.

     “That’s a few steps ahead of where we are at the moment” Jasmine shook her head, “I agree we need to get them all off, but we need to stop them from making people like you and Jordan pahrias. As much as it kills me, we can only push so much.”

     "I don't frankly care what they want to call us. King Adam's refusal to deal with magic is why someone took my daughter's lamp and wished the Princess of Auradon, most likely to the Isle of the Lost based on what I just had to help Sadira with." He was angry, but he wasn't stupid, given time to think about it he had a feeling he didn't like, that Jay's third anchor was Penelope Beast.

     Jasmine set her glass down her fingers feeling numb as she stared at Genie, “Penelope is missing? Why weren’t we informed?”

     "Yes. She's been missing, wished away for the last nine months. King Beast has been lying to everyone. Why I can't even imagine. Belle contacted me back in February through Jay and your son. She was trying to logic out what happened. Jokingly mentioned Jay was stuck on the idea Penelope was on the Isle. The wish was too vague, and my daughter had never been forced to make a wish. Anything could have gone wrong." Genie rubbed his face tiredly.

     “Well, can’t you bring her back? Undo the wish so to speak?” Jasmine was horrified, 9 months a 15 year old girl had been missing and every one thought she was sick or losing her mind.

     Aladdin set his hand on Jasmine's, "You can undo it right?"

     "No, Djinn rules, no unwishing wishes. Also there is too much interference. Where she is, there is something protecting her, shielding her from me trying to go around it." He shook his head.

     “You mean like the barrier. But why would it protect her?” Jasmine looked down, “This doesn’t make any sense, if they weren’t sure where she ended up why didn’t they ask for help finding her? Good gods she could have been sent anywhere.”

     Aladdin looked down, "Because they would have to admit someone used a djinn against their will. The magical community would have gone ballistic."

     "They didn't want anyone to know they had lost their spare. But not the barrier. Something else. Something that felt off, unnatural." It was hard to describe the layers he had ran into. More than one thing blocking his power.

     “That's why all this talk about magical being registration is coming from,” Jasmine sighed bringing a hand to her mouth, “They think... what, if they had had Jordan on some list this wouldn’t have happened? The person at fault is whoever used her, they should be the one answering for this. Is that why Jordan was talking about coming back to school here?”

     "Yes, because King Beast wanted to forbid her to continue her schooling at Auradon Prep. I and Fairy Godmother had it out. I reminded her, that she was supposed to be our support. She wanted to come back as to not cause anyone any more trouble," he took a breath.

     "Genie..." Aladdin sighed, "How is she doing?"

     "Not good, that's what we were practicing. She won't let her lamp out of her sight. Clips it to her person just to be sure."

     “I’ve got half a mind to surprise those bastards but taking my seat at the next meeting instead of Aziz” Jasmine chewed her thumb, “Someone needs to get Beast's head back on straight or be might as well still be a beast.”

     "You should go," Aladdin nodded, "Aziz and I can handle it here while you are gone. Tell me what you meant, what happened with Sadira. If you can that is." He looked at Jasmine who still hadn't told him what rattled her so much after they found out about the kids. 

     “I’ll look at the calendar,” she nodded picking up her glass, “Can you tell us what you and Sadira learned? I might be able to use something to get Belle to release the kids into Agrabah’s custody.”

     "We had a conversation, the kids wanted to keep private. But these kids were basically left to fend for themselves and expected to do whatever their parents demanded of them. Sadira could tell you what she saw in the Dream sand. What I found on my end was heartbreaking. Evie was mental and emotionally abused, forced to do things no child should be forced into. Jay... Jay was the whole gambit, abused to the point where he split his magic apart just to find some semblance of function. He was anchored into Evie's root of magic strong and long enough it took my magic to get him loose. Anchored to Carlos DeVil, and someone else I didn't get a chance to find before it snapped. His magic was mangled and suppressed because he was taught in Auradon magic is bad."

     “Then we need to fix Auradon, or get them out of there. They are safe here, they will always be safe here. Is it complicated by their relationship? I remember Sadira’s magic went a little haywire when she was dating that water summoner or twiste... whatever he was.”

     "You know about them?" Genie asked, "It was. Their magic was functioning as a codependent unit. Jay would charge up and drag Evie with him. He was subconsciously suppressing her magic which meant he burned her out by accident. They should be okay, I tethered their magic to physical objects."

     “I caught Jay and Aziz. And Jay...” Jasmine snickered a little, “he may have word vomited trying to help Aziz get out of what he thought was trouble” her small smile fell as she also thought of that she had seen, “all those scars... we should have fought harder to get them out of there away from those people”

     "What scars?" Aladdin asked confused.

     "Jay and Az? Jay, Evie and Az?" Genie asked.

     “All four of them, if I understood it correctly. And... you would probably be able to tell better than I can, but it looks like Jafar whipped him, over and over again” Jasmine looked at Aladdin.

     Aladdin felt his heart twist, his hand covering his mouth, "He..."

     "That would make sense," Genie nodded, "Would explain why he was attached to Carlos. Also would explain the eyes Az makes at them. If Jafar was whipping him, that would explain why his magic was so mangled. But Jafar should have known better."

     “He probably didn’t care, he cares for nothing that doesn’t help him get what he wants. What good would it be for him to have been careful of Jay’s magic on an isle where it couldn’t be used,” Jasmine sighed, “He... I still don’t understand what baba saw in him.”

     "Right why not? Abuse your child all you want, they can't die anyway, torture them to your hearts contents." Genie growled blue darkening, "They should have never been able to keep their children."

     “No they shouldn’t have. Do we know anything about how Carlos grew up? I’m sure it was as horrid as Jay and Evie, but... Aziz cares about them if they need help or to talk to someone I want to make sure it’s the best person to help them.”

     "Carlos was closed lip about it but he mentioned something about chores." Aladdin supplied, "They all seem to not understand what good talking about it will do. There are things I feel happened there that they don't want to remember."

     "Well at least two of them are going to have to face it head on. Learning about magic is going to dredge all that up. But they have to learn, Evie and Jay are too powerful to just leave untrained. I don't think they are going to have enough time before they have to go back."

     “How do we help them then?” She asked, she was not going to let Auradon hurt these kids for something they couldn’t control.

     "You and I both wanted to take him in. Wanted to keep him from his father. Now he comes with two others, depends on them. We help that small family by getting them away from Auradon. King Beast will have them ruined because of something they inherited from their parents. His beliefs are going to be just as poisonous to them as the Isle was to them."

     "You don't think they will be okay?" Aladdin asked, "Okay as long as they are together?"

     "No. If Jay and Evie suppress their magic again it will become detrimental to their health. She will burn herself out, and he will become a walking magical timebomb. He is vastly more powerful than his father, Jafar made sure of that. But without constant use and teaching, the build up will tear him apart," Genie shook his head, "We get them away from Auradon's hold. We need to stop fighting petty battles and remind King Beast why Agrabah refused the magic ban. These kids belong here. They deserve a place that won't hurt them because of something they can't help but be," Genie wanted his friends to fight for these kids, because his word meant nothing to the council.

     “Then that is what we will do” Jasmine nodded, “What about the other one, Mal is she safe there? I mean Ben seems quite taken with her, but she’s at least half fairy.”

     Genie shook his head, "I would have to ask them about her. But if she's involved with Ben, Auradon won't give her up. With fairies it's hard to know. They are like djinns, we are magic. Fairies don't need lamps to recharge like djinns but if she hasn't come into any problems Auradon likely has whatever her magic needs to function."

     "It is odd, now that you mention it, they haven't talked about her at all. Maybe Aziz knows what's going on." Aladdin frowned slightly unsure why they hadn't noticed that Mal hadn't even been invited to visit before.

     “We’ll ask after dinner” Jasmine laid her head back on the couch, “You mentioned running into them in the city, what were they doing?” It occurred to her husband had said something but not given details.

     "I happened to see them free running, well Jay running without any sense of safety on the roofs, Princess Evie chasing after him and Carlos down below. Figured after that I would try and show them where not to go. This lead into that conversation about unsafe buildings we had two days ago." Aladdin offered.

     “They were running around on roofs in a city they don’t know... Aziz mentioned that Jay liked to climb. Should we be worried?”

     "I would say yes, but they seemed to be under the impression that anywhere was more stable than the Isle. Which concerns me in general. You caught him trying to go out the balcony. My concern is they are going to get hurt, especially since Jay climbs barefoot."

     "Kids have been living under a no dying barrier, if they fell and got hurt all they had to do was put themselves back together and wait for their bodies to heal."

     “So they literally have to fear of death, after all how scary can death be after their parents. Anything else we should know Genie?”

     “At the moment no. I can’t think of anything else. I am leaving them in Sadira’s hands, but I will let you know if I remember anything vastly important.”

     Aladdin watched Genie poof off and looked at his wife, “I think this is a little worse than we thought. I figured they would be like street kids, scraping by, finding a way to survive. Not teenagers thinking dying is nothing compared to the lives they were forced to endure.”

     “I thought I was ready for anything, to hear anything. But this... I don’t know what to do,” she leaned forward putting her face in her hands.

     He wrapped his arm around her, pulled her close, “We fight for them. Our son loves them. They are worth fighting for, like this city was worth fighting for when King Adam wanted to destroy our way of life by banning magic. We stopped fighting for Mahala’s son, we gave up the fight because we weren’t making headway. Now he is here with us, and he needs us to fight a battle he doesn’t know about. We fight for those kids because Adam won’t, because Belle doesn’t have the voice she thinks she does. A Sultan and a Sultana outranks a King and Queen. Our city survived for thousands of years without Auradon, we can survive a thousand plus more without them if it comes to that. I don’t want him or any of them sent back to their parents for being the children of their parents. Compared to them I lived a good life, it was hard but it wasn’t full of the hardships they had. I want to change that. We can give them hope and safety, we can teach them what love means, not just lust.”

     “I’ll leave for the next meeting, I need to remind these men it's not an all boys club” she looked at him as she laid her head on his shoulder.

     “I think that is a good idea. Maybe have a chat with Princess Evie, she may help make sure they understand the Sultana of Agrabah is not pleased with their decision making.”

     “I... how do I explain to a 16 year old girl that has been abused in more ways than I can even imagine that her mother really was... is a queen? That her kingdom is waiting for her to take the throne, she just has to tell that uppity Snow White to take a hike,” she chuckled dryly, “Cause I’m sure she doesn't know.”

     “Then we tell her the one thing I know these kids can handle. The truth. We don’t sugar coat it, no adult in her life ever has, we tell her the truth and we let her decide what she wants to do. I think we need to stop being so concerned about what Auradon might think, especially knowing a king would rather people think his own daughter is sick or losing her mind then tell the truth,” Aladdin offered, “If she knows and hasn’t decided then fine, but I don’t want to be the reason a kingdom doesn’t get their rightful queen. Especially not one that could really use a new leader.”

     “Looks like we need to have a conversation with all of them, Baba needs to give Jay access to Jafar’s old accounts. I contacted the Radcliffs and Anita told me how to get Carlos access to his mother’s, apparently there’s a house there as well.”

     “There is Nasira’s home here in Agrabah. It’s been closed up since she was sent to the Isle.” Aladdin nodded, “After dinner we should have a sit down with them. We stick to the truth, we treat them like we treat our own, trust is hard to win with street kids but it starts with honesty and preparing them for what they are going back to.”

     “Alright then we have a plan” she nodded standing and heading to her desk looking at the calender there.

Chapter 127: Inheritance (Agrabah: June)

     Aladdin smiled at the kids as they finished dinner, “Jasmine and I would like a word with you three if we could.”

     “Baba?” Aziz looked at his father confused.

     “Your mama and I need to speak with them but it would be alright with us as long as it is alright with them.”

     “Uh... are we in trouble?” Carlos asked looking at the two adults.

     “Absolutely not,” Aladdin shook his head, “You had asked us about your mother’s money. We have all that information for you, as well as a few other things we would like to go over with all of you. Nothing having to do with trouble, promise.”

     Jay frowned slightly, “And why not tell us here?”

     “It’s going to be a long conversation and I’d rather not sit in these chairs for that long,” he shrugged, “I’m not as young as I used to be.”

     “I think that should be fine,” Evie looked to Jay.

     “That was fast,” Carlos nodded, he still wasn’t sure what to do with whatever money was there.

     “Well we didn’t think it was right to keep you kids from what is rightfully yours,” Aladdin slowly pushed himself to standing.

     Jay reached over settling a hand over Evie and Carlos’ knees feeling the earrings driving the need for contact, “Alright, Princy you can come or not. I’ll tell you to get if things get too much.”

     “Heartwarming,” Aziz rolled his eyes standing as well, “Office or sitting room?”

     “Sitting room, your Grandbaba is waiting there with all of the information for Jay.”

     Aziz nodded slowly standing followed his parents out of the room sparing a glance at his siblings even as Jay settled a hand on his back and pushed him ahead of them.

     He rolled his neck trying to loosen the tension he felt in his neck, the unsettled feeling in his chest. There was nothing wrong, everything would be fine. 

     Aladdin smiled softly as Jasmine slipped her hand in his, he knew she could do this. This was for them, no matter what they would help these kids the best they could.

     Jasmine pushed open the door to a teal room with long couches and lots of pillows, the same place her baba was sitting sipping on a mug of tea with a set of keys sitting in front of him and a small leather book.

     “Hello there kids,” he smiled, “Would any of you care for some tea?”

     “What are you doing Grandbaba you know you aren’t supposed to be drinking that this late,” Aziz scolded to the older man who waved off his concerns.

     “Go ahead and take a seat, I’m going to grab all that information,” Aladdin smiled giving Jasmine’s hand a soft kiss before he slipped into an adjacent room to grab all the paperwork Jasmine had printed out for Carlos and Jay as well as the official documentation he managed to rustle up for Evie to look over.

     Jay glanced around taking in the room, he was never going to get used to this place. Never. Instead of sitting he spotted the tea setup and moved there on autopilot needing anything to make him have some sense of direction as he was still a bit off kilter. It wasn’t as bad as before but he was still having moments where he couldn’t figure out why his brain was drifting, looking for something else. Something missing.

     “Why don’t you come sit by me” the older man looked at Jay as he patted the cushion next to him.

     Evie sat next to Aziz as she took in the room, trying to calm her own nerves. She could see Jay’s twitchiness.

     Aziz squeezed her hand reassuringly, he was used to Jay’s restless nature by now.

     Aladdin came back and settled the files down in front of Jasmine before sitting down.

     He glanced at the older man and smiled thinly having no intent to move any closer to the guy who made him feel things he didn’t like. Refocusing he finished the mugs of tea he was working on, making sure everything was spic and span before he lifted the four mugs and headed over to them.

     Jasmine watched as Jay moved around the room almost nervously. He really did look like his mother, always trying to make sure everyone was okay before she settled down, “Thank you Aladdin,” she took a deep breath and opened a file settling the papers in front of Carlos, “Here you go. The Radcliffe’s were happy to help supply me with all the necessary information. I took the liberty of having the bank pull a balance on the account so you could see. There is another document in there that is the deed to the DeVil manor. The house is all yours if you want it, if not I or the Radcliffe’s will be happy to help you with whatever you decide to do with the property.”

     “DeVil manor? I don’t know...” he stilled looking at the papers, “That’s a lot of zeros.” 

     Evie squeezed Aziz’s hand before leaning over to look at Carlos’ papers, “We should go see it first Carlos.”

     “Maybe” he nodded picking up his mug.

     “I have a few things for you” the old sultan looked at Jay, he knew his daughter saw her friend but he saw another young man. Jafar hadn’t always been the way he was he could remember a driven young man with so many ideas.

     “That’s okay, really,” Jay didn’t want to trouble them, plus what was he going to do with a bunch of useless junk.

     Jasmine lifted a brow at him, “Give it a look and then decide. No sense in being impulsive.”

     “The keys to your Aunt's home, at the very least you should have those. The ledger is for your father's accounts,” he held out the keys and book.

     "What?" Jay could feel his stomach drop as he took the keys and handed the book to Carlos because his Pup would know what the hell the book was.

     "Nasira had a home here in Agrabah. Jasmine and I have kept it locked up since she was taken to Isle."

     "So it's my cousin Jade's house if she ever gets off the Isle?" Jay was confused as to why they were giving it to him.

     Jasmine sighed, "It is the ibn Yahya home. That makes it yours. If you aren't comfortable staying there we understand but it is yours."

     Jay was stunned, they went from having no money, no plan, no home outside of the Beast castle. To having all their parents' money and two houses in two different kingdoms, "What about Princess, were you able to get her account stuff?"

     Jasmine glanced at her husband before handing Evie the last folder, "Everything in that file is yours your majesty. We the Sultans of Agrabah wanted to make sure it was put in your hands and no other. I am hoping you take the time to give it some consideration."

     Evie took the folder in confusion, why was the Sultana calling her your majesty. She flipped it open looking over the land deeds, she was surprised there was so much, why hadn’t Snow White sectioned it off to her people. Why leave it in her mother’s name. As she flipped she unfolded a family tree she wasn’t familiar with, her eyes traced over names she wasn’t familiar with until they stopped on her mothers name. Her eyes shot back to the top that explain this was the royal family of Fair Forest, Snow White’s kingdom. Her magic seemed to ping pong around her as she searched for Snow White’s name, only to find her own. She tried to take a deep breath as she processed what she was seeing.

     “E?” Carlos looked at her as all the hairs on his neck seemed to stand up, “E breath” he put a hand on her arm.

     “But... how? She never said anything. Hours and days spent learning family lines, she never said anything about this.” Evie choked out, “Why wasn’t I told about this before? They all... they acted like I was a pretender, a fake. I’ve got more royal blood then Chad, possibility even Audrey” she looked at Jay as she tried to force her magic back down. In just a few days they had gone from Ben and Aziz’s charity cases to some of the richest kids on the mainland based on Carlos’ papers, she could only imagine what Jay’s accounts looked like. And she was the heir to Fair Forest.

     Jay palmed the keys standing and shifted behind Evie curling his arms around her shoulders. He squeezed her tight, "Told you were a Queen," he said lightly as he let his head rest against hers feeling his power unfurling to embrace hers.

     Jasmine watched the interaction as Aladdin slipped his hand in hers, "I don't know why the Beast family didn't tell you. You had the right to the truth, all of you. Snow White is the Queen Regent, if you wish to inform White what is yours I am more than happy to assist. All any of you need to do is ask and we will do everything in our power to help you."

     “So... what now? I mean yeah Evie’s the heir but what exactly does that mean? I don’t see anyone just giving one of us a throne” Carlos said raising an eyebrow.

     “From the wording of these...” Evie took a breath whipping under her eyes, she held up one of the older looking papers, “I can assert a claim, but I have to wait until I have graduated to be coronated” she licked her lips letting Jay’s magic roll over her, “Until that time my older step sister will be my regent”

     "Then soon enough," Aziz nodded with a smile, "You'll have a place on the Council. It will be nice to have someone that will actually side with me on things. Not to mention the Fair Forest deserves a better leader with a stronger vote."

     "So I guess Los and I are moving in with you Princess," Jay teased kissing her jaw.

     “She’ll be such a lovely queen” the old sultan chuckled, “we’ll have to see about starting new trades with them”

     “So Evie will be able to bring over more kids” Carlos laid a hand over hers.

     "And Agrabah will be happy to help all those with magic," Jasmine added, "If that is what you want."

     "We know this might be overwhelming for all of you. Sometimes it's still overwhelming for me and I've been Sultan for 20 years now. But we are here to help you however you would like." Aladdin added.

     Jay could feel the unease in her, "You can say no. You don't owe them anything. It's your kingdom, but if you want to give it up and be free of all that stuff no ones going to say anything. They do and I'll kick their teeth down their throats." He assured leaving the contact there as he looked at the yellowed sheet of paper with a pretty tree drawn onto it with looping scrawling names. Ironic she should find the one thing that proved what they all already knew, she was royalty not her step sister and her prissy ass kids. He would give her the world, but it looked like fate had given her, her birthright instead.

     “I... I need to think about this,” Evie finally said, “It’s something that needs thought.” 

     “That’s a good idea, this is all” Carlos looked at all the papers they had, “A lot for us to take in”

     Jasmine nodded, "I know you will some time to digest. Princess Evie a proposition if you feeling up to it; I will be attending a council meeting in a week and a half. If you have some time to help me with clothes I am more than happy to answer any questions you may have with that file."

     Aziz looked sharply at his mother, it was his job to deal with the council.

     "Calm down Aziz, you've been doing a good job. There are just some things your mama and I decided we needed to have her attend to personally. In exchange you will be helping me run the kingdom while she's away dealing with cranky old men," Aladdin soothed.

     “Thank you,” Evie nodded letting Carlos take the folder from her and stack it with his own.

     “Moving up for the summer Z,” Carlos teased a little.

     "More like filling in Mama's shoes," Aziz groaned.

     "Well at least you outgrew your want to wear my shoes," Jasmine teased her oldest, "If you three need anything just ask."

     "Some time to process," Jay stated pulling back letting his hands rest on Evie's shoulders thumbs rubbing circles into her tight muscles.

     “Yeah I think we just need time to process. We’ll ask if we need anything” Carlos nodded, “Where those heels or flats Z ? Cause your legs probably look great in heels.”

     “Aziz you have such delightful friends,” Grandbaba laughed with a smile.

     "Come on really Los? I was 5! Grandbaba don't encourage him."

     Jasmine giggled, "Heels. He'd clomp around in here wagging a finger, other hand on his hip."

     "He wanted to be just like his mama when he grew up," Aladdin laughed.

     Jay passed Aziz an interested look before glancing at his feet and then Evie's, "I think we can make that happen Pup."

     “I can think of a few things for Princy,” Evie gave him a small smirk, “I would be honored to help with your clothes Saltana,” this is what she needed she needed something normal to her, to let her brain process everything.

     “I hate all three of you,” Aziz growled without bite, because really he didn’t, a few hours ago he would have said he loved them as the four of them tangled together in one of the most primal of ways.

     “I may have to redesign a few things” Evie smirked, maybe she’d put Princy in the corset.

     “I look forward to our girl time. Rajiya isn’t much for fashion,” Jasmine sighed dramatically, “More into blades and running wild.”

     “I know a few Isle girls like that,” Jay nodded, “My cousin is the same way.”

     “Whatever you want ‘amira,” Aziz ceded knowing he couldn’t go wrong with whatever she was making for him. 

     “He learns quickly,” Carlos chuckled.

     “We know more than a few girls like that on the isle,” Evie snorted.

     “I like these friends, so much better than those snooty brats of the other royal families,” Grandbaba smiled.

     Aziz smiled, “Well if I can convince them to come with me on breaks I will just have to keep bringing them home with me Grandbaba. Unless they want to stay at Auradon Prep all the time.”

     Aladdin nodded, “Four for one? I think we could handle having all four of you here every break until you graduate or decide you have had enough of us old folk.”

     “We will discuss it, I don't think we want to stay at Auradon prep all the time,” Evie shook her head.

     “Especially now knowing there is one city on the Mainland I’m allowed to climb whenever I want,” Jay smirked which let them know he was warming up to the idea of staying if that was what they wanted from him, “We have to go see the DeVil Manor and this Fair Forest Kingdom before we commit to anything after we graduate,” he would play it cool but it was true, if they weren’t required to choose they might as well take their damn time.

     “Well Fair Forest isn’t on the way, but we can make a stop in at the Radcliffe’s and have them take us by the DeVil manor on the way back to school.”

     “That would knock one of them out,” Carlos nodded, “Although I’m not sure about Fair Forest.”

     “I would want to know more about how their court is set up, how they are... acting under Snow White before I put us in the middle of that” Evie shook her head, she wasn’t sure how any of them would react in an environment like that. She wouldn’t want to lash out with her magic accidentally, maybe if she felt more comfortable with Sadira after all these lessons.

     “I figured that too,” Aziz nodded, “Mama will be able to tell you more than I could about that kind of thing. Fair Forest is close to Auradon Proper so when you're ready I’ll make the arrangements. We’ll leave a few days earlier than I planned to make that stop at the Radcliffe’s. There is a small hotel in their town we can spend the night and it will break up the 14 hour trip for Mr. Ansty.”

     “I don’t do confined spaces for long periods of time,” Jay flicked the back of Princy’s ear, “I’ll go with you Princess when you're ready.” he would protect her. He was the leader of this crew it was his job to be there for her, not to mention he knew how to distract her and anyone else if need be.

     “I know you will,” she nodded to Jay, “Is... she a good regent? I mean I know she’s good but, does she take care of the people?” She looked at Jasmine.

     Jasmine sighed softly tucking her feet up onto the couch leaning into the arm, “She was when your mother was sent to the Isle. I don’t think anyone knew she had conceived a child until a year or so later. When Snow found out you had been born she tried to assert herself as True Queen of Fair Forest. I may have reminded her that the throne is passed to royal blood lines and unless a baby was to abdicate the throne to her older Step Sister the best she could be was Queen Regnant. The council tried to make a case for denying you power because your mother was a criminal. We queens or Sultana grounded the case, you are a royal innocent of any crime committed by your mother, it was stated that should you find your way off the Isle of the Lost you were to be given your birthright, unless you were under age. Snow hated that. And over the years she’s been rather lax in her duties, focusing more on her news coverage bit than anything else. And when she is ruling she whines about not being given enough of a voice on important matters. Agrabah has ceased trade with Fair Forest as of five years ago now I believe. We would be happy to open a new negotiation with them once the current leadership is swapped out.”

     “Why does this not sound surprising,” Carlos rolled his eyes, “These people that are suppose to be good, suppose to be something not like our parents but all we see is more people like that just covered up in a glossy cover.”

     “I hope we aren’t like that for you,” Aziz winced.

     “Hell no,” Jay snorted not thinking, “You’re exactly like Baba told me, ‘Annoyingly good people, with a big blue bumbling idiot.’ I think he was a little off base with Genie, but Baba’s bitter he was bested by a djinn near 10,000 years older than him.”

     “I think we’ll take that as a compliment,” Jasmine laughed softly, “Did all of your parents tell you about, I suppose, your heroes?”

     “Mother was tight lipped about Snow White and her prince,” Evie shook her head.

     “Only that the Radcliffe’s were people that loved dogs more than people, the worst sort of people according to her,” Carlos shrugged.

     “And I think we can all agree your mom is bat shit crazy,” Jay shook his head remembering the day the woman tried to run them both over with her car when he was bringing Carlos home.

     “I think that’s probably good, that your parents didn’t give you too many stories of your heroes,” Aladdin nodded, “Makes it hard to give someone a chance if all you’ve heard is bad things about them.”

     “So what’s the Mainland’s excuse?” Jay asked dryly, “Cause they never even heard of us aside from who our parent was and we’ve been subjected to all sorts of shit. Including the ex... exp...” he sighed, “They want us to be better than them.”

