Fatal Fire: Soul
Disclaimer: I don't own Once Upon a Time.
The Candle
Bae stared at his fingers, resting on the pillow an inch from his nose. That he sent Captain Hook into a harbor to an unknown fate was never far from his mind, no matter what the captain had done or why he had done it. He curled his fingers together and then unfolded them. They were the same fingers he always had, but now they could do things he never could've or would've wanted to dream of.
Footsteps, accompanied by the tap of a cane, entered his room. Bae looked up at Rumpelstiltskin but didn't move and said nothing. Rumpelstiltskin sat on the edge of the bed and lay a hand on Bae's cheek. Bae closed his eyes and pulled his own hand to his chest. He opened his eyes after a long moment, and he smiled. "Yes, Bae, it's real," Rumpelstiltskin said, as if reading his son's thoughts.
The smile faded from Bae's lips, and he asked, "All of it?"
"Is something wrong?" Bae turned his gaze to his hands. "You're thinking about it, aren't you?" He nodded. "That's okay. It's okay to be afraid, because I'm right here with you, and I'm not going anywhere. I promise." Bae sat up and pulled his father close. Rumpelstiltskin patted his back. "It's okay," he said again.
"Papa," Bae whispered, "what if I...what if I turn out like you?"
"You won't let yourself."
"How come?"
"For the simple reason that you won't let yourself."
"How do you know?"
"I know you, Bae."
"I hope you're right." Rumpelstiltskin sighed and gently rocked his son back and forth. "Perhaps I'm going nuts, but in the opposite direction."
"I can teach you, if you want?"
Bae pushed himself back. "Teach me what?"
"The basics, of course. Where else would I start?"
"Does that involve anything overtly evil or dangerous?"
"Well, that, Bae, is entirely up to you. Magic itself is not good or evil. It depends on who uses it."
"You used it."
Rumpelstiltskin nodded. "I know, my boy."
Bae crossed his legs and leaned forward, searching his father's eyes. "You're not hiding anything from me, and you're not plotting against me."
"Of course. Why would I do such a thing to you?"
"You tend to be...overzealous when it comes to magic."
"That's true."
"Have you been getting better about it?"
"Do you think so?"
"Perhaps." Bae scrutinized his father for a moment and then exhaled. "Alright," he said. "But I want to start small, and I want what you teach me to be neutral."
"Done." They shook on it.
OUAT
Once in the kitchen, Rumpelstiltskin rummaged through a cabinet and then returned with a small lavender candle. He set it on the table and stepped back. "I need you to relax and...focus on the wick," he said to his son. Bae took first a quick breath and then a deep one, staring at the candle. Gradually, he relaxed, and the wick flared to life.
Bae started and stumbled back. The flame died out. "What just happened?" he asked.
"You just did magic."
"That was me?" Rumpelstiltskin nodded. Bae swallowed and leaned against the table, staring at the candle. He glanced at Rumpelstiltskin and said to himself, Don't freak out. He regained his focus. The wick caught again, and Bae looked up at his father, who was smiling. He relaxed, and then the candle shattered. Bae ducked and cried out. "Papa, I'm sorry," he said when he straightened.
"It's okay," Rumpelstiltskin replied.
"I blew up a candle. How's that okay, or even possible?"
Rumpelstiltskin smoothed back some of Bae's hair. "It was an accident. It can be fixed."
"How?"
He watched as his father waved a hadn over the pieces of the candle. Of their own accord, they moved together and formed the complete shape of the candle. The pieces fused together, and a flame danced on the wick to complete the picture. "That's how," he said.
"Oh," he said weakly.
"Are you alright?"
"Like I said, I blew up a candle. I mean, being able to light it's all well and good, but..." Rumpelstiltskin nodded. "You know what? I think I'll go for a walk or something. Clear my head, figure things out."
"Alright."
Bae nodded, gave a small smile, and blew out the candle on his way to the front door.