Chapter Text
CHAPTER ONE
WILL & ELIZABETH
The first time she saw him, Rey almost walked in the opposite direction.
Because who the hell was watching a late night showing of Pirates of the Caribbean: At Worlds End by themselves? On a Friday. Of a film that came out roughly ten years ago (maybe it was less, maybe it was more; she never kept up with film releases when she was younger).
Then again who was she to judge when she was doing the same exact thing.
He was sitting in the perfectly centered seat in the old theatre—The Castle Theatre, in downtown Ahch-To—a large popcorn sitting on his lap. Feet were kicked up on the seat in front of him, the massive shadow of the man consuming the space easily.
Hugging her own snacks to her chest—large popcorn, Red Vines, and an overpriced Cherry Coke—Rey considered her options.
She wanted to sit at the center seat, like any film lover, and be immersed in the film. But she also didn’t want to sit next to the only stranger in the theater. So she chose her next best option—
Rey shuffled and plopped down in the row behind him, a seat to the left, because mystery shadow man was tall. And broad. Tall and broad and probably one of the worst people to sit with at any movie or performance because he’d partially obscure the view.
However, being the only two people in theater caused any shuffle and cough to be heard in ten-fold.
Massive Man glanced back at her, raising an eyebrow. The blueish-pink glow of the screen illuminated from behind him, casting light across the right of his face. A light scar trailed from his eyebrow to his cheekbone, a small bisection. Dark eyebrows hooded his gaze and his jaw was tight with restrained words, reminiscent of the brooding men described in her 19th century Literature class. A man to make Bronte cry tears of longing and Austen sneer until she caved into compassion.
Frozen by his stare, Rey did what any awkward yet normal human being would do—she waved in greeting.
A tiny scoff sounded from Brooding 19th Century Man, he turning to face forward once more as old trailers played before the film.
Swallowing tightly, Rey lean back into her seat, the old cushions frayed. The metal frame of the seat dug into her lower back. As she squirmed to get comfortable, an ear piercing ‘ekkk’ came from her, metal scratching against metal.
In front of her, Brooding 19th Century Man tensed.
She shifted again, another agonizing screech filling the room.
The man’s head whipped to her. “Just switch seats.”
Glaring at the man, Rey scooted out of her seat. Part of her was determined to stay rooted in her seat, but she also didn’t want her ears to be assaulted by the insistent screeching of aged metal against aged metal. So she switched seats—
Only to run into the same issue.
“Goddamn it.” His hissed mutter filled the space between them, Rey once again reminded they were the only two individuals in the practically historic movie theater. Brooding 19th Century Man craned his neck back, eyes labeling her as an ‘idiot’.
What a prick.
“This is your first time in this theater, isn’t it?” His honey-brown eyes traveled from her popcorn to the Red Vines and Cherry Coke. “I can tell because you bought the Red Vines here and no one should buy the Red Vines here.”
“Because they’re a rip off.” Rey recalled the five dollar bill she shelled out for just the red licorice. Normally she wasn’t one for frivolous purchases, but she did pay for a three dollar ticket. Buying snacks at the concessions evened out the price in her opinion.
“Exactly,” he replied dryly. “Only shit worth buying here is the popcorn and fountain drinks.” Turning away from her, he shook his bucket of popcorn, the puffs dispersed evenly across the top of the mound. “Also, never sit anywhere further back then the middle. All the seats need to be refurbished and the only decent row without sounding like the beginnings of a horror film is row seven. Which I am currently sitting in.”
“Oh,” Rey winced, hugging her popcorn closer to her. “I didn’t know.”
“Of course you didn’t.” Mouth twisted in disdain, he motioned to the open seat beside him. “You can sit here. I promise I’ll ignore you. But I will tell you it is creepy as fuck for you to be sitting directly in the row behind me.”
Her face screwed up in annoyance, her grip on her soda tightening. “Well, I wanted to sit in the middle, but you are sitting in the middle.”
“Because it is arguably the best seat in the house,” he stated logically. Grabbing half a handful, he shoved popcorn in his mouth. “Any idiot knows that.”
Eyes darting around the room and hearing the seat creak, Rey huffed. Leaning forward, she eyed Brooding 19th Century Man warily. “Were you serious about the sitting beside you thing?”
His jaw twitched, a faint nostril flare. “I don’t fucking care, I just don’t want you to be a creep sitting behind me and a moron in a squeaky seat. I’d like to enjoy the film.”
“Cool. Thanks.” With his vague approval, she handed over her bucket of popcorn and placed her Red Vines and Cherry Coke in the cup holders. Swinging a leg over the row, Rey hoisted herself over and awkwardly clamored into the open seat beside Brooding 19th Century Man.
Looking back over at him, she was on the receiving end of a deadpan, unamused stare.
“You could have gone around—like a normal human being.”
She scoffed; clearly this man was the idiot in the situation. “That’s a waste of time and energy.” Rey took her popcorn back from him. “Plus, the movie is starting soon.” She waved to the screen, shoving a handful of popcorn into her mouth.
Beside her, the man rolled his eyes. “It’s honestly not all that exciting. It’s just the third Pirates of the Caribbean. Honestly the only real highlight is the Elizabeth and Will proposal, a classic rain kiss.”
She paused, puzzled. “There’s three of them?”
His eyebrows shot up. “There are five of them. Have you been living under a rock?”
She sunk lower in her seat, her face heating up. Her childhood was something like living under a rock; possibly worse. But Brooding 19th Century Man didn’t need to know that little tid-bit of her life. No one needed to know.
Being the mature one, Rey ignored the harsh remark. “I’ve only seen the first one because it was on Netflix ages ago.”
He did not seem completely satisfied with her answer, but accepted it, sitting back in his seat. “Well, there are five. Black Pearl, Dead Man’s Chest, At World’s End, On Stranger Tides—but no one talks about that one—and arguably the best, Dead Men Tell No Tales.”
“And we’re watching the third one?”
“Correct,” he utterly slowly. His eyes darted to her and then the screen. “Why the hell are you even watching this if you’ve never seen any of the other movies?”
“I have nothing to do tonight. Thought I’d see a movie.” She peeked back over at him, finding what she was beginning to refer to as his ‘iconic’ stare directed at her. Probably didn’t believe her; no one would believe a twenty-two year old would be sitting by her lonesome in an empty movie theater on a Friday night. Surely Brooding 19th Century Man didn’t either. Feeling a prickle of self-awareness under his gaze, Rey shifted in her seat. Needing her hands to do something, she ripped open her package of overpriced Red Vines. “Why are you here? You’ve apparently seen all of the films.”
“Because I like movies,” he droned as the lights in the theater dimmed. “And movies matter.”
Opening credits and ominous music simultaneous caught her attention.
Biting viciously on a Red Vine, she held the package out to him. “I’m Rey by the way.”
He looked at the package, lips pursed in annoyance. A flash of hesitance shined in his eyes before fading into the common, forced disinterest he wore like a old sweater. “Ben.”
Reaching over, he snatched a Red Vine. He chewed with ferocity, eyes glued to the screen. “I still think you are a fucking idiot for buying the Red Vines, but damn they’re good. Movie theater staple.”
Rey beamed back at him, if not a bit smug.
Sitting together in the dark theatre, a friendship blossomed between the broody, lonesome Ben and the grumpy, nobody Rey. Movies more than mattered—they meant everything.