     “Expectation,” Evie supplied, “And he’s not wrong, there is a double standard at the school.”

     Jasmine and Aladdin exchanged a look, “That is disappointing to hear,” she shook her head, “I’d ask if you wanted to finish schooling here, but we teach the school in our native language and I don’t want to do that to you.”

     “Yeah that,” Jay nodded, “We appreciate that you don’t want to confuse us, but that doesn’t really help us.”

     “We can finish there, it takes more then some bitchy royal kids to take us down” Carlos tilted his head.

     “That and we have Princy,” Jay agreed.

     “I’m glad he can help you all,” Aladdin smiled liking how easy it was to talk to these kids.

Chapter 128: Coming to Terms (Agrabah: June)

     Jay plunked down on the rug his hair loose and brushed out as he looked at Carlos as he and Evie looked over the papers again on the couch in their room. Aziz had gone to bed. So they had settled in for the night. As in he stripped his clothes off brushed his teeth and his hair. He kept looking at the keys on the table, it was Jade's house so he wouldn't do anything to it. But he was curious, just like he was curious about the little leather book in that pile. But their stuff was more important than his. Hell his Princess was actually a Queen of an entire Kingdom. Which left him in an odd place, he took on two rulers in kingdoms not even close to one another. And he, he didn't want to leave either of them. He was greedy, he wanted them both and Carlos.

     “I don’t know what to do. I mean this is everything I've ever dreamed of, but at the same time... how do I know I'd be any good for the Fair Forest. I know what Sultana said about Snow White, but what if they hate me,” Evie sighed standing up, she moved over to Jay. She didn’t know how they could do this, it would pull them apart possibly.

     Jay reached up pulling her down into his lap and just held her resting his chin on her shoulder, "Princess listen," he spoke softly, "If you don't try you won't ever know. You told Carlos to go and see before deciding. I came here to the place I dreamed of seeing, even if it's given me a healthy dose of issues, I am glad to have at least seen it. We have lived with people hating us before, this time you can choose to stay around or not. But I'll be with you every step of the way like you two have been here."

     “I know, it’s just... I don’t want to become my mother,” she leaned against him, “I suppose I should go see it at least. Doug said it was lovely.”

     “They don’t want you that’s their problem,” Carlos added looking up, “Plus we can go anywhere we want, we have like more money then even Ben.”

     "You will never be your mother. Like I will never be my Baba and Carlos will never be his mother. You were the one who gave us variations on their monikers, to prove to us we could be better than them. And we are better than them." He kissed her neck chastly, "Oh yeah? Excuse my disbelief at having more money than the crown prince."

     “Dude we could buy an island somewhere,” Carlos rolled his eyes.

     “Maybe not an island,” Evie chuckled, “we should sleep down here tonight.”

     "You and Princess maybe," Jay snorted, "Since someone has their own Queendom apparently," he teased giving her sides a playful squeeze.

     “I’ll talk to Aziz and Jasmine tomorrow about going for a visit, maybe over one of our breaks,” she nodded as Carlos sat down next to Jay.

     "That sounds like a plan," Jay smiled moving an arm around Carlos, "And we'll see your place on the way back to school rich boy genius." He had them, that's all that mattered really. And if Evie became the Queen of Fair Forest, he would get used to traveling back and forth between the kingdoms for them. He wouldn't abandon Aziz, what else was he going to do with his life anyway? Wasn't like he had anything but them, the house here was Jade's, and he doubted his father had anything to his name. He would make due just like always.

     “Do you want to look over your thing? Carlos motioned to the ledger, he was itching to start putting together numbers.

     "It's going to be gibberish to me, so knock yourself out. That's why I handed it to you anyway." Jay shrugged, "Doubt Baba's got anything anyway." 

     Carlos crawled over grabbing it from the couch before settling back next to Jay. He flipped it open, “I’m gonna say he had a bit of stuff. He... invested it looks like.”

     "And that means what? It's all gone, cause that wouldn't surprise me," Jay shrugged shifting under Evie slightly as she rested her head on his shoulder.

     “Well this thing seems to be self updating. From the looks of this, yeah a few things went belly up, but this tea company you have majority shares in took off,” Carlos pointed to one of the columns.

     “What about this one?” Evie pointed to one that looked pretty steady.

     “That’s... actually funny. That’s a textile company,” Carlos laughed.

     Jay frowned slightly, "Okay?" He looked at the graphs of lines in confusion, "At least I was right about gibberish because I have no idea what you're talking about." Maybe it was all fake stuff like that Monopoly game Lonnie tried to explain to him.

     “It means your loaded, and have a steady income to make your money keep growing,” Carlos explained.

     “You could probably buy that fabric stand out of leather for me without making much of a dent,” Evie supplied.

     Jay blinked, "That's... that's a lot of money..." maybe he could live with the money that had been his Baba's, wasn't like he was going to use it, "It is real money right?" Jay still didn't know why money needed a graph and why some of it was going down when no one was touching it.

     “Yeah it is, I’ll go over it all with you later maybe tomorrow, we should see if Z know any one that deals with this stuff, maybe Z will be able to help. Cause if I’m reading the graph right there are a few companies that are only staying a float cause of your money.”

     "Huh... yeah probably good someone smarter than me sits down and explains it because I am clearly missing something between this companies thing and this money chart thing." Jay shook his head, "Baba's always gotta have shit so fucking complicated. And here I was hoping I got away from his ever changing 'what shit was worth' system."

     “You’re smart, you just need a little help sometimes,” Evie rolled her eyes as she leaned into him.

     "I said smarter than me. This shit is confusing," Jay grumbled.

     “I’m with you there,” Carlos nodded looking at a few more pages before closing the ledger.

     Jay leaned all the way back taking Evie with him and closed his eyes, "See even the smartest one in the room thinks it's confusing."

     “Well that’s your father for you, always the smartest one in the room” she snorted closing her eyes.

     “More like the biggest dick,” Carlos flopped down next to them putting his head on Jay's upper arm.

     "Baba is a genius, I didn't exactly get that trait." Jay yawned relaxing into rug, this was better.

     “I don’t know he did some pretty dumb stuff for a genius,” Carlos snorted closing his eyes as Evie flicked her fingers at the lights.

     "Genius with an ego," Jay stated, "Like Reza and his need to use big words to sound smart. Baba still needs to whine about the whole djinn thing. 'I was a vizor boy, an all power Djinn reduced to relying on an illiterate street rat to survive.'," he recited in a dry tone, "He didn't realize Iago told me what that meant."

     “Could always count on Iago to explain” Evie laughed, “Where is our pretty birdy?”

     "He went flapping out a window when we came back from dinner before that meeting. My guess, he found a lady bird and wants to bang as often as possible. But yeah Iago was good about telling me the meaning of words Baba used often." Jay rubbed her side as he pulled Carlos in tighter.

     “Good for him” Carlos cuddled close as he could get.

     “Yeah maybe he’ll be less uptight about my need to fuck mine,” Jay snickered through a yawn, “If you guys aren’t comfortable I won’t be offended if you sleep on the bed.”

     “We’ve slept on worse” Carlos shrugged.

     “Just offering,” Jay hummed as he let himself drift off ears perked for the telltale ruffle of Iago’s feathers.

     Evie nudged her head under his chin as she drifted off.

     Iago flapped into the room seeing the kids on the floor wrapped around his first featherless brat. Silently he landed on the low couch and looked at the items there curiously. Glancing back at them he unrolled the papers and looked at the family tree recognizing a few of the names there as ancient witch queens Jafar had spoken of when he was younger. Rolling it back up he sifted through the other documents on property and banking statements in the name of DeVil. Finally finding a very familiar ledger. Resting a claw on it he assessed the items.

     "Are these all their inheritance?" He whispered to himself, "Why are they only getting these now? And why here of all places?" He glanced back at the sleeping kids, "And where are Mahala's things? They assume she is dead don't they? That's why he was left with Jafar, right?" 

     Iago didn’t expect an answer, but he did want one.

Chapter 129: Dressing Sultana (Agrabah: June)

     Evie looked around her as she was led into the Sultana’s private lounge.

     Jasmine looked up and smiled, “Princess Evie,” she beamed standing as the man bowed before leaving them, “Thank you again for letting me pester you into helping with my wardrobe. Can I get you anything?” it had been a few days since their talk and with Sadira’s lessons smattered in the morning Jasmine hadn’t been about to really get a read on the girl’s temperature about the news.

     “It’s no problem Sultana,” Evie shook her head as she set down her sketch pad, “Some water would be appreciated.”

     “Of course,” Jasmine poured the girl a glass of seltzer water from the cold metal pitcher and set it down on the table next to the sketch pad, “How would you like to start? I can show you the existing wardrobe or really whatever you need.”

     “Well you can tell me what it is you’re looking for in these new pieces?” she sipped at the water.

     “As my daughter would put it, ‘I am looking to Slay,’ “Jasmine laughed a little before smiling, “I haven’t been to a council meeting in... oh 16 or 17 years. In person, mind you. Before Aziz was old enough to start attending meetings my baba was our appointed voice since he retired from ruling but still wanted to help. So I need to make a lasting impression on those old farts, I am a Sultana and I have had enough of their nonsense. Did that help you at all?”

     “A little bit, what colors are you thinking?” she started to make an outline.

     “Teal is a must. Haven’t really outgrown my teenage love of that color, but I like the softer jewel tones, most times it’s creams and grays they make me dress in but I’m somewhat bored of that. Personally I adore the fact you, Jay, and Carlos seem to have your own theme colors,” she chatted as she settled on the dark teal chaise lounge stretching out tossing her long black hair over the front of her shoulder so she didn’t lay on it.

     “It helps us to mark our place in the world,” Evie nodded, “Do you want them to be looking at you or looking at you?”

     “Well if you can manage to put a few of them into an earlier grave so I don’t have to argue with them, I would be fine with that,” Jasmine said slyly, “That kind of impression. The ‘I am going to get my way’ impression.”

     “Alright, let's see professional but sexy, trimmed waist,” she chewed her lip as she started on the drawing, “How about this,” she turned it to show the outline of the pencil type skirt and a blouse.

     Jasmine looked over the drawing and up at Evie, “You have a real talent for this, I like it, very to the point.”

     “Thank you, I made most of our clothes on the isle” Evie smiled a little, “Maybe a few patterned skirts, solid tops... a few pants suits, accessories.” 

     “Real pants? Like those ones I suppose you made for Jay, because my wardrobe is full of these,” she plucked at the harem like pants she was wearing, “And while comfortable and Agrabah appropriate I don’t much care to take them to Auradon.”

     “I was thinking more like straight legged slacks, but if you want leather I can work with that.”

     “Would it be too much trouble for both?” Jasmine asked curious and excited to try something very new for her.

     “No trouble at all leather is a medium I am very versed in.” Evie nodded.

     Jasmine giggled, “If Jay’s obsession with it is anything to go by. He’s a very lucky boy to have you Princess.”

     “We are lucky to have him,” Evie shook her head, “He takes care of us, gives us strength when we need it.”

     “You three have such a special relationship you don’t see often enough anymore. People caring about one another, looking after one another, taking the time to listen and try to help however they can. We need more people like you three,” Jasmine stated her expression soft, she knew these children had a hard life, had suffered so much, endured so much, and yet they still had caring for each other. A dedication to each other despite everything they had been through that could have made them cold of heart and jaded.

     “I don’t think more like us is a good idea. Jay and I spoke about the Fair Forest,” she rolled the pencil between her fingers.

     “Oh?” she asked curiously, she wouldn’t pursue the fact she did think more of them, the face they put forward at least, their world could use more of.

     “We... we would like to visit, maybe over a break. Just a, a short while” she looked down studying her design.

     “Absolutely,” Jasmine nodded, “A few days then? Less than a week? Before you think I am going overboard Princess, what I personally would do is plan a short trip, dedicate a day to the official business, and the rest of the time to actually see what you can. See the people, the culture, a few days to see if things are going well. Remind yourself that if you leave and finding yourself wishing you could have seen more or done more, then it is worth a trip back maybe for a little longer next time. Fair Forest is closer to Auradon than Agrabah, otherwise I would have told Aziz to give you the same option. We won’t be offended if you need to cut the trip short and take a breather from all this,” she gestured around them.

     “We appreciate that, Jay’s just stubborn. I think he feels like he would be abandoning Aziz if we wanted to leave early.”

     Jasmine sighed softly, “It seems like he doesn’t want to be the reason you all leave early. If there is anything we can do to make your stay easier on him, just tell us. Honestly, anything we can do I am more than happy to help. That includes for you and Carlos as well.”

     “We will keep that in mind, the boys wanted someone to go over Jafar’s ledger, it looked like he had a lot of investments. Carlos thinks some of the places went under but it's hard to tell,”

     “Oh of course. I’ll have Aletra come by and go over everything with them. She is wonderful, she is the kingdom’s primary accountant.”

     “That would be great, Jay feels like he can’t make heads or tails of any of it,” she nodded, “I'll need to take your measurements to get started on these designs and figure out how much material I need.”

     “Honestly some of Jafar’s methods were overly complicated, but the world would end if you mentioned it to him,” she laughed standing up, “Aletra will help him get it all sorted out, and he is more than welcome to keep in touch with her if he needs some help when you head back.”

     “I will tell him but I doubt he’ll listen,” she pulled her measuring tape from her purse.

     “When do boys ever really listen? Takes both my sons multiple times before they actually hear me. But heavens if I’ve missed something they say the first time,” Jasmine knew this process and stood patient, relaxed and still for Evie to take whatever measurements she needed.

     “I get that one, Carlos and Jay tell me I’m not listening if I don’t hear them the first time. But evil forbid that they hear me the first time,” she jotted down measurements next to her sketch, “Are you planning on heels or flats?”

     “Short heels, I like the angry click on tile sound they make,” Jasmine shook her head, “I don't understand it. It isn't like what we say is unimportant. We deserve to be listened to the first time too. It's a man thing. I know Aladdin tries, but really if I start talking when he's working on something in one ear and right out the other. At least he apologizes for missing the first half of what I said."

     “It must be a man thing,” Evie chuckled as she jotted down the last measurement.

     "Clearly. All done?" Jasmine asked glancing at the girl. She rather enjoyed spending time with, hopefully, the future Queen of Fair Forest.

     “That’s all I need for the clothes for now, once I have the first few things made you can try them on to see if they need to be altered any,” Evie nodded picking her water back up.

     "That sounds good to me," Jasmine nodded.

     “Good,” Evie finished off her water, “I’ll go get started” she offered a small smile.

     “Thank you again truly Princess Evie. If you need anything else don’t be a stranger, even if you just want to get away from all your boys,” Jasmine offered hoping the girl would take her up on the offer.

     “I will consider it, it may be nice to get away from them for a while,” Evie nodded closing up her sketch pad.

     “Any time you want,” Jasmine smiled warmly watching as Evie headed out, “I really like her,” she muttered, “Such a gorgeous hair color.”

Chapter 130: Running (Agrabah: June)

     Jay couldn’t sleep anymore, he had been fidgeting for hours bad enough Iago had abandoned him for the bed nestled between Pup and Princess. Without thinking he yanked jeans up his legs and slipped his vest on. As he slipped out to the balcony he pulled his gloves on and hauled himself up onto the roof. The sky over Agrabah was slowly lightening in that pre-dawn light, and if he closed his eyes he could almost smell the beginnings of the food stands opening in the city. The lessons with Sadira were going okay, not good or bad, just okay. Princess as predicted picked things up quick, him, he still couldn’t get the easy stuff. After he had gotten these earrings which were supposed to help him, he couldn’t even steal anything like he used to. It was like something was missing still, some connection he was missing between then and now. He chalked it up to him, and he made light of his magic in place of supporting Princess. So he was going back to what he was good at, shutting up his brain and running. 

     Bare feet pattered across the golden roof as he ran towards the town. He’d take the route he was planning on the last time they had run. Without having to worry about his, he could run like he wanted, run no thinking, no planning, just him and the terrain.

     Carlos blinked sleepy watching Jay slip out before he rolled over back into Evie being careful not to squish Iago.

     The city was slowly waking under his feet as he launched himself between buildings, rolling and bounding on the hard compacted sand roofs. His chest heaved as he heaved himself up the side of another building taking a second to look around him as the sun peaked up over the horizon, glittering like diamonds off the water in the distance. This should have been Jade’s home, she should have been here to see it. His Baba didn’t talk about what Auntie had done, but it couldn’t have been all that bad compared to Baba. A short, if not breathy, laugh left his lips, everyone on the Isle deserved to be there in one way or another. They would never fit in this world, this place like Auradon was too good for them. Shaking his head he headed back towards the palace. His would worry if they woke up to not find him there.

     “And what is so amusing at the ass crack of dawn?” Sadira asked as her sand lifted her up to look at him. She yawned, she’d felt him bouncing around like a ball all over the city, if it was anyone else she would have just tried to ignore it.

     Jay jumped knife flicking into his hand, “Fucking hell Sadira,” he swore lowering his hand, “I could have stabbed you...”

     “Well that’s a nice way to say good morning,” she snorted stepping onto the roof, “So what’s up?”

     “Don’t sneak up on me unless you want to be stabbed. You get jumped enough it’s an auto thing,” he grumbled sliding the blade away, “Nothing is up, just went for a run, couldn’t sleep.”

     “Right, cause you’re bouncing around the city like a rubber ball, your magic is practically screaming,” she raised an eyebrow.

     “Well when I go for a run the bouncing around kinda happens,” he shrugged, “I can’t do anything about the magic. It does whatever it wants.”

     “Jay... it doesn’t control you, or itself, it responds to you. When you get stressed or upset it will act up, but you can control it, that’s what we’re working on.”

     "Then why is it harder now then before Genie 'fixed' me," he sighed, "Doesn't matter, I just wanted to run off some steam. You wanna follow me in your sand? I don't want Pup and Princess to panic if I'm not back when they wake up."

     “It will get easier, and I don’t think fix is the right word” Sadira sighed, “Go ahead and enjoy your run. Just be careful.”

     Jay gave her an odd look, "No pretty sure fix is the right one, unless I got what that word means wrong..." he shook his head trying not to start second guessing all the words he did know, "Why does everyone tell me to be careful? Not like these buildings are going to collapse under me." He didn't believe her, in his experience nothing got easier, it just found another way to blindside him when he learned to cope. 

     Sadira sighed, she would get through to him eventually. She just needed to find a way to make him see that he wasn’t broken.

     He gave her another odd look before shrugging and taking off. His body flying through the air to the adjacent roof rolling back to his feet. Everything else faded back once more, Sadira's interruption behind him, literally, as he headed back towards the palace at breakneck speeds. All care was thrown out as he focused his attention on the terrain. 

     Evie sat up looking around the room as she ran her fingers through her hair trying to calm the bed head.

     Jay rolled over the edge of the roof carefully dropping onto their balcony as the early morning sun stretched into the room beyond the curtain. He was breathing hard but he felt less ramped up at least.

     “Did you have fun?” Evie asked with a yawn as she took in his appearance.

     "Running? Always," he smirked looking her over as he leaned in the doorway of the balcony before walking to the bed leaning against the side, "You sleep okay?"

     “Yes, the bed is nice if you like soft things” she nodded standing up.

     "My rug is better," he teased, "If you're used to such things." He reached out towards her wanting her touch, not for anything more than liking the feel of her against him.

     Evie gave him a smile and took his hand with hers, “The life of a princess.”

     He pulled her in with a quick tug before lifting her hand to his lips, "And you wear it so well," he kissed her knuckles, "Morning my Princess."

     “Morning my masterpiece,” she smiled, “I’m gonna go shower, why don’t you see if you can wake up Pup.”

     “Enjoy,” he nodded, letting her go, “Think of me fondly,” his lips quirked slightly as he turned his attention to his Pup sprawled over the bed.

     Carlos rolled onto his back with a grumble trying to hide from the sunlight.

     Jay’s eyes flickered and the covers eased the rest of the way down, the black and white boxers vanishing. Wake the Pup, easy. Smirking he eased up the bed and slowly carefully licked up his pup’s length before swallowing the tip already prepared to catch any potentially flailing limb. This was much more enjoyable for him than shaking his pup awake.

     “What...” Carlos squinted his eyes open as his arms moved restlessly. 

     Jay grabbed the arms about the wrists and pulled them down to the bed holding them in place as he bobbed his head, tongue curling around the underside. He was right, this was a more enjoyable way to wake his up, maybe he’d try it on Princess next.

     “Jay?” Carlos blinked a few times as he adjusted his legs around Jay’s chest.

     He pulled back with a wet pop, the hard flesh smacking against the pale belly, “Morning Pup, how’d you sleep?” his hands shifted from Carlos’ wrists to his hips gliding up his outer thighs.

     “Morning” he wheezed, “This is nice.”

     “Yeah?” shifting higher up between the confinement of Carlos’ legs he kissed the younger boy gently not minding the morning breath, “You like sleeping in?”

     “Yeah, it’s nice not having to wake up for school or to someone screaming at you,” Carlos smirked

     “Or screaming for you,” Jay snickered pulling away sitting on his heels in the loop of Carlos’ legs.

     “That’s true as well” Carlos nodded, “I do enjoy waking up like this though.”

     “I would be offended if you suddenly stop liking my mouth,” he smirked spreading Carlos’ legs and slid off the bed.

     “I would never not like your mouth” he chuckled sitting up.

     He grinned at the comment turning away, “Go get ready for breakfast, Princess is taking a shower,” Jay pulled his vest off and routed around his bag for a clean shirt.

     “Tease,” he rolled his eyes with a smirk before heading to the bathroom.

     “For you always!” he called after Carlos letting his take over the bathroom as he changed into clean clothes and donned his beanie, wanting the old comfort despite the heat.

     Carlos slipped into the shower as Evie slipped out. She gave him a smile before heading over to the sink.

     A weight settled on his shoulder and Jay offered up a nut, “Morning old man.”

     “Where did you run off to at ass o’clock this morning?”

     “Just went on a run, couldn’t sleep anymore. I was back just after dawn,” He rubbed his finger over the macaw’s feet with a tender look, “Don’t tell me you were worried.

     “I never worry unless Jafar is within throwing distance of you. Then I worry,” Iago chuffed through the hungry crunches of his breakfast nuts as Jay held them up for him to take.

     “Good to know you were not worried,” Evie smirked as she headed to her bag to grab some clothes.

     “Never,” Iago huffed fluffing his feathers, “My kid can handle himself Blueberry.”

     “Oh I know he can handle himself, and other things too,” Evie pulled on her lightweight pale blue dress.

     “Handle all the things,” Jay snorted.

     “I know you can” she slid her tights up her legs.

     “Does anyone know what we are doing today?” Carlos asked as he toweled his hair.

     “Princess and I have that thing with Sadira which means you and Princy get to hang and do whatever till we’re done. I know you always like that.”

     “Well he does have a sick game system,” Carlos conceded.

     “That he does. What do you want to do after that Pup, when Princess and I are done with Sadira?”

     “Not sure, depends on how you two are feel after” he shrugged pulling on his shorts and a shirt.

     “Pup, we can do whatever you want after. Really...” He didn’t want Carlos to be left out because of all of this magic shit. He was fine with pushing himself if it meant keeping them all happy.

     “I know it’s... I don't know,” he shrugged.

     “Well you think about it Pup,” Evie instructed.

     Jay nodded in agreement, “Think about it and let us know. Breakfast?”

     “Yes, this mainland has totally ruined me for not eating every day,” Carlos pulled on his shoes on.

     “It really has, hasn't it?” Jay sighed brushing nut bits off his vest, “Gone are the days of hard bread to share with my Macaw. And making deals to con people into stealing meat from Ursula to feed my boys.”

     “I can’t say I am missing that,” Carlos agreed as they headed towards breakfast.

     “I am not missing the hard bread. That I know I am not missing.”

     “Not missing digging through the barges for materials,” Evie smirked.

     “I don’t miss having been kicked out of the wharf,” Jay snorted.

     “At least they let you back in,” Carlos laughed.

     “Crocodile let me back in, the others, well they weren’t exactly thrilled. Wasn’t like she kicked your teeth in as long as you were with your mom,” he pointed out, “Not that Mal ever figured out which one of them let me back in.”

     “Well nobody said she was smart,” Carlos rolled his eyes, ignoring the side eye Evie gave him.

     “And no one liked to fuck with Mal more than her. Could watch her get her rocks off pissing Mal off. I do miss our betting game on them though,” Jay grinned widely, “That was the best, watching those two exchange blows.”

     “There really wasn’t a point to betting towards the end. Crocodile always won,” Carlos opened the door for them.

     “Still worth it to me,” Jay liked watching them, liked the presence they made, the force Mal had been. They would have made one bitchin’ gang the Core 4 and the Jollyrogers, no one would have ever dreamed of screwing with any of them. Especially not their parents as Crocodile gave no shits who was in her way, they didn’t move she moved them.

     Aziz looked up at the door and smiled at the three as they walked in, “Morning you three.”

     “Morning my prince” Evie smiled, taking her seat at the end.

     He gave her a warm look, “Are you ready for your lesson with Ms. Sadira?” 

     Jay rolled his eyes at his royal two and plunked down at the table skipping formalities to grab himself some black coffee and his juice.

     “As ready as we can be I suppose,” Evie shrugged.

     “I know you two will be fine, you two are naturals.”

     “Were.” Jay corrected, “Princess is the natural, I’m having issues as usual. I only function when I’m not supposed to.”

     Aziz kicked him in the shin, ignoring the white hot look of anger, “You are learning, stop thinking you have to get everything on the first go. It’s okay to need to practice, you open your mouth to say one more negative thing this early in the morning. I'll do more than kick you in the shin.”

     Jay’s mouth shut with a click of teeth and a dark look at his prince. He pushed the burning hot coil of magic down dragging it down so he didn’t break anything. With an irritated noise he drank his coffee.

     Carlos leaned around Jay to give Aziz a look, that was bold, way bold.

     Evie quickly busied herself with serving herself some fruits.

     Aziz caught Carlos’ look, “What?”

     “We’ll talk about it later,” Carlos shook his head at the prince.

     Aziz may want them and need them but he was sick and tired of Jay’s negative attitude about absolutely everything he did. He hated that he knew it was all likely the ‘brainwashing’ of Jafar but it was time to break Jay of the habit. By force because Jay was not being anything but stubborn. “Alright, what do you want to eat Jay?”

     “Coffee, if I’m allowed that,” he growled out.

     He rolled his eyes, “Alright brat, I’ll make you some food.”

     Evie gave Carlos a look, he rolled his eyes but nodded along with what she was silently saying. 

     Aziz set a bowl of porridge in front of Jay filled with fruits, “Please eat something.”

     “The porridge is really good,” Carlos said as he worked on his bowl.

     Jay poked at the food in front of him before submitting to his need for food.

