Chapter Text
A low, rhythmic beat pulsed from a nearby speaker, humming under the clamor of a dozen different voices locked in conversation.
The room was packed with people. Some stood off to the side, a crowd forming around a folding table set with rows of red cups as pairs took turns tossing a ping pong ball. A round of cheers echoed through the room as a ball sank neatly into a cup with a splash. Others lounged around the kitchen area, filling their own cups with various juices and sodas, topping them off with a generous pour of clear liquor. Most, however, claimed whatever sliver of space they could find and chatted amongst the other guests.
Chloe leaned against the wall furthest from the large cluster of people, one arm crossed over her chest while the other held a cup—lemonade with a splash of rum—that Red handed her as soon as she walked into the house. She had practically begged Chloe to come out tonight. It wasn't often she chose to attend parties, but today was Max's birthday, and everyone knew the VKs threw the best parties, so she gave in to Red's request. She'd kept it simple: a fitted white crop top paired with a baby blue pleated skirt and a silver necklace and earrings.
Now, Red sat with Luis in the corner of the room. On his lap, since the rest of the couch was filled with a handful of other Auradon students. This meant Chloe was by herself at the moment. That was fine, since she didn't particularly feel like third-wheeling the couple for the rest of the night.
She took another sip of her drink, eyes scanning the crowd for anyone she knew. Robbie and Felix were on their fourth game of cup pong, as no one was able to defeat them and end their reign of terror. They played against a pair of students Chloe didn't recognize, and the crowd around them roared as the unbeatable duo absolutely destroyed them. Too loud. No thanks.
Chloe caught a flash of color from the corner of her eye, and she turned to see Pink flitting through the crowd brandishing a tray of cupcakes. She was handing them out to whoever she could, and when she noticed Chloe's gaze, she pointed to a cupcake with a raised brow. Chloe held up a hand and shook her head, a small smile on her face, which Pink returned before scurrying off again. Nope. Sugar and alcohol never sat well together in her stomach, and Chloe didn't have the strength to resist Pink's puppy-dog eyes for long.
A shout drew her attention to the far end of the room, where the Smee twins were leaning over a table, locked in a fierce arm-wrestling match. Nearby, Hazel Hook stood with the birthday boy himself, the pair watching the twins with amusement as they chatted quietly among themselves. She wore a deep burgundy leather vest open over a white, cropped tank top, leaving her toned arms and abdomen exposed. Black leather pants and boots tied it together, along with gold jewelry littered across her neck, hands, and ears. Chloe found it hard to look away.
As if sensing Chloe's gaze, Hazel's eyes flicked to hers and held. The pirate's lips curled into a slow smirk, and she shot her a wink across the room. Chloe rolled her eyes and jerked her chin away, pointedly ignoring the woman. Absolutely not.
Seeing no good options, she pushed off the wall and made for the kitchen. Another drink wouldn't do any harm. She slipped through the crowd, muttering apologies as she shouldered her way past people.
Finally, she made it to the kitchen counter, where a row of clear bottles sat half-emptied among abandoned seltzers and soda cans. She decided to change it up a bit, reaching into the fridge to grab a can of Sprite and mixing it with a heaping splash of strawberry vodka. After an experimental sip, she hummed in approval.
"Need any company?" a voice called from behind her.
Chloe turned to face a guy with wavy copper hair and a square jaw. He was dressed in a sports team jersey she didn't recognize with dark jeans. His smile was friendly, and he held a can of beer in one hand.
Chloe returned the smile politely, glancing around the room once more. "Apparently, since it seems all of my friends are occupied at the moment."
The man laughed. He approached the fridge and grabbed another can. "Yeah, my friend ditched me to go flirt with some girls. Guess we're in the same boat." He leaned his back against the counter and held his drink out towards her.
Chloe's smile eased into something less practiced. She tapped her cup to his. "Guess so."
They both took a swig. After a moment, he spoke again. "So, you're Chloe Charming, right? Cinderella's daughter?"
Chloe raised her brows at him. "Yeah. How'd you know? We haven't met before, have we?"
He laughed and shook his head. "No, no, we haven't met. I'm new. You're just kinda famous around here. Who wouldn't know the Princess Chloe Charming?"
Chloe flushed slightly under the praise but chuckled. "Just Chloe, please. No need to be so formal."
