#douglos

Roger: “Okay kiddo, we’re here.”

Anita: “Sure, honey, is something wrong?”

Carlos: “Roger, Anita...I’m adopting you as my Not Shitty Parents.”

Carlos: "Pros: you will be the cute one."

Gil and Jay is a ship that’s cute, but not something I’m crazy over. I think Gil is too in love with Uma and Harry and Jay only has eyes for Evie, Mal and Carlos (I’ve gotten super into poly ships the last few months, like more than my typical Jaylos), but I’m glad at the joy it brings people!

(What’s their ship name?? If they don’t have one, I petition for Muscle Men.)

Enjoy :)

---

“Mmmm.” Gil chews thoughtfully and squints in concentration. “This one is really good. Kind of sour. But, like, I like it. What is it called again?”

“Pineapple.” Jay tells him. “The really yellow is pineapple. The paler yellow is banana.” He drops his fork and picks up the next fruit with his fingers. His eyes light up with mischief as he pinches the blueberry. “Open wide.”

Gil obeys and opens his mouth, pitching forward to catch the berry. “Yes!” He cheers before he chews, again slowly and intently. "Oooh, very juicy.”

Jay leans back on his elbows and looks around the courtyard. The weather is nice, though turning chilly. Students are laying about the grass with sweaters and blankets, books and calculators. It’s a popular spot for dates. He’s seen Mal and Evie here together many times and Harry and Uma have their initials carved into a tree.

In fact, not too far away, Jay sees Carlos and Doug, a dozen textbooks spread out between them. Dude lays next to them. Carlos rubs the back of his neck and laughs loudly - way too loudly - before pushing Doug’s shoulder, who laughs back just as loudly.

He makes a note to tease Carlos about his little crush later.

“What’s your favorite so far?” Jay asks.

“All of them.”

Jay snickers and falls onto his back. The sky above him is bright and blue and the noise of birds and crickets and people talking is all around him.

He sense Gil lay down next to him quietly. He makes so little movement and no noise that Jay wouldn’t have even known Gil was laying next to him without hid body heat reach out to Jay like curling vines.

He likes that, the bits of Isle he finds in Gil. It’s familiar. It’s comforting.

“Auradon really is nice.” Gils mumbles. “I like it.”

“It has its perks.” Jay smiles and inches his hand closer to Gil’s. “The food. The beds. The sky.”

“The people.”

Jay looks over and raises an eyebrow. “You think so?”

“Definitely. Everyone here is so much nicer than on the Isle.” Gil nods to himself. “People don’t steal from me or call me names or try to fight me.”

“You’re too sweet for anyone to be mean.”

“That’s what Harry and Uma say.”

Jay stretches out his pinky to wrap around Gil’s. If they were still on the Isle, it would all be rushed. It would be hands and mouths and crude movements that were just physical.

They can be slow here. Take it easy. Be gentle.

“You can just hold my hand if you want to.”

Sure thing! It sounds like a 5 +1 fic, I hope that’s okay :)

Five times Jay embarrassed himself with a pick up line and one time he successfully flirted with Carlos.

RATED: PG13

i. Evie

She’s been on the receiving end of Jay’s ridiculous, over-the-top, shameless flirting many times, but she doesn’t need the experience to pick up on the extra ridiculous, way over-the-top, completely shameless way he flirts with Carlos.

Oh, Evil Queen, it’s almost sad to watch.

Stil, Evie can’t take her eyes off of her study partner across from her. Carlos has his head tilted up at Jay, struggling to comprehend the line of “Man, I wish I had a library card so I can check you out.”

Jay, shit-eating grin like he has just said the wittiest, most charming pick up line and is fully prepared to carry Carlos back to their dorm room, waits eagerly for the response.

After a moment, Carlos sighs, rummages through his pocket, and hands Jay a little plastic piece. “You can check a book out with my card, but please don’t lose it. I don’t want to be fined. I’ll help you register for your own library card later.”

An expression of bafflement and disappointment cross Jay’s face and he can only stare as Carlos goes back to his homework.

