Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

There’s been rumours running amok around the isle lately. Probably baseless. Definitely born out of a sense of false hope. Still Gunwook ached for them to be true. There were rumours of the new king, a child not much older than Gunwook himself named Jaehyun, bringing people from the Isle to Auradon. 

It was outrageous. It was unlikely. It was cruel to instill false hope. 

Yet. 

Yet if it were true… That meant Gunwook could meet his dad. That meant Gunwook could meet his aunt. It was something he wanted more than anything. 

Some years ago the former king of Auradon, King Beast, had rounded up anyone he deemed villains and their children and banished them from Auradon to the Isle. He was uncaring that the children were innocent. He was uncaring that some of the woman were pregnant. He revived people just to banish them for life. 

He was cruel. 

Gunwook didn’t say that lightly, and he didn’t say it about many people but the thought remained. The king was cruel. He startled as his mom brushed his hair from his head. 

“Are you okay My Precious?” his mom, Drizella, asked softly. Gunwook smiled at her. They were in the middle of baking, something that always made his mom a little sad and wistful, but she was as attentive to him as always. 

“Of course,” he told her, “let’s get these in the oven.” After they did his mom swept Gunwook into a hug. Gunwook saw a letter in her hands and got intrigued. 

“What’s that?” He asked. His mom shook her head and smiled softly. 

“Just a letter from Cinderella,” she answered as she hid it behind her back. Gunwook eyed her weirdly but in the end just shrugged. 

“Are you going to deliver these to your friends when they’re done?” She asked in a clear effort to change the subject. Gunwook grinned at her.

“Is that okay?” He asked softly. There wasn’t a lot of food to go around but Drizella always tutted worriedly when she saw Ricky’s hollow cheeks or Hanbin’s wrist bones. She’d made it her personal mission to feed all the kids. 

She kissed his forehead. “Of course Honey,” she said warmly and then winced as they heard his Grandmother, Lady Tremaine, wreaking havoc in the salon downstairs. 

“I’m going to go check on that. Have fun with your friends,” Drizella called as she hurried down the stairs. Gunwook shook his head fondly and settled in to wait for the oven to beep. When it did he carefully placed his goodies in a basket and left the house. 

The first place he headed to was Jiwoong’s house. It was the closest to his own and even though Smee took much better care of his son than some other parents did Jiwoong had confessed to them once (and only once-the only time Gunwook could remember seeing his hyung near tears) that Smee would starve himself for his son and seeing it would make Jiwoong feel so sick he would vomit and then so guilty he’d cry. 

Gunwook permanently added Jiwoong to his trips of food after that. When he neared the rundown shack that was barely big enough to fit one goblin that Jiwoong and Smee shared he winced as he heard arguing. 

“You never spend time with me anymore,” Smee was saying.

“I spend plenty of time cooped up here,” Jiwoong rebutted. Smee shook his head sadly. 

“I’m losing my son,” he cried. Gunwook froze in the doorway as they both turned to look at him. 

“I brought treats,” he said weakly. Smee beamed at him while Jiwoong grinned weakly.

“You’re a good kid Gunwook-ah,” Jiwoong said fondly. 

“It’s nothing, hyung,” he said, “I’m about to go to the others too.” Jiwoong perked up. 

“I’ll come with,” he decided already swinging his signature torn to all hell leather jacket around his shoulders. 

“Son,” Smee tried smally. Jiwoong leaned over and hugged his dad. 

“You’re not losing me,” he assured, “I’ll always come back to you.” His dad hugged him back fiercely for a long moment before finally releasing him. 

They headed to Matthew’s house next in silence. “What was that?” Gunwook finally asked. Jiwoong shrugged and kicked a rock. 

“You know how my dad is,” he said, “he thinks if we ignore everything bad that’s going on and focus on the fact that we have each other everything will be fine.” Gunwook hummed. 

“He’s not a bad person,” he offered. Jiwoong shrugged. 

“No, he’s not. And compared to some of the others I don’t really have the right to complain.” Gunwook frowned. He didn’t like when the others put themselves down or said their suffering didn’t matter, but it wasn’t the time to get into it. They finally arrived at Matthew’s house where he was doing light gymnastics in the front yard with a set of dumbbells behind him. Gaston, his father, was calling out seemingly random scores and praises from out of the zone where Matthew could accidentally kick him while doing a cartwheel. 

“My boys!” Gaston called happily when he caught sight of Gunwook and Jiwoong. Jiwoong sighed but said nothing. They’d long since given up attempting to stop Gaston’s obvious attempts to steal them from their parents so he could raise them. It’d worked for him once with Matthew and he was damn sure trying again with the rest of them. He’d taken one look at the bruises lining little Matthew’s arms, punched his father in the face so hard he’d fallen down and not moved again, and raised Matthew ever since. 

Matthew tumbled out of his cartwheel at the loud yell and landed harshly causing everyone to run over to him. 

“Ow, fuck,” he muttered. 

Gunwook and Jiwoong made nervous eye contact. Even with a good parent like Matthew’s an injured kid on the isle was a dead kid on the isle. 

“Are you alright, Son?” Gaston boomed causing his husband to run out of the house in his boxers and a t-shirt. It’d be funny if Matthew had been able to answer but instead his face was twisted in pain, and he was biting his lip. 

“I sprained my ankle,” he said through gritted teeth. Gunwook was only slightly relieved. It wasn’t the worst injury, but it could worsen rapidly and any sign of weakness would have the piranhas who circle the isle pouncing. Gaston clearly thought so too as he and his husband exchanged weary glances. 

“I’ll take him to the hideout,” Jiwoong said. Gaston scrutinized him for a moment but nodded. It was the best plan. No one knew exactly where their hideout was, their meager medical supplies were all there, and best of all everyone would come to Gaston assuming he’d hidden his injured offspring and not look for him elsewhere. Jiwoong got Matthew settled comfortably on his back as the other boy hid his face in his shoulder. Gunwook was starting to worry it was more than just a sprain. 

