Lumiere reached into the fireplace to light it with his hand. Cogsworth crossed his arms. ‘Is it really necessary to make them meet every night?’ he asked.
414Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVxujT7ev6U
‘But it is going so well, Cogsworth.’ Lumiere turned his back to the burning fireplace and held his candles up with pride. ‘Love is in the air.’
414Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEHTn7d7olN
‘There is no way these two men will-’
414Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMnP5NrvGvH
‘Ah, but in Paris-’
414Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCXi8UFw1CB
‘I don’t want to hear about Paris, you glorified tinderbox! Paris this, Paris that. We’re not there, and I doubt Paris is actually like that. Do you really think the master would be the type to fall for that oaf?’
414Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm3qRpfu3Li
‘Why do you always doubt me, Cogsworth?’ Lumiere snapped, leaning closer to Cogsworth and holding one candle before him as a gentle reminder of his capability.
414Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjEAWYi2wMM
Cogsworth leaned in even closer, murder in his eyes. ‘Because you’re wasting time with these flights of fancy when we should be looking for a lady who can break the spell before the final rose petal falls!’
414Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2v1wWxfqSJ
Less than two centimetres of air separated the two servants. ‘If the Beast comes to love Gaston and he loves him in turn, we can be human again!’
414Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwhdQ4pctJC
As Cogsworth stood closer while pointing at him, Lumiere’s pointy nose poked his. ‘And we’ll never be human again if you don’t quit acting like a naive… imbecile!’
414Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHYhfVNvvhb
Lumiere cast his long eyelashes down as he stared at Cogsworth’s lips. The flames in his candles burned brighter. They illuminated the face he had grown accustomed to as a form of beauty after years of finding it strange. The clock began ticking faster, his pendulum swinging back and forth with the speed of a rattle in a bratty child’s hand. Concern painted itself on Lumiere’s face.
414Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFI8V5rD5TZ
Cogsworth pushed Lumiere away. ‘Go back to your feather duster,’ he grumbled, crossing his arms again until the ticking slowed. He groaned and reached behind to wind the key and fix the time.
414Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8kG1fWz0zF
Lumiere’s lights went out and he dropped his hands, his entire body drooping. For the first time in a long time, he said nothing in response to Cogsworth’s words.
414Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0KuR7P1Zrv
A few days later, Gaston and the Beast strolled to the archery range for more practice. Gaston grabbed a different bow this time, a simple yew longbow.
414Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMKYEnZprxq
A bird had abandoned a nest on one of the targets. When Gaston saw a baby bird peeking out from the nest, He aimed his bow at it. Just as he was about to release the arrow, the Beast pushed the bow to the side, causing the arrow to hit the snow right next to them. He then raced to the nest to pick it up.
414Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ82JV3sdSYI
‘Have you never hunted a bird before?’ Gaston asked incredulously.
414Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeNfrE1YrRX
‘Baby birds are different,’ the Beast mumbled.
414Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLjEhRSw3A6
Gaston was going to retort with some insult against the Beast’s masculinity, but the baby birds in his hands were kind of adorable in an odd, ugly, misshapen way.
414Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWE4SyoShvx
Additionally, the image of a big, bulky, hairy monster holding a nest of baby birds as if they were his own children was certainly a striking one. Not that Gaston was going to verbalise that thought.
414Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTSJJnatCUd
The Beast lifted the nest to a nearby tree. Gaston gulped a gasp when he wrapped his arms around him and lifted him towards the nest, presumably trying to convince him to pet the birds.
414Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjRm8aplvo2
With a sigh, Gaston did so. His expression softened. The feathers were wet and rough. Still, it wasn’t the worst sensation in the world.
414Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTebfhvis8X
Honestly, the feeling of fur around his tight-covered legs was closer to being in the running for that oh-so prestigious title. Not because of the sensation itself, but the way it stamped Gaston’s face with a heavy blush.
414Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlbo6fcHYOf
‘Put me down!’ he squeaked. As soon as that sound left his mouth, the blush got stronger. Heroes didn’t sound like that.
414Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3olUn8QZdm
The Beast laughed with no trace of derision, plopping Gaston down. Gaston wound up laughing too. In the process of putting Gaston down, the Beast held the other man’s hand for a moment. The Beast’s heart lifted when Gaston didn’t shudder at his paw. While they took back their positions in front of the targets, Lumiere and Cogsworth watched them from behind a tree.
414Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJOIZIgjxCV
Lumiere pointed to them. Cogsworth finally nodded in agreement, subtly reaching for the candelabra’s unlit hand.
414Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFyJFOc3gwe
‘Oh, Lumiere, where are you?’ The female voice’s accent rivalled Lumiere’s. Lumiere pulled his hands away from Cogsworth as he sauntered to Fifi, the feather duster.
414Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3zZpyih4ve
Cogsworth sank into the snow and buried himself in it for a moment.
414Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIdWSTYpsro
His ticking sped up when he heard a loud thud next to him. He frantically pushed and kicked through the snow until he saw the Beast sitting next to him.
414Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwbBzNnpUNj
‘Yes, Master? Are you in need of anything?’
414Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkvXiDFadIp
The Beast shook his head. He watched Gaston swivel towards him after a good shot and lift his bow in victory, accompanied by a bright smile.
414Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbltXZ3OJOo
‘I… I’ve never felt this way about anyone. Do you think I have a chance?’
414Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmDKYxfy3aa
Thinking back to the events of a few seconds ago, Cogsworth was highly tempted to answer with a firm, bitter no. But he held his tongue for a moment to think.
414Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm4ydem0P1L
‘Why don’t you invite him for dinner?’
414Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbkGSZbP7Mw
‘That didn’t work out last time.’
414Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYTZuYu9ypY
‘Well, y-you see, Master…’ Cogsworth shut his eyes as if that would protect him. ‘...You didn’t exactly… ask last time.’ He opened one eye and saw not a fierce and ferocious creature but a furry man nodding while in thought.
414Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx46HB8Cwjc
When Lumiere returned, the Beast grabbed him and held him to eye level. ‘Lumiere, ask Gaston if he wants to attend dinner with me.’
414Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzlq1m36d3M
‘You should ask him yourself,’ Lumier replied, shooing him forward with his hands.
414Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9erzpDzBL0
The Beast bit his lip, lowered Lumiere and sat there for a minute. Finally, he stood up and walked towards Gaston.
414Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9fK6Ehv3B5
‘I thought you said you were tired,’ Gaston said. ‘I guess I must be stronger than you, huh?’
414Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPU4uoTA6He
The Beast’s laughter was herky-jerky as he rubbed the back of his neck. ‘So I was thinking…’
414Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0s03HshkvI
‘A dangerous pastime.’
414Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb2xBnYUdxy
‘Gaston, would you be serious?’ the Beast roared. He coughed and looked down, silent for a moment before continuing. ‘Would you like to have dinner… with me… in the ballroom dining room?’ When the Beast looked up, his eyes shining with hope, he saw a confused expression on Gaston’s face.
414Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMAIPXTVKPR
‘Don’t you already have a place to eat? What’s special about the ballroom?’
414Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLdg8dPkUnS
‘Well, uh…’ The Beast rolled his head towards Lumiere and Cogsworth, his eyes a cry for help that went unanswered. ‘We could dance in the ballroom… together.’
414Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkPnx2Jt3TV
A laugh left Gaston’s lips. ‘Why would you want to do something like…?’ Once he finally understood the Beast’s intentions, he took a step back.
414Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6XpTtxFgBK
‘I… I understand,’ the Beast mumbled. ‘It’s an odd request from one man to another.’
414Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8YLwaZ382U
Gaston was about to point out that the Beast was hardly a man, but then he looked into those blue eyes that looked like an ocean about to spill onto the land.
414Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDiXlRphRCR
The Beast turned around but Gaston grabbed him by the shoulder. ‘One night. We can dance for one night.’
414Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgV27ZlIuQJ
The Beast kept his back against Gaston but swung his head back towards him. ‘I’ll see you tonight.’ His voice was the softest Gaston had heard from him.414Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkCHv0ZYild
