First Impressions
It's a cold day in October and he's playing a game of ball with some kids he doesn't really know but that's not that important.
They're kicking the old ragged ball from left to right screaming and shouting and laughing - which surprisingly enough isn't helping ease the cold that much - and he's having so much fun that he doesn't even notice her sitting in the corner of the woods under a few trees, a blue blanket underneath her and a yellow one over her keeping her warm in case the big brown coat doesn't help.
She looks beautiful - royal, even - and he wishes that a boy like him could be friends sith a girl like her. He'd like to be her friend; anyone's friend, really. Even though he us currently playing a game of ball with about a dozen of other boys, he doesn't really consider any of the friends. He's just not really a friendly person.
He'd like to be a friendly person when it comes to her.
A part of him wonders what she's even doing here, in the woods. It's not the first place he'd ever choose for reading, but to each their own. He tries to get a glimpse of the book she's reading but doesn't recognise the covers. He hasn't read many books in his short life - he would have loved to - so it doesn't really surprise him.
He continues to shoot the ball but with more enthusiasm as before. He's hoping to show off a bit, even if he's not that good; but maybe she'll look up, and he'll pass a good ball, and maybe - just maybe - he'll get her to smile.
He doesn't really think about actually approaching her, though, until one of the boys kicks the ball a bit too hard and it flies in her direction. Luckily enough, it doesn't hit her, but it pulls her attention from the book she's reading - Rumple doesn't think he ever saw a book as big as the one her gentle hands are holding - and to what's happening around her.
It's as if she's never even noticed that they were there.
Rumple volunteers to get the ball and he runs towards it. The girl is still sitting under the trees, covered in her warm blankets, and he pauses for a moment as he comes closer to her.
She's got big brown curls and her eyes are the prettiest color he's ever seen.
"Sorry about that.", he says, pointing towards the ball. He doesn't know why he's even opened his mouth but there's really no turning back now. "He shouldn't have hit it that hard. What are you reading?"
Her smile surprises him. "It's an adventure story."
He goes to the ball and picks it up before turning back to her. "An adventure story, eh?", he says. "What kind of adventure?"
She beams another smile at him. "The best kind.", she replies.
"Does it have magic?", he asks. Magic always fascinated him to a certain extent, and he couldn't help but think how magical she was, just sitting there, looking at him.
"A little.", she answers. "All the best stories do."
He nods. "Remember, though; every magic comes with a price.", he winks.
She smiles. "I'm Belle.", she adds and he takes note of how lovely her name sounds with her accent carefully hugging the words with the most careful of touches.
He's suddenly incredibly eager to say it and never ever stop.
"Nice to meet you, Belle.", he loves the way her name rolls off his tongue. "I'm Rumplestilskin."
"Nice to meet you, too.", she says and extends her hand. He carefully takes it and lightly squeezes it. "And maybe, when I'm done, I'll borrow you the book."
He gives her the brightest smile he can manage before he nods and leaves to continue the game.
He meets her on a cold day in October and, suddenly, it's not really that cold anymore.
A.N.: For one of the most amazing people I've ever met, the seestra God forgot to give me; Alison ( Freebatched221). I'm with you 'till the end of the line.
Prompt she gave me: "Belle and Rumplestilskin meet as children, not knowing who the other is."