Hero
Chapter 1: Broken
By Br0kenW1ngs
Disclaimer: I don't own OUAT. This is however my own story and a mix of my own life and Belle.
No one understood her. Not like how she wished they would. She was alone, praying every night for this wicked depression to end. She didn't understand why. Why did it have to be her? She just wanted to be the hero. To do something brave, and get bravery to follow (any maybe get rid of that invisible plague). But even with her brave acts, no one truly sees how fake her beautiful smiles have become. How the blue of her eyes has faded and left her looking something a kin to a zombie. Rumpel has changed, but she doubts he notices her withering life. He always seems so busy with his shop and everybody comes to him for help…she doesn't want to get in the way.
"Belle," Rumpelstiltskin's deep voice tickled her ears, but she didn't smile like she used to when he called her name. It didn't feel like it held any meaning anymore, "I've finished my work. How about we head home?" He smiled, and like always, she smiled back finally. Belle felt miserable. Her legs felt heavy and her heart sank as she rose to walk towards him. Rumpel outstretched his hand towards the petite girl. His eyes overlooked her quickly and for a moment, a frown dawned his face.
"She hasn't been eating…" He thought as her now oddly thinner fingers interlocked with his. He could feel the bones in-between his fingers. For a moment, Rumpel feared that he would break her fingers if he held too tightly.
Exiting the shop, Belle breathed in a deep breath of fresh air before coughing lightly. It seemed like it was harder to breath lately for the frail girl. Her breathing became uneven and leaned against Rumpel for support in order to catch her breath.
"Are you alright?" He turned and placed his hands upon her shoulders, holding the red haired girl steady so she wouldn't fall over. Finally, her breathing steadied and she nodded slowly, smiling a tiny grin. Rumpel didn't look convinced for a second, but noticed that wind was picking up. Now was not the time to question her health. Locking the door to the shop, he wrapped his arm around his girlfriend's waist and half-carried Belle back home.
Once there, they both went their separate ways. Belle to the bathroom and Rumpel to the kitchen.
"Are you hungry?" He shouted softly as he entered the kitchen while Belle ascended the stairs.
"Not really. Maybe after a shower!" Belle yelled back, continuing her voyage up the stairs. Rumpel frowned and decided to cook her something anyways. Something nice and warm…
Upstairs, Belle had made her way into the bathroom, intending to take a hot shower. But as the door closed, her mind began to wander. She started to feel even more depressed, breaching the edge of being suicidal. Belle's breathing became uneven and she rushed to open the bathroom cabinet. Tears poured from her eyes as she reached in and pulled out an old kitchen knife. She bought it at the convenience store a couple months ago, so she wouldn't raise suspicion from Rumpel (which surprisingly, he has not asked about it. She knows that he normally knows everything that goes on in the town). Unbuttoning and pushing down her pants, Belle fell to the floor loudly.
Downstairs, Rumpel heard the thud and paused for a moment.
"Belle?" He called out, but received no reply. Putting down the spatula he had been using and turning off the stove, Rumpel left the kitchen and climbed the staircase.
Belle used one hand to hold her thigh steady and with a quick swish of the knife, blood was drawn. One…two…three more marks joined what seemed like hundreds on her thighs. The couple hadn't had any sex for a couple months… so Rumpel never saw the scars. She would cut whenever she would shower, so the blood would be washed down the drain.
Rumpelstiltskin knocked on the bathroom door, startling Belle and almost causing her to drop the knife.
"Belle, is everything okay in there?" The worry was clear in his voice.
Taking a deep breath, Belle replied as steady as she could, "Yes I'm alright. Just dropped bottle of shampoo." Rumpel frowned, knowing that the shower hasn't even been turned on since they got home. By accident, Belle let out a sniffle, setting off alarms in Rumpel's head. Moving his hand to the doorknob, he tried to open the bathroom door, but found it to be locked.
"Belle! Open this door!" But she didn't answer. He could hear stumbling in the bathroom and the slamming of the cabinet door. Using his powers, he all but melted the door handle off and swung the door open. He was about to storm in there and demand who hurt Belle, but what he saw made him freeze. There she was…here pants around her knees as she struggled to remain standing. Blood slithered down her thigh and onto her blue denim jeans. Rumpel could see the past cuts and scars. Tears painted her pale, thin cheeks. Belle looked so broken…When did this happen?
I'm not sure how long I want to make this story. Please review! :) Thank you for reading.