A/N: Okay for some reason this has been my favorite chapter to write so far. I don't know what it is I just like it. Been kind of uninspired lately (Probably due to the lack of Bobby in my life right now haha) so if you guys want to chat or something shoot me a message or check out my tumblr, it would help! Thank you. :)
I do not own Once Upon a Time or Plunkett and Macleane.
Chapter 5:
Plunkett finished the beer in his glass before setting it down and tossing the bartender a coin. It was late and he was tired. Macleane was nowhere to be seen and his best guess was that his partner had wondered upstairs for a game of cards. The other option was that he had stumbled into the local whore house but Macleane's habit of bedding random bar wenches had subsided since his infatuation with Lady Rebecca had happened. Good for him, everyone needed someone. Everyone except Plunkett. He was perfectly fine on his own, or so he thought.
The bar tonight was noisy. Music played in the corner as drunken men tossed coins to the musicians while women lost glasses of good judgment as they gained glasses of alcohol from the ravenous men around the room. The good booze was all that kept Plunkett in his chair and he had just about had his fill. He turned his chain link bracelet around his wrist and watched the lights from the lamps in the room reflect off the metallic surface. With a sigh, he scooted his chair back with his mind on finding Macleane and dragging him home. His card game be damned, they needed to rest. After not having a decent robbery in a few nights, their allotted money for their fake extravagant lifestyle was running low.
"I'm looking for William Plunkett."
He snapped his head to the center of the room as he heard a quiet voice ask for him from somewhere in the crowd.
"Oh you don't know him? That's alright, thank you." There was a pause. "Yes, Plunkett. I am looking for a William Plunkett."
There was no mistaking it now. He had heard someone asking for him. Every time someone came looking for him it meant trouble but he had never heard his name spoken in a tone such as that. The crowd parted as he moved slowly towards the voice and he stopped short when he saw her. Surely he wasn't that drunk, but it couldn't be her, could it? Belle stood at the bar, looking as out of place as a rose in a patch of weeds. Her dress was plain but well made, looking soft to the touch. Her cloak was a mixture of greens and blues; she reached dainty hands up and lowered her hood, revealing chestnut curls that looked even softer than her dress. She was really here. And she was looking for him? What the hell was happening?
"Well I don't know a Plunkett but why don't you come home with me?" said a burly man who appeared to have spilled more beer on his clothes than had actually gotten into his mouth. His dirty hands pulled Belle towards him as she tried to smack his arm from around her waist.
Plunkett had had enough. She would never make it out of this place unless he intervened. He walked up to the man and cleared his throat; unclipping his holster, he shoved the barrel of his pistol into the man's side. "Let the lady go." He said firmly.
"W-William." Belle said breathlessly as she looked at him. He glanced at her and couldn't help but smile. Her cloak made her eyes the purest of blue and her face shown with such relief and happiness at his presence he couldn't help but feel a slight boost in his ego.
"Hello sweetheart. I've been looking everywhere for you." He smiled and holstered the pistol as the man let go of Belle quickly. They had attracted a small audience and if they hoped to get out of here safely, Plunkett had to make every drunken lad in the building believe that Belle was spoken for.
" Sweetheart?" Belle raised an eyebrow and stepped away from the dirty man at the bar and gave Plunkett a questioning look. "Look. I think I made a mistake coming to find you. I didn't mean for you to think-…" She was cut off midsentence as Plunkett pulled her flush against his chest and crushed his lips against hers. He wasn't greedy and kept his hold on her gentle and his kiss as chaste as possible without giving away their façade. She placed her hands on his chest gently and moved closer as a deep cheer of approval followed their fake public display of affection. Her face flushed with embarrassment and Plunkett pulled back just enough to whisper against her lips.
"Don't say another word. Follow me." It was not a request and he grabbed her hand and dragged her across the room and out the back door of the bar. It paralleled what she had done to him at the ball, only this time he was in charge and she was at a loss for words. He pushed the door open so forcefully it banged against the brick of the building. Belle stumbled on the cobble stone and steadied herself before pushing away from him.
