Only Fools Rush In, part 12/12 (2015-08-10)

jacksgreysonLeave a comment

Carlos joins him in bed again that night, and for many more nights after that. Not all the time, and not always heady make out sessions. Sometimes they do actually just sleep next to each other, and sometimes they talk instead, whispering secrets to each other beneath the covers.

One night, Ben admits that he doesn’t feel ready to be king. He’s only sixteen, he’s not even finished with school yet, how could he possibly rule an entire kingdom? But he doesn’t say this for reassurance, he just wants a safe place to voice his fears without judgement.

Carlos spends the rest of the night doing his best to hold Ben, both sets of limbs wrapped around Ben’s torso.  He still moves around in his sleep, so the next morning Ben finds himself half way off the bed, but it’s the thought that counts. It was a very well-meaning aggressive snuggling, so Ben’s not even the tiniest bit angry.

On a different night, it’s Carlos who confesses: Before coming to Auradon, he had taken the barrier down around the Isle. But he panicked, hadn’t known what to do, and so the breach had only been temporary. The truth of the matter was that he had been scared of what might be beyond the Isle, had been raised on tales of vicious creatures and human beasts.

But he’s glad that Ben reached out, had given them the opportunity to leave the Isle. Carlos loves his life now. He likes that he and the other Lost kids are finally thriving, not just clawing out their continued survival. Instead of being something to fear, Dude is a stalwart companion Carlos wouldn’t give up for anything. And Ben… makes him happy. He’s happy because of Ben, and he’s happy to be with Ben.

Carlos still can’t quite say he’s in love with Ben, but it’s early days yet. They are happy together and that is enough.

—

“I can’t believe we’re going to be late!” Evie exclaims, fussing over her dress before holding a napkin out, just as the limo makes a turn. The soda sloshing out of Jay’s cup lands on it exactly.

“You made the both of them change like five times each,” Mal reminds her. Unlike the other passengers, she is completely calm; partly because she’s already been to one such family dinner before, unlike the other three Lost kids, but also because she’s not the one who’s going to inform Ben’s parents about his nontraditional take on relationships.

Although, to be fair, Jay’s energy has less to do with nerves and more to do with the amount of sugary limo snacks he’s been consuming. Maybe spoiling one’s dinner isn’t something that’s warned against on the Isle.

“That’s because he kept trying to wear shirts without sleeves,” Evie says, one thumb jerked at Jay beside her, “And this one apparently doesn’t own actual full-length trousers,” she continues, nudging Carlos playfully with her shoulder. That sets off a miniature domino reaction as Carlos then bumps into Ben, who then sways into Mal.

Carlos, normally exempt from Evie’s fashion scoldings, can only shrug sheepishly in response.

Evie sighs, as if greatly inconvenienced, when everyone knows she had been the one most enjoying the impromptu fashion show earlier, “I can’t believe we’re going to be late for dinner with a queen and king,” she repeats.

“I’m a king and you have dinner with me all the time,” Ben says, just to be cheeky.

Evie looks at him, flatly unimpressed, before breaking her composure and smiling.

“I can’t believe Carlos brought Dude,” Jay says, not because he actually can’t believe Carlos would bring Dude along, but more to make a point.

“Ben said it was a family dinner, if you’re coming then Dude gets to come, too,” Carlos responds. In his lap and being treated to a two-handed head scratch is Dude, decked out in a matching outfit to his chosen human.

“This is going to be hilarious,” Mal says in general, then taps on the chauffeur’s shoulder and asks him, “What do you think, Chip?”

“It’ll be more interesting than the last one, that’s for sure,” he says without turning around. Before he can explain, the limo approaches the drive, “Clean it up, ladies and gentlemen,” Chip advises, before stopping the car and exiting, coming around to hold the door open for them. The five of them, plus Dude, manage to exit the limo on their feet, at least, if not gracefully. Chip snickers before he leaves, muttering about the kitchens being the best vantage point and helping his mother.

Rather than waiting inside, Ben’s family have come to the front door to greet them, pushing introductions sooner than Ben expected.

“Everyone,” he says, addressing the Lost kids, “this is my mother, Belle, my father, Adam, and my grandfather, Maurice.”

Beside him Carlos hisses a breath and tries to subtly elbow him in the ribs. He’s not very successful on the subtle part, but fortunately for him, that’s not the biggest reveal of the night.

“You know Mal, my girlfriend,” Ben says, this time to his family, “This is Evie, Jay, and Carlos. My boyfriend.”

His parents, somehow still not used to how unorthodox their son is, stare in silent shock. Grandfather, on the other hand, laughs uproariously, mustache quivering like mad.

“Considering the lack of imprisonment, this is still better than how I found out about your parents,” he assures before turning to Carlos, “Don’t think we won’t continue our discussion on pneumatic cylinders from earlier today, my boy, but first let me see this dog of yours.”

Obediently, Carlos holds out Dude.

“Looks a bit like my old footstool,” Grandfather says, a little nonsensically, but completely understandable, “Come along then, kids, dinner’s waiting, and I know Lumière has prepared a bit of a performance. He makes new ones every time, you see,” the Lost kids, taking the hint, follow after him, leaving Ben and his parents alone. In the silence.

“Mom? Dad?” Ben prompts, worried but unafraid.

His mom shakes off her stupor, before smiling softly at him, a hand reaching out to cup his cheek, “I suppose I shouldn’t be surprised, you really are my son.”

