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

[destinedhost]

[Zorc was...distant.

He was barely around, having left Ryou to the care of the little servants around the castle. They were all charming of course, and they became friends rather quickly...

But Ryou's heart kept thinking about the majestic master of the castle.

Enough so that he asked what he could do to cheer him up.

"Oh, you can make him something! The Master really likes artwork, you know!"

This spurred Ryou into action.

He asked some of the servants to fetch him his art supplies from his old home, which was done in quick order.

Then...he started carving.

It was a figurine of Zorc, cute and endearing with his coat and adorable hair, horns, and fur.

He was applying the fluff to his chest with gentle precision with adhesive and tweezers, smiling and humming to himself.]

[stealerofsouls]

[It was hard to tell what he was working on. Was it a sculpture of some sort...? He's certainly engaged in it though...

Zorc finds himself smiling a bit.

Curiosity gets the better of him and he softly knocks on the door so he doesn't startle poor Ryou, then pushes the door open all the way to enter the room.]

... How are you doing?

[destinedhost]

Zorc!

[Ryou's entire face lights up as he turns around in his seat, figurine on full display in his hand.

He's...

He's... smiling... just a little.

His heart flutters and stomach swoops...]

Hello. I'm doing well, thank you. Just working on some art...

[He was so excited to hear from him that he forgot just what he was making for a moment...]

[stealerofsouls]

[His cheeks flush just a little at that sheer joy on Ryou's face.

The beast steps over to the table to look at his work. And his eyes fall on to the figurine.

It's... him? Ryou's making... him?

Any wall he might have had up melts as he kneels down next to the younger man's chair to get a better look at it.]

Is that... me?

[destinedhost]

[Ryou flushes, bashful but not willing to look away.

He nods.]

Nn. I wanted to capture your essence as best I could. You're regal, but also very cute, so I thought, maybe...

[Ryou. You don't just call this man cute.]

Mixing that with your soulful eyes...I hope I did it justice.

[stealerofsouls]

[Oh. Oh no.

His face only turns more red. Zorc chews on his lip as he averts his gaze.]

You think... I look like that...?

[destinedhost]

[Ryou blushes himself, averting his own eyes.]

Is... that weird...?

[He finds Zorc beautiful. Soulful. So sad and mysterious...]

[stealerofsouls]

I-I don't know.

[He swallows.]

No one... has ever described me as such...

[destinedhost]

They're clearly blind.

[The words come out before Ryou can stop himself.]

You're beautiful, you know. Your hair is lovely and your fur looks so soft. I keep thinking about laying on it to take a nap.

[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?