After wandering around for a bit in search of the maitre d' turned candelabra, Rosalie finally resorted to asking around to see if anyone had seen where he'd gone. The answers she got were mixed at best, especially from the knives who started arguing and got into a 'sword fight'. Feeling like she might not ever locate Lumiere, her dark eyes fell upon Webster, LePlume, and Crane walking along together. She went onto all fours, something she never did often, and ran to catch up with them "Webster!"
Webster, a dictionary with a habit of using large words that nobody knew the meaning of so that he'd have to explain them, turned while raising an 'eyebrow' at his name being called. LePlume and Crane also turned out of curiosity, all three pausing in their walk to watch the plush mouse skid to a stop in front of them. "'Allo Rosalie." LePlume greeted with a smile.
"You look to be in quite a hurry, in haste, exerting swiftness, a rush." Webster observed, using several different ways of describing her as he did with most things.
"Yeah, you alright? You look a bit flustered there." Crane spoke up, cocking his paper 'head' slightly in a curious fashion.
"I'm trying to find Lumiere, have you seen him?" Rosalie inquired, glancing at each of their faces in turn while her questioning eyes looked for any hint of information.
"Last we saw 'e was in ze ballroom." The ink pen answered, gesturing in the direction with his feather tip.
"Mmnyes-" Webster agreed in his nasally tone, nodding in agreement with what LePlume had said but only slightly as to not knock his glasses from where they were perched on his blue nose "The fellow seemed quite down, depressed, gloomy, disheartened, even dejected one might say."
"We tried talking to 'im, but 'e wouldn't tell us anything. Just told us 'e wanted to be alone." Crane added and made a shrugging motion, or at least, the closest to shrugging a stack of papers could get to.
"Thanks guys." Rosalie said before swiftly turning and darting back down the corridor towards the ball room. As her small pink paws carried her quickly down the hall, her mind was racing from what they had said. Lumiere was upset about something? But what? He'd been in such a jovial mood that morning, what could have changed that so drastically? She wondered if she should still tell him or if that would only worsen things. Deciding that his problems would come first and she would deliver comfort to him first and foremost, she slowed as she reached a small side door that led into the room, it being about halfway open.
The first thing that worried her was that she could hear no humming, not even the faintest musical note, no matter how hard she strained her pink felt ears. Lumiere was almost always humming some cheerful tune or another, especially when he was alone and free to sway or sometimes even dance along too it. The fact that he wasn't doing so was a bit alarming. Biting her lower lip slightly and wondering again what had happened, she cautiously poked her head around the door to peer inside.
The ballroom was spectacularly gigantic. The pink-purple glow from the setting sun was the only lighting the room had at the moment and it bounced around the intricately decorated walls with smooth grace and managed to reach even the highest point in the domed ceiling, just barely. The piano, as it wasn't in use, was nearby her almost pressed to the wall, seeming almost gloomy at being ignored in its little corner as it was totally shut up, not even the ivory keys peeking out. At first glance, the vast expanse that was the ballroom's sleek floor seemed empty. But then something caught her eye.
She would have found him immediately had his candles been lit. But, to her unease, they were not. The wicks, charred black from use, were devoid of their usual accompaniment of small golden-yellow and burnt orange flames. This was her second indication that this was more than a case of being a bit down in the dumps. The lone figure, looking small and alone in the gargantuan room without even his three small flames for company, was standing mostly still, though Rosalie thought she could see his 'shoulders' shaking ever so slightly. His arms hung limply at his sides, head bowed and eyes closed. His lips were not curled in the handsome grin she had seen so many times that she knew it by heart.
This was not the flirtatious, kind-hearted maitre d' that she had nearly ran into on that day so many years ago. It was not the comforting soul that had assured her that all would be okay as he helped her find the missing Chip. It was not the flamboyant, stubborn man that got into arguments with Cogsworth almost every time they were in the same room together, or the determined candelabra that had invited Belle's father to stay or given Belle an awe-inspiring dinner despite the master having forbid them too.
And it was most definitely not the confident, love-filled Lumiere that she had danced with that very morning.
This man, this Lumiere, was not one that Rosalie had ever seen before, nor had she expected to see. Gone was the romantic, witty charm that he used on everyone that made it so they couldn't help but smile, or in Cogsworth's case groan. The cheerful tune that was almost always playing within him, even when he wasn't humming or singing it aloud had been lost. His passion-filled, vivacious internal flame that had kept himself and others going no matter how difficult or stressful the obstacle had vanished along with tiny globes of fire that usually danced upon his hands and head.