“Actually, I think in this case I’m more like Dad,” Ben says, which finally seems to get through to him.

His Dad asks, “How so?”

The answer is easy, “I’m lucky to have found love.”

~

A/N: !!!!!!!!

!!!!!!!

WHAT?! I finished a multi-part story?! WHAAAAAAT?!

Holy smokes, I don’t even… what?!

!!!!!!!!

Okay, well… uh… congratulations Descendants fandom, you are now the recipient of the first ever completed multi-part story by jacksgreyson/jacksgreysays.

If anyone would like to be a beta and help me polish this up so I can post it onto AO3, just send me a message/ask. Because… this would also be my first AO3 fic if I do that.

And maybe be a beta to help with future BenxCarlos endeavors (BECAUSE I HAVE SO MANY IDEAS BUT NO ONE TO RANT ABOUT THEM TO).

I just wanted to say, this was an absolutely fun nine days of being obsessed with a DIsney Channel Original Movie based on second-generation fanfiction. Absolutely fantastic. Writing this series was kind of the highlight of my week and I probably wouldn’t have been able to get so far (TO THE POINT OF FINISHING?!?!) without so many enthusiastic readers.

Stay rotten to the core, fandom 😉

Only Fools Rush In, part 11/12 (2015-08-09)

jacksgreysonLeave a comment

It’s not until after classes have ended, until tourney practice, that Ben chooses to face the consequences. Mostly because there is no other option. He’s nervous, and if his grip on Carlos’ hand during the walk there is a little too tight, well, Carlos understands. It’s one thing to have the Lost kids accept him as one of their gang, one thing to have Evie reassure him that most people are actually fine with his relationship, but he’s king. He will one day rule Auradon, he can’t be afraid to hear what his people have to say.

More than that, though, he’s just Ben. He’s a teenage boy in love; he needs to stand up for himself.

Jay enters the locker room before them, always willing to put himself in between his friends and danger, but there are some things that even the strongest intent to protect cannot shield, and this is one of them.

One last deliberate hand squeeze causes Carlos to turn to face him. Ben’s not sure what expression he has, but whatever it is makes Carlos dart in quickly and press a comforting kiss to Ben’s cheek.

With encouragement like that, how could Ben not be brave?

He walks into a conspicuously quiet and tense locker room, and while the other boys don’t overtly look at him, they are as aware of him as he is of them. Carlos, sidling in after him, automatically heads toward Jay. It’s one less thing to worry about, not that Ben expects this to turn into a fight. At least, not a physical one.

He’s braced for an insult, maybe a snide passive-aggressive comment, especially from Chad whose aura of disgust and belligerence could not be thicker unless it were a literal cloud around him. Instead he gets tentative, awkward circling around the point.

“So… yesterday. That was an impressive goal, Carlos,” leads Amir, who sort of nods in Carlos’ direction but also sort of doesn’t due to Jay standing protectively in front of him. While most of the tourney team had been rather laid-back to the Lost kids, Amir included, he’s always been kind of… twitchy with Jay in particular. Unsurprising, considering his parent’s history.

Nondescript agreements ring around, a pathetic echo of yesterday’s cheering.

To Ben’s side, Esteban asks, “Are you and Mal… doing okay?”

“Yes, we’re great,” Ben says, tersely.

“Look, okay, some of us saw that kiss yesterday and the whole school knows about the two of you,” Tyrone, who probably inherited his gumption from his mother, cuts to the chase, “Someone obviously blabbed,” he continues, a pointed glare at Chad’s back, “Not that you were being particularly subtle this morning.”

“Or for the past two months,” Liam, Tyrone’s childhood best friend, interjects mischievously.

“But if it was just adrenaline or… whatever,” Tyrone falters, a little, “We understand.”

It’s an offer to write it off, Ben realizes, they’re waiting for his lead.

“No. Not adrenaline,” Ben says lowly, before catching Carlos’ gaze. Ben can do this, “I love Carlos. Mal is still my girlfriend, but now Carlos and I are dating, too.”

There’s an immediate swell of noise, but surprisingly, most of it is enthusiastic. Some of the boys, like Chad, have grim, repulsed expressions, but for the most part the rest of the team seems… relieved.

“Finally! I thought we’d have to watch this thing for another two months,” Ben hears Amir say to Manny.

“Well, at least we didn’t have to do a song and dance number this time,” Manny shoots back.

“Okay,” Tyrone says simply with a companionable slap to Ben’s shoulder. Matter concluded, the locker room returns to normal.

Ben can’t help but feel lighter now; not because he’s told other people he loves Carlos–it was never something he wanted to keep a secret. But whether due to kingship or honorary Lost kid status, he had been steadily dissociating from the rest of Auradon’s students and only just realized how much that had been weighing on his mind.

Now he knows though: his fellow Knights, most of them at least, will stand by him. He may not be as close to them, but they accept him. They’re still his team, his friends. He’s happy.

~

A/N: Weird ending and kind of short, sorry, but the next part I am almost completely sure will be the last and it has more of an epilogue-y feel to it, so this one had to be separate.

Okay so I cannot, for the life of me, find that post someone incredibly awesome did of backstories for the other tourney team players, but I adopted/adapted their name choices. I hope you don’t mind, OP.

Amir is Aladdin and Jasmine’s son; I just used the alternative A spelling to go with the whole… everyone’s children’s names are ridiculously close to their own.