     Evie managed to eat a whole plate of fruit and even a little bit of the porridge, before she decided that was more than enough, while Carlos was working on his third helping.

     Aziz watched Jay eat about half of his breakfast before returning to just his coffee. He sighed resting his shoulder against Jay's, feeling the tension there before the younger male relaxed a bit leaning his weight into Aziz.

     “We should probably go meet up with Sadira if you're done Jay,” Evie wiped around her mouth.

     "Yeah alright," Jay nodded, kissing Aziz's cheek before doing the same to Carlos, "Be a wicked Pup for Princy," he ruffled the black and white hair before pushing himself to standing as he polished off his coffee and trailed after Evie.

     Aziz looked at the half eaten bowl and sighed as he finished his breakfast. Kid was going to collapse if he didn't watch it.

     “Z Man I wouldn’t push it,” Carlos shook his head.

     "What do you want me to sit by and let him beat himself up for some asinine thought process that was forced on him?" Aziz huffed annoyed, "He needs someone, anyone to break him out of that stupid mentality. To drive it in past everything his father taught him so he can wake up one day and realize he doesn't have to be perfect. That he is fine just the way he is."

     “It’s hard to make the voices stop,” Carlos shrugged.

     "I'm not suggesting it is easy, but I am not going to sit here and watch him make it worse. The sooner you all realize I am going to break you free of those old mentalities the better. I know some days will be better than others but we'll get through them. Step one is getting him to stop parroting back all the shit his father told him," Aziz ran a hand through his hair, "You want to go kill some skeletons?" He asked wanting to continue this conversation in the safety of his room. Maybe he would start with Carlos while he worked on Jay and Evie's whispers.

     “Sure” Carlos shrugged following after him.

     Aziz nodded and guided Carlos back towards his room.

     “Jay doesn’t like being challenged about things out in the open,” Carlos looked around the room.

     "Yeah and? What is the point of being with all of you if all he wants is people that let him get away with that shit? I'm not letting him. Any of you for that matter. I know, I didn't live there with you. I don't know what it was like. But I do see you, I do know some of you, and I am going to help you all heal from the shit you have been through," he turned on the console and grabbed the two controllers before tracking back to his bed where Carlos was.

     “That’s not what I'm saying, you want to call him on his shit, fine. But there’s a way to go about it, doing it in public is like telling him you don’t want him to be in charge,” Carlos tried to explain.

     "You want him to be in charge while he's thinking the worst? I don't, I want him out of that mindset as soon as possible so he can be in charge focused on what is best for all of us including him."

     “That’s not how it works, he’s in charge or he’s not. You can help him but, do it differently,” Carlos moved his character.

     "No, that's exactly how it works. This is a 'gang' right? You look after one another right? Consider me looking after your health. I know I am just a Mainlander prince."

     “There’s an order to follow, if you have a problem you bring it to Evie. If you challenge him in public it means you want to be in charge cause you don’t think he can handle it. If you take control you push him out. I know it's confusing, the way you mainlanders work confuses us.”

     Aziz rolled his eyes, "I have to run this entire kingdom when my parents eventually retire. Why the hell would I want to be in charge now? I rather Jay just keep doing his thing, but I am calling him on his shit as always. That was the system before this," he thumbed the chain, "Why do I have to change?"

     “You don’t have to change, just try talking to him in private first if you don’t like something,” Carlos maneuvered his character into the battle.

     "Yeah that won't help him. Is this because I'm his? That I changed our arrangement?"

     “Maybe I don't know, maybe the 4 of us need to talk and sort this out. To us its hard to explain,” Carlos sighed, “I guess you could kind of call it a bureaucracy... as stupid as that sounds”

     "More like a Monarchy and Jay is King, Evie his Queen," Aziz killed a skeleton with more aggressive button mashing than necessary. 

     “I guess, if you look at it that way.” Carlos nodded taking on the next skeleton, “Just try it our way for a little bit. You and we have to remember that you see things differently, not just because of how you grew up versus how we grew up, but because you're older than us. It's an odd situation of all of us for the oldest to not be in charge.”

     "I already told you I don't need or want to be in charge. I like that Jay is in charge, that I don't have to always be the decision maker. But fine we will talk it out. If that will help you all, fine."

     “I know you’re frustrated, we all can tell. It scares Jay, I think.”

     "He's scared because he has no idea what to do with someone who wants to do nothing but help. Everything is newer to him and this place is a cluster to him," he sighed setting the controller down, "I wanted you all to see my home, give it a chance to maybe be yours. I didn't know how bad it was going to because he doesn't want to talk about it. I knew what made the scars on his back, I knew he had the same problem my little brother had as soon as I got it out of him. Could I tell him? No, because if I happened to say the wrong thing he would leave and never come back."

     “He’s scared cause he let himself open up and take a mainlander in before and now she’s gone. He made a promise to her that he can’t keep now” Carlos finished the battle and headed down a corridor.

     "Penny." He stated, it wasn't a guess it was a hard fact. He was a sub in for her, granted one that had sex with all of them, but a sub. Aziz picked the controller back up and followed after Carlos, "Did he take her on?"

     “Not the way we did with you. She was more an extension of us, a... satellite I think that’s the word. Like Dizzy back on the isle, she gave Jay something to focus on when he wasn’t sure what to do.” 

     "What did he promise her then? If you can tell me. I know I'm not privy to all these unspoken rules you lot have. But now is as good of a time as any to tell me them. I may be good at picking up a lot of things but I'm not that good."

     “That he would protect her,” Carlos said, “He still feels like our parents are going to appear and destroy every thing we have here.”

     Aziz nodded, "Protection. Should have guessed, that is pretty much his thing. I would say Jay is just being paranoid, but considering Mal's mother showed up out of the blue on Ben's coronation day. That's a serious worry of mine too, but I think I put less into it than he does. Be prepared, but don't drive yourself crazy thinking about it."

     “It’s his thing, just like Evie’s is making our clothes. But, when you challenge him in public it’s like you saying you don’t think he can protect us. And since he already feels like he failed with Penny,” Carlos shrugged, “It’s kinda like a sucker punch to the face.”

     "How is my telling him to cut his negative attitude even close to related to his protection? That's all I did. I called him out on being in one of his beat the shit out of himself moods," Aziz bit out hitting the buttons with more force than necessary, "What's the point in being with all of you if all I get is pushed away when our illustrious leader is in a funk? I can handle his moods, I don't mind ruffling his proverbial feathers if it shakes him free of his whispers. But if all you lot want me for is sex why bother claiming me? Not like I had a girlfriend." He was helping the way that had always worked for as long as he had known Jay before this stupid necklace was tossed around his neck.

     “Because we care about you. That’s why, I don’t know how to explain it ok. I used to know how it’s always worked for us. The fact that Evie and I could tell he was trying to figure out how to keep us together when Evie becomes queen. He more than lusts for you, he cares,” Carlos spilled out to him.

     Aziz felt the anger wash away from him and he paused the game fully looking at Carlos, "Why would anything change if she chose to take her throne? There is an easy solution here that we can discuss, but it would effectively keep us all together no matter what. If you care about someone you fight for them, you tell them when they're being ridiculous, tell them they are beautiful when they can't see it, you spend time with them even if it's not anything but reading or gaming. That word you don't know how to explain what you all feel towards me and towards each other, we mainlanders generally call that love."

     “Mal’s a stuck up bitch but she wasn’t wrong. We don’t know what love is,” Carlos looked at him, “For us it’s as foreign as starving or walking around with broken bones is for you.” 

     "Having broken my arm before I get it, starving no, my Baba would know about that. Just because you don't use the word love doesn't mean you don't know what it is." Aziz leaned towards Carlos cupping the younger males cheek, "I see it when you look at them. I see it when Jay is taking care of you. I see in the way Evie makes sure your all clothed and she tries to pull him out of his own head."

     “If you say so, just don’t tell Jay that he’ll get all weird.”

     "Oh I know that," Aziz kissed the tip of Carlos' nose, "Just like how pissed he gets when he has issues with words. He has lots of weird things."

     “We all have something weird about us,” he leaned forward, resting his forehead on Aziz’s chest.

     He ran his fingers through Carlos' hair. Moving a little closer he shifted the controllers out of the way and rubbed the back of his head. "True but so do I, everyone has something weird about them."

     “Yeah, just some of us have more,” Carlos nodded.

     "Fair enough," he agreed petting Carlos, they may have called him Puppy but sometimes he acted just like one.

     “I like touching, touch... gentle touch helps me feel normal. To forget all her hurtful touches,” Carlos explained as if reading his mind.

     Aziz nodded, "Gentle touches, alright I can do that. Honestly, this kind of thing helps me too. Relaxing you know? It's nice to spend time with you. Not that I don't enjoy all the time with all of you, but with you I am not constantly fending off flirting, we can just talk."

     “I never really got into the flirting thing, I was just an easy target why invite more attention?” Carlos shrugged.

     "Why were you an easy target? I mean you are super smart didn't that help?" Aziz asked keeping his hands moving in that soothing pattern.

     “No, just made me a bigger target, I’m not very big or strong so it was easy to corner,” Carlos didn’t really like thinking about it.

     "I am sorry to hear that," Aziz frowned slightly, "But Jay looked after you right? Like he does now?"

     “Yeah he tried, succeeded for the most part” he nodded.

     "But people like Chad, only Isle, always managed to get through Jay's protection. And those are the ones that mostly cornered you. If you would be okay with it, I'm happy to intervene with people like Chad if you want..."

     “I never turn down help with things like Chad,” Carlos pulled back a little.

     Aziz let him pull away and smiled softly, "Then I will help with Chad. He has terrorized enough people, you don't need someone like that here on the mainland."

     “Thanks” he smiled back, “Should we continue with our game or did you want to do something else.”

     "Either is fine with me, we can always talk more while we play. Maybe catch me up on all these Isle rules I don't know," Aziz offered.

     “I can try and fill you in as best I can,” he agreed.

Chapter 131: Talk of Children (Agrabah: June)

Summary:

Warning: dark side of the Isle

     Evie gave Carlos a smile as she slipped into the water of the bath, it was nice to just soak in the water. To enjoy these little moments here, that they couldn’t have in Auradon.

     Carlos followed after her and leaned back on the tub wall. Relaxing in the warm water, the other two had gone to work out. Well Aziz requested Jay come work out with him because they needed a talk. He smiled at her, "Do you miss it?"

     “Miss what pup?” she asked laying her head back on the edge.

     "Back when Jay was second and Mal was in charge? When you and I had our own pact and could tell each other anything?" He asked taking a deep breath.

     She sat up looking at him with a small frown, “You can tell me anything, you know that. Just cause I help keep Jay on the line doesn’t mean you can’t tell me stuff.”

     "We used to tell each other everything. Things that I would never tell Jay... he would go ballistic. And you used to tell me things, things I never told Mal or Jay. But now you're his second."

     “Carlos if there’s something you want to tell me but don’t want Jay to know, I won't tell him. You can trust me with that,” she reached out putting a hand on his shoulder.

     "But what about you? I know you won't tell Jay just like I know he never told Mal anything. Because you were awfully quiet when we were talking about kids."

     “Its a princess’ job to have children with her prince,” her tone went flat, how many times had she been told that by her mother. That if she was insisting on letting filth between her legs then take the potion, but if it was a prince that sooner a child was on the way the better.

     "That's your mother talking and you know it. What do you want? Do you want a baby or not?" Carlos asked.

     “I don’t know, it's all so confusing here. On the isle it was easy, the answer was no way. I didn’t want to risk turning into my mother. But here... I just don’t know” she shook her head, looking at the high window letting in sunlight.

     "Well do you want to be a parent?" Carlos asked, "Here on the Mainland."

     “Maybe, I've thought about it a lot since we brought Princy in. I mean he’s going to be the Sultan of Agrabah one day, I might be queen of the Fair Forest. Rulers need heirs, they need at least one kid. Even if I decided I don't want to be Queen, Aziz will still need an heir. I don’t want us to lose him because I decided I don't want kids,” Evie tried to order her thoughts, it wasn’t often she ended up on a topic like this with the boys.

     "We aren't going to lose him. He and I had a talk over games. He wanted to talk to Jay one on one, then we four need to talk out some stuff. So we don't have another fiasco like this morning." Carlos set his hand over Evie's.

     “Sometimes I wonder what it would be like to have this tiny little person that is always happy to see you” Evie mused, “I don’t know anymore what I think about kids.”

     "That... that sounds complicated, but I am positive it would be nicer to have a kid and raise them here on the Mainland," Carlos tried to be supportive because he definitely didn't want kids and Jay well, Jay was doing everything he could to not have them either.

     “It is, I can hardly keep it straight in my own head,” she nodded.

     He offered her a smile, "Well like Z said we have time. We can wait and see maybe that will help uncomplicate things."

     “Plenty of time” she pulled him closer to her.

     Carlos sagged against her with a soft hum, tucking his face into her neck, "Z said this works on him too..."

     “That’s good to know, I think a lot of mainlanders like to cuddle and touch. That was Mal’s biggest bitch about Ben somedays that we wanted to hold her hand or have an arm around her like all the time.”

     Carlos snorted, "Mal bitched about everything. And Jay bitched about Mal bitching at him. I think it's nice the touching thing," he flushed a little, "Z seems to like touching us like Jay does too."

     “It's nice to be able to touch and cuddle. To have each other like this,” she agreed, “We should probably get out before we turn into prunes.”

     "Can we do this some more out of the tub then? We really haven't..." he sighed as he pulled away.

     “Yeah, we can. We’ll lay down together until Jay comes back,” she nodded pulling him along to the steps.

     Carlos followed her out of the tub happily, "I missed us," he stated as they quickly dried off.

     “Pup all you have to do is say something. Nothing comes between us,” she hugged him.

     "Well I know you and Jay have a lot on your plates, I don't want to bug you." He relaxed into her hugging her back.

     “You can never bug us, you are important to us,” she pulled him down into the bed.

     Carlos rolled his eyes but nestled up next to her, tangling their legs together as he pulled his arms around her middle.

     Evie relaxed against him letting her fingers run up and down his ribs.

     He hummed closing his eyes, "How are 'magic' lessons going?"

     “They are alright, what she says makes sense but sometimes putting it into practice is harder than it sounds. I worry about when we go back, how they are going to react to our magic.” 

     "Well it's like science, sometimes you need to do a little adjustmenting to make a result work. If they don't like it is only a few months then we can visit somewhere else. Visit as much of the Mainland as we can. Z can give us a tour."

     “That would be nice, to see all the other kingdoms.” 

     "Maybe we can find one Jay likes," Carlos rubbed his temple against her shoulder. "Though he will probably never tell us if he does..."

     “We’ll be able to tell, he’s not that good at hiding stuff from us if he’s not thinking about it.” 

     "You mean like this entire trip?"

     “Exactly” she chuckled, “But he’s warming up to the place.” 

     "Slowly," Carlos agreed as the door opened to the sounds of Jay and Aziz arguing about Tourney, "Never enough us time," he muttered.

     “We’ll work on it” she kissed his forehead before looking up at the two boys.

     "I am telling you that would never work." Aziz insisted ruffling his damp hair.

     "Okay from experience it would work. It's a little dicey with you Mainlanders being all sensitive about getting hit but-"

     "But nothing," he huffed as Jay pulled his beanie off and tossed it onto his bag before he pinned all of his damp hair into a messy bun. "I am a coach, you are not using that play. People could get seriously hurt."

     "Oh that's what you're going to do? Play the 'I'm a coach' card?" Jay snapped still sour about this morning, and the fact that the Prince had apologized while they were practicing with swords.

     "No. I am trying to explain that compared to you, we mainlanders are a bunch of wimps that don't handle broken bones as easily as you." He rolled his eyes as he fanned his shirt out, "For the record I find it disconcerting you look at breaking bones like we think about weather."

     Iago took a look between the boys, "It means uncomfortable, basically. Now why are you arguing about some stupid game?"

     "It is not a stupid game," Jay and Aziz balked in tandem before looking at one another silently.

     The bird fluffed his feathers, "Alright alright... geez."

     Jay rolled his eyes walking over to the bed and leaned over his other two, "You two having some time?" He asked giving them both a warm kiss.

     “Yeah just enjoying this,” Evie nodded

     “Just some us time, like before,” Carlos kept an arm around Evie.

     Jay smiled slightly as he pulled back, "Well don't let us bug your cuddle session."

     "Except that we need to. I mean unless you want me to leave as per usual," Aziz aimed low he knew he did, he could see it in the way Jay's back stiffened before he straightened, "Up to you, oh dear man in charge."

     He looked at the older male sharply hot venom on his tongue, angry coils of magic building in his chest until he noticed Aziz's fingers on the chain, "I don't want you to leave. We just don't want you to sit through me having my stupid issues."

     "One, they aren't stupid. Two, I don't give a shit. And three, why claim me if you don't want me to keep doing what we did before?" Aziz had avoided this during their practice, because he didn't want Jay having anything in his hands when he was potentially pissed off.

     "Because I wanted you. I claimed you because I wanted you," Jay crossed the floor toe to toe with the older male who lifted a brow at him expression about the same as his mothers, "Why you want out? You want to walk away from us?"

     Aziz let his hands drop, "Never. But I would appreciate not being shoved away when you're having an Isle thing. You either want me all in or you don't at this stage. I know bringing you here was a mistake. This place, no matter how much I want it to be a home for you, is never not going to eat at you. I am telling you-"

     Jay leaned in, silencing the words on his lips, magic flickering in his eyes, "I will not abandon you."

     Aziz swallowed hard, averting his gaze, there was something so much deeper in those words. He leaned in letting his forehead rest against Jay's, "Then stop fighting me when I try to help you. Stop letting me get pushed away."

     Evie sighed sitting up, she waved her hand and both she and Carlos were wrapped in the robes from the bathroom. 

     Carlos sat up with a pout, “No one is leaving anyone. No one is pushing anyone.”

     Jay heaved a heavy sigh, "Agreed," he pulled Aziz towards the massive bed and pushed him onto before he dropped onto the corner leaning back into the post facing them, "Alright time to hash out duties in the group apparently. We are clearly having issues about what is good for us and our Princy."

     “Obviously, ” Evie agreed sitting crossed legged letting Carlos flop into her lap.

     "First things first. I'm the one in charge and Princess is my second. You need something I provide it, my job is to look after all of us and keep us safe." Jay stated, it was common knowledge this was just what he did but for the sake of argument he was putting it there, "Princess, Pup explain to Princy what your jobs are."

     “As second I back up Jay’s decision, I also tell him if his actions may not be the correct ones, I help give a second perspective on things. Also if Princy or Pup have a problem with Jay you bring it to me. I keep us clothed and help the boy’s mind their manners,” Evie explained running her fingers through Carlos’ hair.

     “I take care of the tech, make sure Jay’s phone is charged, stuff like that. I’m also the bait most of the time,” Carlos shrugged.

     "Okay, understood. So as the new guy here am I allowed to be the emotional support? I realize this sounds weird for you all. My job is to deal with the council day in day out since I'm done school now. When I am off work I just want to be helpful to Jay and drag him through homework. Or hang out with Carlos and play video games or help him be social-ish. Or spend time with Evie so she can have someone to vent to about whatever. Given the fact I didn't grow up on the Isle, I want to be here for all of you when you're stuck in your own heads listening to your whispers. I want to help you off your individual ledges, pull you back, give you everything you need to dust yourselves off. Unless you don't want that from me..." Aziz looked at them, they had specific roles to play that they had been doing for years, he wasn't really sure where he fit with that.

     Jay blinked and glanced at Evie and Carlos trying to get a feel for their opinion. Mal's role had been the leader, she made the decisions and plans. That was her thing, and Jay had just taken on her role and tacked it onto his own. They never had someone in the "Healer" role before. Leader, Shield, Caretaker, Support. Every crew was a little different and may have a few spots blended but that was the general makeup.

     “You want to be our... anchor?” Evie tilted her head that didn’t seem like the right word.

     “I think coach maybe a better word,” Carlos tilted his head back to look at Aziz.

     "We are not calling it Coach," Jay stated, "Anchor sounds better... this is like Z's role in the Jollyrogers, I forget what they call it though. Um... Mimzy daughter of Madame Mim she's the one they go to to get patched up or if they need to chill out. Or um, Ginny Gothel she does the same for Frollo's helpers."

     Aziz nodded slowly taking the names in without any reference of their parents really, "You can call it whatever you want really I don't much care. But if there is a place for me to function as I've been functioning that doesn't create the bizarre friction I caused this morning. That is the place I would like to be in. I understand from Carlos that you saw it as me challenging for control. Jay and I talked through it... kind of..." he was aware Jay was still not happy he had done in 'public'.

     “Healer,” Evie supplied, “Ginny is their healer. I have no idea what Mimzy is called.”

     “I think that’s a good spot for Z” Carlos added.

     "Yeah alright, you can be our Healer then. Aka your job is patching us up or putting us back together," Jay nodded.

     "Does that role mean I can call you out when you lot start in on yourselves with words that aren't yours?" He asked pointedly and mildly because he knew they did it, and he wanted the official permission to call them on it.

     “In private Princy, just give us a nudge or something in public,” Evie trailed her nails down Carlos’ neck.

     Jay nodded, "The glares are going to be real," he grumbled yielding.

     "Then I'm okay with this," Aziz replied with a smile, "I am going to rather enjoy yanking you all back to the surface."

     “Nice image there since I don’t think any of us can swim,” Carlos snickered.

     "I can swim thanks," Jay retorted, "Baba didn't believe me when I told him I was serious about keeping my boys."

     "Really?" Aziz asked, "How did you learn?"

     "You don't want to know," Jay replied, he had learned real quick when he went into the water around Uma's territory. Especially since that was where Tic Tok liked hanging out.

     "Right. Regardless, I am serious about helping you, keeping you on stable ground. But you," he pointed at Evie, " 'amira stop telling me to make myself scarce when this one is listening to things we both don't want him listening to. I am capable of handling it, I can take a hit or two if it comes to that."

     “I will try but if he wants you and Carlos out of the room then you move,” she flicked her hair over her shoulder.

     "If he wants me gone then he can tell me that," Aziz could see the 'Evil' Princess she was on the Isle and he wasn't going to back down.

     “Suit yourself” she shrugged. 

     “Princess Evie, fierce protector of her prince of thieves” Carlos snickered only to get flicked in the ear.

     "Chill out my royals, no need to fight over me, more than enough Jay to go around," he smirked looking between the two, fingers rubbing Iago's beak as the macaw landed on his shoulder.

     "More than enough of your Ego at least," Aziz shot back with a teasing look, "We aren't fighting over you, we are negotiating over you."

     “That ego gets much bigger and it won’t fit on the train or in his tourney helmet,” Carlos teased.

     "Ouch," Jay acted wounded, "You guys are so harsh."

     "Please," Aziz snickered, "You and 'amira ooze confidence like it's a second job, you can handle a few jabs."

     "Well it's easier to steal from everyone that way," he shrugged, "That, flirting, generally distracting people."

     “People don’t pay attention to what your hands are doing if they are focused on other things” Evie smirked.

     "Like your mouth for instance," Jay gave her a knowing look. "Or your other hand."

     "Alright I'm asking," Aziz stated, "Why?"

     "Why what? Why do I know this? Easy because I did it day in and day out and it fucking worked to stock Baba's shelves aka pay my rent. Age 8 until I left," Jay replied easily.

     “Because it distracted them while I grabbed my acid out of my purse, or scissors depending on the situation.” 

     "All I want to do is hug you and never let you go..." Aziz muttered looking at his three VK lovers.

     "Please don't," Jay rolled his eyes, "Really we survived just fine."

     "Oh, cause looking at some of your scars I have concerns you didn't survive just fine. And your three’s habits..." he was trying to test the waters, see how deep it was, how dark and dangerous it was so he knew how bad it would get. He had seen Jay's deep end at least he hoped he had.

     “Trust me we survived just fine, or we would be in Frollo’s care.” Carlos snorted 

     “Or sold to a brothel,” Evie agreed, Princy wanted to go deeper fine, they would pull him out when it was too much.

     "Frollo's care?" Aziz asked.

     "Frollo runs the, well I don't know what you call it here, but he looks after all the people who didn't wake back up after taking a lot of damage. Or got real sick. I got lucky Auntie was a sorceress, she kept me out of there," Jay shrugged, lifting his shirt to show the knife wound that nearly did him in. "Wasn't like we could die, but sometimes people just didn't wake back up, not living but kept alive by the barrier. Animals well, we tried not to think about it." Jay kept his tone light watching Aziz's expression carefully.

     "Do... nope not going there... did you know about the barrier's undying rule when you were growing up?"

     "I found out the hard way," he stated flippantly, "Nothing like nearly bleeding out to make you realize nothing that happens to you is going to kill you."

     “Mom threw me down four flights of stairs. I broke like everything, if Evie and Jay hadn’t come looking, well I don’t know,” Carlos said flatly, he’d laid there feeling every bit of pain and numbness at once.

     "Broke everything?" Aziz wheezed.

     "Almost everything," Jay nodded, "I had Princess go get Yzma. Kronk helped us get him up into his treehouse. Nearly took everything I had stolen to pay for it and took months for him to get moving again. Wasn't... wasn't something I'd ever want to go through again but we managed." That was a major reason he had started selling his own skin, not that he would ever tell any of them that. He just told them he had hit the Isle harder, took bigger risks to make up the difference. Hell Mal and Carlos hadn't even known until Uma had opened her big mouth about it, Evie had caught him a few times. Told him she liked watching him work and she wouldn't interfere.

     “It was a hard few months,” Evie agreed.

     “Yeah that shit Yzma gave me for pain gave me weird dreams,” Carlos nodded.

     "Well she is the one who created our potion. Who knows what she made the pain ones from."

     "Yzma is a doctor?" Aziz asked reeling at the knowledge he was getting.

     "Mad Scientist, not doctor. You want a doctor you either need something spirit related or you have something major detached. We actively avoided Doctors. Yzma's kids weren't bad, male, Zevon bat shit crazy, younger sister Yzla, mad scientist like her mom. Fixed the frostbite I had gotten on my feet for the small price of flirting with her. Pretty sure I crushed her heart when I left."

     “I think you broke almost all the girls hearts when you left” Carlos chuckled 

     “Some of the guys too,” Evie smirked.

     "Pretty sure I crushed the whole Isle when I left," he snickered.

     "Why?" Aziz asked not sure if he wanted the answer.

     "Cause I seduced most of them out of something."

     “They were all happy to give you whatever you wanted when batted those eyes,” Carlos snickered 

     “Wasn’t his eyes they wanted,” Evie chuckled.

     "You..."

     "Everything had a price on the Isle, even me. I did what I had to do to survive." Jay stated evenly.

