Ben.
Seventeen. Junior Year.
He didn't ask Mal out. At all.
Even without the Leah issue, Ben knew he couldn't move on immediately after a break up without causing some kind of drama. And for her part, Mal didn't seem interested in a relationship.
He meant to ask.
After meeting with his parents, when he knew what their plan was to deal with Leah and Stefan, he asked Mal into his office. Tried to explain what was happening without compromising national security.
But she had other plans.
When he started talking, she'd cut him off with a kiss and made him forget what his point was.
And, well, sneaking around, being bad, was so much more fun.
With Audrey it had been all about the optics.
He could say that without guilt. She was still one of his best friends, and she was an excellent princess. But her grandmother's influence could be grating.
He remembered the Audrey he grew up with, who laughed and joked and got mud on her dresses. But then at some point around age fifteen Queen Leah started training her. Started moulding her into a perfect princess. Planning for the Queen's crown.
He didn't miss the younger version, he liked this version perfectly well. But, like so much in royal life, this Audrey knew she had to consider things like duty and appearances and doing the most good.
With Mal, there was no pressure.
It was almost like he was a normal guy, messing around with a girl he liked.
…
"Come meet my parents."
Mal jumped, surprised when Ben appeared behind her right shoulder. He bit back a grin, filing this away as one of the few times he'd ever been able to sneak up on her.
She had been engrossed in watching Doug's extended family teaching Evie how to play croquet - it was one of the biggest endorsements the VKs could get. Should-be enemies building bridges.
"What?" Mal laughed nervously, as if she wasn't sure if he was kidding or not. She glanced back at him, her eyes guarded, before turning her attention back to the croquet field. Evie shot a knowing grin in Mal's direction when Doug stepped to 'help' her with her swing.
Ben had to give his best friend points for effort - Doug would use any excuse, no matter how flimsy, to get close to Evie.
He wished he had the same freedom with Mal.
It had been a few weeks since his break up with Audrey. Beyond that kiss in his office, nothing really changed. They were friends. They hung out.
It was perfectly Princely.
Queen Leah's press machine was in overdrive; painting the VK programme as a risk to national security, blaming Ben's preoccupation with the programme for the breakdown of his relationship with Audrey, spouting straight up lies and mistruths from the Old Days. They'd managed to keep Mal's name out of the press, even if the rumours in school had taken a while to die out.
The reaction was…mixed. The hard line conservatives were baying for action - but that wasn't much different from their previous stance. The liberals held up Leah's venom as an example of dangerous and outdated behaviours. And the silent majority...well a lot of them had kids at Auradon Prep.
Today was a test of tolerance. Everyone knew it.
Mal had been uncharacteristically nervous about today (my Mom had an affair with her husband Ben! I don't know about Auradon, but 'sins of the mother' is a very real concept where I come from!) and had avoided him at both dinner the night before and breakfast this morning. He wasn't about to let that continue.
"Come meet my parents," he repeated. Feeling brave, and maybe a little jealous of Doug's ability to wear his heart on his sleeve, Ben let his fingertips rest briefly on her waist as he leant forward, "They know all my friends. You guys aren't any different."
Something like sadness flashed through Mal's eyes, but she shut it down before Ben could be sure that was what he saw. "Should I grab the others?"
Mal gestured over to where Jay and Carlos were getting well acquainted with the chocolate fountain, but he grabbed her free hand with a shake of his head. Mal's eyes went wide as he hid their interlocked fingers between their bodies.
It was a huge risk. Mal didn't even know how huge.
But just for a moment, he wanted to make sure she understood where his head was at. That just because they couldn't be out in the open yet...that didn't mean he didn't want it.
"Why don't we just do you first?"
Mal blushed. Then rolled her eyes and laughed.
Turning - pulling her hand from his - she tilted her heads towards where his parents were talking with Fairy Godmother by one of the buffet tables. "Lead the way, Bennyboo."
…
"It's so nice to finally meet you!" Belle gushed, reaching out and pulling Mal into a hug.
Ben had to bite back a laugh when he saw Mal stiffen in surprise. He could only imagine the expression that was on her face.
Both of Ben's parents were very 'involved'. Belle was on the PTA, even if she couldn't make all the meetings. Adam had coached little league.
So his parents knew that if he was bringing a girl over one on one, it meant something. And they'd be nice, even if Mal probably scared them a little.
