The Inventor and the Phoenix

Beau and the Phoenix

A/n: Listen to "Beauty and the Beast" from the 2017 live-action soundtrack while reading the chapter. 

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A splash of water fell on top of Aaliyah, sending a yelp from her lips. In her bedroom, the coat rack washed her up to have her ready for tonight. Rodney had asked her if she wanted to dance with him, and, without hesitation, she had agreed.

Only one problem. She was so nervous. She hadn't danced with someone in such a long time. She was still thinking about it as the coat rack scrubbed her body and wings.

"Tonight's the big night!" Nabel exclaimed happily. The coat rack poured some more water on top of Aaliyah, who yelped underneath her wet feathered head.

"Bel, I don't know if I can do this," Aaliyah told her sister as she pulled back the feathers from her face.

"You don't have time to be timid," Nabel sternly said to her. "You need to be bold, daring."

"Bold, daring..." Aaliyah mumbled before she shook the water from her wings. Nabel shielded herself from the droplets, taking a few steps back.

"Alright, so Cody will provide romantic music, Sam will be in charge of the candlelight..." Nabel noted down the important reminders. The coat rack dried off Aaliyah's body with a towel. "...and when the moment is right, you confess your love to him."

The coat rack finished drying off Aaliyah's feathered hair as she stood upright in her seat. Yes, I can...I...No, I can't..."

"You care for Rodney, don't you?"

Aaliyah grunted as the coat rack started to brush her feathered hair. "More than anything."

"Then you have to tell him," Nabel said to her.

The coat rack finished fixing up Aaliyah's hair and stepped back for a moment. "Voila! You look so...so..." Nabel drawled in the last word.

Aaliyah stared at herself, her feathered curls in a historic hairstyle. "Stupid?" She asked unamused.

"Not exactly the word I'm looking for. Maybe a bit more to the top," Nabel said. The coat rack started to fix Aaliyah's hair again.

Matt cleared his throat as he entered the girls' room. "Your gentleman...awaits..." he bowed lightly and chuckled.

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Rodney stood on the top of the stairs, his stance proud and straight, with Fender, Diesel, Lugnut, and the guys standing behind the doors. He was now dressed in a sapphire blue suit, yellow vest with gold buttons, a matching blue tie tucked underneath, white pants, and brown boots.

Aaliyah stood on the other side across from him, with Nabel, Piper, and Aunt Fanny behind her. She was now dressed in a yellow-gold dress, off-shoulder sleeves with on-top orange cuffs, a red-rose shawl around her waist, and gold heels. The back of the dress met her lower back so her wings have enough room to move. She glanced behind her towards Nabel, Piper, and Aunt Fanny, who encouraged her nonverbally to go forward. Aaliyah sighed through her nose and stepped down the stairs. Rodney did the same until they were face-to-face.

Rodney's eyes were filled with awe and love when he saw her appearance. To him, she was the most gorgeous woman he had ever laid eyes upon. Aaliyah shyly blushed and smiled, her eyes refusing to depart from Rodney's sapphires. He extended his arm to her, which she held onto as they walked down the steps to the ballroom.

"Tale as old as time," Brittany sang, with Caleb and Lily on each side of her. "True as it can be."

Pallo barked as he ran around Rodney and Aaliyah a few times before he sat beside Lily.

"Barely even friends, then somebody bends unexpectedly."

The two soon entered the ballroom, with the Rusties and Gang now watching them with warm grins.

"Just a little change. Small to say the least. Both a little scared, neither one prepared." Brittany continued. Cody strummed his guitar to the tune. "Beau and the Phoenix."

Once they got to the center of the ballroom, Rodney bowed, and Aaliyah curtsied. He then extended his hands to her, which she took hesitantly.

"But, Rodney, I–I don't even know how..." Aaliyah started.

"It's alright. I'll help," Rodney told her reassuringly. He placed her hand on his shoulder.

"Ever just the same."

He then wrapped an arm around her, pulling her close to him. A second later, they began to dance, their eyes staring into another.

"Ever a surprise."

Josh chuckled, nudging Matt in the arm. Piper clasped her hands together giddily as Wonderbot hovered beside her.

"Ever as before, ever just as sure, as the sun will rise..."

By then, Aaliyah soon got the hang of it, her laughter quiet, yet filled with joy. Rodney beamed as he twirled her around.

"Tale as old as time. Tune as old as song. Bittersweet and strange. Finding you can change, learning you were wrong."

At one point, Rodney dipped her down. Their faces were close, barely an inch apart. Aaliyah thought he looked like he was about to kiss her. Her eyes were almost as wide as plates, yet they held affection for the blue-haired man. Rodney suddenly pulled her back up, lifted her by the waist with one arm, and spun her around. Aaliyah yelped, but then laughed along with Rodney as they spun for a few seconds.

"Certain as the sun, rising in the east. Tale as old as time..."

Dozens of small lights illuminated the ballroom until they returned to the lights on the ceiling. Aaliyah rested her forehead against Rodney's before she placed her cheek on his chest.

"Song as old as rhyme."

She spared a glance at Nabel and Matt, who wrapped an arm around her waist affectionately as they watched her. Josh shook his fists clasped together in elation as Fender winked at her. Aunt Fanny, Sam, and Piper watched on with warming grins.

"Beau and the Phoenix." Brittany sang with a small smile. Caleb and Lily held back their giggles at the sweet moment.

Cody signaled for the lights to dimmer down before continuing to play his guitar. Soon, the ballroom was barely dark, but the moon and stars illuminated the room.

"Tale as old as time, song as old as rhyme."

As the dance came to an end, Rodney couldn't help but feel like he was falling hard for the fair Phoenix.

And for a moment, the thought was not terrifying.

"Beau and the Phoenix."

Once they stopped, the doors opened leading them to the balcony overseeing the lake surrounding the castle. The stars above were so beautiful to behold.

"I haven't danced in so long," Aaliyah laughed quietly. "I've forgotten what it felt like."

"Me, too," Rodney agreed. He took hold of her hand, and Aaliyah leaned her head on his shoulder in reply.

"Do you think it's...foolish for someone like me to earn your affection?"

"Of course not. You're too kind and brave to be thought of as a monster."

Aaliyah pondered about something for a second. "Rodney...would you be happy here? With me? With the others?"

"Just as long as they are free?" Rodney asked back, staring off into the distance with a solemn frown.

Aaliyah felt the hesitation in his answer and grew concerned. "What's wrong?"

"Cappy's been my friend since I came into the town with my grandfather," Rodney answered. "She's one of the few people who believed in me. I just wish I could see her again."

Aaliyah glanced down disappointed and regretful. But then, in an instant, her eyes lit up. "There is a way."