#rewindtheclassics21

Gaston unloaded his Glock and swung the bag over his shoulder, containing one of his latest kills from his successful hunt earlier that day.

Just as he was about to leave the village, his short friend, LeFou started running up to him. "Gaston, buddy! Where ye off too?!" He questioned, jumping around with bursts of energy. Gaston froze for a second before coughing up a lie, "I was just gonna get another hunting session in before dawn." He replied.

LeFou didn't seem convinced and smirked. "You don't have to lie, I know allll about your nightly visits." Gaston's eyes widened and he scratched his neck out of nervousness. "Y-You do?"

"Oh of course, you aren't as slick as you think bud! You're visiting a girl in the forest aren't you!" LeFou wiggled his eyebrows. The taller male breathed a sigh of relief and nodded. "I guess it's something like that..."

"I knew it!"

Gaston laughed and shoved his friend away. "I'll be off now, see you tomorrow Lefou." And with that, both males walked away in different directions and with different thoughts running through their heads.

As Gaston was about to step onto the forest trail, he caught a glimpse of the "strange" girl from the village with her eyes buried deep into her usual book.

Her name was Belle, and she was obsessed with books. That's all he knew about her really. Villagers always talked about her, saying that the "books" she carried around in her hand was very suspicious, because the library never had such large books.

Some speculated that she stole those books, that she wrote them herself....and then there was a certain few that called her a witch.

Gaston never chose to believe the village gossip, he had gotten to know Belle quite well despite the obviousness that she was a different than most people. She was nice to him too, maybe a little too nice but perhaps thats how she was?

"Belle!" Gaston called, making the girl jump and hide a book behind her back. He watched her walk over and put up a wide smile. "Hello there Gaston, what brings you here? You usually finish hunting and go home about this time." She said.

Gaston coughed at the fact that she knew his routine, wearing a small smile of his own. "Ah yes, today I thought I'd hunt for a few extra rabbits since the village is running low." He lied.

Belle narrowed her eyes suspiciously at the bag on his shoulder. "I'll join you then." She exclaimed happily,  making Gaston curse in his head.

"Sorry Belle, I'd prefer to hunt alone today. There's a lot on my mind but maybe tomorrow okay?" The muscular male responded sheepishly. "A lot on your mind? You know you can talk to me about anything right." Belle blurted.

Gaston didn't feel a sense of comfort in her words, instead it was more like a dangerous feeling.

"I appreciate that Belle, maybe I'll take you up on that offer someday." Gaston all but ran after he finished his sentence, not giving the petite girl a chance to respond.

The hunter knew the forest like the back of his hand, so finding his way to his favourite secret destination was easier than winning an arm wrestling competition.

The castle was ginormous, and it took Gaston's breath away every single time he arrived here. Like usual, he flung open the gates and dashed towards the garden. Many servants smiled at him or bowed, knowing exactly who he was.

Gaston tried to greet them but his mind was only set on finding that one person.

And then he saw him.

Sitting on a white bench in the middle of a field of flowers, was a young man with long beautiful golden hair and a silver crown resting at the top of his head. He held power yet seemed so delicate at the same time.

His eyes were resting on a particular red rose, watching the way it stood out from all the other flowers with its beauty. Gaston couldn't help but gaze at the man fondly, taking a step closer so that his presence was now known.

The young man turned around, his whole face lighting up when he spotted his guest standing a few meters away from him, in his usual red coat and large heavy black boots.

"Mon Amour...." The beautiful man whispered, opening his arms in welcome as Gaston didn't hesitate to run into them.

"Adam." Gaston smiled, hugging the man known as "Adam" and sighing in content at the smell of pine and vanilla. "Mon Amour, I wasn't expecting you today." Prince Adam admitted, brushing a stray hair out of the latters eye.

"I couldn't help it, I missed you." Gaston confessed with a slightly flushed face. The prince grinned and brought his palm up to his lips, before kissing it softly. "I missed you too, it hurt to be away from you for so long." Adam spoke sadly.

"I give you my deepest apologies...the villagers were started to wonder why I kept disappearing into the forest in the middle of the night. LeFou assumed it was a girl I was secretly meeting and I had no choice but to play along."

Prince Adam nodded in understanding. "Would it be such a bad thing if they found out though?" He knew the answer, yet he still asked. "Adam, you know why we can't make our relationship public. Two men being together will cause an entire riot, not to mention when they find out what you are-"

"A beast." The prince laughed mockingly. Gaston gave him a sympathetic look. "They'd kill you, and they'd kill me. The most manly and handsome man in the village dating a "monster" as they would say. You know what hell we'd go through." He reminded.