“Meet us there with the others,” Jiwoong said. It wasn’t a request. Gunwook nodded diligently and Jiwoong set off. Gunwook turned and handed some of the bread he’d baked to Gaston’s husband who shook his head and gently pushed it back into his hands. “Take it with you to the hideout please,” he whispered, “and take care of our boy.” It hit Gunwook then just how much Matthew’s parents were trusting them. Sure Matthew wasn’t the same boy who couldn’t leave his parents side for an entire year without having a panic attack, but he was still their son. And they were trusting them to take care of him in a place not even they knew the location of. 

It had been Hanbin, a bruise on his cheek, who had made the others all swear to never tell their parents or mentors where the hideout was. He claimed even if they’d never give it up he couldn’t chance it. The others had never broken their vow. 

“Go get your other friends quickly lest Jiwoong start to worry,” Gaston advised. Gunwook nodded and headed in the direction of Ursula’s restaurant to pick up Taerae and hopefully Hanbin.

He got there in record time and barely refrained from rolling his eyes as he heard the comments people were making about himself and his friends. He caught Taerae’s eyes and saw the boy look deliberately at the tank Ursula kept her eels in and hurried over.  “My moms eels are looking a little hungry,” Taerae whispered to himself as he heard someone say something about Gunwook. 

“Hyung, no,” Gunwook said. Taerae sighed. 

“Okay,” he finally said before brightening at the basket in Gunwook’s hands. 

“Did you bring treats?” He asked. Gunwook nodded but looked around nervously.

“We need to get the others and go to the hideout now ,” he stressed, “is Hanbin here?” Taerae rubbed his forehead. 

“My shift doesn’t end for another nine hours,” he said. Gunwook scowled. He hated the crazy shifts Ursula always had Taerae and on occasion Hanbin working. “Also yeah Hanbin hyung is here. He broke something of his mom’s, and she was furious. There’s scratch marks on his face. Don’t ask about them.” Gunwook sighed but nodded. Hanbin’s relationship with his mom was complicated at best. 

“It’s an emergency, hyung,” he finally said softly. Taerae immediately took off his apron and ran to the back returning with Hanbin who he was literally dragging by the ear as Ursula screamed her head off at the both of them and then whipped them both with one of her tentacles.

“What?” Hanbin demanded when he caught sight of Gunwook. 

“I’ll explain on the way,” Gunwook said as he ushered Hanbin and Taerae out of the restaurant. 

He detailed what happened as they rushed to Hao’s house. 

“Fuck,” Taerae swore. 

“He’ll be a target for weeks,” Hanbin worried. Gunwook nodded but was too out of breath from the literal springing they’d fallen into to get to Hao’s to say anything. Hao was grinning with his mother and uncle when they saw him through his kitchen window, cooking from the looks of it, but his face fell when he saw them and he ran outside with a pot of boiling water still in his hands. 

“What?” He demanded as Yzma and Kronk both hurried out after him. Yzma gently took the pot from her son’s hands. 

“We need to go to the hideout. We’ll explain in a second,” Hanbin said tightly. Yzma leaned over and hugged Hao as his eyes widened.

“Remember what we talked about, Son,” Yzma said fondly, “don’t worry about me.” Then she turned to Gunwook and shocked him by lying a hand on his shoulder. 

“I hope you get to meet your Dad and Aunt,” she said sincerely. Gunwook smiled at her.

“Thank you that means a lot,” he said. Yzma released her son, and they all took off running to to Dr. Facilier’s house. He’d mentored and sheltered Gyuvin ever since his parents abandoned him as a toddler.

Gunwook winced as he heard a loud boom come from Dr. Facilier’s house. Gyuvin was definitely there-he usually was. The only times he stayed for prolonged periods of time at the hideout is when he felt like having a teenager Dr. Facilier didn’t ask for or want was starting to wear on him. Privately Gunwook thought Gyuvin was just being insecure, and Dr. Facilier never minded having him around. It usually happened after Gyuvin had exploded one too many things. Despite magic not working on the isle he still managed to blow things up near constantly. 

They gathered Gyuvin quickly and informed him of what was going on before starting a sprint to Ricky’s tower. He’d been caught painting something by his mother, Mother Gorthel, and she’d locked him in the tower again. 

By the time they got to the tower Gunwook had a horrific stitch in his side. They leaned the rickety old ladder they used to get halfway up the tower before finding loose footholds and climbing the rest of the way in against the tower and Gunwook started the dangerous climb. 

When he wiggled into the tower he saw Ricky sitting alone in a corner with his knees to his chest. 

“Hey,” Gunwook whispered.

“Hey,” Ricky said.

“We’re all going to the hideout because Matthew got injured,” Gunwook said quieitly in case anyone was listening in. 

Ricky hopped up immediately. 

“What happened?” He demanded as he almost pushed Gunwook out of the tower in his haste to get away. Ricky was terrified of heights and climbing out of his tower almost always made him so nauseous he threw up. Sure enough when they reached the bottom he puked into the rose bushes his mom had planted in an attempt to keep the kids who kept freeing her son away. 

All it really did was make them more immune to rose bush thorns. Gunwook winced as he pulled a particularly long one out of his arm. Gunwook quickly filled Ricky in as they walked as fast as possible back to the base making sure to take odd turns in case anyone was following them. 

When they finally climbed the rickety old stairs to their hideout Hao rushed forward to kneel in front of Matthew with Hanbin right behind. 

“Is he okay?” Hao fretted. “Hyung is he okay?” Hao asked Jiwoong. Jiwoong winced. 

“He broke his ankle,” he whispered, “and it’s bad.” 

