AN: A little more to get a better idea of how my mind is working.. not sure if that's a good thing.. time will tell.
Ch2: Touch of a Thorn
~Beast POV~
It wasn't often that Beast was caught off guard. He knew the exact timing of everything that would happen from first light to last. It wasn't a gift, but rather decades of experience where rarely anything changed.
But today, something was off.
He sat straighter in his study; ears pricked listening for what he could only describe as a feeling in the air.
The hair on the back of his neck rose, a warning, alerting him that something new in the castle stirred. Something was different.
Leaping from the room, he moved quickly, but silently through the halls.
It was moments later he found himself above the great hall, just in time to see his front door open to reveal a mysterious figure.
He watched as the figure walked through the doors.
A young man appeared in the entrance. Beast's eyes narrowed. He didn't like strangers, especially not male ones.
Though he couldn't credit liking female ones either.
Taking in the boy's tattered appearance, Beast concluded he was probably a criminal of some kind. The thought did nothing to assuage his rising anger.
"How strange." The boy mumbled after jumping slightly when the doors closed.
"Hello? Is anyone there?"
The voice was strange to Beast's ears. Somewhat soft, but raspy at the same time. Curious he watched, wondering what the boy would do next. If he was being honest with himself, he also wanted to get a better look at young man's face.
What sort of person was this fellow? And what was he doing in woods at this hour?
A flicker of light down the hall appeared to grab the man's attention. He walked forward to the dining room rather quickly. Beast followed silently taking care to keep out of sight.
The young man stopped and stared wide eyed at the feast before him.
Beast contemplated for a moment that the meal set out was rather large. But upon looking at the intruder's face he forgot temporarily his purpose.
The boy was quite handsome. Short, though jagged brown hair stuck up wildly from the wind. His face was angular, but there was a strange sort of softness in the cheeks that Beast couldn't quite grasp. The eyes were large, rich brown, and thickly lashed.
His stomach clenched in an odd way. Beast frowned at his reaction, not certain what it meant.
Then the boy's stomach growled loudly.
Beast looked upon the striking boy expecting him to reach forward and grab whatever he could take. But the boy stayed in place looking around confused.
"Hello?" He called again; voice more strained than before. "I'm sorry to intrude. I just needed shelter from the cold."
Beast wondered at the circumstance of the young man. How did such a handsome young man find himself looking so homely? Perhaps he had gotten lost in the forest? Separated from his people, maybe he had trekked through the woods, his clothing getting torn on the journey.
This story made more since to the Beast, though truthfully, he had expected the boy take whatever he could find. If poor he would need the provisions and feel compelled to take them. If wealthy however, he would have a sense of entitlement and still make himself at home in a stranger's house.
But the boy simply stood there looking at a loss. After a long moment, he moved towards the fire in the adjoining room.
"What a strange place. Maybe the master of the house won't mind if I just warm by the fire? There's no harm in that, right?"
The boy was speaking to himself.
Beast listened on in bewilderment.
"It feels strange here. Like someone's watching me. Maybe I am going crazy?" He wrapped his arms tightly around himself. "I miss you mama. I wish you were here."
The words struck through Beast in a way that nothing else ever had. The yearning for a parent was one he too had known. And the sad look in the boy's eyes was all too telling.
He huddled by the fire a long time, eyes glazing over. Beast watched feeling more and more ill at ease. He was better than this. Did it really matter if the child was a thief or wealthy? He needed food, water, and shelter. Beast could provide that.
Making up his mind, he somewhat reluctantly left the boy to seek out his trusted servants.
"Take him food. And water. Give him a room for the night." He ordered the small clock that cowered beneath him.
"You want to feed and house the intruder?" He asked nervously.
"Did I not just say so?" Beast thundered.
"Yes, of course. Right away."
"Report to me later." Beast stalked off to his room to watch from above.
A few hours later a small knock sounded on his door.
"Yes?" his irritated sigh did not deter the incoming candelabra.
"Ah Master! Cogsworth is attending to the boy. I thought I would update you, yes?"
For some reason the upbeat nature of the wax and metal figure didn't bother the Beast. He'd always had a sort of soft spot for Lumiere.
"How is he?"
Lumiere grinned.
"Good. Very confused at first, but he took it rather well when the dishes started moving. And Mrs. Potts can be very pushy, but he took that well too."
Beast didn't want to be pleased, but he was.
"Where is he now?"
"Sleeping in the North wing. Took some convincing to get him there though. He's a bit of tough one I think."
