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bansheeoftheforest · 3 years

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Can we get some rambles about some Moreau's Revenge AU? Like more in deoth about how everyone reacts and feels? Maybe some Emma reaction? Jacob? The public? Does feral!Jekyll ever hurt anyone badly? Do he and Zosi play alot? Is Hyde still there, just trapped in the subconscious of Henry's mind? When he's back to himself, does he still maintain some of his feral behaviours? Does he slip into his feral state as a defense mechanism?

Ok i just gotta mention I love it when people come up with aus, thrust them onto me, and then tell me to come up with ideas/the canon for the aus, I'm not even sarcastic, I just love that everyone has collectively decided that I'm an au hoarder and therefore, I should have all the aus and I should also be the one making the content for them. I love my job and I love all my little kitties bringing me dead mice all the time <3

Also! I'm just going to ramble every single fact that my brain comes up with, and this is specifically going to be about the Feral!Branch of the au <3

Henry got kidnapped after walking home from a dinner with a few of his close friends. Moreau stalked him until Henry was alone, to which he knocked him out and dragged him off to his funky hideout.

It takes a whole month before people find Moreau's hideout. By that time Henry has already been severely beaten, his bones are broken and his body is bloody, yet that doesn't stop him from prowling his tiny cage. Much like an abused dog, he completely ignored his wounds or just made them worse by biting on them, or by trying to stand on his legs when the rescuers found him. Instead of cheering and being relieved, he snarled and growled and tried to swat at them with his claws.

The first four that got into the hideout were Brokenshire, the Commissioner, Jenkins, and Wipple. The four of them were already friends with Jekyll and they were the most worried. While the other police arrested Moreau, they took it upon themselves to find Henry.

They found Henry in a small labspace, laying on the floor while whimpering. The moment he saw them he became aggressive. The only indication that he really was not human anymore was his eyes, sharp teeth, claws, and pointier ears. Subtle changes that were enough to tell them that there was no awareness behind those large eyes.

The sound of pain and anger that Henry made when they had to muzzle him is a sound that will forever haunt every single police officer from that day forward. They had to cuff his arms and practically drag him to the police vehicle, despite the muzzle he managed to make his displeasure and pain quite clear.

They brought Henry to the Society immediately, and made sure that no one else saw him. They but a sheet over the cage they kept him in and told anyone who asked that it was a runaway monster that they were going to dump with the Lodgers. They made the Lodgers gather in the foyer before the revealed who actually was in the cage.

The Lodgers were, to say the least, shocked and horrified. Not only was Henry so badly beaten that he could barely stand by himself, but the way he snarled and swatted after them invoked such a... Uncanny feeling within them. It wasn't really until then they realized how serious all of this was, the whole situation with Moreau.

All Lodgers were absolutely disgusted with what Moreau had done to Henry, but Ito, Maijabi, Jasper (plus Rachel and Robert, of course) were the most affected. The police had to physically restrain them from rushing up to the cage because if Henry got close enough he would not hesitate to hurt them. Brokenshire and the Commissioner (God I swear to god I'm THIS close to oc-fying him oh my god) both have scratch marks from trying to get close and calm Jekyll.

The police helped the Lodgers move Henry to an empty lab room where he could be alone. They still kept him in a cage for quite a while, yet the moment that they had gotten him into the room, Robert completely burst out crying. He really could not believe that happened to his best friend, he is unsure if they even can save him, yet he swears to himself that he will make sure that Henry is safe. He was this close to decking an officer who, during a meeting that he attended at the police station with those present during the day of Henry's rescue, suggested that they put Henry in Bethlam.

Robert did not allow anyone to get into Henry's room, mostly for their own safety, and because he wanted to monitor Henry's recovery himself. No one really listened to that. Sometimes a Lodger (or a whole group) would sneak in just to have a look at him, or give him some treats or some kind of toy. Henry often found himself too exhausted and too wounded to try to chase them away, instead panting on the floor of his cage for most of the time while his visitors observed him with pure sorrow.

Ito, Maijabi, Jasper, and Rachel were the ones that visited Henry the most. Ito and Maijabi would often just sit a bit away from the cage and observe him for a bit, maybe try to talk to him, occasionally they would help steal food from the kitchen to give to Henry. Rachel and Jasper were put in charge of feeding him most of the time, and it was only when Rachel and Jasper threw in chicken in his cage that he let himself be distracted from them and stop snarling just so he could eat. All of them left with tears in their eyes most of the time.

All the Lodgers would be worried, all Lodgers would try to visit Henry, but out of them Ito and Maijabi had it worst. Maijabi felt like he was losing his son, Ito-- so often cold and honest-- had never cried so much in her life when seeing her mentor in such a state. They often comfort each other, and do their best to always be available to help Robert with whatever he needs.

Emma route: I imagine that Henry and Emma are already married at that point. She has been worried sick for Henry the entire time, the police stop by her and Henry's house immediately after dropping Henry off at the Society. She rushes to the Society and the Lodgers all seem so... Sad, horrified, she gets more and more scared and suddenly she sees Robert and Rachel and Jasper, all three looking pale and ill. She begs them to tell her where Henry is... Robert can't even get any words out of him. He simply shows her to the room where they are going to keep Henry and shows her Henry's cage. Poor man is still laying bloody on the floor, still in a muzzle, but he barely has any visible sclera from his dilated irises and his hair is wild. He lays like a beaten dog, he doesn't even react as Emma kneels on the floor outside his cage. Emma turns around and demands and explanation from Robert, Robert sits down on the floor next to her and quietly explains everything the police told him, what Moreau did to Henry. Robert hugs Emma as she just starts crying, but both leave quickly to not... Well, bother Henry, who grows impatient and starts rattling against the cage. Not only has she been incredibly scared and worried for her husband the entire month he was gone, now Henry seems so close and yet so far away and he doesn't even recognize her, he is beaten like a dog and thinks he is some sort of animal and it just... It all becomes so much for her. She leaves the Society and the Lodgers don't see her much after that, although she does come and visit almost every day (and whether or not people know that she does it, is an entirely different question) just to see her husband. Sometimes she will bring food (Henry always loved her cooking) or a toy for him, and she ends up being the first person that he actually allows to touch him voluntarily, despite Robert forcing himself on him so he can patch him up.

Jacob route: Jacob would find out because Abberline and or Brokenshire would tell him about the state they found Henry in. Jacob would probably hear the news that Moreau’s lab got busted and immediately make his way to the Scotland Yard and demand that the police tell him where Henry is. They would tell him as much as they are allowed to about the case, then tell him to go and talk to Robert Lanyon in the Society. Of course Jacob doesn’t do that, he just immediately breaks in and searches everywhere for Henry. Eventually Robert spots him parkouring over the rafters and chases him down until Jacob manages to find the room where they keep Henry. Jacob opens the door and immediately finds Henry tearing through an entire turkey leg, although he immediately abandons the food snarl and bark (or, well, the aggressive equivalent of a bark) at him and Robert, reaching his hand out of the cage in an attempt of tearing them to shreds. No recognition at all in his eyes, Jacob can only stare for a while. Henry looks the same yet so inhumane. Robert does his best to explain everything, Jacob can only watch in pure horror as he hears what became of his lover, seeing it right in front of him. He doesn’t even let Robert finish his sentence before he has already stormed out. He does not care what the police planned to do with Moreau, he goes straight to whatever cell they keep him in and murders him in cold blood. He doesn’t go back to the Society afterwards, no, he goes to the train hideout and hastily tells Evie and Green what happened to Henry, he spends the rest of the night drinking. Unlike the Lodgers and Emma, he stays away for quite a bit. He doesn’t return until a few days later when he has managed to pick himself up. He makes sure that the news and/or rumors of what happened to Henry dies down quicker than they can rise, sometimes he actually has the courage to visit him but only every few days. He gets to see first hand how Henry recovers-- physically, at least, and slowly and surely he starts warming up to having people near him. After only a few weeks, Henry allows Jacob to touch him. Something about him (and Emma in her route, of course) feels familiar, calm and protective. Henry puts his head in Jacob’s hand and Jacob quietly swears that he will always protect him, no matter how long this goes on for.

The public (even including the Lanyons and the Carews, and most parts of the Scotland yard) never get to know what actually happened to Henry, as the rescuers made a good job at making sure no news or rumors spread or that anyone saw Henry in the state he was in. As far as they are aware, Henry is currently in a coma, and slowly Robert feeds into the news, updating people around them about Henry’s condition. “He is stable”, he will say, “but I’m afraid it’s hard to know when he will wake up... If he ever will”. It’s safer to make it seem like he is unconscious rather than conscious because Robert knows that people (journalists, Lanyon Sr, Sir. Carew, etc) will demand to visit him. Once Henry is unferal, they let him decide when he wants the news of his “awakening” to be spread.

The worst Henry has hurt someone was either fighting back to Moreau (which didn’t happen often, as he was too scared of him), but I’d also like to imagine that besides scratching the officers, he bit and hurt Robert quite badly, either Robert or one of the Lodgers, because he got overwhelmed and stressed. Robert really does not blame him no matter how badly it hurt or how serious the wound got, he shouldn’t have overwhelmed him but in his defense, cat body language is hard to read on a human. A positive from that was that Henry clearly felt guilty afterwards when he calmed down, which might have been the first ever sign that Henry was “savable”, as he clearly felt bad over what he did rather than trying to finish the job. It was the first time he actually walked up to Robert and touched him-- headbutted him, even, because he felt so bad for what he did because Robert has only been nice to him. Robert was wrapping a bandage around his arm when Henry came up to him, gently chirping and headbutting him, and Robert straight up bawled his eyes out.

Zosi was literally the only living being that Henry allowed close to him for many, many days. Zosi was both undead and also an animal, which was the two things that Henry associated with safety after having found comfort with Moreau’s monstrosities. Zosi was quickly in charge of being the one to give Henry food and medicine since Henry would allow no one else to get close to his cage, and Zosi was in sole charge of keeping Henry entertained and happy and calm while Robert tried to figure out how to proceed with the treatment. Zosi was just happy to have Henry back, and Henry was happy to have a friend.

When Henry got tortured and lost his sense of awareness, Hyde faded away, but only temporarily. He is, as said, trapped in the mindscape for the time being and until Henry gets his awareness back. It’s quite a nightmare for Hyde because he is watching in real time, while also processing the trauma from Moreau, as Henry’s mind crumbles. Gone are the mind people, instead they are replaced by vague primal instincts and animal behaviors. It’s definitely not as serious as Hyde feels it is, as it’s a slow but sure recovery from a steady dip to awareness as soon as Henry is removed from the lab, but it’s still incredibly scary for him. Henry can’t see or hear him anymore, and even if he could, he wouldn’t be able to react or process him.

It takes almost about 1-3 months before Henry has warmed up to everyone, physically healed, and was able to get the therapy he needed to even become aware, yet he never got rid of the feralness in him. Whenever he is stressed, scared, or overwhelmed, he might jump back into pure feralness or get a few of the key characteristics; subtle physical and behavioral appearance, etc. Sometimes it’s hard for him to get out of it, sometimes it’s not. Sometimes all he has to do is calm down and relax, sometimes he has to sleep it off. Regardless, the Lodgers and his friends/love interests all do their best to keep Henry calmed and relaxed, and make sure he never has to endure as much stress as he did before and after what happened with Moreau.

(Basically, he goes from full feral to what the Feral Au is rn)

The public never really gets to know about Henry’s... Ahem, condition, however, most seem to accept the excuse that Henry has terrible anxiety after his torture, ergo making it easy for his friends or lover/s to help Henry out of a room or a situation when he starts feeling overwhelmed and like he is about to turn feral. They are all calm and patient and loving and protective with him, every single one, and Henry is forever grateful for the patient they bring him.