Chapter Text

Hao stared in horror at Jiwoong after he finished speaking. Bad, bad, bad bounced around in his head. If they were lucky Matthew’s ankle would heal in six weeks or so…if they weren’t Matthew may never have full use of his ankle again. 

“Fuck,” Hanbin, who’d known Matthew the longest-back even before he was Gaston’s boy, swore. Jiwoong dragged his hands down his face. 

“I splinted his ankle as best as I can, but we need to keep him hidden here,” he said. Hao nodded. 

“We can take turns staying with hyung,” Gyuvin said attempting to sound upbeat and mostly failing. Hanbin nodded. 

“Good idea Gyuvin-ah,” he said, “I’ll take the first shift.” Hao didn’t doubt he’d be taking the majority of them. 

“If anyone asks where Matthew is lie ,” Jiwoong instructed, “don’t forget we’re weak when we’re down a member and some adults and even some of the kids here are more than happy to take advantage of that.” Hao gulped. He could never forget. Not after what had happened to Hanbin. 

When they were kids-so young Hao remembered still having to look up at his mom Hanbin’s mom had caught him stealing food from her. She’d been furious. Hanbin had never told them what had happened, but Hao and Jiwoong had wrapped a broken arm and badly sprained ankle. 

Hanbin’s mom hadn’t been discreet about his injuries. Someone had ambushed them when they were walking to the hideout one day. They’d held Jiwoong and Hao back and hit Hanbin as they all screamed for help. 

It well and truly looked like the man was going to kill Hanbin and then Hao and Jiwoong. Hao didn’t believe much in the fates who had fucked him over by forcing him into a life of banishment, but he’d thanked them readily that day when Dr. Facilier showed up with Gyuvin, who had been distracted by a cat he’d seen and thus several feet behind them and not caught so he’d been able to run and get help, and ripped the man off of Hanbin. 

Hao had never seen anything so violent in his life. When Dr. Facilier was done with all three men he’d dragged them to the middle of the Isle and left them there with a clear message: if you harmed the ones Dr. Facilier deemed under his protection God himself wouldn’t be able to save you. 

Hao had learned his lesson that day. Never show weakness on the Isle of the Lost. Hanbin clearly thinking of the same thing that Hao was looked Matthew in the eyes. “If someone tries to attack you it’ll be over my dead body,” he swore. Matthew nodded his head seriously.

Jiwoong knocked his head back against the wall. “We should get back to our families. Make sure not to let anyone know what’s wrong. That includes your parents.” Everyone nodded. 

“Hyung, do you want to stay with me?” Gunwook asked Ricky. Ricky shook his head as all the others grimaced. 

“My mom will be even more of a pain if I don’t go back, and that’s not worth it,” Ricky said. Hao turned to Gyuvin. 

“Gyuvinnie,” he said, “where are you staying tonight?” Most nights Gyuvin stayed with Dr. Facilier. Some nights he stayed at the hideout. Others he wouldn’t tell them where he was. Hao hated that the younger boy didn’t feel like he had a steady place to go. Gyuvin grinned, but it didn’t reach his eyes. 

“I’ll be around, hyung,” he said. Hao frowned. 

“Come over to mine if it gets too cold or anything,” he instructed. Gyuvin nodded dutifully. 

“Let’s meet back here tomorrow,” Jiwoong decided. The others all nodded before Taerae groaned as he popped his back loudly. “I’m headed back to the restaurant,” he announced, “if you need me you know where to find me.” 

“Wait!” Gunwook said. “Your treats!” Everyone laughed softly as the boy dutifully handed out everyone’s treats. After that everyone trickled out until it was just Hao, Hanbin, and Matthew. 

“If you need anything run to me ,” Hao instructed both boys. “I don’t care what time it is, I don’t care who's following you, I don’t care what is going on-come directly to me.” Matthew hobbled up and grabbed Hao’s hand. 

“I swear,” he muttered. Hanbin grabbed both their hands tightly in his fist. 

“We’ll get through this,” he said. Hao nodded and let go of their hands. 

“I’ll be back in the morning,” he said before turning and climbing out the old window. He started shimmying down the old broken fire escape and then jumped the last two feet from where the last rung of the scaffolding was just barely hanging on (it could barely support them as unruly kids; it wasn’t fairing very well with a bunch of unruly teenagers).

Hao walked home and smiled when he saw his mom and uncle waiting with a plate of spinach puffs. “Is everything alright, Dear?” Yzma, his mom, asked. Hao shook his head. 

“No,” he answered truthfully, “but I can’t tell you why.” His mom nodded thoughtfully. 

“If you need help with anything let me know please. I only want what’s best for you.” Hao smiled at her. 

“I know,” he assured. Earlier that day, before the disaster with Matthew, his mom and he had discussed the rumors of Isle kids getting to come to Auradon. His mom had firmly told Hao that if he got the opportunity he was to take it. 

She stressed how important him having a better life was to her and his Uncle Kronk and how much she wanted to see him thrive. Hao had told her he never wanted to be separated from her. She’d kissed his forehead before assuring him that even if there was distance between them they were never truly separated. 

After he ate the spinach puffs his mom had saved for him Hao went to bed. When he woke up the next morning he grabbed breakfast and then immediately started on his way to the hideout. After scaling the rickety fire escape Ricky sometimes hyperventilated when he thought about too long Hao picked the lock and sauntered in making sure to call, “It’s Hao!” so the others didn’t attack. 

Hanbin kept a knife on him at all times. 

He had stabbed Hao with it before. 

They’d both cried. 

When he got into the room he saw Matthew lying on his back with Hanbin sitting in front of the rundown couch they’d stolen. Taerae paused in the middle of his tirade, “And then she said ‘you’re your mothers son in all the worst ways’-oh hi Hao hyung.” Hao waved. 

“What’s going on?” He questioned.

