Disclaimer Time: I do not own Once Upon A Time or any of the characters from that show. I am merely borrowing them for a time. I also do not make any money off of this story. It is done merely for entertainment purposes.
-Michelle
It wasn't her first time being kidnapped. In fact, it happened to Belle often enough that one might think she was making a habit of it. Regina, her father, even the situation with Rumplestiltskin could have been considered an abduction of a sorts. Of course that first time with Rumple, she had MADE the decision to go with him, all the while knowing she'd be nothing more than his captive. To do with as his please.
Funny how things changed. Once, a long, long time ago, Belle would have been horrified at the thought of Rumplestiltskin having his way with her. Now however, the idea was something that made her quiver in excitement, a fantasy she sometimes took out and pondered in the late hours of the night.
But now was not the time. No matter how much Belle enjoyed thinking about the things she would like Rumple to do to her, she knew it was not Rumplestiltskin who had taken her this time. It was an all together different man, someone who fit the tall, dark and handsome description almost too perfectly. And yet Belle had only really been alert to the menace in his eyes, her frightened instincts urging her to run.
There hadn't been much room to maneuver inside her library. The book cases crowded about, the paths between them narrow. The man had waited until she had wandered deep into the stacks of books before making his presence known. Belle had recognized him in an instant, though she did not know his name. But she remembered him from the time she had been imprisoned inside the Evil Queen's tower.
She had also remembered how he had back handed her across the face. Belle had nursed an ugly bruise for her reveal that she did not know the Dark One's fatal weakness. And for the fact she had defiantly stood her ground in insisting she would never help kill Rumplestiltskin.
Belle had never found out what had happened after the man had knocked her out. But she had been frantic, fearing for Rumple's life. Knowing the man was alive, and in Storybrooke, brought the fear back to Belle's heart. She didn't know what the man was capable of, if he had found Rumple's weakness, or what he would do to her and Rumplestiltskin both.
Belle was determined to be brave. She was determined to not sit around, waiting for Rumple to walk into a trap where she was the bait. She'd lie in wait, ready for her chance to get away, a chance to return to Rumple and warn him. Help him prepare against this threat.
Belle tried not to worry over the fact that she had woken up in a stranger's bed. Tried to ignore the fact her jacket and shoes had been removed, someone taking the care to situate her comfortably in the center of the bed. Unease still prickled down her spine, Belle slowly sitting up, ignoring the pain of her head to peer about the room.
It was masculine through and through. And had a distinctly nautical feel to it. There was netting hanging from the ceiling, various maps spread open across a large desk. A telescope lay a top them, along with a golden compass.
Not as tidy as it could be, Belle spied clothing hanging over a chair. She inched off the bed, wondering where her things were, but knowing she couldn't spare the time to truly look for them. Better to run barefoot, then to be caught trying to pull on her shoes and jacket.
Her feet were unsteady on the floor. For one brief moment, Belle thought it had to do with the fact she had been knocked unconscious. But the background noise of sloshing water, finally got past her mile a minute thoughts, Belle realizing the room itself was moving. Rocked by the gentle waves of what she assumed, hoped was Storybrooke's harbor.
Not at all used to being on a boat, Belle half stumbled towards the door. She had to put her hands out, to catch against the wall in an effort to keep steady on her feet. This was a first for her, Belle never having been on a ship before. Not even when she had been a princess of a poor kingdom, her overprotective father insisting she remain home where it was safe.
But home hadn't been as safe as her father pretended it to be. And once Rumplestiltskin had entered her life, Belle had seemed to careen from one adventure to another, thrills and dangers awaiting her, the likes of which she would never have had if she had remained with her father and married Gaston.
Belle was determined that this experience would just be another adventure, that this set of thrills and danger would be something she could shrug off within the safety of Rumple's arms. Nothing overtly bad would happen to Rumple or to herself, this menace would be foiled just as all the others had been.
It was easy to think that, but far more difficult to actually believe. Especially when she jerked open the door, and found the man from the library standing there. Belle immediately gasped and jumped back, startled and wide eyed with it. The man himself looked a little surprised, as though he hadn't been expecting her to be right there on the other side of the door.