Some random rambles btw:

Out of everyone that isn’t his lover for the branch, Henry’s favorite persons are Maijabi and Ito. Maijabi because he feels like his dad, Ito because the feral state in Henry sees her as his cub or pup, in some weird way. When Henry is docile, both Maijabi and Ito quickly learn that Henry very much loves attention and grooming his favorite persons.

I got the idea while writing the Emma route that maybe she was already pregnant by the time that Henry got kidnapped and turned feral, although it was early on in the pregnancy. I just love the angst of Emma wondering if she will lose her husband and if Henry will ever get to meet their child, and the thought of feral Henry freely being allowed to get close to Emma (they were all very worried about that) and immediately sniffing and headbutting her belly is just <3 (Also the thought of Henry almost immediately panicking when the kid is born and Emma wants him to hold him, suddenly his eyes dilate and his hair puffs up but it’s like a cat staring at something absolutely wonderful)

Surprisingly, Frankenstein was one of those who often would sneak into Henry’s room just to see him. In this crossover au, I’d imagine she’d be much more sympathetic for him. Maybe she would talk to him and apologize for bringing him into this at all, maybe she would even apologize for what she said and did to him personally.

I refuse to acknowledge a bad au branch for this one where Henry turns permanently feral and they either have to kill him or let him loose in the wild <3

#heheheheehoooo #ask #thejeksburyguy #moreau's revenge au #banshees au #feral au

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sugarbooger513 · 3 years

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Moving on- Chapter One

This is the beginning of my OC’s story. Hope you guys enjoy!

Her icy eyes stare into the mirror as she tries to fix the short honey brown curls on her head. However, there isn't enough patience in the world for her to deal with it. Jasper finally gives up, tossing the comb onto her dresser before straightening the tie around her neck. "Are you decent, Jasper?" "Yeah, come in." Her roommate, Lilith, walks into her bedroom with a small smile. Like usual, she's wearing her sky colored bodysuit and white combat boots. Her hair, which reminds Jasper of virgin snow, is in a neat bun on the top of her head. "Looking like the lesbian you are, I see." "Fuck you, Lilith. My girlfriend likes how I dress." "Exactly. A les-" "Stop it." Her laughter makes Jasper smile, despite wanting to look irritated. Lilith has been her best friend for a few years now. They decided to get a small two bedroom apartment when Lilith got a full time job at the Ingenium agency. Jasper still worked as a free lance hero, until today, that is. "First day jitters?" "Huh?" "Your hands, Jas. They're shaking." Jasper frowns at how easily she can be read. In a way, it's ironic. "The All-Knowing Hero" Daedalus is the easiest person to read. "Yeah, I guess so. At least Midnight will be there." "Oh yeah, she's your old mentor, right?" Jasper nods, smiling from the thought of the kind Hero. While Jasper never bothered copying the R-rated aspects of Midnight, she certainly learned from her combat skills. At the time, Midnight was fresh out of high school, but she took Jasper's training very seriously. There were days she would come home beaten to a pulp from training, but Jasper is nothing if not headstrong. "Well, I'm going to join you at your frist day." "Wait," Jasper pauses, "why? They have the Sports Festival today. You'll just-" "I want to introduce you to my old homeroom teacher. I was a part of his first class." "I thought you couldn't stand him." "I mean," she chuckles lightly, "he really wanted to expel me. Like, REALLY wanted to." "Sometimes I sympathize with him." Lilith sends her less playful roommate a wink, which causes Jasper to roll her eyes. How do they get along so well? "Whatever, Jas. I'm going with you whether you like it or not." "Fine, but you aren't allowed to embarrass me." "Trust me, I don't think I could. Eraserhead is generally one of those guys that just doesn't give a damn about what's going on around him." 'Eraserhead,' Jasper tilts her head slightly, 'that sounds awfully familiar. Still.. I can't quite remember why'. The two of them walk outside, so Lilith pulls the mask from her body suit over her head. Jasper smiles at her friend as they start their walk to UA. The nerves seem to only get wilder in Jasper's body as they walk. Principal Nezu reccently called her about an opening at her alma mater. Not long ago, a class was attacked by a "League of Villains" at USJ. One teacher was severly hurt from protecting his class, and the number one hero, All Might, was also injured. They decided to hire a few more teachers, preferably ones with quirks that can prove useful in case this league attacks again. Jasper doesn't have a physical quirk, so she was shocked when Nezu explained the situation to her. Her quirk, Daedalus, allows her to see someone's strengths and weaknesses as long as she stares at them. However, if she blinks, her quirk is deactivated. It also tends to give her really bad headaches if she over uses it, so she tends to only use it in short bursts. "So, what is your title now? Ms. Daedalus?" "Nah. Just Daedalus, or Jasper for the other teachers." "Are you actually teaching a subject?" "No? I'm not sure if I ever will, but as of right now I'm some sort of disciplinary officer or something." Lilith snorts. Jasper... her friend.. as a disciplinary officer. Is that some sort of sick joke that Principal Nezu has planned? If so, where's the punch line? Before they know it, the two of them make it to the now ramped up security gate at UA High. One of the police officers at the front make both of them flash their hero licenses before they are allowed to walk inside. "Man," Lilith shoves her license back into her body suit, "this seems insane. I would feel bad for the kids." Jasper waits a second, but her friend doesn't finish the thought. "Umm.. you would feel bad for them..?" "If I cared." There it is. That's the Lilith she knows. "Well, I feel bad for them. UA was always my safe place, and I had a great home life. I can't imagine if some fo these kids come here to get away from their homes." Lilith shrugs slightly, but she can't convince Jasper that she really doesn't care. She might hide her normal name from the world, but being a hero is Lilith's calling. There have been multiple times where Pro Hero Ether has put herself on the line for complete strangers. "Yo, Ether," Lilith glances at Jasper, "do you know where the otehr teachers would be?" "I do. Just follow- Tenya!" A tall, blue haired boy turn towards the sound of his name being called. As soon as Jasper meets his navy eyes, she realizes that he's Ingenium's younger brother. No wonder Lilith knows who the kid is. "Ether, it's nice seeing you here! Did Tensei give you the day off?" "Yeah, he didn't want me to join while he did his business in Hosu City. Plus, I thought I should be ehre for Daedalus's first day." The polite young man actually bows in front of Jasper. 'Man, he is a lot like his older brother'. "Uh-you don't need to do all of that. I happen to be friends with Ingenium, and I have done a few missions alongside him. It's nice to meet his little brother." "It's nice to meet you as well, Daedalus. I see that you have a UA badge on your blazer. Are you one of the new teachers?" "Oh, I'm the new disciplinary officer, so I hope I don't have to deal with you too often." The way the boy holds his arms up makes Jasper chuckle lightly. He seems a lot more.. robotic than his generally laid back older brother. "Of course not, ma'am. I believe in keeping order and-" "Yeah, yeah, all that noble bullshit. We'll catch ya later, Tenya. I'm gonna go introduce her to Eraserhead." He nods and walks back towards a group of teenagers that they can only assume are his fellow classmates. The two heroes turn and start to make their way up a flight of stairs. Lilith surprisingly pulls her mask off before knocking on the door at the top of the stairs. "Come on in." Jasper jumps a bit from the familiarity of that voice. Once the door is opened, the shocking green eyes make her smile. "Holy crap, is that Present Mic?" The enthusiastic blonde hero jumps form his seat when he sees his friend and past partner. Well, not exactly a 'partner'. If he ever needed an extra set of hands, Daedalus was one of the first numbers saved in his phone. The two of them never really went anywhere to hang out, but they considered each other good friends. "Rock oooon! If it isn't Daedalus herself! What brings you up here, baby?" Jasper chuckles before accepting a hug from the lanky hero. "I missed you too, boom boom baby. I actually got a job here as a disciplinary officer, and Lilith wanted to bring me up here to meet her old teachers that I didn't have." "Well, ya know one of 'em, baby." Jasper smiles at his sweet term of endearment. Mic has called her baby since day one, and he's the only person other than Mirko, her girlfriend, that could ever get away with it. Lilith suddenly lets out a sigh. "Eraser, you look fucked up." "Language, child." Jasper turns and winces at the man sitting in the chair behind her. The poor guy is wrapped in bandages from the waist up. She has no idea what any of his facial features look like, minus how deep grey his eyes are. Lilith sighs softly. "Jasper, this is my old homeroom teacher, Eraserhead. He's the one that always tried to expel me." "Sometimes I wonder why he really didn't Lils. It's nice to meet you Eraserhead." The man lets out a small snort, which she can only hope is a bit of laughter. "Just call me Aizawa, since we'll be working together. Without thinking, Jasper holds a hand out to him. When he glances at it, she blushes a deep red. "Shit.. sorry." "Don't apologize. I understand that it's weird. Daedalus, was it?" "Jasper, please, but yes." He nods slightly. "Sho," Mic shifts his intense gaze to his wrapped up friend, "you can't tell me you don't know her." "Oh, I remember her. I remember training her with Midnight." "Wooooah, I don't remember.. oh wait." Jasper suddenly remembers one training session when she was a teenager. Midnight had taken her to an abandoned building with two other guys. The two guys faced her and her mentor in multiple sparring matches. She always remembered Mic being one of the boys since he had taken the time to talk to her, but the other boy was more to himself. He was really cute, in a mysterious sort of way. "You seem to be realizing that you know my best buddy, Sho." "I.. Yeah, I apologize, Aizawa." "You apologize too much, seriously. I don't care. You look different than I remember, though." Jasper lets out an awkward laugh. "Yeah, I guess I do. I cut all my hair off and.. ya know, gained a bit of weight." Lilith immediately shoots her friend a glare, which isn't shocking, but Mic jumps in. "Yo yo yo, baby, you look just as gorgeous as ever. Hell, if you didn't like women, I would totally hit on you." Jasper chuckles and gives the blonde haired man a pat on his head. Aizawa groans when he laughs softly, and Jasper's first instinct is to crouch in front of him worriedly. "Is there anything I can do to help your pain a bit, Aizawa?" "Not really. It's just something I have to put up with for a while. Thank you, though." Suddenly, Mic's phone starts to ring, making the other three people in the room jump a bit. His usually bright green eyes seem to dull when he looks at the number. "Hey, Joke. What can I do ya for?" Aizawa mutters a few curses under his breath. "Joke," Mic continues with a groan, "the two women with us are not trying to hit on your boyfriend. One is a lesbian and the other is an old student of his." Jasper can't help but chuckle a bit. "Jealous girlfriend?" Aizawa's eyes hold the smallest amount of amusement when he meets Jasper's baby blue eyes. "Yeah, you have no idea." Something about the tiny giggle she breathes out makes his heart pick up its pace. He's suddenly thankful for the ridiculous bandages wrapped around his face because he's sure that she would notice the slight flush on his otherwise pale cheeks. Mic finally hangs the cell phone up, glancing over his shoulder to look at his friend. "I don't understand why she only tells me when you 'screw up'. Sho-" "Can we talk about this at home, Mic?" Mic respects his friend's wishes and stops talking about the situation. Still, Aizawa knows that he won't forget. The two girls decide to hang out with Mic and Aizawa for the rest of the sports festival. Mic and Lilith end up reminiscing about her school days at UA, while Jasper sits in the chair next to Aizawa. Most of their small talk ended in something about a shared love of cats and coffee. "Have you ever been to the cat cafe downtown?" "No, actually. My dads work as vets, so I spend time with their patients a lot." Aizawa makes a small note in his mind about her admitting to having two fathers. He would never judge her about it, but he likes to remember things he thinks other people would tend to forget. "Mic and I go there sometimes. There are two cats I enjoy the company of a lot." "Well," Jasper smiles a bit, "maybe I can go with the two of you at some point." Aizawa feels a smile creep to his face. Her company amidst the boistrous blonde he calls his best friend sounds like a nice change of atmosphere. "Would your girlfriend care?" "Mirko? Hell no. She isn't the jealous type." "I hate being the bearer of bad news," Mic sighs, "but Joke would." Jasper quickly puts her hands up. "I swear I won't jump your bones, Aizawa." "She'll jump my bones." Lilith has to add in. Mic snickers at that. "Lilith, I will break your bones." "That's hot." "Good lord." Aizawa even chuckles at Jasper's flushed cheeks. He can't help but think how cute her embarrassment is, but he keeps the thought in his head. Mic would flip his lid if Aizawa admitted that anything other than cats was cute. "Honest question, baby," Mic passes Aizawa a bottle of water, "would you jump MY bones if you liked guys?" Lilith howls out her laughter as Jasper smirks. "Nah, too loud. The whole neighborhood would hear you climax." "Damn, baby. That kinda hurts my ego." Aizawa rolls his eyes before holding the water bottle up. "You deserve it after giving me an UNOPENED water bottle. I can't open it, dip shit." Jasper giggles and reaches to unscrew the lid for poor Aizawa. "There ya go." He feels his face warm yet again. He didn't exactly mean for her to do it for him.. "Thanks, Jasper." "Anytime." "Look at that," Mic groans softly, "Bakugo wins the Sports Festival." Jasper smiles, not knowing who the kid actually is. She remembers when she won it in her third year. Her parents cried like babies seeing her on the television, and Midnight even threw her a party. 'Hopefully that kid feels good about his win. He deserves it, I'm sure'. "I'm not shocked," Aizawa comments, "he's headstrong." "He's a bit unstable, Sho." "No, he really isn't. He doesn't settle for less than what he wants, and that's how a true hero is." Lilith snorts. "Tenya has told me about that guy. He sounds like an ass, but one of the greatest heroes in Japan is a grade A bitch." She's talking about Endeavor, and the thought of that man makes Jasper tighten her fists in anger. Jasper can't stand that man. From the moment she met him, a weird feeling of absolute hatred invaded her body. Her girlfriend, Mirko, has to work with the guy from time to time, and Jasper always refuses to accompany on those missions. She just knows that she wouldn't be able to focus with that asshole barking orders like he leads something. "Jasper? What's wrong?" She jumps slightly from Aizawa's sudden question. "Oh, I just don't like Endeavor, and that's who she was mentioning. I swear, that man makes it hard to want to stay a hero." Mic tilts his head. "I mean, he's saved a lot of people." "But there's a reason All Might is number one. I'll give you a hint, All Might isn't a major douche canoe." "Being likeable isn't a necessary trait to be a hero, Jasper." Aizawa raises an eyebrow despite the fact no one can see it. "You're right, but being an ass to fans and such is just wrong. You hide all of your hero work, Aizawa, so I'm not sure if you would understand how much it means to a child when you give them a high five or sign their freaking teddy bear." Aizawa nods in agreement. No, he doesn't really know that feeling, and he doesn't care to. Lilith even snorts. "In all fairness, I don't like kids, so I never pay attention to them while they watch me work." "I love helping kids, yo. They get a kick out of my speaker." Jasper turns her attention to Aizawa when she notices him picking at the bandages on his face. "What are you doing there?" "I'm supposed to be allowed to take most of these damn things off since the festival is over." Jasper stands from her seat and walks over to where he's sitting. "May I help you out?" "Can you?" Lilith chuckles from her seat. "Trust me, she has taken care of a lot of my injuries. She should be a medical professional at this point." Jasper rolls her eyes before she reaches behind Aizawa's head to take hold of the end of his wrappings. "Anywhere that I need to be careful around?" "Oh, uhh, under my right eye is still kind of tender." She nods, thankful he's honest about his pain. Even Mic goes quiet while watching her unwrap Aizawa's face. Truth be told, it scared the hell out of him when Aizawa got the news that his quirk might not be the same. For Christ's sake, the man is only thirty. He doesn't need to retire that early. "Aaaand, that should be the last one." Jasper turns to throw away the bandages before turning her attention to his arms. "Do any of these need to be left alone?" "My right elbow. Thank you, Jasper." She smiles at his thanks and wuickly unwraps his left arm and his right forearm. Finally, she stands completely and meets the man's eyes. Despite his hair being slightly disheveled, he's a very handsome guy. He looks exhausted, but his eyes hold a sort of alertness that only the best heroes have. The deep scar under his right eye, however, makes her stomach drop. If she remembers correctly, his quirk works a lot like hers. Any injury to the eye can be detrimental to their careers. "Sho," Mic glances worriedly at his friend, "do you think erasure will work?" Aizawa closes his eyes for a second before nodding slightly. "Only one way to find out. Mic, scream." "Are you-" "Do it." The scream is enough to almost rupture all of their eardrums. Jasper quickly covers her ears and watches as Lilith does the same. Suddenly, Aizawa's eyes shoot open, and the color of them makes Jasper gasp out loud. Hopefully no one heard it. That would be a bit embarrasing. Still, the crimson color of his eyes is grogeous. Mic suddenly goes quiet, barely making a peep. Aizawa smirks, but it's quickly replaced by him closing his eyes and letting out a pain filled groan. Jasper's next movements are out of pure instinct. She quickly gets on her knees in front of his seat and her hands are immediately on his face. His eyes are squeezed shut, but he tenses at the gentle touch. Her fingers glide so easily over his now sweat glistened skin. "Open your eyes, Aizawa. Let me check on you." Usually he would push someone away for being so caring. He usually can't stand when people try and take care of him, but her voice is so fucking genuine. He can't help but open his eyes to meet hers. Her lips curl into the smallest smile hes ever seen. "Don't over use it, Aizawa. It works, and that's what matters. Let it get back to normal on its own." God, if it were Mic telling him this, he would tell him to shut up... but it's this caring girl. He finds himself nodding. Suddenly, the door is opened, and his stomach drops. "Umm... what the fuck are you doing to my boyfriend?"

