Stained Glass Breaks and So Do Hearts

For His Happiness.

After Carlos had resolutely decided that giving Ben space was a bad idea and that the only way to fix this was being honest with Ben. It was only within days of his episode at the party that he mustered the courage to talk to Ben directly. Carlos left his room, well groomed and with Dude on his heel. He looked around for Ben until he came across Ben pacing back and forth slowly seemingly lost in thought on the garden paths. As he creeped closer to the pacing king, Ben looked up smiling a thousand-watt smile. “Hey Carlos. You’re up early.” Carlos’ courage started to fade as his knees went weak and his heart melted. The (metaphorical) hole that lingers from thinking about Ben’s hand on his stomach only serves to snap him back together.

“Oh uh… I was sort of looking for you… It’s about the party.” Carlos looked away, but Ben stepped close again, moving into his personal space. Carlos tensed a bit and Ben’s smile started to slip a bit.

“Did I do something wrong Carlos?” Worry and concern in his eyes despite a small smile still on his face.

“What?! No! Nothing like that I just… There’s something I… really want to tell you but I’m sort of scared.” Carlos hesitates to cover his face a bit with one hand. Ban gently takes the hand away holding it softly. For a brief second, the white-haired teen thought he was dreaming or having a heart attack. He looked at Ben surprised who smiled big as ever.

“I think I understand Carlos. Mal told me about the scars from your mother… you were just scared I’d notice. Right?” Ben pulled him into what he thought was the best hug of his life.

“Oh… uh yeah… You got me.” He lied, looking down. Ben let him go and Dude whined a bit in protest. “Well we better go, Dude has to pee I think… bye.” Carlos started to lead dude away when Dude grabbed ahold of his pantleg, tugging him back towards Ben. Carlos tripped and instead of hitting the ground, he landed on something soft, warm and made him go pale but hot. Ben had caught Carlos and now the two of them were mere centimeters away. It was silence for a long second, the two just looking into each other’s eyes. Ben licked his lips a little for a second and Carlos could feel the distance shorten, the warmth of Ben’s face on his before they both heard it.  

“Ben!” Mal called. Ben’s eyes up close, Carlos could see were starting to glow green like Mal’s. Carlos and Ben both pulled away just in time. Mal smiled a bit then noticed him. “Carlos? You’re up early.”

“Oh yeah I was just telling Ben why I freaked out… That’s all. Plus Dude has to pee.” As if on cue, Dude whined. Carlos started to lead dude away, glancing back at the King. Ben’s eyes had returned to normal but had a strange feeling in them. Sadness.

Carlos knew he needed to let things cool off. Ben seemingly had almost kissed him for some reason but it’s pretty evident that he had no intentions of leaving Mal. All Carlos felt was confusion, that’s when he went back to the drawing board. He gave Ben time, if it was actually sadness, he was seeing then it was only right that he give him time to be in a better place. What he didn’t expect was the exact opposite to happen.

As Mal and Ben had begun their fairytale time post coronation, Ben was busier than ever and Mal was acting weird. Carlos could sometimes catch guilt whenever they kissed or touched. After Mal went blonde however, is when things really went downhill. Ben and Mal were so strained and Carlos, the ever vigilant, knew that something needed to be done. He knew how he felt about Ben but that meant wanting to see Ben be happy. So, he did something he never thought he would do. He asked for an audience with the former king and queen, Belle and Beast. (A/N: If you are wondering where we are in the movies, we are at the scene during Ways to Be Wicked during Descendants 2 where Carlos feeds Belle and Beast their Apples. That whole scene was implied to be fantasy but I wanted to use it as something metaphorical.)

“Hello Carlos. We were rather surprised to see you had requested to speak with us. Is everything alright?” Belle said politely as Former King Beast sat watching him carefully. Carlos was terrified but he knew it had to be done, for Ben.

“Sorry to bother you but I’ve noticed that Ben and Mal haven’t had a chance to spend much time together… Actually, Ben hasn’t had time to do anything but his kingly duties.” He could see the worry on his parents faces.  

“Being king is a hard-“Carlos couldn’t bite his tongue interrupting the beast.

“Yes but the King needs to be in top shape if he is going to be able to keep up. I don’t know I just want Ben to be happy and he doesn’t seem it.” His honesty makes Belle raise and eyebrow.

“Why do you care so much about King Ben’s Happiness?” Belle said knowingly. She seemed to see right through him. Carlos blushed heavily despite his best attempts.

“ I care about Ben a lot… more so than any of his friends… In ways that friends shouldn’t. I have no intentions of complicating things for the King… I just want to see… “ His voice catches and his sincerity has tears in Belle’s eyes, like she can feel what he is.

“I think I understand.” She said dabbing her eyes lightly with her ring fingers daintily. “I’ll speak with the King and see if some meetings my husband could stand in for… but I feel there is something you should know Carlos.” Carlos met her eyes and it was nothing but warmth and kindness, like Ben’s. “His relationship with Audrey had been arranged and even then this thing with Mal doesn’t seem as deep. I don’t think he knows yet.” She gets up and gives him a hug, her husband quietly smiling. She whispers to him. “Don’t give up.” Her hug was like Ben’s but not as good. It wasn’t him. Carlos bowed respectfully before leaving.

Carlos felt himself hopeful, for the first time since his emotions formed, he felt positive. Back to the drawing board he went and finally he came up with an idea. If he couldn’t tell Ben on his own, what if Mal had a potion that could. He texted her and sure enough she did. When he told her why, He made up a story about having a crush on Jane. It was a bad lie but Mal seemed to buy it. From then on he wanted to use Jane as code for Ben.