Butch lala Land

Despite what his mother chose to believe, dogs did reside on the Isle—every single one a mutt with something to prove. They were mean, growling creatures with foam-coated mouths that promised nothing but violence. They weren't all that different from the human occupants of the Isle. At least with the mutts, you know what you're gonna get. Or at least that's what Carlos thought, until his tenth birthday.

His mother’s agitating voice echoed down the halls, calling for him. And he wasn't stupid enough to believe it was to wish him a happy birthday. No, it was to make him run an errand for her–nothing out of the ordinary. Cruella rarely left the house because of her extreme paranoia, it caused her to see shadows where there weren't and plots of betrayal from greetings. Plus the fact that the Isle had loose dogs running around didn’t make her more motivated to leave. Gone was the once formidable women who skinned puppies for fun, and instead sat the broken-minded pathetic lady that wore karma like a second skin.

After Carlos had endured his mother's painfully long rant about the difference between cigarettes and cigars, as if Carlos had been born yesterday, he was off to the market to haggle. It wasn't his strongest skill, but knowing what awaited him at home if he didn't get the price his mother wanted was enough motivation.

Out the door and into the world, or villain world, Carlos went. He dashed through the shadows and used his small nature to navigate the busy crowd. Cruella was picky about who she got her smokes from, meaning he had to go deep into Jafar's territory. He was the one who sold the illegal imported goods. But his cost wasn't cheap and his iron will was legendary when it came to bargaining.

But Jafar's son was Carlos's age and Jay liked him enough to cut him a deal. Usually.

The bell on Jafar's shop door rang when Carlos stepped inside. Not surprising considering the type of people that inhabited the Isle. At the counter sat Jay, just what Carlos had hoped for. They had met a few years ago when Carlos had first visited the shop, since then, a wary relationship had started to form. It was hard on the Isle to know who to trust, some people knew each other for years but never became friends out of fear. Carlos thought it was a lonely existence to be a villain. He was reminded every day when he saw his mother and wondered if it was the fate of all those born of an evil heart to be utterly alone in the world.

"The usual?" Jay drawled from his stool. It was clear from his tone that Jay had been manning the store for too long if his usual spunk had already been snuffed out. Even someone like Jay could only handle so much customer service.

Carlos nodded in confirmation. Words still didn't come easily to him. The quiet had just always been more appealing to him. Safer.

Jay spun his stool around to grab the cigs. The movement spoke volumes of their relationship. Jay not caring about turning his back on him, but also not caring about turning his back on the shop with Carlos made him feel all warm and fuzzy. Carlos never had friends and had been secretly hoping for months that Jay would be his first.

Jay slapped down two packs of Cruella's usual and Carlos dug in his pocket to pay. The exchange was completely silent, but when Carlos grabbed his goods he was overcome, for the first time in his life, with a compelling force that urged him to speak. He'll never know why that day or those words, but he was sure if he had stayed quiet, he would have never become friends with Jay.

"Today's my birthday." Carlos's voice was quiet and a bit scratchy from lack of use, but Jay heard him, and that's all that mattered. Jay raised a singular eyebrow, his face became quickly suspicious and he scanned Carlos from head to toe.

"So what?" It wasn't cruel or anything. Jay was just like that, a little rough around the edges.

So what was right? What did Carlos want from him? Companionship mostly. Carlos's life was devastatingly lonely and Carlos didn't think he was made for loneliness, he only endured it.

"So it means I'm ten years old." Jay snorted.

"Congratulations." Carlos frowned, so far the conversation wasn’t going the way he wanted. Carlos wasn't a master of manipulation, he didn't know how to make someone talk when they didn't want to. He was only Carlos, a ten-year-old boy who ached with the need of a friend and that had to be enough.

"Well I just read somewhere that friends share birthdays with each other, and we’re friends aren't we?." Carlos's voice was steady and held no room for arguments. He wasn't stating a question, instead just a fact. The sky was blue, his mother didn’t have a heart, and Jay was his friend. It seemed to take Jay off guard, but not for long. His surprised expression quickly turned into a smirk. It seemed a spark had entered his eyes.

"So Cruella's little pup has deemed himself chummy with the Isle's most notorious thief?" Jay mused, "Aren't you afraid I'm gonna snatch up all your precious possessions and stab you in the back?" Jay's body language seemed casual but Carlos couldn't help but think this was a test. And by the Gods, he had never been more afraid of failure in his life. He could feel how important this moment was right down in his bones. Failure wasn’t an option.