@katgalle

#eraserhead #aizawa shouta #mha shouta #bnha #aizawa x oc #present mic

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solaneceae · 4 years

Text

MY HUMAN!EGOS AU

i got a surge of inspiration and started creating my own versions of the egos! its still a work in progress but i love them to bits and im really excited to share them

JACKIE

grew up in an abusive household, emotional and sometimes physical abuse

parents screamed at each other all the fucking time, father was an alcoholic

Left home as soon as he was able to live by himself (16)

he’s 22 now

poor

trans boi, on T, wears a binder cuz he can’t afford top surgery

lives in an apartment with two roommates: Max, a philipino sound designer and independent musician (they/them) and their girlfriend Nilanjana (Nana), a buff training coach from indian descent

Jackie is in a queerplatonic relationship with them: they cuddle and kiss on the forehead during movie nights and all that cute shit

he has a part-time day job to pay the rent and bills: he gives self-defense lessons

he drinks his respect women juice

vigilante at night. gets hurt a lot. his roommates think he fights in an illegal fight club for extra cash and are worried about him

wants to save people and spread positivity wherever he goes

but he has the wrong way to go about it

basically he does the PMA thing wrong and thinks any kind of negativity is bad and tries to force himself to be happy all the time.

not healthy, someone help this poor boi

anger issues, undiagnosed ptsd and ADHD

antsy boi! stimmy boi! He’s always bouncing on his feet or humming a tune or fiddling with his hair

aromantic asexual

pure of heart, dumb of ass. seriously, he’s such a dumb, but he does have street smarts

vitiligo!!

light blue eyes, dyes his brown hair lime green

extrovert, loves people

the kind of guy to record himself doing parkour and post it on tiktok

team hot cocoa

for the love of god please don’t give him coffee, he’s enough of a jitterbug already

wants a dog. prolly needs an emotional support one.

plays the drums. Fished a beat-up set somewhere, would like a proper one

fights with his fists and a wooden staff

no special powers, just self-taught fighting skills, natural flexibility and talent at acrobatics and rigorous training

MARVIN

he was born with green cat eyes, the physical representation of his extremely potent magic. parents were freaked out, and basically hid him away

had no control over his powers as a baby, would wreak havoc around him. think Mob from Mob Psycho 100

the upper side of his face was badly burned when he lost control of his powers as a toddler, so he wears masks to hide the scars. the cat one is just the one he wears most often

“hey, nice mask!” “it’s a prosthetic.” “...oh.” (it’s not that bad really, he’s just really self-conscious about it)

he was homeschooled his whole life and generally wasn’t allowed to go out much, so his social life/skills are nonexistent

his parents are famous fashion designers

they’re super rich and travel the world and send him a ridiculous amount of money every month

they say it’s for work but the real reason is that they couldn’t deal with having a “freak” as a son but couldn’t abandon him without getting bad PR

so instead they just took their distance and left him to live in a big-ass mansion by himself as soon as he was old enough (10 years old)

they dont really care what he does. last time they called him was when he was 13

last time they sent him a birthday card was when he was 18

now he’s 24

(and at this point he makes me think of bruce wayne lmao. he needs an alfred)

since he has money and home, he doesn’t need a job, so he just stays cooped up in the property and almost never leaves, he orders his food and groceries to be delivered to him

he’s basically a hermit at this point. and a huge nerd

he tries to use his natural magic as little as possible, (hello trauma my old friend) so he still has flimsy control over it

instead he dabbles into wicca and the occult to do stuff

A bookworm, quite serious, dresses like a hipster art school student. he wears SAROUEL PANTS.

glasses!! Big round rimless glasses!! soft!!!!

long brown hair, messy bun, dyes the tips dark green and purple

disaster gay

“sleep? what’s that? i only know coffee”

has three cats he rescued himself: Spades, Jasper and Poppy

has a huge greenhouse linked to the main building. he likes gardening a lot, whether it’s for his craft, for cooking or just because he likes seeing plants flourish

HOW THEY BOTH MET / IDEAS AND SHIT

Jackie tried to take on a whole ass drug ring and bit more than he could chew at the time so he got beat up pretty bad. He managed to escape with his trusty grappling hook and swung around a bit before crashing through the glass ceiling of the greenhouse while Marv was tending to his plants, in the early morning.

Long story short Marv is in a panic because a complete stranger (also the only human being he’s interacted with in months) just flopped in front of him and is probably dying and he wants to call an ambulance.

jackie: *beaten black and blue and coughing up blood* jackie: oh hey how’s it goin’ marv: *distressed nerd noises* marv: oh my god who the fuck are you but also are you dying in my house im calling an ambulance- jackie: uh yeah no please dont im kinda doing illegal stuff also i cant afford it marv: marv: wh-

also what if marv calls the family’s doctor since jackie won’t go to a hospital, and it’s fucking Schneep henrik: what the fuck did you do this time marv: it wasn’t me! jackie: your family doctor scares me marv: that’s why they hired him

maybe after that jackie keeps coming to see marv and marv is like “ugh you again-” and he always come to marv whenever he gets hurt, to get patched up by schneep. he broke the ceiling two more times basically they become “hey ron hey billy” vine, its just a habit at this point.

