Hands On Me
Chapter 14
"You did this!" she spat angrily at him, pointing to her eyes. She was standing away from him on the floor, scowling at him even as he smirked up at her from her bed.
"Calm down, my dove," he cooed, eyeing the necklace she was still wearing around her neck. She curled her hands into fists and glowered at him.
"Calm down? Calm down! You've been messing with my family since before I was born! Is this all part of some deal too?" She motioned to him being there on the bed and he frowned at her. "Is that all I am to you? Some bargain? You took my eyesight for your own gain! My mother's heartbroken over the hell she went through because of it! And it's all your fault!"
"Now, now, dearie," he said calmly, standing up and facing her. "I did not do that to your eyes." She just scowled again.
"Liar," she hissed and he glared at her. He stalked over to her and grabbed her wrist pulling her close.
"It is true, I made a deal with your parents before you were born. I made a deal with the people who produced you so that they might save their kingdom in return for you. I made a deal with the witch who cursed them so that she might have her revenge and so that this would all be placed into action. And then when you were born, when your parents did receive you, I made another deal. And if gave you all of this." He used her hands to motion to the area surrounding them, including himself. "And my end of the bargain is not something for me to share, but for your father to. But without me, you wouldn't even be here."
"Damn you," she cursed and wrenched herself from his grasp, growing angrier. "You think I need this? I don't! It's nice to have pretty things and friends and people to love me and a wonderful great castle to live in. But what does it mean if I can't see it? Because I can't! I can't see the people that love me, that I call friends! I can't see the pretty things I own or the wonderful place that I live in! And I can only imagine what they do look like, but it's anyone's guess if what I'm picturing is the same thing that's coming out onto paper or what's already there in real life. And to find out that it isn't because things just happen, but because you made a deal with someone to purposefully put a curse on me? Just so you can gain what you want out of this?" She laughed bitterly at this.
"So what if I did? So what if I did it to help myself? Have you not helped yourself by abandoning your family to live here in the castle for the money and the fame and the friends? It's only human to be so selfish!"
"You're not human," she snarled, unable to help the words that came out of her mouth in her fury. He pursed his lips together tightly, feeling his chest tighten. While he knew she was only saying these words out of anger, he could not help the pain they caused. She had been the one person in his life to see past what he looked like to who he was. Simply because she can't see, he reminded himself. Because I made it that way… But hearing the words he had hoped would never come from her mouth now it…he ground his teeth together, trying not to be sad and instead forced himself to get angry at her. The bitch.
"What do you know?" he hissed dangerously, grabbing her arm and pulling her close. He put his face into hers, his breath curling over her so she could feel just how angry he was. "You can't see."
"No thanks to you," she spat, still too angry to take account of her words. She tried to wriggle away from him again, but he held on tightly this time. She scowled at him and began to struggle. "Let me go, you no good dirty double crossing–"
"What did you call me?" he snarled, interrupting her. He shoved her against the wall and pressed close, pinning her there. She growled at him and struggled again, but it was useless.
"I trusted you," she snapped, turning her fact towards him. She was angry, he noted. Very angry. But aside from that, he saw pain and sadness. For a moment, he almost felt bad. And then he remembered it didn't matter what pain he caused her. She was nothing. And now she was treating him in the same way everyone else had and he refused to believe that he deserved it in the slightest. "And you broke that trust. You pretended to be my friend. You lied to me. Just to see your deal go through. But I don't mean a thing to you. I'm just part of a deal, is that it?"
"I did not lie to you," he said stonily, his grip on her tightening. She cried out in pain, but he didn't loosen his grip one bit. Rather, he tightened it and she whimpered, the anger fading to be replaced by hurt. "If you foolishly put your trust in me to think I might do anything more than what I have done, that is your problem and not mine. But you are not just part of a deal."
"Bullshit," she snarled and sneered at him. He glared at her, pushing harder against her.
"Do not question me," he hissed suddenly. "Your questions have already been asked! And now it's my turn."
"Are you serious right now?" she said in exasperation, unbelieving of his words. He just continued to glare and ignored her question.
"Do you love me?" he asked simply. Her face fell blank for a moment and the anger left her completely. Her shoulders sagged and she stopped struggling against him. A look of shock passed over her face, followed by warring emotions of admittance and denial.