     "So when we were at the-"

     "Brothel? No," he snorted, "I stole from the brothels. Stole from anyone and everywhere. When people wanted me we'd make a deal."

     “Enough about that” Carlos said

     Aziz lifted his hands easily, clearly something happened to Carlos against his will related to the brothels, "Okay tell me something else then."

     “What do you want to know about?” Evie leaned back.

     "The unfiltered stories," he stated curiously.

     Jay looked at Evie and Carlos and shrugged he didn't mind that, "Well... how squeamish are you?"

     "I have no idea, we're going to find out." Aziz nodded.

     “Alright let's see, there’s the day I poured acid on the Gaston twins,” Evie tilted her head.

     "G3 still has a limp. Oh and the time you stabbed Clayton in the chest with your scissors." Jay said enthusiastically.

     “That man made the mistake of thinking I was prey” Evie shrugged, “he thinks everyone is prey though so, cie la vie.”

     "There is a chunk of space on the Isle that's covered in red X's. It's like a death trap for kids, lions, hunters, mad men, etc."

     "People hunt you there?"

     “People hunt us everywhere,” Carlos sat up, “Snatchers go wherever they want.”

     "Snatchers catch you they will sell you. Or lions chase you. Then there is the Khan's who may eat you. And the Gators Madame Medusa keeps," Jay listed off, "If you are really unlucky Chernobog's kids."

     “Maybe he wants to hear about All Hallows Eve,” Evie chuckled dryly

     "What happens on Halloween? That's what we call it here by the way."

     "The run," Jay stated, "I avoided it until I was 13. Aka I left and holed myself up."

     “Mom use to have her lackies drag me to the other side of the isle so there was no way I could get home” Carlos said, “it was terrifying, imagine Z the big bads of your guys stories hiding in their homes in fear”

     "In fear of what?"

     "Chernobog. Ancient demon the size of a building," Jay's eyes glossed over remembering that night, "Not really clear on how he got there but every All Hollows Eve he is allowed to roam the Isle and collect new children. I saw him once."

     “You run or you... well we can’t die, but it's close enough,” Carlos shrugged.

     "Corrupted, soiled," Jay shuddered, "He catches you or his children do he'll force you and make you like him."

     “Mom tried to hide me, she succeeded for a few years but... you can’t hide forever” Evie nodded.

     "If they don't find you, the adults will." Jay remembered getting kicked down the stairs, being thrown into the shelves hard enough to dislocate his shoulder. The burning and agony in his chest as he tried to keep breathing as they ran.

     Aziz took the words in cringing slightly, "Forced as in... as in sexually assaulted?" The macaw bobbed his head on Jay's shoulder.

     "It's an Isle of villains, that look of horror you're giving me, yeah that kind of thing happens a lot of the Isle. The Run is the worst day of the year for that," Iago fluttered his feathers.

     “It's a way of life there, everything has value, and people take anything of value you will let them,” Evie explained

     “And then they try and take what you won't let them,” Carlos looked off at the curtains over the balcony entrance.

     "Sometimes they succeed," Jay added his eyes on his hands, "Sometimes they don't. But it's just one of those things on the Isle. You just do whatever you can not to be caught."

     “You decide whether it's worth it to fight or just let it happen”

     "If they got a knife on you, best to just let it happen."

     Aziz's brow furrowed, they way they talked about it, from experience, "How... how many times?"

     “Too many to count,” Carlos shrugged, “Some just blur together, Jay managed to run a lot of them off after he found out but, Jay can’t be everywhere.”

     Jay gave a short laugh, "Not that I didn't try," he reached out ruffling Carlos' hair.

     “You did an impressive job of being everywhere,” Carlos agreed with a smirk.

Chapter 132: Coming to Grips (Agrabah: June)

     Aziz took a deep breath trying to collect his spinning thoughts. This, all of this was so much more than they had ever let on. Sure the night they had brought him on, and got him drunk, they had told him some of their lives. But all of this, he did not like the sound of any of this, not at all, "Okay this is just getting more than I thought."

     “That’s what we were trying to protect you from.” Evie looked at him, “The isle... no one on the mainland wants or needs to know what it is they created when they put all the worst of every one on a small island and won't let them die.”

     "I don't need you to protect me from the truth. I need you to tell me so I can perform my role in this group. I care about you, I want to help you, you can't scare me away with things you have lived through. Tell me what you've lived through so I can help you find a healthy way past it," Aziz stated firmly, he would cope in his own way with the truth. He needed to know it, no matter how unpleasant or how much it made his heart clench for them.

     “Alright then, what else do you want to know?” Carlos looked at him, “About my mom threatening to sell me to Morgana when I was like 5, when I didn't finish all my chores. She left me there one night. Morgana’s is... I watched as she made sure the new kids knew their place.”

     “How Rasputain chopped off body parts of any one he even thought was going to try and steal from him,” Evie supplied.

     "That Shere Khan takes organs out of people he catches and knows how to make sure you'll still be functional," Jay added.

     "There is a shop in Black Magic Alley where they keep decapitated heads in jars that still move," Iago stated shuddering he remembered when Dr. Facilia started putting them out. Back when his kid was still learning to walk.

     “The shrunken head that hang outside of that one shop,” Carlos laughed, “They use to sing all night.”

     "The meat eating plant in Madame Mim's place."

     Aziz felt a little nauseous thinking about dismemberment and still being alive. He reminded himself these were villains, inflicting pain was what they did. "Morgana is who now?"

     “Ursula’s sister, she runs a brothel.” Evie supplied, “I've heard nothing good about her place.”

     "Yeah she's... she is something alright." Jay snickered, "Uses her tentacles more than her hands."

     "Your mother left you at a brothel? Also how do you... right stole from brothels."

     "What he doesn't tell you is that his mother tried to sell him quite a few times to various parties. No one thankfully wanted to keep him. Not entirely sure why that was," Jay made a face, he hadn't realized it before now none of the older villains seemed to have wanted to keep Carlos for long.

     “I take shit apart and make bombs... or what they thought were bombs,” Carlos smirked, “Morgana was a little trickier, I had help from a girl a little older than me.”

     “Mother didn’t let me near the red district if she could help it. But sometimes I went down there, I wanted to know all the isle after being trapped in that castle with her,” Evie spun the ring on her finger.

     "Had nothing to do with spying on your masterpiece," Jay teased.

     “I like to watch,” Evie stuck her tongue out at him.

     "I know," Jay purred, "You were always so soaked and ready to help me when we got somewhere safer."

     "Wait hold up, first off you know how to make bombs? Second you said you didn't in brothels..."

     He snickered without enjoyment, "You wanted the truth Princy. If my payments were short I bartered with the only thing I could. Me. Luckily I rather like fucking so it all worked out. I did what I had to do, if I didn't I added another dozen scars to my collection." He made light of it, he played it off even as the words made his stomach twist waiting for the words he had heard before. The fury Mal had laid into him with when she found out.

     “You are a masterpiece of art,” Evie said softly, “We all do whatever we had to, to make our parents happy.”

     “I like technology, I may have figured out on accident a few times that if you put this or that together it goes boom.”

     "That is highly impressive Los," he nodded as he set a hand on Jay's thigh, "You survived that's what matters. 'Don't judge a man for what he has done to survive, you are not the one who bears the scars surviving has caused.' " Aziz kept his voice soft watching as Jay seemed to breathe a sigh of relief, "Did you all ever team up and do stuff together? I mean the three of you sometimes function like one person."

     “Not with people like that,” Evie shook her head.

     “But we would steal together every now and then” Carlos shrugged, “Like I said, I'm the bait”

     "I tried to keep them away from the stealing thing. I was the best in our group with it. The only other time we were all working together was during turf wars."

     "Right things are more like gang activity. And turf wars would show who's in charge."

     "Us. Aka the original Core 4, followed by the Jollyrogers, and the Sand Snakes. Everyone after that was kinda like chump change to us. Lot of people wanted to claim they were our biggest rivals but I mean..." Jay trailed off Uma's crew caused the most grief but they were nowhere close to his cousin's gang or Crocodile’s.

     “We protected each others backs and we made sure everyone knew that we were not to be messed with.” Evie looked at her nails.

     "How bad did these turf wars get?"

     "If we were against the Jollyrogers bad. She packed a five man crew, son of Shere Khan and son of Gaston, her muscle, she and the other two were agile and vicious. There is a reason they have their own song."

     “It could get pretty nasty” Evie shrugged 

     “I saw Jay smash a guys head in the wall once when Uma messed with us. So gross Z,” Carlos made a face.

     Aziz looked at Jay, "You knocked him out?"

     "I shut them up." He stated monotone.

     "So..." he looked confused glancing between them.

     Jay licked his lips, voice devoid of emotion, "I smashed his skull in. He and his ally are with Frollo. I shut them up."

     Aziz could feel himself palling. Jay, his Jay, the thought of his Jay doing that with those same skillful hands didn't seem possible. That such brutality could live under the skin of someone who lived to protect. Something had to have caused it, triggered it, they must have said something. That was the only explanation, Jay said he shut them up, whatever they said must have really pissed him off.

     "That does sound pretty gross," he agreed weakly.

     “That’s what happens when you run your mouth about things you don’t understand” Evie watched Aziz’s face.

     Jay looked at him covering his hand with his own, he didn't flinch, that was a good sign, "You okay? Want to stop?"

     Aziz shook his head, "No. I can handle it," he ignored the disbelieving looks he got, "It... it just seems so surreal that you could do that when your so... not like that ever."

     "Everyone has a snapping point," Jay offered starting as the older male moved to press himself against his side, "It wasn't always like that. Sometimes it was just exchange some blows, break some bones, stab some non essential parts, that kind of thing."

     “There’s a reason I didn’t tell him Audrey called me a whore. You would have seen that side,” Evie explained.

     "She did what?" Jay snarled even as Aziz held him.

     "I see that," Aziz nodded holding Jay tight, "I took care of it hubibi, I took care of it. Just calm down it's over. She won't be running her mouth again, she won't be back I promise."

     Jay's jaw clenched but he let Aziz try and cool him down, the pet name catching him off guard. He had heard it before but generally it was in the string of Arabic Aziz babbled while they were fucking. He imagined it had to be something important if he was using it now.

     “This is why I didn’t tell you,” she motioned, “Aziz took care of it, Mal just about breathed fire. It over.” 

     Jay made a few incoherent grumbling noises, "Fucking bitch."

     "Yes she is, but I took care of it," Aziz kissed his cheek, "I figured he be cranky but geez." He tried to lighten Jay's mood even as the younger male's fingers dug into his side.

     "You have never seen cranky," Jay retorted hotly, "Side bar, if we are talking about the Isle in full open, you going to bitch if I pull out alcohol because I could use a drink."

     Aziz looked at Jay, "Now that you mentioned it, I haven't seen or smelled alcohol on you in months."

     "Hey I don't drink all the time, I am not my Baba. But we cut loose every once in a while, Princess has been on me about not drinking here."

     “I just don’t want your parents to smell it on him or Sadira,” Evie explained.

     He made a face, "And Sadira probably won't like you drinking while your still learning to control your magic. My parents let us drink every once in a while as long as we are safe about it. But I mean wine verses your hard liquor."

     Jay groaned, "Come on..."

     "Hey don't whine, I have no idea what you all have been doing and learning. I don't want to say yes and screw things up. Idea you could ask Sadira if it would be okay." Aziz offered.

     “I don’t know if she’s gonna be cool with that,” Evie made face, “But I could ask for us”

     “Well Fairy Godmother keeps telling us we should ask if want to know something,” Carlos added.

     "Yeah but the things I have questions about aren't Mainland friendly normally."

     Aziz snorted snuggling closer to Jay, the younger male not seeming to mind, "You could just ask me you know. That Mainlander you picked up?"

     "Fine," Jay drawled rolling his eyes despite the fact he was rubbing small circles against the warm skin on Aziz's hip, "Let see more Isle stories for our curious Princy."

     “Mom left me locked in a cabinet for a week,” Carlos tried to come up with something.

     “That time we caught Uma giving Koga a blow job,” Evie snickered.

     "Koga son of Shere Khan... I am guessing Uma daughter of Ursula? I am feeling a naming theme here," Aziz grinned.

     "Man I had almost forgotten about that. She looked so good on her knees," Jay grinned, "The look of her face, and Koga was just like, 'Can I help you?' Priceless, just priceless."

     “She could make so much money if she just did that all the time” Carlos smirked, “of course maybe she’s not that good. You ever sample that fish?” he looked at Jay.

     Jay made a face, "I was... 12? Maybe... but yeah, for eel feed. Lifeless in bed, but that was the first time I ever experienced a squirter. She totally fucked the deal I had with her mom, but I saw that coming."

     “So maybe she couldn’t make that much money,” Evie laughed, “though some men like that”

     "Yeah not with her attitude. Not sure how she ended up blowing him though. I mean it's Koga, guy is just all claws and teeth most times. You know who would make good money? Anthony Tremaine. That mouth..." Jay hummed.

     “Yeah but he’s such a dick to Dizzy,” Evie made a face.

     "Well if his mouth is full he can't be a dick." Jay grinned, "Sadly I wasn't high class enough for him. Fine by me, walking in on G3 teaching him manners was worth it."

     “Well I may have stabbed him before that. He had a funny idea on what was ok and what wasn’t ok to do to Dizzy.” Evie tilted her head.

     “Was that the day after Dizzy came to school with the really short hair,” Carlos asked

     “Yes that would be the day,” Evie nodded.

     "Okay too many names. Who are these people and how do you know them? Trying to get a reference point here." Aziz looked between them confused.

     “Dizzy is the granddaughter of Lady Tremaine, daughter of Druzila. Anthony Tremaine, is Dizzy’s older cousin, son of Anastasia. Dizzy is the sweetest little thing, about Raj’s age, she loves doing hair and fashion” Evie explained

     "Not to be messed with for the wrath of Princess," Jay grinned, "Of which many a poor soul were stabbed or acid bathed over. I might have knocked a few teeth in for her every once in a while."

     "Tremaines, Charmings got it. G3 another Gaston? Right?"

     "Yep. Oh and the Heart cousins... those two. Ignore they were highly unstable like my fucking chemistry assignments. But those two..." Jay rather enjoyed his once a month session with Anastasia.

     “Morgana’s twins,” Carlos shuddered, “Those two where scary.”

     “Gaston has three sons, Gaston the second, Gaston the Third and Gilford or Gil” Evie nodded.

     "Those two were wow," Jay shot back, "Isle twins... they really like doing everything together."

     "Did you sleep with the whole Isle?" Aziz asked looking at him wide eyed.

     "No... I mean I wasn't exactly keeping track but I can name three people in the list of names we've given you I didn't fuck."

     "Only three? I thought the list would be longer..." he muttered, he really needed to get Jay tested, but explaining STDs to a bunch of Isle kids was going to be complicated.

     “Dizzy doesn’t count she’s a kid” Evie snorted, “Who are the other two?” 

     "Anthony and Crocodile. Since Dizzy doesn't count," Jay made a face at her.

     "That implies you... wow Jay that is a lot of people. Even Koga?" Aziz blinked.

     "Once... I was desperate... we agreed it was to never happen again."

     “I’m not sure if I think that’s hot or not,” Evie honestly looked baffled.

     Jay made a face, "Well I... I mean..."

     "Candid questions I will regret asking later, sex or blow."

     "Well it started as a blow. He well he went a little tiger on me and yeah..." Jay didn't generally get embarrassed about things like this but this was just one of those things he wished he hadn't done.

     “Thats... wow,” Carlos blinked

     "Yeah... this is why we agreed to never do it again. Dude is stronger than the G twins."

     Aziz blinked, "Did you get hurt?"

     "He resisted biting me, the table was not so lucky," Jay realized Aziz was touching the scars on his arm, "Oh those aren't from him."

     “We never got the full story on what those were from either?” Carlos titled his head.

     "They were from a bear." Jay shrugged, "Cursed bear in New Wonderland... it was a very unpleasant experience. And Mal nearly kicked me out of the gang over it."

     “That’s Mal for you, no side jobs for anyone else” Carlos snorted.

     "Well... it was a side job for Crocodile... she's the one who did all those stitches you asked me about," Evie had told him they were very well done, he was busy trying not to pass out at the time.

     “The more I hear about your interactions with her I have to wonder why you’re not a pirate” Evie shook her head.

     "Her entire crew asked me to bail on Mal. The problem was I kinda lived in Mal's territory and you two. I wasn't going to leave you with purple bitch."

     "Is that... is this you having a crush on a girl?" Aziz teased with a grin.

     Jay smacked Aziz's chest, "I don't have a crush on her. Girl is a nightmare wrapped in pretty skin."

     “He has a thing for her cause she never wanted to fuck” Carlos laughed 

     “I don’t think she did sex” Evie shrugged, “But she was pretty, the golden hair.”

     "I don't-"

     "Oh you totally have a thing for her. As quick as you protested. Tell me amira should I be jealous because I feel like I should be jealous," Aziz laughed.

     “Well it’s a fifty/fifty she’ll adopt us or kill us if she ever gets over here,” Carlos shrugged.

     “She wouldn’t kill us. I wouldn’t let her kill us,” Jay rolled his eyes, “I can make a deal. She has a pretty decent system.”

     “Okay pardon my disbelief that you would be able to make a deal with this nightmare girl you have the hots for.”

     “She does make good on all her deals as long as you keep your end,” Evie nodded, “she’s like the deal maker for our generation or something”

     “And the Deal Maker is who?” 

     “Not sure all our parents used him, or her... it was a bad part of the Isle,” Jay shrugged.

     “Bad part of the Isle, as compared to the rest of the not so bad Isle.”

     “Member me saying Lions? Yeah they are over there.”

     “I think you get the idea of what they do though,” Carlos looked at Aziz.

     “The name is pretty self explanatory yeah. So making deals, sleeping around, stealing, Did you do anything else?”

     “School occasionally.” Jay shrugged a shoulder indifferently, he always had better things to do than sit and try to learn things that wouldn't stick.

     “He was very occasionally, Evie and I went most days though.” 

     “If only to get away from our mothers,” Evie nodded.

     “So why didn’t you go?” 

     “I did in the beginning it was just... Well Baba kept asking for more so I went when I could between runs.”

     “Plus being tardy or absent was encouraged in most classes. I think the teachers just didn’t want to do the work,” Carlos explained to him.

     "That would explain someone's hate of school..."

     "I don't hate school, I just don't like certain classes. I just happen to be really bad at those classes I don't like," He shrugged pulling Aziz back in and kissed his temple.

     “Our parents taught us the basics... well my mother taught me and I helped where I could,” Evie supplied.

     "Baba gave up when I couldn't make it through a book."

     "I tried to help him, taught him more than Jafar did." Iago piped up.

     "But you're learning. I mean it takes you some time but you are learning, picking things up," Aziz offered.

     "Now. Back then, I cheated off Princess' Potions and Poisons work. Aced myself through Vanity, and Thievery class. Did alright through Horrible Histories. Cheated my way through Evil Planing 200. Cause I had other things to do that didn't involve making evil plans."

     “It was our system,” Evie nodded, “We’d probably do the same here if they let us have any classes besides goodness together.”

     "Fair," Aziz nodded, "Well now he's getting some help to learn information and not just cheat his way through school. Though someone needs to explain how you barely passed history despite knowing mostly everything I helped you through."

     "I don't want to talk about it," Jay grumbled, he still didn't like Mr. Lost.

     “Someone skipped a few of his oral tests that Mr. Lost offered him,” Evie frowned at Jay.

     "Seriously? Come on Mr. Lost is one of the most lax teachers we have. The fact he offered you oral tests in the first place-"

     "Get off my case." Jay bit out.

     "Oh hell no. Your education is important-"

     "For what? In case it escaped your memory I'm pretty shit at everything not related to stealing and fucking."

     "It is important to me." Aziz stated pulling back to look at Jay, "It is important because I care about you. All of you. To know you are doing well in school, eating healthy, looked after gives me peace of mind. When you pull shit like this it makes me feel like I haven't done enough to help you." When Jay looked away he pressed softer, "So why would you try and sabotage your education and place on the tourney team over oral tests?"

     Jay kept his eyes focused on the fold of Evie's robe, "He reminds me of a pirate on the Isle."

     "Okay but I thought you got along with them..."

     "Different Pirate crew, one of Long John Silver's crew," Jay trailed off trying to forget the guy. It happened more than once, he thought he was privy to it.

     “Why didn’t you explain it to me,” Evie made a face at him, “One of us could have gone with you. I’m sure we could convince him to let us sit in as long as we were quiet.” 

     “Man, Coach will bench your ass if he sees too many D’s.” Carlos sighed.

     Aziz frowned slightly, "I can-"

     "Because no one needed to know Princess. You can leave it alone, Aziz," Jay retorted, "I can handle it."

     "Hubibi if you avoid being in the same room as someone who reminds you of a pirate on the Isle, it doesn't sound like you can. Also what is it about this pirate that makes you so uncomfortable?" Aziz asked prying just a little despite the quick look.

     Jay pulled his arms over his chest, "I'll see if Princess or Pup can sit in with me if I have any more classes with him alright? I don't want to get kicked off the team..."

     Aziz took what he needed from that, the full avoidance of the question and the fact Jay was pulled back hugging his chest. Whatever had happened between Jay and Isle Pirate had not been good, "That would be appreciated. Is it alright if I move back where I was?" When Jay nodded he plastered himself back to Jay's side. "So did you guys do anything fun on the Isle?"

     “You mean besides run wild terrorizing the lesser villains and stealing from babies?” Carlos chuckled, he could tell by the closed off posture that Jay needed to be pulled back out a little, “There was always fucking.”

     "You lot and sex," Aziz shook his head.

     "Wasn't like there was much else to do there," Jay sighed. "Those names you gave Princess and me..."

     "What am I not allowed to give you nicknames?" Aziz blinked, "I figured you wouldn't mind."

     "What do they mean, is what he wants to know” Evie supplied, “We don’t mind.”

     "Amira means Princess in Arabic," he looked embarrassed looking at Jay, "Hubibi means darling."

     "You call me 'darling'?" Jay looked at him incredulously, "While I'm fucking you."

     Aziz slammed his hand into Jay's chest with a solid smack, "This is why I try not to use it you brat."

     “That’s so sweet,” Evie laughed.

     “Well you are his darling when your fucking I guess” Carlos smiled trying to contain his laughter.

     Jay grinned holding Aziz's wrist, "Evil you are so fucking innocent. Calling me, of all people, darling."

     "Well calling someone a snake is generally not a compliment," Aziz pulled at his hand, "I didn't... I mean... it just kinda happened the first time and I'm aware you don't speak our native language, so I mean... it's so less awkward when you don't translate it..." he didn't tell him it was interchangeable for calling someone their love.

     Jay snickered at Aziz's floundering as the Prince flushed all the way down his neck in embarrassment, "Such a pretty red color now too."

     “He’s so pretty,” Carlos finally cracked up.

     "I hate you, I hate you so much right now." 

     He laughed pulling Aziz across his lap, "Yeah okay hubibi," he teased leaning in and gave him a short kiss, "The Isle would eat you for breakfast Princy. Seriously."

     “Good thing he’s never going there,” Evie nodded.

     "Only reason to go back is to get Penny. Once one of us figures out how to get back here," Jay agreed.

     "No absolutely not. I will send all of Agrabah's armies there to get her before I let any of you get within 100 feet of the Isle where your abusive parents are," Aziz protested immediately, they were his too and he was not going to let them put themselves through any more trauma.

     “No, it would be a blood bath. And while no one could die there they could once they came back,” Evie shook her head, “not to mention the Isle is technically part of Auradon.”

     "And I may technically not care about that when the Princess of Auradon is on the Isle. I am fully capable of spinning it as a daring rescue mission."

     “The answer is still no, you can’t do that to your men,” Evie gave him a hard look.

     "Well I'm not letting you three go and get her. And her own father seems pretty..." 

     "Complacent?" Jay offered getting an odd look from Aziz, "What Baba used to use it, I asked Iago what it meant?"

     "Just find it weird that's the word you picked. But yes, complacent to leave her there. I mean how big of an ass do you have to be to not be bothered to tell anyone who would help. Political bullshit aside, something like this would unite the kingdoms back together."

     “He lets the council make decisions for him, but what does he care he has his prince,” Evie sighed.

     Aziz made a noise muffled by Jay's hand as his mouth was covered.

     Jay sighed patiently, "Whenever your done your tirade Princy. We know, old men, bad decisions, Ben's a dumb ass, no one wants to fix the problems. If you just had backup. I miss anything?" Aziz shook his head before Jay moved his hand, "You start on about work it won't be my hand shutting you up."

     Aziz made a face, "Fine... fine... I will resist sending Agrabahian armies to do Auradon's job for them."

     "There's a good Princy. Like FG told us in Goodness Class, they won't learn anything if you do it for them."

     “Is that what she’s trying to teach us,” Carlos tilted his head, “Huh, guess I have been sleeping through most of those classes, perk of sleeping with my eyes open... or down side I suppose. ”

     “I knew you weren’t awake,” Evie smacked his arm.

     “It's so boring,” he defended.

     "I hate that you can sleep through your classes and still pass every one with A's." Jay made a face, he had slept through a few in the comfort of their room, just trying to get some sleep in general.

     “Sorry, my brain just different than yours,” Carlos said,

     “Pretty sure that is a good thing. No one else needs my-” Jay jumped as Aziz slapped his hand over his entire face.

     “Well that’s one way to shut him up,” Evie blinked before laughing.

     Jay shoved Aziz’s hand away, “You ass.”

     “Says my hubibi who just slapped his hand over my mouth. I told you I wasn’t going to sit by and listen to you call yourself names,” he retorted.

     “That is true.” Carlos laughed

     “Don’t encourage him!” Jay snapped at his other laughing two.

     “Don’t be like that Jay,” Aziz leaned up with a grin, “We all want to see that bad habit of yours broken. Come on we all want to see amira eating healthily. So why can’t we all want to never hear you say bad things about yourself.”

     “Exactly, it’s about making you better, about making us all better,” Carlos nodded.

     Jay sighed rolling his eyes, “Come off it will you all I am fine...”

     “You are not fine.” Aziz shook his head running his hand over Jay’s cheek, “But we will help you be better.”

     “It’s about working together,” Evie smiled at Jay.

     “And we are a team,” Aziz nodded, “We do it as a team, we help each other. Okay?”

     “Okay...” Jay bit at the inside of his cheek, he was fine wasn’t he? He was trying to be okay for them, what was he doing wrong?

     “So you let us help you be okay,” Carlos explained

     Jay nodded slowly, he must be doing something wrong if they all think he wasn’t managing himself. Well admittedly he was all over the place recently, “Yeah... I guess I can let you all help. Not like your not going to harp otherwise...”

     “Harp us? Never,” Carlos and Evie smirked at him.

     He smirked, “My wicked two.”

