A/N: Lyrics included are from "Feel the Tide" by Mumford and Sons.
Thank you for your reviews! You guys are amazing, and I hope you know how much I appreciate hearing from you. Sorry for the weird vibe of the chapter. It's been interesting trying to patch up the plot since last chapter decided to take the fic for an unchaperoned spin.
Oh, and also, Hatter speaks with a lot of italics. Normally I hate when authors do that, but I couldn't imagine him not speaking with those long, drawn out words. Hope it doesn't annoy anyone. Lol, BTW, Hatter makes an appearance. :)
From "Whispers in the Dark"
A brush with the Devil can clear your mind
And strengthen your spine
Rumplestiltskin sometimes regretted being a solitary creature. He had always preferred being alone. Life with his wife had been unbearable. Even before he became lame during the Ogre Wars, Milah's presence was an oppressive, dark thing that suffocated him. Her unhappiness was palpable. Then, when he returned from the conflict a proven coward with a bloodied knee and not a soul to accompany him, her malice only magnified.
Baelfire had made her easier to handle. The woman had bore him a son, a son that he could love whole-heartedly without reservation. He could not hate her as she drank herself into oblivion when her body had provided him with such a precious gift. But Milah's disappearance brought with it a miserable transition. There was no consoling Baelfire. Eventually, though, when the tears stopped and his son no longer perked his ears at the faintest sound near the door, they fell into a simple routine. Just the two of them.
As the Dark One, he lost that remaining tie to his humanity. There was only him, Rumplestiltskin. For a time he fancied making Regina a companion of sorts, when he first met her and she was all embarrassment and apologies. He had wanted to corrupt her very core, to confuse her, to play with her like the toy she was. He enjoyed the manipulations, employing the practiced charms of the Hatter in order to do so. And when Rumplestiltskin's hand brushed hers, causing her face to fall and eyes to shift into a terrified frenzy, he had enjoyed that too.
Sometimes he wondered why Belle was so different. Why did her innocence not bring out his inner demon? The two women would have been quite the pair, royal youths with spark and an unquenchable desire. Regina had something else, though. She had the extra bit of darkness in her veins, intangible yet so very, very easily bent. Breaking her of those barriers of conscience and empathy had hardly been challenging.
He knew he would never try such a thing with Belle. But he also knew, he thought with a grin, that she would have none of it. If he were to show her a horse and offer the world and more if only she would reach in and snake those small, dainty fingers around the beast's heart, his Belle would just stand and glare. Such was the nature of her stubborn, kind soul. Then, with a scornful remark, she would take the horse by the reigns and lead it away from the Dark One. Turn her back on him as if he was not the master of unspeakable power.
Rumplestiltskin shook his head. There was no comparing the two, he knew that. Regina was all spite and unchecked destruction. Belle was... was... Belle was gold. She was bright and intense and once one saw her, capturing light and reflecting that goodness on the world... well, there was no going back, was there?
A rapid burst of laughter from below pulled him from his thoughts. Blinking himself back to reality, he wondered what escapades the Hatter was getting Belle into. Restless man could never quite stay by Rumplestiltskin's side during their transactions, at least not once Belle arrived at the castle. Normally such distractions would annoy the Dark One, and he would have forced the Hatter to stay put in his tower until the brew was complete. However, Hatter managed to hate William almost as much as Rumplestiltskin did. Once he had very angrily declared that the boy was "devoid of humor and the absolute worst company", and the statement had made the Dark One soften enough to tolerate his disappearances.
The raucous increased. There was now the sound of Belle and the Hatter singing loudly, their voices mingling into a strangely pleasing noise that made Rumplestiltskin wish he could join in their antics. And then, glancing up from the half-finished concoction on his work table, he decided that there was no reason why he shouldn't.
Bouncing down the stairs, he could hear the song floating to him, bringing a small smile to his face at the sound. "You and I now, though it's cold inside, feel the tide turning..." He wondered how they decided that singing would be the best way to spend their shared time. Hatter's idea, no doubt.
As he approached the landing, taking in the sight of them in the great hall, he was most positive that it was Hatter's idea. The pair was dancing, a fast paced waltz that had them skipping about the room with accomplished grace. He quelled the burning in his stomach at the image of Hatter's arm about Belle's waist, his ridiculous movements coaxing out that dazzling smile of hers. It was Hatter, after all. If ever Rumplestiltskin had a friend in the world, it would be him.
"Instead he runs up to the nearest girl, and he comments on her glorious curls," Hatter sang lightly, laughter perceptible in his voice. Belle's own curls were twirling in a different kind of dance, and Hatter sacrificed a misstep for the opportunity to take hold of one of the strands. In what Rumplestiltskin guessed was his flirtiest tone, Hatter belted out an octave lower, "He says, 'Darling come with me. I'll show you a whole new world.'" And then he winked at her, an over the top gesture as the song ended. Bowing, he removed his dimensional vortex of a hat.
Belle blushed as Hatter pressed a rather long kiss to her hand. His smile was wide and Cheshire. The man never was up to any good. And with the way his eyes flickered upwards, not quite meeting the Dark One's gaze, but definitely indicating that he was aware of his presence, Rumplestiltskin realized that the display was meant for him. Rumplestiltskin huffed. One day Hatter's meddlesome ways would get the best of him.