Liam (the shortened form of William) is the son of Lottie (the shortened form of Charlotte). And, like their mothers, is childhood friends with Tyrone, Tiana and Naveen’s son. (The Princess and the Frog)

I went with Manny, aka Manuel, for Audrey’s son instead of Miguel, though. Because her father was named Manuel and Manny just kind of sounds more like Audrey. (Atlantis)

Esteban is Esmeralda and Phoebus’ son. (Hunchback of Notre Dame)

Tbh, I don’t think Auradon is ALL of the Disney kingdoms combined. I think it’s probably a mix of several of the pseudo-European ones, particularly the Golden Age movies, but that everyone else’s kids are there because Auradon Prep is actually “Preparation to Reign” not “Preparation for University”. So while the kingdoms in Snow White, Cinderella, Sleeping Beauty, Beauty and the Beast (and Hunchback of Notre Dame because if France is included, all of the French-set movies should be too), and maybe a few others, have combined into Auradon not all of the movies. So Agrabah, China, Corona (Tangled), Scotland (aka the Highlands, Brave), and Atlantis, for example, are still separate.

Only Fools Rush In, part 10/12 (2015-08-08)

jacksgreysonLeave a comment

They go to the dining hall for breakfast, early enough that it’s not too busy, but still after the girls.

The first thing Evie says when she sees them is, “You’re clashing with yourself.”

“I know, right?” Carlos exclaims back, “It’s Jay’s fault.”

Mal, as equally fashion-blind as Ben, shrugs a greeting.

“I suppose in that case you should be grateful your shirt still has sleeves,” Evie jokes.

“I don’t think I have the biceps to pull that off,” Carlos says doubtfully, pulling up his sleeve and flexing. While he has been improving in tourney, it’s fair to say that it’s more due to strategic thinking than muscles.

The two of them continue to dominate the conversation, dragging Jay into an unwilling fashion lesson when he eventually joins their table. But that doesn’t prevent Ben and Mal from communicating with each other.

From across the table she stares at Ben, her eyes catching pointedly at Ben’s mussed hair and rumpled clothing, before her gaze slides sideways to Carlos. Carlos wearing an apparently clashing outfit, having arrived with Ben and not Jay like usual, and his own disheveled appearance. Her raised eyebrow is eloquent enough without words; Ben blushes.

The rest of breakfast continues much the same until the bell rings, an advance notice for classes starting. None of the Lost kids have their first class together, but Ben does share his with Mal.

For all that this thing with Carlos is still new, it doesn’t feel odd to lean over and press a kiss to Carlos’ cheek as they disperse. The Lost kids certainly don’t react to it beyond somewhat distracted smiles.

But the other students stare as he and Mal walk by, Ben’s arm draped over her shoulder casually. He’s been the object of other people’s scrutiny since birth, so the attention paid to him over the course of the day doesn’t unnerve him. But he’s aware of the rumors buzzing around, even if he never hears them, and the constant pseudo-itching sensation between his shoulder blades tell him about the eyes following his every move.

Ben’s more concerned about Carlos and Mal. He can only imagine the terrible things being said to them, about them as a result of his actions. He spends most of his classes fidgeting, inattentive to the lessons. During every passing period he checks up on both of them, even goes out of his way to do so; neither of them report any out of the usual harassment, and while they both look bemused they also indulge his tactile reassurance.

Caught up in his own worries, Ben failed to catch what the rest of the school actual thought.

“Most people think it’s cute,” Evie says during lunch, assuaging most of Ben’s nerves, “Lonnie and I share Home Ec,” she answers Ben’s unasked question about her knowledge, this time at least.

“Most people?” Ben repeats grimly, remembering Chad’s toxic opinion.

“Others are… confused,” she explains diplomatically, mouth twisted into a grimace, giving Ben a better idea of what those others really think. “That’s more because of us, though, than the situation. Although that does apparently actually confuse some people.”

If he weren’t the one living it, Ben would probably admit that such a nontraditional arrangement might baffle him, too. Having a platonic girlfriend and a romantic boyfriend simultaneously? The latter alone is unorthodox.

The Lost kids don’t seem to have any qualms about the situation, and he wonders if this is just another matter than can be chalked down to differing cultures. Evie, having been taught the idea of monogamy by her mother at least as an intellectual practice, is the best to translate for both sides.

“Gang activity instead of dating?” Ben tries to understand, seeking confirmation from Mal.

“If we were still on the Isle, you’d be part of our gang.” Mal says, patting his arm fondly, “Definitely something to be proud of,” she tacks on.

“Yeah, we’re the worst of the Isle,” Jay adds with a smirk.

“Which means that we’re the best,” Carlos clarifies, a little nonsensical but perfectly understandable to Ben.

“We don’t really use the term boyfriends and girlfriends, so the definitions seem constrained,” Evie continues to explain, “And dating is pretty vague. Technically, you might be dating all of us.”

Ben sputters, flushing a bright red, while the others laugh.

“You’re not, we know,” Mal says before he can stumble through a denial.

“So on the Isle, this, what we have, makes sense?” Ben asks.

“It’s this place that’s the problem,” Evie agrees, though she tempers it with, “But it’s something that can change, I think. And who better a trendsetter than the king?”

~

A/N: Okay, we’re definitely nearing the end, but it’s not quite yet upon us.

This part really was just an excuse for me to do a study on culture clash and conservatism vs liberalism in that world. There was supposed to be a little more, but that last sentence seemed like a really cool ending line for me so… yeah. I’ll just shove the next scene into tomorrow’s installment.