He beamed and stuck out a hand. "Well, nice to meet you, Chloe. My name is Alex. I'm a new transfer student." He leaned in conspiratorially, lowering his voice a bit. "And before you ask, my uncle is Hercules. Not quite an HK, but maybe an HK adjacent."
She was surprised when a real laugh tumbled from her lips. With another smile, she shook his hand. "Nice to meet you, Alex."
"Chloe!" Another voice drew her attention back to the party.
Red was shoving her way towards her, Luis in tow. A big grin stretched across her face as she stopped abruptly in front of them, causing Luis to almost crash into her back. She gave a polite nod to Alex before turning to Chloe.
"We're going to head out in a few. I think I'm gonna spend the night at Luis's. Do you want us to walk you home?" She spoke a little louder than necessary in the quieter kitchen area, clearly drunk, given the dopey smile.
"Oh…" Chloe hesitated for a second. It was only just after midnight. She glanced at Alex. "I think I'll stay out a little longer. Don't worry, I'll head back with Pink."
Red blinked, then shrugged. "Okay! See you later!" She grabbed Luis's hand and dragged him back through the house. He waved a hand in farewell before the crowd swallowed them up.
"So," Chloe turned back to Alex and gestured to the party around them. "How are you liking Auradon?"
They talked like that for a while, the quieter section of the kitchen letting them hear each other without shouting. She found herself laughing more than she expected. Small talk was never really her strong suit, but Alex guided the flow of conversation with ease.
He was funny. And sweet. Maybe she could introduce him to her friends, try to set him up with Max. He seemed a bit too old for Pink.
A tingle on the back of her neck drew her attention back to the far side of the room. Hazel Hook was glaring at them from where she stood, casually ignoring the now full-on wrestling match the Smees were participating in. Her scowl was aimed at Alex, and when her eyes flicked to Chloe's, her lips turned into a thin line.
Chloe raised an eyebrow at her, but the pirate just turned away, taking a long drink from her cup. She was still frowning.
"Everything okay?" Alex asked, bringing her focus back to the kitchen.
"Oh, yeah, everything's fine. Don't worry." She responded quickly.
Alex followed her line of sight to the VKs. "Is Hook bothering you? I can scare her off if you'd like."
Chloe snorted a laugh at that. "No, no. Hook's fine, she just… knows how to get under my skin, is all. She's infuriating, but harmless."
She glanced back to the woman in question, who was now on the ground with Max trying to pull the Smees apart.
"Besides," Chloe continued, smiling. "She'd be more likely to scare you off if you're not careful."
Alex chuckled. "I could take her."
Chloe found that hard to believe. She thought of the time Hazel almost made a student pee himself after he tried to steal Squirmy's lunch, but she didn't say anything, just rolled her eyes, amused. She didn't feel the need to crush his ego tonight.
"So, I was thinking…" Alex started, setting his drink down and turning to face her. Chloe set hers down as well. "Would you maybe wanna get out of here? With me?" His smile was timid, but hopeful.
Chloe blinked. Was he asking what she thought he was? "Oh- Uh… I can't. I'm walking back with Pink tonight."
"I can walk you back instead," he offered.
Chloe avoided meeting his eyes, her shoulders drawing up to her ears. "But then who would walk Pink back?"
Alex shrugged. "We can drop her off on the way."
Ugh. He wasn't making this easy. Chloe fumbled for another excuse, but came up dry. "Sorry, I just can't tonight."
Alex tilted his head. "Oh, okay. Well, maybe we could grab lunch sometime?"
Chloe groaned internally. Clearly he got the wrong idea somewhere in their conversation. Had she been accidentally flirting again?
When Chloe didn't answer, Alex spoke again. "I'll be honest, I think you're really cute. I liked talking to you tonight, and I wanted to ask you out."
Welp, there was no mistaking it now. Chloe straightened, closing her eyes with a grimace. "Look, Alex," She forced her eyes to meet his. "I think you're a great guy and all, but I'm not really interested. I'm sorry."
His brow furrowed. "I don't get it. If you think I'm a great guy, why not go out with me?"
Chloe ran a hand along the back of her neck and sighed. "It's nothing personal, really! You're just… not really my type."
Now Alex frowned. "Not your type? Come on, you barely even know me. Can't you just give me a chance?"
Chloe narrowed her eyes at him. "Listen, I'm not interested. I think we could maybe make good friends, but respectfully, you need to back off."
Alex gave a frustrated huff and crossed his arms. "Fine. Whatever."
