Numbers and Hamburgers

By RosexKnight

Belle and Gold watch a musical, and the two try to figure out exactly what the invisible tug between them is.

Chapter Two

It was fascinating, the silence that settled between them. It wasn't the awkward silence that the two of them had become accustomed to around others in the singles group. This silence wasn't awkward at all. It was almost comforting. Rather than hanging in the air like a dank fog it settled on their shoulders like a warm blanket. Who knew silence could be...cozy?

"I didn't think I'd see you at one of these again." Belle finally said in a low voice as those around them took their seats. She was only vaguely aware of Ruby a couple rows in front of her. "Didn't you tell your son the hamburger date was a success?"

"He didn't seem to think so." Gold admitted, surprised at how easily this came.

"Giving someone a job based on a conversation over hamburgers and speed dating not his idea of romantic?"

"Not at all. Apparently in order for it to be an official success I need your phone number."

Belle laughed, a little too loud as the lights dimmed. Gold suddenly wanted to hear it again.

"I'll be sure to get it to you by the end of the night." Belle promised. "Then you won't have to come to one of these again."

Gold hesitated, unsure why that prospect made him melancholy "Thank you. Now, what musical is my son making me endure?"

The lights dimmed, and a few notes of the orchestra sounded. Belle giggled and handed Mr. Gold a program. He examined it with a skeptical look.

"Beauty and the Beast?" He read, adding with a mumble, "How ridiculous."

"One of my favorites." Belle whispered happily as the narrator began talking of Once Upon a Times and princes and castles.

A pang of guilt shot through him. But Belle hadn't seemed to mind his bitterness. Well. If it was one of her favorites, he supposed he could endure with a bit more cheer. If something made her glow like that he supposed he could endure whatever it was.

Belle couldn't remember the last time she was so aware of another's presence. She'd been to plays and movies on dates, but usually she became engrossed in what she was watching so much that she forgot the other person was there. But not with Gold. She was aware of every movement he made. Every shift in his seat. Every brush of his coat or scratch of his nose. Even with her favorite musical playing out before him she found herself glancing over at him every now and then.

He seemed to be enjoying the show for someone who didn't like musicals. She could see his cheeks twitch every now and then. When Belle called Gaston rude and concieded. When the character traded herself for her father's safety. Even during the musical numbers he seemed pleased. Was he actually enjoying it? Or was he just trying to look like he was for her? If he was why did he care? More importantly, why did she care that he cared?

Belle realized she's been paying more attention to Gold than the musical, and decided to remedy that halfway through the first act. What was wrong with her? Why was she overthinking this? She needed to stop. He was her landlord now! What would it even look like if she flirted? Or did she even care?

She didn't. But he probably did. Besides he hadn't shown much interest in her romantically. Right? This was a singles outing that he didn't even want to be on, after all. Just like the last one. She had no idea if he felt the same invisible tug to her as she did to him. The tug that made her so aware of him that she finally settled on leaning on his shoulder as the first act finished, trying to pretend his stiffening was because of surprise.

Gold had no idea what to make of Belle French. He wasn't accustomed to women wanting him to sit next to him at any event. Most of the people in Storybrooke were afraid of him. He was quite surprised when Belle didn't, having no doubts that Ruby had given her an earful about him. Maybe he should be nicer to Granny. That would soften Ruby up. That was what you did, right? Got in good with the friends? He had no idea. Milah hadn't had too many friends to get in good with and Cora, well, he didn't like to think about Cora. No, he'd much prefer to think about the pretty brunette beside him, leaning on him of all things. She'd even hooked their arms together. As if he weren't her landlord now. As if they'd done this before. Had been doing it forever.

The last note of act one ended, and the lights came up. A buzz of conversation and movement overcame the auditorium as people moved and chatted. He needed to think of something to say to her. About the musical. Yeah. She'd like talking about that.

"Do you need to stretch?" Belle asked, shooting a look to his cane before looking back at him.

And all words left him, dying in his throat. "No." He managed after a moment, refusing to move at all. "It usually doesn't bother me if I sit for long periods of time. Not as long as I'm able to keep it stretched out"

"How did it...? I mean, if you don't mind..."

"It's an old injury." He said flatly. "Let's just leave it at that."

"Right. Of course. Sorry." God how stupid could she be? Asking about why he used a cane? Belle gulped, her mind straining to find how to recover from it. "You um...you seem to be enjoying the musical."

Gold glanced at her, giving her the smile that made his eyes soften. "It's not so bad."

"Why don't you like musicals?"

"I've always found them…dull. I suppose it's because there's never any…realism to them."

