When an unexpected betrayal sends a wingless fairy into a lonely world of darkness and self-loathing, Rey must learn how to love herself again - with the help of a Raven
Events loosely inspired by the movie Maleficent
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There was a time when Rey had considered her body a prison, bound by insecurities held beneath internal darkness. It had taken her meeting Ben to realize she'd sentenced herself to that lonely world of desolation not long after her parents disappeared. Hux's betrayal had only provided more fuel to that lifelong enmity.
Because why else had her own flesh and blood abandoned her? And having no friends must've meant something was wrong with her - right?
Well, according to Ben, the answer to that was a most definite no.
She tried to believe him, but it was easier said than done. No thanks to other fairies who continuously hurled insults whenever she and Ben ventured near the lagoon.
Rey pretended not to have noticed. Although, occasionally, the poison coating their barbs seeped into her pores like daggers tearing through flesh. Even with the cascades roaring in the background, the insults rang plain as day to her ears.
"Is that a human he's with?" She overheard a fairy remark.
"Duh, he's gorgeous! Don't you know being with someone like her puts the focus on him?" Another quipped.
Out of all the slander she heard, the comment that never ceased to cut her the deepest was ' he must feel sorry for her. ' She found herself needing constant reassurance that it wasn't true.
Ben never said much over the matter, but she knew that he had to of heard them too. Jaw flexed at the slightest mention of wingless fairy, she saw the disdain of their rueful pettiness through the fire gleaming in his eyes.
Rather than causing a scene he would give her hand a squeeze. He'd lean over then and kiss her temple or her lips. Sometimes both. He'd remind her that he loved her - and Rey believed him.
As the days carried into weeks, the fears regarding the credibility of Ben's feelings towards her progressively receded. The more those inner chains crippled at the links, the more she felt like herself again.
Her old self.
The Rey before she was abandoned. Before she was betrayed. In the place of scars, she felt powerful, confident, and free - and irrevocably in love.
Every so often though, for the sake of acquiring a better peace of mind, they walked to that secluded hideaway beyond the realm. During one of their mid-afternoon leisure strolls together, her attention flitted from its previous quest of finding new trinkets for her collection to something else entirely.
"I was wondering," Rey stated pensively, brows furrowed. "That night when you healed me - was it hard to do?"
Ben slowly shook his head, upper lip quirked. "I mean, I guess it was a bit complicated at first. But like any skill, it requires practice in order for you to succeed, and it'll eventually start coming to you naturally."