The plush mouse felt what almost seemed like fear mixed with anxiety and concern prickle through her in a wave upon seeing the candelabra so very different from she knew and had fallen for. The one she'd been near-crying over and singing for not too long ago. What could have so completely sucked the life from him like this? What possibly could have happened to the smiling, warm-spirited man she'd twirled and dipped with hours before? And, the most pressing of all of her questions, what could she possibly do to comfort him?
Moving slowly, as if anything faster would disturb the forlorn soul that stood despondently in the center of the dance floor that he himself had spun over several times, Rosalie silently approached him. She had no claws to click against the hard floor, the sound of her pink paws and tail barely making the softest whisper was she crossed the huge room. She had a feeling that even if she had made any noise, he wouldn't have heard it. He was lost within himself and it would take a lot to stir him out of it. And even more than that to free him from it.
After a minute or so she finally reached him, pausing mere inches away. Unsure of what to do next, she cautiously reached out a paw to touch his shoulder and breathed, voice quiet as the rustle of leaves as a slight breeze snuck through "Lumiere?"
Lumiere whipped around to face her in surprise and she emitted a soft gasp and retracted her hand in equal shock. His shoulders relaxed, slumping slightly, upon seeing it was her and let out an airy, forced laugh as fake as the smile that attempted to touch his lips "Oh, Rosalie! You scared me mademoiselle."
Quickly, and rather nervously for someone usually as cool, calm, and collected as Lumiere, he ran his 'hands' across his eyes and Rosalie realized with a start that he'd been crying. "What can I do for you my dear? Is Cogsworth looking for me?" Lumiere looked as if he were about to leave "I suppose I should get back to-"
"Wait." Rosalie reached out and put a paw on his arm to keep him from going and his gaze met hers, vaguely caught off guard by her action. "I was looking for you, not Cogsworth. But… what's wrong?" she asked gently, cocking her head to the side while studying his face.
It has before been mentioned that despite most of the residents of the castle being usually what were inanimate objects, they still felt. Very much so. And Lumiere was currently the perfect testament to that fact. Looking up into his wax features, there could be no doubt that a human, or at least, someone who had once been human, inhabited the body. For the strained smile he bore was not one that had simply been carved into the wax or painted on. Because beneath it, there was true pain. And his dark eyes, usually gleaming with life, were dim.
Lumiere broke his eyes free from hers at the question, looking away while his arms drooped back down to his sides. He gave up on trying to hide his anguish, the barely-there smile vanishing completely, and emitted a soft sigh."You remember this morning, when I told you that Fifi and I 'ad a date planned?"
"Yes." Rosalie answered slowly, feeling the faintest twinge of leftover heartache at the reminder of that morning's incident, though her worry for him squashed it almost immediately.
"I'm afraid it… did not go quite as planned. She-… she told me she was seeing someone else." Lumiere said quietly, eyes half closed as he gazed at the floor without really seeing it, lost in the memory. Rosalie's eyes widened in shock and her mouth opened, though no sound or words of comfort ventured out of it. She was far too stunned for that.
"He-… He's one of the violins from the Orchestra. Very talented apparently. No doubt he can serenade her much better than I." Lumiere emitted a sort of strained chuckle, empty of any humor whatsoever like a bean pod rustling but being devoid of its seeds. He shook his head slightly before continuing. "I asked her why, what I'd done. How I could change. She… she told me that she was tired of me 'flirting' with women all the time. That it was romantic at first but… she wants someone who she knows will always be hers. I guess this violin can give her this. I tried to tell her I could change, that I would change."
"She did not believe me, though who could blame her? I suppose… maybe I deserved it. She deserves someone better. Someone who-… who couldn't burn her when he wasn't paying attention." A single wax tear escaped from the corner of his eye and trickled down his long, slender nose before dripping onto the floor, a small circle of ivory wax the only evidence of his heartbreak.
Lumiere gave himself a small shake and back was the sham smile to feign happiness that was not at all there as he tried to sniff as unnoticeably as possible "Listen to me, babbling on. We've got work to do! Don't want Cogsworth getting his screws in a bunch over us, no?"
"Lumiere, you didn't deserve that." Rosalie said quietly and he froze in surprise, looking at her to find that now she was gazing at the floor "You are the better someone, even if she doesn't see it. Yes, you flirt. But that's apart of who you are, your personality. Your charm. And it doesn't matter anyway because you're a caring, wonderful person. If not for you, Belle's father might have been seriously injured, wandering blindly into the West Wing. Belle could still be up in the tower without food because of her refusing to come down and eat. It's your kindness that helped them and helps keep all of us here together every day. If not for you… I probably would have been fired and wouldn't even be here right now."
