Beauty and the Monster-A Namjin AU story

Chapter 6

For the first time in years, the kitchen was lively and filled to bursting with excitement. Plates, spoons, forks, even furniture that doesn't belong in the kitchen...everyone wanted to greet their guest with the finest hospitality this cursed palace had to offer.

Taehyung, as usual, had taken full command of the kitchen. He swung from chandelier to stove and back again, making sure everyone was on task and ready. He was beyond ecstatic. Taehyung had something very special planned. He was an entertainer at heart, after all.

"Final check, everyone, they're coming!" he clapped his candlesticks with authority. 

 Yoongi stormed over to Taehyung, fuming. "Don't you dare! If the master discovers that you violated his orders and fed him, he'll blame me and you'll play the innocent card like you do every time!"

"I'll make sure of it, Yoongs. But did you see how he stood up to him?" Taehyung's metal eyes were gleaming. I'm telling you, this guy is the one!" He swung from a hanging spoon to the edge of a pot. "Psst, you missed a spot-anyway, how are they to fall in love if he doesn't even leave his room?"

"You know he'll never love him," Yoongi, ever-the-realist, grumbled.

"A broken clock is right two times a day, my friend, and this is not one of them. C'mon, Yoongs, now is our time to shine!"

While Yoongi mumbled to himself about "no respect for his friends" and "I told him not to call me 'Yoongs'", Taehyung was bouncing around the kitchen, not remotely worried about the prospect of Namjoon finding them out.

He took a sip of stew. "I have no taste buds, but I can tell that this is exquisite! Shake a leg, salt! Pepper, get cracking!"

"Not so loud!" Yoongi fretted, "Keep it down!"

"You're such a stick in the mud," Taehyung giggled, "Anyway, what is dinner without a little music?"

This made Maestro Cadenza, the resident piano, perk his "ears" from the next room over. Taehyung strided over and stood atop him.

"Maestro, could you please...?"

He shook ever so slightly. "It's been years since I've played. I do not think I would be suitable."

"Maestro, your wife is upstairs, finding it harder and harder to stay awake. We need to break this curse, no matter what. Will you please?" Taehyung begged.

He could almost see a flash of his former face, set with determination. "Then I shall play until my keys break."

"Maestro, could you play quietly?" Yoongi asked.

"Sure, sure, play quietly...now are there any other demand you wish to make upon my artistry?"

Yoongi took a step back. "Uh, just that."

Suddenly, the room went quiet. Taehyung whipped his head around and saw him. Seokjin slowly walked into the room, Jimin and Jungkook on the rolling cart beside him. He wore a cautious, guarded expression, scanning the room for any danger. There was none.

Then he noticed the table set up for him, and smiled a bit. Namjoon may be unbearable, but at least the servants are kind. He could open his heart to them, at least a bit. 

"Welcome!" Taehyung called, "It is with deepest pride and greatest pleasure...that we welcome you tonight. And now, we invite you to relax. Let us pull up a chair as the dining room proudly presents...your dinner."

Taehyung's favorite part of the evening had finally arrived. He had prepared the music, the choreography, the singing! The singing! He had been well known for his deep singing voice when he was human, and it was about time he put it to good use again.