"Why do I get the suspicion that you're avoiding me?" Belle practically spit out her coffee and dropped the mug she had just taken a hearty sip from.
The book she had opened up on her desk on the history of Cleopatra was now stained a soft brown tone as the coffee began to seep in. While the book seemed to survive the spill for the most part, the mug was not so lucky. It was now slightly chipped revealing the porcelain interior.
"Gods you've got a real habit for that huh." Killian quickly reached for some napkins and Belle picked up the book allowing it to drip out the coffee and moved her laptop to another table to protect it from the spillage.
"Bad habit I suppose." Belle answered clearly plagued with worry for her book but mostly due to the conversation she knew she was about to have.
"The avoiding or the chipping of objects meant for harboring beverages?"
Finally, she met his gaze. She wanted to laugh at his ever-charming comments. Their hands lingered inches away from one another and that alone made Belle's heart flutter. She wanted him to embrace her and to take in his strong arms and possibly even take her right then and there in the library on her desk. But alas she cared more for Killian's wellbeing than she cared for her needs. She knew she could not guarantee his safety if Rumple got word or witnessed them together.
Belle had been avoiding Killian for three days now. It was cruel of her, but she simply couldn't bring herself to tell him they couldn't be seen together anymore, not even as friends and especially not as sex friends. No matter how much she enjoyed it. She feared Killian would fight her on the topic and therefore she figured it might be best to ignore him. It was a coward move but that's exactly what she felt like in the moment.
"My are you a detective now?" Belle forced a strong face and mocked him placing her hands on her hips jokingly taunting him.
"No. I'm just an expert on all things relating to women." He answered as a matter of fact.
"Ah yes, I suppose that much is true." Belle said as she tossed all the napkins now soaked in coffee into a nearby trash bin.
Killian's eyed her down silently indicating to her that he would no longer speak until she had some form of answer for him. He crossed his arms and waited.
"Yes. I have been avoiding you." Belle said it a soft tone as she chewed on her lip feeling overwhelmed by guilt. She should've told him the truth instead of icing him out but every time she was even around him all she wanted to do was fall into his arms. It was an impossible topic. But then again, she couldn't help but think if things between them were ever going to end easy.
"Let me write down that book title for you." Belle stated rather loudly. Far louder than she normally spoke. Killian couldn't help but feel suspicious by her behavior, but he pretended to follow along as she gathered a pen and a paper.
I'm being watched. Not safe.
Belle couldn't dare write down Rumple's name. It even hurt to think of his name. She feared he would somehow be summoned by it. It was foolish as even she knew he didn't have that kind of magic but at this point, Belle would never doubt that Rumple would stop at anything at this point.
Killian noted the fear in her eyes. It took everything out of him not to rip up her note and tell her he didn't care whether Rumple killed him or not. However, the idea that maybe she cared for his safety arose in his mind. While it was morbid to feel happiness over her fear for his death, Killian couldn't help it. She cared for him. It more obvious now than ever. She longed for his safety.
"There's no way this book could at the very least be discussed." It was obvious that Killian was speaking in metaphors but yet, Belle found it difficult to understand what more could he want. She was granting him an out for whatever was going on between them. He would be safe. He would no longer have his fate tied to the Dark One's ex-wife.
"No." Belle pressed her lips together watching the realization that she was serious dawned on Killian. Oddly to her, he looked hurt.
And he was. Killian was upset that Belle thought it best to not consult him on a matter that should have included him. Whatever was going on between them was his doing as much as it was hers. They should've been in it together, but here she was essentially telling him to get lost.
"Alright. If that's what you want."
It's not." Belle wanted to shout. She wanted to plead that he needed to understand the danger they were both in. She wanted what was best for him and unfortunately that wasn't her. Not when she had a maniacal ex-husband with restored magic watching her from a distance.
"If you need me you know where I'll be." Killian scoffed in a hasty tone as he departed from the library. Belle knew he met the bar and for some reason that made her feel even worse than she already did. She knew the bar was a place he drowned out his sorrows and she hated that it was because of her.
More than anything she hated that they couldn't even be honest with one other and they had to use metaphors to discuss the end of their friendship.
