paixaorpg | {Closed; Active}

Entry tags:

beast,
belle

{Closed; Active}

Characters: Belle and Beast.
Content: Belle is attacked by Heartless and Beast comes to save.
Setting: Near Cafe Erseat.
Time: Backdated (like whoa) to Week 33.
Warnings: ...scary Heartless/Beast?

The Heartless were relentless. Belle had lost her footing at the beginning of the attack and she hadn't been able to regain it. But, of course, that didn't matter to her attackers. In fact, it made it easier for them to drag her where they pleased. Yet Belle wasn't going to go down without a fight. Such was not her nature.

Kicking and thrashing, she expected to collide with something solid. However, it was almost as if she was trying to hit thin air. Or a shadow. But that didn't make any sense! How were they able to take hold of her? How were they able to hurt her?

"L-Let go of me!" she made herself go limp, hoping that her weight would make it difficult for them to move her any further, "I d-don't want to go with you!"

The Heartless were stronger than her. Part of that had to do with their sheer number: there was only one of her and ten...no fifteen...more!...of them. Belle had lost count.

"Pl-Please..." she put what was left of her strength into one final struggle, "There are people who will worry about m-me..." her words were cut off abruptly when her head came into contact with the ground. Stars danced before her eyes and she felt ill. There was also a strange blackness lurking on the edge of her vision.

Was that them? Or was she losing consciousness?

"Beast..." her face fell and tears flowed down her pale cheeks, "...I'm s-sorry."

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A massive roar made the Heartless reel all at once. Shaken their attention turned toward the source of the noise as it echoed through the streets. Beast's hulking form tore across the pavement, claws raking against the cobblestones as a second roar erupted from deep in his chest.

"LET. HER. GO!" His claws raked through shadow after shadow, wisps of darkness following in their wake as more and more of the creatures tried to throw themselves at him. Not for even a breath did he let up on his assault, even when it seemed he couldn't possibly fight them all off. Heartless flew into each other and into the sides of buildings, blasting apart into smoky tendrils of shadow. His repeated roars, audible from blocks away, stunned them, then his claws slashed through their umbral forms like they were nothing stronger than the shadows they were made from.

The roar startled her back into wakefulness. Jerking her head, Belle watched Beast rip through numerous Heartless. The memory of him protecting her from the wolves suddenly filled her mind. He was going to fight until the danger was gone, but these creatures weren't normal! For all she knew, they could be endless. Beast could get really hurt.

Thus, the moment she was free from their clutches, Belle struggled onto her feet and ran to Beast's side.

"We need to get away!" she tried to speak louder than his roaring, "Please, Beast?"

If he looked at her, he would see tears of concern welling in her eyes.

Another roar sent the Heartless tumbling backward away from him, dazing them for just long enough as he looked into Belle's eyes. Those eyes that held so many memories for him, that seemed like the only good ones he had ever had. They reminded him, in that brief moment, what...who was really important. And keeping her safe was now his duty. He wouldn't let anything happen to her, and letting her remain while he tried to fight them off would only leave her in harm's way. The rage he'd felt at the shadows subsided, and it took him only an instant to realize what he needed to do now.

"Follow me," he said, a light touch to her cheek the only action that made it apparent he'd noticed her tears. He whipped around, hackles raised, and a fierce growl pierced the newly quiet streets. He would fight through them until they reached Iriela, until he knew Belle was somewhere she would be safe.

She was proud of him. Instead of giving into his anger and frustration, he realized what was more important. Being safely tucked away from these monsters should be their first priority and, now that she was free from them, Belle was eager to leave. The only way she could communicate her feelings, however, was to cover his paw with her hand and brush a brief kiss against his fur.

"I will." she promised, following in his footsteps. A few times, the Heartless snagged her cloak or skirt, but she pulled herself free and kept her eyes focused on him.

Once again, he had saved her. She owed him her life. Unfortunately, for the time being, he would have to settle for her heart.

Soon, they were free of the swarm of shadows. The crawling masses of darkness had only followed them so far, then given up their pursuit. It seemed Belle would be free of them, for now. The apartment building was still some distance away, but Beast finally let himself relax, though he wasn't about to let his guard down, lest they surprise him and Belle. He knew they could appear without warning, they'd done it to him before.

"Belle...are you...all right?" he asked softly, looking back down at her over his shoulder. He didn't realize he had injuries of his own, but even if he had, Belle came first.

As soon as they were free, Belle wasted no time in wrapping her arms around his neck. She held him for a long moment and shut her eyes against the tears. By the time she stepped back, she had gotten control over herself.

"I'm..." her eyes widened when she saw blood on her hands, "Beast, you're injured!" she held out her arms, ready to steady him, "Can you walk?"

Belle's exclamation over his wounds took Beast by surprise. He looked down at her hands, and his eyes widened. "That's...mine?"

And that was when he felt it. A deep slash ran across the back of his right shoulder, and his sleeve was now hanging loose from his shirt. "I'm...all right..." he said breathlessly, steeling himself against the pain. He didn't want Belle to be worried about him, she was the reason he was here in the first place.

"Y-Yes, it's yours." Belle removed her cloak and pressed it over the wound, "How can you be?" her fear and concern was clear in her eyes, "Let's find somewhere safe."