"No," she finally said, her voice hoarse from the screaming she had just done. His body tensed as he looked down at her.
"Part of our deal was that we would not lie in our answers," he said stoically, as if that might change the answer. She bit her lower lip and looked down. He tried again. "Do you love me?"
"No," she squeaked out again, and then he suddenly let her go. She fell to the floor as she lost her balance, not quite prepared for him moving away so quickly. And he let her.
He looked down at where she had fallen, crumpled into a ball as she bit back tears of frustration and pain. For a moment, he longed to reach out and apologize. He longed to hold her and tell her it was ok and that he would find a way for her to see again, that he did not mean for things to turn out like this. But that moment passed quickly and instead he felt disgust. At himself for feeling like this, for getting too close, and at her for how naïve and foolish she was for tricking him into thinking she might be worth liking. He scowled and spun on his heel, walking away.
"Very well then," he said softly and glanced back at her in time to see her head perk up towards him. He saw a look of pain and regret flash across her face, but he ignored it and with a slight Pop! he was gone.
She scrambled to her feet and walked forward, her hands reaching out as she tried to find him. She knew he was gone, she had heard him leave, but some part of her held onto the hope that he had just moved to another part of her room and was watching her to toy with her. It didn't matter if that made him more of a bastard than he was already being; it would mean that he was there and she could try to fix things. The more she thought about it, the more she got angry again. She hated herself for letting this happen. She was so wrapped up in thoughts that she didn't hear the footsteps crossing the room to her.
"Leah?" a voice called as a hand rested on her arm. She whirled around, knocking her guest's arm and flailed in surprise.
"Red?" Leah said after a few moments, gaining her senses back and recognizing the voice.
"Leah, who was that? Was that…oh god," Red said nervously as the expression on Leah's face confirmed everything. Leah let out a cry of surprise that Red had seen anything and dropped to her knees. Her heart dropped.
Mr. Gold lay on his side pressed against her side, his head propped up with an arm. He delicately traced patterns onto Natasha's bare stomach as the girl herself slept on her back, her face nuzzled against his chest. He bit back a smile as she moved closer to him and let his hand rest flat on her stomach. She brought her hand up to cover his and he entwined their fingers, looking down at them. He frowned and looked to her face, studying the expressions there. Or rather, lack of expressions.
She looked so peaceful, Mr. Gold though. She was peaceful in a content sort of way. He leaned down and gently pressed a kiss to her neck before pressing closer. She still smelled like paint, but she also smelled like coffee and strawberries. The three mixed nicely for him, strangely enough. He shook his head and leaned down again, pressing a kiss to her cheek this time.
He had missed this moment the first time. The moment where she had curled up in his arms and he stayed, letting her fall asleep there. The moment where he would watch her and let these trivial thoughts pass through his head without a second thought as she slept and he tried to. The moment where he would realize he quite liked the feeling of her body touching his. The moment he where he would feel the warmth from all of this and actually be as content as she looked. He had missed this moment the first time when he had waited for her to fall asleep and then slipped out unnoticed. And for what? To get a handle on the situation again?
"I think," he whispered carefully, not wanting her to wake up but suddenly feeling the need to tell her, "that I made a big mistake. That night. I like lying here with you, my dove. It's nice. You look quite peaceful. I am…ashamed that I missed it the first time when I had the chance. And I know you think me a monster, a nasty piece of work, someone just toying with you, but I…"
He shook his head. She nuzzled closer and he wondered if some part of her was awake and listening and asking him to continue. He listened to her breathing and realized this was a silly notion. She was completely asleep and probably just moving closer for warmth. He sighed and leaned down for the third time, pressing a kiss to her forehead. He felt foolish right then, like he had allowed himself to his weakness. He wanted to pull away, to leave, much like the last time, but unlike the last time there was more of him that wanted to stay. Besides, he reminded himself, this was his house. If anyone's going to leave, it should be her.