Marv is a rich boi that doesn’t know anything about life. at this point i realize he’s like a mix of Elsa and Rapunzel, and Jackie is kinda Flynn xD Jackie just… aggressively becomes Marv’s friend despite the magic man’s reluctance, and shows him the world. love me some smart grumpy nerd/dumb happy jock friendship

jackie: im your friend now marv: wh- jackie: *drags him outside* LETS GO CLIMB A BUILDING TOGETHER-

Marvin but he’s never been in a grocery store in his entire life because he just orders super expensive pre-made meals to his house or cooks his own veggies, and he’s just amazed at the first one they go to

like “wHAT, IT’S A ROW OF FREEZERS! Remind me to install one of these at my place!”

and Jackie, who just came here for bread and milk, looks at him fondly but also is very concerned. Also he doesnt question marv’s masks, he just thinks they look cool

@tabbynerdicat it’s my bois! @lilakennedy because i know you like those two, and your love for them motivated me to develop them first

#caori's stuff #jacksepticeye #jse #jse egos #jacksepticeye egos #jackieboy man #jbm #marvin the magnificent #jse au #human!egos AU

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blow-it-to-smithereens · 5 years

Text

Things I love about every Psychonauts level

Because I love them all, yes, even that one

Basic Braining

“You’re like molasses goin’ uphill in January. With crutches.”

We get to see Raz’s acrobatic skills and get a sense of why he’s so advanced, even compared to these kids who have been coming to camp for years. We also see that white hallway and Oleander’s plan from the very beginning.

Almost every camper appearing in the level has their own little moment: Elton’s fearfulness and unwillingness to be violent, Vernon’s story, leading Dogen through the mines, Clem and Crystal’s cheer, Benny’s helplessness without Bobby, and the start of Raz’s rivalry with Bobby. There was some cut audio with J.T., Chops, and Elka on the trapeze, too.

Brain Tumbler Experiment

Spooky forest setting

The very first appearance of Dr. Loboto who is obviously the star of the game

The entire level is just dripping with foreshadowing for the rest of the game

Sasha’s Shooting Gallery

“Shooting things is fun, and useful.”

“No. Here is your merit badge. Let us never speak of this again.”

Poor Sasha on the stamp

The stated message that trying to repress all your negative feelings will make them build up and eventually explode. Also, “Problems often seem bigger in our heads than they actually are.”

Milla’s Dance Party

I could listen to that music all day, honestly

Probably the first and most well-known instance of the game hiding secrets that show it and its characters have more depth than you’d think. It’s also terrifying

The secret is off the beaten path but is NOT hidden in such a convoluted way that it’s impossible to just stumble across

Levitation! Possibly the most useful power in the game!

Minus points for it being the absolute worst level to try collecting all the figments in

Lungfishopolis

The best parody of “Godzilla-type” monster movies that could ever exist

Every single line of dialogue is hilarious

every single line

You can throw tanks, sink boats, and wreck the puppy orphanage

Levitation doesn’t work, which is frustrating, but it’s a neat detail and makes sense since you’re so huge

Milkman Conspiracy

No look everything about this level is amazing

The G-Men

...However it has always bugged me that there appears to be a small missing segment, in between the Den Mother telling Raz not to follow, then a cut to Raz falling down after her, with nothing in between

You get clairvoyance, which isn’t especially useful during the game outside of this level, but it’s a lot of fun to play with

Gloria’s Theater

Spooky theater setting, which I always love

The hilarious results of playing the wrong scripts on the wrong sets or in the wrong mood

It’s probably the level that most clearly reflects the character’s story. Everything about it is drenched in Gloria’s backstory, which makes sense to me since the portion about her in the Li-Po documents (the original character backstory documents by Tim Schafer) is the longest and most intricate out of all the asylum residents

I’ve already given my thoughts on Jasper and the portrayal of an inner critic

Waterloo World

Yes, you’re playing a giant board game against Napoleon Bonaparte

There’s one building where you can climb up and look in the window to see Fred and Napoleon inside, playing the game

Really, my favorite part of this level is coming back after you’ve beaten it and talking to the cows

Black Velvetopia

The most gorgeous level in the game. Raz even gets a new outfit texture

Kind of a confusing but great plot twist where the epic romance was actually a high school thing that Edgar’s been obsessing over

Meat Circus

The music is the title theme

Finally reveals answers on why Oleander is Like That, and presents the theme that no one is truly a monster or beyond redemption; also clearly shows that the protagonist and the antagonist have a lot in common

Resolution between Raz and his dad, and Oleander’s issues with his dad

It’s completely horrifying, but it’s supposed to be

The level is frustrating but not impossible. I think it gets a lot of undue hate.

Bonus:

Under the lake

The music is lovely and I’m so glad they reused elements of it for RoR

That glowing freshwater coral is so pretty, I just have to smash it

Ties in directly with the lore you read about on the tree in the parking lot, with the underwater ghost town of Shaky Claim

The asylum

No music, just the sound of wind blowing through the crumbling building and the skittering and squeaking of rats, all of which builds a creepy atmosphere

This whole section is basically a mini horror game

First appearance of Sheegor as a creepy, fleeting figure who warns you to get away and then vanishes; she later reveals herself to be the sweetest character in the game

The architecture twists and warps the higher you go

You can look outside and see the lights of the camp across the lake, just as you can see the tallest tower of the asylum from the camp

#psychonauts

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bunny-lou · 6 years

Text

Autophobia, pt. 4 (omega!Carlos fic)

Part 1

Part 2

Part 3

Omegas on the

Isle of the Lost are ripped to pieces, so Carlos will spend the rest of his life pretending to be a beta.

Or: 5 times Carlos De Vil lied about being an omega (and the 1 time he didn’t have to)

Please also check this out on AO3!

Warning for the Isle just being a terrible place.

The knots in his stomach are so intense, Carlos thinks he might throw up. It would be kind of difficult since there hasn’t been much in him the past few days. He had some bread yesterday morning and a soft apple the day before that Evie gave him, but that’s it.

Normally, he and Evie are pretty good at getting and sharing food, but they’ve had extra help these past few months in the form of two highly-feared alphas. Jay and Mal have a way of terrorizing the barges to get what they want and they’re strong bargainers in the marketplace. The two of them mixed with Carlos and Evie have become a nearly unstoppable force the past six months.

But the Rotten Four – which is the nickname Evie gave them and it just kind of stuck – have gone back down to just Carlos and Evie this past week. Mal and Jay haven’t been seen in five days. They both disappeared. No note, no goodbye, nothing.

Carlos had checked Jafar’s Junk Shop and never saw Jay, Evie watched Bargain Castle for two days without a sight of Mal. Neither has been seen or heard in Dragon Hall or in the marketplace.

Damnit. Carlos never thought he would ever say this: he kind of misses Jay and Mal.

Not just their muscle and how they bully their way into getting what they want – and, by extension, what Carlos and Evie want. Carlos genuinely worries for them. He misses Jay’s stupid humor and crazy confidence, he misses Mal’s commanding tone and her clever plans.

Oh evil. He can’t deny it. Carlos has gotten attached to two alphas.

He’s cleaning the kitchen for the second time that day just to take his mind off of the growing fear,

(Jafar finally killed Jay, ripped out his own son’s throat.)

(Maleficent has thrown Mal off the roof of their castle and hid the body.)

(They were ambushed by a hoard of alphas and drowned in the ocean.)

when Carlos overhears a conversation that makes him stop.

“I can’t stand that wicked step-bitch,” Jasper snarls. “She ought to not be so damn picky about who her daughter chooses.”

The man is in the dining room, Carlos can tell, with Horace. The two henchmen often come in to receive orders from Cruella. They’re always searching the Isle for some poor animal to hand over to her or the newest fashion off the barges.

Carlos thinks that they’re crazy for still catering to Cruella when she clearly has no power on the Isle. The only reason he spends his Wednesdays washing her underwear is because, well, he gets beaten if he doesn’t. Jasper and Horace have no excuse to flock to her.

“Anastasia?” Horace hums. “I heard men was fighting their way into the salon for her today.”

“Women too. She’s in heat again. She was out and about when it hit too.”

Carlos can hear them perfectly from the kitchen, but he wanders closer anyway.

“You’d think that an omega would know to be inside for something like that,” says Horace. “She’s one of the only omegas on the Isle.”

“Only one without a pack too!” Jasper snaps and slams his hand on the table. “LeFeo is with Gaston and Hook has an omega in his bloody pirates. I went to Lady Tremaine, all gentlemanly and what not. I offered to help her daughter through it. Better a beta than some rough alpha, eh? But does she listen? No!”

To be fair, Carlos wouldn’t either. He’d sooner spend a heat alone than let a man like Jasper touch him, beta or not.

A moment of heavy breathing follows, then Jasper speaks once more. “Forgot what it’s like to smell an omega. I’m forgetting damn near everything about them.”

If only all alphas and betas on the Isle would do that. Then Carlos would never worry about being recognized for what he is.

“You know, boys,” Cruella sings from behind Carlos, cackling when her son jumps, “I never bed an omega, but I heard that they all get wet.” She grabs Carlos’ arm and pulls him out of the kitchen and into the dining room, exposing him from his hiding spot. “Boy and girls alike, they produce slick,” Cruella purses her lips, “for male alphas and betas.”

Jasper and Horace look at each other, then Horace quirk a brow at Carlos. “You eavesdropping, boy?”

Carlos shakes his head and gulps. “No.”

“Really?” Cruella draws out. She’s holding Carlos with one hand and a cigarette in the other, smoke wafting into the air. “You’re not hiding behind the wall, listening to Jasper’s mundane story,” Cruella rolls her eyes, “and thinking about having your own little omega to fuck with?”

His face burns. “No, mother.”

Cruella blows her smoke into his face, but it’s a common occurrence and Carlos knows how to keep a straight face. “You don’t want a pretty, soft omega to kneel before you?”

The desire to kneel before anyone has weakened since Carlos has started taking his suppressants, but it’s not entirely faded. He still daydreams about being on his knees for someone – an alpha, a beta, anyone – and having them run their hands through his hair, order him, take control, praise him and whisper that Carlos is a good omega.

So, no, he doesn’t want an omega to kneel before him. He tells Cruella as such.

“Pitiful beta,” Cruella releases him. “You wouldn’t know proper submission if an omega presented their ass to you.”

“He’s too much like an omega himself.” Jasper mocks and narrows his eyes. “What’s your little girlfriend – a beta or an alpha?”

Carlos feels his ears burn. “I don’t have a girlfriend.” That’s true, despite what Jasper and Horace still seem to believe after smelling Cruella’s perfume on him on the day of his first heat. They both like to harass him ‘getting his dick wet’, mocking Carlos for an act he has never done and never plans to do.

“Is it the beta next door?” Horace asks. “Or the purple alpha?”

“Neither!” Carlos squirms and ignores the heavy stare of his mother. Yes, Evie is beautiful and Mal is stunning and the omega in him is, ahem, interested in them both, as well as Jay, but they’re not dating or fucking. There hasn’t even been a proper discussion about whether the four of them are…a pack.

Jasper chuckles and it gives Carlos chills. “Bet they both force you to your knees and make you play like an omega. You ever get wet, boy?”

“N-no.” He’s hasn’t had a heat since taking the suppressants, but Carlos remembers when he first presented. He hadn’t produced slick or anything like the sort. Why does everyone on the Isle seem to feminize omegas? Carlos is still a dude!

Cruella sighs and shakes her head. “Shame. You’re not much to look at, but you did get half of my beauty. Your mouth alone would have brought in a pretty penny.” She takes a long drag of her cigarette and glances at Carlos. “Don’t think you’re off the hook. One toe out of line and I can make a profit out of beta too.”

It’s the first time in a while Cruella has used this threat. Jasper isn’t usually so nasty either. Carlos chalks up their aggressive behavior to Anastasia Tremaine. If she truly went into heat in public, that would have caused quite a stir on the Isle.

Carlos can’t imagine that happening though. Even on suppressants, he is sure to count down the days of when his heat should hit and plans carefully around them. Anastasia is older than him, she has been an omega for longer. She ought to know her heats.

“I’d pay for a mouth like that,” Jasper says after a moment. “How much you want for him Cruella?”

“I would too,” Horace looks thoughtfully at Carlos, “depending on the price.”