"How are you settling in?" Adam asked, offering a hand to Mal, then following it up with a second hand on top and a squeeze. "Fairy Godmother tells me you're very talented in the Art Department."
"It's just a little hobby," Mal shrugged, brushing off the compliment, but the embarrassed smile on her face remained.
She still wasn't used to people having nice things to say about her - and not viewing it as a snub. "I'm trying to convince Fairy Godmother to let us do some murals as the end of year project."
"That sounds lov-"
"What is this? You!"
It took all of Ben's willpower to remain composed when Queen Leah's shrill screech pierced the air. Everyone froze. No one dared breathe.
Mal tensed, and Ben was sure he saw his father roll his eyes.
"Queen Leah, it's alright." Ben put on his most soothing voice, trying to keep his irritation from showing. He stepped in front of Mal, blocking her from Leah's oncoming storm.
Audrey was over by the chocolate fountain with Jane - she eyed her grandmother warily, and sent Ben a here we go look.
"Alright?" Leah howled, pointing over his shoulder at Mal. "Why is she here! Why did you let them off the island?"
She attempted to round Ben - he skirted around with her, and Mal put her hands on his back. Ben didn't have time to think too much about it - was she trying to make sure he didn't step on her shoes? Was she looking for some kind of comfort? He didn't know. "How has she stayed so young?"
"Leah." Belle stepped into the fray, her tone firm. Her hands on Leah's shoulders looked comforting, placating, but Ben knew it hid an iron grip. "Are you feeling okay dear? Mal looks nothing like her mother, and Maleficent was in her thirties when she was banished."
Adam followed his wife's lead, stepping in next to Mal and wrapping a fatherly arm around her shoulder. "Why don't we head off for some lunch? You can tell me about these murals you have planned while Belle and Leah find Aurora."
Ben felt relief coursing through him as the people shifted their attention away from the scene at such an obvious directive from their High King and Queen.
He knew his parents hadn't totally agreed with his plans for the Isle. But they'd supported him. That was the family rule. Always supportive in public, even if privately they'd challenged him to make sure he'd thought it all through.
But here, where it mattered, this was more than just words of approval.
His parents had literally formed a wall around Mal, protecting her from one of their own.
Between their show of faith, and Doug's family's little croquet game, change was coming.
And watching his father and Mal walk through Family Day arm in arm, Ben couldn't help but think that it couldn't come fast enough.
…
Ben had hoped things would change after Family Day.
They didn't.
The pictures of Mal and Adam made headlines. As did the fact Mal didn't curse Queen Leah when she 'attempted to start a fight'.
He'd introduced her to his parents, for godsake.
But no, they were still stuck in that place between friendship and dating.
They started flirting openly, upping the ante until one of them snapped and dragged the other into an empty store closet.
She broke far less often than he did.
Mal saw a rule, and instead of colouring inside the lines, she wondered how far she could bend the line before it broke.
Don't leave the dorms after 11pm. The doors are locked at curfew. No one in or out unless authorised by Fairy Godmother. It was a rule he'd always accepted. And skirted around many times due to royal duties.
So when Mal turned up at his door at midnight, about a week after Family Day, dragging him up to the roof to watch a meteor shower, it was like glimpsing a whole new world.
The rush from taking a risk. The lure of the forbidden.
He'd never known anything like it.
Never known anything like her.
He was hooked. Couldn't get her out of his mind. He was getting worse at playing it cool too. But they never moved onto anything official.
It should have bothered him more than it did.
It wasn't like he was worried she was playing around. Somehow, he knew he was the only one who had her attention.
Then, before he knew it, the VKs had been there four months and summer came.
At which point all the things he'd so carefully planned turned on their head.
...
Ben's plan for the summer between Junior and Senior year consisted of royal training, diplomatic and charity events, and pre-season tourney. Maybe a few dinners with friends. Securing the next lot of VKs - the first year was a success, so he wanted to try with a larger sample size this time. Across multiple year groups.
He'd asked Mal for her opinions on who should be next, but she'd completely balked at the question and pointed him in Evie's direction.
Evie then proceeded to give him an ultimatum on bringing over her surrogate little sister, and a binder of profiles on every VK still on the Isle with pros and cons and implications and wider ramifications.