     Aziz snickered rocking his head into Jay’s thigh. Jay’s fingers ran through his hair.

     “What else are we doing today, or did you still need to know more about the Isle?” Carlos asked.

     “I told you we could do whatever you wanted,” Jay smiled slightly, “I think we should give him a break from the Isle.”

     “Well we could go down to the garden, or out into the market again,” Carlos suggested.

     “Which ever you want,” Aziz nodded, “If Jay promised we can do whatever.”

     “Then why don’t we go wander the streets see if anything catches our eye,” Evie stood, “Just let Carlos and I get dressed.”

     “Sure thing,” Aziz nodded sitting up with a smile. 

     Jay closed his eyes feeling Iago hop down to his hand, “You okay kid?”

     “Yeah I’m good. I think...” 

     “You are too young to start second guessing your mental state,” Iago squawked.

     “Problem?” Evie asked looking over at Iago’s squawk as she pulled out casual clothes for herself.

     “He’s having an existential crisis at the moment,” Aziz explained sliding off the bed.

     “Okay words I know you damn dictionary.”

     “I don’t know how to explain it. So in short your questioning everything.”

     “Ahh, well let me know if you need anything my masterpiece,” Evie nodded, she didn’t want Jay to start doubting himself or his place or anything like that.

     He opened his eyes to look at them, he was fine. Mostly. He would be fine, he could handle it. They just worried too much about him, he wasn’t worth that much. He just had to do better, try harder, he had to be doing something wrong if they didn’t believe he was okay.

     Aziz sighed and there Jay went again, down some mental rabbit hole if the look in his eyes and the set of his jaw was any indication.

     “Oh Jay, I finished that little project last night” she smirked at him as she pulled a shirt on.

     He blinked clear of the quickly darkening thoughts, "Oh did you?" He perked up, her in a corset had been evil, but all three of them in his colors at the same time. Too wicked for words. "That's sounds wicked Princess, very wicked." He gave her a sultry half smile.

     “Maybe we’ll give it a try tonight,” her eyes flashing at the thought.

     “What project?” Carlos asked looking at her.

     “You’ll find out later” she chuckled.

     "We should," Jay agreed.

     Aziz looked between them, "Los I think we should worry."

     “Well the last time Evie said project and I didn’t know what it was I ended up cumming like 8 times,” Carlos tilted his head, “So maybe a little.”

     "Do what now?" Aziz stared at them, "How?"

     "Well," Jay purred arms curling around Aziz's hips, "Princess and I will be happy to help you experience this first hand if you want."

     Aziz flushed again with a small eep, "Carlos' wants to walk around town."

     “Tonight after dinner, it can be dessert,” Evie licked her lips.

     "Hm a dessert I can get behind," Jay smirked biting playfully at Aziz's earlobe, "You know we'll take good care of you Princy."

     "Insatiable, you two are insatiable when it comes to sex," he was getting flustered and it did not help when Jay slipped his fingers just below his beltline to rub at his skin.

     “It's who we are,” Evie smirked coming over to the bed and leaning down.

     Jay smirked, "You ready to go gorgeous? Or we may never leave the room." His eyes drifted down the front of her shirt.

     Aziz untangled himself from Jay's grip he knew that look by now. He moved and stood next to Carlos glancing at their youngest. 

     “Promises Promises,” Evie smirked leaning in before pulling back and standing.

     Jay groaned, “I always make good on my promises,” he extended his hand to her.

     “Come on lets go explore the city then you can explore your dessert” she took his hand.

     “Those two are always like that, just go with it,” Carlos shrugged next to Aziz.

     “Still not used to it, but I think it makes more sense now. Knowing what I know... Still trying to wrap my head around what a half tiger half human would even look like,” he laughed softly as the four of them headed out into the hallway.

     “All three of my desserts,” Jay smirked, “You want to see how far we can push Princy before he taps out? I mean since he is determined to handle it. Would be fun to have a long night.”

     “Oh yes, he wants to play with the Isle kids then lets play,” she smirked, once their Princy was collared they would play with him as their favorite toy.

     He kissed her cheek, “So wicked. And I am so glad you and I are on the same page.”

     “Well we know all the ways,” she laughed.

Chapter 133: Punishments and Plots (Agrabah: June)

Notes:

Warning:
NSFW
- bondage
- orgasm denial
- overstimulation
- magical misuse

Past child abuse

Aziz groaned flopping back on the bed in their room, “You guys wear me out some days,” he laughed.

Jay snorted, “You such a baby, it was just some walking, running and we even made it back for dinner.”

“Well it’s a good thing all you have to do is take orders then,” Evie smirked before tossing Carlos his corset, “Go put that on Pup.”

Carlos snatched it out of the air and looked at it, “Seriously?”

“Go on pup” she urged, he sighed and went into the bathroom, “And for princy” she pulled out the collar and cuffs.

Aziz lifted his head up, “Hold on...”

Jay’s eyes flashed and the collar appeared around Princy’s neck, “Damn look at that, something finally worked.”

He touched the soft leather coiled around his neck and flushed, “I am guessing this is why you said take orders...”

“What would be correct,” Evie smirked, “It looked good on you,” she waved her hand her clothes vanishing and her corset coming to her hand. She secured the first part then her eyes flashed the corset tightening and secured itself.

Aziz stared at her, at her effortlessly use of magic. She was most definitely the daughter of the Raven Queen, “You... you look amazing.”

“She does, doesn’t she,” Jay purred.

“Evie I don’t normally doubt you but I look stupid,” Carlos whined from the door.

“Look stupid or feel stupid, because you should come out here and see what our Princy is wearing,” Jay grinned glancing at the half closed door.

Aziz sat up and helped Jay undo his belt, doing his best not to stare at the curve of Evie’s waist and her free breasts.

“Can I go with both,” Carlos came towards the bed, “Are we tying Z up?”

“You look great” Evie said looking over the yellow leather.

Jay felt his mouth go dry looking over the image Carlos made in the goldenrod yellow leather, “Evil Princess...” he breathed stepping away from Aziz and moved reverently to Carlos, “You look...”

Aziz took the hint and stripped out of his clothes all for the collar, “What am I being cuffed to exactly amira?”

“Like a banana,” Carlos supplied

“You are being cuffed to whatever we feel like, I even added loops to the side of my corset so we can cuff you to me” she smirked at him before turning to Carlos, “Banana? That is organic premium leather, in goldenrod. You look like a prince.”

“Right,” Carlos nodded.

“You look fantastic,” Jay grabbed Carlos and kissed him hard.

“Cuffed to you... I can think of much worse things to be cuffed to,” he smiled offering his wrists to her, “I’ve never really done anything like this before.”

“Oh we know Princy, considering you didn’t know how to eat me until we told you,” Evie smirked, “But Jay’s in charge he decided what you do first.”

Carlos put a hand on Jay’s arm enjoying the attention, even if he still felt like a banana.

Jay pulled back slowly, “You in my colors, so fucking hot...”

“It wasn’t that I didn’t know, just never had. Most of my previous... encounters wanted to get to the main event and not what you all like. So it’s been interesting, especially since Jay started in on the Kama Sutra book.” 

“It’s a book, he’s reading, I'm not going to even question it,” Evie shook her head, “And I know I few men like that.”

“I know its your colors” he nodded, “So what are we doing to Z?”

“He wants to be treated like an Isle kid, we are going to use him like an Isle kid. He’s got a lot to learn from us. So we’re going to play with him until he taps out.” Jay smirked.

Aziz brushed hair over her shoulder, “I don’t really want to just be the main events guy, I enjoy the build up. But your right, I am happy he is reading, no matter what the book happens to be about.”

“Well then you’ve got a lot to learn,” she smirked, “Where do you want princy?” she looked at Jay.

“On his knees, between your thighs?” Jay replied giving her a smirk.

“Well well, you heard him Princy I guess you do get to be cuffed to me first,” Evie put her hands on his shoulders.

“Again I can think of worse places to be,” Aziz knelt down in front of her, “Want to sit amira? Might make this a touch easier.”

“I will sit for you, you had better get comfortable on your knees Princy” she sat on the bed and spread her legs before beckoning a finger at him.

“Oh this is gonna be so... everything” Carlos looked at the two.

“We are going to find out,” he nodded moving closer looking at the cuffs and held his hands up for her to hook to whatever she wanted as he kissed up her inner thigh.

Jay looked over the two and smiled, “Just like I pictured it.”

Evie took a hold of his wrists and hooked the clips to the D-rings she had on each side of her hips.

Aziz shifted forward and licked her skin, his hands comfortably resting on her hips and across her thighs. This was comfortable, he could do this. 

“Very good” Evie sighed fingers in his hair, “I want you to listen Princy, if any of this gets too much you can tell us to stop.”

He paused looking up at her, "I'll keep that in mind," he nodded before going back to what he doing. Trying to make it as good as he could without the use of his hands.

“Not that I don’t like the show but what are we doing?” Carlos watched Aziz work on Evie.

Jay smirked, "Whatever I want my yappy puppy dog," he pulled Carlos closer to him kissing him and he hefted the younger boy up off the ground.

Carlos grabbed Jay’s shoulders and wrapped his legs around his hips. He nipped at Jay’s lower lip. 

Evie smirked groaning as she watched her boys.

Jay walked them closer to the bed, pinning Carlos to the wall beside it with his hips. His hands ran down over Carlos' leather clad sides. He looked so good, Carlos' complaints aside, their puppy knew how to rock the leather corset. He rolled his hips up into Carlos' mouths and tongues tangling.

Aziz felt Jay's step between his legs, could almost feel the male's magic graze over his skin as he licked and nipped at Evie. They were always so... consuming the True Princess and the Prince of Thieves.

“Focus Princy,” Evie’s eyes flashed before she rolled her hips against him.

Aziz felt the collar pull a little tighter and he pressed his face deeper into her skin not minding the fact she was grinding herself into his face. He worried her clit between his teeth for a moment before pulling back enough to lick her slit and slip his tongue into her.

“Oh, yes good,” Evie closed her eyes, yes Princy was doing so well.

Carlos whimpered against Jay’s mouth, it was so nice to be the focus of his attention right now, feeling the magic roll around him.

Jay made sure Carlos was his main focus, he could nearly feel Evie's magic against his. His two anchors were pulsing and he fell into it. He knew what Carlos wanted, needed, he had been neglecting these moments, the one on one time they had on the Isle. His pup needed him. He pulled back with a slow lingering kiss and looked him over with a searing look.

Aziz smiled briefly, he liked that reassurance he was doing a good job. He was a bit guilty of second guessing his decisions. So knowing he was getting better at giving his amira what she wanted helped. 

Evie slid her fingers through his hair down to his neck her nails drawing patterns on his skin.

“Jay,” Carlos arched looking at him needily.

Jay nosed his neck, "You want to know how much I lust for you in the corset Princess made you?" He asked as he rolled his hips against Carlos.

“Please, I need...” Carlos pushed against Jay.

He nibbled the freckled pale skin and canted his hips, eyes flickering as he eased inside of his pup, "I think I'm going to show you. Show you just how much I like seeing you like this for me." With the corset Carlos was even less flexible than normal but it also prevented him from moving too much as Jay set a slow rolling pace.

“Please Jay, it feels so good,” Carlos thumped his head back against the wall in pleasure.

“Such a good pup,” he moved back to his lips kissing him hard feeling the heat spreading down his neck and up the side of his face. Sadira was always on him about needing to control his power, or rather his lack of effort on the matter. Jay knew that wasn’t it, he just wasn’t any good with magic. But this? This he was good at. The hunger for his pup’s endearments he devoured them, pulling them in. Every part of him focused on nothing but exchanging those tender things for pleasure.

“Jay, I want you here with me always, I want to be selfish and keep you to myself,” Carlos panted, “So hot.”

“We’re all a little selfish pup. I’m greedy, you are my gold,” he agreed, “If you need just me time, pull me away. I’ll never mind, no one I would rather be with them, the ones I claimed.” he adjusted his stance, pulling Carlos’ hips closer, forcing his body to stretch pinning between the wall and Jay’s pounding hips.

“Evie needed you more, at school. Aziz needs you here, I can wait” he arching his back as much as he could.

Jay bit under his jaw sharply, eyes burning, “Maybe I need you pup. You’ve always needed me to keep you safe, I need you to keep needing me. I don’t want you to wait, I want you grab me if you need me for more than protection.”

Iago lifted his head from under his wing, looking at the ‘pile’ they had started. There was something different this time. Something more akin to something he recognized, the hungry near possessive magic of Jafar. This was the same hungry magic, but not for possessing, it was desperate to appease, to satiate an outside need. His head tipped looking them over, the soft blue glow of the ring on Evie’s finger tangled in Prince Aziz’s hair, the pulsing red heat in the visible earrings in Jay’s ear. He squinted, there, his kids magic was curling around Carlos, slowly creeping up the bodice reaching for his throat. Once they all went to bed he was going to have himself a visit to Sadira about this little control issue his kid kept having, put him in a place he was intended to learn in and no progress, put him in the middle of sex and his magic was surging out of him unchecked.

“You always protect me, I do need you I’ll always need you , but sometimes they need you more. But I always need you,” Carlos muttered his eyes closing as the magic pulled at his pleasure caressing him like a gentle feather.

“You can come first Pup, I don’t play favorites, you all are mine and I will give all of you everything I have. None of you need me more than another unless the whispers start,” Jay assured him, because the whispers took all of them to fix. Maybe it would be easier now with Princy, Princy didn’t have the whispers they did. Maybe he would be able to help pull them all loose. Jay pushed that thought off until later as he trailed kisses down Carlos’ chest and adjusted his grip on Carlos’ hips. Hand dipping between them he stroked the younger’s neglected length in time with his pace.

“Can I cum? I need it so much, the pleasure,” he tried to move but felt restricted, it was different, he could normally bend and do whatever he wanted.

Jay looked up at Carlos, bottom lip trailing over the freckled plane of his chest, “Cum for me Pup, I can feel how bad you need it,” that wasn’t a lie he could feel the writhing need in his chest, in his throat.

Iago watched the coils of magic close around Carlos’ throat tethering him to a matching coil that had encircled Jay’s throat. He really needed to talk to Sadira it seemed. He ruffled his feathers, the amount of awkward conversations he was having was enough to make him want to pull his own feathers out.

“Oh, so good, so much,” Carlos tossed his head side to side before he finally found his release.

Jay’s head tipped back as he felt the surge through his magic, lights flickering as he came shortly after. Carefully he pulled Carlos in and lowered them down onto the floor, letting the two of them have a breather as Carlos’ weight rested against his chest. It felt so damn good, he wanted more, that feeling of pleasure curling through his veins, he wanted more of it. And he’d have more of it as soon as they recovered a little.

“I do need you, but sometimes. I just feel like... I’m just crying over the same things over and over again. What’s it matter if I get pushed around, if Evie’s starving herself or if Z feels like we don’t want him. My mother put cigarettes out on my skin, I should be able to handle name calling or shoving from a bunch of pussy mainlanders,” he said softly as he curled into Jay.

“It matters to me,” Jay replied softly running a hand over Carlos’ hair, “I don’t care if it seems like the same thing over and over again. I... I have that all the time. The same things over and over again playing through my head no matter how hard I try to get past them. The mainlanders use their words like we used our fists and knives. Just because it doesn’t hurt us physically now, doesn’t mean it’s any less painful. Only reason I seem like I handle it better is because I’m used to all of it, but if it happens to you I want to stop it. I need to stop it. You don’t deserve it, my sweet puppy, you suffered enough.” he peppered kisses on top of Carlos’ head determined to make his pup feel better. 

“Sometimes I miss my closet, hiding under all the furs,” Carlos admitted as he looked over at Evie grinding herself into Z.

“You know what I miss?” Jay asked, “I miss sneaking into your room during the winter to curl up with you. I miss bribing you to make me a heater for my boys so I didn’t have to spend all winter in the tank with them keeping them warm.”

“I made a bed in the closet, at the dorm. Like the second week, Evie saw it when she moved in, didn’t say anything about it,” he said, he tilted his head as Evie almost seemed to be yowling lowly at whatever Z was doing.

“I still sleep on the floor sometimes... Before we put the beds together so we could all pile together,” Jay glanced towards his other two feeling the brush of Evie’s magic against him, “There’s a whiskey bottle under the headboard when I really can’t sleep.”

“Schnapps in my dress shoes” he gave a little grin, he blinked as he felt Evie’s magic wash over him like a wave. He watched as she flopped almost bonelessly onto the bed.

“Rum and vodka under our bed and in the side of the dresser,” Jay grinned back, “Since we’re being honest.”

Aziz licked his lips and pushed himself up debating on how to undo the clips he couldn’t reach. Not to mention he was aching, needing to get off, but it at least looked like he had done a damn good job.

“Very good Princy, but we are far from done with you,” Evie muttered her hands sliding over his own.

“Consider me concerned,” Aziz hissed as his length brushed against the bed but he gripped her hips gently.

“You wanted us to treat you like an Isle kid,” she smirked.

“Yes yes I did...” he felt himself cringe, he should have known they were going to make him eat those words.

Jay rubbed Carlos’ thigh, “You want to play with Princy next Pup?”

“I love playing with Z,” Carlos smiled looking him up and down.

“Then you don’t get to cum until Jay says you can,” she lifted her head to smirk at him.

“What?” Aziz looked panicked at Jay who was grinning like a cat who ate the canary.

“Good then you play with our Princy. I’m going to clean up a little then I’ll be back,” Jay kissed his cheek helping him to his feet.

“Don’t worry so much Z, Jay only denied me for like 6 hours once, although there is that time he left me wearing the Isle equivalent of a cock ring for a whole day, so...” Carlos shrugged as he crawled over to the prince, “Remember what E said still stands you can say stop,” he climbed up onto the bed undoing the clips only to clip them together behind Aziz.

Aziz stared at him in growing panic though made no effort to resist, “6 hours? And what the hell is a cock ring?”

Jay laughed walking into the bathroom, “Oh I am totally doing that to you Princy. So going to be worth it, I promise.”

“Lets see how to explain a cock ring,” Carlos made a face as he thought letting his fingers trailed down Aziz’s chest once he was in front of him, he stopped to twist at his nipples for a few seconds, “Well it's kind of like when one of us grabs the base of your cock to stop you from cumming. Its a ring that goes on your cock and keeps you hard, I’ve seen all kinds online.”

Aziz’s body jerked a little as Carlos twisted his nipples and he felt himself pull at the cuffs, “That doesn’t sound all that pleasant. I mean the end part is mind numbingly good but an entire day being hard? Why didn’t you....” maybe it was different because he was their mainlander? Maybe Carlos was, no Carlos was way tougher than he was, but did he not have the same option to call it when it was too much?

“Because Z, seeing how long you can last is part of the fun. Plus well if you don’t listen, who knows what your punishment will be. But sometimes the punishment is worth not listening,” Carlos smirked, he let his fingers just barely ghost over Z’s cock before trailing back up his chest.

The whine wormed out of his chest goosebumps flooding over his skin as he let out a short gasping breath, “You have a weird idea of fun. Having only endured one punishment I’m not sure I am as strong as you,” he was oozing and his body was shaking already.

“Two,” Jay replied walking out of the bathroom, “You’re currently in one for yelling at me in public, and you’ll be in for worse if you cum before your allowed,” his eyes devoured the scene before him. Yeah he could get used to seeing Aziz in a red and yellow collar the matching cuffs were just a bonus as he gave himself a tug unable to help himself.

“I told you,” Carlos chuckled, as he leaned forward taking a nipple in his mouth.

“But,” the word crackled as it left his throat, “You said we were good.”

“And you just thought what? I was a mainlander, I say were good and you don’t get punished?” Jay felt the sneer forming on his lips, “I don’t reward bad behavior and I don’t let mine get off scot free. There are punishments for breaking rules and bad behavior.” he hooked a finger around the back of the collar and pulled down forcing Aziz’s head back, “I’m not overly cruel about it unless I have to be, I make sure its a good kind of punishment. And your going to be a very good Princy for me aren’t you, you’re going to be patient and wait until I tell you it’s time aren’t you?”

Carlos smirked around the nipple letting his fingers go down to brush Aziz’s head before sliding over and around his balls. He didn’t remember what it was called right now, but that little section of skin behind the balls could make you see stars if touched right.

Aziz’s panting mouth filled of magic that tasted like cinnamon and he nodded, “Good Prince, your good prince,” he whimpered as Carlos touched him, it was searingly good, and it took everything he had not to release.

Jay released the collar stepping back settling next to Evie as his hand stroked himself. The lack of resistance his Princy gave him in the bedroom was bliss some days.

“They are a pretty picture” Evie mused beside him.

“So wicked, made all the better by your work Princess, such good work,” he complimented kissing her shoulder as he released himself to move closer to her, to touch her, “You seemed to enjoy his mouth on you.”

“Oh his tongue will be truly wicked with a little more practice,” she smirked at him as she pressed against him.

“Oh yeah? I guess I will just have to make sure his punishments always start with more practice between your lovely thighs,” he ran a hand up the inside of her leg and gave her a half smile before he caught her lips.

“What a deliciously evil plan,” she smirked glancing at the boy’s as Carlos switched nipples.

Aziz whined, he could handle it. He promised Jay he could do it. He could be their good Prince in the bedroom. The taste of Jay's magic was still on his tongue as his head dropped to his chest watching Carlos' mouth work as the boy's other hand still moved over his skin.

"I have a few every once in a while. Not exactly Evil schemes material, but you know, evil for me," he pressed kissing over her jawline as he teased the skin between her legs with his fingers feeling Carlos and Aziz behind him. The soft whines almost musical.

“I don’t know this probably would have gotten an A in evil planning and world domination” she spread her legs further.

Carlos moved around Aziz leaving little bites as he went, with a final tug at his balls Carlos removed his hands to move fully behind the prince. He looked around spotting the oil, “Stay on your knees but put you head on the floor, I’m gonna get you all ready for Jay.”

"World domination via fucking," he smirked sliding his fingers into her, "I already have two future kingdoms on their proverbial knees for me. So sure world domination via fucking, I can do that." Jay laughed softly it was absurd, somewhere along the lines of the plan he had to steal Fairy Godmother's wand for himself once they had jacked it and become the Master of all Evil before destroying the barrier and finding some place he and his could live in the lap of luxury.

Aziz gasped falling back to his knees from the position he had been in, "Ready..." he panted letting his body move into the requested position. It was uncomfortable but he supposed it was supposed to be if this was punishment. The collar was pressing just enough to his neck for him to feel his adams apple rub against it as he swallowed. His shoulders hunched around his ears because his hands were cuffed together behind him still. It was the fact his body was left fully exposed that had him flushing. He wasn't sure if he was embarrassed or just really turned on by being moved at his lovers whims. What he was sure of was the fact he could feel his tip just brushing the hard floor and if he spread his knees just a little further he could slowly rub against the floor and get a little relief.

“You want a pillow Z?” Carlos asked as he opened the scented oil.

"Yeah if I could..." Aziz muttered embarrassed.

“Yeah no problem,” Carlos grabbed a pillow from the bed and put it under his head, “This position can be murder, but being exposed like this, completely at one of their wills, is the most arousing feeling,” Carlos whispered the last part in Aziz’s ear as he slid a finger into the Prince.

Aziz whimpered, "Los, oh sandstorms..." he rocked his hips as best as he could as Carlos' weight trapped his arms and hips in place, "More... please..."

“Still pretty loose man,” Carlos slid another finger in, “Remember no cumming.”

Aziz hummed nodding against the pillow, "We've... been... having... sex every... day." He panted gasping as Carlos hit the bundle of nerves making his hips jerk. How was he supposed to hold on, he needed to cum so bad right now.

“Welcome to isle life,” he laughed, adding a third finger, “All we do is fuck, and eat, steal, and fuck some more.”

He shook, legs trembling as Carlos used his fingers on him, the movements making the tip of his cock slide back and forth across the floor with a steady trickle of pre. His breath was hitching and he felt his orgasm coming despite his best efforts, "Los... gonna..." he panted, he knew he wasn't supposed to cum yet, he didn't have Jay's permission yet but it was getting to be too much.

“Not yet,” Carlos sat back and wrapped his free hand around the base of Aziz’s cock giving it a squeeze.

He whined as his orgasm was denied, eyes squeezing shut. He knew it was punishment, he wasn't supposed to enjoy it. "Sandstorms," he panted whining as he tried to get the leverage to push back into Carlos, despite only having his shoulders on the floor.

“Hey Jay, I think Z is ready,” Carlos smirked.

Jay pulled back from his work on Evie and glanced over the side of the bed, "Oh now that is a wicked looking treat." Princy's skin was flushed, golden eyes glittering with lust and want, mouth open panting. Carlos was holding onto him keeping their Princy from cumming, "He having some control issues?"

“Humping the floor but I don’t judge,” Carlos shrugged slightly.

"Humping the floor? Princy you can't be that horny," Jay teased, "Just wait until I find a cock ring here in the mainland. Then I'll have you all sorts of ready to go."

“I could order some for us online, I saw some that look like they have extra stuff, though they might not be cockrings, it was hard to tell. I’ll show you when we get back” Carlos nodded.

"Yeah I'll take a look," Jay nodded sliding off the bed and lifted Aziz's head, "You doing okay?"

Aziz licked his lips, "I want to cum..."

He grinned running his hand through Aziz's hair, "You tapping out on me?"

"No... I can take it," he really wasn't sure it he could though.

"You sure you want to take it?"

"I can... I want to try..." Aziz muttered looking up at Jay.

"You know Princess did a thing to me when we were younger... Princess you get any ribbon left over?" Jay asked lowering Aziz back to his pillow, "Keep working on him Pup, let's see if we can improvise our Princy from cumming on us."

“I’ve got some in my bag, you going to tie him up all pretty with a bow,” Evie teased sitting up to look at the boys fully.

Carlos curled his fingers in Aziz, “This is gonna be even more fun” 

Aziz let out a whine as Jay left he once more.

"That would be the plan," Jay grinned, "Dinner is done, no plans for tomorrow other than Sadira, so let's see how long he will go before he starts begging." He pawed through her bag and found the blue ribbon.

“Just relax Z, just not too much,” Carlos leaned back down placing a kiss on his shoulder.

Aziz tipped his head towards Carlos, "No... not too much... just want to cum."

“We’ve all been there, that want but knowing you can’t have it,” Carlos agreed placing another kiss.

"Kind of sucks," he laughed shortly cutting off with a moan as the fingers pressed against the bundle of nerves.

Jay moved closer looking them over, the way his were tangled together, "Shift a little for me Pup, I'm going to tie our Princy up."

Carlos scooted to the side as he sat up twisting his fingers against the nerves again, he liked listening to Z whine and whimper.

Aziz whined pushing back until rough hands grabbed his hips and pulled him up so he couldn't rub off on the floor.