“Nothing,” Taerae said, “just an annoying customer.” Hao nodded knowingly and sat down next to Hanbin. Peaceful silence fell for a few minutes until Jiwoong entered the room knocking three times with his left hand before pausing and knocking two times with his right as he did. It was a stupid code they came up with as kids to let each other know who was entering the hideout. Jiwoong was the only one who still did it religiously. 

“The others aren’t here yet?” He asked when he saw the group gathered.

“Gunwook was freeing Ricky from his tower. He came by to tell me before I clocked out of my shift,” Taerae explained. Hao frowned and looked closer at Taerae’s face. There were deep bags under his eyes. 

“Did your mom not let you off until this morning?” Hanbin demanded. Taerae shrugged. 

“My penance for running out on her,” he said drily. Hao scowled. He couldn’t say anything though because soon enough Gunwook barged in with Ricky strolling in after him.

“Where’s Gyuvin?” Jiwoong asked. Gunwook rolled his eyes a little. 

“We’re not stuck together at the hip, hyung,” he said, “I’m not sure.” Jiwoong scowled and an uneasy silence fell. Luckily it was broken before too long by the tell-tale sound of someone starting to climb up their fire escape, falling, and then swearing. Gyuvin did it every time. Sure enough a few minutes lattered a slightly battered and bruised Gyuvin ran into the hideout. 

“Where were you?” Jiwoong asked even though there hadn’t been a specific meeting time set.

“The docks,” Gyuvin answered, “and someone gave me these.” He brandished some letters that when Hao looked closer had the official crest of Auradon on them. 

Fuck. 

“Are those what I think they are?” Hanbin asked quietly. Gyuvin handed the letters to their respective owners. 

“Let’s open them together,” Jiwoong decided so they held their breath and did. 

There at the very top: YOU ARE INVITED TO AURADON PREP. 

“Fuck,” Gyuvin said. 

“This is such bullshit,” Taerae said through gritted teeth. 

Gunwook on the other hand looked ecstatic. “I could meet my Dad and Aunt,” he whispered. 

Hao, with his heart heavy as he thought of leaving his own mom, said, “This is an opportunity we can’t pass off. We have to go, and we have to protect each other. We are not splitting up.” Jiwoong groaned but nodded. 

“We’ll inform our parents together,” he decided, “the letter says they’ll be here to pick us up by three so that gives us a few hours.” Hao scowled. He didn’t like that Auradon was giving them so little time to get their affairs in order. 

Slowly they exited the hideout until Jiwoong, carrying Matthew on his back, slowly started to come down. When they were near the broken rungs Hanbin took Matthew off of Jiwoong’s back and then settled him there once more when he was down. 

“We’ll go to Gaston’s first,” Jiwoong decided as he started walking. Gaston, doing yard work with his husband by the looks of it, startled when he saw them as they both ran over. 

“What are you doing here?” He hissed under his breath. 

“We’ve been chosen to go to Auradon,” Matthew said. Gaston’s face crumbled a little bit. 

“I’m so happy for you,” his husband whispered, “we love you so much. Don’t worry about us. Be happy and healthy, please.” Gaston leaned over and took Matthew from Jiwoong’s back to swing him around in a hug. 

“My boy will be safe!” He cried joyously. “Come let us pack your back!” With all of them working together, and Matthew firmly forced to stay off his ankle, it only took a few minutes before the bag was packed. Next they headed to Ricky’s tower who quietly climbed the walls as they stayed back per his request and appeared with a single bag that looked to be overflowing with sewing supplies and sketchbooks. “My mom knows,” he said simply as the others all nodded knowingly. 

Hanbin was next who snuck in to his house and emerged less than five minutes later with a bag. “My mom doesn’t know,” he warned as the others once again nodded knowingly. 

Smee was the nearest to Ricky’s tower so they all stood outside and winced as they heard the loud arguing inside while Jiwoong, who had temporarily given holding Matthew duties to Hanbin, packed. “How could you leave me like this?” Smee cried. 

“I have to be selfish sometimes. I have to put myself first for once,” Jiwoong said. 

“I’m disappointed in you,” Smee said coldly, “I raised you better than this.” Jiwoong said nothing in response, but when he walked out Hao could see he’d bitten his lip so hard he’d drawn blood. 

“This is for the best,” Jiwoong said tensely as he took Matthew back from Hanbin. The others all nodded and kept quiet as they started their trek to Gunwook’s house. His mom was outside when they neared and beamed when she saw all of them. 

“How are my favorite boys?” She asked. Gunwook smiled at her even as it wavered. 

“We got chosen to go to Auradon,” he told her, “I’ll get to meet my dad and aunt.” Drizella beamed at him. 

“I’m so happy for you sweetie,” she said. Gunwook frowned. 

“What about you?” He asked. Drizella smiled.

“Don’t worry about me,” she asserted, “I’m a big girl I can handle myself. Now let’s get your bag packed.” She ushered them all inside as Gunwook packed and watched them so fondly it made Hao’s chest ache a little bit. 

When Gunwook finished packing they headed to Ursula’s restaurant. “Stay here,” Taerae insisted. In less than ten minutes he was back with a bag and a bright red mark on his arm from Ursula’s tentacles. “Let’s go get Hao hyung’s things and get Gyuvin’s things last,” Taerae said instead of commenting on what happened. 

When Hao saw his house he felt his heart begin to race. It was little and rundown, but it was still his. It’s where he spent countless hours learning to cook, it’s where he broke his first bone, it’s where he lost his first tooth, and this may be the last time he saw it or the people he loved. Unbidden he had to scrub his eyes to make sure no tears escaped. 

He asked the others to stay outside while he quietly went in. “Hi,” he told his mom quietly. Yzma beamed at him. 

“You’re back early,” she observed. 

“We were chosen,” Hao said and then swallowed audibly, “to go to Auradon.” Yzma swept him into a hug. 