Evie, red in the face and holding her breath to prevent her own outrageous laughter, grabs Jay’s hand before he can walk away. “Go pick up The Art of Seduction,” she shakily says, not bother to lower her voice because it’s clear Carlos has no idea what Jay’s intentions are, “because you seriously need it.”

ii. Chad

The Charmings have pride, they have grace, they have…well, charm.

And apparently Jay has never even heard of any of those words, let alone tried any of them.

But, Chad can begrudgingly admit, it’s kind of cute that Jay’s varsity jacket is so big on Carlos. It hangs past the smaller boy’s hips and practically swallows him, it makes Jay look like a good caretaker. A good boyfriend.

Not that Chad will ever say that to Jay. The son of Jafar had become a varsity tourney player just a month ago, but Chad already knew the arrogance and confidence Jay holds in himself.

(Audrey said Chad picked up on it so quickly because, to quote, “you’ve always been familiar with big egos”. Pfft. Whatever that means.)

And it’s also disgusting the way Jay throws his arm around Carlos and casually says, “you like the jacket? You know what it’s made out of? Bo-.”

“It feels like vinyl.”

“No, it’s-”

“Synthetic leather?”

“No, Carlo-.”

“Is the torso wool?”

“No, boyfriend material!” Jay whines. “It’s made out boyfriend material!”

Chad rolls his eyes and groans, barely catching Carlos’ “that’s not…some code for animal product, is it?”

“Nevermind,” Jay pouts, but doesn’t remove his arm from around Carlos’ shoulders. “You ruined my pick up line.”

“I thought we were going back to the dorm!” Carlos groans. “What do we have to pick up?”

iii. Lonnie

For someone whose mother spent a war breaking down the assumed limits of her gender, Lonnie learns a lot about people through stereotypes.

Not gender stereotypes (because she’s not here to undo all of her mother’s hard work) or racial or religious, but personality stereotypes.

For instance, Mal is an artist. She is creative, she is fast, her mind has never been limited to a box. She is also a leader, she hides her passionate love and care, she is not to be messed with, she is self-sacrificing.

Evie is a princess, by choice rather than blood. She is proud and graceful and aware of her worth. She is a designer, she sees potential in everything and that gives her a wonderfully, unfailing kind soul.

Jay is an athlete. He is not book-smart, but he is strength and confidence and determination. He was one a thief, his people skills and charm rival that of any Auradon-born kid and his sly, easy personality has students tripping over their feet to talk to him.

Carlos is a nerd. Lonnie loves him just like she loves all of the Isle kids, but he is one giant dork. Carlos doesn’t understand people like he does numbers, he’s not great at sports, he is an utter disaster with social situations.

So when Jay comes up to him, fully dressed in his R.O.A.R. gear while Carlos struggles with his protective gear, and asks “are you into baseball? Because I’d let you hit a home run,” complete with wink and grin, Lonnie is not surprised at Carlos’ confusion.

“Jay,” he groans, “I can hardly keep up with fencing and I had to quit tourney. Are you seriously asking me about another sport?” He sighs, like he’s exhausted from the practice they haven’t started yet. “I don’t think I can handle it.”

And Jay, amazed and speechless that his perfect charm has - gasp! - not worked on Carlos, Lonnie pats his arm.

“I think you need to be a little more forward,” she grins at him and saunters away, blowing her whistle and snapping at her team to start their warm ups.

iv. Doug

If Evie isn’t the most beautiful thing he’s ever seen, Doug thinks he possibly would have a crush on Carlos.

Not that he’s gay - Doug had never given much thought to his sexuality - but Carlos’ mind is fascinating and sharp and the son of Dopey could spend all day talking to the freckled boy just to pick his mind. Carlos understands chemistry and physics and engineering unlike anyone else on campus.

And Evie is so smart and quick in class that she blows his mind and takes his breath away and Doug would never think for a single second that he is anything but the luckiest dwarf in Auradon because of the blue-haired, stunning princess beside him.

But he still notices Carlos is kind of cute. Just a little bit.

