"Oh good he's back." A woman with short black hair walked over to the trio and gave Bae a hug. She was the only one that approached.
"Guys, this is Belle." The man introduced her. She hadn't been this nervous since her first day of high school. She could feel everyone's eyes on her. No one else said anything, no one even moved for a few seconds. A few of them were even already glaring at her.
Then a man dropped from the ceiling. Startled, Belle stumbled backwards a bit. But he smiled at her, wide enough to show a few teeth. He stretched out his hand.
"Archie Hopper." She shook his hand, a little more relaxed that at least one person was friendly. He turned away from to address the group.
"She's safe."
As if his words were a spell the mood in the room changed. The short haired woman smiled at her as did a man with blondish hair that was standing next to her.
"Mary Margaret, but you can call me Snow. This is David." Snow seemed genuinely friendly. She wore a patched up light blue sweater and had something slung over her shoulder that Belle couldn't quite see. David was much taller than Snow. He wore a very faded work jacket with a pair of dusty jeans. He looked every bit like a construction worker of some sort but there hadn't been any construction in Storybrooke in years. They didn't even bother to demolish the old buildings. Just left them to decay.
The man named Graham stood up straight, shook her hand, and called her ma'am but had the saddest eyes of anyone she'd ever met. No matter how good he looked it was that sadness that stood out the most.
Mulan was dressed in what looked like hockey pads turned armor. She didn't smile. She kept her face serious, like Belle might be an imminent threat to her. Belle noticed Mulan's eyes kept glancing over to where a couple stood. Once introduced she knew said couple was Phillip and Aurora. Phillip looked at Aurora like no one else in the world existed. Aurora looked at him the same way but when she glanced at Mulan her look saddened.
Emma was next. She wore a blue leather jacket, jeans with holes and beat up converse. She smiled but there was suspicion in her eyes. She didn't trust Belle either but she would at least make an attempt to be friendly.
Next to Emma sat Regina also in a leather jacket but this one was black and much fancier than Emma's. Regina's had small metal spikes on the shoulders and multiple zippers up and down the front. Her nails were painted black and she had on very heavy amounts of eyeliner. Her black pants also looked like they could be leather. She didn't shake Belle's hand and her tone was less than enthusiastic.
Ruby and Victor sat together. Ruby had a wildness to her, whereas Victor seemed much more neat and tidy. Ruby's hair was streaked with bright red and her eyes were vibrant. She seemed excited to meet Belle. Victor seemed indifferent, almost cold. He wouldn't have even waved at her if Ruby hadn't elbowed him in the side.
She met a few others and the only one who barely even acknowledged her was a man named Jefferson. He stood leaning against the wall. Hidden in the shadows. All Belle could see distinctly was that he was wearing a vest with a chain from a pocket watch hanging out.
"And I'm Mr. Gold." Bae's father spoke up from behind her. "Forgive me for not introducing myself earlier."
"So," Emma started, "what can you do?"
"She invincible!" Bae exclaimed.
"Really?" Emma looked skeptical. Aurora and Ashley exchanged excited looks. David looked doubtful. But Belle sought out Mr. Gold. His face remained unreadable but he was watching her like everyone else waiting for a response. Then for the second time that day Belle felt her body jerk with the force of a close range bullet.
The bullet sank into her skin about halfway, right over her heart and stuck there. She pulled it out with her fingers and dropped it to the ground. Regina still had the handgun pointed at her. But unlike before her mouth was now open in shock.
"Holy shit, he's right."
"Why'd you do that?" Emma rounded on her.
"I had to test it didn't I?"
"And if Bae was wrong?"
"Well Snow could heal her just fine. Don't get your panties in a twist Swan."
"You know what-"
Belle decided to intervene before a fight broke out on her behalf.
"It's really no big deal, it's not the first time I've been shot."
Snow gasped and put her hand over heart. The others' reactions ranged from shocked to saddened. Except Mr. Gold's, he looked angry.
"Bae, how did you know what Belle could do?"
This time the boy didn't answer right away. He looked down and mumbled something.
"Bae," his father didn't yell but Belle could feel his anger just radiating off him.
"I revealed my gift in public-"
"Bae!"
"and some drunk guy tried to shoot me."
"What!" The whole building shook. Swords fell off the walls, she heard a window shatter somewhere and Regina was knocked off the table she'd been sitting on the edge of.
"But Belle saved me papa! She shielded me! I'm fine." The shaking stopped, his anger cooled in a split second.
"See look, no holes." Bae turned in a circle but his father wasn't looking at him anymore. He was looking at Belle.
"Why?"
"It seemed like the right thing to do. I didn't want him to get hurt." Even Belle herself didn't know why she did it. She hadn't thought about it at the time, it was just instinct. That small part of her that could be brave from time to time.
"Ruby I though you said your Granny's was a safe place," David asked.
"It is! I don't know how that slipped past her. She normally watches people like a hawk." Belle hadn't noticed early but she was pretty sure she'd seen fangs when Ruby spoke.
"Well, now that we know what Belle can do it's only fair that she sees a little of what we can do," David said as he stepped in to the middle of the circle they'd formed. Some were sitting on chairs, some on tables and other just stood. Bae sat on the floor next to Ruby.
"I think she has somewhere she needs to be, I did say she only had to come in for a few minutes. Didn't you say your husband was waiting for you?" Mr. Gold said as David started to raise his arm.
"He's just a fiance but yes. I really need to be going."
"Aw she's gonna miss out on all the fun," the man named Jefferson spoke up for the first time. He'd been lurking in the shadows outside of their circle the whole time. She looked at him, confused, but he just smirked at her like he knew something she didn't. Maybe he did. maybe he didn't. Right now Belle's head was spinning with all that she'd learned.
