Nun’s Story prompt: Bae tells Gold he wants Belle to be his mama. Bonus points if this happens before or after Gold accidentally walks in on Belle bathing.
Note: Not beta-ed; expect mistakes.
Ryszard sank down on theedge of the bed that he shared with his son and smiled as his boy said hisnightly prayers. Bae was really too old and mature to have his Papa listen tohis prayers, but they had missed so many years together that it seemed only naturalfor them to fall back into the habit that they had four years ago. He wishedthat he could muster up a few prayers of his own, but since the war, his wordsto God seemed stuck in the sky. It only made sense to leave the praying up tohis son.
His ears perked up whenhe heard Bae utter a blessing on Belle. The boy’s eyes popped open, as if toensure that Ryszard was paying attention, and added, “And please, let Bellebecome my mama. Amen.”
Ryszard let out anawkward squeak and scrambled for the makeshift curtain that divided their halfof the room from Belle’s. Belle’s bed was thankfully empty, sparing her fromhearing Bae’s not-so-subtle request. He released the sheet and returned to hisseat.
“Bae!” He scolded andducked his head to hide his burning face. “Belle – I- we…”
“Papa, Belle likes you.You like her.” Bae rolled his eyes and threw his head back in exasperation.“And I love her and want her as my mother. If I have to get God to intervene, Iwill.”
“Bae…” Ryszard raked hisfingers through his hair; his crop was getting too long, but it felt good tohave hair again. For so long he had been bald. “It’s not that simple. Yourmother and I-”
“That woman who hityou.” Bae completed. “I know she did, I saw the bruises.”
Ryszard folded his handsin his lap, wincing at how scabby his skin felt. He never would have guessedthat Bae knew of his mother’s violent nature. He did his best to hide it,wearing long sleeves and never taking off his jacket. Such things were neverspoke of, women hitting men. And his aunts had always raised him to be agentleman and to never hit and humiliate anyone. His marriage to Milah had beena bad one, but she had never hurt Bae and divorce was out of the question. Hehad always held out hope that Milah would come around and they would reconcile.
“Can’t you marry Belle?”Bae asked in a loud whisper. “She’d be kind to you and she’d make you happy.”
I’d love to marry Belle. Ryszard clamped his mouth shut. If Bae knew ofhis feelings, the boy wouldn’t rest until he and Belle were together. There wasa part of him that wished Belle would return his feelings, but if she marriedhim simply out of companionship or friendship, that would be enough for him.And he would do his utmost to make her happy, to never take her for granted, tolove and cherish her for forever.
But he couldn’t becertain that he was free. They had never divorced and Milah had run off withone of her lovers. Rumor had it that she joined the partisans. He had left theghetto and went to the partisans to retrieve her, but they had decided to keepher, because they required “companionship.” None of that he could explain toBae; he let the boy believe that his mother died. Bae later confronted himabout it, having picked up the truth that she had run away. But he had stillbeen able to spare Bae of the dark truth and said their marriage was over.
Though Bae was too old,Ryszard leaned forward and kissed the crown of his boy’s head. “Good night,Bae.”
“Papa-”
Ryszard darted out ofthe room before Bae could pose any more questions and aimlessly stumbled intothe front room. Since he and Milah never divorced, Milah would have to be deadbefore he could pursue Belle romantically.
Not that she’d ever have you. A dark voice hissed in his ear.
Belle wouldn’t have him.She might not be a nun any more, but she was still Catholic. She would wantsomeone of her own religion, someone young and handsome, someone with money. Itwas only a matter of time before Belle found someone and left them.
Ryszard wandered intothe kitchen and froze in place. Oh God!
Belle was in the tub inthe kitchen, naked as the day she was born. He vaguely remembered her warninghim that she was going to take a bath, but his conversation with Bae haddistracted him. They didn’t have a w.c. and the kitchen was the only room largeenough for them to do their bathing.
He only had a side view,but it was an eyeful. Belle was leaning back, eyes closed, soaking in the hotwater that had been heated off of the stove. Her small, beautiful breastsbeckoned him. The cool air of the apartment had teased them into sharp buds thatreminded him of bright pink roses. He longed to settle between her open thighsand suckle on her nipples as she keened into the night. It had been years sincehe made love; he never thought about it much until he met Belle. Another one ofhis many shortcomings was that he would never be able to please her. Not likethat.
Milah made certain heknew that he was terrible in bed. That was why she found pleasure elsewhere.No, Belle would only be disgusted by his attempts…and now she would be repulsedby how he openly leered at her.
Ryszard tore away fromthe glorious sight, grabbed his coat off the peg, and marched outside. If everhe needed a walk, it was now.
For the morning crowd/next day reblog.