He got over it quick enough, eyes narrowing with his smirk. Belle backed up a step at seeing it, her heart quickening a beat as she tried to assess the threat the man was. He seemed so imposing, so menacing, his eyes dark with some unfathomable intention. And that was before she took note of his hook, polished silver that had a wickedly sharp tip to it. Without even drawing his sword, this man could do some damage, the hook looking more than capable of cutting tender flesh.
Belle swallowed nervously, then took another step back as the man began to advance into the room. Any thoughts of getting past him, seemed to flee at the violent way he kicked the door closed behind him.
"You..." Belle tried to find her voice, words stammering slowly out of her. "I...I already told you. I don't know where it is, and even if I did, I wouldn't help you kill him!"
He just stared at her in silent regard, not losing his smirk. Belle actually couldn't stand the silence, practically ready to babble in an effort to break it.
"So bringing me here avails you nothing." She said. "Nothing! Do you hear me?! You can't get to Rumplestiltskin this way. So you might as well stop wasting both our times, and let me go."
"I don't think we've been properly introduced, princess." The man finally spoke, seeming to have not heard anything Belle had said. "I'm..."
"There's nothing proper about a kidnapping!" Belle blurted out in interruption.
"You'll find pirates are anything but proper." The man retorted, and Belle practically squeaked out in horror.
"Pirates?!" She gave him a second look over, realizing in his tight leathers, he very much fit her image of some lawless rake. A thief, a mercenary, even a wolf would have been better than a pirate! Because Belle had heard the stories, of the pirates boozing, wenching, and roughhousing. The only law they followed was that of the sea, taking what they liked, when they wanted, regardless of anyone's else feelings on the matter. Belle had never heard of a good pirate, and she wasn't about to believe this menacing man could be any different from the ones she had heard the stories about.
He seemed to smirk even more, reacting to the horrified reaction she hadn't been able to control. "Hook's the name." He said, using his good hand in a flourishing gesture. "Captain Hook."
The name meant nothing to her, but she was frightened all the same. "Let me go, Hook."
"And you are Belle, a forsaken princess of some piss poor kingdom."
Even scared, she wanted to slap him for that, for the insult to her beloved home kingdom. Instead Belle made helpless fists at her side, silently telling herself to bide her time. She'd only get once chance, better not to waste it in a moment of anger.
"You've done some research." Belle acknowledge out loud, pleased her voice didn't hold that earlier quiver of fear.
"Oh I know all about you. A certain cricket was all to quick to chirp out what I wanted to know."
"Then you know what Rumplestiltskin will do to you, if you don't release me at once!" Belle told him, and at his amused look, she decided Hook must be insane. "He'll KILL you." She stated, as though he needed that clarification. "And that's if he's feeling merciful."
"I don't doubt he will try, once this is all over." Hook answered. "But...if you truly mean anything to him, anything at all, he'll hold off for the sake of your well being."
"I won't be your bait, and I won't be your trump card against Rumplestiltskin!" Belle snapped.
"You're more than a trump card." Was it her imagination, or had Hook's voice gone husky? She definitely didn't like the way he was looking at her, how intent that dark gaze was on her, how predatory he seemed to be becoming. It actually made her back up another two steps, Hook following her every inch of the way.
"What...what am I then?" Belle whispered hoarsely. But did she really want to find out? Especially with Hook looking at her that way? She shivered, and fought the urge to cross her arms over her chest, feeling as though the pirate was staring through her clothes, to see her naked body underneath them.
"You're going to be the means to my revenge." Hook definitely purred this time, continuing to advance on her, until Belle's legs backed into the bed. She almost yelped in surprise, putting a hand behind her, to keep from toppling onto the cushiony soft mattress. The other hand touched Hook's chest, Belle feeling a static burst of electricity as her fingers made contact with his shirt.
She was fooling herself in thinking her hand could hold him at bay, Hook pressing firmly against it. He was way too close, invading her personal space, making her aware of the heat of his body, and the rich spice and leather scent of him. Belle didn't know where to look, disturbed by his nearness, by the look in his eyes.
"You..." She stammered once again, Hook fitting himself against her, so that Belle bent back until she abruptly fell onto the bed's mattress. Hook smiled at her, eyes glinting as he bent over her, both his hand and his hook planting on either side of Belle's shoulders, keeping her from rolling to avoid him.