“I’m so happy for you,” she said as Uncle Kronk sat a firm hand on his shoulder. 

“I could not think of better candidates,” he said seriously. 

“I’ll miss you guys,” Hao whispered. His mom tutted worryingly. 

“None of that now,” she scolded, “let’s get everything packed.” When he did he hugged his mom one final time. 

“You’ll be great,” she assured before gently shoving him out the door and back to his friends. 

“Gyuvin, you ready?” Jiwoong asked. Gyuvin nodded so they walked in silence to Dr. Facilier’s house. 

“Stay outside?” Gyuvin requested so the others did. When he returned he looked burdened. 

“Let’s go,” he whispered so the others all walked to the center of the Isle where a black limousine was parked. Hao gaped at it. 

“What the hell?” Hanbin asked. 

“You’re late,” the driver said snipply. “We have no time-get in now.” Hastily everyone did. “I hope you said your goodbyes because this is the last you’ll see of the Isle for a long time,” he said nastily. 

Chapter Text

The ride to Auradon passed mostly in silence except for Hao scolding everyone not to eat the candies and their screams of terror when the driver drove off a fucking cliff without warning them a magic bridge would appear. But, mostly in silence. 

Jiwoong was not looking forward to this. He agreed with Hao that it was a chance they couldn’t miss out on-not if it gave Gunwook a chance to meet his dad and aunt, but still it felt a little like they were entering enemy territory. 

It was a familiar feeling. 

Even Taerae, whose mom was Ursula, didn’t have a large standing on the Isle. They were the bottom of the food chain-always pushed around and stolen from. It made Jiwoong burn with a desire to protect . 

He felt like he’d been protecting the others his whole life. When Hanbin’s mom hurt him again Jiwoong wrapped his wounds. When Gyuvin was pushed around and teased for having no parents to speak of it was Jiwoong who stepped in. When Taerae was so dead on his feet after a shift he couldn't walk Jiwoong was the one who carried him. 

He protected them. It’s all he knew how to do. 

When they arrived in Auradon Hao is the first one out of the car guiding Gyuvin and Gunwook with him. Hanbin is next making sure he has a good hold of Taerae and Ricky while Jiwoong is last making sure to shield Matthew with his own body so hopefully no one will be able to notice his limp or bandaged foot. 

The first thing Jiwoong processed in Auradon was how loud it was. There was a band playing so loudly Jiwoong couldn’t hear his own thoughts although it slowly died down as Jiwoong and the others all glared at them distrustfully. A boy with purple cat ears and a tail was staring at them like they were his new plaything.  

It was a different boy who stepped forward then however. “Hello,” he greeted, “I am Prince Jaehyun. It’s a pleasure to make your acquaintance.” He reached his hand forward for a handshake and then chuckled awkwardly when none of them reached back and pulled his hand back hastily. 

“Okay,” he whispered under his breath, “Leehan will show you to your rooms.” A boy with a wild head of curly hair hurried forward.

“Yes, of course,” Leehan muttered anxiously, “let’s go this way.” And he turned and started leading the group through the throngs of people. Jiwoong pushed Matthew to the middle and then leaned down so he could be situated on his back. 

It wouldn’t be good for so many people to see that Matthew was injured, but he absolutely could not walk on his ankle. Hanbin helped get Matthew situated on Jiwoong’s back, and they all tried to ignore the whispering they could hear from the students. 

“You’re split into three rooms,” Leehan explained when the others finally caught back up to him, “it goes in age order so: Kim Jiwoong, Sung Hanbin, and Zhang Hao will all be sharing a room, and so on and so forth. These are them now.” He pointed out the individual rooms as they all watched him wearily. 

Jiwoong reached over and took the keys the boy was holding before pocketing them. “Well I’ll be going now!” Leehan squeaked as he turned tail and ran. 

Ricky chuckled under his breath. “Okay so here’s how we’re actually going to be paired up,” Jiwoong announced as the others all crowded around him, “I’ll share a room with Matthew-ah to keep an eye on his ankle, and Gyuvin. Hao will share a room with Ricky and Gunwook. Hanbin will share with Taerae.” The others all nodded but followed Jiwoong into his own room when he turned to enter.

Jiwoong nodded a bit approvingly at their unwillingness to split up. It was born from survival, and it would do them well to utilize it. 

“Okay, we need to move some furniture around. This room's floor plan is way too open,” Jiwoong decided as the others all nodded and started moving things around except for Matthew who had been relegated to bed rest. Soon enough they were interrupted by a knock on their door. Jiwoong motioned for the others to stay back as he opened the door slightly. 

A pair of purple furry ears greeted him. “Hi,” the boy said, “My name is Yujin. I just wanted to see how you were settling in.” Jiwoong appraised him for a moment. He seemed to be younger than the others except for maybe Gunwook, and he was acting shiftily. He kept trying to peer around Jiwoong to see into the room. 

“We’re fine,” Jiwoong assured.

Yujin hummed. “That’s good,” he said while smiling with too many too sharp teeth, “if you need anything let me know. Oh and dinner is in the cafeteria in an hour.” Jiwoong heard some of the others in the room shuffling closer at the promise of food and had to bite his tongue so he didn’t instinctively scold them.

“And where is the cafeteria?” He asked. Yujin looked at him for a long moment. His gaze lingered uncontrollably on Jiwoong’s protruding wrist bones and hollow cheeks.  

“Once you leave the dorm take a left and walk straight,” he finally answered, “breakfast and lunch are also served there. They start at seven in the morning and twelve in the afternoon.” Jiwoong nodded seriously. 

“Good to know,” he said carefully as Yujin gave him a once over once more. 

Yujin looked at him intensely for a moment. “What goes away if you ignore it, but grows stronger if you invest in it?” He asked. Jiwoong gawked at him for a moment. 