"I'd fight thousands of small minded bastards if it means not being afraid to call you mine anymore." Prince Adam huffed. Gaston stifled a chuckle and resting his head against the prince's chest.

"I just don't want to lose you." He sighed softly. "You'll never lose me, Mon Amour." Was the reply, followed by a light kiss on his forhead.

"Sorry to interrupt dearies, but it's getting late and I've prepared a fresh pot of tea for you inside the castle." A sweet voice made the boys look up.

"Oh right, we must have lost track of time. Thank you Mrs Potts." Prince Adam bowed his head politely. "You're welcome master!" The old lady bowed back, scurrying away happily. Unfortunately, she didn't see the little boy standing next to her, who was now staring at the prince and the hunter with childlike curiosity.

"Are you both in love with eachother?" He squeaked. Gaston groaned in embarrassment whilst Prince Adam found the situation hilarious. "Yes we are." He answered with a smile.

"But you're both boys." The little boy frowned. At those words, Gaston sat up and glared at the child. "So what? Didn't you ever learn not to judge someone for who they love?" He gritted his teeth.

Adam placed a hand on his lovers shoulder and shook his head. "Mon Amour he's still young, theres no reason to get angry and his harmless questions." Gaston rolled his eyes and stood up, shooting the small boy one last look before heading inside.

"Sorry about that Chip, he's a little sensitive." The prince ruffled the boys hair, making him whine in protest. "It's okay Master, I didn't mean to offend you both." Chip pouted. Adam bent down so that he was eye level with the child, "You didn't offend anyone little guy, now run along and get ready for dinner okay?"

Chip beamed at this and clapped excitedly, waving goodbye as he ran in the same direction as Gaston.

Adam followed close behind, thinking about his lover and their curse of not being able to show their love to the world. They were both born into the wrong era, was what Gaston had always said to try and ease their pain. Adam knew he was being selfish by wanting to have the male all to himself when there would be major consequences for his actions, but he couldn't help being so in love with the hunter.

"Oh well, time for dinner." He sighed, hearing the bells indicating the dishes were being served.

It was a shame he didn't notice the person hiding in the bushes, a person who had watched and heard everything.

-

It was later that evening when Gaston and Adam sadly had to say their farewells. "Mon Amour, it's extremely late, you know I have no problem with you spending the night." The Prince said.

"Unfortunately I must go, I promised Madam Pierre that I would fix in the leak in her roof bright and early." Gaston responded with a sad smile. "If you don't like seeing my other form, just say it." The latter muttered under his breath.

Gaston immediately hugged his lover and silently scolded him in his head. "Adam, I love you, beast or not. Don't ever think I don't like seeing your other form or I'm disgusted by it because that's not true. You're still my Prince no matter what."

Adam grinned at that and hugged the hunter even tighter before lightly kissing the top of his hair. "You don't know how happy that makes me." He whispered.

The two held on to eachother for a little longer, before forcing themselves to pull away. "It's almost midnight, you should leave before I transform. God knows how possessive I am as a beast, I'd never let you leave." Prince Adam chuckled softly.

Gaston laughed aswell, nodding and kissing the young man's cheek. "If I have time tomorrow, I'll stop by." He promised.

Gaston then gave his lover one last hug as he waved goodbye and started his walk back to the village, through the forest. It was dangerous to be out here this late but he was one of the best hunters ever known, not to mention that he knew this forest like the back of his hand so no wolf or creature would when dare mess with him.

A bright glow from behind him, made Gaston aware that Adam had just turned into his cursed form. When they first met, Adam had saved him from a pack of wolves during one of the coldest winters. He took care of Gaston in his Beast form and the Hunter finally warmed up to him, learning all about the curse.

Prince Adam explained that a witch had cursed him many years ago, he couldn't remember why or who it was but all he knew was that she had long brown hair and porcelain white skin. He always said she never appeared to look like your typical "witch"

Gaston swore that if he ever found out where that witch was, he was sure to kill her.

As he neared the entrance of the village, Gaston heard shouts and chanting coming from his small hut that was built directly in the middle of the entire village in order for him to be able to protect them if an intruder were to show up.

So it was quite a surprise to witness those same villagers he protects, burning down his house to the ground.

"What are you doing?!"  Gaston yelled, running towards the massive flames with teary eyes. It had taken him 2 whole days to build this hut all by himself, it was one of the only things he was truly proud of.