Chloe turned to scan the room again. She'd rather be anywhere else right now. Pink was nowhere to be seen, so that wasn't an option. Spotting Robbie and Felix still hanging on to their streak at the cup pong table, Chloe turned back to the counter. She'd have to endure the noise of the gathered crowd for a little while, but she'd take it.
"I'm gonna go. I'll see you around." She grabbed her cup from the counter and made her way out of the kitchen.
Alex just grunted in response, not moving from where he stood, leaning against the counter. He watched her go.
Robbie spotted her as she joined the gathered onlookers at the pong table. "Yo, Chloe! Watch this!"
He flicked his wrist, and a ping pong ball sailed straight into the far cup. The crowd around them cheered, and Felix clapped Robbie on the back. Chloe rolled her eyes, but smiled.
She watched the game for a little while, finishing the rest of her drink, slightly impressed at the boys' skill at the party game. They called out rules Chloe didn't know, occasionally forcing one of the players to make a trick shot. Even Chloe cheered when Felix made a shot from behind his back.
Both teams had three cups left. The boys were entirely concentrated on the game now, determined not to lose their streak. Just as Robbie sank another ball, a wave of dizziness washed over Chloe. The round of cheers around her was muffled by the sound of blood rushing through her ears. She staggered back a step.
"Woah, Chlo, you alright?" She looked up to see Felix watching her, concern etched in his brow.
She waved him off. "Yeah, yeah. I'm fine. Just need the bathroom."
"Mine's right in there." He pointed to an open door off to the side. "Need me to show you?"
A sweet offer, but Chloe didn't want to take him from the game. "That's alright, I can find it. Thanks."
He nodded, and she headed for the door, concentrating on walking as another wave of dizziness stole her footing. Her body felt hot. She stumbled through the doorway, only vaguely aware of the people around her. She just needed to make it to the bathroom.
Suddenly, she collided with something solid and warm. She grabbed onto it, steadying herself as she took a step back and pulled her gaze up.
"Charming? I'm surprised you came within ten feet of me." Hazel Hook tilted her head, amusement dancing in her brown eyes.
Chloe's eyes flitted around her face, her hand still clinging to Hazel's bicep for balance. "Bathroom," was all she managed to croak out.
Hazel's brow furrowed, concern softening her usually sharp features. She placed a hand on Chloe's elbow, holding her in place. "Are you okay? You don't look so good."
Chloe shook her head, then immediately regretted it when it made the room spin. She felt sweat forming on the back of her neck. "I- I'm fine. I just need to-"
Her knees chose that moment to give out from under her. Hazel caught her by the elbows. "Woah there, Princess. How many drinks have you had?"
Max came up to stand next to them, and the Smee twins hovered nearby. She hadn't noticed them in the room. Hazel didn't release her hold.
Chloe waited for her legs to steady before responding. "Just two," she whispered.
Hazel's eyes widened. "Two? You sure?"
Chloe nodded, and Hazel shared a look with Max.
"You don't think…" Max trailed off.
Hazel turned her attention back to Chloe, frowning. She placed a cool hand on her forehead. The relief was immediate, and Chloe couldn't help but lean into it.
"Damnit, Charming. You're burning up."
Hazel curled a finger under her chin and tilted her face up towards the light. Chloe was suddenly grateful for the fever, as it likely did well hiding the blush that now painted her cheeks. The pirate held up her pointer finger, slowly moving it side to side as she studied Chloe's eyes. She tried her best to track it, but from the look on Hazel's face, she probably wasn't doing a very good job.
Hazel brushed a thumb across her cheek, then dropped her hand. "Alright, let's find you somewhere to sit."
Her touch was gentler than expected as she led Chloe to a small plush chair in the corner. Cheers erupted from the other room, and a few moments later, Robbie and Felix walked through the door.
"Hey, we just finished our game and wanted to come check on Chloe," Felix said. Max nodded to where she sat, and they followed his line of sight. "Woah, is she okay?"
Max walked over to them, but Hazel still hovered nearby. She watched as he gestured the boys closer, arms crossed over his chest, voice low.
"She can barely stand, she has a fever, and her pupils are dilated. We think someone may have slipped something in her drink," he explained.
Chloe balked. "You think someone drugged me?"
Max cringed, clearly not meaning for her to overhear. Hazel knelt in front of her and placed a reassuring hand on her knee. It was warm.
