Il libro di Jaylos

Arrangement for Affection

taken from: taytayloulou on Ao3

Carlos lets his head thunk against the metal behind him. It's the second time this week that the Gastons had shoved him into a locker and slammed it close before Carlos could even realize what was happening. They snatched his homework and cackled as they ran, leaving the younger boy behind to mumble the periodic table to help fight off the panic in such a tight space.

It's okay, Carlos thinks in between calcium (an alkaline earth metal with an atomic number of 20, meaning it has two electrons in its outer shell) and scandium (a transition metal with an approximate weight of 45 amu), Evie always comes looking for me, she'll know to check the lockers when she can't find me. Unless...Mal found her and is dragging her off to be thrown into the ocean. Or pushing her off the roof of Bargain Castle. Or drowning her in-.

"Ah!" Carlos shouts as the locker door swings open and he crashes to the ground. He lands painfully on his shoulder, but that's perfectly fine! An acceptable trade for his freedom and the dim lights in the hall.

It takes him just a moment to catch his breath, he had done very well of not hyperventilating, and Carlos looks up. Evie found him much faster than he expected, he had planned on being in the locker for at least another 10 minutes, how did she-.

Carlos is eye-level with torn and ratty jeans, instead of the navy blue skirt he has come to know so well. He hasn't moved from the ground, but when he finally reaches the face of his savior, Carlos hops up and glares.

Of course, Jay isn't withered by his annoyance, just grins and raises an expectant eye brow. "I know Hell Hall sucks, but the locker isn't an exactly an improvement." His dark hair is messy and untamed, even under his red beanie, and he's watching Carlos brush himself off as if it's newest form of entertainment.

"What do you want?" The glare doesn't leave Carlos' face. "Shouldn't you be chasing after Mal, planning on setting the school on fire?"

Jay shrugs. "What makes you think we haven't already planned that out?" He's silent before laughing at the look on Carlos' face. "Kidding! As if we would waste our time with this place," he rolls his eyes as if his disgust for the school wasn't obvious enough.

"That doesn't answer my question." Carlos tries not to fold in on himself, but Jay is a hell of a lot stronger than he is, even if Jay is...well, as non-threatening as he can be at the moment. "What are you doing here?"

He closes the locker Carlos was just stuck in and leans against it. "I saw the Gaston doofuses toss you in." And he says it as if his explanation makes sense, like it's obvious.

Which it is so not.

"So?" Carlos pushes.

"So," Jay mocks, "I came to rescue you."

"But why?" There's no logic in any of this. Jay is a thief, not one with a heart of gold, just a thief. He's selfish and cunning, quick and careless. Why in the hell would he stop by to help?

Jay leans closer, one foot braced against the locker in the most nonchalant, relaxed pose that Carlos envies. "Because," he sings, "I want something from you."

Oh. Carlos nearly sighs at the fact that things are starting to make sense again. Still, this is the son of Jafar, he knows better than to let his guard down.

"And what do you want?" Carlos almost snaps back but loses his courage before the words even form in his mouth. "The Gastons took my stuff, and even if they didn't, you could steal anything from me." Maybe it's a bit of a blow to his self-esteem to admit it, but there's no point in hiding the obvious truth.

"Well," Jay pauses, like he's not even sure what he wants. "It's not something you have, like an object. It's more of a...service."

"Like, you want something built?" Carlos scrunches his face. "Because I need time and I can't guarantee I have the parts to even make it."