"TRAITOR!" "LIAR!" "PANSY!"

The words stunned the hunter, making him turn around and face the glares and disgusted expressions on his once friends and people he called his family.

"Gaston, how lovely of you to finally join us." A soft voice sneered.

Belle walked through the crowd, everyone making a narrow path for her as she locked eyes with the shocked and heartbroken man in front of her.

"Belle? What's going on, why are you all burning down my house?!" Gaston shouted, holding back the crack in his tone. "Oh don't play dumb with us, we know all about your secret lover."

With that, Gaston froze.

"A BEAST! A BEAST IS WHAT HE IS!" An old man from the crowd screamed. "He is not a beast! Don't you dare speak ill about him!" The latter screamed back out of impulse.

"Did you all hear that? He has fallen in love and is trying to defend a monster that wishes to kill us one by one." Belle tisked whilst shaking her head.

"He's not a monster! He's kind, honest and-"

"ENOUGH!" Belle shrieked. "I have seen the beast for myself, I have seen these two men fondle over eachother. Gaston here has sold us, our parents and our children to that monster!"

Gaston started backing away when the villagers raised their torches and stalked towards him. He couldn't understand why the girl was saying such things to aggravate the situation.

"What shall we do Belle? How do we stop the beast from trying to kill us?" A woman croaked.

Belle smirked and eyed Gaston.

"We must go to the beast's castle and kill him before he realizes we are aware of his evil doings! And in order for someone not to warn him, Gaston will be chained to this pillar until we get back."

Before anyone could process anything, Belle had already ordered two men to grab Gaston and drag him to the large pillar next to the wishing well. He shouted and tried to fight them off but it was no use, more men ran up to them and started restraining the hunter.

The woman handed out pitchforks and guns to the crowd, causing multiple cheers and war cries to erupt, making Gaston sick to his stomach at the thought of his lover being attacked like this.

"Head straight into the forest and follow the path, I will be with you in just a moment." Belle said to the villagers, making them nod and start marching into the forest, leaving Belle and Gaston alone.

"Why." Was all that he could force out.

Belle laughed and took out a small book from her back pocket. "Oh Gaston, you really are oblivious aren't you." She chuckled, inching closer to him.

"I'm sure you must have gathered that I had feelings for you, no?" Belle questioned. Gaston's eyes widened as he shook his head. "Hm, oblivious it is."

"You're doing all this just because I never returned your feelings?" Gaston frowned. "Oh darling no, I'm not that petty. You see, a long time ago I stumbled across a beautiful castle in the forest, with many lively people surrounding it whilst I was leaving my old village."

This peaked the hunters attention as he listened carefully.

"I remember walking inside the castle and gasping at the beautiful decor. But when I arrived at the throne room, I had never seen anything so beautiful in my entire life." Belle smiled at the memory.

"Adam...." Gaston breathed.

"Indeed, it with the prince himself gracing me with his beauty. I stood there stunned as he flashed a polite smile at me and I decided that this was love at first sight." Gaston felt his heart tighten.

"Adam allowed me to stay in the castle for weeks until I was ready to leave and search for a permanent home. The sad thing was, I didn't want to leave after I had realized I fell in love with the prince so....I confessed." Belle sighed, no longer looking at Gaston.

"He didn't love me back, obviously."

"So I cursed him."

Gaston's breath caught in his throat as realization finally dawned on him. Belle was the one that caused his lover to have a beast form, she was the reason for all his suffering....she was the witch from those many years ago.

"After that I found this village and forgot about that beast I had created, I made sure no one remembered the castle or the prince and had quite a peaceful life. That is until I fell in love with someone else, someone who also didn't return my feelings."

Belle mumbled some foreign words under her breath, causing Gaston's chains around his wrists to tighten and make him wither in pain.

"I apologize Gaston, it's upsetting that it had to come to his huh? I'll tell you what, if you promise to marry me and stay with me forever then I'll call off the attack on that monster. That way I get what I want and so do you, your soon to be ex will continue to live and I'll get the love of my life." The witch clapped, proud of her idea.

"Never! I'll never marry you!" Gaston spat.

"Oh well, suit yourself. I can't wait for you to live the rest of your life knowing you were the reason for your lovers death."

Before Gaston could yell back at her, Belle disappeared into thin air, leaving him to break down all by himself.

"I'm such a fool, why did I ever think our love would work. It really is forbidden." Gaston whispered, tears rolling down the side of his cheeks.

A rustling noise startled him and made him look up.