As far as I see it, on the Isle, “gangs” are like animal packs. Some of the members’ relationships may be sibling-like, or even platonic without being related, but it’s also not unusual for there to be ‘mating’ within packs (so long as, you know, no incest). So while it’s not actually expected for Ben to be romantically involved with all of the Lost kids, on the Isle, it wouldn’t necessarily be a surprise or scandalous.

Also, I think the Isle views reproduction differently–more of an attempt at immortality via legacy than an opportunity at domesticity–hence everyone having a kid, the kids being named after them, but not actually being married or forming nuclear family units. From the way it was portrayed in the movie, I interpret Maleficent, EQ, Cruella, and Jafar’s cohabitation as a statement that the four of them are a gang. Now, whether that means Jafar is all of the Lost kids’ father (as I suggested in this other drabble) or the ladies just found a random guy to provide half the DNA, none of whom joined their gang, I don’t know. But it’s something that really interests me for some reason.

Only Fools Rush In, part 9/12 (2015-08-07)

jacksgreysonLeave a comment

Ben wakes up in the morning with an unusually warm head. Probably because, sometime in the night, after they had both drifted off to sleep, Carlos had moved around until his back was pressed against the headboard, torso arched around Ben’s head like a very large, living, breathing hat. And, somehow more impressive, they had kept their hands clasped together.

Ben wants to wake up to this every morning.

Well, maybe not exactly like this considering now Ben’s arm is numb, having been wrenched at an awkward angle across his body. Carefully, he extricates himself, gritting his teeth against the sensation of pins and needles as blood rushes back to his arm. Still, he is happy.

A knock on the door startles him into action, but even as he goes to stand by the door, he waits.

The second knock is more of a bang and, fortunately, is accompanied by the sound of Jay’s voice, “You better both be dressed in there.”

Hastily, Ben reaches for the doorknob, opening the door to Jay’s unimpressed face. Ben’s not too insulted, though, considering his still sleep mussed clothes, flyaway hair, and possible pillow creases on his face. Jay, in contrast, looks to be prepared for the day already; more than, as Ben spots Carlos’ bag hanging off one shoulder next to Jay’s.

“He’s, uh, still asleep,” Ben says rather inanely, gesturing at the figure on the bed unnecessarily.

“Of course he is,” Jay sighs, before stalking towards Carlos, grabbing his ankles and yanking him up and off the bed. Ben twitches forward, in a futile attempt to stop Carlos’ collision with the floor. Thankfully, due to height difference and Jay’s sheer upper body strength, Carlos dangles upside down, outstretched hands barely brushing the carpet.

Amused, Ben is grateful that he closed the door before anyone else could witness this.

“No,” Carlos moans, uncooperative but also unsurprised, clearly used to such treatment. And awake, which is all that Jay needs to deem himself successful.

“I brought your stuff. And clothes,” which he throws beside Carlos’ body, after throwing Carlos himself back on top of the bed.

“It’s too early,” Carlos complains, though he sits up and paws through Jay’s offerings.

“I was going for my morning… jog,” Jay hesitates, eyes shifting from Carlos to Ben then back.

Obviously not actually jogging, but Ben doubts it’s anything too bad.

“Can’t have you walk of shaming back to the dorm room,” he explains, and this time Jay’s glance towards Ben is more of a glare.

Ben flushes, part embarrassment and part indignation because nothing shameful happened. But before he can defend himself, them both, Carlos squawks out, “I can’t wear these!” waving black, red, and white fabric around.

“They’re your clothes,” Jay argues.

“They’ll clash!” Carlos argues back.

“They’re your clothes,” Jay repeats, confused and irritated at this conversation.

Ben, whose wardrobe consists of blue suits of varying formality and school paraphernalia, has no idea what is happening either.

“Different patterns!” Carlos says, then his volume drops into a grumble, “You couldn’t have checked with Evie first?”

“I’m not going to go to the girls dorm this early. You should be grateful I’m bringing your stuff at all.”

Carlos, rather than showing any gratitude, sticks his tongue out. Then he falls backwards, flinching away from Jay’s feint. “Ugh, fine, thanks,” he says disgruntled.

And that seems to settle the matter, at least until Carlos reaches for the hem of his sleep shirt to change clothes, and Jay cuffs him on the back of the head.

“What now?” Carlos grouses, rubbing at his head in exaggerated pain.

“Bathroom,” Jay says with a jerk of his head towards Ben’s en suite.

“Seriously? We change in the locker rooms after tourney practices. For all you know, last night we–”

“I don’t want to know,” Jay interrupts before simply manhandling Carlos and his clothes into the conjoined bathroom and shutting the door.

Carlos must decide to give in rather than waste time trying to fight back against superior strength, because there are only two frustrated bangs against the door before the muffled sounds of rustling cloth.

“And you,” Jay says, this time towards Ben who, to be honest, was rather enjoying being a spectator during this whole interaction, “I still don’t want to know. But take it slow.” The ‘or else’ is silent, but no less potent.

Ben nods, a solemn, wordless promise.

Satisfied, Jay leaves for his… ‘jogging’.

Then, having to live up to his promise, Ben changes clothes as quickly as possible. His seams are somewhat askew, but he finishes just as Carlos leaves the bathroom. They smile at each other, a little sheepish, before Ben breaks the silence with, “Good morning.”

Starting the day with Carlos’ laughter is something else he looks forward to in the future.