For example, she'd annotated Uma, Daughter of Ursula with the words 'is probably running the Isle now, should probably continue to run the Isle until the last kids are off, but will have taken it incredibly personally that you didn't pick her first.' and 'Also, Uma will have at least one catfight with Mal when you put them in the same room.'
He had so much work to do. But it would be worth it.
His family were still keeping tabs on Leah and Stefan as well.
Audrey had fed back that she was hearing whispers of unrest. Of some big stunt over the summer to try and force Adam's hand.
Leah's little stunt at Family Day hadn't worked, and Ben had no doubt she'd be furious. She'd tried to get a reaction, to provoke Mal into defending herself magically.
He shuddered to think what she would try next.
But the one thing he was looking forward to this summer was playing tour guide to Mal, Evie, Carlos and Jay. Especially Mal.
His father had put his foot down about letting the first group go back to the Isle for the summer. Too risky. What about all their stuff? Would they become targets? Would the villains see them as weapons? What if Cruella finally killed Carlos?
Arrangements had been made for them to stay at Beast Castle. They were offered part-time internships so they could catch up with their peers but still explore their new home. Video calls home were allowed. They could monitor those.
And in his most private of thoughts, Ben imagined taking Mal to his family's private beach for sunrise.
It wasn't until two weeks before school was due to finish up and he was reviewing the paperwork for the summer programme that Ben noticed something odd.
Evie's position with Cogsworth, confirmed.
Carlos' position with the Darlings at their rescue centre, confirmed.
Jay's position with Tarzan, coaching grassroots and community sports, confirmed.
Mal's position at the Auradon Museum...declined. Alternative arrangements made. Details unknown, follow up required.
...
"What do you mean you declined the summer programme?"
Ben slammed the paperwork on the table next to where Mal was studying with much more force than intended. He couldn't help it. He was pissed.
After reading the note from Lumiere, he'd called to make sure he'd read the update properly. Then he'd berated Lumiere for not following up on the rejection himself - they'd known for four days already - and tried to ignore the way Lumiere stumbled over something that sounded like 'but we thought you'd know what your gir' before cutting himself off.
He didn't know what to think. They weren't together. She didn't owe him anything. He'd gone to great lengths to make sure she knew that he wasn't being a creep and abusing his power, and that the future of the VK programme had nothing to do with them but-
Dammit, he just wished she'd told him herself.
For her part, Mal looked entirely nonplussed about the whole thing. She simply looked up at him, raised an eyebrow and asked dryly, "Exactly what you just said?"
It infuriated him.
"And what exactly is your plan, Mal?" He snapped, ignoring their audience. It was mid-evening on a Wednesday. Finals didn't finish until Friday. He and Mal had their history exam in the morning.
Half their history class was scattered throughout the library, no one brave enough to look up. Even Mrs Porter, Coach Tarzan's wife and resident librarian, was studiously looking elsewhere.
This was all incredibly un-Princely. Causing scenes in libraries and shouting in public.
Mal brought out the Beast in him. Big deal.
"You can't stay in school all summer, you can't go back to the Isle and I sure as hell won't see you on the stre-"
"Tell me something about yourself that you've never told anyone else."
Ben was taken aback by Mal's question, so much so that he was stunned into silence. "What?"
"We're friends, right?" Mal shrugged, but wouldn't meet his eye. She glared at one of the students that was a little too close to them for her liking - one of Doug's cousins, he ran right off - and then she flicked her wrist and suddenly no one was paying attention to them.
Before he could ask if she'd just spelled an entire library she continued, "Friends tell each other things. Things they don't tell anyone else."
"I..Okay. Fine."
Ben had no idea where this was going, but he didn't think he was going to get an answer any other way. Even if he wanted to argue the 'friends' part quite velehmently.
He dropped into the seat across from her with a huff and shrugged, "I hate dancing at balls. Even when I was with Audrey, the girls always thought it was the start of a love story. Jane and Lonnie are literally the only two people who treat me like a normal human being at those things."
"That's...kinda depressing." Mal laughed, pulling a face that he assumed was meant to be sympathetic.
"I'm the most eligible seventeen year old in Auradon. I'm a piece of meat." He drummed his fingers on the table impatiently, the Beast stewing dangerously under the surface, "Now are you going to tell me why-"
"Mal isn't short for Maleficent."
She shocked him into silence again, and still wouldn't meet his eye.
Ben frowned, taking a moment to think through his response before hedging, "I didn't think it was short for anything. I thought it was your mom's ego."