Yujin smiled smally. “Think on it,” he advised before he turned and left. Jiwoong shut the door and listened until he could no longer hear footsteps before turning and glaring at the guilty boys who had crept closer. 

“You know better than coming up like that on someone you don’t know,” Jiwoong lectured. Taerae shrugged lazily, but Ricky and Gunwook both looked contrite. 

“He had useful information,” Taerae said, “things it was imperative for us to know.” Jiwoong sighed and waved them further into the room. 

“Auradon is so weird,” he muttered under his breath. 

Hao, who had been lying on the bed with Ricky, spoke up, “The riddle was interesting.” Hanbin nodded. 

“If the answer is what I think it is I’m even more confused,” he said. Jiwoong groaned. 

“I don’t want to think about riddles,” he complained, “I want us to keep our head down and not cause trouble. We don’t know what will happen if we do.” The others shivered. Gyuvin pulled his knees to his chest and rested his chin on them. 

“We don’t know the rules,” he reminded, “we might get in trouble without even trying to.” Jiwoong dragged a hand down his face. 

“That’s true,” he acknowledged, “but Isle rules still apply here. Never go off on your own, don’t pick a fight with no backup, and if an adult is trying to single you out you run to me or Hao immediately.” The others nodded so Jiwoong sat on the bed and waited for it to be time to go to dinner. 

In the meantime Hanbin came over and draped himself over Jiwoong. “What do you think will happen? What do you think is happening?” He wondered.

Jiwoong groaned. “I don’t know,” he answered truthfully, “and I think we’re guinea pigs. I think if we step one toe out of line they’ll send us back to the Isle. I think we’re the prince’s pet project he didn’t think through all the way.” Hanbin hummed. 

“We’ll get through,” he said. Hao who had been unsubtly listening in nodded. 

“We always do,” he assured. 

“What do you think is going on with our parents back on the Isle?” Ricky wondered. 

“Well my mom is furious,” Taerae said faux casually even though they could all see the muscle in his jaw jumping in worry. 

“My dad is too,” Jiwoong assured him. 

“My mom was…sad,” Ricky shared, “she asked how I could ever think of leaving her, and if her giving me everything she could meant nothing. She asked if I even loved her.” Gunwook knocked his head back against the headboard. 

“That’s not right,” he scowled. Jiwoong nodded. 

“Our parents were being selfish,” he said, “and I know that’s how they’ve always been and will always be, but it wears on you as a person.” Hanbin flopped down on the bed. 

“You really don’t think they can change?” He wondered. Jiwoong paused and thought about his words. He thought about bandaging little Hanbin’s arms that were so bruised you could see the handprints. He thought of freeing Ricky from his tower-a boy so terrified of heights Jiwoong didn’t know how he didn’t pass out when he had to climb it. He thought of Gyuvin alone and with no parents to protect him. He thought of literally carrying Taerae to the hideout because his legs were shaking too much for him to stand, and he was too tired to walk. 

But he also thought of Gaston who would do anything for his son, and Gaston’s husband who had beaten a man thrice his size so badly he was unrecognizable when he’d had the audacity to come near Matthew again. He thought of Drizella who baked them all treats and loved them like her own. He thought of Yzma who had instilled a drive for fighting for a better life into Hao so strongly it’d infected all the others. 

“I think they’ve had a lot of chances,” he finally answered, “that doesn’t necessarily mean they won’t get more.” Hanbin seemed appeased at that and stood up. 

“Let’s get dinner, guys,” he directed as Jiwoong once again got Matthew situated on his back. They started off in the direction the boy had told them to go and only got lost twice in the giant area that was Auradon Prep. Jiwoong was counting it as a win. 

When they got there the doors were locked. “Damn it,” Hanbin hissed under his breath, but he was stopped from saying more when they opened. A lady who Jiwoong couldn’t tell you the name of for the life of him but definitely recognized blinked at them. 

“You must be the new students,” she said warmly. Jiwoong nodded. 

“Come in, come in,” she ushered them in, “dinner is just about to start. And if you get hungry during times we’re not serving just knock on the door and tell us who you are. We’ll let you in. I’ll have no children going hungry on my watch.” Jiwoong wanted to say something back, but he was too busy staring with his jaw gaping at the sheer amount of food that had been prepared.

There was enough food to feed the residents of the Isle for weeks. “Okay,” the woman clapped, “get whatever you like.”

“We can take anything?” Hanbin challenged. “Just like that?” The woman nodded sadly. 

“Just like that,” she assured softly. 

“Come on, hyung,” Hao said as he started guiding Jiwoong and the others to the food. 

Jiwoong watched with sharp eyes as everyone got a heaping amount on their plates before Hanbin made one for Matthew and then Jiwoong. “Let’s go sit,” Hanbin directed while guiding them to a table in the corner where they could sit with their backs to the wall but still have easy access and visibility to the nearest exit. 

Immediately everyone started to dig in as students slowly trickled into the cafeteria. Soon enough the prince walked over. He balked a little bit when he saw the food they were tearing through and how fast but recovered quickly. “How’s your dorms?” He asked. 

“They’re fine,” Hanbin replied tightly while eyeing him distrustfully. 

“What about the food?” He asked. 

Hao appraised him for a moment. “Well it’s not garbage so better than what we’re used to.”

“What?” The king asked. Hao did not explain. 

Jiwoong was too busy watching Taerae’s face turn sickly green to pay much attention to the conversation. He got up and grabbed Taerae’s arm trying to pull him to the trash can, but it was too late. Taerae leaned over and puked on both himself and Jiwoong. Jiwoong grimaced but said nothing. 

“Oh my!” The prince exclaimed, alarmed. “He should go to the nurse.” Jiwoong shook his head. 

“He’s fine,” he told him tensely, “just ate too fast.”