"Don't," he spoke out loud in response to his own thought. She stirred and for a moment, he worried he might have woken her up. But then she settled back down, her side pressed as close to him as it could be, and that worry faded. Then he inwardly cursed himself. Not for the fact that he had nearly woken her up, but for the words that had done just that. He felt like a young boy with his school crush. Not that he had one, he tried to remind himself. He groaned inwardly now, realizing how ridiculous these repetitive thoughts were beginning to sound. But Natasha was not meant to be more than his end of a deal. He would not let it be more than that, despite the thoughts that kept trying to push their way in and despite the fact that he didn't want her to be mad at him and instead wanted to hear the words of affection she often directed towards him. He wouldn't let it be anything. He couldn't.
He gently fingered the necklace around her neck, running his fingers over the glass dove he had given her. She hadn't taken it off since he'd given it to her and that thought made him swell with pride. This was the only thing he hadn't taken off last night when he had brought her back to his house. He had thought about it, unsure of whether or not she slept in it, but when she hadn't tried to do it herself he shrugged these thoughts aside. He smirked at the dove that settled just above her breasts, letting his touch linger for a few moments before reaching up to gently cup her face. She loved him, even if she had denied it last night. He still knew this and her wearing that necklace was only further proof. Because even though she had been mad at him, even though she had ignored him and avoided him until he finally sought her out, she hadn't taken it off or even thought to. He bit back a smile at the idea.
Tired of this train of thought, Mr. Gold decided he wanted Natasha to wake up. It was early in the morning still, but once he had woken up he hadn't been able to get back to sleep. And since she was here to keep him company, he did not want to be up alone. So he began to wake her up in the best way he knew how.
Mr. Gold leaned down over her, pressing a kiss to her lips before fluttering kisses along her jawline and down her neck. He moved across her chest and then over it, but he did not spend much time focused there and on her nipples before he moved down even further. He shifted until his body was between her legs and gently pressed kisses over her stomach. He finally reached her legs and pushed them apart farther, trailing kisses up her inner thighs. He nipped and kisses, glancing up at her. She stirred, but she hadn't woken up yet. She moaned slightly as he bit down and he knew she was coming to. He grinned mischievously up at her, brushing his lips over her most sensitive spot. Then he slipped his tongue out, letting it begin to explore. She gasped, suddenly very much awake, as she arched her hips up into his face.
"Leah, stop sulking," Red told her friend firmly as they sat for tea in Leah's drawing room. Leah frowned at her friend and then dropped her head back into her hands again. She hadn't touched her tea.
"No," Leah said simply and Red sighed. She put a hand out and took one of Leah's, holding it comfortingly. Leah turned her face to Red and just frowned more. "He hasn't come back…"
"He's vile," Red stated for what seemed like the hundredth time that day alone. It had been a fortnight since Rumpelstiltskin had returned and Leah had opened up to Red about everything on the promise that she not tell anyone. Red had bit her tongue, but now she had had enough of Leah sulking over such a treacherous man. "He's a leech! He doesn't care about you. You even told him that! I say good riddance!"
"No!" Leah snapped, scowling faintly at her friend. "He's not vile. He can be, but anyone can be! But if you just talk to him, if you just give him a chance…he's good."
"If he's so good, then why hasn't he come back? Why is he just letting you sit here in self-pity like you're mourning some long lost lover? You've been doing this for the past fortnight and frankly, I'm sick of it! He's not good, Leah. Not to you, not to anyone. You've better chances at being happy for the rest of your life if you just settle down with someone like Robert! The way I am with Nathan!" Leah laughed bitterly at this.
"Oh please," Leah said and shook her head, pulling her hand from Red's. She had hoped that Red would be here for her, but apparently her friend was unable to wrap her mind around what was going on. "It's not the same. Robert is a gentleman and a good man and surely it would reflect well on my social standing, but I want more than that. I don't love Robert."
"But you love…him?" Red said, wrinkling her nose in disgust. Leah bit her lower lip and then slowly nodded, turning her face down again.
"Yes. Yes, I do. With everything that I have," Leah said softly and Red sighed. She knew then that nothing she said would get through to Leah.
"I'm sorry," Red said sadly, but Leah just turned her head down again. Red frowned at her friend. "I hope that you're happy. That you find happiness."
"If he comes back, I will," Leah mumbled, but Red heard it.