Jay reached around Princy's legs and started tying his cock up, making sure it was tight, but not too tight, "You want him first Pup?" He asked looking at him, "Or you tapped out?"

“I’m tapped from earlier, he’s just fun to play with, poor repressed mainlanders,” he laughed.

"Very poor mainlander, but very fun to play with," Jay grinned rubbing himself, "You ready to get fucked Princy?"

Aziz nodded quickly, "Please..."

“Come up here with me pup.” Evie called to Carlos as she watched Princy.

Carlos nodded pulling his fingers out with a twist, “Have fun Z”

Aziz jerked with a loud whine as Carlos pulled his fingers out, "Mmm fuck..."

Jay grinned, "You two enjoy yourselves up there." He adjusted around Princy's body and grabbed the cuffs at the center pulling him back into a gentle bow, "Remember you can tell me to stop when you can't take any more."

“Oh I love to watch him fuck,” Evie laid across Carlos’ lap watching the boys on the floor.

Aziz winced at the position he was pulled into but the word of complaint vanished into a loud moaning gasp as Jay slammed into him. The younger male rutting into him with hard thrusts, hard enough to make his now tied up dick to slap against his lower belly. 

Jay smiled slightly as Aziz started to keen, the Arabic pouring off his lips as he was pounding into. He caught the name Princy had given him swirling into the mix and felt Aziz's body tighten sharply around him.

Aziz felt the dry orgasm hit as Jay relentlessly pounded into that place. His eyes were rolling back as Jay adjusted his grip and pulled on the collar forcing his head back.

“So pretty princy,” Evie smirked as Carlos ran his hand up and down her side.

“It gets better Z,” Carlos licked his lips, his eyes tracing over the sweat trailing down both of their sides.

Jay grunted as Aziz's knees suddenly slid out and the older male nearly collapsed backwards, "Easy Princy, easy. You okay? I mean you already tried having one without me saying you could."

“Its ok to tap out, Princy. We understand,” Evie curled the end of her hair around her finger.

Aziz was gasping as Jay held his chest, "No... I can... I can." 

Jay snorted, "Alright... Princy you learn your lesson? You want to cum? You want to cum, you get me off and you can cum."

Aziz grabbed at Jay's belly with his pinned hands, "I can't, I can't do that..."

Jay kissed Aziz's shoulder, "Oh I know," he rolled his hips and started again, "But you don't mind me using you do you?"

"No, I know you can out last me..." Aziz whined head resting against his chest as his collar was released.

“Jay can outlast everyone,” Carlos said, “He’s just that good.” 

“I’ll take care of cleaning all of these later, just set it aside,” Evie looked at the collar in Jay’s hand.

Jay tossed it up onto the bed and pushed Aziz back down, "Alright Princy, just a little more, then you can cum."

Aziz opened his mouth as Jay settled in deep, "Hubibi please, fuck please, I need it. Please, please." He scratched at Jay's skin and the younger male pounded into him, chasing his own release.

Jay pressed down on Aziz's shoulders and let himself take what he wanted from his prince. He reached beneath them and pulled the bow loose when his nickname was the only thing rolling of Aziz's lips. He was not disappointed as Princy came with a howl, body locked tight around him. Jay gave one more thrust before releasing into the now boneless Prince beneath him.

“Like living art” Evie sighed rolling onto her back to look up at Carlos.

“Z’s learning to play the long game” Carlos nodded flopping back.

Jay slowly pulled back undoing the cuffs tossing them up on the bed as well before he pulled Aziz back into him easing them both to sitting as he looked at the mess. He nearly twitched needing to clean it up but he'd deal with it later. Right now his Princy needed some pampering. Jay blinked as the body in his lap gave a soft noise of discomfort but didn't do anything else. He double checked, "Princy is out..."

“Well I suppose we can add endurance to stuff he needs to work on, ” Evie mused looking at them.

"Yeah seems like it. Haven't had someone just pass out on me in a while," Jay shifted his hips pulling out before he lifted the Prince up carefully setting him on his side on the bed beside Evie and Carlos, "You two okay?" He looked them over ready to give them any and everything they needed before he put himself on cleanup duty.

“We’re fine, are you?” Evie asked, as Carlos cuddled up to Aziz.

Jay rolled a shoulder indifferently, "Need to clean a few things up. But for the second I'm good Princess. Thank you for this," he gestured go the three of them, Princy the only one out of his colors, "Warms my black heart."

“It’s part of what I do,” she shrugged, “Let me know if you need any help, cause the boys look like there both out,” she nodded at Carlos lightly dozing against Aziz.

Jay smiled softly at his two, "I think I got this. You know can't force my Princess to clean up the puddle of cum our Princy made," he teased walking into the bathroom for supplies. The busy work was good for him, settled his brain, he made a mess he cleaned it up. 

Evie lounged watching him, she understood the impulse to make sure everything was cleaned up. Her mother had been as much about things being neat and orderly as was Jafar from what she had seen.

Jay nodded standing, the floor cleaned of any sign of their punishment. Hell he had even washed the ribbon and left it out to dry. He collected the collar and the cuffs off the bed and moved them onto his bag. His eyes flicked back and forth over the room, double checking everything was okay and cleaned up. He wanted to take the boys into the bathroom and clean them up but he really didn't want to wake them up either. Taking a deep breath he shook his head settling the need to tidy before he went back into the bathroom and finished up. He moved into the bed and curled around Evie's back.

 

Iago watched them settle down before he flapped out the window heading towards Sadira. He hated ratting his kid out but Jay needed help, and Iago was going to make sure he got it.

Sadira set her evening tea down as she stopped Iago in the window.

Iago shuffled uneasily before hopping through the window and looked at the Sand Witch, "Sadira."

“What can I do for you, Iago?” she asked as she sat down once more.

The macaw perched on the back of the chair, "You told me to keep an eye on them. Make sure things... well make sure they are practicing. Safely." He shifted again, "Blueberry is fine, her anchor seems to be helping her out. It my kid who... well I don't think he understands when he is using magic and when he isn't using magic."

“Doesn’t understand? Like he’s accidentally stealing stuff or...?” Sadira looked at him, magic reacted to emotion so it wasn’t uncommon for it to come out uncalled for under stress or duress, but it had a feel to it, her’s was a slight crawl of her skin. It let you know when it was being used.

"Sorry kid," he muttered under his breath, "More like he found a way around what the blue idiot did. He... he tethered himself back to the Puppy Dog in a temporary fashion. Then he full out puppeteered the Prince. Not that the idiot offered any resistance in the matter. I don't think my kid even knows he's doing it, if he does, he is making no effort in trying to control it like he does when he's in your lessons."

“Because he doesn’t think he should have them,” she sighed, “he doesn’t control it because he doesn’t think he can. I thought we were getting somewhere, they are supposed to go back in a few weeks.”

"Well he also was dead set on believing Maleficent cursed him with magic," Iago commented dryly.

“Really? Do you have any idea on how to get through to him? I don’t want to play dirty, but I'm starting to think its the only thing that will get threw to him.” she pinched the bridge of her nose.

"Yeah, his magic got sparked to life from touching her staff apparently. But you want to get him to listen, play dirty. I hate to say this but play the villain, kid grew up with them. As much as he hated some of them he respected them, respect through fear." Iago nibbled at his feathers nervously.

“I’ve been called the villain once or twice, are you going to be ok with that? I don’t make idle threats, I follow through, ” she watched him pick at himself.

"There is nothing you can do to my kid, that he hasn't been through already," he sighed pulling a feather out, "He is a tough bird... the things I have seen done to him in person. The things I have seen him patching up," he pulled any other feather out.

“And if I keep him here when they go back? If he can’t control his magic he can’t go back to Auradon,” she twitched, she wanted to know more about what he had faced.

Iago looked at her, "Oh that will get a reaction alright." Jay was going to flip his shit if she told him that.

“Good because I’m serious, they will use any excuse to try and send him back,” she nodded, there was a reason she didn't have kids of her own.

"He is aware of this. Prince Aziz warned them they are under Council watch about their magic. I think that may have been part of what he had done to himself by accident, or intention, I'm not really sure any more," he pulled on another feather, "Kid is always doing this stuff to me..."

“Great just great, do Jasmine and Al know about the council watch?” she turned her cup in her hand trying to find something to do with her hands.

"I have no idea. Considering Jas is going to see the council soon she is about to find out." He sighed, "I can't let him go back. I can't... he's lucky he survived the first time. If Jafar gets him again..."

“Then it's settled if he can’t show me he can control it, he’s not going back. I’m sure Jasmine and Al can arrange for him to get schooling at the Palace,” she nodded, “That man is never getting near Jay again.”

"Well then make sure they get a teacher for real bad dyslexia," Iago commented hopping back and forth, he was surprised she hadn't asked about Jay's home life, actually anything about what Jay had been through. Maybe she saw enough in her sand.

“Why... why hasn’t any one said anything about that?” she asked blinking, she knew he didn’t like school, but she figured it was because he was more of a physical person.

"Because he doesn't want anyone to know he has a hard time reading. And by hard time I mean he gives himself migraines if he tries to bull through it. Jafar hit him with a book when he was six because he couldn't read..."

“I'm tempted to use the sand to pull information out of that little twit,” she growled, “We can’t fix anything if we don’t know it needs fixing.”

"Jafar again..." Iago cleared his throat nervously, "Everything Jay did was never enough. I don't know what you saw in that sand but Jay was a convenient punching bag. He didn't have to feed him, used him like a servant and threw him out... and he just... he just kept coming back to feed me and the eels even when I could hear his stomach growling." He pulled another feather out.

“Jafar was never stable, I’m sure the Isle didn’t make it any better. I want to know everything they went through but I want them to be able to talk about it. I... Maybe therapy, I could see if there’s someone in Auradon for them to talk to make it part of their magic lessons while they are away, but something tells me Evie would just stone wall and Jay wouldn’t go at all,” she needed some way to undo what had been done.

"They don't want to talk about it. They don't see the point in it. Talking never did anything to help them before. Jay could talk your ear off and never say anything at all, it's all a distraction so he can steal everything you own and give it to Jafar so he can sleep on a rug under ancient TVs. Blueberry was forced to be beautiful. Jay came home one day nearly spitting venom that Grunhilde grounded down the bones of her hips to change her figure." Iago was pacing the back of the chair nipping at his feathers.

“SHE DID WHAT?” Sadria stood quickly starting to pace, “This isn’t... they... they need full physicals, and mental help. Have they ever even seen a doctor?”

"If you count Nasira, Yzma and Kronk. Want better? Cruella apparently threw Puppy Dog down 4 flights of stairs and broke every bone in his body.”

“Right I need to talk to Jasmine before she leaves, you should be with me when I do.” she said.

Iago nodded, "If it will help them," he clicked his beak, "I have been silent enough. Jafar wanted me to find his son and drag him home. I will make him regret that."

“Oh I’m sure he will.” She smirked, “Do you need to talk to someone? I don’t know any animal therapists but, well you’re practically human.”

Iago laughed bitterly, "No amount of therapy is going to help the things I have seen," he closed his eyes against the sight of Jay throwing himself in the way, Jafar cracking Jay's skull into the fireplace. 

“Maybe not but do you think it would help them? Shouldn’t we at least try to heal their minds.” 

"Anything will help them. It is getting them to realize they are worth the help and they deserve the help." He flapped his wings, "It's like being trapped in that lamp with Jafar, you scream long enough and no one comes, you just start thinking you deserve what mess your in."

“Then maybe they will do it if you do?” she suggested, she could see the haunted look in his face which was frightening in its own right.

"Only if we can get the kid to take the magic thing seriously. Because no amount of therapy is going to help if he is separated from the others," Iago shook his head, "I owe it to him... I couldn't do enough to keep him safe on the Isle."

“We will have a chat tomorrow” she nodded, “Did you want anything, I have some nuts around here.”

He perked up slightly, "Nuts? Oh that would nice, but if not my kid's pockets are full. Figured I would come and talk to you once they all passed out after their pile."

“Pile?” she asked as she made a small dish and set it on the table.

"Pile, polite word for foursome," Iago hopped onto the table and picked up a nut with his foot.

“Right, cause those two need to be having wild sex with their powers not focused yet” she sat back down.

Iago looked at her, "Why do you think I came here to talk? I am aware of his issues, hers not so bad..."

“That’s because she has confidence in her control,” it wasn’t that Evie was more confident it was just she was more willing to believe she could.

"Because he tells her how good at it she is. He encourages her to use it, and she does. He is trying to keep her distracted from his lack of want to do anything about him own. He's a practiced con artist, his father saw to that. Hell the whole Isle taught them everything they needed to be a convincing person they aren't." He munched on the nut.

“I tell him he can do it, so maybe he needs more one on one,” she chewed her lip.

"Well if he gives in once you play the villain, see if he'll go for it. It could only help, I mean he isn't getting anywhere the way we are going currently."

“Then I think we have a plan, do you need anything else? Anything you feel the need to share?”

"Do not threaten physical force. But kid has a thing about expensive shit, particularly jewelry. You have more questions, you know where to find me."

“Right then, I’ll see you tomorrow,” Sadira nodded.

Iago took a nut for the road and nodded, "Tomorrow."

 

Chapter 134: The Bitter Truth (Agrabah: June)

     Jay was up early again with his restless nature. He rubbed his face sitting on top of a building in town legs dangling over the edge. He was fine he knew that, but it didn't stop the sense of unease building in the back of his head. His eyes tracked a young girl as she ran through the quiet streets holding a loaf of bread. Maybe she was a street kid, but she turned quickly out of sight into a house. Jay snorted to himself, leaning forward over his thighs, just like stupid him to think all kids up at ass o'clock were street kids. 

     “Its an orphanage,” Sadira said seeing where he was looking. She’d felt him moving around again this morning might as well get an early start with him, she still needed to talk to Al and Jasmine about keeping him here. But, well she could keep him at her place but, having a little back up that wasn’t feathered, would help.

     "A what?" Jay looked back at her, "I woke you up again I'm guessing. I don't mean to... I just... running used to help me stop thinking." He snorted turning back to look at the building, "Not that thinking has ever been useful before, all it does it keep me up or wake me up. I can stop running if I'm being too much of a hassle." Maybe just pacing the roof of the palace would be enough, no that would piss the guards off and they'd lock him up. Maybe the gym, no one seemed to ever use it. Princy said he was welcome to it...

     “Orphanage a place for kids without parents to be raised.” she explained sitting next to him, “it's not a hassle, what are you trying to not think about?”

     "Huh that's a thing here? Most times on the Isle an Unclaimed stayed with either Mother Gothel or one of the brothels until they were old enough to start the run. Then they were sent off on their own," Jay avoided her question all together not minding her presence beside him.

     “What’s the Run?” she asked as she leaned back a little before holding out a pear to him.

     He looked at her warily but took the strange fruit, "You don't want to know. What is this called?"

     “Pear, it's not quite as sweet as an apple but its juicy” she supplied, “you know before I was their friend I tried to kill Jasmine” she took a bite of her own pear.

     "You tried to kill Jasmine? You?" Jay snickered, "Okay Sadira sure," he took a bite out the pear, the taste familiar even if he couldn't place if he had eaten the yellow fruit before. Putting it to the back of his mind he rocked back looking up at the clouds. There was no way she tried to kill someone, then again he had essentially killed two people. That uncomfortable feeling twisted in his belly as he swallowed the now bitter tasting food.

     “I wanted Aladdin to myself, she was in the way,” she shrugged, “Put Aladdin under a spell to make him think he loved me.” she turned looking at him, “We all have darkness in us some just a little, some a lot, I lived on these streets for a long time. There isn’t much if anything you or yours can say to me I would be shocked by.” 

     Jay looked at her and shrugged, "You asked for it," he warned, "The Run happens once a year on All Hallows Eve, from dusk till dawn. It's when all the big bads kick every kid old enough on the streets and lock their doors. Cause once a year from dusk till dawn, the magic keeping Chernabog in his stone pile is released. He and his Children have the run of the streets, you get caught by his kids you'll be dragged back to him, fucked and corrupted to become one of his new kids. I have only seen one person on the Isle go toe to toe with him in flesh and survive."

     “Well that’s disturbing,” she said in a flat voice, it outraged her but she wasn’t going to give him that reaction, not right now, “How old is old enough?”

     "For an Unclaimed as soon as they can run. For someone like me who's parent has laid claim to them, it is up to them. Princess was 10 when one of her mother's minions dragged her into it. Baba sent me when I was 8. I hid. I didn't do the run until he caught before I could get out when I was 13. I wasn't fast enough to avoid him.... Pup was 8 I think, he's a little younger than us, so probably the same year as Princess." His expression darkened, "Mal had been doing the Run for longer than I knew her."

     “Well that name got a reaction,” she looked at him, “Did you feel it? Your magic flared out when you said Mal. Hate to be her,” she tossed her core away, his anger was driving part of his magic so she had something to work with, “How did the other’s survive? You hid until your baba caught you, but how did they survive?”

     He looked at Sadira, "Well she broke our system. We used to be the Core 4, I kicked her out because she picked the Mainland over us." His lip curled remembering the expression she wore that day, like they weren't the people she had survived with anymore, he shook his head looking at the mostly uneaten pear, "There are two options, you hide or you run. The bitch ran. Mine hid and only ran when they had to. Only one crew on the Isle ballsy enough to fight."

     “Interesting, well if she doesn’t want to follow the rules then fuck her,” Sadira pushed herself up, “Don’t fall into any of the brothel windows they may try and keep you,” she called back as she headed towards the Palace.

     Jay watched her go, "You have no idea..." he muttered staying where he was cracking his neck. He didn't even feel the flare she said he did, maybe he was broken. At least before, in Auradon, he could feel the angry heated coils of magic filling his chest before he broke things by accident.

 

     Aladdin opened the door to the sitting room when one of the staff announced Sadira would like a word with him and Jasmine. He smiled warmly if not a bit confused at Sadira, "Everything okay? Jas will be in shortly, she's just finishing up."

     “Everything is far from ok” she snorted, “Jay isn’t learning as quickly as he needs to be.”

     "Okay how can I or Jasmine help? We can ask if anyone else in the community would be willing to help you teach him. Or Genie maybe?" Aladdin nodded, if Jay needed more help then he would get more help.

     “I need to play dirty, he’s... he needs more then help with his magic, he needs help with everything and he’s well, you remember what it was like asking for help was like putting a target on your own back” 

     Aladdin frowned a little, glancing at the door to their bedroom before back to Sadira, his arms folding over his chest, "Define everything, what do you know. I do remember what that was like, the guards were more than happy to punish you faster than help you."

     “Iago gave me a few facts last night, he is struggling in school not because he isn’t trying but because he has Dyslexia, he is literally hurting himself trying to get through the school work. None of them have been to see a doctor, ever. Added to that I don’t think he can even feel his own magic,” she paced back and forth, “They all need therapy, Iago included, I never thought I would be able to see so much guilt in a bird, he was ripping out his own feathers while we talked.”

     Aladdin's arms dropped, "What? I knew Aziz was helping him with school work when he could. But he never... he never said that Jay had a learning disability." The door behind him opened, "They can get looked over by a physician here at the Palace. Are you concerned they are physically injured currently? You'll have to excuse my lack of knowledge here, but are you supposed to feel your own magic?"

     Jasmine could see the panic in her husband, the worry, "What happened?" She moved quickly to them touching Aladdin's back, "Is someone hurt?"

     “Depends on your thoughts on mental damage,” Sadira looked at her, “Yes, you should be able to feel it. Also Iago informed me that the Evil Queen ground down Evie’s bones to make her the correct figure. So I would say at the very least she needs a full look over. Carlos apparently had every bone in his body broken by his mother throwing him down stairs, lord knows what Jafar did to Jay. And apparently there is a night on the isle where kids are hunted down and raped to be turned into demons, so... yeah this is...,” she could feel her sand that had tracked in on her feet swirling and moving.

     "SHE WHAT?" Jasmine pulled back in horror at the knowledge of what both villainous women had done. She knew Jafar whipped his son, but she had no idea if was more than that. "The... the children... why... why would they leave them on the Isle if they put a demon on the Isle." This was the first she had ever heard there was a beast like that on the Isle.

     Aladdin covered his mouth, this was so much worse than he ever thought possible. He closed his eyes and took a deep breath, "We will make sure they see the physician here in Agrabah. Once we know the extent of their old injuries, we can get them into therapy. Make sure when they go back they keep going to therapy, if we have to pay for the therapist to travel or not. Given that two of the kids have magic, Auradon will have to suck it up if it is one our magic users attending to them."

     “That’s the other thing... he can’t control it, his magic, like I said he isn’t feeling it. If he can’t control it, I can't let him go back there. They will use any excuse to send him back to his father, then it won't matter how much we try to help.” 

     "But... we can't, we can't legally keep him here." Jasmine cringed, "No matter how much I want them all to stay here with us, where they are safe, they are wards of Auradon until they turn 18. I will not allow him to be sent back to his father. Not after what that man has done to him. Ward of Auradon or not I won't let him be sent back. Queen Belle and I are in agreement on that much if not for very different reasons."

     "Jas we don't even know how old they actually are. We can guess at when he was born based on when he appeared on the Isle with Jafar. Same for Carlos and Princess Evie. They could have aged out and Auradon not even know."

     “Wouldn’t Genie know about Jay at least? He’s got to be right on the line if he’s not already 18,” Sadira chewed her lip.

     Jasmine nodded, "Genie would know, he was the one who put her into hiding when she found out she was pregnant."

     “Then we ask him, if he’s old enough then he’s not Auradon’s ward he’s your citizen,” Sadira nodded, “I don't know what is going on in that kingdom but, it's not good for these kids.”

     "Oh I am very aware of that," Jasmine seethed, "Dear go find out how old Jay is. Sadira and I will keep this conversation going."

     Aladdin sent her a sharp look but nodded headed to call Genie. When he came back he was frowning slightly. It was, it was odd news.

     “What is it?” Sadira looked at him. He was doing that thing with his face like he was trying to figure something out.

     "He's... he's exactly one year younger than Aziz, to the day. Genie was there with her when he was born." Aladdin didn't understand the chances of that. It was eerie, very eerie.

     Jasmine's brow furrowed, "That would mean he is almost 5 months from being 19. They must not know how old any of them all, which is a disturbing thought, but what if they don't even know how many kids are actually on the Isle at all?"

     "But he also hasn't received citizenship paperwork at all. Aziz hasn't mentioned anything, he must not know how old Jay is. What if Jay doesn't even know how old he is? He said he doesn't celebrate his birthday, but Carlos and Evie did." Aladdin saw a spiraling hope that they could protect Jay, but it was also showing a terrifying side of the council's neglect.

     “Then let's get the paperwork started,” Sadira looked between them.

     "I can have it drafted up, I'll have to take it to the council with his signature on it. But without a formal birth certificate..." Jasmine shook her head, "Tell Genie to find it. She would have had to make one for Jafar to even find out he had a son."

     "Unless..." Aladdin wasn't going to put it out of the possibility, "Unless he made a deal for a child." He had met the Dark One, he had turned down the deal, at the time he didn't want an easy solution to his poverty. He was glad he didn't take the deal.

     “Then we use Aziz’s just change it a little” Sadira had heard the rumors of the Dark One but she had been too young to offer anything in the form of a deal when she’d heard them.

     "You want me, the Sultana of Agrabah to forge a birth certificate?" Jasmine asked lips curling in a smirk, "I would never dream of doing such a thing."

     Aladdin nodded, "I'll have Genie find it and send it over."

     “Which is why it would work, they would never suspect it,” Sadira shrugged, “If it keeps him safe what's a little bending of the truth.”

     "Well then you have to get him to sign the paperwork of citizenship before I leave." Jasmine replied, "We will do what we have to, if you do what you need to. He is over 18, he is Agrabahian, and I am going to enjoy ripping him out of their hold once and for all. Then I will help Princess Evie, take the throne if she wants it. Carlos I am sure she will take in on her own if not I will."

     “Alright, we have a plan sort of but I don’t think he’s going to like me very much after we talk," Sadira twitched this had to be done, “He needs someone to push him, unfortunately to do that I’ve got to be the bad guy again.”

     Aladdin gave her a look, "Are you going to try and kill him? Because I would prefer you didn't, stealing is one thing, but I would like to have him alive."

     "Stealing?"

     "His magic practice. Don't worry Jas we have worked things out."

     “No, but I’m going to make it perfectly clear he’s staying when they go back if he can’t control his magic,” she smirked.

     "That sounds much better than killing him," Aladdin smiled.

     Jasmine nodded, "I will prepare the paperwork. Sadira, you are welcome to stay for breakfast and take Princess Evie and Jay as soon as they have eaten. If you have concerns about them not being prepared then let's nip that in the bud immediately. Once Aladdin is done with Genie, he'll go find a physician for them. I believe Dr. Sweet is in town on holiday still."

     “I would love to stay, I want to at least get their physicals done while they are here that way you have the original records.”

     "Oh I won't be letting any of them leave my boarders without them. Given what I know, I am surprised they weren't given a check up as soon as they arrived. The negligence of that kingdom is astounding," she snapped.

     Aladdin shook his head heading back to the phone, best make himself busy before Jasmine started on a tirade.

Chapter 135: Explosion (Agrabah: June)

     Jay rubbed the back of his arm, he didn't like this unannounced early start of 'magic class'. Not to mention what she was trying to get them to do was not his thing. But using magic to make forms was Sadira's version of focus practice. Jay could just about get the sand to move. He was thinking his halfway decent sand eels was just beginners luck. It wasn't that he wasn't trying, it was just he couldn't get his magic to cooperate. The sand dropped again out of his control and he rubbed the back of his neck against the impending headache.

     “Very good Evie,” Sadira nodded watching the little sand rabbit bounce around before dissolving, “How about you Jay anything?”

     "I made, a pile of sand." He replied giving Evie a half smile, "Sand Dunes count as objects right? Cute rabbit Princess." 

     “Right, how about something living this time?” Sadira suggested.

     He looked at her and tried again, power drawing up around the sand as he tried to make it come together. He was trying to make Lagan and Derelict again. They were an easy shape, hell a snake would do it even. A tube, they were just tubes. The shifting sand collapsed and Jay made a noise of frustration the light above him falling victim to a hot coil of power that slipped from his containment. Glass reigned down on him.

     "Fucking hells," he growled looking up at the light and winced as it sparked at him despite his want to fix it.

     “I’ll fix it,” Sadira had her sand formed and hardened into the needed shape, “You need to focus on the feeling of your magic ”

     “It’s ok you’ve got this,” Evie smiled at him.

     "No I don't got this," he rubbed his eyes with his cuffs as they started to burn, "I can't even manage to make a shape. I don't even know what it's supposed to feel like anymore. At least before I knew when it was going to lash out." His jaw ached as he tried to force the growing seething mass in his chest down, he didn't want to break anything else today.