"There's no point in letting fear dictate my decisions." Back straight and voice clear, Calros defended his argument of friendship. "Not that I'm afraid of you or anything." Carlos quickly added on, ungraciously. A flush warmed Carlos's ears when Jay laughed.

"Yeah, alright pipsqueak you'll do."

"Alright then." So Carlos left to go home to his crazy mother and Jay went back to running the shop. Simply put, life went on. But that day Carlos learned two things. One, he could officially call Jay his friend, and two, the mutts of the Isle had to stick together.

Six Years later and one year before Auradon

Carlos may hate the Isle, but he appreciated its consistency. What he didn't appreciate was Jay's consistency to always be late.

Checking his watch for the fifth time in ten minutes, Carlos swore under his breath. He could count on one hand the amount of times Jay had been on time in the past six years. And all of them were by accident. Carlos wasn't even the one to set their meeting time, Jay had slipped him a note four days ago telling him when and where to meet him.

Just as Carlos was ready to cut his ties and head home, not wanting to spend his birthday waiting in the cold, near-silent footsteps came from behind him. He turned and there before him was the man of the hour. He had his usual look going for him, that natural handsomeness that Jay was very aware of.

“About time.” Carlos had already lost his temper and didn't care to watch his tone. Cruella had been up his ass all morning with chores and screaming fits.

Jay threw his hands up in surrender, his usual smirk making the gesture appear mocking.

“Sorry birthday boy, but you can't rush perfection.” Carlos rolled his eyes but turned his head away to hide his smile. It was hard not to get lost in the raging storm that was Jay, including his less-than-funny antics. 

Jay bumped Carlos' shoulder when he moved past him, towards the ledge of the building. There he sat down, legs dangling over and facing the sunset. Carlos hesitated before following, he wasn't sure what Jay wanted out of him today. Sometimes Jay felt like he was always at arm's length, orbiting around Carlos like the sun.

“Are you coming over here or what?” Jay's question brought Carlos back to the present and over to the other boy.

He settled himself down beside Jay, their elbows brushing. The view from their seats was about as good as it got. The setting sun painted the Isle in hues of orange and red, making such a dirty place appear welcoming. It was crazy what a little bit of color could do for the perception of something.

“Happy Birthday Carlos,” He looked over to Jay, and in his hand sat a small brown box. Confused, Carlos searched Jay’s eyes for answers. But he only found the familiar honey brown shining back.

Causesly, Carlos reached out for the object. The wood was obviously cared for, with sanded sides that showed intricate carvings of dogs. Carlos’s confusion persisted and he also felt a little insulted. Why would Jay decide to give me something that blatantly showcased his greatest fear?

“Open it.”

Urged by his suggestion, Carlos lifted the silver clasp. He gasped and fumbled with the it, almost dropping it. Upon his opening, the box started to play music, something whimsical and childlike. It made Carlos oddly emotional in an unexplainable way. He had never seen anything like it and began to puzzle over how Jay got his hands on it.

“What is this?”

“It’s called a birthday gift, I found it in a book my Father has.” Carlos had never heard of a birthday gift, but they must be something out of a fairytale if all of them were this nice. “Every year on your birthday you’re apparently supposed to be given gifts by those close to you.” Jay explained, “Apparently the tradition calls for a kind of wrapping but I thought that was stupid.”

“Why the dogs?” Carlos couldn't help but ask.

“I just think fears don't always have to be something ugly,” Jay reached for the box and shut the lid, halting the music. “I think that the fear of something can consume you, make you blind. But that's only its appearance.” Jay reached for the lid again. “But if you let that fear go, let that paralyzing fear pass,” Jay opened the lid and beautiful music began to play, “I think it can turn into something beautiful.”

Jay’s hand returned to his person and Carlos let his last words soak in. The silence between them wasn't awkward from years of knowing one another. The silence was needed, Carlos believed, to let the music be heard. Maybe Jay was right, maybe fear kept Carlos shackled to a musicless box. But it was hard to change out of the only thing you’ve ever known. But Jay also understood this. Maybe he didn't want Carlos to change, but instead be aware.

Carlos turned to look at Jay. “Thank you.” It was sincere too. No one had ever done anything like this for him. Had never put the time and thought into something that made Carlos feel known. In a place like the Isle, made up of selfishness and hatred, Carlos felt loved. And wasn't that beautiful.