Rumpelstiltskin halted instantly, standing still as a statue and it felt like ice and fire were trying to consume him at the same time. He licked his lip, trying hard to ignore the stinging in his eye, "Really? Of what exactly?"

"You're afraid of love," David said, being fairly reasonable.

"You're wrong," Rumpelstiltskin said slowly. "I'm not afraid. I just don't believe in it," he didn't bother to turn; the footsteps came closer and then Charming was in front of him, looking down on him like everyone else did. He looked towards the sheriff station, "Based on the evidence at hand; good things don't happen to me."

"They could," David said and held up a hand when Rumpelstiltskin was ready to protest. "I'm not saying you should prance around making goo goo eyes at Belle all the time, and I'm not saying that you haven't been through some crap in your life to justify your behavior-"

"What do you know about my life?" Rumpelstiltskin interrupted, wondering for the first time why this walk in the middle of the night had been a good idea. Oh yeah; panic attacks. Fun times.

"Not enough to preach to you, but I'm just saying; Belle really loves you-"

Rumpelstiltskin hadn't meant to snort. It just sort of… happened. Was it a bad sign that he was laughing at the idea of his wife loving him? It certainly wasn't a good sign. Oh, he had far too many problems to be standing in the middle of the night by the docks, trying to argue with Prince Charming of freaking Fairytale Land. "I'm cutting this conversation short," he decided loudly, trying to sidestep David, but the tall, blonde idiot just kept being in the way. "Move," Rumpelstiltskin commanded.

"I'm going to let you go-"

"You're going to let me?"

"But I want to make a deal with you-"

"Forget it-"

"Hear me out!" David hissed.

Rumpelstiltskin groaned, and leaned back on his heels, preparing for more yapping.

"I won't tell that you killed Zelena," David began and Rumpelstiltskin listened. "But in exchange, I want you to please tell me when you want to talk. I won't tell anyone, but I want you to have someone you can vent on," David laid out his terms slowly.

"I don't need venting, especially not to you," Rumpelstiltskin said.

David rolled his eyes – he actually rolled his eyes, "Sure you don't."

"Sarcasm doesn't suit you," Rumpelstiltskin decided.

"And this… whatever this is, it doesn't suit you," David tossed back. He took half a step back, then grabbed Rumpelstiltskin's arm when the sorcerer was about to move, "Just-! I don't like this."

"Excuse me-"

"Seeing you like this. It's unnerving," David elaborated and Rumpelstiltskin frowned.

"I don't follow."

David was silent for a while.

Rumpelstiltskin blinked, "I'll just go now-"

"Wait-"

"I can't wait all night for you to search your vocabulary, Charming," Rumpelstiltskin snapped.