One shots

Descendants - A Night Beneath the Stars

The moonlight spilled through the tall windows of the castle's balcony, casting a silvery glow across the stone floor. The night was quiet, save for the occasional rustling of leaves from the gardens below. It was peaceful up here, away from the chaos of the royal court, the endless meetings, and the duties that came with being the King of Auradon's girlfriend. Up here, it was just me and him.

Ben stood near the edge, his back to me, gazing out at the sprawling gardens below. His broad shoulders, barely visible in the dim light, looked so strong, so familiar, that my heart clenched in my chest. We had been through so much together—betrayal, battles, and learning how to be ourselves in a world that expected so much from us.

Tonight, though, it felt different. We were different.

I moved toward him, the soft fabric of my dress whispering against the stone floor as I walked. The cool night air kissed my skin, but I barely noticed. All I could focus on was Ben, standing there, waiting for me. His hair ruffled slightly in the breeze, and I couldn't help but smile at how perfect he looked, even when he was a little messy.

"Hey," I whispered as I came up beside him, my voice barely audible over the sound of the wind.

Ben turned to me, and for a moment, the world seemed to stop. His eyes—those deep, warm eyes—met mine, and I felt that familiar rush of emotion, that pull I always felt when I was near him. He smiled softly, reaching out to take my hand, and I let him, feeling the warmth of his skin against mine.

"Hey yourself," he murmured, his voice low and full of affection. "You look... incredible tonight."

I felt a blush creep up my neck, and I looked away, pretending to be interested in the gardens below. "It's just a dress," I mumbled, but I couldn't hide the smile tugging at my lips.

Ben chuckled softly, stepping closer until there was barely any space between us. His hand slid from mine, gently brushing my cheek, and I turned back to face him. The warmth of his touch sent a shiver down my spine, and suddenly, I wasn't so cold anymore.

"It's not the dress," he whispered, his thumb gently caressing my cheek. "It's you, Mal."

My breath hitched in my throat. No matter how many times he said it, I would never get used to how he made me feel—like I was the most important person in the world. Like I was enough, just as I was.

"I don't deserve you," I whispered, the words slipping out before I could stop them. It was something I still struggled with, even after everything. Could someone like me—someone who came from a place of darkness—really be worthy of someone like him?

Ben's expression softened, and he leaned in, his forehead resting against mine. "You deserve everything, Mal. And I'll spend my whole life proving it to you if I have to."

I closed my eyes, letting his words wash over me, sinking into the comfort of his presence. His hand moved to the back of my neck, pulling me closer, and I tilted my head slightly, feeling his breath warm against my lips.

When our lips finally met, it was like every time before and yet completely different. There was a gentleness to it, but also something deeper, something more urgent. I wrapped my arms around his neck, pulling him closer, needing him closer. His hands slid down to my waist, gripping me firmly, and the kiss deepened, our breaths mingling as the world faded away.

It was just us.

I pressed myself against him, feeling the solid warmth of his body against mine, and the tension that had been building between us for weeks finally snapped. There was no more holding back, no more pretending we didn't both want this—need this.

His lips left mine, trailing a slow, heated path down my jaw, to the sensitive skin of my neck, and I gasped softly, my fingers tightening in his hair. Every touch sent a jolt of electricity through me, setting my skin on fire in the best possible way.

"Ben," I whispered, barely able to think straight with the way he was kissing me, the way his hands were exploring every inch of me. "What if someone sees us?"

He pulled back just enough to look at me, his eyes dark with desire but full of that same tenderness that made my heart ache in the best way. "Let them," he whispered, his voice low and rough. "I don't care. I just want you."

I smiled, feeling a surge of warmth flood through me at his words. I tugged him back toward me, crashing my lips against his again, and this time, there was no hesitation. We kissed like we were the only two people in the world, like nothing else mattered but this moment, right here, right now.

His hands moved to my hips, lifting me slightly as I wrapped my legs around his waist, holding him close as our kiss deepened, growing more desperate, more intense. My heart was racing, and I could feel his pulse quicken against my skin, matching mine beat for beat.

We stumbled back against the stone wall of the balcony, the cool surface a sharp contrast to the heat between us, but I didn't care. All I cared about was him, the way he was making me feel, the way we fit together so perfectly, like we were made for this—for each other.

"Mal," he whispered against my lips, his voice hoarse with need. "I love you."

I pulled back just enough to look at him, my chest heaving, my heart swelling with everything I felt for him. "I love you too," I whispered, my voice breaking slightly with the weight of it.

And in that moment, with the stars shining above us and the world fading away, I knew—without a doubt—that this was where I was meant to be.

With him.

Always.