Two men walked towards them, a twig-like one with a long face and a short, round man with a matching head shape and a thin, straight moustache that jutted outwards.
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The thin one spoke again, revealing himself as Lumiere. ‘Did I or did I not tell you, Cogsworth?’
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The other man crossed his arms. ‘How on earth was I supposed to know it would work?’ The voice was unmistakably Cogsworth’s. ‘It’s a crazy idea!’
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‘Is this crazy?’ Lumiere kissed him on the cheek.
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‘Why you-!’ Cogsworth twisted Lumiere’s head until their lips met. The kiss was broken by Cogsworth almost as soon as it began, leaving Lumiere grinning with a dazed expression. ‘We’re human again!’ Cogsworth’s voice sounded freer than it ever had been, matching his open arms and the way he tilted his head towards the sky.
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Gaston looked up. The sky was bright blue and the castle shined in light colours like new. Flowers blossomed on once-dead vines. Statues of angels had replaced the gargoyles. The air felt fresher and he could hear a chorus of chirps from little birds.
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As he stared at everything with awe, Gaston instinctively grabbed Adam’s hand. Adam, in turn, instinctively squeezed Gaston’s hand, a blush forming on his cheeks. Upon feeling this, Gaston looked down, saw their interwoven hands and considered letting go. However, he noticed how soft and smooth the other man’s hand was compared to his former paw. He grinned as he yet again participated in that most dangerous of pastimes: thinking.
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He tugged Adam by the hand out of the castle, only stopping when they reached the archery range. He dropped a bow and quiver into Adam’s arms.
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Adam raised an eyebrow. Gaston lightly touched Adam’s hand until he understood. Adam raised the bow and took a shot. The arrow went straight into the centre of the middle target.
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He beamed at Gaston and laughed when the other wrapped his arms around him. Gaston grimaced like he was trying to pick up a carriage with one hand.
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Adam asked, ‘What are you-’
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‘I thought it would be easier to pick you up since you had gotten smaller. Clearly, you’re still at least the size of one and a half barges.’ Gaston let go of him and crossed his arms. ‘One day, I’ll be able to do it.’
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Adam placed a hand on Gaston’s shoulder, his intense grin simmering down to a soft one. He leaned down and kissed him.
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‘You’re plenty strong, Gaston.’
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Gaston looked down, conflicted, before flexing his arm with his long-lost confidence. As the two walked back to the castle, Gaston chuckled to himself.
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‘Okay, but what if I ate six dozen eggs?’
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Adam sighed. ‘Gaston…’
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‘Seven dozen?’ In response, Adam groaned. ‘Too many?’ Gaston grabbed one of the door knockers and pulled the door open with it. ‘I think I’m a little tired of eating eggs.’
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A few nights later, Adam and Gaston hosted a party, inviting everyone from the village who hadn’t attacked Adam. The couple danced all night in front of a surprised crowd.
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Cogsworth and Lumiere watched with their hearts beating slowly and contently in their chests. For a moment, Cogsworth’s heart sped up upon remembering something.
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‘Lumiere, what about Fifi? Do you not love her?’
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‘I wouldn’t say ‘love’. I had fun flirting with her, though.’ Lumiere cast down his eyes, glimmering with mischief. ‘It’s even more fun flirting with you.’
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Cogsworth scoffed, moving his head away with righteous indignation. ‘Is that all?’
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Lumiere spun his head in the opposite direction, equally indignant. ‘Cogsworth, I wouldn’t have let you kiss me if I didn’t love you. Do you think I treat l’amour like a joke?’
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The two paused, realised what they were arguing about and burst into laughter. Lumiere wrapped his arm around Cogsworth’s shoulders while Cogsworth wrapped his own behind Lumiere’s back. They stood side by side, watching the main attraction at the party.
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When he started to dance with Adam that night, Gaston looked down at his feet, keenly aware of how he must have looked to everyone. But Adam held a curled finger beneath his chin and lifted it, gazing at him with an expression tantamount to an adult rereading their childhood books for the first time in years. Suddenly, Gaston felt like he and Adam were the only ones in the ballroom, lost in the fond memories swimming in his ocean-blue eyes.292Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKhUzvg2ql1
