Disclaimer:
I do not own any bit of OUAT. If I did there would be much more Rumbelle screen time, because I live for it.
Chapter 2: Negotiations
Hours later it had been decided that the case would be resumed in a few days and Adam decided he needed to hit the bar, The Rabbit Hole. The company that had originated from small town Storybrooke, and had branched out towards his current location, New York City. His head hung in his hands. Just about eight years ago he was sitting at this same bar, drinking his heart away during all his free time when he wasn't working on his cases. He sadly chuckled to himself, probably the same seat too.
He spent the rest of the week at the bar. It was all going well. Forgetting her, drowning down the horrendous flashbacks that haunted his tired mind. The fighting, the words he said, her leaving. Yes, forgetting was going well, that was until he saw the devil herself walk into the bar on a Thursday night, with her tall dark heels clacking against the wood floor, hair done up in a bun, and dressed in black jeans and a electric blue pull over; with no one but Ruby Lucas attached to her arm, laughing. It wasn't surprising to see they were still best friends. Yet this was not the girl he had once known. She would have never stepped place in a bar. Was this how she got her new little pet name? He frowned, grumbled to himself actually.
He watched the two girls play away at the pool table. Her smile was wide as she laughed along with her friend and the various men at the bar who had been attracted to them, All of them pigs. It was her turn now, she aimed, going for the kill as he studied her, taking another swig of his whiskey. Although,his eyes met with hers once again, he froze like a deer in headlights. She missed her shot, glaring up at him; probably plotting how exactly she'd murder him and hide the body. He quickly spun around in the bar stool to called the waitress over. "Something stronger dearie, much stronger."
It was five in morning when Gold stumbled into his office, shutting the door behind him. "Fuck..." He groaned out painfully, the noise louder than he would have liked. No longer drunk but having a mind splitting headache thanks to his hangover, he walked into the bathroom of the small space and took two aspirin, hand scooping up water and bringing it to his lips swallowing down the pills. When he turned back into his office his arm chair was now spun facing towards him and there she was, a book in her hands. She didn't even bother to look up, "So do you always get plastered before work Mr. Gold?" She asked, sounding mildly curious yet fakingly sweet. "Ah Lacey dear, what do I owe the pleasure?" He asked warmly in mock, ignoring her quip. His voice suddenly sounded cold. "or should I say Isabelle." She finally lifted her nose out of his book, "I had wondered if you remembered me, Adam." He simply shrugged. "Brown hair, beautiful blue eyes, an accent you wouldn't soon forget. How could I?"
"I see you've been doing well since last time." She pointed out, sounding bored. "Yes and surprisingly so have you, dearie. Must have had a good teacher." He said with a grin. it was her turn to shrug in response," I had two. First one was a real asshole... he acted like a monster." Her voice had once again became painful to hear, his chest clenching. Not that he didn't deserve every bit of pain he experienced. He flinched but he didn't let her words take a toll on him right now. As if he didn't know that already. "So I've heard. I'm sure he had his reasons. Now I know we don't want to be together all day, and I want you up and out of my chair; so what did you want French." he demanded, the last word being said through clenched teeth. She was surprised he didn't start foaming at the mouth, her lips twitched up at the image and she giggled to herself. "I want to make a little deal." Gold raised his eyebrow in wonder, letting her continue. "Whoever has the winning argument, gets to have the other do something for them -nothing illegal, of course."
"Such as...?"
She puffed out her lower lip in thought for but a moment. "Well, say you win and you decide you never want me in your office again; so be it."
"And just what would you have me do? Skin the children you hunt?" He grinned at the old little joke.
"That's for me to know and you to find out; I promise you won't hate it, much." She smirked, closing the book and sitting up.
"Well I suppose if it keeps you from snogging my books and meddling in my office, then we have a deal Miss French." He gave a fake smile while she stood up the leave, placing the book on the center of his desk. After walking out the door she stopped herself with her hand on the door frame, leaning to peek her head in with a sweet, innocent smile. "Oh! And do leave my marker on there, I have plans to finish it." He scoffed at her words, picking up the book with his index and thumb his face twisted in a scowl as if it was a fowl object ridden with disease and placing- more like throwing it on chair to the side of the room. He sat back in his chair, annoyed but mainly confused.