A/N: Yeah, I know, I've been posting a fair few Rumbelle fics here lately. All I can say is… they're the ones who keep running about in my head. I assuredly can't stop them, so might as well write about them. Unfortunately writing Second Chances and its sequel have me reveling in just how much crap Rumple and Belle needed to talk about and never really got around to. Also, I've been rewatching season four this past week and I'd really forgotten just how painful it was. This fic was a five minute write up to deal with all those feels and I hope it's a good one. Hope you enjoy!
Rumpelstiltskin hated lying to his True Love once more, but she'd left him with no choice. He'd seen her with the thief. Laughing and smiling. Happy. He hadn't wanted to believe it at first. Had hoped that he'd misinterpreted their relationship. But seeing the two of them in Granny's this evening and watching them stroll about town hand in hand had been all the confirmation he'd needed. Belle had moved on.
That cut him in a way he hadn't realized was possible. The woman he had once thought would be his salvation had forgotten him as easily as everyone else. He had always known that she would leave one day. Yet no matter how much he'd prepared himself for that inevitability, her departure tore into his soul. He'd never experienced heartache like this, not even when he'd believed her dead. At least then he had the comfort of knowing she loved him. Now he had to live with the fact that she too had walked away. That she'd discovered just how difficult it was to love him and that she just couldn't do it.
Rumpelstiltskin couldn't deny that he deserved her ire, her contempt. Yet for the past six weeks he had foolishly held onto the hope that he could beg for her forgiveness. That she was as tormented by their separation as him. But apparently, she had no trouble getting over him.
Now he found himself in the guise of the bloody pirate in order to get his dagger back. It stung that she trusted Hook more than she trusted her husband. That Belle felt safe around the man who had made multiple attempts on her life, while she felt that she needed protection from her True Love. Certainly, her fears were warranted considering his track record, but she above anyone else should know that she was safe from him.
He could never hurt her. Belle was all he had left. The only light left in the vast darkness that surrounded him.
"I'm guessing that's a gift from your admirer Will?" he asked, trying to make it sound like a friendly observation.
The smile that lit across her face as she looked over the small token threatened to drown him. "Yeah it was outside when I got here," the beauty replied turning that smile on him.
A crushing pain gripped his heart at that acknowledgement. An ever-dwindling part of him had hoped that his wife would recognize the significance of a single rose. Would remember it as a symbol of the love they'd shared. Even if she didn't know he was in Storybrooke, he expected at least a slight hesitation at the token. Anything aside from the pure joy that lept from her.
"If you don't mind…" Rumpelstiltskin couldn't believe he was asking this question, but he had to know. "are things serious?" he hated the way his voice broke over the last word, but Belle hardly seemed to notice.
The beauty sighed happily. "What it is, is…. it's new. And beyond that I, I don't know." The Dark One's heart shattered even further at the contentment that seemed to fill his (ex?) wife when she talked about her new love.
"He's so different," the fake pirate observed in a quiet voice.
"I know…" Belle answered before exasperation colored her tone, "and after Rumple, it's so nice to spend time with someone who's nothing more than who he says he is."
Struggling to make eye contact and ever the masochist, Rumpelstiltskin had to ask "So you're over him, then? Rumpelstiltskin."
"I don't know if I can ever be over him. But for now, Will makes me smile."
For all who'd ever wondered if the Dark One had a heart, Rumpelstiltskin had an answer. He most certainly did. He had assurance in that fact because it currently was irreparably chipped. Knowing he couldn't take anymore, Rumpelstiltskin brought their conversation to a quick end. "I'm glad to hear that. Good night then."
"Oh Killian," Belle called as the masked Dark One turned to leave, "uh… about Will. I was wondering what ha-… what happened between you two?"
For once words refused to come easily to the silver-tongued imp. So he settled for the truth. "Let's just say he took something I care for."
Rumpelstiltskin walked out of his shop and into the frigid darkness, leaving all warmth and light behind him. Belle hated him, he was convinced of that. She had once told him that love was layered, a mystery to be uncovered. Sure, she'd wanted honesty from him, but she enjoyed being the one who brought down the walls he'd spent centuries building. Now she wanted simplicity.
Will was "exactly who he said he was." There wasn't any anonymity to the man. No puzzle to solve. And the mystery that had once been so intriguing about her True Love now apparently repulsed her. Perhaps it could be chalked up to the fact that she'd finally worked her way down to the real Rumpelstiltskin. She'd uncovered the mystery and found the cowardly spinner hidden beneath the monster. Women don't like to be married to cowards, of course he disgusted her now.
But no, this was his fault. He had driven Belle away. He'd been the one to first betray her. It was no wonder she found herself a handsome and charming young man. Will might even be worthy of her one day. Belle said that she didn't know if she could ever be over him and that gave Rumpelstiltskin some measure of comfort. Because he knew that he would be hopelessly in love with her for the remainder of his life.
This is for the best, the pawnbroker told himself as he looked through the window of his pawnshop to see the light of his life laughing at another man's words. He should have spent their marriage making her smile like that instead of frantically trying to free himself from the accursed dagger. You would have only drug her into the darkness. She deserves better than that.
Would it even hurt her when Belle found out he'd taken the dagger from her? Or would it be just another disappointment? Probably the latter. But he simply couldn't leave it in possession of the heroes. His very life was on the line and while it seemed he had nothing left to live for, he couldn't let the Dark One take over. Rumpelstiltskin also refused to ever be controlled by that dagger again. A year in Zelena's thrall had answered far too many of questions of how far the dagger's control extended. A shiver coursed through his body at thoughts of the green witch.
He had come back for a chance to say he was sorry. For a chance at a real happy ending. For a chance at love that he could actually believe in. For the hope that someone out there could really and truly want him and nothing more or less. That seemed to no longer be true for Belle in this world. But with Author's help, maybe he could finally find some peace.
Rumpelstiltskin leaned against the corner of his shop for a long moment as he composed himself. He would need to hurry if he hoped to remove the darkness before it overtook him. He would need every ounce of wit and cleverness that he possessed to win this battle. And as usual, he would have to accomplish it alone.
A/N: Angsty enough for you? Please feel free to comment/review and let me know what you think. As always thanks for reading and I'll see you in the next fic!
