State of Seduction

Ch. 2 The Beast

"Be careful. Emotional entanglements can lead us down very dangerous paths."

– Rumplestiltskin

Mr. Gold sauntered out of Granny's bed and breakfast with the smirk of a man who had just regained his reason for living. He had, in fact, just met a particular savior whose name brought back all the memories of his past life. Really, he deserved a pat on the back for his careful planning.

'Emma,' he repeated in his head, his thoughts flashing back to the newborn he had seen in his visions. He was ready to get to work. With the return of his oh-so-precious memories, he had plans that needed to be set into motion. Cora would realize by daybreak that the town was beginning to move again, and Rumplestiltskin needed to find the one thing that she could use to defeat him once magic was back: his dagger. Luckily, he already had some idea of where it was and finding it would be easy.

He found the dagger hidden in the clock tower, strategically attached to the back of one of the clock's hands. Gently detaching it, he turned it over in his hands to reveal his name. Physical magic didn't exist in this world, but Mr. Gold could feel darkness flow from the dagger unlike anything he had felt in twenty-eight years.

Under the cover of night, he traveled far into the woods of Storybrooke to bury the dagger where no one would find it. The only clue to its location was a small map he hid within a certain book in the closed library. His task had taken all night, but he had no time to rest. He returned to his shop and entered the back room to spend time at his desk. He had many plans to mull over, short term and long term. The next few weeks would be vital if he wished to defeat the curse and find his son. The one chess piece he had to figure out was the savior. Emma Swan was an unpredictable outlier in the game. She was the wild card, the Queen that could move any number of spaces, but was under no one's control. Arranging for her movements would take time. Until then, he needed a pawn to use. He needed someone foreseeable, someone who would follow him to the ends of the Earth and jump off if he told them to. Only one person in Storybrooke fit that description. 'Regina.'

Two days after Rumple had regained consciousness, the bell on the front door announced the entrance of someone he was greatly interested in seeing: The Evil Queen. He had expected the worst, but was rather shocked at the feeble specimen in front of him. Cora had done a number on her daughter, making her a laughable imitation of the powerful Queen she had once been.

"M-Mr. Gold?" The girl stammered, tip toeing into his store like a deer wary of being shot. Upon further observation, he could see she wasn't completely lost behind those dark eyes. Though there was plenty of fear clouding her judgement, there was also wonderment and the longing for understanding of the world around her. It reminded him of the young girl she had been before magic… before him. All emotions aside, he needed this version of Regina to be enamored with him, and ever the gracious host, he smiled gently and walked around the counter to greet her.

"I see you received my letter. Thank you for coming." Gold looked her up and down, taking in her younger appearance and the light blue dress that hung on her as if it were too large. She was accessorized expensively, it was just the... immaturity and size of the outfit that threw him off. Ballet flats and silly bows did not suit a grown woman. As he analyzed her, Regina finally looked up to make eye contact with him. Her lips parted slightly as she saw him for the first time, no doubt surprised at his rugged good looks. It was like she had never seen a man before. He smirked to himself. Some things never changed.

"I...It seemed important... and I've never had a letter addressed to me before." Regina said in an airy tone. Needing to look away, she began to take in all the trinkets and things in Gold's shop. Her fingers fluttered over an interesting bauble on the counter, before she looked to scared to break it and put her arms back by her side.

"Your mother referred you to me. She said you would be able to help organize my art collection." Gold explained, eyes never leaving the specimen he used to call his.

"Did she really? That's quite surprising."

"She did. Feel free to look around." Gold encouraged, seeing that that was the key to opening her up. She did as he said and began wandering around his shop. As he watched her, he decided he could no longer stand his own curiosity. "What is it you do, Miss Mills? Are you in school? Working?" Regina paused as she noticed a grotesque pair of puppets and stared at them curiously.

"I was going to go to school... but I'm not very equipped for the outside world. Mother would rather me stay at home." 'Of course, she would,' Rumple thought. "In fact, this is the first time I can ever remember leaving home by myself." She glanced up briefly to make eye contact with him. "I just... felt the urge to for the first time." Rumple smiled. That was clearly a sign of the curse weakening.

"I'm glad you did. You're a fascinating woman, Regina."

"T-thanks." Cora's daughter turned scarlet at his words and shyly played with the end of her long braid. It was true, Rumplestiltskin had not seen Regina like this in a long time. Even when he first met her and began teaching her, she had been… stronger than this. But he knew that strength was still there. It was only a matter of drawing it out. Going back to her exploring, Regina saw something that caught her eye, a gold necklace that spelled out 'Regina.' "How odd. This necklace has my name on it." She commented, mesmerized by its beauty. Gold hobbled over and gently took it out of its case. He held it in his palm for Regina to examine.

"How odd, indeed. You never know what you might find in a shop like mine. Would you like to try it on?" Regina nodded, and Gold stepped behind her. He placed the necklace against her neck and Regina moved her hair so that he could fasten it in the back. She had never been this close to a man before, save her father, and the cologne wafting her direction was beginning to make her head feel dizzy. "Beautiful." Gold brought a silver hand mirror over so that Regina could admire it herself. Her eyes lit up at its beauty. "That's a handcrafted antique I acquired from somewhere very far away." Rumple enticed.

"How much is it?" Regina asked, eyes not leaving the mirror. Gold lowered the mirror and set it on the counter. He caught himself staring at the necklace and the tiny bit of collarbone that peeked out behind her white cardigan. The necklace was breathtaking in its simplicity and beauty. In truth, he had created that for her years ago when she was still his pupil. She had won an annoying little bet that she could learn to control fire within a week.

