Work Text:
Tracy wrung the fabric of her dress, for once in her life feeling terribly out of place in her own clothing. No matter how many times she twisted and turned in front of the dressing room mirror it just didn’t look right. Something about it looked so off and ugly.
Now, the dress itself was pretty, she wouldn't deny that. It just didn't work on her.
There was a knock at the door. "Are you dressed yet?”
Tracy’s body grew stiff. She wasn't ready to come out just yet. She looked awful. How was she supposed to turn up to some fancy party looking like this?
Helena, having received no reply, invited herself in. She stood there for a few moments and then cocked her head to the side, somehow sensing Tracy's distress.
“Is there something the matter, Tracy?”
Tracy squeezed her eyes shut and, with great reluctance, grumbled, "Yeah."
She couldn't even look at the mirror anymore. She wasn’t good enough for the mirror, for the party, for the dress. If only she could opt out of wearing it. If only she could convince Helena that it’d be more appropriate if she arrived in a suit and tie instead.
Helena took a tentative step forward. "What's wrong?"
"I just can't wear this," she said, shaking her head.
“Why not?” Helena frowned.
“I just can’t.”
I’m not pretty enough .
“Isn’t that the dress your father gave you?”
“Well, yeah.” Tracy played with the hem of her dress guiltily.
“Don’t you want to wear it. For him?”
"I do, I really do, but…” Tracy sucked in a sharp breath in vain hope to hide the tremble in her voice. “But I make this beautiful dress look ugly.”
"No, don't say that," Helena said, gently taking Tracy's hands in her own. "You're beautiful."
"You can't say that." Tracy bit her lip. "You can't even—"
Helena lowered her head.
Tracy’s eyes grew wide. “I’m sorry! I shouldn't have said that. I wasn’t thinking—”
"It’s true that I can't see you, and I'm so sorry that I can't." Helena squeezed her hands, smiling sadly. "If I could I'm sure I would have said you were beautiful, even if you didn't look it."
"Even if I didn't look it…?" Tracy murmured, looking down to her feet, embarrassed, ashamed.
"Of course, silly," she giggled. "Do you want to know a little secret?” She leant closer and, in a whisper, murmured, “There is more to being beautiful than simply your looks."
"But..."
"While I cannot see it, I can hear it." Helena's lips curled into smile. "Don't think I haven't heard all the beautiful little things you do for everyone.”
There was a pause. Helena pressed a kiss, soft, chaste and sweet, on Tracy’s temple.
“You have a beautiful soul, Tracy, and to me that is the most beautiful thing in the world."