"You're not that much different from me, you know."
An unfamiliar woman's voice interrupted from a few stools over.
Belle turned around. "Excuse me?"
Raven black hair outlined her pale face and angular features. She threw her head back and laughed.
"You think because you're younger, prettier, more….bright-eyed than me you're hot shit? Don't lie , I see it all over your features. Always the case with you princess types. The so-called heroes." She traced a finger around the tall glass, looking thoughtful.
"Or are you the Damsel in Distress? No; you didn't want to be saved. You wanted to look strong, self-sufficient… brave. Yet you run into the arms of a man, or anyone really, when you need some attention. Some sympathy. And they believe you ,the fools. Except they don't; not really. The only thing they believe in is their hated of him. Now, I won't lie and say they're feelings are invalid because most times, they are. And we hate him so much that we become the things we said we never were; victims. It's an obvious lie; anyone not blinded by their hatred of him can see that he is the true victim. So ironic; tragic even. And we know it; we actively exploit it when we let them paint us as the poor beauties they must rescue from his beastly crutches. We even go so far to paint ourselves as victims while simultaneously destroying him from the inside out- you especially used this tactic; my intentions were very purposely lost in translation. And you know what… I'm not sure how I feel about it. I tore him down…I broke him so badly I didn't think it was possible. Don't I at least deserve proper credit for it? He was in pieces before I met him, though, so maybe it was just dumb luck. But you...you I did not see coming. I mean, you actually took the time to rebuild him, piece by piece, and made him think that he could actually be happy! You took your time; made him believe in you, in himself! Not even his little Bae could do that. He is thirsting for you to put him to make him whole still, like-like a craving…. It's brilliant! His father and I worked tirelessly to ensure the man became the beast we pretended he was; you took that beast, spent years making him think his life was worth a damn then bam!- you hit him with the truth. The convenient-for-you truth. Because you hate him and everyone else does; and that's all that matters. "
Belle woke up to her own reflection. Sharp jawline, pierving grey eyes, and long, flaring mosrils stared angrily though the glass. She tilted her head slightly; black hair coiled round her neck like a serpent ready to strike. Belle heard a small voice in her head scream that this was wrong, very very wrong. But as snapped her worn leather belt into place she looked out the ship's window and smiled.
She had never felt more at home.