Belle Meets the Hatter:

aquajasmine23 said:

WDYS verse: Belle and Jeffy's first meeting?

"How could you be so stupid?!" the Dark One raged as he paced back and forth across the vast length of the library.

"But—"

"I don't want to hear excuses, man!" he said, bending low over his worktable, his palms flat against the scratched surface as he shook his head.

Jefferson grimaced as Rumpelstiltskin continued to expound on his many mistakes. "You said you could get it back though, right?" he asked hopefully.

Belle's brow furrowed as she continued up the staircase leading into the library, a tea service clasped tightly in her hands. For a moment she wondered if her cantankerous master would want her to disturb his meeting. He'd yelled at her yesterday when she'd been three minutes late with his afternoon tea, so that left her little choice. She'd only been his caretaker for a month or so and she was still trying to remember all of his dictates, punctuality being one of them and tea being another.

"Why did you even let her get close enough to snatch it?" Rumpelstiltskin snarled, glowering darkly at the one man in the Enchanted Forest he could call friend. "What's Gracie going to say when you come home without a heart?! Did you never stop to consider her!?"

Jefferson's mouth pressed into a thin line. "Don't bring my daughter into this, imp." He knew better than anyone the soft spot Rumpelstiltskin harbored for Grace, and that it was concern for the girl that had him lashing out. "But you have to remember, it was you who sent me to the Winter Palace in the first place to barter for the Queen's befuddlement potion. You should've gone yourself!"

Belle's eyes were wide as she poked her head over the railing. Befuddlement potion? She jumped slightly as the two men turned their gazes her way. "Come on in, dearie," the sorcerer intoned, beckoning her to enter, his tone gentle compared to the one he'd used on the man who'd come to see him. She gave him a wide berth, though he looked harmless enough. He was dressed in the height of fashion in leather breeches, knee boots and a violet silk shirt. It threw her for a moment however to notice the emerald waistcoat and citrine frock coat. What would make the man dress in such garish colors?

"Now I'm going to have to spend the afternoon cajoling Regina to return your worthless heart," Rumpelstiltskin drawled in disgust as he took his chipped cup from Belle's trembling fingers. And it wouldn't come cheap, either. The queen knew all too well how valuable an asset the Mad Hatter was to the Dark One. "Easy there, dearie. You're going to burn yourself. Don't worry about him, he won't hurt you."

"I didn't think he would," Belle answered, her gaze locking with her master's. "My nerves are simply on edge from all the yelling. Sensitive ears, y'know."

"Ooooh, I like her," Jefferson said to the imp as he rounded the table to take Belle's hand, bowing low as he pressed a kiss to her knuckles. "And who might you be, precious?"

Belle giggled and Rumpelstiltskin grabbed her wrist, jerking her hand out of the hatter's grasp. "Stop slobbering all over my maid, hatter," he snarled.

Jefferson's light grey eyes were alight with mischief. "Maid, did you say? I could use a maid to come in every now and then to clean up the cottage. Are you available on Thursdays?"

"Um…" Belle stalled, searching for something to say so as not to offend her master's guest.

"No! She is not," Rumpelstiltskin growled around the rim of his cup as he caressed the sensitive flesh of Belle's wrist with his thumb. He looked down, following the hatter's line of sight and dropped her hand as if he'd been burned, quickly rubbing his hand against the side of his trousers. "She's my maid. She'll not be traipsing through the forest to your hovel to give it a quick dusting. Belle, meet Jefferson, an associate of mine. Jefferson, Belle."

Belle fought off the rosy blush that settled in her cheeks at his touch and set about serving him the warm scones she'd baked that afternoon. "I'm pleased to meet you, Mr. Jefferson."

"Enchanted, my darling girl," he purred with a decidedly wicked grin and a waggle of his eyebrows. Rumpelstiltskin stepped down hard on the hatter's instep, producing a loud yowl. He leaned against the table to rub at his foot. "She's a bit too lovely to be a maid. Where did you get her?" Jefferson asked as he added an unhealthy amount of sugar to his tea. "Does she have a sister, perchance?"

Belle shook her head, chuckling at the man. "No, I'm afraid I don't, and Rumpelstiltskin was kind enough to save my kingdom from ogres in exchange for my servitude. It was a rather small price to pay for his generosity."

Jefferson choked on his tea. "Generous?" he snorted. "Not a word associated with the Dark One on a daily basis."

"Don't speak of my master in such a way," she hissed, moving the plate of scones out of Jefferson's reach as punishment for his rudeness. "He's a good man."

