Belle and Rumplestiltskin sat in the Great Hall debating the philosophies of Belle's latest read. Technically Belle should have been cleaning but as had been happening more and more often the two would turn a simple exchange into a deep conversation that swiftly distracted her from her work. Her feather duster now lay unused on the table.
"But surely to take action against someone before they have even done something based on the potential of what they could do is unfair," said Belle.
"Unfair perhaps but if the danger is judged too great does it not make sense to eliminate a threat before it can cause harm?" countered Rumple.
"But who exactly is responsible for deciding where that line is drawn? What gives a person the right to be judge, jury, and executioner based purely on the potential for harm?"
"Well naturally those who are in power with the capability to do something about the threat." said Rumple.
"And who's to say that they may not a have bias which to influence their decision? We both know the right people are not always in power." rebutted Belle. Rumple set down his tea cup.
"Everyone has a bias Belle. Whether they wish to acknowledge it or not. Though you make a fair point about the right people in power."
"I still don't think it's right. Just because someone COULD do something doesn't mean that they actually would. You're the most powerful sorcerer in the realms you could decimate entire villages on a whim with a wave of your hand. Yet you wouldn't."
Rumple opened his mouth to reply only for a loud knock to echo from the front door.
"Are we expecting callers?" asked Belle and Rumple noted the wording of we. More often lately Belle seemed to be referring to this place as if she saw herself as an inhabitant rather than a prisoner. He'd even heard here use the term home on more than one occasion. Strangely he did hope that perhaps part of her might truly feel that way about staying here.
"No, but you never know what desperate soul may wish for assistance." Belle hopped off the table and moved to leave. It was an agreement for her own safety that when conducting deals she be out of the room or at least out of visibility.
Rumple snapped his fingers immediately changing into his dragon skin coat before clapping his hands and both the front and great hall doors flew open to reveal a short slightly balding man with oily hair and shifty eyes. His clothes were those of perhaps a lower class merchant. He bowed.
"Dark One."
"And what do you want dearie?" he asked. There was something about the man he already didn't like thought he couldn't put his finger on it. That said liking someone had little to do with whether you wanted to make a deal with them. His dealings with the rather odious King George being an example.
"I wish for wealth. My business has not prospered as I wish and I want to increase my fortunes."
Of course. Wealth. It really was the most common request.
"How utterly unoriginal. What do you wish to give in return. I don't do anything without a price you know."
"I have three daughters. All virgins. You are welcome to choose that which you find most comely for your pleasure. I hear you took a similar price for saving Avalonea."
Rumplestiltskin's black heart stilled and he now could exactly put his finger on a reason for disliking the man. Rumple was irritated by the implication the man was making but what infuriated him even more was the callous way the man spoke of trading his children for the sake of his own gain. Compound that with the anger fueled at the implication of what Belle's place was in the castle and he was nearly ready to explode in rage.
"Get. Out." he hissed.
"What?" asked the man
"I said GET OUT!" roared Rumplestiltskin. "Get out before I do your daughters a favor and rid them of their loathsome father!"
The man's eyes went wide and he scrambled back turning on his tale and hurrying out the doors slamming behind him.
OUAT
Belle pressed herself into the little alcove on the side of the stair leading out of the hall. She found listening in on Rumple's deals interesting at times but as Rumple obviously didn't want her in the room the alcove was a convenient way to hear without being seen.
Todays had to be one of the most repulsive offers she had ever heard. She listened in disgust as the man proposed to trade his own daughters for wealth. It made her insides twist in horror.
Unsurprisingly Rumplestiltskin turned him down. Belle peered out in amusement as the man turned tail and ran out of the castle as the doors slammed Belle stepped back into the room.
"That has to be the most abhorrent man I've ever seen. Trading his daughters like cattle."
"I should have struck him where he stood," hissed Rumple. Belle opened her mouth to answer when a scream and a crack came from outside.
Belle and Rumple hurried to the doors and walked to the end of the courtyard. There on the steps leading down the mountain lay the man his neck broken it seemed he'd slipped on some of the ice that was starting to form.
"Well, it seems the universe took care of that one for me," said Rumple with one of his impish giggles. Belle pursed her lips.