The knots in his stomach bring an entirely new wave of nausea and Carlos stumbles back against the wall. Cruella won’t sell him, he hasn’t done anything wrong (yet). A young beta wouldn’t normally bring in anything, but the lingering desires of an omega in heat have thrown everything off today.

Just as Cruella looks at him – maybe to tell him to stop quaking or maybe to agree to the wishes of her henchmen – there is a pounding at the front door.

“I’ll get it!” Carlos sprints out of the room and down the hall, skidding to a stop before crashing into the wood. He opens the door and debates how quickly he could get to his treehouse if he ran out the front and around the house.

His plan dies when brilliant eyes meet his. “Carlos!”

“Evie?”

“We gotta go!” She’s breathless and flushed, as if she ran over from her castle. “I just saw Jay and Mal!”

Even if Carlos wasn’t desperately trying to escape his mother and the other betas in the dining room, he would still run down the street with Evie. He’s been sick with worry for the two alphas.

“I was looking out my window and saw them enter the marketplace,” Evie pants as they move. “We gotta catch them before they leave again!”

That’s not a problem though because when the two of them enter the marketplace, breathless and sweating (but Evie somehow still looks radiant), Jay and Mal are in no hurry to leave.

Mal is snarling at everyone in sight and Jay is trying to guide her through the crowd. She yanks out of his grasp and shoves Jay back, but he doesn’t retaliate. Instead, Jay lowers his head and moves his lips slowly, carefully, as if he’s trying to keep his words low enough for only Mal.

Citizens in the market keep their distance, which isn’t unusual. Jay and Mal can take on almost any adult on an ordinary day, but the villains are staying further than normal, going out of their way to avoid the two.

This scene is off. There is something wrong.

When Carlos glances at Evie, she’s aware of it too, but they both keep moving.

“Mal! Jay!”

The alphas look up at Evie’s cry.

Jay curses, loud enough to be heard over the rushing blood in Carlos’ ears. “Shit.”

“Where the hell have you two been?!” Evie cries as she finally stops before them. “You disappear for days, we had no idea wha-. Jay…” She reaches slowly to touch his shoulder, “what happened?”

Carlos follows her gaze and winces at the state of Jay’s throat. It’s covered in bruises and bites, scabbed over punctures and aching hickies. He’s never seen an alpha look like that. It’s the state of a beta’s throat, it’s a sign of submission.

His first thought is that Jafar’s dominance has gone to a new level of horrifying.

“Ease, princess,” Jay grabs Evie’s hand and lowers it. “I’m fine.”

“You neck looks like raw meat,” Carlos gags. “That’s not fine.”

Jay shrugs, looking too nonchalant for an alpha who was bitten into submission. “It kept Mal from losing her mind, so whatever.”

“You?” Evie finally turns to Mal, who is eyeing Jay’s throat with a grin. “You did that?”

“I did,” she says smugly. “Bit him all up.” Mal grabs a fistful of Jay’s shirt and pulls his body flush against hers. “Everywhere.”

“Why?”

Mal looks at Evie and narrows her eyes, sizing her up. Then, she steps forward and cups Evie’s chin. “Because I wanted to.”

“M!” Evie balls her hands into fists, fully prepared to go into a lecture about how the four of them must have each other’s backs and not turn on one another. She’s grown protective over everyone in their group, Carlos knows, and she’s about to scold Mal whether she be an alpha or not.

“She’s in her rut,” Jay explains before the beta can begin her rant. He places a hand on Mal’s shoulder. “It’s like her main way to express dominance.”

Carlos feels his jaw drop and sees Evie do the same.

Mal is in her rut? Of course, on an Isle full of alphas, Carlos has seen men and women during their ruts, but most hide themselves away for it. Ruts are…well, Carlos supposes they are the alpha equivalent of a heat. It’s desire and need, but with a foggy head and over-stimulation. An alpha could definitely do damage in their rut, but an unclear mind meant they were unable to think clearly and that put them at risk.

Why the hell is Mal outside?

“Don’t looked so shocked, princess,” Mal purrs. “Alphas gotta have some outlet. Why not each other?”

“You…” Carlos looks between the three of them before settling on Jay, “did that? You…submitted to her?” He would never have thought Jay would willingly put himself in that position again.

Jay narrows his eyes. He knows exactly what Carlos is remembering, even though neither of them have ever spoken about what occurred in Jafar’s Junk Shop over a year ago. “Yeah. And she’s gonna help me with my rut,” Jay bares his teeth and Carlos resists the instinct to bare his throat and soothe, but the hot-headedness fades easily from Jay’s posture. “Plus, we got to have some freaky alpha sex. Win win.”

Freaky alpha sex. The words run through Carlos’ mind until his skin feels too hot and he can’t look Jay in the eyes anymore.

“Oh beta,” Mal coos at Evie, twisting a blue curl between her fingers. “You smell like you enjoy the idea of two alphas fucking.” She runs her nose along Evie’s jaw, down her throat. “Smells like you like the idea a lot.”

Carlos, still unwilling to look at Jay, turns to watch Evie. She’s pink, utterly still in Mal’s grasp. Her lips are squeezed tight and her chin is up, a small action to expose her neck more.

“Hey, relax, Mal,” Jay says as he steps closer. “Remember, your rut affects betas, you gotta give her some distance.”

“No.” It’s a growl, pure alpha when Mal responds. “She’s mine.” Mal looks at Evie’s face and smirks. “Besides, it smells as if she likes it just fine.”

Evie whimpers and tips her head back more, her shoulders dropping in a sign of submission.

With a devious smirk, Mal nips at the skin in front of her. She grabs a fistful of Evie’s hair and one hand lands on the beta’s hip, pulling them closer. “Pretty thing,” Mal murmurs, “submits just like an omega.”

Carlos holds his breath. Evil, he just turned 16 recently and he knows the basics of dynamics – mostly from Horace and Jasper’s mocking. His suppressants have kept his urges under control, but watching Mal grind against Evie has Carlos’ blood rushing. The sight of Jay holding Mal’s shoulders, watching the scene with his own intense gaze, makes Carlos light headed.

He hasn’t had a reaction like this in months. It could be because Carlos has missed Jay and Mal and fretted for days; the relief of having them back is a whiplash of emotions. Or perhaps it’s because Jay and Mal and Evie and him are all something, friends or allies or the closest thing to a pack the Isle has, and the sight of all three of them together is soothing on a new level.

Finally, Carlos allows himself to breathe again and picks up on a scent.

His olfaction had been dulled to that of a beta, but this close to Mal, anyone would be able to pick up on the smell of her rut.

And maybe that’s what’s causing Carlos to become flustered and quiet and watching the scene unfold from the outside like he’s some perverted creep.

The thought – outsider, stranger, unwanted – is enough for Carlos to tremble. A sickness settles in his stomach. It’s been a while since that has happened, but Carlos knows exactly what that sensation means and he is not about to purr in the middle of the marketplace and ruin all his hard work of hiding himself.

Carlos takes a single step back, still watching the only three people he gives a shit about huddled together. The movement gets Mal’s attention and her eyes flicker from Evie’s throat to Carlos’ face. She narrows her gaze and pulls away from the other girl.

“Beta.”

With a flash of shame, Carlos turns on his heel and runs. He takes the same path Evie and he used when first seeking out Mal and Jay, past the rotting vegetable stand, through a used clothing shop and around Frollo’s crumbling church. His feet hit the pavement and Carlos ducks in between people effortlessly, hopping over slumbering villains and dancing around angry store owners.

The exhilaration of the run replaces the ache in his chest, it kills the urge to purr.

Just as Carlos thinks he can slow down, the pitiful longing to soothe himself having been smothered out, he hears, “Mal!”

Carlos spins around to see purple running toward him at full speed.

Oh shit. Shit, shit, shit.

He ran. He ran from an alpha. He ran from an alpha in rut.

It’s biology, it’s taught in class, it’s common fucking sense to never run from an alpha in their rut. Alphas see it as a challenge, as a way to conquer and claim. They always give chase. It’s their instinct, to show they are fast and strong and used as a way of saying “I caught you, I am superior, you are mine.”

Just as his feet suddenly get the message to move, move, move, Carlos swears.

Did he run because he hated being an outside to the three of them? Did he run to suppress his want to purr?

Or did he run because he craved Mal chasing him and catching him and claiming him? Did he merely want Mal to pursue him?

Damnit. He is so weak.

Carlos moves faster than ever, running out of the marketplace as quick as he can because Mal has her eyes locked on him like she wants to devour him. Jay is behind her, but not close enough to catch her, and Evie is further behind.

He runs into people and trips over garbage, but Carlos sprints like his life depends on it actually might.

Mal’s rut is overriding his suppressants. Even though he couldn’t smell her, the pheromones she gives off must have perked up the oppressed omega in him. If she catches him and Carlos submits like he should – the way he’s been suppressing for months but long for since he presented – he will out himself in the middle of the Isle.

The sound of hard boots is closer than he remembers and Carlos pushes himself harder. His heart is prepared to beat right out of his chest and his clothing are clinging to the sweat on his skin.

He never thought he would be chased by an alpha (because Carlos never thought he would be dumb enough to run from one) and now that he is, Carlos has shivers. He can hear Mal panting, he can almost pick up on her scent no matter how dulled his senses are. On his neck, Carlos feels her breath ghost against his skin and he all but trips over his own feet.

They haven’t formally talked about it, but in their little not-pack, Mal is clearly the alpha leader. Jay is muscles and charm, but Mal is pure dominance and skill. Carlos envies her.

But if she is to be his alpha, mark Carlos and claim him and take him as her own, she’ll prove herself, it’s ingrained in all alphas that running away during their rut is a challenge and the alpha must reign supreme.

Carlos already knows Mal is in charge though, ever since their mission to retrieve Maleficent’s scepter. He has never questioned her authority, why is he doing so now? Why is he misbehaving for her? Especially during her rut of all times, when she is already going through so much, why is he doing this to her?

There’s a dumpster ahead of him and Carlos doesn’t even try to run past it. He barely slows before crashing into the side, slumping over immediately.

How could he be so awful to Mal, after all she’s done? She protects him and shares food and shelters him. What is so wrong with Carlos that he would run from her during her rut, make her chase him?

He doesn’t move from the side of the dumpster, awaiting Mal’s weight on his back and forcing him to the ground. Carlos won’t fight or run anymore from her, he’ll be good and maybe Mal will still accept him, still want him after the disobedient scene he just caused, still be his alpha.

“Dude, fucking go!”

Carlos lifts his head from the metal, glancing over his shoulder. In the process of crashing himself into the dumpster, he hadn’t heard the commotion behind him.

Jay is on top of Mal, who is kicking and clawing at him. He has pinned her to the ground and avoids her thrashing head as best he can. Mal gets one of his hands and clenches her teeth around it while Jay howls.

The omega falls back against the dumpster. His legs feel as if the bones have disappeared. Carlos blearily looks at Mal at the pavement, still fighting Jay, and gasps when her eyes meet his.

“Beta!”

“Carlos, go!”

That’s an order, a clear command. Carlos swallows and nods, stumbling away and trying to get his feet to move and ignore the sound of Mal trying to reach him.

When he looks back, almost a block away, Mal is still kicking in Jay’s hold, but they’re standing now. Evie is beside them, winded and flushed, as Jay speaks to her.

His chest tightens. Carlos just wants to return to them, duck his head and kneel before Mal and allow her to do as she pleases.

But his mind is clearer with the distance between he and Mal and Carlos knows he will be kicking himself later for his stupidity, for his ridiculous omega instinct to please and soothe.

The swirl of emotions in him is too much. The anger and confusion and panic and longing all bubbling up until the intensity is back in Carlos’ chest, threatening to spill out of his throat in a pitiful purr. Damn it.

