Chapter Text
Gang is life. They all lived by it. Mal, Evie, Carlos, and Jay. They all had their roles and they all played them perfectly. Mal was the leader, she had the most power (being Maleficent’s daughter made that easy) she did what it took to survive. Jay was her second. He was the strongest, he was big and intimidating. He protected his people. Evie was the flirt, she knew how to read people and get what she wanted. Carlos was the heart. Carlos was the glue that held them together when they fought, he was the reason they stuck together when things got tough. It’s also a plus that he’s a freaking genius. But that is neither here nor there. Gang is life and they will always live by it.
That didn’t mean life was easy, but it made it more bearable. They were a tough crew and quite skilled at what they knew. If someone tried to test them and press into their territory they were in for one hell of a surprise. If someone dared to hurt someone claimed by the gang they found out exactly what would happen. Word spread quickly of their ruthlessness and of their raw amount of violence. Every time they had to defend themselves there would be a short peace after until someone forgot what they were known for. Mal alone was enough to scare away most people, but if all four of them were there no common folk would dare test them. Only other gangs or very powerful individuals. Gang is life and everyone on the Isle knows that. So when someone tried to touch Evie when she was teasing him, it was no surprise that he lost a tooth from the impact of Jay’s fist. If someone grabbed at Carlos too hard Evie would send a knife straight into their hand. Or neck depending on what she preferred at the time. If someone tried to get at Jay hell would rain down in the form of a feral little boy who was not afraid to bite. (and hard) If that didn’t work the other two were never far behind. And if anyone dared to attempt anything against Mal that caused a frenzy so bloody that once it cleared out a whole block. The four of them stood amongst over a dozen ‘dead’ (They’d wake up later) or gravely injured people. No, the four of them formed a wicked team and they ruled their territory with fierce protectiveness. If you were able to live in their territory you could be sure you’d be as safe as you could be on the Isle. Provided you didn’t cross the gang, then you were doomed. Unless you spawned one of them.
Their parents. The only people on the Isle that the four genuinely feared. The only ones truly capable of destroying them. At times Evie was locked away for days, left to starve to death, and only allowed out if she was the appropriate weight. Mal returns from Maleficent with a haunted look in her eyes, sometimes a bruise, cut, or burn on her face. Carlos is constantly covered in bruises and burns, his mother always has reasons to give them. Jay comes down with a deadly illness after being kicked out too many nights in a row for not stealing enough. The gang tries to keep each other safe. Tries to keep each other dry, but their parents have a way of stealing that away from them whenever they please. Mal freezes at the sound of chains. Carlos flinches whenever someone moves too fast or speaks too loud. Jay panics if he doesn't have enough in his stash. Evie can’t breathe if her stomach is full, no matter how rare the occasion. They all have things and they all ignore them. Fear is weakness and they can’t afford to be weak. They can’t afford to lose their reputation no matter how often it haunts them.
So when Evie stumbles into the hideout two hours late, her clothes torn, and silent tears streaming down her face, the gang knows it’s time to reiterate to the Isle just how vicious they can be.