Evie is picking at her chicken salad and Jay is scarfing down a burger, Doug nudges both of them and gestures to Carlos, who is across the field with Dude, lunch tray (and dog dish) in his hands. “Shall we invite him to sit with us?”

“Of course, dear,” Evie grins at him and bats her eyes just like she always does when Doug considers her friends. “Hey, Ca-!”

“Shh!” Jay snaps after hurriedly swallowing his mouthful of food. “I have a new one to try.”

“No.”

“Yes!” Jay places his fingers to his lips, whistles loud enough for Evie to cover her ears. When Carlos looks around and spots them, Jay raises a single finger and beckons him over to their table.

Carlos bounds over, Dude behind him, and slides into place beside Jay. “What’s up guys?”

“Nothing, I, uh,” Jay leans close, face inches from Carlos’, “just wanted to see if I could make you come with one finger.”

Evie groans and Doug sputters and Carlos quirks an eyebrow. “Well, you whistled too,” he places the dog bowl down on the ground for Dude, “but, I’ll come whenever you want me to.”

Doug feels his cheeks heat up as Evie makes gagging noises beside him. Jay’s mouth is open in shock and maybe a little bit of desire if Doug can read people half as well as he can read Spanish.

(Though, both are foreign languages Evie has helped with.)

“I’ll just have to test that out sometime,” Jay breathes, runs a hand over his face, and Evie continues her fake vomiting.

v. Mal

“Make him stop,” Evie groans against a purple-clad shoulder as she fusses over a new dress design beside her best friend.

“Hmmm?” Mal doesn’t look up from her sketchbook. “Make who what?”

“Jay,” Evie hisses and nods her head.

True, the last member of their group has just walked through his door and immediately drifted over to Carlos’ bed. Whether that’s because Mal and Evie are currently using his or because Jay wants into Carlos’ bed like he wants into Carlos is debatable.

“Just listen to him. It’s gonna be stupid.”

Mal looks back at her book, but opens her ears for whatever shit Jay is about to say.

“Are you from Tennessee?” He breathes, still sweaty from tourney practice, “because you’re the only ten I see.”

She snorts into her book and Evie does the same. Both ignore Jay’s glare.

“Oh ha ha,” Carlos rolls his eyes. “I’m not that much younger than you guys. I’m 15 now.”

Evie laughs into Mal’s shoulder, which is shaking from her own muffled laughter.

Jay groans.

“You can’t still be surprised,” Mal snickers, “that this isn’t working.”

“Yeah, Jay, with someone so young, you have to be a little more forward.” Evie giggles, still clutching Mal’s arm to control herself

“Don’t say young like that, it’s creepy.” Jay grimaces.

“Like your terrible pick up lines?”

“Shut up Mal.”

+ i. Carlos

Jay sets his controller down and takes a deep breath. He looks over at Carlos, who watches him curiously.

“Something wrong?”

“Yes. No. Kind of.”

“Okay,” Carlos sets down his own controller and faces his friend. “What’s up?”

Jay studies him for a very long moment, long enough that Carlos starts to squirm. “Jay?”

“Carlos.”

“What?”

“Instead of video games and leftover pizza, can I take you out to dinner?”

“Like the cafeteria?”

“No, like a date.” Jay says firmly. He tries not to fiddle with the buttons on his controller, but his nerves are more powerful than his control. “In the most obvious, to the point, blunt way: will you go on a date with me? A, like, romantic date. Not like a bros date.”

“What’s a bro’s date?”

“That’s not the point,” Jay sighs and runs a hand through his hair. “Will you go on a date with me?”

“Yes. Definitely.” Carlos grins broadly. “I’ve liked you since we met, Jay. I just…” he twists the ends of his sleeves, “I didn’t think you liked me back.”

Jay makes a strangled noise, like confusing and frustration, and drops his head. “No kidding.” He laughs at something Carlos doesn’t understand. “Just remind me that I have to be painfully straightforward with you.”

