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How long would he have to suffer like this? Stuck in this form. How long had it been? He was starting to lose track of time, and track of his faith. He glanced at the rose behind the glass, that had its thorns in him. The constant reminder of his time limit. The amount of time he’d been stuck was irrelevant, considering there wasn’t much time until the curse became irreversible.
He balled his fist. He wasn’t angry at the witch who brought this on him. The only person he was angry at was the beast in the mirror. Had he not been such a coward, this could’ve all been avoided. He’d be able to live a normal life. That wasn’t his reality. Dreams, were not reality. The truth of the matter was that he’d terrify all he came across, until the day death relieved him.
How ironic, that such a coward would go on to scare others, even if it was unintentional. He didn’t want to be a horrifying monster, damning children and adults alike to night terrors. All he did was be in the wrong place at the wrong time, and he effectively lost everything.
His family and friends didn’t recognize him. As far as they knew, he had gone missing. They couldn’t see his heart after all. Had things been a bit different, he would’ve gone mad from the isolation. His soul would be shattered. It was only by the grace of one man that he remained himself, in spite of everything.
Despite the tight embrace he was locked in, it’d been the most free he felt since the day he lost it all. It was freedom that he felt every day, despite that. He’d never stop loving the young man who fragmented the chains binding him.
He meant everything. He was everything. He was pure and clean, so unlike his matted fur. And yet, he stayed next to him. No matter what anyone else said about Ignatius, he was always there.
“And how are you today my prince?” Forrest asked.
He could be so silly. He was the prince here, in both his heart and his blood. “I’m doing fine. What about you?”
“I’m well!" He chirped. He grabbed his hand and started walking towards his quarters. “I’ve been working on some more clothes for you! Close your eyes!”
Ignatius chuckled as he did as he was told. This felt unnecessary, he could’ve just brought the clothes to his room. However, Forrest was having a good time, and that was all that mattered. He felt his joy like it was his own. His smiles kept him smiling. So he’d do anything for him, no questions asked.
They soon arrived in his room, making Ignatius laugh under his breath. Despite the dark tower they lived in, his room was always so bright. The walls were a bright shade of pink, it clashed pretty heavily with the rest of the black castle. It was a small bit of light in this darkness.
“Okay, open them!”
Ignatius looked at the bed, and was greeted by two similar looking articles of clothing. They were both comprised of yellow shirts, blue jackets, and a darker shade of blue on their pants. Ignatius smiled softly, but he was also confused.
“Why are there two? This isn’t really your type of fashion.”
Forrest grinned. “One of them is for you now, one of them is for once we release your curse!”
Ignatius’ eyes widened. “For…? Will that day come?”
Forrest frowned. "We still have time Ignatius! I’ve been researching the curse, to try and find a way. I haven’t found it yet, but I’m going to keep looking!”
He folded his arms. “And… if we run out of time?”
Forrest folded his in turn. “Then… I’ll stand by you. No matter what. I’ll even do what I can to show your family that you haven’t changed at all!”
He took a step towards him, eyes cast downward. He wished he could share his optimism. Even if that came to pass, would they ever believe him? That he’d been turned into a monster by the whims of a witch?
It was such a bizarre situation. He’d prefer to stay in this tower, on his lonesome. However, there was no way that Forrest was going to leave him alone. If he tried to kick him out, and he’s tried, the young man would refuse. For all his kindness, he was stubborn. It was something that Ignatius loved about him.
“…Thank you.”
Forrest embraced him in another hug. Ignatius reciprocated, trying to hold back his tears. Things weren’t so bad, if he got to be next to him… maybe he’d be okay. Even if he lost everything. He’d prefer not to, he wants to have his old friends and family back, alongside Forrest. It’s just, if he has to deal with the suffering of this curse, he wouldn’t be alone. That meant the world to him.
“That’s enough of the hypotheticals Ignatius.” Forrest gently scolded. “Try it on!”
Ignatius nodded. He started taking off his clothes, prompting Forrest to cover his eyes and turn away. The more layers he peeled away, the more uncomfortable he started to feel. He was neutral on his body before, but now with all the fur covering it, he’d begun to dislike it. He didn’t want to dwell on it too much, so he continued his task.
Once he was done, he looked back up at the bed. He started by reaching for and putting on the shirt. He wasn’t surprised to find it fit perfectly. He then reached for the jacket. He rubbed his thumb over it, which brought a smile to his face. It was incredibly soft, yet also strong. Despite his strength, he’d struggle to accidentally rip it apart. It was just like Forrest.
He put that on, then finally reached for the pants. Even with his widened frame, it slipped on so easily. It almost made him feel normal. Like there wasn’t anything to worry about. Just two friends hanging out inside his tower.
“So… what do you think?” Forrest asked.
Ignatius smiled. “It’s perfect. It’s so warm, and looks great too. This will protect me against the winter cold.”
Forrest giggled triumphantly. “I’m glad to hear it. I worked hard on these.”
“You always work hard. I’m not surprised.”
Forrest put his hands behind his back. “Of course, I’m glad that it paid off. Seeing that beautiful smile on your face made those long nights worth it.”
Ignatius wasn’t sure if his flushed face was visible behind all the fur, but he certainly could feel the heat in his cheeks. Someone as pretty as Forrest complimenting his appearance? He didn’t agree, but he appreciated the thought. Every inch of his body covered in clothing felt warm. Like he was perpetually wrapped in a hug, and his heart felt the same.
“That wasn’t all I did today.”
Ignatius rose an eyebrow. How long had Forrest been up? He hoped he was getting enough sleep. He’d hate for his good friend to crash thanks to him.