"You….you kissed-..how dare you." Belle sputtered out as the door closed behind them and the noise from the bar faded, leaving them in the silence of the alley. She had had enough of men assuming they could have whatever they wanted from her. Twice in one day was more than enough and she was fed up. She was embarrassed, tired and as she straightened her cloak she glared at her unconventional rescuer.
"How dare I? How…dare…I?" Plunkett looked at her wide eyed, his hands to his chest in disbelief before dropping them to his sides. "I just saved you from a mauling. You stupid girl. What on Earth were you doing?"
"I was looking for you!" Belle yelled, standing her ground. She hated when anyone called her that. She was more than just a 'girl'.
Plunkett stopped short at that. Her blue eyes were fiery as she raised her voice to him and this version of the prim and proper lady she was supposed to be surprised him greatly. She was looking for him, he had gathered that, but hearing her say it made it more real. "Why?" he said quietly in disbelief.
Belle clasped her hands in front of her and looked down at her feet. "I don't know…" she whispered gently to the ground.
The silence fell between them like a heavy brick as she continued to look at the ground and he looked at her until the quiet grew almost too much for him to bear. He adjusted his vest and started to walk down the alley, "Come on. I'll take you home."
"No Please! Don't." She looked up at that and hurried after him, almost colliding with his back as he turned to her abruptly.
What did she want from him? He had thought of nothing else but her ever since the ball. Twice she had challenged him, not flinched; she was intriguing with a cleverness that equaled her beauty and Plunkett couldn't get the damn woman out of his head. She didn't want to go home, but what the hell was he supposed to do with her?
"I'm taking you home. Where is your horse?" He said firmly as he looked at her.
She looked surprised and said simply, "I walked."
"You what?" he gaped at her words. He knew where the French mansion was and it was quite a distance from town. It must have taken her all day, the sun had set hours ago and she had only just got here. Did she have a death wish? Lord, she was reckless and it only inflamed Plunkett's unrealistic want of her.
"I walked. Look, don't take me back. I can't." Belle thought about Gaston's proposal, if that is what you would call it, about his outrage at her refusal, about her father's absence and lack of protection and she shook her head hard. Her curls tossed around her face and she shut her eyes tightly and refused to cry, hating that she felt so weak. "I can't. I can't"
Plunkett grabbed her upper arms gently and dipped his head so he was looking her directly in the eyes. He didn't know what could possibly rattle her like this but he just wanted it stopped. "Alright. Alright. Look, you can't stay with me. We'll both be killed." He chuckled even though his statement was probably true. She was a noblewoman and he…well he was nothing.
He looked around and released her gently before rubbing his eyes. "I have to take you home." He started and cut her off before she could protest, "But we'll take the long way."
Belle paused before silently nodding in defeat. What had she been thinking? She couldn't stay with him, she didn't even know him. The truth was she hadn't been thinking, she had only wanted to get away, away from that awful, provincial life. He was offering to help her home. She wouldn't have to make the journey alone, she would be safe and her aching feet could rest. He even said they could take the long way, giving her extra time to calm herself and he gained nothing for the extra sentiment. She ought to be grateful to him.
Taking a deep breath she looked at him and said gently, "Alright. Thank you."
"Well then." He sighed with relief as she complied and he offered her his arm, "M'lady."
She took it gently, finally earning him a small smile as they walked towards the front of the bar and to a row of horses patently awaiting their intoxicated masters. He stopped in front of a white mare and Belle marveled at her beauty as Plunkett untied the reigns from the hook. The horse looked at Belle and leaned down, nosing her cloak as if inspecting her. Belle giggled and moved back a step with the force of the horse's head before petting her gently.
"Oi! Nose down, nose down." Plunkett chuckled as he shoved the mare's head gently away from Belle. "She thinks you have food," he winced guiltily and rubbed the back of his neck. "She's been out here awhile."
Belle curtsied to the animal and pet her nose in apology before saying with a smile, "Well I am sorry to disappoint you but I have nothing girl."
