Although their last meeting ended amicably, Belle is thoroughly surprised when the prince slides into the chair across from her normal table in the library.
"Did you need something Highness?" She glances up at him, eyebrow cocked questioningly.
"No, not exactly. It's just...ugh, now that the girls aren't so afraid of me they are starting to get annoying, I can't go anywhere without being followed." He huffs. "I can't stand them being simpering fools."
"Not everyone in the castle acts like that, you know."
"You don't."
"No and I'm not the only one who doesn't." She returns to her notes and calculations. "If you don't need me..."
"Actually, I was hoping we could talk."
"There are other people—"
"Not that I've met."
She sighs, tempted to mention that she makes a poor therapist, and dislikes politics, but notices his claws digging into the table. Surprised, she glances at his expression. He's growling slightly as he watches some of the girls titter as they stare at him from behind a bookshelf. The girls send her a glare and she rolls her eyes (She'll have a long lecture from Tom once this gossip gets out). The prince's claws gouge deeper into the wood and his teeth bare. Her hand flutters for a few moments with indecision before she places it over his paw. The growling stops and he stares at her, wide eyed.
"Calm down, Highness. Those girls are here to help you break the curse, they're not supposed to make things worse."
"Doesn't mean they're not obnoxious." He groans. "Besides, Sir Thomas is searching for a cure."
"Yes, we are, but no cure other than the customary falling in love has ever been attempted before. So far we have not figured out anything more than the basic structure of the curse. It's a lot more complex than we originally assumed and this library is not very well stocked in fairytale magic or biology."
"You're helping him?"
"Yeah." She shrugs. "I assumed you knew. I've got the biology background that Tom lacks, and enough math and magic theories to understand him."
"Ah." He is unsure how to respond to that statement. "Um."
Belle hides a smirk behind her book. "Do you still want to talk?"
"Just let me recover from that revelation."
She laughs. "Alright."
!
Tom finds her before dinner and drags her to his lab, locking the door behind them.
"Explain."
She feigns ignorance. "Explain what?"
"Don't play Ell."
"Fine." She sighs, "I may have mentioned my real opinion about the treatment of the castle during a...uh, slightly heated discussion with the prince...um."
Tom huffs through his clenched jaw. "And how does that explain the prince's sudden interest in stalking?"
She snorts at the insinuation. "Apparently most people refuse to tell him the truth and he finds my outlook refreshing." It's almost a question, as she eyes her friend warily.
"He could always come to me."
She rolls her eyes at him. "You terrify him."
"I would tell him the truth."
"How could he know that!" She exclaims, throwing her hands in the air. "You've never even had a conversation with him where you weren't trying to be intimidating."
"Doesn't mean I can't."
She exhales harshly. Ignoring the flames flickering around her friend's balled fists she grabs his (luckily flame free) shoulder and pulls him down onto the chair beside her.
"Okay, what's really bothering you?"
He blinks up at her and the flames fade. "What?"
"You're not angry because he's talking to me...or at least your not only angry because of that. So, what is it?"
He gives in. "Some of the girls have noticed the sudden interest you've gained from His Royal Highness," he stresses the title condescendingly, "and they're not happy about it." He settles more comfortably in the chair and turns to face her. "I overheard them discussing what they should do to you to retaliate."
"Hmm." She considers the possibilities. "What could they possibly do to me that you couldn't fix? Besides, it's not like I can't defend myself." He still looks worried, so she squeezes his arm. "If it will make you feel better, next time I see the prince I'll ask him not to come around too often and if you're still worried we can let Lumiere, Cogsworth and Mrs. Potts know. I'm sure they can arrange some sort of protection."
"It's just irritating. This is the reason we decided to have you come for work and not as my guest, because you'd be less likely to get involved in the politics."
"Well..." She tries, "it's not like either of us expected the prince to take a liking to me...Maybe you can invite me to the Sunday night feasts as your guest and all the girls will be so terrified by our friendship they wont try anything."
He snorts. "That would mean you'd have to come to one of the feasts."
Her lips twitch in a smile. "Good point. Let's make that the last resort."
!
"Penny? Jaz?" Slightly surprised by her sisters' visit, Belle stares at them a few minutes before offering them a seat. "Would you two like some tea?"
"Not now." Penelope states.
"Ah, did you need something?"
"We wanted to warn you." Jasmine finishes.
"Warn me?"
"Some of the other contestants have noticed you talking with the prince and they don't like it." She says. "We know he'd never actually fall in love with you." Belle raises a sardonic eyebrow but remains silent. "You'd never end up with him so it doesn't bother us that you talk. In fact it probably helps us. But we think the other girls might be planning to stop you."
"Um thanks, I think. I appreciate the warning. Tom mentioned the possibility of retaliation earlier, so I've prepared."
Her sisters nod. Before Jasmine speaks up. "Do you think we could have some tea now?"
Belle smiles at her sisters and pours cups for each of them. "Of course."