“What else did you do?”
“I made breakfast. Come on!”
Ignatius shook his head fondly. Forrest was someone who was more focused on the appearance of the food as opposed to how it tastes, but that didn’t mean he neglected either. He was in for something cute and delicious. He couldn’t wait to taste it. Even if he did just wake up, the man was hungry. Probably something to do with his change of form now that he thought about it. He needed more fuel to accompany his large body.
Forrest practically skipped downstairs with Ignatius not far behind. He had gotten a bit faster since his transformation, but no where near as fast as Forrest. He wasn’t a speed demon, but he was above average when it came to men with similar builds. It made it a tad difficult to keep up with him, especially when he got excited.
The scent of Forrest’s cooking made him stop in place. It smelt amazing, even more so than usual. He picked up the pace, ready to quench the drooling in his mouth. He rubbed his hands together in anticipation. Once he walked into the kitchen, he wasn’t disappointed.
There was a smorgasbord of delicious foods, from sausage to waffles to eggs… He wasn’t sure where to start. Forrest was staring at him giggling again.
“Please, eat up.”
“What’s the occasion?”
Forrest blushed, much to Ignatius’ confusion. “Well… we’ve been… friends… for a year. I thought it’d be a good idea to celebrate.”
“It’s… been a year?” Ignatius said with a gasp. “It’s been that long already? I… didn’t remember, I’m so sorry.”
Forrest waved his hand dismissively. “No, it’s fine! You’ve got so much going on, I can’t blame you for forgetting something that happened so long ago.”
“I… hope you know how much you mean to me Forrest.” He began. “You saved me from myself. Without you, I don’t know what would’ve happened. You… gave me hope that people might actually like me. I’ll never forget that.”
Forrest put his hands in front of him while flushing even harder. “I… appreciate that. While we’re being transparent… there’s something I need to tell you.”
“Oh?” Ignatius asked. He hoped he didn’t make Forrest uncomfortable or anything. As much as he wanted to dive into the food, Forrest was more important than his cravings.
“I… There’s another reason why I’ve been staying here. Of course I care about you, but that’s just it. I care about you so much, to the point that I always want to be next to you. I want to help you with your curse, and help you lead the best life you possibly can. I hope… you can do so with me by your side. I want to be a part of whatever future you experience.”
Forrest grabbed his hand and squeezed it. He brought it up to his mouth with a gentle smile and rosy red cheeks.
“Will you… be my boyfriend?”
Ignatius started stuttering. Of course Forrest was his best friend… but to know that his feelings ran this deep. He never would have guessed. As far as he was concerned, he’d never be married, let alone have a romantic partner. Did a coward like him deserve that? Someone who cowers in fear at something as simple as an insect? Someone who’d scream in terror at the slightest hint of a ghost, something he wasn’t even sure existed?
He wasn’t sure if love was something that existed in his life. He looked down at Forrest’s expecting face. It took a lot of courage for him to say that. He deserved the world, something Ignatius couldn’t give him. He’d love to be his boyfriend but… He wondered how exactly he’d let him down gently. He’d have to make sure he knew it wasn’t his fault.
“I… You don’t…”
Forrest stood back up with a slight frown on his face. “I don’t what? Deserve a boyfriend as amazing as you?”
“N-no! The opposite! You can do so much better than a coward like me!”
Forrest sighed and shook his head. “Ignatius… you claim to be a coward, but you’ve saved me so many times. You’ve protected me from people out to hurt me, even kidnap me. Even when I saw your knees buckling. You’re the bravest person I know. Not because you’re never afraid. But because you never let it control you. I’d be honored to be your boyfriend.”
“Forrest…” Ignatius mumbled. He looked away before looking back up. He nodded, finally finding his resolve. “If you’re sure… then yes. Please… I’d love nothing more than to be your boyfriend.”
Forrest clasped his hands together with a giant smile. He practically leapt onto Ignatius, who caught him with ease. Forrest planted a kiss on his lips.
Suddenly, Ignatius fell onto one knee, still holding onto him. He started groaning with discomfort. Before Forrest could ask what was wrong, Ignatius started to glow. A hair on his body fell off. Then another. Then clumps of hair started to fall. His general shape slightly shrunk, having smaller arms and a smaller chest. His clothes started hanging off his frame, suddenly a bit too big for him. Chains started flying around the perimeter of his body, then suddenly stopped. They shattered into sparkles, seemingly finishing Ignatius’ episode.
The light faded, and in it's wake was Ignatius, now human once again. Forrest blushed again, having never seen him this way. Ignatius stared at his arms, now covered in brown skin once again.
“I’m… No way… I’m… I’m back!?”
“How…?” Forrest wondered aloud. “Was it my kiss…?”
“I’d… I’d never been happier before you kissed me. That curse was born of malice so… maybe your love broke it…”
“Love…” Forrest said softly. “You could be right. Wish I’d realized that earlier. I’m sorry.”
Ignatius stayed silent for a few seconds, his body shaking like a leaf. For once, not out of fear. He began to laugh. The volume increased further and further. To the point that he started wheezing. His eyes started to water. He blinked a few times before the tears showed themselves. He never thought this day would come. He was free. He could go home. He could see his family again. With his new partner no less.
“Please… don’t… don’t apologize my love. You… You saved me again. Forrest. I love you.”
“Ignatius… I love you too.”
The two kissed again. He would have to kiss him more and more every day. Kiss him for every single hair that was now on the floor. The man he had returned to, it was all thanks to him. Forrest kept his humanity in tact, and now he’d truly reclaimed it. There was one thought on his mind now.
His parents were going to love his boyfriend.