AN/ So, this is my first Once Upon a Time fic! I love the dynamics and chemistry between Rumple and Belle, but I think there is so much more that could be explored...
Belle is slightly out of character, but I think it is needed in order to explore the pairing further. The story begins in season 1, beauty and the beast, but changes do happen which causes their relationship to transform.
All reviews, good and bad, are much appreciated!

Thanks for reading! xo

The dark one threw the young woman he had acquired in his most recent deal into one of his dungeon cells, he slammed the door flamboyantly and the sound of his shrill, eerie giggle echoed against the cold stone walls. Belle grit her teeth and stood up, brushing whatever dust she could off her golden dress. She paced back and forth, thoughts of escape swirling through her head. The young woman groaned in frustration, lashing out at the door, banging and kicking it.
"RUMPELSTILTSKIN!" She yelled, anger clear in her voice. "Let me out of here, immediately!"

Rumpelstiltskin was at his spinning wheel when he heard the woman's angry calls. At first he simply continued spinning, giggling sporadically at her pointless cries, but eventually he became irritated by the incessant noise and with a click of his fingers, there he was, in the corner of the dark cell, smiling smugly to himself, she was completely unaware of him. Belle continued to bang at the door, screaming obscenities into the dark dungeon. Rumpelstiltskin expertly moved through the darkness in silence, until he was but inches behind Belle.

"You'd better stop that, dearie." the dark one hissed into Belle's ear, causing her to violently spin around, ending up uncomfortably close to the imp. "I do not take kindly to disruption." he said quietly. Belle could not help but draw back slightly, although she was indeed intimidated by this dark man, she plucked up the courage to speak.
"I want out of this cell, Rumpelstiltskin." Her voice sounded much more confident than how she was feeling. "You asked my father if I would come here, to take care of this palace, not to be a prisoner!"
"Ah, so you think these conditions are not up to your standards?" Rumpelstiltskin asked, waving his right hand in the air, followed by an excited shriek. "And what exactly do you expect, dearie? You belong to me now, I can do as I wish!", the imp giggled again and stared straight at Belle, eagerly awaiting her response, but she did not speak. The dark one rolled his eyes, and pranced across the cell, pacing back and forth. He stopped suddenly and pointed a slender finger at Belle. "How about a deal?" he smiled wickedly at her, wiggling his fingers in anticipation.
"A deal is never a fair one, when it comes to you, Dark One." Belle hissed. Her anger and frustration was adding to her courage. Rumpelstiltskin gave one of his usual giggles and lowered his hand, still staring at the woman.

"Everything comes with a price, dearie." he chirped, "but if you wish to live in comfort, a deal is your only option.", he smiled at Belle, his eyes twinkling with excitement. "I am prepared to give you a room, whichever in the palace you desire," the imp was in his element, jumping from foot to foot sporadically, waving his hands in an exaggerated manner. "all you have to do is stay here."
"You know I will stay as long as you agreed with my father. 10 years." Belle said hesitantly.
"Oh no, No, that will never do." The dark one spoke quickly, moving closer to Belle. The woman stood her ground raising her head to avoid eye contact. "If I am to do this, for you, then you will stay here... forever!", he giggled and jumped slightly staring at her the entire time, his eyes growing wilder with each passing second.
"For.. Forever?" Belle's courage had left her, her posture dropped, she felt utterly defeated. She could not live like this, nor could she bring herself to think, she would never leave this place. "I will not agree to that, Rumpelstiltskin. I'd rather rot here for 10 whole years, than stay here, with you, for the rest of my life!" Belle could no longer hide her emotions, tears began to fall silently down her cheek. She went to the corner of the cell and slumped down to the floor, turning her back to the wicked imp, she closed her eyes and covered her face.

"You will change your mind, Dearie, and I shall be waiting when you do." Rumpelstiltskin said smugly, before clicking his fingers, and disappearing back into his grand palace above. Belle was distraught, she fell asleep that night cold, alone and exhausted.

The cell was still in almost complete darkness, the only light entering the room was from a candle in the dungeon corridor, it did so through a small square cut in the door with metal bars running through it. Belle rubbed her eyes, straining to see if there was anything, or anyone, lurking in the shadows. Eventually she felt sure that she was alone, she stood up and paced around her cell, chewing on her lip, fighting with her urge to call the imp to her cell and agree to his terms.

Rumpelstiltskin was in the main room of his palace. There was a grand wooden table in the centre, with one chair at each end, his spinning wheel sat in the corner by a window, covered in thick curtains, like all the windows in the dark palace. The imp sat in one of the chairs that sat beside his extravagant fireplace, he was motionless, deep in thought, tortured by his past. His time in deep reflection was interrupted by the familiar sound of his captive. Rumpelstiltskin suddenly came to life, jumping to his feet he giggled to himself and snapped his fingers, appearing in the corner of Belle's cell.

"Well, Dearie," he smiled deviously at Belle, "have we had a change of heart?" he spoke clearly and made sure to accentuate his pronunciation, for dramatic effect. He giggled to himself, rather proud of the power he had over others. Belle took a deep breath, trying to prepare herself for her fate.
"I have." Belle dropped her eyes to the floor, embarrassed by her vulnerability, her voice barely a whisper, "I have made up my mind.". Rumpelstiltskin's eyes widened in excitement as he pranced towards the defeated woman.
"Have we got a deal?!" he asked, his fingers wiggling again as he began to gain confidence.
"Yes." Belle muttered quietly.
"Oh, that is excellent!" the imp cooed, followed by a shrill laugh. He quickly moved to the door, throwing it open with as much flare as he could manage, he then bowed to the woman, lifting his arms out to the side. "Please, come with me." he grinned wickedly at Belle. The woman simply nodded and took her first steps out of the cell, following Rumpelstiltskin through the palace.