Beauty and the Beast Chapter 7

Chapter 7
Mathieu was outside playing fetch with Kumajiro. He couldn't move around too much. Ivan had forbid him from moving the leg to much in case he worsened the injury. Mathieu thought that it was ridicules and that they should be more worried about Ivan's wound but Ivan wouldn't listen to him. He thought it was sweet and hoped Ivan would be careful about his arm and kept a fairly close eye on him to make sure he was.
Mathieu looked up at the balcony that led into one of the many sitting rooms. Ivan stood there watching him. Mathieu blushed and quickly looked away.

Francis stood on the railing by his master. He was worried about the princes growing attachment to his son. He was all so worried about the looks that Matthew was beginning to give the prince when he thought no one was looking. Ever since Ivan had saved him last night, Mathieu had been more comfortable around Ivan. Matthew was less scared and more willing to stand up to the prince.
Francis sighed all he could do now was hope for the best. His son may not seem like it but he could be just as stubborn and bull headed as Ivan, only in a quieter and passive aggressive way.
"I want to do something for Matvey." Ivan's words startled Francis out of his thoughts.

Ivan watched as Mathieu threw a stick and the dog turned footstool would go and bring it back for the boy to throw again. Mathieu laughed and looked up at balcony where Ivan was standing. They're eyes met for a brief moment before the boy turned away blushing. Ivan watched him for a few more minutes in silence.
"I want to do something for Matvey." Ivan said his eyes not leaving the boy playing with the dog.
Francis stared at the beast for a moment. Thinking of something Ivan could do for his son, it couldn't be something normal that would be too dull and his patit lapin was better than that.
"Well you could give him flowers, chocolates, promises you don't intend to keep. Oh a lovely romantic dinner would be nice." Arthur said unaware of Francis's inner turmoil.
"Non, non!" Francis exclaimed tempted to push the annoying clock off the railing for suggesting such things when it was his precious babe. "Matthew is better than such flimsy uncaring gifts!"
"Well then what do you suggest?" Arthur asked shoving the thin candle stick, annoyed that his ideas had been insulted. They were good solid TRADDITIONAL ideas. They were used because they worked!
"It must be something bold! Something that shows you know and understand him! Something that will truly show you care!"
"That isn't a suggestion!" Arthur shouted at Francis shoving him again.
"Well at least I'm trying to think of something original!" Francis shoved back. "Which is more than can be said about you!" Francis shoved the clock again.
"Why you...you" Arthur, unable to come up with any insult for the candle stick, tackled Francis.
Soon the two were rolling around on the balcony fighting, Ivan sighed and turned back to watch his sweet Matvey. He longed to touch him. To hold him the way he had last night when he had been checking his leg. Matvey's leg, how could he have done that to the sweet boy! he needed to show him he was sorry and he wouldn't do it again!
"Enough" Ivan snapped at the two fighting trinkets. "This is not helping me! Now think of something! What does my sweet Matvey like?"
Francis froze when he heard Ivan call his son 'My sweet Matvey'. When had he started referring to his child like that? He didn't want his patit Mathieu to end up with Ivan! Francis looked up at the huge beast. The way he would look at his son, so gently Francis hated it. He could tell that Ivan was feeling the one thing he had never felt for anyone except his mother, love. And this time it wasn't anywhere near as plutonic as that love had been.
"Well?" the beast turned to look at the candle stick expectantly. "What does my sweet Matvey like?"
"B..books." Francis chocked out "He's always loved books. I know for a fact he was looking for the library when he, when he wandered into your room."
For a moment Ivan looked pained, but then it cleared. "I know what I will give my Matvey." Ivan murmured before turning back to watch the young man play with the dog.

Mathieu was getting cold. Without being able to move around much he couldn't keep very warm so even though he hadn't been out very long, by his standards any way, he was ready to go back in.
"Come on Kumamasa!" He called to the dog, footstool. He was having trouble remembering the dog's name it had been so long since he played with him.
The dog came running up to him barking and wagging his tail happily. Matthew laughed and headed back towards the castle. He got to the stairs that led to where the prince watched him from. It, it wasn't the way he had come in, but it would be fine if he went in this way.
Slowly Matthew picked up the cumbersome skirt he wore and started up the stairs.
When Matthew reached the top, Kumajiro close on his heels Ivan was waiting for him.
"Matvey had fun playing outside da?" He smiled at the blushing boy.
"Yes, I..I had lots of fun." Mathieu replied blushing more as he stood in front of the beast.
"That is good." Ivan offered Mathieu his arm. "Shall we go in now Matvey?"
Mathieu nodded. As he took Ivan's arm he didn't think that he could get any redder.  He was sure he looked as red as one of the gardeners tomatoes.
"I have a gift for you my Matvey." Ivan said smiling happily as he led Mathieu into the castle.
"Oh! You, you didn't have to." Mathieu said surprised at Ivan doing such a thing.
"But I wanted to." The beast chuckled.

Mathieu's grandmother paced the floor in front of the fire. Her grandson was in danger! She couldn't lose Mathieu to; she couldn't stand to lose him to that dammed prince?! Not so soon after she had lost her son!
The old woman had been up all night pacing after she had been kicked out of the bar. That stupid selfish Alfred, everybody's hero! Ha! She had given him a chance to be a real hero and he had thrown her out! She had to do something. Suddenly a knocking on the door startled her from her thoughts.
"Mrs. Bonnefroy," it was the old man Mathieu worked for. "Mrs. Bonnefroy, can I come in?" she ignored him. "Mrs. Bonnefroy I heard what you did at the bar last night! Can I come in?" she continued to ignore him. "Please I want to help you. Mathieu would be so worried if he knew what had happened!"
That was it! She grabbed a vase and chocked it at the door.
"All right I'm leaving." The old man sighed. "If you need anything just come down to the book store."
Mrs. Bonnefroy heard the sound of retreating footsteps.
She sighed. No one was going to help her. What could she do? She could go and save her grandson herself! That's what she could do!
"No one will help me so I'll have to go myself!" The old woman climbed the stairs to get ready for the journey to the castle.