~

A/N: I know, way after my midnight deadline. But, I have spent 11 out of the past 24 hours in a car towards my sister’s place so… yeah. Well, actually, it was a fairly productive car ride in regards to this story at least (and potential future stories, here are teasers: a Detective vs Criminal AU and a Pokemon AU/fusion) because I was able to outline different scenes I wanted to get to. But the actual change from outline to prose was difficult without a laptop, then with a laptop but all of my family members around me.

That being said, this is definitely not the last installment of this series. But still probably no longer than twelve parts.

This has been fun, and I hope everyone has enjoyed reading this as well.

Only Fools Rush In, part 8/12 (2015-08-06)

jacksgreysonLeave a comment

When Carlos pulls, Ben lets himself be led easily, helpless to resist. He guides the both of them to the bed, comfortable and self-assured, as if this were his room and not Ben’s. As if this weren’t the first time Carlos has been in this room.

The moonlight paints everything sensual, but while Ben’s libido wants to interpret this in one particular way, he knows that this is not the case.

Carlos peels back the covers and, with a tug, prompts Ben to go beneath them. With some shuffling, the two of them end up lying on their sides facing each other. Bodies curled towards each other like parentheses, heads resting on the same pillow.

Ben has only ever witnessed this before, and only twice at that; the Lost kids huddling together in one bed whenever one of them felt unwell or needed comforting. The first was after a game with the Highland Bears, one player not reacting well to Jay’s skills, and having more than enough muscle mass to back up their displeasure. Jay had ended up with a dislocated shoulder and a concussion.

He remembers entering the boys’ dorm room and stopping at the sight of all four of them on one bed. Jay’s head in Evie’s lap, her hands gently carding through his hair, Carlos and Dude carefully coiled around his uninjured arm, and Mal laid over top his legs protectively, furiously flipping through the pages of her spell book.

Ben’s entrance had made them freeze, caught off guard and vulnerable. With a silent conversation consisting mostly of eyebrow movements, Mal stood up from the bed to occupy him with a conversation on what level of payback would be seen as rightful revenge versus despicable evil. By the time he looked back, the other three had untangled themselves.

The second time had been after Evie had pulled consecutive all-nighters for her Home Economics project. Needless to say, her series of gowns more than blew the competition out of the water, but the pressure to over-achieve because of her teacher’s prejudice had gotten to her. The eventual and much needed seventeen hour sleep was less of a cuddling session and more of a guard rotation. Ben had actually been included, and had been honored to be so trusted, but while the Lost kids had clambered into bed with her, Ben kept a respectful distance by sitting in a chair.

But those were hardly anything in comparison to now, curled up with Carlos, just the two of them under the covers. This close, Ben can see every individual freckle, every eyelash; he can let himself trace cheekbones with his gaze, the dips and curves of plump lips. A squeeze from Carlos’ hand, still intertwined with his, grabs Ben’s attention.

“You kissed me,” Carlos says, voice low, no need for loudness this close.

Ben nods, cheek rubbing against fabric, the movement no doubt disheveling his bangs.

“Why?” He asks, less rhetorical than expected, considering the obvious answer.

Obvious to Ben, at least. “Because I love you,” he says simply, proximity and moonlight making the confession easy.

“But you love Mal,” Carlos refutes, and though his words are looking for a contradiction, his eyes are searching for reassurance.

“And I love Mal,” Ben corrects, because its true; he loves Mal and Carlos. Ben loves them both but its different for each of them.

He loves Mal the way an optimist loves life: hopeful and admiring for the future. He wishes for her happiness, would gladly provide whatever that may take, regardless of if that criteria includes him or not. He loves her like an ideal, like a king should love justice. He looks at her and knows that if he can make her happy, then he is doing the right thing.

But with Carlos, Ben’s love is… selfish. He wants to be the one to make Carlos happy, he wants to be the one Carlos desires. He wants to be the one who makes Carlos feel safe and be the one to satisfy him. He adores Carlos, and he wants to cherish Carlos for however long he can.

He wants hours of video games that Carlos always wins, wants the sweat and effort of the tourney field. He wants more nights like these, the matching curves of their bodies underneath blankets. He wants mornings together, sunlight casting a golden glow on their tangled limbs. He wants years, he wants forever.

With Carlos, Ben wants.

He tries to explain this, sentences stumbling off his tongue. Ben feels more like a beast than he ever did, clumsy and awkward, with the horrifying potential to hurt Carlos with one wrong move.

But Carlos understands, or at the very least seems to, because he scoots closer. Their foreheads touch, noses bumping gently, and Carlos huffs a laugh, Ben smiles back, and they breathe each other’s air. Emboldened, Ben reaches out his free hand to lay it against Carlos’ cheek. His thumb traces along a line he has only ever looked at before, reveling in the touch of skin, in the knowledge of freckles hidden beneath his fingers.

“I don’t have anything,” Carlos says, which is confusing, until he continues, “I don’t have magic like Mal, and I’m not royalty like Evie, and I don’t–”

“Carlos,” Ben interrupts, squeezing their joined hands, “I don’t want you to be Mal or Evie or Jay, I want you to be you. Because I love you,” He repeats, which is enough to get rid of those worries, at least for now.

Then, because they are so close, Ben has to ask, “Carlos, can I ki–”

This time, Carlos interrupts him, taking initiative to press their lips together. Their noses bump again, and this time Ben is the one to laugh, but he smooths an apology with his thumb, to assure that he wasn’t mocking. Carlos flicks his tongue out in response, faux-petulant, but it’s also testing, teasing. He follows it with a gentle scrape of teeth, and Ben can’t help the small gasp that escapes, absolutely thrilled.

