A/N: This isn't a fully developed AU (at the moment), so mostly, the backstory here is left to your imagination. Also, shout out to my dear Spidey (@fuck-you-i-am-spiderman) for making this moodboard! 🥰
CW: Non-graphic references to blood throughout and mild swearing.
The light had faded hours ago behind the clouds, dark and swollen with snow. There were cracks sometimes, through which the hands of Midas seemed to reach out, desperate, straining to touch—
Jay watched the pages of his book turn briefly gold, then fade to grey. He saw this happening more clearly than he saw the words.
He hadn’t really been reading, even as long as he’d sat there in a bay window of the castle with a book in his lap. He was lost in the quiet, just existing as it were. He raised his head slowly, eyes drifting to the sky. It had started to snow—fat white puffs, swirling daintily down.
“Hey…” he murmured, slipping a hand up behind his neck, as if to itch. He did itch something, which made a small noise of discontent; then, a thin, pink-veined wing stretched out from beneath the dark fall of Jay’s hair and swatted lazily at his hand before retreating.
Jay rolled his eyes affectionately, not withdrawing his hand. Instead, he angled to cup his palm around the body of the creature nestled at the nape of his neck. He raised his other hand to feel for the clawed feet hooked into his hair, tickling one finger against the toes until he felt first one foot, then the other, latching on to the new perch—
When he was sure of the creature’s grip, he moved one hand to lift his hair away before bringing it out in front of him. The little white-furred bat swayed but didn’t stir, looking for all the world asleep.
“I know you’re awake,” said Jay, curling a finger to scratch between the bat’s ears, smiling to himself when the bat’s eyes fluttered and its wings loosened up, sagging at the shoulders. “Come on, ‘Los…” He moved his finger up behind the bat’s neck, tracing along its spine as he went on, “It’s gonna be cold tonight. It’s already snowing, look.”
Jay angled his hand for the bat to see out the window, where the dim light showed patches of white already forming in the castle gardens.
He brought the bat back to dangle in front of his face, watching as it yawned and stretched its wings out, one by one, movements languid and careless—a jarring contrast to the way it suddenly swung off its perch and went airborne, hovering above Jay with a look of intent.
Jay raised both eyebrows, already moving one folded leg off the window seat as he said in warning, “Carlos, don’t—”
The bat chirped and began to shift, body forming anew with such a suddenness that it appeared almost as though it never transitioned. It simply was—a bat one second, a boy the next; and that boy was not so light a thing as he had been, nor did he have means to fly.
Jay’s eyes widened as Carlos yelped and dropped right down on him, limbs flailing. “Oomph,” Jay grunted as their bodies collided; instinctively, his arms wrapped tight around Carlos—
“S-sorry,” Carlos choked out, a little breathlessly, and it took Jay a moment to realize he was laughing between his gasps for breath.
“Very funny,” Jay said drily, once he had caught his own breath. He loosened his grip, but didn’t let go of Carlos, who had shifted on his lap to press his cheek against him, head tucked under his chin. “You need to feed,” Jay reminded him, “so don’t get too comfortable.” He said this even as one hand trailed up Carlos’ spine, gently rubbing.
“Mm’hmm,” Carlos replied through a yawn, only snuggling closer.
“I’m serious, the weather’s turning to shit. If you don’t go soon—”
“Jayyy…” Carlos groaned and pushed away from him, expression sullen. “Stop worrying, okay? It’s just a little snow. I’ll go soon,” he added with a sigh at the look Jay gave him. “Five more minutes…”
“Turns into five more hours,” Jay huffed as Carlos melted into him again. “Next thing you know… you’re eating moths not to starve.”
“Moths don’t have blood,” Carlos mumbled into his sweater.
Jay considered this with a frown. “Well, they have… something.”
“Mm,” Carlos agreed. “Hemolymph. It’s like blood, but not.”
“Doesn’t sound as good.”
“Probably isn’t…”
Humming, Jay returned to rubbing idly over Carlos’ back, feeling the bumps of his spine through his thin white blouse. They lapsed into silence as evening crept in from outside, darkening the room.
Carlos shifted in Jay’s lap, turning his head to look out the window, as well. He said nothing, simply gazing out across the castle grounds to where the woods began, thick with bald oak and evergreens alike.