Beast said nothing but contemplated.
"Very well. See he has food in the morning, and more for his journey."
"Ah but the boy is so tired. Maybe he can stay longer?"
Beast glared at Lumiere, but the flames only grew brighter.
"He leaves tomorrow." His tone was final. The candle flames dimmed a little as the candleholder bowed and exited the room.
Beast had to remind himself that was for the best. A boy didn't belong there. It wasn't as if he could break the spell. No, it was better if he left in the morning.
…..
Morning seemed to come all too soon. Beast hadn't slept a wink, thinking of the boy. A sense of relief and regret tore through him as he heard the man leave.
It was for the best.
The thought had barely crossed his mind when he felt the snap.
One of his roses had been damaged.
Leaping up furiously, Beast bounded out the door to see the young boy holding a perfect rose in his hands.
"How dare you take from me."
At the Beast's voice the boy turned and paled looking on at him. Beast didn't want to be upset by the fear he saw there. But he was, and it angered him more.
"I feed you, give you shelter. And this is how you repay my kindness?" He nearly growled pointing to the rosebud.
The boy's mouth fell open, sputtering.
"But… I didn't… I mean I wasn't…" he stammered.
Beast knew his temper was reaching its peak, knew on some level that his reaction was uncalled for, but he also knew he couldn't stop it.
"You take from me; I take from you." He gritted out, grabbing the boy by his cloak, dragging him away to the tower. A small cell resided there; he shoved the boy in slamming the gate closed.
"Please, I didn't mean any harm." The boy begged.
Beast gnashed his teeth.
"No harm? You take my rose after everything I have given. You selfish, ungrateful boy," the beast trailed off unable to finish. "Well, you will take no more. You can live here and think of your harmless actions."
With that he walked away hurriedly, angrily.
It wasn't long before Lumiere found him.
"Sire please. Perhaps it was a mistake. He couldn't know what the roses meant to you."
Beast growled viciously, but Lumiere wasn't deterred.
"Come, come. He is so young. He made an error. Should he be judged so harshly for that?"
"You think I know nothing of error? Was I not cursed because of a stupid mistake? Why should he be any different?"
Lumiere could see his reasoning was lost on the Beast. He was simply too angry to see anything else.
"Yes sire." Lumiere backed away leaving Beast to contemplate his words and actions.
…
The next three days were tense. Beast had not gone into the tower, though he had ordered food be taken to his prisoner. Beast or not, it wasn't his intention to stave the boy to death.
Still Lumiere's words had haunted him these past days. Should one mistake rule the rest of person's life? Was he so beastly that he was now stooping to Enchantress's level? Punishing young people for one bad decision?
Perhaps it was time to let the boy go.
Wearily he made his way up the tower stairs, dreading the coming encounter. He didn't want to see fear in the boy's eyes. He could have just told Lumiere to take care of the release, but somehow, he needed to face him.
When Beast came upon the cell, he was surprised to find the boy did not look so well. Uneaten food laid at the door, and dried blood caked his sleeve.
"What the devil?"
The boy jerked at his words, eyes widening.
"You're bleeding?" The confusion in Beast's voice was evident. The boy looked befuddled then glanced at his shirt.
"Not anymore." His voice was barely a whisper.
Beast felt terrible. Had he in his anger hurt the young man? Was he responsible for the gashes in the sleeve?
When he thought back, he couldn't credit it. He hadn't swiped at the boy.
Without thinking further, he opened the cell door. The boy went still and watched him warily. Beast ignored the look, but advanced intending to get a closer look at the wound. He tore away the remnants of the sleeve.
The sight made him wince. Deep cuts littered his arm, thorns were deeply wedged in the gashes.
"The rose bush." Beast whispered. Was this what the boy had tried to tell him? Not that his picking the flower had been a mistake, but rather an accident?
Though obviously weary the boy gave Beast a deep look. And when he spoke, his voice was strained and tired.
"Yes. I stopped to admire them, but I got tangled somehow. One of the roses broke off."
Beast's stomach clenched as he eyed the rose sitting in the boy's palm.
He felt terrible for his actions. It was time to make this right.
Without hesitation, he scooped up the boy, whose eyes somehow grew even larger.
"I'm not going to hurt you." Beast said gruffly as he made his way out of the tower to find a place to take care of the boy. "I'll see your wounds taken care of."
It wasn't long before he'd made it to the sitting room, luckily a fire was still blazing. He laid the boy down gently on a couch, before briskly turning away to get help.