Chapter Text
“I’ve been thinking.” Jay turns towards Carlos as he speaks, flicking the bedside light on. It’s night, but neither Jay or Carlos are actually asleep.
“That’s unusual.” Jay replies, acknowledged by a pillow thrown at his face.
“Shut up. I’ve been thinking about the Isle.”
“Oh?”
“We both know the Isle was a stupid idea, right?”
“I mean, yeah. I don’t know why nobody thought villains would have kids.”
“Exactly. And our childhoods sucked , right?”
“Yeah. The Isle is no place for kids, that’s for sure.”
“Sometimes I wonder why they never just made a prison.” Carlos exhales.
“Is that what you’ve been thinking?”
“Yeah. I mean, the downside is that neither of us would exist, which sucks. But also… it would just be easier. I mean, if they can make a magic-proof island then why not a magic-proof prison? There wouldn’t be the issue of escape.”
“They’d have to figure out people’s sentences.”
“That’s not hard though. There are crime records in the library; hell, I could probably do that.”
“Do it then.” Jay smirks at Carlos daringly.
“I will.” Carlos glares back, the corners of his mouth twitching into a smile.
So he does. The day before they choose the new villain kids, Carlos pulls Jay into their room.
“What’s-” He begins to ask, but Carlos shushes him and pulls open his laptop.
“I figured it out.” He grins.
“What?”
“The jail sentence for every villain on the Isle.”
“Really?” Jay shuffles over to peer at the screen. “Give me an example.”
“Right. The Evil Queen. She gets 65 years, two life sentances and a fine of $100,000.”
“Damn.”
“Yeah. Most others are similar. Some would have gotten death sentances according to laws at the time, except that was outlawed when Auradon was formed.”
“...what does my dad get?”
“At least three life sentences.” Carlos sighs, but Jay just shrugs.
“Makes sense. What about your mom?”
“She’d get a $52,250 fine, the removal of her driver’s liscence and 115 years in jail. For property damage, dognapping, assault, coercion, conspiracy to mass animal cruelty and dangerous driving.”
“ Damn .”
“Plus 10 years for child abuse.” Carlos adds quickly, glancing down as he finishes speaking.
Jay isn’t sure what to say in response, so he just pulls Carlos into a hug.
“What do you think?” Carlos asks, arms wrapping around Jay’s neck. Jay threads his hand into Carlos’ hair and begins playing with it idly as he responds.
“You’re a nerd, pup. But your nerding is impressive.”
“Nerding isn’t a word.” Carlos mumbles, a hesitant smile creeping across his face. One of his hands moves down from Jay’s neck and finds the scar on his shoulder. He traces it lightly, sending a shiver down Jay’s spine.
“It is a word.”
“Fuck you.”
“You should take your nerding to Mal.”
“Maybe after VK day.”
“Whatever makes you happy, pup.”
Of course Auradon gets attacked again. Jay doesn’t actually know why he’s surprised.
They end up camping out at Evie’s while Mal and Uma argue about their plans. Jay, Carlos, Gil and Harry all collapse onto various pieces of furniture.
“We still haven’t found Ben.” Jay mumbles, burying his face in a couch pillow.
“What a shame .” Harry snarls back. Jay doesn’t have the energy to throw a dirty look at him, instead just tilting his head back and relaxing further into the couch.
“Hey.” Gil starts, a smile making its way across his face. “We should play that icebreaker that Evie suggested. Where we say something we like about each other.”
The suggestion is met with disbelieving stares from all the other guys.
Gil huffs in frustration and continues speaking. “You know like. Jay, I really like your hair.”
Jay blinks, turning to look at Gil. “Uh, thanks? I… think you’re really good at swordfighting.”
Both Jay and Gil turn expectantly to Carlos and Harry. After a moment, Carlos rolls his eyes and speaks. “Harry, I like your makeup.”
“And I like your face , pretty boy.” Harry snarls suddenly, darting closer to Carlos and slipping his hook under the boy’s chin. The pair stare at each other for a long moment. Jay resists the urge to pull Carlos away and tell Harry he’s spoken for. Or maybe just kiss Carlos until they’re both red-faced and gasping for breath.
Jay chooses to sleep on the couch with Carlos, while Gil and Harry each sleep on an armchair. The girls, along with Doug, have taken all the beds. They lie down at the same ends, feet resting on the sofa’s arms, faces next to each other.
As Jay closes his eyes, he whispers “Harry’s not the only one who likes your face” to Carlos. Because damn it, he’s possessive. And he doesn’t miss the way Carlos’ breath hitches as he also closes his eyes. And when they wake up with Carlos’ nose in Jay’s neck and Jay’s arm thrown around Carlos’ waist, Jay spends the rest of the morning convincing himself that it means nothing.
Searching for Ben the next day yields a few more friendship points between Gil and Jay. Gil’s a cool guy and shares Jay’s love of exploration. But they get interrupted by Harry making fun of them - and by Carlos’ dog actually finding Ben. But the conversation gives Jay hope. Maybe there’s a world where Gil is the one Jay is hopelessly in love with. And maybe in that world, Gil actually likes him back.
But then Jay watches Carlos handling Ben and he realises that no, he’s still fucked. Because a boy who can go up to a fully-grown, viciously growling beast and not only talk it down but also pull out its splinter? That is exactly who Jay wants in his life. Forever.
Being turned into stone sucks. Not as much as Mal lying about letting kids off the Isle, but almost.
