Ben.
Eighteen. Senior Year.
"Hey," Mal whispered, making Ben jump as she stepped out of the shadows.
It was nearly midnight. Exams were finished. Senior year was almost over. In a few days they would graduate. Head off on their own paths. Conquer their own mountains. Forge their own destinies.
It all sounded so cheesy. Just like every other draft of his speech.
"Hey yourself," Ben leant back from the desk, turning towards Mal. He was surprised when she came towards him easily, sliding into his lap as if she belonged there. She wasn't normally so affectionate in public places where they could be spotted.
Things had been...confusing since his admission before Christmas.
They'd avoided each other for weeks. Barely spoke over Christmas unless it was the group chat. He'd sent her Christmas gift to the Underwolrd in a spur of the moment decision - the necklace he'd commissioned to match her bracelet - and she'd somehow made sure his watch was sitting in a box on his bed when he returned to his room to get ready for Christmas Dinner.
And since coming back to school, their attempt at just friends failed epically.
But things were nothing like before.
The brushing hands in the hallway stopped. The stolen kisses in the corridors became few and far between. Although, in comparison, things were more intense once they were alone.
He tried to understand her point of view, he really did.
Auradon was changing, but slowly. Even with the increase in VKs - and distinct lack of evil - and Mal's new Olympian status, she must still feel like an outsider. Royalty was cliquey, and asking her to step into this life when she was only just beginning to understand life in the sun was unfair of him.
It didn't mean he didn't want the full package. That he didn't think of a future that involved her in a number of different capacities.
He'd gone to a gala on Olympus just after New Year with his parents. It was Mal's introduction to Olympian society. Evie, Doug, Carlos and Jay had been invited as Mal's guests. It had been...different. But seeing Mal, in a deep blue ballgown and a silver tiara, entering with her father and Zeus and Poseidon's families…he knew she could fit into his world too.
He'd even managed to steal a dance with the new Olympian Princess. She'd been so surprised when he cut in to steal her away from some mythical creature with vines for hair and her tiny, I'm-not-showing-I'm-ecstatic smile had made his stomach do funny things.
He was brought back to the present when Mal snuggled in closer to his shoulder, slipping her hands under his shirt. Instinctively, he held her tighter.
There was something off about her tonight. She seemed...smaller. Somehow. Kind of sad and reflective.
"Working on your speech?" Mal peeked at his notepad and laptop, taking note of the scratched out scribbles and frustrated pen swirls.
"I'm aiming for motivating and uplifting. And all I have is fluff." He groaned, running a hand through his hair.
Words usually came easily. He'd been writing speeches since elementary school. He'd convinced Auradon to rethink it's entire crime management policy. He should be able to write a graduation speech.
"Maybe you need a break." Mal mused, pulling out a little pout and the puppy dog eyes.
This was...a different kind of forward for Mal.
Mal was the one who threw him sultry looks from across a room, tempting him, and enchanting him into following her...anywhere. She didn't get cute and pouty unless she was up to something.
"You are a terrible influence." Ben laughed, breaking eye contact, just to be safe. He really did need to finish this speech. He sighed, pulling her closer and tucking her head under his chin. Where her facial expressions couldn't distract him. "It's so strange. I've spent most of my life seeing the same people every day. And in two weeks, I don't know the next time I'll see anyone."
"You'll see Audrey frequently, don't worry about that."
It sounded like there was jealousy in her tone, even though there was definitely nothing going on between him and Audrey.
They'd been a relationship of convenience. Nothing more. They'd have worked well together - but neither of them had expected True Love.
After Mal's coming out as an Olympian, whatever Stefan and Leah were plotting stopped. And then there was Stefan's sudden passing and Phillip's step up to King - Audrey had confided that she thought her grandmother had finally poisoned him.
Which meant he and Audrey were allowed to openly be friends again. She was still one of his best friends. Still one of his most trusted advisors. They were in a healthier place now.
The media speculated about when they'd get back together, but Ben knew she was busy trying to get Chad to step up into his role. He had a lot of growing up to do before he had a chance of keeping up with Audrey.
He wanted to tell Mal that. To say I'm talking about missing you. But after 'Princes don't marry Lost Girls' he knew he was better keeping quiet.
So he changed the subject instead. "What about you? I heard the Auradon History Museum offered you an internship working with the curator."
"Yeah." Ben could feel Mal's smile, but she sounded sad. Wistful. "And if it's a good fit they've offered to sponsor my Art History degree despite the fact my dad can clearly afford it. It's an amazing opportunity."
She ended with a sigh.
"You don't sound happy about that." Ben frowned. That was not the talk of someone who had just been offered an internship at one of the most prestigious museums in the world. It was an opportunity most people in the art or history communities would sell their souls for.
"Because I'm not taking it." she shrugged, and Ben pulled back instantly to look at her like she was crazy.
Don't start shouting. Don't repeat last year.
"What? Why?" He tried to keep his voice down, even though he knew he couldn't hide the shock. He couldn't understand why she'd turn it down. It had to be something crazy. Or a misunderstanding. Or- "I swear you got that off your own back, I had nothing to do with-"
Sure, he'd known she was up for consideration. That her name was doing the rounds and she had really good chances. But he'd stayed out of it because he didn't want her to think she hadn't earned it herself.
I swear to god if Chad made her think-
"No. No. Ben. Shhh. No. It's nothing like that." Mal shook her head earnestly, shushing him. She pressed her palms to his chest, waiting until he met her gaze. "You have your crown to step into...and I have mine."
"I don't understand." He frowned again.