The Dark One tittered a laugh as he watched his little maid put the hatter in his place. Her defense of his character made a warmth spread through his chest, a feeling for which he was quite unaccustomed and he was sure he'd spend a good hour at his wheel that evening examining it further. "Belle, dearie, play nice, now."

Jefferson arched a brow as his friend smiled at the little maid. Smiled! Not the condescending smirk that usually adorned his mouth, but an actual smile. His mouth curved up into a deliciously devilish smile as he saw just what was happening before him. The Dark One is smitten! He was damn near ready to dance a jig. Fun! But just to make certain he wasn't mistaken, he was willing to put it to the test.

He sidled between the two and he could feel the imp's displeasure as if it were a tangible thing. "So, darling girl," he said with his most charming smile as he took her hand and tucked it into the crook of his arm. "Are you quite happy here at the Dark Castle?"

Belle regarded the man warily as he led her to the settee Rumpelstiltskin had conjured for her so she could spend the afternoons reading in the tower library while he worked on his potions. "Ah…yes. Yes, I'm quite happy," she assured him, sneaking a glance in her master's direction as a blush warmed her cheeks.

Rumpelstiltskin didn't look at all happy that his friend was monopolizing all her time. This was their time. Afternoon tea was her favorite time of day, the one time it seemed her master would relax enough to have a civilized conversation with her. She was becoming more comfortable in his presence as he slowly let her see behind his mask and this man was simply ruining her afternoon.

The hatter sipped his tea, arching a querulous brow. "He treats you well, then? No nasty pranks and such?"

"Jefferson," the sorcerer said in a deceptively soft tone.

"What? I'm merely curious," he replied in the most innocent tone he could muster.

"There have been several small incidents, but I've found them quite amusing. I don't think Rumpelstiltskin is the type to damage his toys," Belle replied sweetly in a teasing lilt as she peeked at her master through her thick lashes.

Jefferson stuffed a scone into his mouth to keep from chortling. Merciful gods! It's worse than I imagined. The girl is openly flirting with the Dark One. He pinched himself to make sure he hadn't fallen down the wrong portal and landed in some bizarre parallel universe.

The sorcerer tittered another giggle, setting his cup on the tray and moving to take her hand as he helped her rise. "Indeed not. Now why don't you run along, dearie, and see to dinner. Perhaps if you pay extra care to it today, it won't burn."

Belle pursed her lips as she came to a halt at the top of the stairs. "And perhaps if you were a little nicer I might bake some of those peach tarts you fancy so much."

Jefferson's mouth gaped like a fish. He's flirting back! He fanned himself as his head ping ponged back and forth between them. He even glanced down at the tea in his cup wondering if they'd somehow gotten a hold of some of his special blend.

"How about we make a deal?" the imp asked, an avaricious gleam in his eye.

Belle tilted her head to the side and bit her lip thoughtfully as she perused him. It was never a good idea to make a deal with the Dark One, but considering how splendidly the last one turned out…

"What did you have in mind?"

Rumpelstiltskin tapped his chin with one long finger, making her wait. Finally, "You make tarts and I'll let you have tomorrow off to spend the day reading in the library," he said with a casual flourish of his wrist, the cuffs of his cobalt shirt ruffling.

Belle smiled. "How about…" she let her voice trail off for a moment, knowing how impatient he was. He didn't disappoint as the fingers of his right hand began to rub against his thumb. "I make tarts and you take me to the village tomorrow."

Jefferson snorted, causing the sorcerer to stiffen in affront. How would it look if it got out that he had to make a deal to get his maid to make him a treat when he could simply order her to do it? "Run along, dearie, and I'll let you know soon of my decision."

Belle nodded, a saucy smile on her lips. "As you wish…master. Good day to you, Mr. Jefferson," she called over her shoulder as she began to descend the stairs, intent on preparing his dessert whether there was anything in it for her or not.

The hatter leaned back on the settee with a smug smile as he rested his ankle atop his leg and spread his arm across the cushions. "Rumpel's got a cr-ush," he sing-songed.

The Dark One stared at him blankly. "Rubbish!"

"You do!"

"Do not!"

"Denial!" the hatter cast back. "And I get a front row seat to see how long it is before she has you reading sonnets to her beneath her balcony."

"Snails, hatter," Rumpelstiltskin hissed darkly.

Jefferson gulped and zipped his lip closed. "Fine, I won't tease you. Now about my heart? How're we going to get it back from Regina?" he asked, changing the subject.

"I don't know, but we'd best be off," the Dark One snarled, shaking his head at the man he claimed as friend. "But I'm telling you now, hatter, if I miss dessert, you're going home to Grace in a terrarium. Maybe that will teach you there are just some things you don't barter."

Jefferson smirked. And maybe some friendships are worth it.