"I had not realized that you were a singer, Hatter," Rumplestiltskin commented loudly as he descended the stairs towards them, startling Belle so that she wretched her hand from the Hatter's vice grip, "Had I known, I'd have utilized your talents sooner."
"Ah, Rumple, you finally grace us with your presence!" Hatter clasped his hands together with a booming clap, "I take it you have finished with my potion?" Rumplestiltskin flinched at the nickname, scrunching his nose in distaste. He did not miss the way Belle's hand covered her face to hide whatever her mouth was doing.
"Not quite," he flickered his hands about uncertainly, "There are some minor details that need discussing." The Hatter turned at that, attention now fully on the Dark One.
"Details? Then, by all means, let's discuss them," Hatter gave Belle an apologetic glance, "Mind giving us a moment, my sweet Belle? Seems there is business to attend to."
Rumplestiltskin had half a mind to gently caution Hatter that he was a guest in his home, and certainly not at liberty to just dismiss Belle as though he had the right. But Belle was already collecting her things- a few books and the half-eaten remains of a danish- and heading for the door.
"Will you still be taking your tea later," her eyes were full of mirth as she said the next words, "my sweet Rumple?" Rumplestiltskin visibly tensed. Oh yes, he and the Hatter had some business to attend to indeed. Nodding, not trusting his voice in its current state- he'd be damned if he squeaked in front of Hatter of all people- he watched as she exited the room with a quiet, joyful energy.
"Finally!" Hatter exclaimed, arms pinching backwards as he leaned back to yell at the ceiling, "I must admit, I had my doubts. You are such a difficult man to love."
Rumplestiltskin's brow creased. What on Earth was this madman spewing?
"What exactly are you referring to?"
"You and our sweet Belle, of course," he said it as if it was the most apparent thing in the world, "I daresay I'm relieved. Your heart chose well. I dreaded the possibility of popping by one day only to find out that you'd eloped with Regina. Then where would we be? No, Belle is a far, far better choice. Too good for you, of course, but congratulations nonetheless."
Hatter was insane. He was too loud and his tone always carried further than he expected in the corridors. But that was not the problem. The problem was that Hatter had noticed the change between him and Belle.
"I have no idea what you're talking about," Rumplestiltskin grumbled, plopping in his chair at the head of the table. Hatter, enthusiastic man that he was, hopped upon the table in a single leap and sat before him.
"You are far too predictable, Rumple," he said, shaking his head disdainfully, "You're quite close to teetering off the cusp into boring."
Rumplestiltskin clucked his tongue and took a moment to stare at Hatter. He was the loyal sort, he knew that from the beginning of their rather industrious acquaintance. And, in another move that only made the Dark One like him more- although it was rather begrudgingly- he also hated Regina almost as much as Rumplestiltskin did. Perhaps there was no real harm in discussing such things. The man might prove himself useful.
"What would you have me do? Race to her room and proclaim my... feelings?" By the gods, was that word difficult to say. He rolled his tongue around in his mouth as if trying to rid himself of the taste. Hatter rolled his eyes.
"No, Rumple, that is not what I would have you do. But she obviously cares for you. Maybe," his eyes went wide, grin emerging as he rummaged through his many pockets to produce an oversized flask, "Maybe you just need to let her do the heavy lifting."
"What on Earth is that supposed to mean?" Rumplestiltskin was not fond of where the conversation was heading.
"Let her be the one to seek you out. Let her make the first move since it has become so painfully obvious you will not do it yourself." Hatter handed him the container with a flourish worthy of the Dark One.
"And the flask?" Rumplestiltskin asked, shaking the thing to discover there was very little air in it. He frowned. Was the Hatter a drinker? He had never known the man to partake in such things.
"Liquid courage!" Hatter proclaimed, "For the pair of you. Just to loosen things up a bit. You're quite the stiff fellow." Realizing the double meaning of his words, he roared out a laugh. Then, sifting through a few more of his pouches- even delving a hand into his hat a time or two as if expecting it to conjure something useful on the fly- he finally offered up a smallish plush box. Rumplestiltskin lifted the lid. He stared at its contents, back at Hatter, and then again to the contents.
"Do you always carry a seduction kit on your person?" he asked warily, picking up the chocolates for further examination.
"Never know when the occasion will call for it," Hatter jumped from his perch on the table and did a neat spin on his heels, "Now I really must be going."
"What do I owe you for," Rumplestiltskin waved a hand over the items on the table, "whatever this is?" Hatter tsked at him, wagging his finger.
"You owe me nothing. What are colleagues for?"
"Colleagues?" Odd word choice.
"Yes, Rumple, colleagues," Hatter twirled his hat on his fingertips before sending it spiraling to the ground, "Can't exactly be friends now, can it? I perish the thought of word getting out that the Dark One has friends." He shivered mockingly. Standing on the precipice of the portal, he balanced himself precariously. "Since you've been too distracted to finish my brew, I'll allow an extra three days before I return to collect it. Be sure it's complete," he gave the toothiest smile before saying in the most congenial tone possible, "Nobody breaks a deal with me, dearie."
And then he jumped, leaving Rumplestiltskin alone with his thoughts, a flask, and a container full of chocolates.
A/N: You all know what's coming next. Don't even act like this leaves room for doubt. Input would be very nice, though.
Next: Drunken escapades (you don't know how much I wanted to say sexcapades), sweetness, and that moment we have all been waiting for... Don't act like that's a spoiler! I know how much several of you have wanted Rumple to punch William. :)