Once Upon A Time: Through The Devil's Eyes, Part Eight

By Rebekkalee Mouri-Hibiki

Mr. Gold walked into Granny's shortly after nightfall, stopping in the doorway when he saw Ruby behind the counter. He had heard she had not fared well being a deputy and came back to the cafe. He quirked his mouth when she looked up, " Ruby. "

She looked at him, blinking. " Mr. Gold, " She whispered.

" So you didn't leave after all, " Mr. Gold smirked. " I heard you quit and were going to leave town. "

Ruby nodded, " I decided to stay. Granny really needs my help around here and... "

" Can you come to the back? We have things to... discuss, " Mr. Gold cut her off.

" We do? " Ruby didn't reach for her apron strings like he had expected her to.

" You know we do, " Mr. Gold frowned. " Now come. "

" But I thought I took care of that, " Ruby said. " Didn't Granny give you the box I left? "

Mr. Gold nodded once, " To the back, my dear. "

" Alright, " Ruby sighed, untying her apron strings.

Mr. Gold walked to the back, waiting as Ruby caught up after telling Granny she was going to take a break. He turned to face her when he was certain she was there. " Close the door. "

" I don't understand, " She said as she did as she was told. " I thought that I had gave you enough to clear Granny's debt. "

" Not quite, " Mr. Gold said. " You failed to think about the interest. "

Ruby blinked, " I didn't know there was any. "

" Well there was, " Mr. Gold said. " She's owed me that money for quite a while. "

" How much? " Ruby asked.

" I'll have to calculate it and get back to you, " Mr. Gold said. He looked puzzled, " Just exactly how were you able to get that money together, my dear? "

" I've been saving my tips for a long time now, " Ruby said. She frowned, " It was my spending money. "

" How long? " Mr. Gold asked. No one in town really had a sense of time passing but he wanted to see what she said.

Ruby thought about it then shrugged, " As long as I can remember. "

" And you were going to pay me off with it and leave town with no money? " Mr. Gold sounded skeptical.

Ruby fiddled with her fingers, " I still had a little left over. It wasn't much but I was going to take that. "

" I see, " Mr. Gold said.

" When did you find out that I quit? " Ruby asked. " I knew you would eventually. "

" I spoke with Granny this morning, " Mr. Gold said.

" Oh my God, " Ruby said. " You didn't tell her what the money was for, did you? "

" She didn't even know there was money in that box, " Mr. Gold replied. " I think she thought it was a gift. "

Ruby sighed, " Okay. Good. I just didn't want her to... "

" She told me some very interesting things. " He narrowed his eyes as he cut her off. He hoped she would realize just how angry he was with her.

" She did? " Ruby blinked. He could tell she was pretending to look clueless. The way her pulse was showing in her throat let him know she was scared but trying not to show it.

" Indeed, " Mr. Gold said evenly. " She told me a few things about the stranger. She mentioned he was in here last night and you were talking to him. "

" For a little while, yeah, " Ruby said.

" What were you talking about? I mean, aside from lemurs, " Mr. Gold queried.

Ruby chuckled nervously, " We were talking about the places he's been. He told me he lived on the road for a year and has even been to Nepal. "

" Really now? " Mr. Gold arched an eyebrow. " Did where he's been as of late come up? "

Ruby shook her head, " No. I asked him where he had been and he started talking about before he came to Storybrooke. I just let him speak because I thought he'd get around to that eventually. "

" And did he? " Mr. Gold wasn't too optimistic. It seemed the stranger was quite crafty and wasn't too loose with information.

" No. Granny called me away and that's when we had the fight, " Ruby sighed. " I really was trying. "

Mr. Gold frowned, " So you were just going to up and leave knowing what Granny owes to me? "

" I thought the money I left for you was enough to cover it, " Ruby started.

" Well it's a good thing you didn't or Granny would have gotten quite a nasty shock, " Mr. Gold cut her off sharply.

" I know that now! I was mad and wasn't thinking straight! " Ruby's voice came up.

" Don't raise your voice to me, " Mr. Gold grabbed her arm. He squeezed it tightly as he got right in her face to say, " Understand? "

" Yes sir, " Ruby said as he let her go. She rubbed her arm, " Is that all? "

" No, " Mr. Gold said. " Tell me about your day. I heard you were helping Emma at the police station. "

Ruby frowned, " Yeah. I thought I could be her helper but it wasn't my thing. "

" Oh? Did you see something that scared you? " Mr. Gold noticed Ruby looked a little shaken as she spoke.

" I don't think I can talk about it, " Ruby sighed. " Everyone will know soon enough though. "

" I hope so, " Mr. Gold said. " If not, I may have to ask you about it later. "

There was a short silence before Ruby glanced at the door, " So now are we done? "

" Yes, " Mr. Gold nodded. " For now. "

Ruby reached for the door and opened it. She walked out as Mr. Gold headed for the back door. He went out, coming up the alley and going to the sidewalk. As he made his way to the shop, he heard a car approaching.

He looked over his shoulder to see it was the police cruiser. He watched as Emma parked in front of the animal shelter. She quickly got out and went inside. He saw that both Mary-Margret and David's cars were also parked there.

He quirked his mouth, certain things were about to get a lot more interesting...