Let me Carry You From Hell To Home Again -- Beauty And The Beast AU (Tendershipping)

[destinedhost]

 [Once Upon a Time, there was a village not far from an enchanted forest.

It was a normal village, filled with normal people living normal lives. Truly, it was a place ripped right out of a storybook that a particular young man enjoyed reading to his sickly little sister.

A sickly little sister that, one day, passed away. 

So the young man lived alone with his father: an explorer who often found himself wandering into uncharted territory and disappearing for weeks at a time. Both were considered 'strange' by the town's standards, often ignored and treated as outsiders by any who knew them. Truly, the man's father was all he had, even if the two had a strained relationship and were hardly what one would consider 'close'. 

The boy's name was Ryou, though some of the men in town jokingly called him 'Beauty' for his feminine looks and gorgeous long hair. He took it in stride, spending every day working odd jobs to keep himself fed while his father went off on his expeditions...

Unbeknownst to him, though...

His father's eyes fell onto the castle in the Enchanted Forest. 

He found a Ring there, and had to leave with it. 

However, a Beast confronted him, and threatened his life. Told him that for trying to steal what was his, he would take his life. 

The man, Mr. Bakura, was desperate to survive; there were things to find, and he wasn't ready to join his daughter and wife in Heaven. He had things to see, things to do, and wanted desperately to leave the town behind that had so many horrible memories...

But. 

Thinking quickly, the man begged and pleaded: 

"Please," he said, "I have a son! He's young and beautiful, and his life is worth far more than mine. If you let me go, I'll bring him to you, and I'll give him to you! No questions asked!" 

He didn't intend to give Ryou away, of course; he just needed to find a way out.

To his surprise, the Beast even acquiesced! Told him to return home to his son to have one last day together before the Beast would take him into his castle to take his life. 

So Mr. Bakura went home, and did not tell Ryou anything of this encounter, not knowing that the Beast was following behind him to take Ryou once he arrived home...]

Comments

[stealerofsouls]

[Ryou finds him beautiful. Even in this cursed form.]

But... I'm a monster.

[destinedhost]

[Ryou blinks, genuinely confused.]

So what? You look different from a human, but that doesn't make you less beautiful.

[stealerofsouls]

[He's genuinely speechless.

Zorc bares his fangs but not in a threatening way.

No one has ever said such kind words to him. Shown him this level of respect. There are his servants but that's different.

He trembles slightly before leaning in to gently bunt his forehead against Ryou, careful not to hit him with his horns.]

[destinedhost]

[Oh, he's bunting him.

Cats often do that when they express affection, don't they...? So was this Zorc's way of showing that be was...

...happy?

Ryou closes his eyes, rubbing his forehead against Zorc's in gentle, slow movements.]

Is... this okay?

[He whispers.]

[stealerofsouls]

[His breath hitches slightly at feeling the affection returned, and he tilts his head slightly to nuzzle their noses together.

He whispers back, his voice even more husky than usual:]

Yes...

[destinedhost]

[Ryou blindly sets the figurine aside so he can wrap his arms around Zorc's shoulders.

He rubs noses, tilting his head as his lips grow closer.

He...

He daydreamed of this.

Since the day they saw one another. This closeness... this...]

Can...

[Swallow. He murmurs:]

Can I kiss you?

[stealerofsouls]

[Gods, this feels so nice. To be wanted. To be appreciated.

He can't stop himself from purring softly, his heart beat picking up at Ryou's question.]

... You wish to kiss a beast?

[destinedhost]

Yes.

[Ryou makes an approximation of a purr right back.

His breath is picking up...

His heart is racing...]

Do you... want to kiss me, Zorc?

[stealerofsouls]

[He wants to kiss him despite his appearance...

Zorc closes his eyes, brushing their lips together as he growls.]

I do...

[destinedhost]

Then...please...

[With trembling lips, Ryou moves forward...]

Kiss me...

[stealerofsouls]

[It feels too good to be true but... the beast closes the distance between them and softly kisses his lips, finally wrapping one arm around Ryou's waist.

His entire body feels warm. His heart feels like it's going to burst.

He's wanted this for so long. Someone to love him -- and not just to break the curse. Zorc finds... that even if he can never return to a human, as long as he has Ryou, he would be alright with that. (His servants are another matter.)]

[destinedhost]

[Ryou hums and holds this beautiful, beautiful beast closer.

Ryou...

Had never been kissed.

This was his first kiss. It's clumsy and nervous, but sweet and eager. He wants this.

He desperately wants... this.

This closeness, this man, this...

Everything.]

[stealerofsouls]

[He keeps it simple, pulling back after a few moments, his purr as loud as a panther's as he bunts Ryou again.]

[destinedhost]

[Ryou bunts him back; his purr is so soothing. He loves the sound, enough to...]

Mrrr~

[Try to do it back.]

[stealerofsouls]

[There's a soft chuckle at the attempt.]

Ryou...

[destinedhost]

[Ryou chuckles.]

Did I do it right?

[stealerofsouls]

Close enough...

[He pulls back a bit more.]

... Thank you. For the figure and... for your kindness.

[destinedhost]

And... thank you...

[Ryou smiles.]

... for saving me.

[stealerofsouls]

[For saving him...

Zorc reaches up with his other hand to stroke his cheek with his thumb before placing a soft kiss to it.]

... I should be thanking you for that...

[destinedhost]

Maybe we...

[He kisses his lips, soft and light.]

Saved each other...

[stealerofsouls]

[Ah... This feels... wonderful. But a part of him thinks he doesn't deserve it.

Zorc returns the kiss all the same.]

Yes... I believe we did...

[destinedhost]

Before you, I... was so lonely.

Nobody has understood me like you.

[Zorc deserved everything.

His heart, soul, and his...]

[stealerofsouls]

... I can say the same thing. I was... just a monster to everyone else.

[destinedhost]

You don't...

[Ryou's arms tighten around him.]

... need to worry about that anymore.

[stealerofsouls]

[Zorc closes his eyes and rests his head against Ryou's, sighing softly.]

... Thank you...