*Edited!
Set after Chapter 37
*Warning: mild harassment ahead, nothing major but thought I should tell ya. Also, phrases in italics are the characters speaking French :)
Enjoy!
Summary: In which an old army buddy, who rarely visits, tries to woo Belle.
Number of years married: 9
Sons: 3
Daughters: 1
~:~ Gustav the Terrible ~:~
Jérémie winced as his fellow army buddy clicked his tongue at a woman standing at the bar. His friend – named Gustav – wasn't from Villeneuve. They met on the battlefield and stayed in touch after the war ended. Gustav, Basile, Gaston, and himself always went on their yearly hunting trip, but their meetings had grown scarce since all but one had settled down and started a family.
Can you guess which one hadn't yet?
"Don't do it," Jérémie said. "Don't go over there and talk your way into her good graces. It's not worth it."
Gustav chuckled. "No, no. You're just jealous, minha amiga. I take it there's no excitement with Katya anymore, huh? Come on, let me have a little fun." His upper lip twitched and he clicked his tongue again at the woman – he imagined the many ways he could have her.
"There's plenty of excitement between me and Katerina," Jérémie growled into his mug.
"Then wish your good friend luck as he woos this woman to his bed!" He good-naturedly clapped his hand on Jérémie's back before smoothing back his hair and sauntering over to the bar.
Basile shrunk down in his seat by the fire. "I can't look."
"I did warn him," the Frenchman grunted.
"He's going to get his teeth knocked in."
"If he gets caught."
Basile gave a noise between a weak laugh and a snort. "Oh you know he's going to get caught."
"Pardon me, Mademoiselle," Gustav greeted with a grin.
She glanced at him then went back about her business.
He chuckled, "Mademoiselle, it is impolite to dismiss a kind man who is willing to buy a pretty lady a drink."
"Well perhaps, you know it to be impolite to attempt to woo a married woman," she said sweetly. "For having eyes, you don't know how to use them. You've failed to see my wedding band."
He glanced down at her left hand and saw a single stone on a gold band. He scoffed and drank his drink obnoxiously. "Then where is your husband, Madame? I would think a man would not dare to leave his woman's side, especially in a place like this. She might… run off with another man."
She took a step away from him as he leaned forward. She could smell a lot of ale on his breath. "Monsieur, I believe our conversation is done. My husband is returning."
He harrumphed and downed his drink. He stepped behind her and she turned around – her back to the bar. "Mademoiselle, you do play hard to get-"
"So I've been told," she said distractedly. The familiar forms of Jérémie and Basile caught her eye. And they looked quite sick and embarrassed. Her gaze returned to the stranger before her and she faintly smiled, turning heard the closing of a carriage door outside. "Excuse me, Monsieur," she said and skirted around him.
Gustav returned to his seat with the other two and grumbled. "Unbelievable."
"So, will you have her by the end of the night?" Jérémie couldn't help but tease.
"Shut up."
Outside, Belle breathed a relieved sigh when she caught sight of her husband. "My Gaston," she beamed, wrapping her arms around his neck when he stepped up to her. She smiled at the equal squeeze he gave her waist. She pulled back, "I had no idea Jérémie and Basile were already here. I had thought you all were coming together."
"They had some business to do beforehand and said they'd meet us here," he said.
She waved to the woman exiting the carriage - Jérémie's wife. "Hello, Katerina!"
"It was only an after-thought that Jérémie wanted me to join as well," the woman laughed. "And please, Belle, it's Katya."
"Of course, Katya. How was the journey here?" She looped arms with the woman as they walked to the tavern.
"Long, tiring. And you? I had no idea you'd be waiting for us. Gaston said Thomas was just recovering from a bad illness and you two hardly left his side."
Belle faintly smiled painfully. "Yes. He's recovered now, thankfully. My father is with him now."
"How sweet," Katya sighed. "I have been hinting at children for ages but Jeremie's still not ready."
She shook her head. "I'm sorry."
Gaston held the tavern door open for the two.
"Mon amour," Jérémie beamed when the three entered. He stood to greet his wife.
…and Basile chugged down his ale after seeing Gustav pale considerably when Gaston entered, his wife's hand in his. He wanted nooooo part in this! And if drunk was the way to get out of it, so be it.
