Beauty and the Butler
Chapter 1: A Girl for Cogsworth
Lumiere sighed to himself as Babbette snuggled up to him, burrowing her head into his chest. He loved the way her soft skin felt against him, how he could feel her heart beating gently in the safety of her very real, and very human chest. He leaned down and kissed her head, breathing in the scent of her hair.
"Good morning mon amour" he whispered softly in his deep French accent. She moaned in protest and stirred a little.
"Oh no…" she let out a little yawn and stretched her arms, "it cannot be morning already."
"Oh, but I'm afraid it is my little fluff, and a little past by the looks of it" he pointed to the clock on the bedside table that read… 10:30! Babbette let out a little yelp.
"Oh no, no, no Lumiere!" she said in a panic while hurriedly untangling herself from the sheets of the bed, "I cannot be late. Cogsworth will have my head" Lumiere chuckled and grabbed his lover by the waist, pulling her playfully back onto the bed with him.
"Do not worry about Cogsworth. Who cares about that overgrown pocket watch?" He said before placing a kiss on the back of her head. She struggled against him, pulling at his arms uselessly.
"I do because I care if he docks my pay, because unlike some people" she turned in his arms to face him, "I cannot afford to spend all day in bed."
"Ah, but spending all day in bed…" Lumiere's eyes twinkled mischievously, "is much more fun" He then attacked her with butterfly kisses and tickled her bare skin, causing her to burst out in giggles. After a moment of his antics they met for a long kiss before parting reluctantly for air.
"I really should be going…" He unwillingly released her from his arms, and she rolled from the bed.
"Bah" he scoffed. "If only the old fool could relax for one second and give everyone a break. You'd think the spell being broken would have put him in a better mood."
"I think he's improved… a little" She said while pulling her slip on. He chuckled in disbelief.
"What Cogsworth really needs is something to distract him from his duties." He continued.
"Oh I see. While the cats away the mice shall play, hmm?"
He let out another chuckle, and then his eyes lit up. "I've got it! What Cogsworth needs is a girl!" It was Babbette's turn to laugh as she pulled her white apron over her head.
"'Lumiere, can you think of any girl in the castle that would want to be with Cogsworth?"
"Well… no." She gave a triumphant look while turning her back to the bed so Lumiere could tie the strings, "but if there was someone that could fall in love with the master when he was the beast, then Cogsworth should be a piece of cake, no?"
"Hmm" She mulled it over in her head and turned back around to see him with that mischievous smile of his. "I suppose."
"Great! Now all we need to do is find an unsuspecting victim"
The moment of plotting was interrupted by an agitated knock at the door. "Lumiere!"
"Speak of the devil" He laughed to himself. "Babbette, would you open the door for our friend." She finished adjusting her cap and opened the door to see Cogsworth with a reddening face.
"Good morning Cogsworth" She said in her sweet French accent. "I was just leaving to get to my chores" He narrowed his eyes for a moment.
"Yes, well, ahem. Go along quickly and I'll forget you were late."
"Yes sir." She shuffled by through the exit. "au revoir Lumiere"
"But Babbette!" He called "Where is my goodbye kiss?" She leaned back through the doorway to blow him a kiss off her hand, before exiting again. Cogsworth then slammed the door, looking at his friend, still in bed, holding a pretend kiss in his hands.
"She is something else, eh Cogsworth?" The bigger man rolled his eyes.
"Oh yes, something else. Mmhmm" he said with a fake smile, "Does she know that Michelle was here a few nights ago?" he spat suddenly. "Or what about Victoria? Or how about Angelique?"
"Well… no." Lumiere chuckled nervously, "but you know Babbette is special to me."
"Special. Of course. How could I have forgotten? Oh yes, maybe it's because I've heard it a hundred times about other girls."
"I'm serious Cogsworth. In fact, I am a changed man after last night!"
"Oh please…"
"In fact, I think I am becoming a one woman man." He said triumphantly.
"I will believe it when I see it, but anyways, what I'm really here about is that…"
"Yes, yes. I know. I'm late" He rolled his eyes as he flung off the covers of the bed and hopped onto the floor.
"Good God man! Put some pants on!" Cogsworth swiftly turned around. "You have to warn a man before…"
"Oh what's the matter Cogsworth? Jealous?" He laughed as he slipped on some undergarments, watching his counterpart fume.
"You are the most disrespectful, arrogant, lazy…"
"Oh calm down Cogsworth. It was but a joke" Lumiere finished dressing quickly. "All I'm trying to do is enjoy the pleasures of being human again."
"I can see that"
"And you are being a drag. Everyone is tired of it. What happened to unwinding for a change?"
The older man sighed. "I know everyone is overjoyed at being human again, including myself. However, we have had plenty of time to adjust and there is always work to be done, especially considering the fact that we lost over half our staff post curse, not to mention the royal wedding coming up. We must face the realities as well as the pleasures of human life."
"The wedding is still months away."
"Just the same…"
"You know what you need mon ami?" Lumiere didn't wait for a response. "You need a nice little rose to keep you company"
"I beg your pardon"
"You know. A Cherie. A mademoiselle. A girlfriend." Cogsworth rolled his eyes at his friend's suggestion.
"Please Lumiere. Remember last time you tried to set me up?"
"No…" the former candelabra was drawing a blank. Cogsworth sighed.
"Before the curse you tried to set me up with one of your ex's… it was awful. She spent the entire time talking about you."
"Oh, now I remember. Lovely Tiffany wasn't it? And that's not such a bad way to spend an evening."
"Oh please. She was practically crying her eyes out the entire time… I don't want to think about it. So please Lumiere, don't try to do me any favors. I'm perfectly content on my own. Now come on, it's time you get your lazy ass to work." Cogsworth left, followed by his friend who had no intention of letting the subject go.