So Ben throws himself completely into it; now that he has permission, he’s going to kiss for all he’s worth. He surges forward, what little space remaining between them disappearing, their entwined hands trapped between their bodies. He catches Carlos’ bottom lip between his own, finally getting to taste, and even though it’s not chocolate, it’s still delicious. He bites down, before soothing the pain away with his tongue; he knows that’s something Carlos enjoys because now his eyes are half-lidded with pleasure, and he’s clutching at Ben’s shirt like he can drag the larger boy even closer.

They continue to kiss, the sound of whimpers and sighs harmonizing with the wet slick slide of lips and tongue and teeth, until the lack of oxygen forces their mouths apart. Panting, breathless, they share air and space. Ben’s hand, having moved to Carlos’ neck, can feel the rhythm of his pulse matching Ben’s own pounding heartbeat.

“Yes,” Carlos says, more air than noise, sly grin somewhat less effective with shiny, reddened lips, “you can kiss me.”

~

A/N: I AM BOTH EXTREMELY PROUD OF THIS POST AND SOMEWHAT HORRIFIED. The latter is due to the fact that I spent a lot of the time shrieking to myself, “I can’t, he’s just a baby!” while I was writing this part. Because Cameron Boyce is adorable and precious and even almost fictionally putting him in a sexual situation is really uncomfortable for me. Like, that kissing really stretched the boundaries of my writing skills (which is what this blog is all about so great practice) so I doubt I even could do sex.

Which, yeah, I’m gonna say it outright: There will be no sex in this series. Cameron Boyce’s adorable baby face prevents me from doing so. But, as any ace person can tell you, sex is not the end all be all of love.

Also, staring at pictures of his face does really terrible things to my heart.

Uh… this was much longer than I expected it to be and covered bases that I wasn’t even really thinking to reach until like… later in the ambiguous non-outline I have for this fic. That being said, this series will probably end at nine or ten parts.

Don’t get me wrong, I have somehow incepted myself into loving this ship beyond my usual shipping levels. But I think for this particular iteration, I’m fairly tapped out. There may be different stories in the future but I make no promises.

Only Fools Rush In, part 7/12 (2015-08-05)

jacksgreysonLeave a comment

Later, when Ben reconsiders what he said to Chad, he admits to himself and his empty single dorm room, that his words may have been… hasty. True, but hasty.

He’s not so committed to the crown that he would doom himself to a life without happiness. And it’s not as if there aren’t literally a dozen other princes and princesses who would be more than happy to have the throne. If he did abdicate.

But he was raised as crown prince, to the idea that his privileged lifestyle was only due to his responsibilities to the kingdom. What kind of king could he possibly be if he were willing to abandon his country? He doesn’t even know if Carlos likes him back!

At that, he smashes a pillow to his face to muffle his groan. He kissed Carlos. He just… kissed Carlos. All of his plans to court Carlos properly, or at the very least ask Carlos verbally if he would even consider going out with Ben, just… gone. All because of a preemptive kiss.

There are bound to be repercussions, but he has no idea what they are because Ben hasn’t seen Carlos since that kiss.

He lets out another muffled yell into his pillow, before pulling it away to breathe.

There’s a knock at his door.

He stares at it, uncertain. It was a fairly soft knock, if there even was one, he could just be imagining things. And, anyway, it’s after curfew, who could possibly–

This time the knock is much louder and far more persistent. So much so that Ben nearly falls while scrambling to the other side of the room to open the door just so that it will stop. And he nearly ends up with a fist in his eye for his troubles.

“Carlos!” He says, then winces at his own volume. He sticks his head out to check in either direction if anyone else heard. The hallway lights are dimmed to night time levels, but the moon is full and the windows let in enough of the glow to see clearly. No one. No one except Carlos, that is. “What are you doing here? It’s after curfew.”

“Aren’t you going to let me in?” Carlos asks, small sideways smirk curling his lips.

Suddenly Ben can’t help but wonder what that would feel like against his own mouth. If laughter filled kisses are better than regular ones.

“Ben?” Carlos asks, hesitantly this time, hands beginning to curl into the fabric of his pajamas.

“Yes, yes, of course. Sorry, right. Yes.” Ben blurts, shaking away his own distracted thoughts, and moving out of the way so Carlos can slip into his room. Ben tries to close the door as quietly as he can, but the click of the latch still seems unbearably loud.

They stand and stare at each other for a while, neither of them sure who should make the first move or even what the first move should be. Ben’s heartbeat thuds heavily in his ears, and the sense memory causes his arms to feel unacceptably empty, makes the distance between him and Carlos seem impossibly far.

He steps closer. And closer. And closer still, until they are in arms length from each other. Ben could easily curl a hand around the back of Carlos’ neck, wouldn’t have to lean too far to press foreheads together. But he doesn’t, because Carlos is staring up at him–not afraid, but tense–and they are only in this situation because Ben acted without asking. So he waits.

He’s not disappointed.

Carlos reaches out, and so Ben reaches back.

In the quiet, moonlit night, holding hands is far more intimate than all of Ben’s attempts at seduction. 

~

A/N: I meant for this part to be Ben thinking all philosophically about his ~feelings~. But then he ended up being this dorky teenage boy and then Carlos butted in and demanded more screen time and I was just like… well… okay then, fictional characters, you do whatever you want.