Plunkett was staring again. His horse liked no one except him. The beast had dumped Macleane on his arse a few times before taking a liking to Plunkett and had refused affection from anyone else until now. She was so kind and gentle and his horse liked her. It had to be a sign but Plunkett must ignore it if he knew what was good for him. He was taking her home, end of story.
Grabbing the saddle horn, he hoisted himself onto the animal before leaning over and holding out an arm for Belle. "Grab my forearm tightly and jump. You have to trust me and let me do the work or we will both end up face down in the mud."
Belle looked up into his charming smile and nodded. She trusted him. Taking his forearm as instructed she jumped and he hauled her into the saddle with ease to sit behind him. He smiled as she settled in, she was light but her weight against his back was comforting. For a moment he stiffened as he felt her arms timidly wrap around his waist. He forced himself to relax and he clicked his tongue like always and the animal took off down the road.
Her arms tightened around him as the horse started to move and he pulled on the reigns slightly, slowing the animal down. The mare was used to riding at top speed for her master but now they had another passenger.
They made it slowly out of town and Plunkett turned the mare towards a path through the trees. He had promised her the long way and he was going to honor it. When he mentioned taking her home, the uncertainty and fear in her eyes had made his chest tight, but what else could he do? Besides what could make home so horrible? The moon light was filtered by the treetops and they rode in a sort of grey twilight. Remaining in silence for many moments, the only sound other than the clop of their horse hooves was the peep frogs in the distance. Such tranquility deserved whispers, so when Plunkett opened his mouth, his words were soft and he cleared his throat to make them clearer.
"What were you running from?" he asked, looking over his shoulder. It was a bold question but they had to start somewhere.
Belle paused and loosened her grip on him gently, "More like who." Plunkett didn't say anything, willing her to tell her tale on her own if she was comfortable. She continued, "Apparently I've been betrothed. And I was informed of it this morning."
"So you ran?" he chuckled. The thought of marriage surely couldn't be that scary.
"Wouldn't you?" she said with wide eyes. "You can't tell me you enjoy being told what to do with your life."
Plunkett paused. He suddenly felt sorry for chuckling at her. He understood probably better than anyone that everyone should be entitled to run their own life. He hated being told what he was allowed to accomplish due to his station, why should Belle be any different?
She sighed and laid her forehead against his back, "It's not like it matters. What choice do I have?"
Plunkett jerked the reigns up on the mare and came to a complete stop so abruptly that Belle tightened her arms around his waist. He looked over his shoulder at her with a since of rage that he couldn't pin point where it had come from.
"Don't say that. You do have a choice and it does matter. Tell that tosser to piss off. You deserve…you deserve…" He stopped himself midsentence and took a deep breath, his grip on the reigns was so tight his knuckles had turned white and he forced himself to loosen his hold. 'Pull yourself together Plunkett,' he thought as he shook his head and paused for a moment. "I'm sorry." He shook his head not sure what he was apologizing for. "I shouldn't be so bold-…"
But Belle was having none of his apologies and she cut him off, "No. What do I deserve? Tell me, since you seem to know and I don't." All of her life, Belle had been told what she should do, what she couldn't do and what society had planned for her. Someone was finally speaking their mind in front of her, unafraid of the repercussions that her station would punish him for for speaking to her so rashly. "Tell me what I deserve," she said again, this time more gently.
Even in the grey moonlight, while everything else was painted in muted colors, her eyes shown sky blue and Plunkett knew he was slowly losing his resolve to stay away from her. He looked at her and said quietly, "Everything. You deserve everything M'lady."
Belle felt as if she had been slapped. Even though the words were the same, she knew Plunkett's version of 'everything' was vastly different than Gaston's. She was apt at reading people and somehow she knew that his 'everything' was similar to hers, but as she opened her mouth to respond Plunkett drove his heels into the mare and shot off through the woods. He was done talking; he didn't trust himself not to say anything else that would get them into deeper trouble than they already were.