     “Jay just close your eyes and take a breath,” Sadira crossed her arms, “Trust me on this you’re not going to hurt me or Blue.”

     He could feel it sizzling in his chest, the feeling spreading and he clamped his teeth together. No, he was fine, he could do better, he just had to try harder. He pulled his wrists down, and curled them around his chest his eyes open despite the fact they were still burning, "Don't worry I can manage that much. Not good at anything else, but at least I can keep myself from hurting anyone."

     “Except yourself,” she raised an eyebrow, “You’re holding it in you need to let it out.”

     "I don't care if it hurts me. I can handle it, I don't want it hurting anyone else," Jay replied trying to crush the magic back into submission or at least back into his control. He wasn't second rate he could do it. He could control it, that's what the anchors were for right?

     Iago watched sparks flicker over Jay's skin. It looked familiar. He couldn't place why it so familiar though.

     “Letting it hurt you is not controlling it,” Sadira growled.

     Jay fixed her with a look, this worked before. Why wasn't it working? Seriously did he not function unless he was broken. He closed his eyes taking a deep breath as he felt his stomach roiling unhappily, "It worked before..."

     “Worked before, stop anything you think works I want you to do the opposite of it. Blue over here by me please,” Sadira order.

     Evie looked at her for a second before nodding chewing her lip, the sand swirled around them Sadira’s eyes staying focused on Jay.

     "But..." Jay was trying not to do whatever it was she said he was doing.

     Iago flapped over to Sadira and Evie landing on the favorite of the two perches, "Kid listen to Sadira. Just breathe you got this."

     He was pretty sure he didn't have this but everything was starting to hurt. And he was frustrated. Why was he so damn broken? Why couldn't anything he did ever work the way it was supposed to the first time? His skin was burning and felt too tight, his eyes burning and his jaw aching. What was wrong with him?

     “You need to stop fighting whatever it is trying to do, you’ve pushed it down so much that now its reacting violently to make you use it,” Sadira barked.

     "But I've been trying to fucking use it," Jay hissed, the words literally hissing off his tounge.

     Iago blinked he knew what that sounded like, "Kid let go of your magic," when Jay stubbornly refused he shifted unhappy, "Boy!" He snapped in Jafar's voice.

     Evie jumped at the sound of Jafar’s voice in the room.

     “Get him to let go,” Sadira said to Iago.

     Iago looked at Sadira, she had no idea how traumatic this was going to be for him, but it was for Jay, "Show me pretty boy."

     The reaction was immediate, Jay felt everything in him shatter all at once. Furious heat pulled around his skin and the floor rushed up at him.

     “Iago,” Evie hissed at him, how could he use that voice on Jay.

     Sadira pulled the sand up a little higher watching him closely.

     "You think I enjoy it?" Iago snapped back as the red gold magic disappeared and confirmed his worry. There where was once his featherless kid was a massive silvery and burgundy cobra in his place. It moved slowly hood flaring out as it tried to figure out what had happened, Iago caught sight of a tell tale black belly, like his mother's.

     “Fuck” Sadira dropped the sand, “Don’t panic, Jay don’t panic.”

     Don't panic, she said. Don't panic. Jay wasn't even sure what he wasn't supposed to be panicking over. Aside from the floor being super close to his face. He went to move his hands and immediately panicked. He was a snake, for the wants of evil why was he a snake? Had this happened over a year ago he would have been ecstatic. Right now, as he was trying to desperately not be anything but his father, he was panicking. His father was nearly as famous for transforming into a snake as he was for being an evil red djinn. Jay writhed on the floor, body coiling and uncoiling, twisting knots on itself as trying to shake the scales off. Human he needed to be human, why was this always happening to him?

     “I said stop panicking,” Sadira ordered, “You will change back in a little bit.”

     Jay reared back with a hiss, this was perfectly acceptable shit to panic over. His magic just turned him into a snake.

     Iago poked Evie's cheek with his beak, "Talk him down before he accidentally bites one of us. His father was venomous and I don't want to run the risk he carries the same trait."

     “Right,” Evie nodded shaking her head to get over her shock, “Jay, masterpiece,” she let her magic rolled around her fingers as she reached out for him.

     Iago changed perches to Sadira's shoulder gripping her shoulder harder than necessary, "Don't make me do that again..."

     Jay pulled back nervously, he didn't want to hurt Princess and he had no idea how to control this body. He hissed in panic as he seemed to rear up higher to look her in the face. He didn't like this, he did not feel anywhere close to stable like this.

     “I won't, but he was hurting himself,” Sadira shook her head watching the two.

     “Its ok, you’re beautiful,” Evie edged closer to him slowly, he would never hurt her.

     Iago nodded, "I know, I... that transformation, it took years for Jafar to learn. I didn't even recognize it until he started hissing his words."

     Jay lost his balance and fell into Evie. Instinctively wrapping up her torso, holding tight to her. How the hell did this body work? He wanted his limbs back immediately.

     “Its ok,” Evie stroked the top of his head, “Just relax.”

     “Once he’s calmed down some more we’ll see about getting him to change back, his magic will run out eventually and change him back if he can’t manage,” Sadira tilted her head.

     Jay hissed softly eyes closing as his hood pulled back falling under her thrall. He squeezed her a little tighter scaling up her body to give her more room to pet.

     "I guess we will finally figure out how deep the magic well is that way too."

     “Do you want to try changing back?” Evie asked softly as she stroked his slim body.

     “It would help to know that, but I kind of hope he calms down enough to do it on his own” Sadira looked at Iago.

     Jay opened his eyes and twisted to look at her head on and nodded or attempted to. Before he attempted to carefully get to the floor only to lose it halfway through and thump to the ground. 

     "Even if he doesn't," Iago cringed as Jay hit the floor, "He transformed with no teaching at all. Something his father could never claim."

     Human, he wanted to be human. His arms and his legs back with a spine that cooperated. Jay's hood flicked out as he tried to get his real body back. 

     “Calm down Jay, its alright. Everything is fine,” Sadira said watching the hood go back and forth, “Will knowing he beat Jafar make this better or worse?” she asked Iago quietly.

     "Better. Jafar always liked saying he was second rate. Start proving his father lied will help."

     He hissed at Sadira, he was calm... mostly. He was trying to get limbs out of this stupid snake body. His lower half twisted into a knot with his frustration.

     “You want to know something interesting?” Sadira asked watching him.

     “Why is someone so pretty getting upset?” Evie asked stroking his head again, smirking a little at using his own line against him.

     He fixed Evie a dark look careful to not bite her. Jay flicked his tail tip at Sadira, silently telling her he was interested.

     “It took Jafar years of training to turn into a Snake, he had to get help, a teacher to be able to finally do it. You just did it like it was nothing,” she moved closer to them, she may have been embellishing a little but... she thought Jafar was pretty stupid so why not let his son see that.

     “Hear that Masterpiece, you are better than him. Just like I keep telling you, let's get you changed back so we can celebrate,” Evie smirked.

     Sadira shot her eyes at Evie, the last thing these two needed after this was sex.

     “But if we’re going to do that you need your penis back,” Evie raised an eyebrow in challenge.

     Iago shook his head, "Better not tell her snakes have two..."

     Better than his Baba, he didn't believe that fully but he could do this one thing better. Like his stealing he could have a few things that made him better than his Baba. Human, he could do this, if he could manage to magic himself into a snake he could unmagic himself too. Heat was pulling up around his body, less painful then the transition into a snake.

     “Yes those are facts they don’t need,” Sadira nodded watching them.

     “There you go there’s my masterpiece,” Evie smirked looking at him.

     “Very good,” Sadira watched him reform.

     Jay was sitting on the floor and glad he was because he felt the room was swaying just a little bit at the edges, "I don't think I am cut out for this magic shit," he commented glad his words weren't hissed and his body seemed all back together.

     "Your doing great kid," Iago flapped over landing on Jay's knee, "Still a little out of it? That's okay, it takes a lot to do that, just like normal you learned to run before you learned to walk."

     Jay poked an empty patch on Iago's side, "I thought I told you to stop worrying so much?"

     "Well you stress me out kid," he nipped at the finger, "Not listening and shit."

     “That’s a good start,” Sadira nodded, “Now you just have to be able to go back and forth at will. It's about control, we’ll be working on it.”

     "No." Jay stated, "Don't give a shit if I managed something he didn't. I am not doing that again, all they are going to see is him, and I won't be him."

     Iago understood he did, but this was what his magic wanted, his magic was going to get it's way. He puffed himself up, "Kid your father wasn't the only one who could shape shift. He's just remembered for it. Queen Grunhilde could split herself into a flock of ravens, Madame Mim is more famous than your father for shapeshifting. There wasn't a form in the world she couldn't shift into. Her hero Merlin, same way. The twins you met in town can shift into half birds. Just because you have a shape like his doesn't mean it's bad. You don't look anything like him in that form, he was larger than life. You could pass as a rare colored normal snake."

     “Iago isn’t wrong, this is how your magic works. And honestly if you don’t want to deal with that, don’t want to put in the effort to deal with it to control it then you're not going back to Auradon. You’ll stay here with me, when they go back,” Sadira watched him.

     Evie’s magic lashed through the air at her words, she wasn’t leaving without Jay.

     “Easy Blue, you're not going to change my mind with a tantrum,” she sidestepped.

     Jay caught Iago as he shot to his feet, "What? The hell I will!" His vision darkened and he ignored it, it would pass just like always, "You can't keep me here." 

     “We’re wards of Auradon until we are 18” Evie nodded in agreement, “Its kidnapping if you make him stay.”

     “I wondered if you didn’t know or just hadn’t said anything, I'm going with didn’t know. You’re almost 19 Jay, I can keep you here if that's what I deem is necessary for your safety. You do something like that there and they send you back. Perk no more magic, but I'm gonna guess doing back to daddy is a down side” Sadira crossed her arms watching the boy.

     Except Jay knew exactly how old he was, Auradon didn't, so he kept it to himself, it was safer that way. The memory of his birthday 'presents' made his body clench, "I'd like to see you or anyone else try and force me back there. There is one person I would go there for once I figure out how to get back out," heat was pouring down his arms, fight. He would fight anyone who thought they were going to keep him from his.

     “Oh really, cause they will hunt you, they will catch you, and they will send you back. They will tell everyone you are just like him, is that how you want it to be?” Sadira tilted her head, “If so then I’m done wasting my time.”

     “No, he’s nothing like him. They won't say that.” Evie shook her head.

     “Do you really believe that Blue? They are already watching both of you, the council wants any excuse to say Prince Ben while good hearted is wrong, so they can seal off the isle permanently. That means no one ever comes off it again”

     “No... our friends they’ll stand up for us” Evie chewed her lip.

     "You mean like Mal did against Audrey or Chad?" Jay pressed the heel of his hand to his temple to stave off the sudden violent urge to shut Sadira up. She did not need to see that side of him, what he was capable of if he lost control, "The Mainlanders don't have enough of a spine for that."

     Iago squirmed in Jay's tightening grip, "Kid breath."

     Jay forced himself to let Iago go before he hurt him minion accidentally, "I don't think they'd bother, they are piss poor at finding people. But I'm not him, you are starting to sound like him though. I was never worth his time either." The heat was curving around his unoccupied hand. Keep Princess safe, from him, from Sadira, from the Mainland that scorned them. He would bleed to keep his, no matter how long or hard the fight, he wouldn't stop if it meant keeping them safe.

     “There do you feel that?” Sadira motioned to his hand, “Your magic just focused into your hand. You need to be able to do that as easily as you breath.” she rocked back away from the two, “that is how you protect those you love or whatever you call it, that is how you keep Blue safe from them”

     Iago clicked his beak, "You do your best thinking when you aren't thinking." 

     Jay looked at him oddly lowering his other hand before looking at Sadira, "I never needed magic to protect mine before why would I need it now?" He could feel it, his hands burned as he clenched his fists. Rob them blind and leave them all defenseless. Jay cringed as the heat released suddenly and stuff rained down around him. He looked at his hands in frustration, "Why do you always do this?"

     “Because it’s 19 years of magic built up, you had no way to let it out on the isle so you didn’t know. But the minute you were out from under the barrier it started coming out, just a little here or there, I'm betting. But coming here one of the last places magic is free, it went nuts. There’s no going back to how it was, you have to use it. If you don’t it will kill you or some one else, given that you seem to enjoy sex, both of you. That it comes out during that, either of you could seriously hurt someone if you don’t practice and use your magic, even if it's just little things.” Sadira explained.

     "What do you mean hurt someone?" Jay felt himself panic he had two non magic users.

     “Calm down,” Sadira barked, “I know you haven’t hurt the other two, I know you wouldn’t ever do that on purpose. Given the heat of your powers, you could burn them. Your powers could flood their bodies and cause them to shut down... I don't know what else, it's not exactly an area that’s common.”

     Jay bit back a choice set of words at her snapping, "Great just fucking great," he could feel it building again and he grabbed it slamming it into silence. He let out an aggravated huff, well he was back to no sex unless it was with his hand. If he had just known he could hurt them because his magic was all screwed up. He kicked himself a path out of the pile of magically pilfered items. This was why he shouldn't have magic, it was bad enough he had terrible tendencies for the mainland, magic was just making everything worse. Now he found out his favorite past time and the one thing that could screw his head back on straight could hurt someone.

     Iago sighed this conversation was going in a very nasty circle. Sadira really didn't need to see what a fully panic mode Jay looked like. He flapped in front of Jay, cutting off his pacing, "Kid that is why you need to take this seriously. I know you don't think you can, and you think ignoring it will make it go away. But it won't. Let's do this like your reading; he told you, you can't do it. Try harder. Take a breath sort it out, line by line. If you don't try then you might as well be like him, out of control while you lie to yourself."

     "I AM TRYING!" Jay roared at him.

     "Then try to go at it at a different angle. If the gap is too big do you give up? Or do you find a different way around it?" Iago wasn't fazed, the fact Jay was yelling meant that he was listening at least.

     "I make a different way forward."

     "And do you give yourself time to think about that way forward?"

     "No... if I think I don't jump."

     "Then would you jump already? You've been standing on an edge fighting with yourself about how to move forward with a gap you think is too big to cross."

     Jay made a face at the bird, "But..."

     "No excuses. Just do what needs doing. No one held your hand when you learned to steal, or pick locks, or run roofs. No one taught you how to do half the stuff you know how to do. Stop pussyfooting around, this is Agrabah. They don't give a shit if you have fucking magic, no one is going to send you back here. You learn here where it is safe to learn or you take the risk of being sent back in Auradon."

     He looked away rubbing the back of his arm feeling like a kid again when he got lectured two words at a time for giving all his food away to someone else Jay thought needed it more than him. "What if-"

     "So help you, I will bite you. Now clean up your mess, you stole it all on instinct, now work on sending it all back. Reverse pickpocketing." Iago huffed irritably, he was getting too old for his unruly teenage brat.

     Evie stood back letting Iago deal with Jay. She eyed Sadira with distrust.

     “Blue I am not going to hurt either of you promise. Just some hard love, I don’t want to see any of you sent back because of an accident” Sadira sighed, back to square one, “I even have a safety net in the works for Jay.”

     Evie looked away from her crossing her arms.

     Iago watched as piece by piece Jay sent the stolen goods away. He would pretend that they were going back to where they belonged. He rubbed his beak against Jay's damp jaw, "Look at you kid, you're a natural at it. Just had to find a different way across was all."

     There was a headache behind his eyes and he felt exhausted, but he would finish cleaning up. He had to make it right. He had to do it right.

     “That is very good,” Sadira nodded, “Iago make sure he doesn’t pass out."

     "I've only ever passed out twice," Jay replied through gritted teeth as he sent another batch of clothing away, "The first time Baba really punished me, and when my ribs got reset." Evie had patched him up the first time, she hadn't been there for his ribs thankfully. "I will be fine."

     Iago gave him a disbelieving look but let him keep going. His kid practically ran on force of will, "Well take a break if you need to."

     “Your ribs were a mess, I’m kinda glad someone else dealt with them,” Evie made a face.

     “When was your first time being punished?” Sadira asked.

     Admittedly a lot of his injuries were a mess. "I was 6 when he hit me with a book. I don't really count that or the beatings," he forced his magic to send another batch of loot away, it was getting harder to send away but it went faster than before at least, "I was 11 when my punishments really started."

     “What we see as punishment and what you see as punishment are different,” Evie looked at Sadira.

     “They are but knowing what you think is punishment will help us help you,” Sadira supplied, “You all are getting physicals and starting therapy, and I do mean all of you including birdbrain.”

     Jay let out a breathy laugh as the last pile vanished, "Yeah okay Sadira," she had to be joking they were fine. He didn't know what a physical was but he knew he didn't want it.

     Iago ruffled his feathers, "Good job kid. How you feeling?"

     "I'm fine, stop worrying so much. I hate it when your plucking out your own feathers," his legs felt weak and his hands were shaking but he had cleaned up his mess. It was a start. That was better than before.

     “Yeah, it's part of your magic training, no exceptions,” Sadira looked at him, “We need to know what shape your bodies are in, and then we need to start healing your minds."

     "Damn fine shape," he retorted giving her a level look, "What does it matter even? What happened, happened. We survived."

     “It matters because it affects you now,” she said, “And as in your health”

     “We are perfectly healthy” Evie looked at her staying close to Jay.

     “We just want to make sure” she waved her hand clearing the sand away in the room.

     Jay curled his arm around Evie's hips giving him something solid to focus on, "We haven't even gotten hurt since we got here."

     "I am siding with Sadira here. Puppy Dog is going to have to go too. I will be with each of you." Iago stated looking between the teens.

     “You’re siding with her?” Evie looked at him in shock.

     "Yes." Iago bobbed his head, "I know what you three went through. My concern is making sure you all healed up on the inside properly. That as you get older you don't have issues from old injuries. There was nothing on the Isle that could have told us that. Here there is."

     "Traitor," Jay growled at his minion.

     "Like I said I am going to be with you through it. You may think of me a betraying you now, but if one of those old injuries happens to have healed wrong and you get hit just right. It could A, kill you or B, everyone finds out about all your injuries in Auradon. At least here it will be private and in secret like that talk with Sadira and the blue idiot." Iago leveled with the teens. "You choose which you would prefer."

     “Your mother may have done serious damage to your bones Blue,” Sadira said softly, “she could have damaged something else as well.”

     “My bones... Iago,” Evie gasped at him, he’d told her, what else had he been running his beak about.

     "You can hate me if you want, but I have sat by and watched enough. I won't do it anymore. I refuse to be silent when your starving yourself because she's in your head telling you your fat and Jay is in the boat with you refusing to let you do it alone. Do you know how many hours he has actually slept since he got here? 2 hours a night, that's all before he is awake and moving again." Iago flapped angrily, "You two need this, Carlos needs this. Or they will always have their hands on you, no matter how far they are from you."

     “We are fine,” Evie leaned more into Jay.

     “This isn’t a negotiation,” Sadira sighed, “It can wait until you go back but I don’t think that’s wise. We are done for today, Jay, Jasmine needs you see you for a second when you’re free.”

     Jay's jaw clenched, "At least we can agree on that much," he pulled Evie in front of him as he put his back to Sadira and pushed both of them out the door. He waited until they were clear of Sadira, "Did you tell her?" He asked looking murderously at the macaw.

     "No. I haven't told anyone, not about that." He shrunk back.

     "I can't believe you. You're supposed to be on our side you fucking bird."

     "I am, I saw a chance to make sure you and my new kids weren't slowly dying and I took it. If I could do it myself I would have."

     "Get out of my sight before I pluck you myself," Jay seethed too pissed and tired to appreciate that Iago was trying to help.

     “How do we explain this to Pup?” Evie asked looking at Jay.

     "I have no idea," he sighed as Iago winged it down the hallway, "I don't even know where this shit came from. We were fucking fine, no one was hurt, we were all stable."

Chapter 136: Talking it Through (Agrabah: June)

     Iago did not like playing dirty, but he knew one person that could simmer Jay down and make this easier. He flew into the cracked window and landed on Aziz's knee, thank everything it was library day and Puppy Dog was buried in a book.

     Aziz looked at the macaw confused, "Iago?"

     "Keep it down. I need your help to ease a few things over."

     "What did you do?" He almost groaned.

     "Sprung it on them about physicals."

     "But that's a good thing..."

     "Oh good you're agreeing with me. They aren't."

     Aziz frowned slightly, "Okay who is invited to this thing?"

     "All three of them."

     "Okay. Do you know who is doing it? Or when it's happening?"

     "No and no."

     "So at some point this is a thing that is happening?"

     "Yes."

     "And you need me to overcome the hurdle of their clear knee jerk reaction to the news?"

     "Yes, preferably before my kid plucks me."

     "Wow... you really pissed him off. Go find out who and when. I will go smooth things over. Anything else you want to warn me of?"

     "Nope,” Iago wasn't stupid, he had zero plans of warning the Prince of what exactly he was walking into. Better if the kid actually didn't know rather than attempt to play dumb anyway.

     "I don't believe you but that's fine," he sighed, closing his book and stood, "Los, Amira and Jay are done. Why don't we go back to your room and help them unwind a little?"

     “Unwind... what happened?” Carlos asked getting up.

     "Sounds like the day ended on a very stressful note and Jay's a touch on the 'Chad's pissed me off' side of things," Aziz kept his voice calm and his expression soft. 

     “So you want Jay or Evie?” Carlos asked as they moved towards their room.

     "Why don't I take Jay? If he's too fired up we'll switch out," he smiled softly.

     “Alright go ahead and try,” Carlos nodded, “I'll take Evie to the bathroom. She loves that tub, so maybe a soak and pamper will work for her”

     "That sounds like a good idea." He pushed the door open.

     “Hey guys,” Carlos looked at them as they eased into the room, “So... do we want to unwind a little?” it was really up to them, sometimes Jay wanted to stay mad and wound up.

     Jay looked up from his pacing half expecting to see Iago perched on one of their shoulders. He watched as Aziz went serious, fuck Iago told him. But what exactly had Iago told him? His eyes searched around but the macaw was completely out of sight. Irritation and a start of panic twisted around his guts, there was no way of knowing what Iago had or hadn't spilled and to whom he spilled.

     Aziz locked the door behind him, "Why don't you and me have a comfortable little chat Jay. Amira and Los are free to stay here or he can help her calm down."

     "I like the fact you didn't give me an actual option."

     "Well there is an open balcony in this room if you get that desperate to be out of a simple conversation," he sat on the edge of the bed giving Jay a patient look.

     Jay's jaw clamped but he relented, "That fucking bird ran his beak to you didn't he?"

     "Yes, your minion told me he played a villain and went behind your back to do something for your benefit."

     “E how about a bath?” Carlos asked taking her hand.

     “No,” she shook her head and sat at the vanity.

     “Alright then, I guess we’re all staying for this,” Carlos back off a little, Iago was so plucked if either of these guys got their hands on him.

     Jay was going to kill the bird. 

     Aziz lifted a brow as Jay's look went murderous, "Why the fury over something like this? I think it would be good. It won't hurt you or yours, a person with years of medical training looks you over, checks your reflexes, hearing, vision. Checks your weight to make sure your a healthy weight for your height and activity level. I have one every other year. Takes time but is pretty much the easiest thing in the world. I have no idea how this conversation even started and frankly I don't think I want to know how they asked you-"

     "They didn't ask," Jay started, almost glad Iago seemed to have let out everything else, and Aziz held up a hand.

     "Okay would you all put my poor Mainland heart at ease and be looked over by a medical professional please? Because hearing you all go treated by an alchemist, or not at all, makes me super concerned," Aziz interjected looking at Evie and Carlos hoping they would agree easily because Jay was in the deep end of stubbornness.

     “Um... so what exactly do they do? Cause well the only doctor on the isle isn’t really a medical person,” Carlos asked.

     “Why does it matter?” Evie asked.

     "You sit down in an office or on a bench like table and the doctor will ask you some questions, are you sexually active, do you smoke, do you drink, do you have any medications you take. They won't judge, the questions just help them identify what things they should look for so you should be honest. Their purpose is to make sure you are healthy, and to suggest methods to get you healthy if you aren't. They aren't going to pry, or question your life choices, they only care about your health." He stressed pushing the fact their concern was health. "It matters amira because you being healthy improves you. It will make sure your body is ready to take on wherever you want your path to take you. And if it isn't it will help you set goals to get you where you want to be."

     "But why does it matter, we are fine." Jay retorted.

     "Then prove it. Prove to me I'm just some dumb Mainlander worried about my lovers for no reason," Aziz shot back curtly.

     Jay gaped taken aback at not only his balls so soon after his punishment, but also by what he called them. He wasn't prepared for that come back as it made his chest feel tingly and nervous. He didn't like the feeling he didn't understand.

     “Healthy for what? I mean we are functioning just fine,” Evie looked at him.

     “I think this goes back to our conversation sort of. So when you make up your mind you’re body will be ready,” Carlos supplied.

     "But what if you aren't?" Aziz asked looking at them pleading, "What if something healed wrong or you're sick and you don't know because you are so strong?"

     “What if we don’t want to know?” Evie asked.

     Aziz looked at her sadly, "Then I imagine you'll want to go home, where you can't die. Then you will never have to know what may have happened to your body because your mother didn't think you were as beautiful as you are. I will worry endlessly about you I hope you know that my amira."

     “That’s not...” Evie shook her head, she didn’t want to know if her mother had ruined her. What if the thought of having kids really wasn’t worth even having, “What if I...”

     “E, I told you it doesn’t matter. Z doesn’t care about that,” Carlos wrapped his arms around her shoulders.

     Aziz tilted his head at her now unsure as to what it was that she and Carlos had spoken about, "I can't give you answers to those questions amira. A doctor can. Someone who can answer every question you have about your body. No matter what they are. I will be here for you, all of you, no matter what. If it's bad news, I will be here to help you through it, if it's good news, I will be here to celebrate with you."

     Jay swallowed hard, not liking the feelings this whole conversation was bringing up, "It won't change anything..."

     "No it won't, but it could help all of you. Could be a step forward a step into finding a new happier normal. Look I can go and have one done too if it will make you feel better."

     “We don’t do normal, if you haven’t noticed,” Evie said softly, “Ok I’ll give, but if... if I'm dying I don’t think I want to know. I’d rather just live like I am until it ended.”

     “You’re not dying, it's not allowed remember” Carlos smirked at her.

     "If you are dying I will be spending a lot of time and money on keeping my amira alive as long as possible. I'd never be able to handle these two without you by my side," he replied with a soft smile.

     “I’m sure you’d manage,” she smirked, “You bounce back pretty fast. When are we doing this?”

     "I sent the bird your pissed at to go find out. Los are you in agreement to go through this?"

     “Yeah I guess, if E’s doing then I'll do it,” Carlos nodded.