"How about a deal? Starting tomorrow, you come in for one week to help with a few chores around the shop and I'll give it to you for free. I did bring you here because I thought you would be the perfect addition to my staff."

"Oh no, I couldn't." Regina immediately answered, flustered and worried she was already staying out too late. Gold leaned in, making it even harder for her to think.

"Your mother is okay with this, Regina, I assure you. I've already arranged it with her." His eyes locked onto Regina's. They were the same eyes he had always known, just lacking the anger and loss that losing a true love would bring to a person.

"I- I suppose. If Mother says it's alright." Regina stammered. Gold grinned.

"Good. Do you need a ride home?" Glancing outside, the rain forecast for the day had already begun to pour. Regina noticed too, her right hand coming up to fondle the letters around her neck.

"Yes, please... if you don't mind."

"Not at all. Please, follow me." Rumple led Regina to his car, using an old umbrella to protect them both, then pulled out onto the wet road. Glancing over, he noticed how uncomfortable Regina looked. He gently placed a hand on her left thigh, making the poor girl jump at the contact. "Why are you so nervous, dearie? I have no intention of causing you harm." Seconds passed before Regina answered him, eyes on his hand like it was a snake preparing to strike.

"I-it's Mother, my past. I-" She stopped herself, laughing nervously. "This is hardly something to bring up when you've first met a person."

"You can trust me." At Gold's words, something in Regina changed, and she turned to look at this new, mysterious man in her life. His hand left her thigh and she suddenly missed the warmth.

"Well, I suppose it can't do any harm... My mother is very protective of me, but with good reason. You see," Regina turned to look out the window. The world was blurred through the sheet of rain. "I used to have a father... We were very close, but then... he changed. He became very abusive. So, Mother had him arrested and he died while in prison. Since then, Mother has never let me out of the house. She says the experience traumatized me and made me weak."

"And are you weak, Miss Mills?"

"No. No, I'm not." They pulled up to the Mill's estate and Rumple walked Regina to the front door. Before going in, Regina turned to her new acquaintance and boss. "Thank you, for today. I'm not sure why, but I like you, Mr. Gold." Rumple smiled politely.

"I can say the same for you, Miss Mills. I'll see you tomorrow." Turning away, Rumple began to limp down their long driveway. He had much on his mind.

Flashback

"Rumple! Rumplestiltskin!" Pure rage filled the air as a dark and annoying presence made itself known in the drawing room of the Dark One's castle. The Evil Queen burst in, dark hair in a flurry and an even darker dress flowing behind her. "I want answers." She growled, stopping at the side of his table and slamming her hands down on the wood. Rumple casually finished his cup of tea and wiped the corners of his mouth with a soft cloth. Testing the queen's patience was a favorite pastime of his.

"Answers to what, dearie, why you'll never be happy? Never find a man? Never have a happy ending? Hm? Hmm!" Rumple teased, happily shaking his fingers in her face. The Queen growled again.

"No, you foolish imp!" Regina leaned her face in close to his. Rumple briefly glanced down to see her ruby lips frowning at him with bared teeth, before his eyes traveled even further down to her exposed bosom. Oh, how he loved her tight corsets. "Why is my mother here? What did you do?" Her breath was hot and smelled of strong apple cider, which explained the flush on her cheeks. All joking was finally pushed aside as Rumple realized the direness of the situation. Regina seemed surprised at his confused reaction and leaned back, taking her scent of desperation and cider with her. "You don't know." She whispered in a husky voice that reminded Rumple of long nights spent in bliss.

"Do you know what she is here for?" Rumple asked, mind racing to what Cora could possibly want in this land. He had gone to great lengths to help Regina get rid of her the first time. This time would not be so easy.

"I don't know, the throne?"

"Don't be dim, Regina. Does she know about the Dark Curse?"

"I didn't mention it." His pupil answered, racking her brain. "I was too busy screaming at her." Rumple sighed and leaned back in his seat.

"Then she already knows."

"Alright then, what do we do? Skin her? Throw her to the dragons?" She asked in a menacing voice, cocking an eyebrow. Rumple eyed her, taking in her full form, eyes lingering on her breasts that were pushed up from her corset. He stared there a moment before raising his eyes to meet hers.

"Bend over." He ordered, swiftly removing his vest. Regina rolled her eyes and huffed.

"Can you be serious right now? This is-" He cut her off by shoving her down into his favorite position.

"I think best when I'm fucking." He growled in her ear. "And if you want me to help you, you'll be still."

"Fine, fine! But we're discussing this right after!"

End flashback.

Back on the road, Mr. Gold took in Storybrooke as a new man. The little he could see through the rain was merely a ghost to him, the remnants of a life he used to lead. Cora wasn't on to him yet, but he couldn't bank on that lasting forever. She was a wise enough woman to be suspicious of the new relationship he had with her daughter- and she would find out about Regina's little visit to him. No, Cora would suspect him. He only had to hide that he had woken up and that he was planning to break the curse. Simple enough, so long as he played his part well. He didn't know the specifics, but the curse could be broken with true love. Clearly, that was up to the Savior, Emma, to discover on her own. But Rumple could give her nudges in the right direction. To his benefit, he had Regina as a secret weapon. Cora would have to outwit him a second time to succeed. And Rumplestiltskin was never fooled twice.

You keep my heart under the cover of night

Could be the devil in a clever disguise

Temptation leads us, it's too late for goodbyes

Say you're here on my side

Want you here on my side

-"State of Seduction," Digital Daggers

AN: I'm sorry I don't update regularly. I'm a college student, so... haha, anyway, thanks for being patient. I hope you enjoy the chapter and as always, I'm hoping to update soon. I still love Ouat and this ship, even with the show being over. :)