He’s at the steps of Hell Hall. Going inside isn’t an option, not with his mother and Jasper and Horace still there and they’re all agitated with the idea of an omega in heat around, but Carlos can’t stay out in the open either.

Trekking around the house, Carlos heads for the backyard. The ladder to his treehouse appears too far and difficult to climb, but he hoists himself on the first rung anyway.

Before long, Carlos collapses inside, laying on the wood and heaving.

“Stupid Mal. Stupid rut. Stupid biology.” Carlos pushes himself up onto his hands and knees and pulls the ladder up. He’s never been bothered in his treehouse before, he’s pretty sure Cruella doesn’t even know it exists, but there’s never such a thing as being too safe.

With the rope ladder tucked inside, Carlos crawls over into the corner of his treehouse. With the weather becoming warmer, he has spent more time outside and moved most of his belongings into his hideaway and out of sight from his mother. There is a stash of stale crackers and a chipped cup with water along with the blanket and pillow Evie gave him. Jay’s old jacket is rolled up over there too because now that they hang out more often, Jay has been gifting Carlos with food and clothes and trinkets consistently.

(The alpha always stands taller and preens when Carlos accepts whatever Jay provides and it’s honestly adorable, but Carlos is too distracted to think about that.)

He drops onto the blanket and pulls the pillow closer and Jay’s jacket. All of the fabric has lost the smell of their original owners, but Carlos has the urge to rub his face against them anyway and he’s not strong enough to resist.

This isn’t a nest though! Carlos is not doing anything like that ever. He’s not piling up fabrics from the people closest to him and rolling in their scents, he’s not cuddling blankets and jackets and cooing for affection, he’s not doing that. This pile of stuff is just a…bed. It’s a bed in his treehouse. And it is composed of gifts and scents of the people Carlos enjoys. And no one else is allowed in it without his permission.

Besides, if this was a nest – which it is not! – it would be a pitiful nest. It’s hardly big enough for Carlos, let alone his whole pack. Not that he actually has a pack. But if he did, if there comes a day where Mal and Jay decide to claim him and Evie properly, this nest wouldn’t do at all.

Carlos only fits under the blanket if he pulls his legs up and huddles in on himself. That’s how he normally sleeps, so it’s not a big deal. But if his pack were to join him, there would be no space for the other three.

Jay is the tallest out of them and he would be so cramped in this little corner. He needs more room. Evie, a practical princess, is used to nice and gentle things, she could never go back to using the castoffs she gave Carlos. She deserves a nicer nest. Mal insists that everything be purple and all the nest has is a blue blanket and pillow and a leather jacket. She needs more color.

How could he ever think Mal would want him in her pack when Carlos can’t even make a proper nest?

He feels the vibrations in his chest before he hears the purr and Carlos melts into the floor. His face stays hidden in Jay’s jacket, Evie’s pillow is kept to his chest and he rolls on the blanket, as if his skin could pick up her lingering scent from months ago.

The purr fills the treehouse and the constant rumble eases Carlos into a still trance. He breathes heavily and if he tries hard enough, he can almost smell Jay’s hair and Evie’s perfume.

But there’s nothing from Mal in his nest. No clothing or pillow or blanket.

Carlos hides his face and tries to muffle the noise when his purr grows louder.

Three days later, Evie coaxes him out of his treehouse and back to school. She promises Mal’s rut is entirely done and Carlos can’t avoid her forever. He has taken double the amount of suppressants since hiding away. It shortened his stash, but Carlos has better control of himself now.

“What did you do after I got away that day?” He asks as they hop up the steps to Dragon Hall.

Evie’s face flushes and she clears her throat. “Well, ah, once I got away from the influence of Mal’s scent, I left too. It didn’t seem fair to…do anything with her when she’s so crazy in her rut.” Her voice lowers to a whisper. “I know how my mother gets. Is that why you ran?”

Carlos gulps, but holds the door open for her to their class. “No. I just, uh…” lost himself in a moment of self-pity and nearly ruined his whole life. “I panicked I guess.”

By the time lunch rolls around, Carlos has seen Jay multiple times. His neck is in a far worse state than it was before. Carlos assumes Mal’s aggression from an unsuccessful chase was taken out on Jay.

He hangs his head in shame.

Mal passes him a few times in the halls, but never says anything to him. She stares at him a lot though. It makes Carlos’ skin break out in goosebumps.

After school, Carlos waits patiently for her at the doors. A few students snarl at him, but very few have been willing to pick on him and incur the wrath of Jay and Mal. Carlos doesn’t push back though. He ducks his head in a sign of submission and they all walk pass him.

“Waiting for me?”

Mal’s voice startles him out of his thoughts. Carlos blinks up at her and studies her expression, but her face is perfectly blank. “Um, yeah. Hi.”

“Hi.”

“About the other day,” Carlos looks down at his feet, “when I…ran from you, uh…”

“It’s fine.” Mal says. There’s no heat or bitterness beneath her words, but an underlying…chill. When Carlos meets her gaze, she shrugs. “I kind of thought we were on the same page about everything, but it’s okay.” She bristles at herself. “I guess I should have asked you first.”

Carlos swallows. “Asked me…what?”

“You know,” Mal begins to walk down the steps and he follows, “the four of us being…a potential pack.” She quickly says the words and continues as if her admission is a normal topic to discuss on the Isle. “If you don’t want to be a part of it, I’m not going to push you.”

When she had shown up on his doorstop months ago, with Evie and Jay behind her and demanding Carlos come help them on a crazy mission, he had been terrified of her. Now, after spending so much time with her and seeing her artwork and try to braid Jay and Evie’s hair, Carlos knows better. Mal is terrifying, of course, but she’s not invincible.

His actions have hurt her.

Carlos rubs his wrist, drawing little circles with the pad of his thumb. “Your…pack?”

“Yeah.” She grins at him. “The four of us: Jay’s strength, Evie’s grace, your brain, could you imagine it? We would run the Isle.” Mal smirks off into the distance, fantasizing about the collateral destruction and hell they would cause, but her the corners of her lips turn down. “I should have made sure you knew what we were going for.”

Carlos babbles. “I want that! I do, I want that. I’d love to...to…” belong to you “be a part of your pack.”

The eye roll is so obvious, Carlos didn’t even need to see it. “Way to show that by running from me. You know that’s a challenge to-.”

“Yes, I know!” Carlos groans. He lowers his gaze when Mal shoots him a sharp look for interrupting her. “I know, I panicked. Everyone was acting wild since Anastasia’s heat started in public and you…” Carlos stops in his tracks. “You caused her heat by being out,” he says softly to himself. “She must have picked up your scent and that’s what started it.”

Shit. If Carlos weren’t on suppressants, that could have been a very different story for him. He’s not even on proper suppressants. All he takes are mild scent blockers and crushed drugs, dissolved into the chemicals he takes from Yen Sid’s lab.

(And the lab has been left unlocked more often, Carlos has noticed. Either Yen Sid has no idea that someone is stealing from or…

He does.)

Mal shrugs. “Whoops.” She turns and keeps walking and Carlos picks up the pace. “Whatever. The fact is, you ran from me. Evie didn’t do that, Jay didn’t do that, but you did.”

“Because I-!” Carlos purses his lips. “I…umm…”

“Dude, relax.” Still, there is no anger in Mal’s voice, which is odd for an alpha fresh out of a rut, but her words are distant. It feels as if they are miles apart instead of walking side by side “You don’t want to be a part of my pack. I won’t make you.”

“No!” Carlos grabs her hand and stops Mal. He’s never so forward, but he’s anxious now. “I do. I promise I do.”

Mal scoffs and pulls away. “If it’s just for protection, you can find it elsewhere. You didn’t want to submit to me, whatever.”

While her tone is light, this is clearly not a ‘whatever’ topic. Carlos reaches for her again. “Mal, I do. I want to be a part-!”

“No you don’t!” She seethes and bares her teeth. Carlos instinctively draws away from her. “You ran.”

“You guys were ignoring me,” he mumbles with his head lowered. They had looked so content without him too, perfectly happy with a couple of alphas and a beta. Carlos wasn’t needed.

According to Mal, he still isn’t.

“And the second I turned my attention to you,” she steps closer, invades his space and narrows her eyes, “you hightail it out of there. You bolted, you left. So don’t bitch about getting ignored because you ran as soon as I called for you.”

“I…” Carlos lowers his gaze to their feet. “I…I couldn’t stay.”

“You wouldn’t.” Mal takes a deep breath and puts distance between them. “Listen,” she says too softly, “you can still hang out with us and whatever, but I know where we stand now. Later, Carlos.”

His heart pangs at hearing his name. Mal called him Carlos. Not ‘C’ or ‘Los’ or ‘pup’, no affection or endearing term. Just Carlos.

If he hadn’t doubled his suppressant dosage lately, he’d be purring in the middle of the road.

Jay bumps into him later in the week. “Sup?”

Carlos smirks and nudges him back. “How’s your throat?”

“Nothing I can’t handle.” The alpha’s neck is still dark with bruises from Mal. “Are you talking to her yet?”

Mal had stayed clear of Carlos since their talk. She hasn’t avoided him, but she hasn’t sought him out either. The tension is clearly wearing down Evie though. After being around Mal in her rut and baring her throat, she’s become more attached to the alpha. Evie won’t just leave Carlos though and her subtle disobedience to Mal is making her anxious.

Jay, on the other hand, isn’t trying to please Mal and submit to her. He is his own alpha and has no issue with keeping close to Carlos.

“No,” he huffs and stops at his locker. “I…I don’t want to disappoint her. I don’t like…her being upset with me.”

“So then make it up to her,” Jay says as if it’s the easiest thing in the world. “Mal’s pissy because she thinks that you don’t want to be a part of her group. But if you do want that,” he stops and looks at Carlos, waits for the eager nod, “then you need to show her that. Change her mind about where your loyalties lie.”

Carlos bristles at loyalties. As if there is anyone else on this Isle who he would be loyal to. Hasn’t he been perfectly loyal to Mal?

He has tried to make it up to her too. Or, well, Carlos has thought about it. Nothing he comes up with seems grand enough for Mal. She’s done so much for him, for all of them. She’s provided more than just protection: she offers reassurance and consistency, she sacrifices herself in order to keep the three of them under her safety. What could Carlos do for her, how could he atone for the pain he caused her? Do her homework? Bring her art supplies?

Evil, he can’t even make a proper nest. There’s nothing Carlos can do to show his loyalty to Mal.

“Dude, Mal wants you in the pack. Her pack…our pack. Whatever.” Jay shrugs. It’s clear he isn’t quite sure where he stands with the rift between Mal and Carlos either. “You’re smart and you’ve done everything she wants you to. You just have to convince her that you want it too.”

“How?”

Jay grins, though it looks rather pained. He touches the sore skin of his throat and glances at Carlos. “Find her an omega. That would make her pretty damn happy.”

Anger never got him anywhere. Neither did self-pity.

But damn it, why can’t he ever catch a break?

Against his logical judgement, Carlos knocks loudly on the wood of his treehouse. He’s caught many breaks over the years: befriending Evie, connecting with Jay, being of use to Mal for a while. Even being an omega had come with a bit luck. No one was around for his first heats, Carlos found a formula for a supplement just in time, he had Evie to help him pick up materials and Jay who would go out and steal what else Carlos needed.

Even now…being an omega could work to his favor. Maybe.

Carlos squeezes his pencil tighter and rubs the back of his neck. The paper in front of him is folded down the center, the left column labeled pros and the right column reading cons because Carlos is making a list…

About whether or not to tell Mal he’s an omega.

The very idea gives him a stomachache and a headache and chills all at once. Carlos could fuck up his whole life with this idea.