Katya put her hands on Jérémie's chest. "Dear, Belle and I going to head out for a bit. We'll be back later."
He gave a slightly confused frown.
"I haven't seen her in a long while. We don't get those annual hunting trips like you lot do," she teased.
"Of course, mon amour," he said with a kiss to the back of her hand.
"Be careful," Gaston whispered for only Belle's ears. She smiled and kissed the corner of his mouth before leaving with Katya.
The great hunter chuckled and clapped Gustav's shoulder. "How've you been, old friend?"
Gustav sputtered and coughed a bit. He wiped his mouth with his sleeve. "Uhm, erm, good, Gaston. Good. And- and you?"
"Alright." He gave Gustav an odd look. "What's the matter? You seem nervous. You didn't have a run-in with Alois, did you?"
The man shook his head quickly. "No, no, it's nothing. I'm not nervous! Not at all!"
"He just had no idea you were married to such a beautiful woman," Jérémie filled in.
Gustav looked sharply at him then back at Gaston.
The former army captain chuckled and took a long drink. "That I do," he said.
Gustav watched him closely… and he didn't seem to be upset. Then he might have let out a loud breath of relief.
Well, Gaston's eyes narrowed suddenly at that! He set down his drink and looked at him. Then he turned to Jérémie who was suddenly trying to hide in his drink. "What happened?"
Gustav swallowed nervously. "What are you two discussing?" he asked.
Gaston glanced at him but didn't answer. Then he prompted a look at Jeremie.
The man stared into his mug for a long moment. "He tried to woo your wife."
Gaston's grey eyes darkened and he stood, his hands curling into fists. Gustav stood in a hurry as well, backing away from their seats. The hunter's demeanor turned cold and he intimidatingly stepped forward. The other stumbled, suddenly realizing what they had said.
"Gaston, I had no idea she was your wife. Sure she had on a ring, but come on, you can't expect me to believe a woman wouldn't cheat on her husband."
"Stop talking, stop talking," Basile wheezed, covering his face with his hands.
Jérémie looked fearful – but not for Gustav. He and Basile had sat idly by while knowing the woman was Gaston's wife. He feared they would also earn a fist to the nose.
"She is beautiful, Gaston. You- you are very lucky. You must know, now realizing who she is, I would never-"
"Bad move, bad move," Basile cringed.
"Shut up, shut up," Jérémie muttered. "Oh shit."
Katya pressed her hand to her mouth in shock at the purple bruise forming on the side of the soldier's face.
Gaston knew he should have felt guilty for his actions but he didn't. He smirked into his drink when she went to her husband as if Gustav were going to get up from his seat and attack her. He set his mug down when he noticed his own wife next to his chair.
"You men get into a little fight?" she asked curiously. She let him tug her onto his lap. Then she draped her arms on his shoulders and looked at the man with the black eye then back at Gaston. She took his hand in hers, inspecting his torn knuckles. "Have you forgotten your manners?"
"Only with men who forget their place."
"Ah." She gently brought his face to hers and kissed his cheek, hating to admit he stirred butterflies in her stomach when he sent a glare toward Gustav.
Later when they returned home, Gaston lied down beside her and smirked when she curled into him.
"You never told me about this Gustav man."
He raised an eyebrow. "After what he did to you, you want to talk about him? In this bed, during our time? No."
"Just you never talk about him. He's not around when you all go on your trips."
He winced. "Alois does not know of him."
"Alois…? He's from your letters, then, isn't he? The-"
"The Portuguese soldier, yes."
She pondered this quietly for a moment then remarked softly, "It's a wonder and a blessing you all stayed friends, isn't it?"
"Yes, it is." He stretched out with a finger lazily doodling on her arm. "Now, I really don't want to speak of it in this bed when he tried to woo you earlier-"
She snorted and gently smacked him. "You know I have eyes for no one else but you."
"Yes, yes, but the whole world should know you're mine and no other's."
She propped herself on an elbow and he sort of slunk back, cringing at her raised eyebrow. She opened her mouth to speak-
"But you're not my little wife," he managed out in a quick and slightly desperate chuckle. "No, Belle- we- you- You are my equal and nothing less." He flashed a dashing smile at her hoping that would smooth over his stupid tongue.
She pursed her lips and her disapproving look lasted two seconds before she smiled. "Oh, good, I was afraid you had forgotten."
"Never."