The prince looked nervous. “He should still get checked over, and your other friend can be too. The one with the bad foot.” Jiwoong glared at him.

On the Isle nothing was free, especially not medical attention, and the price the adults put on it was never worth it. Jiwoong wasn’t going to find out if that was the case in Auradon.

“I said we’re fine,” he hissed as Hao and Hanbin got up and physically stepped in between the prince and Jiwoong. 

“I think we should all calm down a little,” the prince laughed uncomfortably. 

A boy with dark hair hurried over then. “Hyung,” he whispered, but Jiwoong could hear it clearly, “the teachers are on their way.” Immediately the others, even Matthew, all hopped up as well. 

“You brought adults into this?” Ricky demanded.

Bringing adults into your fight was a coward's move. It was dirty and underhanded and often left the other party dealing with severe consequences for a minor dispute. For the prince to do it when they were already in public territory… 

Well, Jiwoong decided locking eyes with Hao and then Hanbin; they'd fought plenty of other adults before. What was one more time? 

Chapter Text

Hanbin would like to state, for the record, he and his friends tried to stay out of shit. Ninety percent of the time if they were in a fight it was because someone had attacked them first.

Ten percent of the time it was because someone, usually either Hao or Taerae, decided someone needed to be put in their place.

That was only ten percent of the time though so Hanbin was electing to ignore it. He was cataloging the nervous king, but he could see a nervous purple tail swinging out of the corner of his eye. The boy who had told them about dinner was watching carefully. Hanbin was fairly sure the boy’s riddle from earlier had been on friendship and this would be a deciding moment: would he be friend or foe?

Hanbin briefly locked eyes with the kid and subtly nodded towards the door. The boy straightened and slinked away from the group. Hanbin kept a careful eye on him until he saw him lock the cafeteria doors.

“We don’t need medical attention,” Jiwoong hissed through gritted teeth. Hanbin silently slipped his dagger out of his sleeve while making sure to keep it hidden in the palm of his hand. From Jiwooong’s other side Hao did the same.

“I don’t think that’s true,” the king said as he glanced frantically between Matthew, who was leaning against Ricky, and Taerae, who Gyuvin was supporting. Gunwook was behind all four in case the injured and sick members needed to be protected by his larger frame.

They all startled as they heard a loud knock against the cafeteria doors. One of the teachers had shown up apparently, but thanks to Yujin’s earlier locking (and from what Hanbin could tell perhaps jamming) of the door they were locked out.

“Why would you bring adults into this?” Hao questioned clearly monitoring his words as closely as always. The boy king waved his hands frantically.

“I didn’t!” He yelped as eight pairs of eyes glared disdainfully at him (except for perhaps Gunwook was likely squinting because he’d misplaced the glasses Hao had stolen for him again and not glaring in rightful distrust).

“Then why can we hear people banging on the door?” Gyuvin asked drily.

“Other students must’ve gotten them, but I swear I didn’t tell them to do so. They likely only went because they were worried about your friend.” Taerae looked up long enough to glare spitefully even as Gyuvin had to quickly wrap an arm around his middle as he swayed worryingly.

“I’m fine,” he bit out. The king faltered for a long moment. Hanbin appraised him.

Much to his mother’s chagrin Hanbin was half-human.

He inherited his father’s skin tone and lack of impressive height (by gargoyle standards), but he was still partially a gargoyle.

More than that he was his mother’s son.

His mother was a master at manipulation and never feared using that ability against her own kin. Hanbin was able to tell a lie from the truth before he could walk properly. It’d saved their ass on the isle more times than he could count.

Instinctively he knew that the king, while going about it the wrong way, was telling the truth about not summoning the adults and just wanting to help Matthew and Taerae.

He subtly tapped Jiwoong’s hips with his nondominant hand three times, paused, and then did it twice. The action was luckily hidden from sight from how pressed together they were. It was another stupid code they’d thought up as kids although it was one everyone still used. It meant ‘trust me’.

Hanbin stared harshly at the king. “Okay,” he finally said ignoring Hao and Jiwoong’s glares, “but we’re all coming with.” The king stammered for a moment.

“I’m not sure if there’s enough room…” He let his words trail off as he saw the intense glares everyone was sporting. “Well I’m sure the nurse can deal with it. Just follow me.” He turned and started walking away. The group let the king get a few paces in front of them, ignoring the whispers of the other students, before following. Jiwoong locked eyes with Hanbin, hesitant about the new plan, but whatever he saw reflected in Hanbin’s face had him nodding determinedly.

Hanbin wasn’t sure why. He was barely sure of this plan himself. Owing someone a favor for medical help was never worth it on the isle. The problem was they didn’t have their usual supplies. They couldn’t hide Taerae and Matthew away until they hopefully healed on their own. So they were going to have to suck things up and do it the Auradon way. At least for now.

When the king opened the door an irate male teacher was scowling and an older woman was glaring at him.

“Finally!” He exclaimed. “Where are those ruffians? It’s their first day, and they’re already making trouble!” Hanbin straightened as did the others. The king frowned harshly.

“Please do not speak about our new students, or any students really, in such a foul manner. They didn’t do anything wrong, but two of them need to be checked by the nurse,” he asserted. The teacher grumbled, but the woman straightened and turned to them.

“Yes, yes,” she said decisively, “follow me. I was told one boy threw up and one boy has been limping. I’ll need to check them both over as soon as possible.”

The group silently filed into a moderately large office space.

“Okay I’m going to hand this to you,” the woman directed as she handed a bag to Gyuvin, “if he throws up again try to make sure it’s in that.” Gyuvin looked disgruntled at having been made the official vomit handler but said nothing.