"You...you're going to rape me." It was awful to think about, let alone say, but Belle's fears needed a confirmation one way or another.
"Oh no, Belle. That would hardly fit into my plans." But that disturbing look in his eyes didn't go away, Hook smirking as he bent to put his lips near her ear. She held herself absolutely still, staring up at the ceiling as his lips caressed the curving shell of her ear.
"Plans, what plans?" Belle asked, confused and trying to distract him from making her ear tingle from his lip's caressing motion. "What do you intend to do?"
"It's simple really. An eye for an eye so it were." One more caress of her ear, then Hook pulled back enough to look Belle in the eyes. "A lover for a lover."
Belle had no idea what he was talking about, and the confusion showed on her face.
"Poor princess. He really has kept you in the dark, hasn't he?" Hook asked, brushing his fingers over her right cheek. "The things I can tell you..."
Now was not the time to be curious about what Hook was alluding to, Belle trying to shake off his fingers.
"You want revenge." She noted.
"It's the reason you're here." Was Hook's response.
"Then...if you don't intend to rape me...do you plan to kill me?"
"I'd be lying if I said I hadn't considered that. But I don't think that would make Rumplestiltskin suffer ENOUGH."
Belle was wondering why Rumplestiltskin had to suffer at all, Hook's next words making her gasp in surprise. "I can think of no better suffering for that monster, then to have the woman he claims to love, fall in love with another, with ME."
Startled one moment, then laughing the next, Belle shook with her amusement. "Then you've already lost. Because I will NEVER love you."
"Hasn't anyone taught you to never say never?" Hook asked, hardly appearing bothered by her reaction.
"You really are insane." Belle said in response. "It doesn't matter how long you hold me prisoner, what you do, what you say. I will ALWAYS choose Rumplestiltskin. My heart belongs with HIM."
She followed that proclamation with action, raising her knee fast and violent, to slam into Hook's groin. The pirate let out a surprised sound, a pain filled grunt following his collapse on top of her. Belle quickly shoved him aside, and made a break for the door, her stocking clad feet slipping, the rocking of the boat adding to her shaky flight.
The hall leading away from the bedroom was narrow, with no portholes on either wall. Belle ran all the way, reaching the steps leading upwards before Hook recovered enough to let out an angry bellow of her name.
"BELLE!"
Cringing, but not stopping, Belle ran up the steps. Another hall awaited her, wider this time, with closed doors along the way. At the very end, she could see sunlight filtering down from an opening. There were steps there, ones she bolted for.
Thinking she was going to make it, Belle was stopped short by the sight that awaited her top side. Barely looking at the large ship she was on, all Belle could do was gape and stare, seeing nothing but open water for miles all around her. It made her wonder just where Storybrooke was, in what direction it lay, how many miles they had traveled, and how long she had been unconscious.
The stomping of his boots on the stairs did not get Belle to turn around and look at the pirate. Nor did she make a run for one of the long boats hanging on the right side of the ship. Even if she could manage the strength to lower one into the water, she had no idea how far away, and how much provisions she would need, to find and reach Storybrooke. Hook had her effectively trapped, and there was little if anything Belle could do but wait and hope Rumplestiltskin would find her.
To Be Continued...
Goodness me, I've caught Hook fever. I had this idea come to mind right after I posted the first chapter of my first Once Upon A Time fic. It was a strong enough plot bunny to force me to sit down and write out the opening chapter. ^^''
Aw man, people are gonna think Belle Hook is my OTP or something. but to be honest, I don't have a preferred lady for Hook. I've thought of a Hook Emma scenario, but scared to try and write Emma, worried I'd screw her up big time in my attempts. I've even considered an OC idea, but don't really want to write an OC romance at this time.
This story started out with the intention to be a Belle Hook fic, with some Belle Rumplestiltskin back story. We'll see where it goes from here...But it's not meant to be a triangle fic. Also, I'm sorry the first chapter ended up being short. But it felt like I had a good spot to end on for the moment. Debating if the next chapter will be a Belle POV or a Hook one.
Also not really thrilled with my title at the moment. Will have to ponder if I want to keep Taken as the name for this.
-Michelle