Gaston caught up to the mob just as they arrived at the castle. The once-blue sky was red with flames as the townspeople stormed to the front door.
368Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7KCeoCO3D5
Gaston hid behind a tree, trying to figure out a plan. The mob thrust a tree trunk through the door, broke it and stampeded into the castle.
368Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfxmMeek0zh
He heard cheers, followed by yelps and squeals. Gaston jumped off the horse and ran to the entrance, peeking from behind the door.
368Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8sE0IjxX9u
A light flashed before Gaston’s eyes as Lumiere lit a man’s bottom. Cogsworth pulled a woman’s long nose towards his pendulum and repeatedly smacked her with it.
368Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE4Om35O5TH
Lumiere and Cogsworth stood back to back as they continued attacking the intruders. Lumiere gave Cogsworth a wink, which made the pendulum slapping go even faster. Despite his embarrassment, Cogsworth gave Lumiere a smile with enough warmth to rival Lumiere’s lit candles.
368Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5sclejfAD4
Mrs Potts and Chip poured tea onto the villagers. Madame de la Grande Bouche dropped from the top of the staircase and slammed onto a man’s back, all while belting out the highest note Gaston had ever heard.
368Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL9Vt4mA0k4
Gaston took the commotion as an opportunity to sneak up to the West Wing. If he could warn the Beast ahead of time, maybe things would work out.
368Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgnxGYxpr4I
Before he could sigh in relief upon seeing the Beast’s face, he saw the Beast stepping backwards onto the balcony as a knife-wielding Lefou inched closer.
368Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp7vauPmsuN
‘How dare you take away my Gaston!’ He yelled, taking a step every few words. ‘You took him and… a-and changed him!’
368Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxewBXyPUxH
‘He changed me!’ the Beast retorted in the voice of someone about to cry. Euphoria bloomed in Gaston’s chest when he heard those loving words. This feeling disappeared when the Beast stood dangerously close to the balcony rail.
368Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡijGfzOltUf
Lefou snickered. ‘Did you really think someone like Gaston could ever care about an ugly monster like you?’
368Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrrScg7P9QV
Gaston picked up his bow and arrow, aiming them at Lefou. He took a deep breath but saw the Beast staring at him.
368Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsJgf8kOif5
He looked at Lefou, his longtime friend. He tried to will himself to shoot, but the sight of the Beast in danger made him unable to breathe properly for the shot. The arrow hit the balcony floor beside Lefou, who spun around. Loose strands of hair fell down Lefou’s face and the floppy bowtie around his neck was crooked. His teary eyes glistened like his knife in the moonlight.
368Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfcx3iXSa57
‘Don’t worry, my dear,’ Lefou said. ‘No need to kill this beast for me. I’ll do it for you.’
368Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrevlH11FhF
Gaston pulled out a dagger, hoping it would somehow be easier to use on his target. ‘You little-’
368Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6pWvJWds34
He lunged at Lefou, who slipped underneath him. Gaston’s unused momentum sent him running towards the Beast, knife still in hand. The Beast stepped to the side on instinct. Gaston saw the tops of the trees beneath him as he began to fall.
368Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡszT4SMkd3e
His core went through whiplash when the Beast wrapped his arm around his torso. The Beast pulled Gaston back towards him and caressed his cheeks as if checking for injuries. The ends of his claws dug into Gaston’s cheeks ever so slightly, but his fur was soft against his skin. Gaston placed his hands atop the Beast’s to get him to soften the grip of his claws. He reached for his face and brushed his thumbs against the fur above his cheekbones. Their smiles were as soft as the Beast’s fur.
368Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡunmCf4HCDf
The Beast roared in pain as his upper half curled backwards. Lefou pulled the knife from his back, a crazed yet hopeful smile on his face.
368Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvfBbm9bdrs
Gaston picked up Lefou by his collar and held his dagger up to his face. Lefou was heavier than usual. He kicked the dagger out of Gaston’s hand, freeing himself from the distracted man’s grasp. He leapt off the roof onto an arcading. Gaston picked up his dagger.
368Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOyrLkZi6r6
Lightning punctured the sky with strike after strike, momentarily lighting it before leaving it in darkness. During those flashes, Gaston could just barely see Lefou enough to follow him.
368Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEea9vcojEs
‘You… monster!’ Gaston shouted as he pounced on Lefou, who had a broken castle piece in his hand like a club. Lefou swung the club in Gaston’s direction, hitting his shoulder. Although the club's top broke into pieces upon impact, Gaston only slightly winced as if the club weighed little more than a chestnut seed pod. Any other day he would be proud to be so impervious to attacks, but at this moment, all he could see was the red-tinged image of the man who attacked the Beast.
368Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTc70eIQ2bv
Lefou held the club up to defend himself and Gaston tried to push it away. They engaged in a battle of pure strength with their hands tightly clutching the club. Eventually, Gaston won.
368Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ77USkqFwHf
He shoved Lefou down, ground his fist into his chest and raised his dagger-wielding hand into the sky. His chest heaved with each laboured breath.
368Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxbehHBBJ6p
Lefou’s eyes were wide and his jaw was open. ‘I’m the monster? Look who you were just making kissy faces with! Did that beast make you go blind? If he hurt you, I swear to-’ Lefou screamed as Gaston lifted his arm in preparation to strike.
368Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbBee6yCy9D
‘No!’ The Beast roared, reaching his paw out into the sky.
368Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS426kCDpC0
Gaston held the knife in the air with a shaking hand. He looked up at the Beast, slumped over the balcony with his hand reaching out to Gaston but being much too far away. Those blue eyes of his were full of so much suffering.
368Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsC4XaBZLN5
Gaston dropped his dagger. He leaned in towards Lefou with a scowl. ‘Get. Out.’
368Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwVzSRBwl13
He then stood up and twisted his body towards the Beast. He took a few steps towards the balcony, hoping to climb up to him. Lefou had other plans.
368Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXEGNTYhlLG
Lefou took the dagger and a step, hoping to stab him. ‘If you’re not mine, you’re no one else’s!’ he screeched. His foot rolled on the half-broken club beneath him, sending him falling backwards. Gaston reached out to him but it was too late. Lefou disappeared into the mist below like that vase Gaston had knocked off the balcony.
368Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9EsqhlfsyU
Gaston stood there momentarily, trying to grasp what had just occurred. He resumed his task upon hearing a whimper of pain from the Beast.
368Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGqdmZDPC53
He climbed up the balcony and knelt by the Beast, hovering a hand over his back.
368Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFnSc64yncB
His voice was hoarse with panic. ‘What do I do? I don’t know how to heal wounds! You can’t die on me! You just can’t!’ Tears escaped from Gaston’s eyes.
368Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqFvOn4RPpJ
The Beast rolled onto his back and rested his paw on Gaston’s cheek. His breaths were ragged and yet strangely serene. He grinned at him.
368Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcQ1DS3ROaP
‘Maybe it’s better this way. At least I got to see you one last time.’
368Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBjW4NXZNDf
He dropped his paw and slowly closed his eyes.
368Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOdhSxbjnEh
‘No, come on, stay with me! Beast!’ He slammed his fists on the Beast’s chest. ‘You can’t just leave me like this, you idiot! I…’
368Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGAksstZe33
The last rose petal began to fall.
368Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEqy8hY3ooH
Gaston hesitated. Was he really going to say this? The words seemed so foreign coming out of the mouth of someone like him. It was like a child swearing or Belle saying yes to marriage. And yet, no words had ever rung so true.
368Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9YvKeq4N41
‘I love you!’
368Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmHklrd4GQz
Gaston saw a streak of red rising from the Beast and initially assumed the worst. But then an orange light shot up in the sky to meet it, followed by yellow, green, blue and violet. The streaks of light twisted around each other and transformed into two intertwined hands. Finally, an almost blindingly bright white light lifted the Beast off the ground, sending waves of wild wind outwards.
368Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPhSjY7BB0F
The hairs on Gaston’s neck stood up as he watched with utter confusion. This was followed by fear when the light appeared to swallow the Beast.
368Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyoA45nPlQK
Parts of the light subsided, revealing legs and hands where there were once paws, luscious locks of auburn hair where there was once a mane and a handsome, clean-shaven face where there was once a furry beast.
368Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ83i9zkYDjz
The light gently laid the man back on the floor of the balcony. Gaston’s hand stalled, but he eventually touched his face, stroking his fingers against the man’s strong jawline. He winced a little, unsure what to make of this unfamiliar face.
368Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOBtqtKlSxc
The man opened his eyes and Gaston’s tight shoulders loosened. It was those same brilliant blue eyes he loved.
368Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVKG0zW1usA
‘It… it’s really you…’ Gaston whispered. The other man sat up. Gaston leapt forward and wrapped his arms around his waist in a bone-crushing hug. ‘You’re alive!’
368Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUwMDpjhLTo
The man patted him on the back. ‘Okay, you can stop now.’ His voice was still deep, but not nearly as much as before.
368Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY6I7R94sRS
Gaston obliged but not without giving the man a light nudge in the shoulder with his fist.
368Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5rSTIFQAUm
‘Don’t scare me like that, big guy. Why did you tell me to stop when I tried to attack Lefou?’
368Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwOwNW6kLnp
The man twisted his head to the side at a low angle. ‘I… I didn’t want to see you take a human life.’ He looked back at Gaston with a smirk. ‘So… you love me, huh?’
368Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA4V5xD74nm
Gaston’s face went completely red. He spluttered, ‘That… th-that… Okay, fine. I love you. Happy now?’
368Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwvflkxemvw
The man shrugged. ‘I’m not complaining. It saved me.’
368Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK7PrbJXplu
He put a smooth hand around Gaston’s cheek and leaned closer. ‘Wait,’ Gaston said. The man puckered his still-thick eyebrows in disappointment. ‘I can’t exactly call you Beast now, can I?’
368Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYoDV4gyoAM
The man laughed. ‘Call me Adam.’
368Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGXj8UOnzF7
‘Well, then, Adam, I love you. You better love me back after all this.’ Adam’s smile grew as he closed the gap between their lips. Gaston’s eyelashes fluttered at the contact. He felt as though he was the one being lifted by light. His heart danced around his chest in every direction. After a second of experiencing these sensations, he kissed him back.
368Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7vtIukoETg
Gaston put his arms around Adam’s head and brushed his thumbs against his hair. Adam had his hands around his waist.
368Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoDRw0T4ixm
When they finally stopped, Gaston’s lips tingled with electricity.
368Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4rCwLyhrae
‘Ah, l’amour is in the air!’
368Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdluo6JklYz
In a perfectly synchronised motion, Gaston and Adam turned their heads towards the entrance to the balcony.368Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrOgeC6rLiv