Jay remembers standing opposite Mal, remembers glancing over at Carlos as he opens his mouth to (hopefully) pitch his prison idea.
But the next thing he knows? Unfrozen. Audrey in jail. Mal having an exestential crisis.
A week later, she’s having an engagement party and seems fine. As Mal gathers the crowd to give a speech, Carlos sidles over and nudges Jay.
“I told Mal.”
“That you’re gay?”
“No! That she should build a prison and open the Isle to visitors.”
“Ah.” Jay grins at Carlos. “Proud of you, pup.”
“Also, she knows I’m gay.”
“...when was this?”
“She and Evie gave me a Talk.”
“I’m gonna pretend I’m not annoyed about the missed invite.”
Mal announces the building of the prison, as well as the intention to get every villain kid off the Isle, to thunderous cheers. She also brings back the pirates and Celia so they can join the party.
After catching up with Gil and arranging a gap year, Jay seeks out Carlos for their traditional dance.
“Nothing’s attacked us yet.” Carlos muses, talking Jay’s hand practically the second it’s offered. “I’m gonna be on edge all night.”
“Gotta say I’m feeling let down. It’s been like a ritual .” Jay agrees, beginning the waltz.
“So Gil, huh?” Carlos asks, too casually to be a casual question.
“What about him?”
“You’re taking a gap year with him?”
“Yeah, it’ll be fun. Why, do you wanna come?”
“No, no. I wouldn’t want to interrupt.”
At this, Jay frowns and stops waltzing. “Interrupt… what?”
“I mean.” Carlos aims his gaze downwards. “You like him, right?”
Jay blinks, before bursting into laughter. “Yeah, as a friend . Like Evie said. Building friendships? Damn, pup. Way to assume.”
“But I thought-” Carlos furrows his eyebrows.
“It’s really giving what I thought you and Jane were last year.”
“That was different .” Carlos hisses.
“How? It was still me assuming you liked someone that you didn’t.”
“But I’m gay. And your assumption was unfounded.”
“ Your assumption is unfounded. How do you even know I’m into anyone right now?”
“Are you?”
“...yeah.”
Carlos laughs dryly. “Not so unfounded now, huh?”
“Shut up. Anyway. The point is, I’m not into Gil.”
“Then who- Harry, then?”
“No.” Jay laughs again, started to dance again. “Carlos, I’m not into Harry or Gil. Or Uma, for the record.”
“You know I won’t give up until I guess, right?”
“...you know, I never bugged you that much last year.”
“Because you’re an idiot who was sure it was Jane.” The soft way which Carlos calls Jay an idiot is a very specific thing that he loves. It earns the white haired boy a smile in return, equally soft.
“It’s not like, Doug, is it?” Carlos asks, breaking Jay from his feelings.
“Hell no. Not Doug. Or Mal. Or Evie.”
“Right, well good to-”
“Or Jane.” Jay continues, watching a smile creep across Carlos’ face. “Her name is too similar to mine anyway. And I don’t think I could like her after spending all of last year being jealous of her.
“Jealous.” Carlos whispers, blinking at Jay. “Why-”
“I’m not into Lonnie.” Jay continues, enjoying this now. “Or Audrey or Chad or… you know, not sure who else I have to name. Your mum?”
“What about me?” Carlos says. His words are playful, but Jay sees the way Carlos is biting his lip and looking at Jay. So he stops dancing again and takes a deep breath.
“So, funny thing.” Jay starts, because at this point all he can think is fuck it .
“You-”
“How much would it ruin our friendship if I am into you?” Jay interrupts.
Carlos doesn’t respond, just stares.
So Jay continues. “Before you answer, you should know that I’m very good at suppressing emotions, so you don’t have to worry about unwanted advances. Not that I’d do anything if I wasn’t good at suppressing, because consent. Well. I hope I’m good at surpressing? I should think so. I mean, I’ve been suppressing since the coronation so I have some experience-”
“Only since the coronation?” Carlos asks, a grin spreading across his face. “Jay, I’ve been suppressing since I met you. Catch up.”
“Wait, wait.” Jay blinks, his brain practically rewiring itself. “ What. ”
“You heard me-”
“Since you met me ?”
“Nobody’s ever kind on the Isle. Except you. You saved my life, Jay. I mean, it took me a while to realise, but yeah. Since I met you.”
“Can I kiss you?” Jay asks, his hand reaching out to cup Carlos’ chin. Carlos’ eyes widen, nodding sharply.
Jay pulls him in gently at first, mouth meeting Carlos’ in a soft kiss. His hand slides into the boy’s hair, tugging him in closer, pressing into him harder. He’s yearning, aching for this boy. And from the way Carlos grips Jay’s shoulder and presses himself into Jay, he can tell the boy feels the same.
They pull away when they hear clapping. Jay turns to see practically everyone at the party staring at them. Cheering. At least three people yell “Finally!”, which makes Carlos laugh. He buries his head into Jay’s neck and Jay barely hesitates before pressing a soft kiss into Carlos’ hair.
“Maybe we should go somewhere else.” Jay mumbles into the boy’s hair.
“Maybe.” Carlos agrees, finding the scar on Jay’s shoulder and kissing it softly. “I’ve wanted to do that for a while.”
“Thanks for taking care of me, pup.”
Jay revells in the soft smile that spreads across Carlos’ face. “Thanks for saving my life.”
“Get a room!” Harry yells at them. So they turn to each other, Jay holding out a hand for Carlos to take as they head inside.