     He nodded, "Hubibi?" He looked at his hardest lover to deal with, "Are you willing? If nothing else prove to me I'm worried over nothing."

     Jay looked him over and then his over grinding his teeth before nodding, "Fine. But-"

     "Do you want me to be there? You can say no and I won't be offended."

     "You don't come and you don't ask unless we want to talk about it."

     Aziz felt a little stung but he understood Jay was trying to protect them. And in some ways Jay was trying to protect him from information he may not be able to handle despite his willingness to know it.

     “We can all live with that,” Carlos nodded.

     “Jay don’t forget that your suppose to go see the Sultana,” Evie reminded wanting to think about other things, “I wonder what she wants.”

     "Nothing I have the patients for right now."

     "Jay... may I remind you that my mother will go and find you if you don't go and see her," Aziz stated, "You-"

     "Fucking hells Aziz, just stay here. I go deal with your fucking mama," he threw his hands up in fustration heading to the balcony.

     "Doors!" He called after Jay before he sighed, "Well that's a thing... how did your lesson go Amira?'

     “Not so good,” she shrugged, “Sadira went bitch mode on Jay after he turned himself into a snake”

     "Why did she go bitch mode? I mean as way of magic stuff goes, shapeshifting is very impressive." Aziz looked confused as he stayed on the bed.

     “He didn’t mean to change, and then he couldn’t change back. And stuff was exploding after he finally did. And his control doesn't exist. She said she was gonna make him stay when we go back if he can’t control his magic.”

     “She can’t do that,” Carlos shook his head, that rule he knew for sure, they had to live in Auradon until they were 18.

     “Apparently Jay’s almost 19 and they know that” Evie stood pulling Carlos along with her to the bed.

     "So his supposed lack of control led to him shapeshifting. Well he is clearly human so he must have figured out how to undo it. That's impressive... seriously impressive. Did he know, because I was not aware of how old he was. I mean Ben doesn't know otherwise he would have tried and made... oh I know what mama wants to talk to him about." Aziz audibly connected the dots and nearly sighed. Of course this was one of those things that Iago hadn't told him that happened during the class with Sadira.

     “He didn't say he knew, what does she want to talk about?” Evie asked as she held out a hand to him.

     "She's going to ask him to sign the citizenship paperwork." He settled his hand in hers giving her knuckles a kiss.

     “What will that do?” Carlos asked as he scooted over so Evie could pull Aziz between them.

     "Make him an official citizen of Agrabah and like Jordan will be a guest in Auradon. Also will cut anyone's ability to send him back to the Isle without one of the royal family's permission. No, I don't mean the Beasts either," he smirked as he settled between them.

     “So, its protection... sweet,” Carlos smirked curling into his side.

     Aziz nodded, pulling Carlos closer to his side to enjoy the warmth of the boy, "I think it is a good idea, especially since he has magic and currently has trouble controlling it. I know he can do it though, he's a smart kid, once he figures out how it works for him, he'll be a master of it in no time."

     “Iago yelled at him and he seemed to start getting it, and well he may have turned human again because I told him he needed his penis back to get rewards and celebrate,” Evie explained.

     “You know Snakes have two penises” Carlos looked at her.

     “Huh...” Evie tilted her head, “That’s interesting”

     "Just what we need, Jay with two dicks." He snorted, "I'm glad someone shook him out of his funk."

     “Just hope it lasts this time,” Carlos nodded as he and Evie linked hands over Aziz’s stomach.

     Aziz settled back into the pillows with them, all they could do was wait until Jay came back now.

-*-

     After flying through and around the palace Iago finally found where Aladdin had holed himself up. Atop a spire the Sultan, dressed in plain clothes, sat head resting against the white stone looking out at the sprawling city. Iago sighed, landing beside him, wings fluttering.

     “Is everything okay Iago?” Aladdin asked after a long stretch of silence, “I usually don't see you away from Jay or the other kids.”

     “My featherless brat is in a pissy mood post magic lesson,” Iago explained with a shimmy across the heated metal, “I set your son on him to hopefully calm him down.”

     “Az is good at that, he's got a good head on his shoulders,” he looked at Iago seeing the missing patches of feathers, “Something is bothering you. Outside of the magic lesson today.”

     Iago thought about it, debating about saying anything at all to the man. Well Al was a better choice than Jasmine at least, “I don't think I ever stopped to ask myself if I had done enough to raise Jay. If I had done the right thing following after Jafar when I found out he had a baby with him.” Aladdin remained silent as Iago sighed, shaking his head, “I'm just an enchanted parrot. I don't have hands. I could only speak one word at a time, reverted back to parrot speech. And still I tried to help the kid. I tried to fill in for the mama he was missing as an infant, screaming his head off day in and day out wanting her. I tried to teach him to speak and to read, I gave him smaller words, tried to help him understand the small part of the world he was allowed to exist in.”

     “Then what was it Jafar did?” Aladdin adjusted his stance to look at the macaw.

     “That's a good fucking question.” Iago scoffed, “He made the kid. He somehow got him to the Isle. He bartered a woman to feed the kid because he didn't understand that Jay couldn't eat solids yet. He begrudgingly clothed the kid and bathed him until he was old enough to do it himself. Showed him how to cook and clean so the kid could ‘earn his keep’. He tried to teach him Arabic and Common. But when it didn't stick?” Iago nipped at his feathers, “The kid bore the brunt of Jafar’s irritation.”

     “But he looked after him as a baby?”

     “No. I did. Jafar had left him for me to watch over so he could do whatever Jafar did out of the house.”

     Aladdin frowned, “Jafar left you in charge of a baby? No wonder you're so good with him.”

     Iago's beak clicked shut at the compliment before he fluffed up, “And yet my unruly brat won't listen to me.”

     “What exactly isn't he listening to?”

     “A physical. He refuses to go. Not that I know when it's happening.”

     “Ah, 2 weeks from today. The doctor we asked, Dr. Sweet, has an office here in Agrabah, but he is usually located out of Auradon. I spoke with him about the kids and their situation. He was happy to come and see them here at the Palace.”

     “So basically I have 2 week to convince the kids to go?”

     “Basically. I know you can do it, but I am always happy to give you parental advice if you need it.”

-*-

     Jasmine started with a short scream as Jay dropped into her office via window. The guard flung her door open but she waved him off.

     "Jay, we have doors for a reason."

     He didn't reply, just crossed his arms over his chest and gave her a level unamused look leaning back against the open window.

     “Is something wrong?” Jasmine asked as she stood straightening the papers on her desk trying to calm her racing heart.

     "You're the one who wanted to see me, Sultana," he carefully bit out, Princess would skin him alive if he didn't watch his tone with the royal.

     Jasmine lifted a brow at his tone but didn't comment, "I did but if now isn't a good time you didn't have to come."

     "Not the impression your son gave me."

     She nodded curtly, she could do this, he was a teenager in need of a homeland. He could be protected this way, she could keep him safe from his father this way. "Then I am glad you came. I have some important business to discuss with you. I scheduled you and Carlos to meet with the kingdom's accountant while I am in Auradon. She will help you make heads or tails of your Baba's ledger."

     "Appreciate that," he nodded curtly, "But what do you actually want?"

     Jasmine slipped around her desk and handed him the official sheet of paper, "That is your birth certificate. Did you know you have the same birthday as Aziz?"

     Jay blinked, "What?" He looked down at the paper with its words he couldn't read.

     She nodded, "Exactly one year younger than my son. And your mother didn't name you Jay, your name is Jairaj. Though I can understand why you'd prefer the shorter form." She was working up to it, gauging his reactions, as irritation faded into shock almost as he stared at her, face pale, "You knew..."

     "Baba took that name from me a long time ago. Iago gave me the one I go by so I wouldn't be nameless... and yeah I know how old I am, Auradon doesn't so why would I tell them. I didn't know about the birthday thing. Not that it matters. Why are you telling me all this?"

     She was going to kill that man but she kept her expression soft, "Jay you are over 18. You need citizenship paperwork. Technically since you were born to an Agrabahian citizen you are a citizen, but the council doesn't recognize that."

     "And you want me to stay here with Sadira if I can't get my magic under control," Jay saw where this was going and he could feel the anger welling up again.

     "Now hear me out before you get all in a huff," she used her parental voice and he looked down at his feet avoiding her gaze, "You have a house here in Agrabah, you can stay there if you would prefer a space of your own. If you sign the paperwork I have here on my desk, I will take it and your birth certificate with me to the council. Becoming a citizen of Agrabah means that there is no one aside from myself or my husband that can send you back to the Isle. The furthest anyone can send you, is back here to Agrabah."

     "Why would you want me? Why do you want me?" Jay was getting that uneasy feeling in his belly again.

     "Because I can keep you from your baba. I can protect you here for my son. You will have a place here both in the magical community and outside of it," she pleaded with him, knowing words would never be enough to convince him.

     "No one can protect me from him."

     "No one can if you don't let us. All you have to do is give us a chance Jairaj, give us the chance to prove to you that you belong here, that you can find peace here."

     Jay felt the words twist in his chest as she used his real name, "I... I need to think about it Sultana..." he extended the slip of paper back to her.

     She slid her hands over his, "Keep it for now. Bring it back when you've made your decision."

     He looked at her dainty yet strong hands covering his own scarred ones and bobbed his head briefly, pulling back from her grasp slowly, "Yes Sultana."

     Jasmine watched as he tucked the paper into his vest and vanished back out the window. She had made it through, she had done enough to break through to the boy. Now she had to wait and pray. With an exhausted sigh she settled back into her chair cradling her face collecting herself. His vulnerable expression was haunting, a child unsure if he could trust her without experiencing suffering. But there was nothing further she could do for now.

-*-

     “That was fast,” Evie looked at Jay as he slipped back into the room.

     Aziz looked over the slightly paler skin, "You feeling okay Jay?"

     Jay nodded, setting the paper carefully on the vanity before he dropped into the bed on top of them. His face in Aziz's belly, his arms hooked around his other two. He was exhausted, mentally tapped, nerves shot, he wanted nothing to do with leaving the room for the rest of the day.

     “We should take a day to just lay here” Evie suggested.

     "Deal," Jay replied immediately if not very muffled by Aziz's belly.

     Aziz shook his head, "It can't be that bad. How did it go with mama?"

     Jay tipped his head to the side listening to the beat of Aziz's heart, "She asked me to sign up to stay here."

     "And you said?"

     "I needed to think about it..."

     Aziz rubbed his leg against Jay's, "Well at least you didn't knee jerk and say no. I have made this offer to you multiple times. I meant it."

     Jay sighed, tucking his face back into the older male's belly, "I know, I just need time, Princy."

     “It would be nice to have the extra protection for you,” Carlos said, taking his hand from Evie’s to trace patterns on Jay's arm.

     "Yeah but what about you two? If I sign off can I even go back with you?"

     "You would be like Jordan, a guest of Auradon," Aziz offered, "Mama will make sure of it."

     “We’ll be ok, I mean not much these guys can do to us we haven't seen before,” Carlos shrugged.

     “Once my status is recognized they can’t really do anything to me,” Evie added.

     "And either amira or I can offer Los citizenship. Get him away from Auradon. We have a plan Jay, we are covered I promise. If you agree to become a citizen of Agrabah, I can cover you. Plus that means you can come and visit me whenever you want and no one has to know unless you want them to."

     Jay sighed softly, "Maybe..."

     “All we can ask is that you think about it,” Evie agreed, “We have a plan on how to keep us safe.”

     "You mean away from Ben?" Jay snorted. 

     "I was thinking away from Chad. I mean, I keep thinking that I am going to open the door and find you covered in his blood." Aziz snorted.

     "We got bigger problems if I show up to your door covered in blood," he laughed weakly.

     “A lot bigger,” Carlos chuckled.

     "I'm sorry window. I know we are in trouble if he uses a door. Ow! Don't bite me you jerk," Aziz yelped.

     “He’s not wrong my masterpiece, if you use a door the world is ending” Evie teased.

     "Okay fine, I really don't like doors." Windows were much easier to use.

     “We know, that’s why we are just teasing you” Evie assured.

     Iago landed uneasily on the vanity, "Appointment is in 2 weeks with a Dr. Sweet here in the palace."

     "Thanks Iago, he's a great physician, that is another name for a doctor." Aziz nodded at macaw.

     Iago nodded, "Well you seemed to have... worked some kind of magic."

     "Called talking civilly," Aziz raised an eyebrow at him.

     “Iago this room is not where you want to be,” Carlos warned as Evie twitched her fingers.

     Jay tightened his grip on Evie, "My minion my problem," he growled before pushing himself to kneeling to glare at the bird.

     Iago swallowed, "Kid..."

     "So what else did you run your beak about?"

     "I am getting you help, I hate seeing all of you still hearing them. I don't trust Auradon or I would have done it there. Agrabah is safe. Plenty of able and willing people here to help all of you break free for good. It's called tough lovin'." Iago stood by his choice he was doing the right thing.

     "You didn't answer my question."

     "I told them what was necessary to make them get their shit together and find you people to help. You don't want to talk fine. That's your choice, you're the ones who lived through it, were tortured through it. Are still being tormented by it. I know you will talk when you are ready, I am making sure there is someone there that can listen and help," he fluffed his feathers out trying to be an imposing parental figure.

     “I was just going to turn him green for a bit,” Evie sighed, “You told them about my mother fixing my bones” she shot at him.

     "I did. The woman did it herself, she is a witch not a surgeon! She could have really hurt you, took away your ability to walk, could have damaged muscles, given you future health complications." Iago snapped clicking his beak angrily.

     “You should have asked about it before you said anything” Evie snapped.

     "Would you have told me yes if I had asked?" Iago knew the answer already as Jay's eyes narrowed dangerously.

     “No I would have told you I was fine and to keep your big beak shut,” she glared.

     "Which is exactly why I didn't bother asking." He huffed pacing a few steps before realizing what he was standing on, "Where did you get this? How do you even have this? I thought the only one was locked away in Jafar's safe."

     “What is it?” Carlos asked sitting up to look at Iago fully.

     "His birth certificate," Iago looked at Jay who's jaw clenched firmly looking away, "How. Did you. Get this?"

     “What’s a birth certificate?” Carlos blinked, “I've heard the term a few times since we got to the mainland, but I don’t know what it is”

     "It is a document that proves where and when you were born, and to whom. Aka who you're parents are," Iago explained, "Now how the hell did you get this? I know where Jafar has been keeping it, there is no way you should have this!"

     "I don't know, Sultana handed it to me. I can't read it, it's all, Agrabahian." Jay admitted.

     "Arabic," Aziz corrected looking between them.

     “Oh... do we all have one?” Evie asked, she would like to see it if she had one, maybe it would say who her father was, not that he really matter she supposed.

     "You all should but your mother likely has the original. Royal families generally have two copies, one for the family and one for the record keeper. Everyone else normally one. Which is why I would like to know how she managed to get her hands on yours," Iago squawked.

     “You could ask her if you want to know,” Evie suggested rolling her eyes

     Iago gave her a look, "Smart ass."

     “What’s your point?” she asked with a smirk.

     Jay shook his head and flopped back down this time face into Evie's breasts. His head was killing him.

     Iago ruffled his feathers, "This is why my kid likes you," he muttered.

     “Good to know” she flopped back down.

Chapter 137: Sultana and The Council (Auradon: July)

     Jasmine took a deep breath as she stepped off the train dressed in the clothes Evie made her and held onto the file with Jay's paperwork. She was going to give them hell for the Isle kids.

     “Sultana? Would you like me to alert the king that you are here?” the conductor asked as he sent a bag boy to get a car ready.

     "Yes, tell him I'm here for the council meeting in place of my son," she nodded smiling at the conductor.

     “Right away a car should be around in a moment your majesty,” he nodded headed towards the office. He watched the Sultana through the window as he listened to the phone ring.

     “Hello, Lord Farris’ office,” the sweet sound of the secretary's voice picked up.

     “The Sultana has arrived, she’s here to take her seat on the council” he reported

     “I will pass the info a long” she said softly.

     Jasmine straightened up taking a deep breath, it had been a long time since she had been here for a council meeting.

     “Right this way Sultana” the bag boy motioned towards the town car as he picked up her bags.

     "Thank you, dear," she smiled, nodding to the boy as she followed him to the car.

     “Fairy Godmother will meet you when you arrive,” the conductor informed her before the car left.

     "Thank you," she nodded settling in the car as she held tight to the file going over her notes. The things she wanted to address at the meeting.

     Fairy Godmother rocked back and forth on her heels nervously, it wasn’t very often that Jasmine visited now that Aziz was out of school and helping with the council. And never had she just shown up unannounced like this.

     Jasmine stepped out and smiled at Fairy Godmother, "Good to see you again Fairy Godmother. How are things here in Auradon?"

     “They are very good. We weren’t expecting you so, I had them set up a guest room in a jiffy I hope that suits you for your time with us. And how long will that be?” she asked with a smile.

     "I am sure it will be perfectly acceptable. As long as it takes to get the truth about the Isle. Jay, Carlos, and Princess Evie are doing well in Agrabah with my people by the way," she smiled venomously at the fairy.

     “I am glad to hear they are doing well, I was slightly concerned they were going to be cooped up on campus all summer.” she smiled nodding, “I’m sure we can get everything straightened out in a bippity. The council is meeting in 20 minutes.”

     "Wonderful. Aziz has been taking them around town, so they are experiencing quite a lot of new experiences. Will you be going to join us?"

     “I’m happy for them to see more of the world, and that they are behaving like normal teenagers I hope. Yes, I will I speak for the fairies in small matters,” she nodded, she’d been so worried that away from here the kids would go back to bad habits.

     She walked alongside FG, "Jay has taken to running our roofs in the early morning. Carlos is in our library. Princess Evie was very helpful with my wardrobe. She is a very talented. Aladdin set Jay and Princess Evie up with a teacher to help them with their magic. It is important they learn in a safe and nurturing environment, I think you can appreciate that."

     “Both of them, I was unaware of Evie’s abilities. I had my thoughts on Jay’s magic. Of course Auradon being how it is teaching him required more red tape then I’ve been able to get through,” she nodded, she wasn’t even allowed to teach Jane.

     "Seemed like coming to Agrabah shook their magic up. They have lessons everyday to help them," she passed the fairy a look, "Children like them are why Agrabah will never ban magic."

     “Unfortunately that is a fight that can’t be won here. The king only sees the bad in magic ” she sighed a little.

     "Bad people do bad things, good people do good things. Magic is simply a naturally occurring tool for both kinds of people." She shook her head, "It is a fight worth fighting for like those children on the Isle. Tell me Fairy Godmother were you aware they put a demon on the Isle with those children? A monster that is allowed to hunt them down for its own pleasure once a year? Because that was a tidbit of information I was not informed of. As a part of the council it brings into question what else King Adam or his advisor may have done to that Isle." She placed a hand on the large wooden door, "As a mother I hope you can understand my concerns on such matters." She was the Sultana of Agrabah, the highest ranking royal member on the council, she was done with letting her oldest son fight for them. She was going to get her answers.

     “Demon... I didn’t know he had managed to get loose,” she shook her head, he was supposed to be contained even on the isle.

     “Your majesty what a pleasant surprise” Ben stood to greet her as they entered, “Lord Farris and I were just going over a few proposals before the meeting.”

     Farris narrowed his eyes, what was this silly woman doing here. Summer should be the few months he could get things done without Agrabah’s interference.

     Jasmine looked at Fairy Godmother and felt disgust run through her, she knew. She had known it was there this whole time. She pushed it back and smiled at Ben, “Hello Prince Ben, Lord Farris. I apologize for my unannounced arrival, but there were just too many matters to leave unattended. Since my son brought friends home for the summer, I decided it was time I came and dealt with them myself. I did have a few things that should be added to this meeting or some other this week. I respectfully stress the importance of having them attended to.”

     “Of course what would you like to add?” Ben asked his voice cutting off Farris before he could try and wave Jasmine’s concerns off, he was well aware of the oldest man's opinion on women in power.

     “Conditions on the Isle, Jay’s citizenship status, and the magic being identification requests,” Jasmine replied.

     “Jay’s citizenship?” Ben looked at her confused, “Are you two getting a head start? I also wanted to discuss the magic being identification requests.”

     “He is a ward of Auradon, this is a matter of decision after he is of age, preferably with him present,” FG said. 

     “Not any more he isn’t,” Jasmine stated setting the file down, “He is a citizen of Agrabah. He signed all the necessary paperwork. You’ll find it in the file there.”

     FG picked up the file going threw the papers, “Where did you find his birth certificate? We looked everywhere when he was put on the list to come to school.”

     “Genie was keeping a hold of it. As you can see there, he was the ‘midwife’ who delivered Jay. He was born in Agrabah, his family home is in Agrabah. When I became aware that he was nearly 19, I decided to extend the offer to have Agrabah be his home. He agreed.” she could play innocent, especially since what was done was done.

     “Almost 19, I had no idea he was so much older than the others. I assumed he was older, but maybe by a few months,” FG studied the document 

     “I am glad he found a home,” Ben smiled.

     “Be that as it may it still should have been discussed with the King or Queen before hand,” Farris steepled his fingers.

     “How so Lord Farris, Citizenship if a personal matter. If Jay wishes to... renew his ties to Agrabah that is his decision to make,” Ben tripped a little on the wording but, he was pretty sure he’d said it right based on FG nodding to him with an encouraging smile.

     Farris ground his teeth, this boy was putting his nose in affairs best left to him.

     “Then you’ll be pleased to know that I released the funds of their parents into their hands. And I informed Princess Evie of her royal status, since she has to wait until she is 18 to be coronated I have offered to make arrangements to visit her future kingdom so she can decide on the best course of action to take.” 

     “Parents funds?... I was unaware they existed,” Ben tilted his head, “So, Evie is... why wasn’t I informed of that?” he looked at Farris.

     “Queen Regent Snow White wished to let her...” Farris tried to find the right words, “Enjoy being off the isle before presenting her with such a choice.”

     Jasmine raised an eyebrow at the slimy man, “I guessed as much was the case. Princess Evie was quite taken aback by the news. But I have had a conversation with her on the matter of her royalty. Roger and Anita of Dalmatian Plantation have offered to host them for a few days and show them to Carlos’ home on their return trip. As Jay is a citizen of Agrabah, I would humbly request he finish his schooling at Auradon Prep as he does not speak Arabic as of yet.”

     “We would be happy to have him,” FG nodded, “Of course we need to look at his rooming arrangements, perhaps he and Prince Aziz could share.”

     “I think he would prefer to stay roommates with Carlos DeVil. I would hate to displace Rufio, Agrabah has enjoyed many favorable trades with Neverland from Prince Aziz and Rufio being roommates. The children of the Isle are a very tight knit group, I would hate to involve any further trauma into their lives by trying to separate them.”

     “I will look over the school guide lines on it I’m sure an exception can be made,” she nodded, surely Jay wouldn’t ever hurt Carlos and that was where the rule about adult students rooming with younger students was aimed.

     “Thank you,” Jasmine nodded, “While we are on the topic of the Children. Can one of you explain to me why none of them were looked over by a medical professional upon arrival?”

     “They were asked if they were in need of medical attention. They all declined,” Farris shrugged, nodding to the accountant for the kingdom joined them. 

     “And you didn’t think that maybe you should have them looked over for preexisting conditions?” 

     “Their parents filled out health forms for them, and we spoke to Yen Sid about them,” Farris motioned for everyone to take their seats.

     “You mean those same parents who you threw on an Island where no one can die, with a Demon? Those parents who don’t have any idea what safe living conditions mean?” she gave him a dispassionate look, “I have booked them an appointment with Dr. Sweet, just to make sure. Where are we in pulling the other children off the Isle? If Auradon doesn’t wish to take the risk, Agrabah is more than happy to host them. All of them.”

     “We are currently at a stand still of sorts, no other kingdom is comfortable with bringing more over until it is proven that it is in the best interest of the children. So far, besides Mal it's hard to judge how the other three are doing,” Ben explained with a slightly sour look, he’d wanted to bring the next group over this school year.

     “As I'm sure you understand Sultana, it would be cruel to the children to bring them here only for them to... feel unfulfilled so to speak,” Farris watched her.

     “Cruel to whom? As I said Agrabah is happy to host all of them. We can provide them clean water, real food that hasn’t spoiled, shelter, schooling. I don’t believe giving them any of the human necessities they are currently being denied is cruel.”

     “Would Agrabah be paying their tuitions?” the accountant asked.

     “Be taking the blame for any misbehaviors? I will admit that the first batch have followed the laws, for the most part,” Farris tilted his head, “Not all of them will be so... well managed.”

     “If the Crown Prince picked the four children of the worst villains, I think we would be just fine. Of course, tell me how many children I can expect to arrive via boat from the Isle to our port.” Jasmine challenged, “Of course this means I will have a special school set up to teach those with magic to learn how to properly use and control it.”

     “That is all well and good, your majesty. But such a large movement will require a vote from the Full council,” Farris nodded, “We will of course call a meeting, but it will be a few months.”

     “Perhaps, you will have found Princess Penelope by then. I would very much like to hear her account of what happened after Princess Audrey took Jordan’s lamp without permission and made a wish,” Jasmine leaned back in her chair.

     “The Princess is currently...”

     “How did you know? Everyone that knew was sworn to secrecy?” Ben cut Farris off. He glared at the prince, the boy needed to learn when to keep his mouth shut.

     “Genie came to Aladdin and I after having to help Jay and Princess Evie with their magic. He expressed his concerns that Agrabah was being kept in the dark about the true conditions on the Isle. Seemed we were being kept in the dark about a lot more than that. I assume there was a reason for this deception? Agrabah has always come to the aid of Auradon, but perhaps that is no longer what Auradon wishes of my country.”

     “That is a conversation for perhaps tomorrow when the king will be in session with us,” Farris suggested.

     “Perhaps that would be for the best Lord Farris,” Jasmine replied smoothly, “To other business then Crown Prince Ben?”

     “Of course... um...” Ben looked over the list of tasks he stopped at last thing on the list, deciding on how to inform the press of Penny’s death.

     “How about trades, let us review trade agreements and see what needs to be revised,” FG suggested.

     “Yes, let's do that,” Jasmine smiled softly, this was going so well already.

     “Right Arendelle, we trade goods for Ice” Ben read, under FG and Farris’ watchful eyes.

     Jasmine nodded politely, this was the easy part. Her husband was right. Agrabah had survived thousands of years without Auradon, with all the magic users under her safeguard they could survive a thousand more without them. 

     “Arendelle has requested more fruits in return for their ice shipments,” FG explained.

Notes:

This is the first chapter of many... many more. Updated: Posting currently 1 or more chapters every Sat.
We will be introducing characters, that we made up and that we found through the wiki verse. If you want to know more about anyone/thing we intro let us know.

Series this work belongs to:

• Part 1 of Daughters of Darkness