Aaaand I suppose it’s a weird spot to end, but the next part will pick up immediately from where this leaves off. So… enjoy?

Let’s pretend it’s still before midnight.

Only Fools Rush In, part 6/12 (2015-08-04) [2]

jacksgreysonLeave a comment

Whatever expression is on his face is enough to silence Chad until Ben can herd him to somewhere with more privacy. At which point Chad uses up what little good will he had by saying, “Cruella’s kid? Kind of a downgrade.”

Ben’s not a violent person, so he doesn’t lash out, but he does feel rage bubbling up. “You don’t know what you’re talking about.” Because Chad really doesn’t.

“Don’t I? You’re king at sixteen; not even our parents had to rule an entire kingdom at our age. So you want to rebel a little, go for the bad girl. Maleficent’s kid, I get, she’s practically a villain already what with the magic. But Cruella’s kid? Really?” He says, and he’s so wrong, something in Ben just snaps.

“Shut up,” he growls, yet still he has enough self-control not to punch Chad in the face, so he adds, “I don’t have to explain myself to you.”

“No,” Chad agrees, “You don’t have to, but you think anyone else would give you a chance to explain? If anyone else knew–”

“Knew what?” Ben interrupts, provoking, because if he has to be angry, Chad should at least be irritated.

“You think that witch will let you cheat on her without doing something to you?” Chad shouts, the question echoes in the empty locker room, sound distorting as it bounces against metal and tile.

Ben is confused for a beat, for two reasons, “You think Mal doesn’t know?” he asks incredulously, then, “Are you worried about me?” with even more skepticism.

Chad, face flushed in irritated, embarrassed, splotches, only splutters back.

“Mal knows,” Ben says, “Of course she knows, I told her. She’s my girlfriend.”

“That’s a strange definition you’re working with," Chad snarks, which Ben can’t help but snipe back with,

"As opposed to the one you used with Evie?”

“She’s just a–”

“You really don’t want to finish that sentence,” Ben warns. He and Evie may not be the closest, but he does consider her a friend.

“We used to be friends before they came along,” Chad says, which is even more confusing to Ben than the idea of Mal not knowing about his feelings for Carlos.

“No, we weren’t.” Ben says slowly, brow furrowed with disbelief.

“We hung out all the time before,” Chad contradicts.

Which isn’t untrue, but, “If I hadn’t been crown prince, would we have?”

“What does that have to do with anything?” Chad says, which very noticeably is not an answer to Ben’s question. But the way he’s unable to meet Ben’s eyes all of a sudden is answer enough.

“Yeah, what could that possibly have to do with anything we’re talking about right now,” Ben says pointedly. “I don’t have to explain myself to you,” he repeats.

He thinks that’s that, Chad glaring silently back, but as Ben turns to leave, he hears,

“What about your parents?”

So Ben turns back, his own glare aimed at Chad.

“It’s one thing, for a king to have a rehabilitated witch as some kind of trophy girlfriend,” Chad says, voice soft and smooth like venom, “It’s something else entirely for a king to have a tawdry boy toy.”

There’s something in Ben’s mind that clicks. That turns on and lets him step back and realize that nothing Chad says should make him angry because nothing Chad says actually matters. He is a prince only in name, putting people down in hopes of clawing his way up in the world. And he is nothing to Ben.

A wave of calm washes over Ben, “I would think, so long as I’m happy, my parents would be happy for me. No matter who I love. And if they’re really so concerned over the king’s image, well,” and somehow, it’s easy to say with full confidence,

“I can always abdicate.”

~

A/N: FML, FML, FML. Okay, okay. Agh! So… this really did not go in the direction that I was expecting it to go in? There were certain points that I wanted to hit which I did get to, but not in the ways I thought I would AT ALL. I was struggling so hard to make Chad a sympathetic character but literally all we know about him from the movie is that he’s just this asshole who makes Evie do his homework, immediately agrees to go out with Audrey as soon as she asks, steals Evie’s magic mirror, is physically aggressive/hostile with the Lost kids, calls Evie a gold digger, etc. etc. So I just… blagh. He’s just going to be a jerk. His presence was so poisonous that I just couldn’t.

Why did other people and weird semi-plot have to enter this series? Why couldn’t it have just been a series of drabbles in which Ben is helplessly enamored by Carlos? Why? Urgh, too much dialogue and talking in circles and NOT ENOUGH CARLOS AND BOYS BEING IN LOVE.

But, hopefully, now that I have escaped that weird corner of confrontation that I had written myself into, I can return to the wonderful world of Ben being helplessly enamored by Carlos. Yes. PLeaaase, brain, work with me on this.

Aaand I guess this installment is dedicated to jalencolbert (sorry it’s not a nicer one) whom without your words of encouragement I probably would have kept postponing this part (and possibly the entire series) out of sheer frustration. So, thanks and I’m glad you enjoy this series (even if this particular post is my least favorite).

Externality drabble (2015-08-04) [1]

jacksgreysonLeave a comment

The world around them is still sharp and overexposed, red and black and white and fear, like a nerve just waiting to be stepped on.

“I want to go home!” She yells up at him, trying and failing to break out on her own.

Mukuro, the only thing not in monochrome, is a slender bruise colored tear in the scenery, “There is no going back, only forward,” he says inanely. As frustrating in her imagination as he had been in life.

“You should have just let me die!” She screams back, reduced to punching and kicking at the nonexistent buildings. They remain unaffected. “I would have rather died there than be stuck here knowing that–” she stops, breath thick and choking in her throat. She’s not going to cry about it. Certainly not in front of Mukuro, however fake he may be.