"Would that be such a bad thing?" Lumiere asked with a melancholy smile "If you were not here, you would not be cursed."
"But I also wouldn't know Chip or Mrs. Potts or Cogsworth. And I wouldn't be here with you." Rosalie finally worked up the nerves to look up into his face "You shouldn't have to change for her or anyone else because you're you and that's all you should be. So what if he can play her mindless music? Your singing comes from your heart, and that's what matters. She's crazy to have let an amazing guy like you go. Having you would be worth a burn."
Rosalie realized everything she'd just admitted, as it's really just poured from her mouth without her consent, and would have blushed had she been able too. Instead she settled for ducking her head embarrassedly, fiddling with the tip of her tail in her forepaws.
"Rosalie?" she looked up when his rolling, warm tone spoke her name and was slightly taken aback to find that his candles were suddenly alight once more, burning brightly and dancing as if overjoyed to be back "Why was it you were looking for me?"
"To tell you… everything I just said I suppose." She answered sheepishly, eyes going downwards briefly before she forced herself to be brave and met his gaze again.
"You mean you-…?" he inquired in slight surprise, studying the plush mouse's fur-covered features.
She nodded slightly and admitted softly with a nervous smile "From when I first met you."
At this, a smile slowly quirked the corners of his lips. But this time, it was genuine. There was no falseness or sorrow behind it, it was just pure and simple happiness. The spark of dazzling life that usually flickered in his eyes was rekindled, albeit not completely back to its normal brightness. It would take time to heal, as all wounds did. But it would, eventually, be restored. Perhaps a bit faster than it would have before this revelation.
"And it took you 'til now to tell me?" he laughed, deep and hearty this time and put his arms around her in a hug, completely aware of the flames of his hands and where they were so he would not harm her. And, despite her also being well aware of his small shimmering fires, she was unafraid as she returned the embrace, closing her eyes and beaming while her heart soared and smashed free of the ache it had been shackled in for most of that day.
They broke away after a moment and Lumiere went into a deep bow, taking her paw in his hands and purring with a broad grin "Care to dance mademoiselle?"
She giggled softly as he placed a kiss on her small pink paw, smile widening slightly as she was reminded of her first moments of ever meeting the alluring maitre d' "Why thank you monsieur."
"Are you sure you are not afraid of being burned?" he inquired as he straightened, reverting back to being serious momentarily as worry appeared in his dark eyes.
Rosalie shook her head, smile soft, and replied without hesitation "No. I trust you."
The grin burst back to life on his lips, lighting up his features and wiping away the concern and solemnity. Putting their 'hands' in the proper places, unlike their dance hours before, the candelabra led them in a swirling, graceful waltz around the enormous floor of the ballroom. Unknown to the couple, they were being watched by four pairs of delight-filled eyes from the same doorway Rosalie had entered. Chip was just happy to see his friend was no longer dreary, Mrs. Potts and Belle observed the dancers with soft, proud smiles to see that the plush mouse had worked up the courage to reveal her feelings, and even Cogsworth was smiling ever so slightly. He let out a small, nearly heartfelt sigh then sternly shooed them all away, whispering angrily about privacy and needing to get back to work.
Lumiere began to hum as they spun, once again his deep, rumbling tone rolling through Rosalie in blissful, comforting waves and seemed to stay within her chest, right where he heart would be if she were human. He was grinning the dashing, charm-filled grin that was usually at home on his face, watching her from beneath half-closed eyelids. And she beamed while happiness bubbled up within her so fully that she felt she might burst with it. Because this time his sweet voice and alluring grin were all hers.
Author's Note: First of all, I loved Webster, LePlume, and Crane from 'Belle's Magical World', which is why I put them in here. :]
Now, I know that there are many Lumiere/Fifi fans, so I'm sorry if this upsets you. But... I don't know, from the way she reacted to the thought of Lumiere and Belle together it just seems it could happen. Of course she'd find Lumiere alluring at first, but soon she'd want someone who's only got eyes for her, you know? Maybe it's just me. But I really hope this doesn't ruin my story for anyone. :( Especially because I'd really like to write another one involving Cogsworth's past.
Anyway, I hope you all enjoyed this. I know I did writing it. 3