"What about his family how will they be supported with him gone?" she asked less bothered by the man's fate and more the far-reaching consequences. They didn't know the family's position.
"I think they'd be far better off," said Rumple. He waved his hand and a large sack of gold appeared in the dead man's hand. Another wave and the body disappeared.
"There. Back to where he came from."
"So, he got his wealth after all," said Belle turning away and taking Rumple's arm back to the castle.
"Indeed. He simply paid a different price. His life." The doors swung shut behind them and Belle sighed.
"Well, considering he was quite willing to trade the lives of his daughters I can't say that was entirely unfair. She saw Rumple's hand curl tightly around the goblet of wine he'd summoned as he leaned against the table.
"NEVER. In three hundred years has that EVER been a price I've accepted." he said in a deadly low voice. "I may be a monster. But not that sort." Belle tilted her head taking a seat next to him for once she decided to forgo openly contradicting him on the monster score
"Are you saying that for my benefit? Because I never thought you were. Never once." Even when she had briefly wondered if she was wrong and he was as dark as he claimed after torturing the thief Belle had never believed he would try and take her virtue.
"Even in the beginning dearie?" he asked raising an eyebrow.
"Your reputation is one of keeping your word and our deal was very specific. I was to be your caretaker of your estate. It was Gaston and Papa who were making lewd assumptions about the nature of your deal with me. Ergo you wouldn't harm me in that way." Belle nodded her head back at the door.
"That man was a monster. He was willing to trade the lives of women without their consent for his own benefit. You made a deal with ME and I agreed to come live with you here as your caretaker. Those women were being given no say in their fate. If you were any sort of monster, you would have accepted his offer, you would have happily traded me to the Sheriff of Nottingham for the information about Robinhood rather than defending my honor, and you would have taken advantage of me long ago rather than treating me with respect."
Rumplestiltskin took her hand and kissed it.
"You of all people are worthy of that respect," he said. Belle smiled slightly. His amber eyes then searched hers.
"Does it bother you? What he said?" he asked.
"You mean when he assumed my position her was...more intimate?" asked Belle.
"Yes." Belle shrugged.
"People talk it's what they always do. An unwed man and woman living alone together I suppose is bound to cause some stir. But talk is all it is. The reality is what matters and you and I know the truth of that."
OUAT
Rumple gazed at Belle as she listed off why she didn't think he was a monster. Personally, he didn't feel having the basic decency not to force a woman to have sex with him exactly cancelled out his other actions but he supposed if believing it kept her looking at him with something akin to tenderness who was he to complain?
"Then you know I would never harm you in any way," said Rumple gently. He never wanted her to feel unsafe around him.
"I do." Then Belle smirked slightly, "Careful there or your threats to turn me into a toad will hold even less sway than they do already!"
Rumple chuckled.
"Well then you'd best be off dusting shouldn't you? This castle won't clean itself!"
"No it won't." said Belle with an exaggerated sigh. "I suppose we'll have to finish out debate later."
"Yes, perhaps over dinner?" suggested Rumple before he could stop himself. Up until now they'd still eaten apart. Yet now he found himself craving her company even more the way a starving man craved food. Belle smiled.
"That would be lovely."
OUAT
Rumple chuckled. Belle truly loved the sound it was rich and real so unlike the exaggerated giggle he used with everyone else.
"Well then you'd best be off dusting shouldn't you? This castle won't clean itself!"
"No it won't." said Belle with an exaggerated sigh. "I suppose we'll have to finish our debate later."
"Yes, perhaps over dinner?" suggested Rumple. Belle beamed
"That would be lovely." Rumple appeared slightly taken aback by her willingness but nodded awkwardly.
"Then I shall see you this evening."
"Indeed," answered Belle before turning and leaving the room finding herself quite looking forward to dinnertime. And if she wasn't much mistake her Master turned friend was too.
Author's Note: Hello! Posting this chapter early because I'll be away this weekend! I thought I'd do a bit more exploration of Rumple's varying degrees of morality. I also wanted to show some more of them bonding on an intellectual level as well as an emotional one hence the philosophy in the beginning. PLEASE do let me know what you think of the story in the comments below! It means a lot and helps motivation. If you have any suggestions about things you want to see I'm open to ideas. Until next time!