Eventually, he sat up, sighing, adjusted his weight, and looped his arms around Jay’s neck, fingers threading through his hair. He still said nothing and neither did Jay, whose hands came to settle on the small of Carlos’ back. They gazed at each other as Carlos combed out the nest he’d made of Jay’s hair earlier, careful not to pull—
“Maybe…” Jay started to say, but trailed off, looking uncertain.
Carlos tilted his head, bringing a hand around to cup Jay’s cheek, thumb stroking over stubble. “Maybe what?” he prompted softly.
“Maybe… you shouldn’t go,” Jay whispered.
Smiling, Carlos tipped his head forward, bumping noses with Jay, who looked up at him through dark lashes. “Missing me already?” Carlos murmured, a little teasing, as he leaned in more to kiss him.
Jay made a half-hearted sound like a scoff, muffled by the kiss. He tried to speak, but Carlos only kissed him harder—hard enough to feel the press of fangs against his lips, hard enough that Jay broke from it, breathless. He still tried to speak in panting gasps, “You—you know… if yo—” He turned his cheek to meet with another kiss. “Carlos,” he huffed, letting him know he was serious, “just let me—”
Carlos silenced him again—with a finger to his lips.
He drew back, frowning a little, one hand on Jay’s shoulder to brace himself. “Don’t,” was all he said, but Jay knew what it meant. Don’t ask. Don’t. You already know the answer. Not you. I can’t. I never will.
Jay slouched down against the pillows supporting his back, turning his head away at the same time to dislodge Carlos’ finger. “Sorry…”
He heard Carlos exhale, almost a sigh, then felt him shifting to lay down in the space between Jay’s body and the window, trapping one of his arms underneath him, tangling their legs together—
“Are you okay?” Carlos murmured, settling against Jay’s shoulder.
Jay hadn’t expected that question, but wasn’t long in replying, “Why wouldn’t I be?” He let Carlos’ hand find his, fingers intertwining—
“I don’t know,” said Carlos, barely audible, “just a feeling…”
Jay squeezed his hand gently, assuring, hoping that said enough.
They lapsed into silence, darkness deepening around them. Faintly, there was a sound of snowfall being driven against the glass, and to Carlos’ ears alone, the sound of Jay’s heart, beating soft and steady.
“Do you…” Carlos hesitated, having never asked this before, as long as he’d meant to. He took a breath. “Do you want to come with me?”
When Jay didn’t answer immediately, Carlos started to sit up. He disentangled their legs and twisted around on his knees to look at Jay, who he saw clearly in the dark, lips parted but nothing said—
Carlos waited until, finally, Jay replied, “Is that… what you want?”
“If you do,” Carlos murmured, taking one of Jay’s hands up in both of his and bringing it to his lips, kissing his knuckles and mumbling against them, “You know what I am, so you know what I’m asking.”
“You’re… my boyfriend,” Jay said slowly, straightening up, “and I could be wrong here, but I think… you’re asking me on a date.” He had a hint of a smile now, though a question was in it. Are you sure?
Carlos hummed into a last kiss, letting it linger. “Technically…” he began, his own smile creeping in, “I’m asking you to a cow field.”
Jay laughed, full and bright, shattering the quiet—
This was the closest thing to sunshine Carlos got to experience.
An hour or so later, Jay was parked on the edge of the highway a few miles up from the castle grounds. He had turned the car off to avoid attention and come outside to lean against it on the passenger side, overlooking the field where a herd of cows grazed unattended.
He’d been standing there a while, mittened hands stuffed into his pockets, face half-buried in his scarf. He couldn’t tell much but the contrast of the snow and hulking shadows. Somewhere, there was Carlos at the neck of a cow, clinging on like a tick, if only Jay could see him. This was the closest he could be, though. And all he could do. Just wait. Wait. Wait.
He closed his eyes and listened beyond the herd’s soft shuffling and vocalizations, hearing an owl cry from the tree line and a car passing quickly through some distant crossroads. He listened and waited…
There, at last, the almost imperceptible cut of wings through the air grabbed his attention. He opened his eyes just as Carlos alighted on his shoulder, quickly climbing up under the folds of his scarf with a chirrup of greeting. His fur had a frosted coating that melted against Jay’s skin, dribbling down in ice-cold streaks that made him shiver.