"He will," Red assured her and Leah looked up at her friend in confusion. "He's attached to you, from the sounds of it. I still think he's vile, but if you see some good in him…he did save us from the Wolf when Nathan…" Leah nodded as Red trailed off. They both knew what Red was talking about; she didn't have to repeat the experience.
"I owe him my life for that," Leah said, twisting her lips to the side. "He…I owe him all of this. He was right."
"Maybe," Red said and then thought of something. She offered her friend a smile, knowing her friend would hear the tease in her voice. "And you know, if he did all of this for you just so he could get close to you, he clearly has a thing for you, even if he did go about it the wrong way." Leah laughed at that.
"Perhaps he and Robert could compare tactics," Leah teased and Red laughed back. The idea was ludicrous, but the image of it was something to smile upon even if it was unrealistic.
"Thank you," Leah said after a short pause and Red smiled. "I know you don't like this, but thank you for being on my side and being here for me anyways."
"What else are friends for?" Leah smiled.
Natasha poked at the eggs on her plate with a fork, her head tilted downwards in thought. Her mind was racing about the night before and the way in which she had woken up this morning by Mr. Gold. They had proceeded to spend the rest of the morning in bed with him 'making it up to her.' She had no doubt of this, but now she wished he was trying to do it in other ways. She was starting to think that after everything, this was all he wanted and making up being a dick was his excuse for it. She frowned and then shoved a mouthful of eggs into her mouth.
"What's wrong, my dear?" Mr. Gold's voice interrupted her thoughts. She turned her face up at him, raising a brow in confusion. "A few moments ago you couldn't keep a grin off your face…what's on your mind?"
"Just…" She trailed off and shrugged, turning back down to her eggs. "I should go home soon."
"Whatever for? Are you not enjoying yourself here?" he asked smoothly, his own brow raised now. She shrugged again.
"I am," she said and took another bite of egg. She chewed it carefully as she mulled over her thoughts and then she set her fork down and turned towards him. "I know what you said and all, but I still find it hard to think that…this is anything more than an excuse to have sex with me.
"Now we can't have that, my dear, can we?" he asked and she shook her head with a sigh.
"I…you can't just come sweeping me off my feet and expect me to forgive you and be over it," she said simply and turned her face back down at her eggs. She was nervous and he noted this as she bit her lower lip. "Because I'm not. I…I think I should go home."
"If that's what you wish…" Mr. Gold trailed off and stood up, beginning to clean up their dishes. He wasn't sure what to say or how to make it right. He'd figure it out.
"Charles is supposed to take me on a date this Friday," she said suddenly and he froze. She heard the dishes clatter loudly into the sink and turned her face up, scrambling from her seat and over to him. "Are you ok?"
"Fine," he bit out and she took a step back, affronted by his aggressive tone. He frowned at her.
"Okay…" she said when he didn't say anything further. "If there's no problem with it…"
"Why would there be?" he snapped.
"I don't like Charles," Natasha snapped back, putting her hands on her hips as she glowered at him. "He's trying to win over my affections so I agreed to a date for his sake, but it means nothing to me. If you don't have a problem with it…you don't have any claim over me." He snorted at this.
"Do whatever you want," he said with a slight growl and turned to furiously scrub the dishes in his sink. She scowled and marched over to the table, grabbing her stuff where she had left it earlier and turned back to him.
"Fine, I will," she snapped and headed towards the exit of the kitchen so she could leave. Before she exited the kitchen door, she spun around to face him one last time. "At this rate, a date with Charles is looking better and better than being cooped up in this stuffy old house with you."
Before he could respond, she left. He was stuck glaring at the empty doorway, unsure of whether he wanted to holler at Natasha or throttle Charles. The more he thought about it and the impending date, the more the latter seemed like it would be his best option.
And that's the end of chapter 14! Next chapter will take place during the whole Mary Margaret being called a tramp thing and we will see hilarity ensue with Charles trying to woo Natasha further and Mr. Gold trying to win her back while trying not to admit his feelings. It's quite obnoxious of him, I realize, but he can't help it! He's only supposed to care about deals! And he knows that's his reputation! Der. :P
Anyways, I hope you guys are enjoying this! I put in some more Rumpel/Gold POV in the hopes that it will please you! Now please me and please please please review with your thoughts and comments! Thank you so much! :)