Page 90 of By Rude Strength

“Any plans before we head to your fabulous awesome art showing?” Cass was asking as they headed into the living room.

“Me, you, that couch,Resident Alien.” LA grinned. “Figured we’d start getting ready about four, so…” He paused. “I guess we need to talk about the disguise.”

“What disguise? You mean Dr. Vanderspiegle’s?”

“No! Yours.” LA rolled his eyes as he sat down, waiting for Cass to join him so he could stretch out and stick his head in Cass’s lap. “When are you, uh, gonna put that on? And will small children with mutations be able to see through it?”

Cass chuckled at the reference to the show’s plot and replied, “Oh, whenever! I just sort of, well, you know. Poof! And then I look human!”

“So…” LA cleared his throat expectantly.

Cass draped his arm over LA’s chest, blinking down at him. “What?”

“Can I see it?”

“Maybe I’m waiting because it’s going to be asurprise.” Cass smirked.

LA quirked his brows. “Really? If it’s so easy to put on, why don’t you just show me?”

“Well.” Cass frowned. “Maybe I am worried you might prefer me as a… human.”

“Are you serious?”

“Yes.” Cass pouted a bit.

“Look, I thought Belle looked disappointed as fuck when she saw the Beast turn into Prince Adam, and I have to agree with her. I like you just like this, big and Beast-y.”

“Really?” Cass perked up.

“Really really.” LA grabbed Cass’s paw and gave it a squeeze. “You can wait until later or show me now, but I’m still gonna want you like this.”

Cass smiled and his skin shimmered.

His fur melted away to reveal smooth light brown skin and dark wavy hair, and his body morphed into a muscular human frame as his wings and tail vanished. His face was an echo of the one he had as an imp—strong jaw, full lips, and his eyes were still a brilliant shade of gold. He was a beautiful man, that couldn’t be denied, but…

It wasn’tCass.

Cass, who loved to laugh and bake and was frustratingly cheerful, who made bubbles and purred like a cat when he was happy.

“So.” Cass fidgeted. “What do you think?”

LA sneered as dramatically as he could.

Cass stared. “What kind of face isthat?”

“This is the face Belle made. You’re cute and all, but I miss my Beast.”

“Really?” Cass grinned.

Shit.

His teeth were still sharp.

“Really. Also.” LA tapped his own teeth. “Might wanna fix that.”

“What? Oh!” Cass swiped his tongue over his teeth and they changed into flat human ones. “There we go! Better?”

“Yes. But it’ll be fuckin’ perfect when you change back.”