Without waiting for his answer, she began to search for the nearest building. Anywhere he could sit down and be tended to would do. Even the cafe would -

"Beast...I'm s-sorry." she whispered near his ear, "This is all my fault."

"No!" Beast answered before he could even give it thought. "There was-" his breath caught as he clenched his teeth against the sharp pain. "There was nothing you could have done. The Heartless are-" He was cut off by another grunt. "...They're ruthless. They'll go after anyone...they can."

Speaking was taking its toll on his injured body. His next step was more of a stumble, though he didn't quite fall.

"Beast!" Belle wrapped an arm around him and tried to guide to the nearest building, "You n-need to sit down." she blinked back some tears. She hated seeing him like this. In all honesty, she would rather be the one hurt.

"H-Here." she pushed a chair closer to him, "Rest. I'll clean your wounds."

Despite the urge to protest, Beast knew it would be best to let Belle support him. His wound was too deep for him to take care of it himself. He just...wanted to protect her...

A low rumble echoed through the room as Beast nearly collapsed, but he caught the chair just in time to steady himself. "Th...thank you..." Merely lowering himself into the chair took almost all the energy he had left, and the strain he was putting on himself was becoming clearer as each second passed.

Belle quickly hurried away from him when he was seated. Her face remained pale as she found a bowl and filled it with water. She then rummaged for some cloths or towels and finally found some in the back.

"Stay still." she said breathlessly, carrying the bowl and towels to him, "This is going to hurt."

Pulling away her cloak, she dipped a towel into the water and gently dabbed at his matted fur.

The cloth had barely even touched the wound when Beast roared in agony. "What is that?!"

Grimacing at the volume of his roar, Belle pulled the towel away.

"I told you it would sting! There's no need for you to yell at me!"

Too late, Beast realized what he'd done. Almost sheepishly, he looked away from her, trying to find some words to say to apologize to her. But it still hurt!

Decent words didn't come to him, though, so he chose instead to chuff and pout, acting more like a spoiled child than anything else. Even so, he wouldn't roar a second time...no matter how much pain it put him in. Belle would never do something that wasn't going to help him. That just wasn't like her.

Brushing back her hair, Belle eyed him cautiously. She did not like being treated like someone with malicious intentions. Especially when she was doing her best to take care of him.

"It will get infected." she murmured, wringing out the towel and dabbing again, "I..." her cheeks warm, "don't want that to happen to you."

The guilt would be overwhelming if such a thing came to pass. She loved him far too much to see him suffer.

This time, Beast gave no more than a strangled growl, and a harsh gasp. How could something that was supposed to help you hurt so much?

His self-control earned him a brief nuzzle against his neck. Seeing him like this - again - reminded Belle of a very special night. That was one of the first nights where she realized there was much more to him than anger and bitterness.

"I'm done." she promised, grabbing some clean cloths and using them as bandages to wrap around his wound.

Edited 2011-10-20 09:10 (UTC)

That nuzzle sent shivers up Beast's spine, and somehow he found himself much more relaxed than before.

"...Thank you," he offered quietly as she dressed the wound.

"No, thank you." Belle secured the dressing using a skillfully placed clothes pin, "I...owe you my life." she tipped her head back and gave him a warm smile.

"I would never let anything happen to you," Beast blurted out. It was too late to take it back, and now he was stuck with however she responded to that. His shoulders tensed up a little as his apprehension rose, though if one were to ask him why he was getting so nervous he wouldn't be able to answer.

Belle blushed brilliantly at his... Was that a promise? Shakily, she touched his cheek, caressing the fur.

"That...means a great deal to me, Beast." her smile was tremulous, "I wish I could protect you in return."

Maybe she could? Not physically, obviously, but emotionally? Perhaps.

That had been far from what he was expecting. She hadn't turned away or rejected him at all! Beast tried hard to keep from sounding giddy, but his tail was trying to wag even though he was sitting on it. The touch on his cheek only made it worse, but it coerced a smile from him.

"You...do?"

"Y-Yes." the word was breathless. Belle could feel her skin grow warmer. She had done her best to dilute her feelings for him since she arrived. It wouldn't be fair to push love on him when it wasn't returned. But, now, she felt sorely tested.

"I hate to see you hurt." she added, closing her eyes sadly. A tear fell down her cheek.

"...I...almost lost you."

Only for a moment was Beast able to resist the urge to wipe the tear from her face. He lightly brushed it away with his finger, and his smile became more gentle, before becoming more a look of concern. His hand fell.

"I...didn't mean to worry you."

Belle inhaled shakily, but she didn't shy away from his touch. In fact, she leaned into it and closed her eyes.

"I -" she stopped herself. No, she couldn't tell him how she felt. It would probably confuse him.

Or would it?

She made herself meet his gaze.

"Beast, I know you...don't remember the time we spent together..."

What? Why was she saying that now?

"But...I spent so much time with you here," Beast pleaded, trying not to sound worried.

Belle shook her head and touched his lips.

"Our memories are different." she looked tentative, "I'm not sure...how you feel...about me."

"I..." Beast hesitated. what if she didn't love him back? What would he do if the spell wasn't broken? Was it...worth it?

"I-"

He gave a start as a loud crash from outside interrupted him. His ears perked up and he looked toward the window, but he knew better than to try to get up; Belle was sure to yell at him for trying.

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