It all started with a broken cup.
No...not broken. Chipped. She'd said chipped.
It looked broken to him.
Was that how she saw everything? Just chipped, never broken.
Even people?
Even monsters?
So, it all started with a chipped cup.
Such a meaningless object.
He couldn't understand her. She was so…agreeable. Nodding and murmuring a demure "yes sir" to all his requests. He'd wanted to shake her up, bring out that fire he'd seen from her in the throne room. So he uttered a few choice monster remarks, just to inspire horror. Just joking.
She…didn't react like he thought she would.
The look of shock was priceless, don't get him wrong. It was worth it for that look alone. Instead of being furious though, angry, sullen, silent…she'd laughed. Albeit nervously, relieved, but laughed.
He wanted to make her laugh again.
It was the next few seconds however that were the most vital, the most extraordinary, the ones that sealed it. As she scooped up the chipped cup and ran her fingers over it, and apologised – tried to make it alright – he felt something…odd.
She was so innocent, so beautiful and so not afraid. She didn't yell that it was his fault. She didn't cower in fear of punishment. She didn't smirk, because wouldn't it serve him right if she broke all his things. She was regretful, hoping she hadn't…upset him, trying to make it all okay.
It was odd; someone caring what he thought, caring about his things, his feelings, wanting to do her best…for him.
"It's just a cup."
Except it wasn't. Not anymore.