“Well, yeah,” Carlos scoots closer, "straightforward is the best. Like this.” He takes a deep breath. “Can I kiss you? On the lips?”

It takes a second for Jay to stop laughing at a joke Carlos still hasn’t heard. “Yeah, C. You can kiss me.”

Carlos leans forward and he does just that.

Y’all better seriously enjoy this because I think this is one of my best Descendants pieces yet! I’m just really proud of the Lonnie and Doug parts.

(Alternate story line where only Mal, Evie and Jay were asked to go to Auradon and Carlos is left behind.)

Evie kisses his temple and grabs his shoulder, the heat of her fingers soaking through his sleeve. “We’ll be back as soon as we can,” she murmurs. “I promise.”

“I know.” And, logically, Carlos really does know that. He knows the plan and he knows how determined his friends are. It’s just hard to remember when he realizes he’ll be alone again.

“We get in, grab the wand, get out.” Jay recites on his other side. “Then we’re off of this place and free to go wherever.”

Carlos nods. He was alone before his friends and held his own just fine. He suffered through the bullies, the thieves, the villains. He suffered through Cruella by himself for years. He can do it again for a little bit.

Mal paces before them. “It’ll just be a couple of weeks.” She has her eyes closed and releases a shaky breath. Carlos has been worrying so much about himself that he didn’t stop to consider how his friends must feel about leaving their home and living under the threat of failing Maleficent. He’s scared for them all. He reaches for Mal’s hand and she looks at him. “And once it’s over with, everything gets better for all of us. You just have to wait for us.”

So Carlos does.

Following the book, none of the Rotten Four were friends until about a year before the movie (feel free to change how long they’ve been friends), so Carlos spent most of his life alone and fending for himself and it’s mentioned that he was picked on quite a bit.

But life on the island has to be better with a group of friends watching out for you, right? Carlos has formed emotional attachments to these people and he has to people to confide in and help him, hooray!

Until Prince Ben’s proclamation goes out and he picks three Isle kids to come live in Auradon - Mal, Jay and Evie, who have to leave behind their youngest friend. Carlos just has to make it a couple of months without them because they totally promise they’re not abandoning him and we’re not gonna leave you behind, Carlos, you know that, right?

So, he stays on the Island, returning to facing the horrors of the Isle on his own. He just has to wait for his friends to take down the barrier.

Following the movie, that doesn’t happen. Mal, Evie and Jay still choose good at the end and still return the wand and Maleficent is still a lizard and Carlos watches it all on tv with the parents. His friends look happy and healthy and safe and that’s all he ever wanted for them. Mal swore she would come back for him, Jay said he would protect him, Evie just told him to wait and hey, it looks like they’re all on good terms with the new king, Ben, so maybe Carlos will still get off the Isle afterall!

Except, he doesn’t.

More time passes and there’s no word from any of his best friends - no visits, no letters, no contact at all.

Maybe they’re all too caught up in their new lives to remember him or maybe they were never actually friends. Time passes and Carlos remains on the Isle of the Lost, running around with murderers, rapists and thieves and the worst of them all - his mother. Sure, he gets his ass kicked on a daily basis and he’s angry, hurt and confused (Why did they leave him behind? Have the forgotten about him? Did he do something wrong? Is he too dirty for Auradon?). But he survives.

Another year passes and Carlos is finally called to Auradon (does he go with the second wave of VKs or do his friends finally remember to send for him?). How does he adapt to this new environment on his own? What will Carlos do when he sees his former friends, who have actually changed to be good? Jay’s not stealing, Mal’s not threatening and Evie’s not gossiping - he didn’t even know that was possible.

On top of it all, how does Carlos function around his friends who abandoned him on Hell on Earth?

Note: This has been kicking in my head for forever but I have way too many projects to start this. Still, if anyone is interested, I have quite a few ideas for it all and I’d love to read Mal, Evie and Jay feeling guilty and Carlos not understanding why he was left behind. I also love Carlos paired with pretty much anyone and Carlos/Jay/Evie/Mal is a wonderfully complex relationship.

Spoilers for Episode 51.