He wove in and out of the trees with an expertise that not many riders had. Taking extra care to make sure low hanging branches didn't scrape Belle; he heeled the horse again and sped even faster. Belle clung tightly to him and closed her eyes, putting her face against his back to protect her eyes from the cool wind of their speed. She had upset him, or rather he had upset himself but she was puzzled as to why. 'Be brave Belle, be brave.' Plunkett wouldn't let her get hurt; his heart was pure, that much she was certain of and not after all the trouble he had went through to help her out. But she had had about as much experience with horses as she had with guns and the speed they travelled at now was unsettling for a first time rider.
The animal breathed harder as Plunkett pushed her on, he needed to think, clear his head but first he had to get Belle home. They broke through the trees as he slowly came to a trot and he turned up the gravel drive of her home. She was clinging to him so tightly, he could feel the heat of her body through his clothes and mixed with the chilly spring night, it sent goose bumps along his flesh. No lights were on in the windows and Plunkett gave a small sigh of relief.
"Perhaps you should take me to the window?" she prompted as they moved closer to the giant front porch staircase. "My room is around back, next the rose trellis on the second floor."
Plunkett nodded and went around the side of the building, it was a good idea. They couldn't be discovered; somehow he didn't think her father would be grateful that he was the one that had brought his only daughter home. He stopped the horse under the window that she had indicated was hers and stood in the stirrups before getting down with a firm plant of his feet. He turned and reached up placing his hands on Belle's waist gently, he could feel the curve of her beneath his hands and he gulped a lump down his throat. He lifted and brought her down to the ground with ease. However, as luck would have it, her foot caught on the saddle and she stumbled against his chest as he caught her as best he could and backed into the house.
She looked up at him breathlessly with a mortified expression as her hands gripped his shirt for balance, "I-I'm sorry. I'm so clumsy."
He chuckled, he couldn't help it. But he wasn't laughing at her, he thought she was adorable, "I'm beginning to see that."
Another silence fell between them as she glanced up at her window before looking back at him, "Can I see you again?" She asked the question without so much as a thought, good judgment be damned, all she knew was that this was not the last time she wanted to lay eyes on her noble highwayman.
Plunkett was almost certain in that moment he had stopped breathing. Those exact words were about to spill from his lips but he knew they were playing with fire at the prospect of her spending any more time with the likes of him. He moved his hands from her waist and shook his head. "I don't think that would be wise."
"And I don't think you're allowed to tell me what to do. Didn't we just have this conversation?" she gave a small smile and tilted her head in question as she sternly raised an eyebrow at him.
He smiled back and shook his head, "Look, M'lady…we can't…"
"Belle. Call me Belle and if you say no well then I just have to come and find you again, now won't I?"
She was relentless. What was he going to do with her? If he refused, he knew she would keep to her word and try to find him, putting herself in danger again. And it was only lucky that he had been at the bar the first time, the chance was greater that next time she wouldn't be so lucky. If he accepted her request…well, that was a problem for another day.
"Fine. Fine." He rubbed his forehead and let his hands fall in defeat. "When?"
Belle smiled in victory, "Don't look so sad." She gave a small laugh and thought about it for a moment before continuing, "My father is leaving on a business trip in two days, it would be perfect." She adjusted her cloak as she moved to the trellis. "You can teach me how to shoot." She added quickly.
He moved to give her a boost onto the trellis before he stumbled and grabbed her wrist at her words. "I can what?" he said with a wide eyed expression.
"You heard me. And after the money that necklace probably brought you…" she leaned forward and pressed their cheeks together her lips whispering against his skin. "You owe me." Belle did not know where her sudden boost of confidence came from but she seemed to have William Plunkett wrapped around her finger at the moment and she was going to seize the opportunity. She left him standing there like a fish out of water and couldn't help herself from giving a small smirk over her shoulder before carefully climbing the trellis to her window.
He watched her as she ascended and knew this woman was going to be the death of him. If her father didn't get a hold of him first, or Macleane for that matter. With the feeling of her arms around his waist from the ride and her scent still clinging to his clothing, he knew that whatever happened, he would go down smiling.
PS. On a side note, the stats for the readers have gone WAY down for chapter 4. Like it is NUTS how low it is compared to chapter 1. If there is something going terribly wrong with this story and I don't see it, let me know haha