[Page Break]
Without Killian, Belle was lonely. Her home felt odd without him sleeping in her bed. She was getting used to his soft snores throughout the night. His touch. The way he looked at her hungrily when their eyes meant in the early hours of the morning. The way he would ravish her.
Belle wanted to sprawl herself out on her bed and just think about exactly how much she missed Killian but then the thought that Rumple might be watching killed any excitement she had been feeling.
As Belle turned the corner down her hall towards the kitchen, she heard an odd sound she was all too familiar with.
"I need a favor." She suddenly heard a woman's voice say as a cloud of smoke appeared in front of her. The unexpected intrusion in her home caused her to slightly shout. "Oh sorry. I shouldn't have appeared so close." The raven haired reformed Evil Queen smiled.
Although it was Regina and not Rumple, Bell was still paralyzed with shock. For a split second she honestly thought she was going to come face to face with the Dark One himself. It made her realize how ill prepared she was if the occasion ever arose.
"Can I just get a fucking break here?" Bell shouted overcome with regret as she realized she said the words aloud and not mentally.
Regina was shocked to say the least. She just battered her brown eyes a few times as they stared in silence.
"I'm...sorry." Regina's apology fell flat.
Belle rolled her eyes and stood up, "no no it's ok… sorry I was just lost in thought." Belle began.
"So, about that favor." Her eyes looked like they wanted to trail on with the conversation but needed her consent first. Geez, Regina sure didn't beat around the bush.
"Well that depends what is it?"
"I'm going to need your heart…to control what you do." Belle couldn't take her eyes off of Regina, she couldn't help but feel like it was a joke. "Don't give me that look. I know it's a lot to ask but it's urgent and it has to do with checking up on Rumpelstiltskin. I tried to talk to him… but he keeps shutting me out and I think you're the only person he would reveal his secrets to."
She supposed she thought too soon.
"I couldn't-" Belle began shaking her head and backing away from the Evil Queen. She felt a lump in her throat and a pain in her chest.
"We are running out of time and options." Regina spoke again in a softer tone.
What Regina should've said was you really have no other option. It would've made Belle respect Regina much more. But alas Regina knew a way to guilt people into doing what she wanted. Getting what she wanted was her specialty. All Regina had to do was shoot her a pleading look and instantly Belle knew how desperate she was.
"You really think he would tell me what he plans to do?" Belle took a step back from Regina filling with uncertainty. Her stomach twisted in knots just thinking about coming face to face with Rumple. But it made sense if Regina used her heart to control her. Belle was too much of a mess to even speak to him, she was too angry to even see him. There was no way she herself could face him. This was truly the only way.
"I can't believe I'm saying this but alright. Just…give it back as soon as you're done." Belle paused and took a deep breath and then gestured for Regina to get it over with. If she thought on about the topic for a second longer, she would make herself sick with worry.
"Ok. I will warn you. This WILL hurt." Regina raised a brow with her palm to Belle's chest.
"I know. This isn't my first-" Belle shuttered at the piercing sensation in her chest. She couldn't decide what hurt the most, the temporarily stretching sensation of her skin or the stinging she felt every time Regina's hand moved in her chest trying to grip the heart. Belle stumbled to her knees hitting her hardwood flooring as Regina pulled her heart out.
Her heart practically glowed against the subtle fog the winter had brought that evening. It was crystal white without a speck of darkness in it. That was shocking to even Belle herself.
"It's so pure." Regina commented as she analyzed the lack of darkness in it.
"Thanks…I think?" Belle questioned the comment with a puzzled look on her face. "So, what now."
"I suppose you can go about your usual routine for now and then when the time is right, I'll forge a note to send to Gold to meet you by the fountain where you two got married, just to really weaken him up. When it's time I'll take over you and get to work." Regina's eyes glazed over just thinking about destroying Gold.
"Wait, I am not ok with that. Rumple is an evil cruel man, but he doesn't deserve that…" Belle wanted to grab the heart out of Regina's hand and get it back but her lack of empathy in her chest didn't allow her to move. She stayed still.
"Really? After all that man has done to you, you still can't do this to him? Wow. That's kind of impressive…there really is such a thing as being too good." Regina shrugged and with a puff of smoke she was gone as usual.