After the Battle

A Kingdom Hearts fanfic series by Raberba girl

Summary: Luckily for everyone, Xehanort is finally dead. Now they can get on with their lives. Series of post-canon one-shots; no slash.

Introduction: I decided to take on Xaina's 50 Lives Challenge to show what fifty KH/Disney/FF characters are doing after the final battle with Xehanort.

Then I realized that it would also be a good series for any post-canon fics that don't fit anywhere else, such as stories that take place in the same basic universe as BbF&ML but focus on characters other than AkuSaiRokuShi (VenVan, Sora, Naminé, Riku, Olette, etc.). So yeah...these will all be post-canon stories, but only some for Xainagal's challenge, and not all of them will fit on the same timeline (for example, some stories might have Cinderella ending up with Terra, others might pair her with Charming).

By the way, there will be lots of pairings in this series. Canon, crack, platonic, (usually light) romance, occasional musical chairs because I don't like tying down some characters to the same pairing all the time... No slash romance, though; you guys know me.

50 Lives Challenge by Xainagal, written by Raberba girl

Theme 3: Chain (Belle) [rough draft]

Summary: Prince Adam gives Belle a gift.

o.o.o

It's his eyes that reassure me, and his voice. Whenever I look at this handsome stranger and feel uneasy, I remind myself that his eyes are still the exact same, and I ask him a question so that he'll have to speak to answer. His voice has lost that gruff, animal-like timbre, but the richness is still the same, the inflection...I can still hear him, my beloved Beast within the stranger-prince.

The occasional childishness is the same, too, though it's softened over all this time so that I sometimes find it endearing rather than exasperating. Like now, as he fidgets nervously and looks cute doing so. "Belle..."

"What is it, Adam?"

He always smiles when I say his name, and it lights up his face as if it's reflecting his heart. That, too, is how I know he's still the man I fell in love with, and not a stranger after all. "Belle, I...I have something for you."

"Another library?" I tease, and his eyes widen.

"I- Er- I can order some more books, if you like-"

"Darling, it's a joke."

He flushes, half ashamed and angry at being tricked, but also half-pleased at the term of endearment. "There's more books in the library than you can even read in a lifetime, anyway..."

"What is it you have for me, dear?"

He looks down, uncertain now. I shouldn't have teased him, he hasn't learned how to respond to it yet. "Something...small..."

"Like a peppermint?"

"What? No! That's not a gift, that's a, a breath freshener."

"Ooooh, so it's more expensive than candy?" No, I shouldn't say that, then he'll think I won't be interested in little gifts that cost nothing. I only meant to reset the standard and make him feel more at ease...

He doesn't even notice, though. Wealth is like breath to him, something always available to be taken for granted. "Of course. Ahem. Turn around."

I smile curiously and turn my back to him. After a moment, he reaches over my head, and I catch a glimpse of a lovely gold necklace before the pendant comes to rest against my skin. I can't see it anymore as it's pulled taut - he's trying to fasten the chain.

He struggles with it for a little while, but eventually manages to get it clasped, and the pendant drops low enough for me to see it again. I lift it with gentle fingers and turn back around so he can see me smiling at it. "It's beautiful, Adam."

"I wasn't sure what to choose...Lumiere and Mrs. Potts helped," he mumbles.

"All three of you have good taste," I say, kissing his cheek.

He smiles, despite himself, then reaches around my waist to hold me close and rest his face against my hair. I close my eyes and breathe him in, his strong wild scent still detectable beneath the obligatory perfume.

"I still can't get over it," he murmurs.

"Hmm?"

"Having fingers again..."

I catch my breath as I remember that not so long ago, he would never have been able to get that piece of jewelry fastened around my neck. I take both of his beautiful human hands in mine and kiss them. "There are some things that I miss about my ferocious Beast, but this is not one of them."

"There are other things I can do with hands like these," he says, in the sort of tone that makes me shiver in delicious anticipation. Then he suddenly exclaims, "Wait, what is it that you miss about me being a beast?!" and I laugh.

o.o.o

Author's Notes: What is it with me and adorably clueless characters...? Even with charas I've never written before, as long as they've got a trait like that somewhere, it's like I automatically zero in on it and suddenly they're fun to write. XD

I have five more of these stories drafted, but I should probably wait a few days to post them, huh. :/ You guys are probably sick of having updates popping up in your inboxes every few hours...

Complete: 1/50