A Few Days Later…
The Beast looked from the balcony of his room out over the garden where Stan was leaning against a tree feeding a small group of birds at his feet. The Beast's arm was still wrapped in the bandages from his injury fighting off the wolves, and he had changed into a white t-shirt and a pair of red-orange pants that weren't torn at Cartman's instruction.
He sighed contentedly as he watched Stan. "I don't understand it, why am I feeling this way?"
Cartman looked up at The Beast confusingly. "Master?"
"Would do I do?" He looked down at Cartman, wanting to plead for help, but that would just be weird for him to do. "I'm afraid he still thinks I'm a monster."
"He doesn't," Cartman reassured, "otherwise he might've tried to leave again."
"Yeah," The Beast smiled, "you're right."
"Well, go down there and talk to him! Get to know him a little better, and let him get to know you!"
He thought about it for a minute, gazing down at Stan as a small bird landed on his shoulder. Finally, a small smile crossed The Beast's face and he turned around to walk downstairs. Maybe Cartman was right, he should try to get to know Stan a bit better since he was starting to fall in–no, that couldn't be. They'd only known each other for a few days, that couldn't be what The Beast was feeling, he was sure of it.
He walked out into the garden and saw Stan crouched down feeding the birds gathered around him. He looked content and almost happy for the first time since arriving at the castle. When Stan noticed him standing there, The Beast took a few steps forward, into the garden and the sunlight of the afternoon. "How do I do that?"
Stan smiled a bit and ushered for him to come over to him. "It's easy, really." He took some of the birdseed out of a light gray bag he was carrying. "Hold out both hands near the ground."
The Beast did as he was told and Stan put some of the birdseed in The Beast's paws and on the ground in front of him. Most of the birds flew away, scared at his appearance, but one brave bird pecked at the birdseed on the ground and hopped into The Beast's hands to eat what was there. His mouth formed into a wide smile, no animal had ever gotten so close to him since his transformation.
Stan smiled wide too. He was happy at how happy The Beast looked in that moment, and at the fact that he'd help him look that way. Another bird flew over and landed on Stan's shoulder again, he reached over and let it hop into the palm of his hand. He showed it to The Beast, saying that soon he was sure birds would just fly to him. Stan stood up, resting one hand on The Beast's shoulder as he did, and released the bird into the air.
The Beast smiled softly as he watched Stan walked over to the tree he'd been leaning against. It was surprising, for once, Stan didn't seem nervous or scared of him, and had even touched him without shaking. Stan turned and smiled at The Beast before slinking behind the tree, his face red.
Stan pressed his forehead against the tree trunk, his face was burning. What were these emotions he was suddenly feeling? It was almost scary for him to be feeling the way he did about The Beast. Just two days ago he was saying that he could never love a beast, and now…now he was beginning to feel something far more greater than anything he'd ever felt for anyone, even Kyle and he'd been close to him for years.
Stan grabbed onto the front of his jacket and then looked around the tree trunk, laughing as he saw a group of birds had all landed on The Beast's head, shoulders, and arms. He looked nervous as if he didn't want to move for fear of the birds pecking at him or flying off. That moment just begged to be ruined.
Quickly, he gathered a snowball into his hand and chucked it at The Beast, it hit him in the face, causing the birds to scatter. He glared over at Stan for a moment, his eyes softening as he saw Stan laughing triumphantly. Using both arms, he gathered a vast amount of snow, showing the dead grass beneath, and held the huge snow-boulder above his head.
Stan's eyes widened at the sight. "Holy crap," he muttered and quickly grabbed another snowball, throwing it at The Beast's face again. "Take that!" He laughed even louder as the snow-boulder fell down on top of his head, knocking him to the ground. Stan couldn't have imagined how far that would've knocked him back.
On the railing of the balcony, Cartman was laughing as Pip and Butters were simply chuckling. The scene below them was simply too perfect! Stan and The Beast were getting along wonderfully! It was only a matter of time, as they figured it.
"It's amazing," Pip chuckled, "how two days ago they could barely stand to look at each other and now they're having a snowball fight."
"Y-You're right Pip," Butters said with a smile, "it is amazing!"
"It's only a matter of time," Cartman announced excitedly. "Finally the spell will be broken!"
"Don't get your hopes up," Pip said. "If something happens and he's not the one to break the spell, you're going to be completely disappointed."
Cartman rolled his eyes. "Stop being such a downer Pip be optimistic for once."
"Oh dear, I suppose you're right."
"S-So should we do something to help th-this along?" Butters asked, hoping that maybe someone had an idea.
Cartman shrugged. "Unless the master asks for help, we should probably just stay clear."
Pip nodded. "Indeed." The three turned their attention back to the two still having their snowball fight in the garden.
…
Smiling, The Beast watched with Cartman as Pip, Ike, Butters, and the stove showed Stan how to make a chocolate soufflé - Stan was having a hard time of it too, it seemed. He sighed happily, not moving his gaze from the man as he said, "I wanna do something for him, something special."
"Well sir," Cartman hopped onto his shoulder, "I know what you could do."
…
"Come on dude," Stan groaned as he was being led somewhere, he wasn't sure where, "I don't like being blindfolded."
"Don't worry, it's just a little bit further," The Beast reassured with a smile. "You'll like it."
"Okay…" Stan continued walking in the direction he was being pulled. He heard a door opening and he was pulled a bit further before being told to stand in the center of the room. "Can I take this thing off yet?"
"No," The Beast opened a curtain, "not yet." He opened a few more curtains, Stan looking in each direction he heard the curtains opening in. Finally, The Beast walked back over to Stan. "Okay, you can take the blindfold off."
He pulled the blindfold down and his mouth formed a wide smile. The first thing he saw was a violin and a violin bow sitting on a small round table between a metal music stand and a cello, sitting on a stand of its own. He turned around, seeing a gold harp, a silver flute, a black grand piano, along with other instruments. Shelves lined the walls, filled with books of sheet music, beginners books, and blank sheets for original compositions. The light pouring through the tall windows - one made of stained glass, designed like a man playing the cello against a dark blue background - reflected off of the white marble floor, lighting up the room beautifully.
"Wow," Stan breathed, "this is…amazing!" He laughed excitedly. "I can't believe this…this music room! It's….wow!"
"You like it then?" The Beast asked excitedly. Seeing Stan's face light up like that was perfect, he knew that the man would probably be in that room a lot, but it would be worth it to see him look so happy.
"I love it!" Stan exclaimed with a wide smile.
The Beast spread his arms out to his side and spun around happily. "Then it's yours!"
Stan's mouth dropped open in shock. There was no way he could be serious about just giving him the music room. "R-Really?"
"Of course." The Beast smiled.
Smiling again, Stan threw his arms around The Beast's neck. "Thank you so much!"
Hesitantly, The Beast gently wrapped his arms around Stan's waist, not saying anything in return, just loving the feel of the man in his arms. He only wished that he could always have the pleasure of holding Stan in his arms.