Omegas who were claimed on the Isle are well off, though. Kind of. Gaston’s leash on LeFou is tight and unbreakable and Lady Tremaine’s possessiveness of her daughter prevented anyone from coming too near. They’re comfortable, Carlos thinks. He hopes.

But they’re also…just omegas to their alphas. LeFou is, well… Carlos has heard the rumors about what occurs at Gaston’s Tavern at night. Alphas who pay for more than just alcohol and Gaston who doesn’t mind sharing LeFou. It’s uncommon and LeFou is cared for – he has food and clothing and affection – but he’s a toy to his alpha, not a human.

Anastasia is better. Lady Tremaine is eerily similar to the Evil Queen and believes no one on the Isle is good enough for her daughter. Anastasia is kept tightly away, escorted by her mother or sister everywhere she goes. She isn’t hidden away, but she isn’t free. She’s not a human either.

Mal would be better though…right? Surely, Mal wouldn’t want to sell him off for money, she’s far too possessive. Granted, she’s never interacted with an omega before. Carlos has no idea how Mal would react, what her alpha instinct would have her do. At least Mal’s vicious reputation would scare away any other young alpha from trying to take an omega for their own.

Not full grown alphas though. Carlos shivers at the idea of Mal fighting Clayton or Jafar or…even Cruella.

He drops his pen to fist his hair. Shit.

If he tells Mal, he puts her at risk too.

Well, only if she agreed to take him back. If she looks at him with disdain, decides Carlos is too untrustworthy after having kept such a large secret for too long or thinks he’s a burden with high needs and little to offer, Mal could toss him aside and tell everyone his secret.

She wouldn’t do that. At least, Carlos doesn’t think she would. Mal is never intentionally mean to any of them, but if she’s already mad with him…

Carlos whines and soothes down his hair with repetitive strokes.

What if she’s disgusted by him? Mal could see a…a…a whore. She could see him as desperate and dirty and willing to sully himself with others. That’s all Cruella ever saw in omegas.

Not that Carlos would do any of that! But…if he weren’t on suppressants and his heat came around…

Shit. He’s purring again, the low rumble echoing around his treehouse. Carlos grits his teeth and holds his breath. Despite the double dosage he’s been taking the past week in order to counter all of the emotions from being rejected, it’s not quite enough to take away the abandonment. He’s lonely and after having friends, a potential pack, for so long, the pain is too much.

Carlos pulls Evie’s pillow tighter to his chest and rubs at his wrists.

Telling Mal could lead to her being overjoyed and claiming him (pushing Carlos to his knees, biting his throat, praising what a good omega he is) or she could sneer and walk away.

Even if she agreed to take him back and make him part of her pack, what if the word got out? How would Jay react? How would Evie? She’d realize that Carlos stole from her for his own suppressants and then couldn’t even trust her with his secret.

What if Mal and Jay made him go off of his suppressants? Carlos has been taking them for almost a year, if he goes off of them now, his heat and scent would be strong enough to inform the whole Isle.

If Cruella ever knew, she wouldn’t let any alpha keep him.

Dreamily, Carlos thinks about telling Mal his dirty secret and then Mal buying him from Cruella. It would make his mother happy, she would never bother him again and he could stay with Mal or Evie or Jay and Carlos would never endure her screaming again.

And he’d be an object to be sold and traded and bought. It’s exactly how any potential pack would see him.

Could that be worth it all though? A protected and claimed toy is a better life than an opened, hidden omega…right?

When Carlos opens his eyes – and when did he close them? – the list before him is easily unbalanced. The risks of telling Mal outweigh any possible benefit.

Carlos tosses the pillow away from him. This was a stupid idea. Of course he can’t tell Mal. He can’t tell anyone.

“Idiot.” He hits his palm to his forehead. Why did he even make a list? Oh evil, why would he ever put any of this in writing?

The purring has ceased completely – and, really, Carlos needs to get that under control. He needs to get used to being alone – so it’s safe to creep out of his treehouse with the paper clenched in his hands.

Destroying the evidence is easy: Carlos will burn it to ashes. Hades knows there’s always at least one lighter in Hell Hall at any given time, but if Cruella ever discovered Carlos took one, especially outside, he wouldn’t walk for days. Carlos could trip and break it on the cement or a speck of dirt could land on the lighter. He shakes his head.

No, he’ll burn the paper in their sink and place the lighter back where he found it. It’ll all take less than a minute. There are fewer risks in taking the list into the house rather than sneak a lighter outside.

Carlos looks at the paper crumbled in his fist and scowls. He knows all about taking risks.

Jasper and Horace are out on their own. Carlos hasn’t seen them since Cruella casually mentioned whoring him out to the men thankfully. Word has it, there is some kind of sale in the marketplace today. Cruella is there, shopping for clothes instead of food, no doubt.

But when Carlos holds the list over the sink in one hand and Cruella’s treasured red lighter in his other hand, he hears the front door slam open.

“Boy!”

He jumps so violently that the lighter drops into the sink. Carlos can’t risk lighting anything on fire in the house, not with his mother around, but he just can’t leave the list out in the open either.

Even though he had been careful to never write the word omega, Cruella cannot read this list.

A quick look around shows the drawer by the sink to be the best bet. Carlos opens, shoves the crinkled list inside and closes the wooden drawer as fast as he can.

There is hardly time to catch his breath before Cruella stomps into the kitchen, gritting her teeth.

“Hello mother.”

“What are you doing?”

“The dishes.” It’s an easy lie that Carlos doesn’t even need to think about. Any time he’s standing before the sink, he’s washing dishes.

Cruella sneers at him. “Really?”

Carlos recoils and looks back at the sink, where her lighter is still sitting but Cruella can’t see that from the doorway. There are no dirty dishes to be done and none drying as if he had just washed them.

Damn.

“Don’t lie to me? What were you really doing?”

He tries not to tremble. If his mother comes over and sees her lighter in the sink, Carlos won’t be able to pick himself up off the kitchen floor. There hasn’t been a full separation between he and Evie yet and that thrills Carlos to know Evie won’t choose Mal over him, but he also knows Evie won’t choose him over Mal. She’s been coming around less often, it could be days before Evie finds him on the floor.

“What are you waiting for? Let’s go!”

Carlos jumps again. “G-go?” Had Cruella said they were leaving when he hadn’t been paying attention? “Where?”

Cruella bares her teeth and hisses. “We’ve been summoned. We’re going to Maleficent’s.”

The words ring in his head and his feet feel as if they’re cemented to the floor. Which is ridiculous because the kitchen floor is linoleum and Cruella would end the crazy bastard who got cement on her precious floor. Probably with a knife, Carlos muses. Hades knows that she talked about skinning him often enough. Cruella would definitely skin a person if they would hold still long enough. She’d have to knock someone out though. Or, Carlos twists a finger in his hair, cement them to the floor just like he is and ensure they never escape.

It’s not until his scalp is aching and he is yelping that Carlos comes out of his daze.

“Open your damn ears!” Cruella barks and yanks harder on his hair, dragging Carlos out of the kitchen behind her.

“Mother!” He whines pitifully. Cruella usually likes it when he’s pitiful. It makes her…happy, almost. “Please.”

Cruella doesn’t listen to his fretful voice. Her grip in his hair stays constant as she pulls him behind her and out of Hell Hall.

“I know where Maleficent lives!” Carlos grunts. “I can get there on my own!”

“Shut it.”

“Moth-!”

“I said shut it.”

Beta or not, that is definitely a command. Carlos groans to himself and follows his mother. She keeps his head low, as if his hair is a leash, and forces him to walk awkwardly behind.

People in the streets whistle and stop and stare. A few even catcall and make lewd remarks. One man Carlos can’t see shouts “face down, ass up, just how he ought to be!”

Everyone laughs.

“Please,” he whispers. “Please let go of me. I’ll walk-.”

The hand gripping his hair tightens and yanks. Carlos loses his balance and falls to his knees.

“Just as pretty on his knees!” Someone hollers.

Cruella leans low and grinds her teeth. “Get up!” She demands. “And keep your mouth shut unless you want to spend the rest of the day with it open,” her fingers grip his chin and squeeze until Carlos’ jaw is forced to drop and the pressure of Cruella’s fingers in his cheeks keep his mouth open, “and on your knees like this.”

She releases his face, but not his hair, and Carlos pushes himself off the ground as quick as he can.

“Let’s go.”

For the rest of the walk to Bargain Castle, Carlos is dragged behind his mother. Walking is stressful and uncoordinated, multiple people stop to point and laugh and the entire trip takes far longer than if Carlos were allowed to just follow beside her rather than be led by his hair.

His mother isn’t usually so public with her humiliation of him. She’s never tried to hide it or tell Carlos to cover his bruises, but she also doesn’t go out of her way to embarrass him outside of the house like this.

Had she seen her lighter in the sink? Is she pissed that Carlos is no longer friends with Maleficent’s kid? Does this summoning to Bargain Castle inconvenience her?

Whatever the reason, when Cruella pounds on the heavy doors of Maleficent’s home, she still hasn’t let go of his hair.

Carlos bites his tongue to avoid pleading for his release. He’s never met Maleficent and he would not like her first impression of him to be some weak little boy who is pushed around by his mother.

…Even if that impression is true.

Whatever Maleficent thinks of him really shouldn’t matter now that Mal has cast him aside. It’s not like Carlos has to be on Maleficent’s good side or try to make himself seem worthy of being Mal’s companion.

The door opens and Carlos has to crane his neck to see because his head is still facing the ground and those are definitely not Maleficent’s trademarked black robes.

“Jafar.” His mother drawls and Carlos stills in her grasp.

“Cruella.” There’s a moment’s pause. “Offspring.”

Carlos is pulled inside by his mother, face burning in shame. His cheeks are no doubt as red as his jacket, but no one can see with his head forced down like it is.

As if Cruella could read his thoughts, she pulls his head up and ignores Carlos’ sharp yelp. She draws her hand away from his hair, scowling at disgust at the black and white strands that followed.

Slowly, Carlos rubs his aching scalp. Cruella pulled out quite a bit of his hair.

He takes a deep breath and finally looks up from the stained carpet to see Jafar and the Evil Queen standing beside their children.

Great.

Carlos doesn’t risk looking at Jay or Evie, even though he can feel the heavy weight of their stares on him. Instead, he studies the carpet again and looks at the walls and the windows and at Mal and the book-.

He turns back to Mal and takes in her gaze. She’s watching him intensely, brows furrowed together and lips pursed.

Evil, just his presence is enough to put her in a bad mood.

Maleficent’s grand voice sweeps over all of them. She’s standing on the staircase and looking fierce, but Carlos knows from Mal’s ranting that Maleficent always tries to make herself appear taller and suddenly she’s not as terrifying.

It’s Maleficent though, so she’s still pretty damn intimidating.

“Auradon is calling our children to them!” She stretches out her arm and points at each of the teenagers before her. “This proclamation calls our sons and daughters off the Isle and to attend Auradon Prep!” Maleficent spits the words out like venom.

For as intelligent as he is, it takes a long moment for Carlos to react. The outraged voices of villains and their children alike, Mal’s protesting and Jafar’s disdain clearer than anything else, bring understanding to the news Maleficent just announced.

“They want us to go to Auradon?” Carlos whispers.

“Don’t even think about it,” Cruella crinkles her nose. “You’re not going anywhere.”

“Silence!” Maleficent’s voice commands. “Villains, this is our chance to escape this prison! Our children, the spawn of the four most wicked and evil people to walk this earth, will go to this school and break the barrier from the outside!”

“And how will they do that?” Jafar looks at his son, then to Evie and Mal and Carlos, disapproval and disinterest written on his face.

Maleficent waves her hand from her step, as if the details to her crazy plan are trivial. “Mal’s little runt has already broken through the barrier from here already, haven’t you, De Vil?”