"It's alright, Princess. You're safe here. We'll take care of you," Hazel soothed. It was so different from what Chloe usually expected from the pirate. It threw her off balance almost as much as the dizziness had.
"But who would have even done that?" Robbie asked.
A glimpse of copper curls flashed in Chloe's mind, and her eyes widened. She glanced up to see Hazel's gaze already trained on her face, eyes narrowed, and jaw clenched. Her grip on Chloe's knee tightened for a second before she stood.
"Oh, I have an idea who," she hissed. Hazel snapped her fingers, and everyone's attention was on her. "Robbie, find Pink and get on the phone with Red. Smees, take care of Charming. Food, water, anything she needs. Max?"
He nodded. "I'll tell everyone the party's over."
Hazel returned the nod. "Thanks. Felix, you're with me." She gestured to him to follow, and took a step towards the door.
Chloe reached out on instinct, a rush of panic filling her at the thought of the pirate leaving. Hazel turned back to face her, but when Chloe opened her mouth, nothing came out.
Hazel's face softened at the plea in her eyes. "Don't worry, Princess. I'll be back before you know it." She brushed a thumb over her cheek again, and before Chloe could protest, she was out the door, followed by everyone but the twins.
A stillness followed in their wake, and for a few seconds, the Smees just looked at her. Chloe groggily blinked back. Then they broke into a blur of motion. One fluffed a pillow for her head to rest on while the other ran out of the room muttering something about snacks. A second later, Pink scrambled into the room, breathing heavily as she closed the door behind her. She ran over and cupped her face between her hands, rambling about something Chloe couldn't quite pick up, other than a few oh my hearts and are you okays.
Somehow, they all managed to work together smoothly and efficiently, and soon Chloe was settled comfortably in her chair with a glass of water and a ham sandwich. Well, as comfortable as she could be with the burning fever and growing nausea.
She didn't know how much time had passed, but after getting some water and food in her system, the fog around Chloe's mind slowly began to lift. In its place, however, the drowsiness took over. She was finding it hard to keep her eyes open, and with the low chatter of the trio around her, she nearly nodded off.
She was startled awake at the sound of a knock on the door. Pink went to open it, and Hazel stepped inside. Her eyes immediately found Chloe's. At the sight of the woman, a tension in Chloe's shoulders loosened, one she hadn't realized was there. Her eyes started to droop again.
She faced Pink. "How is she?"
"Better," Pink replied. "She ate something, and mentioned her head felt clearer. I think now she's just tired."
They both turned to Chloe, and Hazel strode over in a few quick steps. She knelt in front of the chair, placing a hand on her knee just as she did before. Chloe couldn't tear her eyes away from her face.
"How are you feeling, Princess?" Hazel asked.
Chloe looked at her through hooded eyes, a small smile on her face. "Better," she replied. She thought for a moment. "Tired."
Hazel smiled softly. "How about we get you to sleep, then?" She stood, offering a hand. "Think you can walk?"
Chloe nodded and reached out, but paused when she looked down. She grabbed Hazel's hand and pulled it closer to her face. A few red gashes spread across her knuckles, and the skin surrounding them was blemished with red and purple bruising.
"What happened?" Chloe whispered.
Hazel flipped her palm over, grabbing both of Chloe's hands in hers. They were soft and gentle.
"Don't worry about that right now. Let's just get you to bed," Hazel murmured.
Chloe's brow furrowed as she looked up at her, but she sighed and relented with a nod. She would ask her again once she had a clearer head.
Hazel pulled her to her feet, but the second Chloe tried to take a step, her knees wobbled. The pirate caught her effortlessly, one arm holding her up by the elbow, the other wrapped firmly around her waist. Chloe fought the rising blush on her cheeks at their proximity.
Hazel chuckled. "Alright, new plan."
Before Chloe could ask what that meant, Hazel bent down and scooped her knees out from under her in a bridal carry. She shifted, pulling Chloe close to her chest.
She was definitely blushing now. She could only hope Hazel couldn't see it from this angle. Pink, however, absolutely could, and when she glanced at her, Pink was watching with a raised eyebrow and a wide smirk. Chloe hid her face in Hazel's shoulder.
After the initial panic, the drowsiness came back full force. Hazel was warm. Her arms were wrapped securely around Chloe, and her shoulder was the perfect place to rest her head. Her chest rumbled in a soothing hum as she spoke quietly to the people in the room, but Chloe wasn't listening anymore.
Her eyes fluttered shut, and she drifted off to sleep.