“And you,” she said sternly pointing at Matthew. Her hand faltered as her voice gave out mid-sentence. It took Hanbin a minute to understand why. He’d instinctively stepped in front of Matthew-hiding the injured boy from others, but he wasn’t alone. Hao had edged in front of Hanbin curling his fingers in his sleeve allowing him to keep his dagger close but concealed no doubt. Jiwoong had bracketed Hao while Gyuvin and Ricky had both pushed Taerae and Matthew behind them leaving Gunwook to support the other boys.

Hanbin had a flash of realization-they’d startled the woman. Quick and precise movements like that to hide someone injured likely weren't common in Auradon. Guarding Matthew and Taerae was such a deeply-honed instinct inside of Hanbin and the others he hadn’t even realized he was doing it. It was natural for him to shield the others, especially Matthew who’d so often had to hide in the hideout alongside Hanbin-before they’d teamed up with the others-because Hanbin’s mom was so angry even the sight of her fallible mortal son could make her hit him or because Matthew’s biological dad was hitting harder than normal and Matthew had already had several of his baby teeth knocked out by the man’s heavy fists.

“I just-” the woman stammered nervously, “I just was going to ask you to sit on the exam table and take your weight off that ankle.” Hanbin frowned at her but gently helped boost Matthew onto the table alongside Gyuvin.

“Okay, thank you,” the woman said nervously before asking the others to get Taerae onto the table next to Matthew as well.

“Let’s check your temperature,” she directed already sticking a thermometer under his tongue. Taerae glared lightly. She took it back when it beeped and then flinched and shoved it under his tongue once more.

“What?” Jiwoong demanded anxiously.

“Nothing, nothing,” she said, “it just must’ve read wrong.” When the thermometer beeped a second time she frowned at it once again.

“I suppose it’s broken,” she muttered.

“What is the reading?” Hanbin asked impatiently.

“Well it’s fifteen degrees celsius…” she frowned. The others all relaxed though.

“That’s correct then,” Hao affirmed.

“How?” The king, who’d stayed with them even after they’d gotten settled in the small room, demanded.

“Taerae hyung is cold-blooded,” Ricky said.

“Literally,” Gyuvin added. Hanbin didn’t mention how much of a hell that was-how awful it was trying to determine if Taerae was sick.

“Oh,” the nurse finally said, “well is this the normal temperature for you?” Taerae nodded.

“I just ate too much,” he asserted. The king frowned then.

“You really didn’t eat that much though…” He said nervously.

Taerae, clearly not wanting to deal with this for much longer, bit out, “When you haven’t eaten in over twenty-four hours it really is.” The king gawked.

“Why wouldn’t you have eaten for that long?” Taerae eyed him like he was seriously considering how easy it would be to spell him and take over the kingdom (very easy Hanbin knew, but he was not willing to see what that kind of power would do to his companions).

“I was working at my mother’s restaurant for most of it, and I didn’t have the luxury of extras when I wasn’t,” he said drily.

“I don’t understand,” the king admitted smally. Taerae rolled his eyes and said nothing more.

“Okay,” the nurse directed, “I believe you’re right so here’s some nausea medicine.” She paused to pass a small pill to Taerae who eyed it suspiciously. “Going forward try to eat slowly and with fewer portions at a time.” Her eyes lingered uncomfortably on Taerae’s protruding wrist bones. He irately tugged the old shirt he was wearing (Jiwoong’s first then Hao’s then Gyuvin’s and finally Hanbin’s before it got passed to Taerae) down to cover them.

“Will do,” Taerae said tensely before standing up and smoothly transferring the pill from his hand to Jiwoong’s so they could inspect it later.

“Okay,” the nurse directed turning to Matthew, “can you take your shoe and sock off?” Matthew reached down to do so causing Hanbin to hiss through his teeth when he revealed the purple and black mess that was his ankle.

“Okay,” the woman said remarkably calm despite how fucked up Matthew’s ankle looked. “I’m going to have some of your friends help you into that room over there,” she paused to point at an adjacent room, “so we can see the extent of the damage.” Matthew nodded so Hanbin leaned over until Jiwoong situated Matthew firmly on his back. He carried him into the room and then stepped out when asked.

He didn’t even realize he was biting his nails bloody until Gyuvin gently grabbed them (the bad habit was one that they shared and often caused Hao to scold them).

“It’ll be fine, hyung,” Gyuvin muttered holding Hanbin’s hand with the one a teenager had broken when he was eight. It hadn’t healed properly and to this day three of his fingers bent crookedly.

It wasn’t long until Hanbin and Jiwoong were called to get Matthew back on the exam table. “I’ll be right back; I just need to get the images printed,” the nurse directed. Jiwoong nodded curtly at her.

Matthew, in the meantime, was getting interrogated by Hao and Ricky about what the x-ray process was like. Hanbin listened long enough to determine that it wasn’t painful before he closed his eyes and tried to center himself. Stressing about what was going on with Matthew’s ankle wouldn’t help anyone especially not when they’d be told in a few moments.

He startled when he felt Jiwoong settle a hand on his shoulder. “Everything will be alright. Matthew never lets anything get him down.” Hanbin nodded but didn’t admit that was part of the reason he was so worried.

Matthew could be dripping blood while on the verge of death and still be smiling.

Luckily Hanbin’s worries were interrupted by the nurse coming back.

“Well your ankle is definitely broken,” she told Matthew drily. Matthew kept his easy-going smile as he shrugged.

“I figured,” he said simply.

“I’m going to have you wear this boot,” the woman instructed as she held up a large black medical boot, “and you’ll walk on these crutches. Do not put any unnecessary weight on that ankle. Luckily it’s a clean break and doesn’t require surgery but anymore damage could make that subject to change. Use the crutches, have your friends carry you, or learn to fly; do you hear me?” Matthew ducked his head, abashed, murmuring his agreements.

“Okay, now hurry back to your dorms. You have classes bright and early tomorrow,” she directed. Hanbin heard some of the others groan and had to bite back on his own grin. He was actually pretty excited to see what classes would bring.