“What’s done is done,” he responds, dropping from his perch atop one of the fences to stand in front of her. “What will you do now?”

She turns away from him in a manner she would never do if it really had been Mukuro. She would never trust him with her back. The landscape is unchanged, an endless horizon of impossible things in colors of pain and anger and psychosis.

They stand in silence, a buzzing soundtrack of madness and despair scratching away.

“What happened here?” She finally asks, when straining her memory for clues yields nothing.

“The intruder called it Tsukuyomi, his eyes were like Hatake’s red one,” Mukuro answers, voice closer than she would like.

Uchiha Itachi, then. She’s in a genjutsu from the Mangekyou Sharingan. Which explains why she didn’t just break it, but doesn’t explain…

“There’s supposed to be more torturing going on than this,” she says, turning and gesturing around them.

“Are you complaining?” he mocks with a raised eyebrow.

“Don’t be an ass,” she shoots back with a glare.

“It’s your mind,” he says with a shrug, “I just happen to be in it.”

“What did you do with the intruder?” she switches topics, back to something more productive. She’s always hated talking to Mukuro.

“He was just a figment of the real one.”

“So are you.”

“Yes, but this is your domain. And I’m much stronger. I disposed of him.”

“Then why is it still like this?” She waves at their surroundings.

He shrugs.

Just great.

~

A/N: It’s my plan in Externality for Tetsuki to end up involved in the fight against Kisame and Itachi alongside the jounin-sensei (and ultimately lose to Itachi’s Tsukuyomi). This is what happens after, I suppose.

Just had to get this out of my head so I can focus on Only Fools Rush In.

Only Fools Rush In, part 5/12 (2015-08-03)

jacksgreysonLeave a comment

If asked for which moment Ben fell in love with Carlos, he wouldn’t be able to say. There was no single moment, but a collection of moments, and the gradual learning of who Carlos was as a person.

It might have begun that very first day, a wide-eyed boy with chocolate smeared all over his face and hands. Lost and scared in a strange new world, not hesitating to reach out for comfort when startled.

Or maybe it was the following day, when, instead of giving up in the face of Coach’s discouragement, he stayed. Even if he didn’t have Jay’s natural talent, he still wanted to try, would have extra practices to improve.

It definitely included that first extra practice, if something interrupted in the first five minutes could be considered such. Despite the fear of dogs so ingrained into him, he had made himself vulnerable at Ben’s reassurance. Had reached out a fearful, trembling hand to touch a creature from his nightmares because he trusted Ben. Trusted him enough to share what life was like back on the Isle.

There are many more moments after that, more than Ben could differentiate between and say “There, then, that’s when I fell in love.” Small moments, fleeting moments, smiles and laughs and wide eyes and tentative, shaking hands; more than Ben even remembers.

Here is one such moment:

Many people forget, for all that Ben is a king among princes, he has a fairly humble heritage. Yes, his father was royalty, and his father before him. But his mother? She was not. And her father? He was considered the village lunatic.

People remember his father’s physical metamorphosis; when prompted they can also remember his behavioral change. But more and more often his mother’s willingness to think differently, to be different, has been brushed aside. And his grandfather is hardly ever mentioned at all. So it’s a surprise when someone actually talks to Ben about his grandfather; especially when it’s without the context of being his grandfather.

Ben is waiting out on the tourney field for Carlos, fidgeting with impatience. He’s not annoyed, he’s eager. He always looks forward to their private training, though this is before he realizes why.

Ben is considering leaving–to search for Carlos, because maybe he’s gotten lost, the Lost kids are still fairly new to campus–when he hears Carlos’ voice call out. He’s running out of the locker rooms, practice uniform only partially on and completely askew. Ben can’t help the smile that curls onto his face at the sight.

“I’m here, I’m here,” Carlos yelps, voice muffled through his shirt, still curled up over his head.

“Let me help you with that,” Ben murmurs, reaching over to help tug clothes into their proper places, until Carlos’ flushed face peeks out.

“Thanks,” Carlos says, smiling, and Ben has to say something, anything, or else he’ll end up just staring.

“What happened? You didn’t get lost, did you?”

“No, well, sort of–earlier I did,” he stammers, “I found this shed full of stuff, but then I got caught–I mean, then I met this old man, Moe. He’s an inventor…”

“Moe?” Ben interjects, wondering.

“Well, he said to call him Moe. Anyway, he showed me some of his machines, and I guess I got caught up,” Carlos explains.

“Oh,” and because he couldn’t help himself, Ben asks, “What do you think of Moe?”

He’s preparing himself for something unflattering, like what he usually encounters, so he isn’t surprised when he hears–

“He’s a little weird…”

–but then when Carlos concludes–

“… and absolutely brilliant.”

Carlos has no idea who Moe, Maurice, really is, or who he is to Ben, and so his oblivious admiration is all the more honest. Ben can’t help but be charmed.

~

A/N: Uhh…. um. First off, let’s pretend it’s before midnight still. And, second, let’s also pretend like part four wasn’t a cliff-hanger involving Chad and instead have this rambling interlude about Crazy Old Maurice for part five.

I don’t know?! I wrote myself into a corner with part four and I was like… what do I even know about Chad? NOTHING. Then I was like, what do I even want him to be like? AAAAGH. So I just… pushed that Ben – Chad confrontation to later 😛

Mrghle. Just… feel free to ignore this installment.