Whatever Mal was short for, it unsettled her. And despite his frustration with her, he didn't like it. He wanted to make it better.
He wished he'd called her to his study. They could be open there. Here, he had to be mindful of their audience.
Even if they were spelled.
"My name was one of the few arguments my dad won when I was a baby. Access was the big one he lost. So he had to bend the rules." Mal shrugged.
Ben knew Mal broke the rules of the Isle and saw her father. She'd mentioned him a few times, but nothing substantial. But it was more than she mentioned her mother.
She sighed, finally meeting his gaze, "I literally don't have a drop of human blood in me. But because I'm part fairy, Mom had to make sure I knew my real name. It's Μάλια."
"Your name's ma-li-ah?" Ben repeated, trying it out. Something rushed through him when he said it, something powerful, and he had a sudden sense of foreboding. "Like the place in Greece where everyone goes to party?"
"Yep. In English it's spelled the same way as Malia." She paused, looked down at her notebook, and Ben noticed she was rereading her notes on Mount Olympus. "It's a town in Crete that happens to sit on an entrance to the Underworld. You know, pit of deprivation and bad choices and temptation. All the chaotic things my dad likes. My name was meant to guide me home if he couldn't bend the rules enough."
"Home." Ben repeated dully, his throat tight, "To the Underworld."
Ben was suddenly replaying every conversation they'd had over the last few months. Every interaction. How had he missed it?
Are we talking about reading or speaking? And are we including dead ones?
I can read any language. Family trick.
I can speak eleven, but that includes Latin because you need it for so many spells. And three of them are the Attic, Koine and Modern versions of Greek.
Everyone knows Hades likes his souls without unnecessary years removed.
Ben, look! This says I didn't just get an A, I came top of the class! My dad- He, uh, he was really into Olympian history. He'd probably think this was cool. Yeah.
My name was meant to guide me home if he couldn't bend the rules enough.
Ben thought of the last Council Meeting he'd attended. He thought of the imposing god, with his blue hair and flames and leather...
"You really weren't paying attention in history class were you?" Mal sounded like she wanted to laugh, and she probably would have if she wasn't so concerned about his lack of reaction. "Mark of the gods?"
Ben thought back to the lessons a few weeks ago on Mount Olympus, the towering mass just south of Auradon. For the most part, the gods usually kept to themselves. The odd nymph or demigod came down to party every so often. And Hercules had made his home here. Class was purely theoretical. Ben learnt more about engaging with Olympus from his father and Lumiere than-
Mal, have you always had those little golden flecks in your eyes?
"Gold flecks in their…eyes."
Ben mentally kicked himself when the memory hit him. They'd been studying in the library, and Mal looked up to find him staring at her. She'd quirked an eyebrow and whispered 'What?'
And he'd said that. And she'd smirked.
One more feather in his idiot cap.
He'd literally spent hours starting into those eyes and…he'd never worked it out.
"I thought you knew. And then I realised you didn't.." Mal smiled, and it was almost a bittersweet look, as if she expected him to run off screaming now he knew. "I really do appreciate the effort you put in to making sure we had somewhere to go during the summer. But...I get to spend the summer with my dad. In the open."
Her smile was genuine now. Her voice was full of wonder, and Ben knew she still didn't quite believe it herself.
That was why she waited so long to decline the programme.
That was why she didn't tell him herself.
She was trying to make sure she didn't hope.
Because if she told herself she wasn't hoping, then she wouldn't be hurt if it went wrong. "I don't have to worry about what my mom will do if she finds out I went looking for him. I'm really looking forward to it."
Ben was silent for a long moment, "Do the others know?"
Mal shook her head, guilt flashing across her face. She bit her lip before she admitted, "Evie's known as long as I have. I'll tell the boys tonight. You stepped in with the summer programme before the boys even thought to worry about what happened when term ended."
Another sigh.
"I was going to take them with me, figured I could just tell them when they started worrying about going back to the Isle. You should have heard me trying to convince Evie that it was okay to stay here. I can't take this opportunity away from them, but I can't not go. A part of me wants to stay, but…"
Ben didn't know what to say. So he just nodded again. If he knew Jay and Carlos, there was nothing he could say that they wouldn't shout later. She didn't need all of them dragging her over the coals tonight.
But still…
There goes sunrise on the beach.