I don't own OUAT, if I did they wouldn't be allowed to show it on public television channels.

CHAPTER 5

SCOTCHES

"I'm falling from cloud nine, crashing from the high."-Wide Awake, Katy Perry

Rumpelstiltskin eyes the three people up front, trying to intimidate them without actually doing anything.

"Little Ruby Red," the big burly guy says to her, "So sweet and pretty. Can't help but attract these types," he gestures to the young guy beside him, "Shame. It only hurts them, you know."

Red scowls from her spot on the floor. The guy laughs and presses the young boy up against the wall, holding him by his grips Belle's wrist and she looks at him out of the corner of her eye. "It's fiiiiiine, Rum," she drawls, "I'm fine."

He's not about to let that one slide. "Rum?" he asks.

She blushes and looks away from him, her head rolling a little. "Sorry," she mutters, "I just...I..."

Rumpelstiltskin shakes his head at her. She is amazing. She never fails to astound him.

"HEY!" he hears Red yell, "Let him go!"

Rumple looks up a but unwillingly. The young boy looks quite awful, all pressed up against the wall, still being choked by the giant man.

"Oh stop it, Red. This will be good for you," the burly man says.

Red glares at his back before standing up, taking off her pretty black flat shoe, and hurling it at him. It hits him in the back hard and he whips around.

"Such a shame," Belle muses, "Her shoes are so very pretty."

Rumple lets out a spurt of laughter and holds her wrist a little tighter.

Red's eyes are turning a strange gold color and she's shaking with what everyone assumes is anger. Her cloak is on the ground in a crumpled mess and she's breathing hard and fast.

"What do you think you're doing, Red Riding Hood?" the perpetrator of the violence snarls at her.

Red grits her teeth together and growls. Belle squeals and tugs on the sleeve of Rumple's shirt with the hand he isn't grasping. "He's going to hurt her!"she says, "You have to help them!"

Rumple sighs, obviously burdened by the idea of playing the hero. "What would you suggest, Belle?" he asks.

"You have magic!" she says, her eyes wide, "Use it! Use it to help them!"she shakes her head up and down a whole bunch.

He looks up and sees the young man with his arms wrapped protectively around Red and the burly man laughing at them. "You really think you can protect her?" he asks, "You have nothing, boy. I'd best leave."

"I'm not leaving her here for you to hurt her," the boy says.

But Rumple can see that Red won't be getting hurt. She's shaking in the boy's arms and her eyes burn brighter than before. There's magic in her...but it isn't something she can control.

"Help them," Belle whispers.

Rumple stands up slowly and strides over to the scene. The entire place goes silent. "Excuse me," he says to the big man.

All three of them stand dumbstruck, not uttering a word. So, Rumple thinks to himself, I suppose this will be a monologue.

"Let these two leave in peace. We can't have anyone getting...hurt, now can we?" he says. Belle has a little pep rally going on in her clouded head.

"I...I...I was just..." the burly man stammers.

Rumple grins wickedly. "You know, it's funny. I don't approve of people who just...the last man I knew who just...well, I suppose that's be a tough story for you to hear."

"No, no! It's fine! They're fine! I'll just let them go! I'm so sorry!"

Rumpelstiltskin shakes his head. "Don't. Bother." He raises his hand, magic oozing from it as her lowers the man onto the ground until he is nothing more than a simple snail, sluggishly moving across the floor.

Red and the boy gasp, but to Rumple's utter shock, he hears Belle let out a little cheer from the bar. Rumple whips around and gives her a look she'd never seen him wear. And he's just about to run over to her and forget this whole thing happened when he feels a hand on his shoulder. He turns around. It's the young boy with the glasses.

"Thank you," he says, "We both, uh...we really appreciated that."

Rumple doesn't have the time to answer because the boy turns back to Red and puts her cloak around her shoulders. She instantly relaxes and smiles at him. The boy grins back at her and she giggles. "I'll help you out," he tells her, putting his arm around her waist.

She grins again, flashing her gorgeous white teeth. "Thank you, sir," she says.

"Jiminy," he tells her.

Rumple watches the two of them walk out of the tavern with a heaviness inside him. It was nice to see. He could care less about the happiness of other most of the time, but something about these two just felt...right. It reminded him a bit of how he felt around Belle.

Belle. He turns and walks back to her and is astonished when she throws her arms around him. "Oh, thank you!" she rejoices, "That was so very...brave."

He smiles into her shoulder. Brave? That was a first. He puts his hand on the back of her hair and pulls away from her slowly. "I told you before, dearie. Don't thank me just yet."

She give him an odd look. "Wh..." she trails off as both their eyes go to the blonde bartender hovering over the snail on the ground with a broom and dustpan.

The bartender sighs. "Well," she mutters, "I suppose I'll have to take care of this." She sweeps the snail into the dustpan and the entire tavern winces at the cracking sound.

That was such a fun chapter to write! I love Red Cricket, especially now that I know Raphael Sbarge ships it too! Woot woot! Also, for those of you who didn't know, Emilie de Ravin and Meghan Ory are both regulars for next season! Ciao for now, dearies!