Carlos blinks. The Mistress of Evil, ruler of the Isle, the most wicked woman to live has just addressed and he couldn’t care less.

She called him Mal’s little runt, as if Mal has ownership over him. Carlos belongs to her. At least in Maleficent’s eyes.

He risks a glance at Mal, who has her arms folded and glares at her mother.

She just never told her mother about disowning him, Carlos figures. His heart sinks and his eyes burn. He knows better than to hope, damn it. He knows how Mal feels and he shouldn’t be so pitiful about this.

“He did what?”

Oh. Cruella must have never discovered what his generator did last year. Shit.

Maleficent flicks her wrist, dismissing Cruella’s question effortlessly. “This will be easier. Go to Auradon, find the fairy godmother and her magic wand.”

“Nonsense,” the Evil Queen rolls her eyes. “A mission like that is too strenuous. Evie could break hair nails or rip her dress.”

“There are more princes in Auradon.” Maleficent doesn’t even turn to her.

The Evil Queen’s eyes light up and she gasps. “How soon can they leave?”

“Hold up!” Mal snaps and steps forward. “What’s in it for us?” She points to herself and then stretches out her arm to include Jay and Evie.

But not Carlos.

Of course not, he knew that. He didn’t expect to be included in ‘us’. Why does his chest feel so tight?

Maleficent eyes him wearily. She has realized something is wrong, but not exactly what. “Despite how much I disapprove of your attachments,” Maleficent narrows her eyes at Jay specifically, “I will allow you to keep your…pack.”

Mal opens her mouth, possibly to argue, but she is cut off.

“Jay’s not going.” He clamps a hand on the back of his son’s neck. “He stays here.”

A bitter look settles on Jay’s face: irritation and frustration and suppressed rage. “I have to. More people, the better of a chance we have to make this work.”

Jafar growls and Jay growls back, teeth bared by both of them.

“You will stay.”

“I will not.”

“Don’t you dare challenge me.”

“Or what, old man?”

A ringing crack silences everyone, but it’s not Jafar’s hand on his son’s face. Maleficent has slammed her scepter down on the ground, calling all attention back to herself. “What’s better,” she sneers at Jafar, “forcing submission from an alpha or finding Jasmine and taking back what’s rightfully yours, hmm?”

Jafar sighs, but doesn’t lunge for Jay again.

“All four of them leave. Today. The sooner we get you all there, the less time Auradon has to prepare.” Maleficent smirks and the sight gives Carlos chills.

“He’s not going.” Cruella doesn’t bother looking at her son. “Carlos stays here. With me.”

A pause settles throughout the room before Maleficent cackles. “Of course, beta,” she mocks. “How silly of me to not ask for your input.” She rolls her eyes and snaps her fingers at Carlos. “Runt, go pack what you need. Be quick.”

“I said he’s not going.” Cruella hisses. “You can take your high and mighty alpha-ness and shove it up your ass. Carlos stays with me.”

“He already broke the barrier, he’s going.”

Cruella places a hand on his neck and squeezes. “He’s my child, he stays.”

“Listen, beta, you will have no say in this.”

“You’re hardly an alpha,” Cruella muses as she looks pointedly at the step Maleficent stands on. “I don’t cater to you.”

“Why you insolent-!”

Carlos breaks his mother’s grip and steps forward. “Mal,” he calls because she’s huddled with Evie and Jay in the corner. “Mal…what…what do you want?”

She looks at him with raised brows and Carlos realizes that everyone else is watching him too.

“What…do you want me to do?” He asks and takes another step toward her. “Do I stay or do I follow you?”

Mal’s eyes narrow and she blinks at him. “What?”

Carlos gulps. “What do you want me to do?”

“I…” Her eyes flicker as if she wants to look around the room and decide based off everyone’s reactions, but Mal’s eyes come right back to his face. “You…” She steps closer, looks Carlos up and down.

“Whatever you want me to do, I’ll do it.”

Mal studies him for the briefest of seconds before nodding. “You come with us.”

His shoulders immediately drop and Carlos can finally breathe. The finality in the alpha’s decision has lifted the weight of this burden from him and eased his racing mind.

Carlos, true to his word, will obey whatever Mal asks. Mal is in charge, Mal is making decisions, Mal will make everything okay.

“Well, well, well,” Maleficent sings. Carlos jumps. He had…forgotten other people were in the room besides he and Mal. The tranquility of surrendering to Mal is broken and Carlos is standing straight at Maleficent’s tone. “I suppose that settles it. The four of you will go. Find Fairy Godmother and her wand. Use it to bring down the barrier once and for all. Then all of your offspring will be returned to you for you to do as you please.” Oh shit, Carlos just knows she’s looking at Cruella. “But ensure that they all are fit for their mission. It wouldn’t do to have them all fail.”

There are sharp footsteps behind him and Carlos tries not to flinch when he feels jagged nails against his scalp and a fist in his hair again. He can barely catch the wide eyes of Mal and Jay and Evie before he is pulled away.

Cruella drags him back to Hell Hall, snarling at the people who taunt and cat call. She moves faster now, Carlos tripping to keep up with the hold she has on him, and doesn’t loosen her grip when Carlos begins to whimper in pain and his tears streak his cheeks.

“You fucking brat!” She seethes up the steps. “I can’t believe you would disrespect me like that in front of all those people!” Cruella shoves him inside and Carlos lands on his hands and knees. “You have no idea how difficult it was to be respected as a beta running my own company and how hard I had to work to be taken seriously as a villain!”

“Mother, I-.”

Her foot flies into his face and catches Carlos in his chin. He yelps and covers mouth, where blood is spilling over from his bitten tongue.

“The image I’ve worked for, the effort I put in to be feared, all ruined because my bitch of a son wants some alpha’s cunt. How am I to be respected if my own son doesn’t fear me?” Cruella stomps on his shoulders and sends Carlos to the ground, lying flat on his stomach. “Thank evil I wasn’t an omega. I wouldn’t have been able to do a damn thing but spread my legs like a bitch in constant heat.

Carlos can feel the tremors of her shiver through the foot on his spine.

Cruella hauls him to his feet by the back of his shirt.

“Those fools in Auradon don’t care for betas either, so watch out for the alphas there. They won’t take you seriously, boy. Then again, they probably shouldn’t.” In a rare moment of affection, her expression softens and she soothes down his hair and holds his cheek.

Oh no. No no no no no no. These are always the worst.

“Listen to me, Carlos Oscar.” Shit, shit, why is she using his name? “I may not be able to hurt you before you leave and risk you succeeding in bringing down the barrier and freeing us all,” Cruella plays with a ringlet of curls by his ear, “but the moment I have you back, you will regret embarrassing me like that, do you understand?”

Carlos nods.

“I don’t think you do.” Cruella coos at him and squeezing his cheek with her nails. “But you will. I have a farewell present for you.”

Half an hour later, Carlos is trembling outside of Castle Across the Way. When Evie spots him, she pales and grabs his wrist.

Hydrogen. Helium. Lithium.

“Carlos, what…” She leans closer to his chest and whimpers. “Cruella.”

He doesn’t respond. He doesn’t need to.

Evie gives his hand a gentle squeeze and pulls him along. She doesn’t say anything about his little trash bag of clothes, even if the people on the street snicker.

Beryllium. Boron. Carbon.

“Holy shit, man,” Jay flinches when they approach him outside of Bargain Castle. “That looks like it hurts.” Which is saying a lot when Carlos looks at Jay’s bruised face. He has a black eye and dried blood under his nose, but there’s no bite of submission on his throat.

Jay reaches out to touch him, but Carlos recoils back. “That bad, huh?”

No. Maybe. Carlos hasn’t looked at it yet. The touch of an alpha would break the very fragile control he has right now. Carlos can’t risk that.

Nitrogen. Oxygen. Fluorine.

“We’ll get ice on it when we get to Auradon,” Evie promises. She assesses Jay with narrow eyes. “Please tell me your father looks worse.”

“Oh yeah,” Jay stretches his arms lazily above his head. “He won’t be walking right for at least a day. Don’t you worry about me, princess.”

Neon. Sodium. Magnesium.

There’s a limousine further up the path. Villains and their kids crowd around it in curiosity.

Carlos is the only one of his friends to have any familiarity with a car because his mother is one of the few villains to own one. He gestures to the trunk and Jay and Evie follow him, tossing their suitcases inside with Carlos’ plastic bag.

“Go sit inside,” Evie tells them in a whisper. “I’ll stay here and wait for Mal. I’ll make sure nobody takes our stuff.”

Aluminum. Silicon. Phosphorus.

There’s not an ounce in him that is willing to argue with her right now, so Carlos allows himself to be herded into the backseat of the limo, crashing into the velvet seat and drawing his knees up to his chest, careful not to touch his freshly scarred skin.

Sulfur. Chlorine. Argon.

“Pup?” Jay calls softly. “What did she…how did she…?”

Carlos swallows and shakes his head.

“Okay, man. You don’t have to tell me.”

His eyes slip shut and Carlos leans his head against the window. The cold glass against his face is so refreshing and the sweet smell of the limo is almost enough to drown out the burning scent on him.

Potassium. Scandium. Titanium.

The calm of the limo must have lulled him into a peaceful state because Carlos jolts alert when the door finally closes.

Mal stares at him with an intense scowl. “Let me see.”

Vanadium. Chromium. Manganese.

Carlos tips his head back, winces at the stretch of his skin. Mal’s fingers don’t dare to touch it, but she brushes underneath.

On his skin, just under his collar bone, is Cruella De Vil is messy cursive. It had been a metal stamper, one Carlos has polished many times, from her fashion days. By dipping it in ink, she approved designs and model shows, she hired and fired employees, she agreed to business proposals and company expansions.

By holding it above her lighter – the one she screeched at finding in the sink – she seared her signature into Carlos skin permanently.

A place he would constantly see it, but easily hidden as to not draw attention to himself in Auradon.

Iron. Cobalt. Nickel.

“Why the fuck would you do that?” Mal seethes.

“It wasn’t his fault!” Jay snaps from his seat. “Cruella is the one who-.”

“I know.” Mal raises her hand to silence the other alpha. “But why would you,” she grips Carlos’ chin, “do that? Why piss her off?”

Zinc. Gallium. Germanium.

“I…didn’t…mean to,” Carlos exhales. He closes his eyes again. “I didn’t think.”

“Clearly.”

“Mal!” Evie’s disapproving tone is clear. “Stop. That’s not Carlos’ fault. Cruella is mental, anything could have pushed her over the edge.”

Arsenic. Selenium. Bromine.

Carlos is so weary, he can’t resist the urge to nuzzle Mal’s palm. “I’m used to…looking to you for orders. You’re my…”

She cups his face delicately. Mal cradles his cheek like Carlos is something precious to her. Evil, that’s what he’s wanted for so damn long. “Don’t ever do anything to put yourself in danger like that again,” she says. Carlos can see the scowl through his closed eyelids. “Not even to prove yourself to me.”

Krypton. Rubidium. Strontium.

A feeble noise, almost like a laugh, escapes his mouth. “It wasn’t to prove myself. I just…I look to you for orders.” Carlos wearily opens his eyes.

“I know that now,” Mal sighs.

“Good. That’s all I wanted.”

Mal studies him for a long while, then takes her hand from his cheek. “Alright. Everyone eat,” she nods to the food on the shelves, “or sleep. We’ll be in Auradon soon. And they have hell to pay.”

#marlos #carlos de vil #mal descendants #jay descendants #evie descendants #omega!carlos de vil #alpha!mal #mal/evie/jay/carlos #jalosie #jealousy #autophobia #alpha/beta/omega #alpha/beta/omega verse #omegaverse #my writing

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