“Hello to you, too,” Jay murmured, fishing for the car keys.
He walked around to the driver’s side, checked the road for any sign of traffic, then opened the door. It was barely warm inside from the drive to the field, so he stuck the key in and cranked the heat up.
A few minutes later, Carlos emerged from underneath his scarf, no longer quivering as he had been. He leapt into the passenger’s seat and, within a blink, he was a boy reclining there, one hand on his belly in a show of satisfaction. “Thanks for coming,” he mumbled, licking a spot of blood off his lip as he offered Jay a small smile—
Jay returned the smile, both their faces aglow from the blue-green lights of the dashboard. “I would have come before,” he admitted, reaching across the centre console for Carlos’ hand, “I just…”
“Didn’t know how to ask?” said Carlos, leaning in. “Me neither.”
Jay twisted his body to meet Carlos’ lips, not caring that the wheel was digging into his hipbone. He tasted copper in the kiss. Not so foreign a flavour. He’d tasted it from the punches he’d taken to the face, growing up with his father and the mouth he had on him—
He hadn’t thought a taste like that could come to be like honey.
Something sweet on his tongue. Something he craved for.
His stomach growled as he was deepening the kiss, causing Carlos to laugh and break away with a grin, flashing two sharp fangs—
“Hey Siri, where’s the nearest drive-through?”
Thank you for reading! Reblogs are always appreciated. If you’d like to leave kudos or a comment on AO3, I’d really love that, as well! <3
just a fluff piece because i’m so ready for it to be autumn
—-
Carlos had a habit of forgetting his sweatshirt. He had plenty, in all combinations of black and white and red, but he never seemed to remember them. They’d be out, doing whatever outdoor or air conditioned activity had caught their fancy, when Jay would feel a light tapping on his arm and look over to meet Carlos’ puppy eyes.
“Jay,” Carlos would smile, blinking steadily. He wouldn’t even have to say another word; Jay already knew what he wanted.
“I told you to bring a sweatshirt, de Vil,” he’d groan, already sliding off his own hoodie and passing it over. “I reminded you like seven times before we left. When did I become the responsible one, huh?”
“Dunno.” Carlos would always smile brightly and wriggle into the oversized sweatshirt, the sleeves covering his hands. “I’ll remember next time, I promise.”
He never did.
That day, they’d agreed to help Ben with some special apple-picking event, but none of the villain kids were really being that helpful at all. They were supposed to be assisting with handing out caramel apples or helping weigh the apples picked by Auradon citizens coming from far and wide, but the four of them had taken to chasing each other through the orchards and drinking way too many cups of hot apple cider for their own good. Ben didn’t really seem to mind; maybe he thought it was rather nice to watch the four of them drop their newly acquired manners for once.
The air was crisp, almost cold, with a bold blue sky above the bright and perfumed apple trees. The picturesque location combined with the steaming paper cups of cider should’ve been enough to draw out the chill, but Jay noticed Carlos hugging his bare arms to himself several times.
“Jay…” came the familiar half-whine.
“Dude!” Jay folded his arms. “Come on, I’ve told you like a hundred fucking times to bring your own jacket!”
“Jay!” Carlos blinked up at him, just like he always did. “I’d share mine with you…”
Huffing, Jay pulled his (favorite) yellow and rust hoodie - the one with the snake on the back - over his head and handed it over. A chill washed over him almost immediately as Carlos gratefully tugged the jacket over his curls. He looked so cute wearing it that Jay almost forgave him.
“‘Los!” Evie was running towards them, motioning with her hands excitedly. “They have hot chocolate over here, too!” She raced away, and the freckled boy took off after her, leaving Jay and Mal standing alone among the apple-laden trees.
“He does it on purpose, you know,” Mal remarked as half of their squad sprinting off in search of the hot chocolate.
“What?” Jay had been watching Carlos run, feeling a little spark of something as he stared at the snake on his back. It was almost like Carlos was wearing Jay’s crest, like he was his.
“You’re an idiot.” Mal just shook her head.
“He’s like, the most organized person I know.” Sometimes, Jay would hear Carlos up for hours past midnight, organizing his books and binders and papers until he had to practically force the freckled boy to lie down and close his eyes. “Never forgets his homework, never forgets anything!”