"You mean how people don't break out into song and dance in real life?"

"I mean how happy endings don't come as easy as they make it seem." Gold explained. "Happy endings in reality can be much more hard to come by."

Belle bit her lip, and Gold wondered if that was because she was nervous or thoughtful. "Into the Woods." She blurted.

"Pardon?"

The brunette paused, realizing she'd just blurted things out without thinking. "My favorite musical."

"More fairy tales?" There was humor in his voice as he caught her. She winced. "How exactly is that more realistic?"

"Well." She said, sitting straighter. He hadn't turned her down. Hadn't scoffed at the idea. That was enough for her. "You'll just have to see when we see it."

Gold blinked, his body stiffening again, and Belle realized what she'd let slip. "We?" He echoed, his voice soft, as if making sure he'd heard right.

"Or you." She corrected quickly. "Or you and Neal. Ya know. If you want. You should see it though it is good."

Had she just asked Gold out on a date? Well, she supposed she had. That wasn't…so different than what they were doing now though. Right? Still, she couldn't deny the butterflies in her stomach or the fact that she couldn't seem to look him in the eye.

The lights flickered, and people began to meander back inside, taking their seats once again. Gold hesitated, his mind trying to process the fact that he was about to accept the invitation to accompany Belle to another play. Or movie. Or a junkyard. Honestly it didn't matter to him where she wanted to go at this point as long as she'd asked him to go with her. He hesitated, faltered for a moment, but there was no denying what she'd just done, and damn if he wasn't going to accept. He put his hand on hers, running his thumb over it softly.

"'We' sounds grand." He whispered, before the music started up again.

His heart fluttered as he was rewarded with her smile, surprised at first but then bright. She settled back next to him, going so far as to wrap his arm around her shoulder. It made him sick in a breath, but then he relaxed as she did.

Oh. He was so done for

"So…"Ruby was saying, her voice trailing off, "A few of us want to go bar hopping. Maybe go out to dinner and get something to eat."

"I can't be a DD tonight, Ruby. I've got to get to the library early. It's really dusty." Belle said.

They were standing outside of the play house, waiting for the valets to bring various cars around.

"No I can manage." Ruby said. "I just, um, need the car." Ruby truly looked apologetic then, but she shook her head. "Nevermind. I'll take a rain check."

"I can take Belle home."

The two girls turned to see Gold, looking suddenly very sheepish.

"Oh I don't want to inconvenience you…" Belle said, glancing to Ruby. She knew her friend wouldn't ask this of her unless one of those guys was special. Ruby was much more loyal than that. And now she was looking skeptical.

"It's no trouble." Gold said. "The library's on the way to my house."

"I dunno…" Ruby said, glancing to Belle as if she was suddenly thinking better of a decision she'd already made.

"How special is this guy?" Belle asked.

Ruby glanced over to a group sheepishly. "I think he could be special."

"Then go on. I'll be fine."

"You sure?"

A black Cadillac appeared, the valet getting out and giving Gold a nod. Belle stepped over to him. "Just give me the details."

"You too!" Ruby called, with a smile bigger than any she'd seen her wear in a while.

As Ruby turned to join the group, Belle turned to Gold, who was already holding the door open for her with that soft smile she'd decided was her favorite on him.

They started down the road, back towards Stroybrooke in silence. A cozy silence. Their silence.

"Oh!" Belle finally chirped. "Give me your phone. So I can put my number in it."

Gold silently, nervously obligued, handing over his phone and trying not to be acutely aware that she was putting in her number. Did he expect him to call her? Did she want him to? Lord he felt like he was back in school, trying to win the affection of some idol of his. But she'd put his arm around her. Settled into the crook of his arm as if they fit together. That meant something right?

"Give me your hand." She said, her tone dripping with mischief.

He glanced over to her, passing over the town line. "Why?"

"Just trust me."

With a giggle she pulled a pen out of her purse, and he felt her writing on him. She finished as he parked outside of the library, and he found that she'd written her number on his palm, her name above it in an elegant cursive script.

"For effect." She said when she opened the door before he could even move to do it for her. "Goodnight, Gold."

"Goodnight, Belle." He managed, his voice feeling scratchy from his dry throat.

As he watched her go to the library, something in him reached out, made his chest squeeze, beg her to look back.

And as she opened the door she did, giving him a smile and a wave before disappearing inside. He didn't move until the lights in the loft were on, and as he pulled away he swallowed, trying to keep himself from staring at the number and name on his hand.

He didn't know much about Belle French. But he was pretty sure he was in love with her.