There was LeFou and a little boy running towards him. "Gaston!" The short male cried when he caught sight of his friend tied up. "LeFou, how did you find me?" The hunter asked in shock.

"This little guy was sent from the castle to deliver your gun that you left behind, and we happened to bump into eachother before hearing all this commotion!" LeFou explained, yanking at the metal chains.

"Yeah! We have to get to the castle before the villagers destroy it!" The little boy exclaimed, Gaston how recognizing him as Mrs Potts son, Chip.

"You're right, we need to hurry. They're planning to kill Adam." Gaston hurriedly spoke, rubbing his free wrists before grabbing his large gun and running in the direction of the forest, with the two following close behind.

It felt like they had been running for decades to Gaston when they had finally reached the castle gates.

The first thing they saw was fire and people fighting. But Gaston didn't pay any attention to that, his first priority was finding his lover and saving him from the witch.

He peered up at the roof of the castle when there was a loud roar coming in that direction, he took that as his cue and started running inside.

"Give it up beast! I'm much too powerful for you!" Gaston heard Belle laugh as he ran into Adam's room and made his way to the balcony. "Once Gaston gets here, you won't be a match for the two of us!"

The hunter almost cried at his lovers voice, using the railing of the balcony to climb off onto the roof with his gun strapped on his back.

"Gaston? He doesn't love you! He's the one that told us to come kill you so that he and I could be together!" Belle screamed, throwing a spell at the beast. "That's a lie!" Adam growled, lunging at her.

"Why would he ever be like someone like you when he has me!"

"ADAM LOOK OUT!"

Gaston shouted as he watched Belle use a spell to make the beast lose his balance and tumble off the side of the roof, lightning flashing wild as he did.

"NO!" Gaston didn't know what happened next, his feet started moving on their own and the next minute Belle was falling off the roof aswell with a bullet wound in her shoulder.

The male ran to the edge and breathed a sigh of relief when he saw the beast still dangling with a loose grip on the stone. Adam had a nasty cut on his eye and looked like he could barely hold on any longer.

"Mon Amour..." The beast whispered in pain. "Just hold on Adam, I'm pulling you up." Gaston promised with a firm gaze, grabbing onto his lovers hands and pulling them up.

But he failed to notice the girl holding onto the beasts leg, screaming as Belle summoned a black dagger and stabbed the "monster" in his back.

Fortunately, due to the harsh tug that Gaston used to pull Adam up, Belle had lost her grip and starting falling to her death with loud screeches.

"Adam, Adam look at me." Gaston pleaded, placing the beast down and dropping down next to him, burying his face in his fur as his body shook in sobs.

There was so much blood, and the hunter was terrified that this would be the last time he would ever see his lover.

"M-Mon Amour, I'm s-sorry." Adam said softly, lifting his paw and caressing the younger males face. "Don't leave me! You can't leave me!" Gaston yelled with tears welling up in his eyes.

"Sometimes l-love isn't meant to b-be."

"OUR LOVE IS MEANT TO BE! I LOVE YOU DAMMIT! DONT CLOSE YOUR EYES!" Gaston couldn't breathe watching his lover take his last breath and shut his eyes forever.

"I love you, I love you so much." He repeated over and over until his body couldn't move from exhaustion.

A few minutes past and the storm died down, only a few drops of the rain could be heard. Gaston prayed for the gods to take him to his lover or bring him back, he refused to live knowing that Adam was never going to hold him again, to tell him how much he loved him, to just be there for him.

And perhaps the gods took pity on this poor hunter crying and begging to them.

That's when the beasts body started floating with a beautiful gold glow forming around him. Gaston watched in awe as the beast transformed into Adam's human form.

Pale skin, bright blue eyes and light pink cheeks getting pinker from the chilly weather.

Adam stared at Gaston and he stared right back.

When the prince landed back on the ground, Gaston jumped into his arms and broke down crying again when he realized that he wasn't dreaming. His lover was alive and he was here with him again.

It was still dark so that meant the curse was lifted too.

"It's okay Mon Amour, I'm here I'm okay." Adam whispered, holding the shaking male in his arms lovingly. "Don't leave me again." Gaston said muffled.

"You have my word."

And that word was kept for many many years, Gaston and Adam married happily and the villagers memories returned to them. They were no longer upset that two men were together, instead they rejoiced.

King Adam and King Gaston ruled over their kingdom and spread love and kindness throughout the lands.

Belle, the witch, was never seen again.

And they lived happily ever after.

The End.

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