Yes, they were both heir presumptives. But it wasn't like Hades could die. And Hercules wasn't off living it up on Olympus. And well...he didn't know any other demigods. But surely they were all pretty much the same?
Not that Ben was like everyone else. But surely Mal...
"I guess you'll still see me in the Council Chamber."
He heard the unspoken and only there.
Her eyes dimmed, and she shrugged sadly.
"Do the others know?" Ben already knew the answer.
She hadn't told the boys about her heritage until the last possible minute. Evie had been far too chirpy the last few weeks for someone whose best friend had dropped a bombshell. As much as she tried to come off as unfazeable, Ben knew Mal feared disappointing the people she cared about. A lifetime of her mother's put downs left their mark.
"How do I tell Evie that for now we need to go off on our adventures alone?" Mal sighed, reaching down to play with Ben's fingers so that she didn't have to look at him. He let her, and wondered if she'd always wanted to be this tactile but was afraid of his reaction. She only let herself have it when there was nothing left to lose. If he reacted badly, it was only two weeks she had to wait out.
She wasn't looking for an answer, so he didn't bother with empty platitudes.
"We have different paths, different destinations and as much as I want to, we can't walk those roads together. I mean, Evie isn't even going to UoA, but she was still heartbroken when Jay chose Sherwood."
Ben remembered Evie's tantrum when Jay and Lonnie had told the others they were heading off to Sherwood University. It had the best sports department in Auradon. If they wanted to go pro, it was a no brainer.
Evie hadn't approved. Despite the fact she wasn't going to the University of Auradon either. Cogsworth had spotted her potential last summer and pulled a few strings - Evie was already well on her way to getting her business degree online. She had already closed on her starter castle just outside of Auradon City - Doug's uncle Grumpy set it up, he was into real estate on the side and got her a great deal - and had a five year business plan and contracts with at least two major labels for capsule collections.
Evie didn't like change. She was too used to having Mal and the boys right there, where she knew they were safe. Out of sight meant stress for the mommy of their little group.
"It's not like it's one life or the other." Ben finally said, trying to sound convincing. "We don't exist in a vacuum. Just because we're on different paths doesn't mean there's an unbridgeable void between us. We just need to make the effort to meet in the space between."
"That sounds very motivational." Mal teased, the spark coming back into her eyes. He didn't think what he'd said had been that great, but if it made her feel better he'd take it. "You should write that down."
"I will." He smirked, picking up his pen and making a show of writing down the space between. His distraction worked, because Mal rolled her eyes and laughed at him. She finally looked just a little more relaxed.
Then her eyes got sad again, but before Ben could ask what was wrong, she shook her head, "I thought…I knew you'd get it." When he raised an eyebrow in question, she elaborated, "Seeing the life you could have had, and turning your back on it to pick up your birthright."
A phantom weight settled on Ben's shoulders and around his head. The red ceremonial cape. The coronation crown. It would be his before he knew it.
He knew Mal noticed the way his expression changed, because she set her mouth in a grim line. He could almost hear the yeah, I feel it too.
He sighed, pulling her close again, relishing the fact that she cuddled in. He'd missed this.
And in two weeks he didn't know when he'd see her again.
Ben tucked her under his chin again, looking out the window, off into the distance. He wasn't looking at the younger children playing in the grounds, free from the stress of exams. Or their classmates relaxing in the summer sun. He was finally letting himself think about what could have been, "In another world, Ben and Mal would be getting ready to start UoA in the fall. Making plans to see each other over summer. Working out all the things they wanted to do when they were free from the confines of Auradon Prep."
"We'd be going on that pythons and penguins holiday Gil and Jay are planning." Mal added, and he could hear her smirk. Mal had no intention of going on that holiday. Even Lonnie was bodysweving the whole thing. "Although we'd need a back up hotel for Evie."
Ben actually laughed, trying to imagine Evie in the middle of the jungle or on an iceberg. She might have grown up on the Isle, but she did not have any plans to return to roughing it.
"It would be hard to sneak off in the middle of nowhere with everyone there." Ben laughed, for a moment trying to imagine their current set up working in the middle of a jungle. Mal's magic would be the only way it could possibly work.
"In that world we wouldn't have to hide it." Mal's response caught him off guard. This was the closest she'd ever got to actually saying the words. But he couldn't tell if they were still playing make believe. Mal threw a mischievous glance his way, her eyes sparkling as she added, "I'd love to see their faces if a picture of us sneaking off during graduation made the papers."
Ben saw it. His eyes widened as he imagined the headline. Them sneaking into a supply closet or stealing a kiss behind a foundation when no one was looking. He imagined his parents' reactions. Queen Leah's screams.
Then he thought of Doug's knowing expression.
"No one would be surprised." He shrugged, deciding that that world should err on the side of happiness. Besides, he wasn't entirely convinced that people didn't already suspect something. Then he added, "I'd drag you to all those official functions I need to go stag to."
Mal laughed, countering, "No dates by the Enchanted Lake?"
"We already do that." Ben shot back. Then he paused. "Well, we used to."
Mal set her lips in line again, something like regret flashing across her face. Their little make believe bubble popped, and now they were faced with the glaring reality. "I thought it'd be easier." She linked her fingers with his, then added ruefully, as if she couldn't quite believe it, "But for some reason I just can't quit you."
"I know the feeling." Ben pressed a kiss to her hair, then added conversationally, "What do you say, we quit cold Turkey after graduation?"
"Can't be any worse than our other plans." Mal shrugged. He was too busy forcing a smile that he missed the look of hurt that crossed her face.
Because if all he had left was two weeks with her, he wanted as much as she could give.