“And he’s clever as shit,” Mal grinned, and Jay suddenly got the feeling he’d missed something.
He played back her earlier words and raised an eyebrow. “Wait, you said he’s doing it on purpose?”
But Mal just smiled, arching her eyebrow until Jay tickled her. She fought him some, growling playfully, but there was no heat to their sparring - not like the days when they had to fight something, hit something, just to see straight here in this too-bright place. For now, they were comfortable, standing there just the two of them. In fact, Mal even laughed, snorting a little, and it made Jay’s heart swell. She only showed this side of herself to him on rare occasions.
“Fine, fine, asshole.” She pushed away, dusting herself off. “Your boyfriend likes the way your jackets smell. He likes wearing your crest. He likes how warm they are when you give them to him.”
“He’s not my boyfriend.” Jay studied her intently, trying to figure out what she was trying to tell him.
“He wants to be.”
“Did he tell you that?” Jay gaped in the direction where Carlos and Evie had disappeared.
“He didn’t have to,” Mal shrugged. Sometimes, her observation skills weren’t only skin deep.
Jay didn’t quite know what to do with the information she’d given him, so he just tucked it safely away to deal with later. Over the next few weeks, he began to notice things, like Carlos’ sweatshirts folded neatly in their drawers - untouched. He noticed how the boy’s cheeks sometimes flushed when he stared too a little too obviously, and the way he would tuck his head in and inhale deeply when they embraced. So the next time the four of them went out for the day (this time to help Doug with his Christmas Tree delivering fundraiser for the band), Jay did a little experiment.
He waited for Carlos to tap him on the shoulder, waited for the familiar pleading stare before producing one of Carlos’ own sweatshirts from inside his backpack.
“I knew you’d be cold,” Jay said lightly, offering the other boy the black and white hoodie. “And I knew you’d forget. So this time, I packed one for you.”
Just like Jay predicted, Carlos’ face fell just a little bit, and his shoulders slumped a fraction of an inch. “Oh. Thanks.” He reached out slowly to take the jacket, but Jay pulled it back, a small grin tugging at the corner of his mouth.
“‘Los, why do you like wearing my sweatshirts?”
Carlos blushed, his cheeks growing even redder in the cold. “I - uh - I guess - I didn’t - shit.”
But Jay just smiled, slipping off his own hoodie and handing it to Carlos. “Take it.”
Carlos stared at him. “But - you brought mine.”
“I’ll wear yours.” Jay tugged on the black and white hoodie and realized that, yes, it did smell like Carlos. It was comforting, almost overwhelming - like getting a hug from his favorite person in the world. It was a little snug, but Carlos tended to wear oversized sweatshirts anyway, so it fit alright.
Carlos bit his lip, like he was trying to keep from laughing. His eyes were bright now and his nose red. “You look good.”
Jay laughed, ruffling the freckled boy’s curls. “I always look good. Or hadn’t you noticed?”
And if Mal turned back and spotted the Jay and Carlos walking hand in hand and lagging street behind everyone else, wearing different sweatshirts and bright smiles, she didn’t tease them about it until they got home.
Cameron’s Legacy - Let’s End the Water Crisis for Him
Hi friends, Louise here.
Back in April, Cameron Boyce was honored with the Spirit Award from the Thirst Project. Cameron raised $30000 toward building wells in Swaziland. He was dedicated to using his influence to bring light to social issues like the water crisis and help those in need.
In his memory, @disney-princess-sized has started a fund-raising campaign called Cameron’s Legacy through the Thirst Project. Our goal is $12000 to build one fresh-water well in Cameron’s name.
https://my.thirstproject.org/team/239543
There are thousands of posts on Tumblr alone expressing our grief over such a tragic ending to a beautiful person. Cameron inspired so many of us to help others and make the world a better place.
So please help us, not just in remember Cameron or helping those who desperately need water, but in keeping his positivity and kind spirit alive.
In his last interview, Cameron said “I’m following in the footsteps of some really strong men and women who have showed me what it means to give back; it’s the greatest way to fulfill yourself.”
It’s now us following in his footsteps, he is the strong man who have showed us what it means to give back.
Please consider making a donation in his name to the Thirst Project, with the team Cameron’s Legacy.
