Wrong Ideas
By: RosexKnight
Rumpelstiltskin sees another man flirting with Belle. He does not like it.
He'd only seen her with another man once as a spinner. Just once when he was spinning straw outside, in the better light of the sun. The village seemed to go still at the sound of horses trotting through. The duke was first, riding a horse that was smaller than his companion. King Maurice laughed as the Duke told him something Rumpelstiltskin did not hear. He was far too busy worrying about the pain in his ankle as he bowed to them as they rode by.
Another couple was next, a familiar large horse with the small rider. She was beside Gaston, the duke's son. He was perfectly content, words cascading out of his mouth and falling on deaf ears. Belle rode beside him. To anyone else it would look as though Belle was interested. But Rumpelstiltskin knew better. There was no sparkle in her eyes as she gave the dukeling a fake smile and laughed at something that was supposed to be enjoyable. But her eyes wandered from him, to the houses and the villagers and her eyes changed, going from boredom to a sort of resolution. Then they fell upon him, her spinner, and she gave him a smile. A genuine smile. But then the dukeling took her hand and was flirting again, and they were gone.
He'd decided right then and there that he didn't like to see other men flirting with Belle.
And nothing had changed.
Baelfire had wanted sweets. He'd practically begged after his writing lesson. So the three of them had gone into town. Bae was with the children, giggling and laughing as they chased each other around. He'd turned his back on his princess for one minute and Belle was across the way. But she wasn't alone.
For a moment he had a flashback. He was flirting, leaning close, far too close, laughing. And Belle had a familiar look on her face. A look of almost…happiness. She laughed. And then the other man touched her hand, and Rumpelstiltskin saw red. The spinner was beside his princess in an instant.
"What do you think you're doing, dearie?"
The poor man beside Belle blinked, stepping away in sheer terror. Belle stepped forward.
"Rumple, calm down." She said, almost pleading.
"And why would I?" Rumple snapped.
"Because you really have the wrong idea." Belle explained.
But Rumple's eyes were locked onto the other man. The man who was too close to Belle. His Belle. His princess.
"Rumple!"
His eyes snapped to her an he was the one who recoiled. His caretaker truly looked like a princess. Staring him down with a firm look before she turned to the other man.
"It's alright. You did nothing wrong." She said simply. "We'll send the potion along soon. Off you go."
The man shakily nodded before taking another step back and all but dashing away. Rumpelstiltskin's vision seemed to clear, and he swallowed as Belle turned back to him, looking almost smug.
"Potion?" He choked.
Belle hummed in response, nodding. "His wife's pregnant."
"Wife."
"Mm hmm. He said she'd been having sickness. Bargained for a potion. He was very happy to get it."
"Bargained."
"His price was to see me smile"
The spinner's fists clenched, and a giggle bubbled to Belle's lips. A familiar giggle that told him he was lost. Completely lost.
"I never said he wasn't a flirt. Are you the jealous type oh Dark One?"
And for the first time in a long while The Dark One felt his cheeks burn in a blush that only grew hotter as Belle stepped closer and pressed her lips to his cheek.
"Come on you ridiculous man. Bae will want a riding lesson after this."
"Yes." Rumpelstiltskin only nodded deftly. "Of course."