When Regina storms into Gold's shop, throwing the door open and sending the glass rattling in its frame, the old pawnbroker is ready for her. Glancing up from a paper he isn't actually reading, he raises a brow at her in mock curiosity and clears his throat.
My, my, things have clicked much faster than I had thought they would... Pity, dearie. You really must be fond of our absent Sheriff.
"Madame Mayor, to what do I owe the pleasure?"
"What did you do to her?"
Regina snaps, waving away her title as she wishes she could the rest of the bullshit and lies between them.
"Why, whatever are you talking about?"
Gold asks, meeting the Mayor's dark gaze intently as she glares at him murderously. Refusing to take a step back, even when she rushes forward without warning and leans with her face so close to his that he can feel her breath on his lips. He simply smiles at her knowingly.
"Emma. What have you done to her?"
The brunette hisses, itching to reach out to grab the little man's neck and squeeze.
"What have I done with her? What an odd question... I was under the impression that whatever happens to our young Sheriff was none of your concern? Or so you told me."
"Enough! It's my son's birthday, Gold, and he was supposed to be spending the day with Miss Swan. I now have a distraught child who believes he has been tossed aside by the woman yet again, and an integral member of this town's governing force nowhere to be found. So yes, the Sheriff's apparent disappearance is very much my concern!"
"You let that woman have your son on his birthday?!... Forgive me, Regina, but it certainly doesn't sound as though you have no interest in the young lady's life."
"That is not something for you to judge! It is a situation that pertains to Miss Swan and I alone! Now tell me, or I'll find a way to make you tell me, where is she?"
"And what makes you think I know anything about this?"
"I don't think you do, Gold. I know you do."
"Curious."
"Tell me!"
The little man cocks his head to one side and studies the brunette with unmasked interest, trying to recall the last time he'd seen her quite so irate. Angry, of course, he's seen her angry dozens of times, but this is more than that. This cuts deeper. Her hands tremble tellingly at her sides as she stares him down with her eyes a little too wide, a little too nervous. Running his finger thoughtfully over his bottom lip, he smiles at her kindly.
"You really do care for her, don't you."
Gold's words are less directed towards the Mayor than they are simple musing, and Regina growls at him angrily, slamming her palms down on the counter between them.
"Where is she, Gold?!"
"She's safe, if that puts you at ease at all."
"Safe?! Safe where?! What the hell did you do!?"
The Mayor cries, completely thrown by this unlikely turn of events and feeling uncharacteristically hysterical as the rug has been well and truly pulled out from beneath her.
"Calm yourself. Take some deep breaths, dearie. There really isn't any need for all this fuss."
Gold soothes apologetically as he refuses her an answer.
"Where. Is. Emma?"
Regina snaps hoarsely, losing her kind audience as the monotony of her query begins to bore her host. Shrugging, the pawnbroker simply smirks, his gold tooth flashing in the dim winter light that streams through the shop window.
"Oh, it's not going to be that easy, my dear... You see, I wouldn't have taken her if I didn't have a reason to do so."
"What do you mean? What could you possibly want from her?"
"An interesting question... Let me ask you the same thing. What do you get from your peculiar little arrangement with the Sheriff?... I certainly wouldn't presume you have much time for what she has to say... But perhaps there are other things she's better skilled at doing with her mouth? Hmm? You know, I-"
"-If you fucking touch her, Gold, I'll-"
"-Language, Madame Mayor! My, oh my!... You'll what, dearie? You'll what? What do you have to threaten me with if I touch the Sheriff?"
"I'll-..."
Mouth opening and closing but finding no answer, the Mayor's cheeks flare scarlet as she bristles with rage. Taking momentary pity on his long-ago student, Gold smiles and confides jovially
"You'll nothing. You can do nothing to me, Regina, and we both know it... Fear not. Your fury at the thought of anything unsavoury happening to young Emma no doubt pales considerably when compared to her own. My suggestion was purely that. Purely a dig for information. There are places I can go to sate needs beyond my curiosity without risk of coming to bodily harm."
He chuckles, and Regina sighs as she pleads with him
"What do you want, then?"
"That depends... What are you willing to give me?"
"Whatever it takes."
"Interesting..."
"Well?!"
The brunette demands; squeezing her eyes tightly shut when the little man simply throws his head back and laughs.
"Eager aren't we, Your Majesty?"
Gold teases, dark eyes glittering through the gloom as a heavy silence succeeds his term of address.
"...What did you-... How-...?"
Regina breathes finally.
"Oh, let's not bother with hows, whys and ifs, dearie. After all, there's a fair maiden to be won, and I doubt she'd thank you for taking the time to discuss such unimportant issues. All you need to know is that I know who you are, and you know who I am... And we both know who the mouthy little Sheriff is, do we not?"
"... Make your point."
"I need your help."
"Why?"
"I'm looking for something. Something which was lost to me long ago. Now, in this world, I have a chance of finding it... But I need you to show me where to look."
"And how do propose I would know something like that?!"
"Oh, you wouldn't, dearie. No. Not now... But with magic-"
"-There is no magic in this world, Gold!"
"True. But there is a way of changing that."
"No... There's not... The Curse can't be broken. It requires the Saviour to do so, you made it so! Emma doesn't believe in magic... Nor love. It's impossible."
Regina sighs, and Gold raises an eyebrow; astounded at the brunette's refusal to accept the power the blonde possesses, much the same as Emma refuses to accept it herself. The Mayor's doubt vexes him. He needs her to be desperate to get the younger woman back, and, while she claims to be, he now realises that her fear has not been piqued to the extent he requires. He had hoped the brunette would have a solution; a way to force the blonde to believe. Once Emma believes, she can be sent to collect what is his, for magic will be restored. Power will be restored. He will have the means to bring his son back.
He knows he can't break the Curse himself.
Can't kill the blonde and retrieve what was lost.
Can't risk Regina taking an eye for an eye should he slay the Saviour.
Can't risk his ignorance of the outside world hindering him in his quest.
Emma must break the Curse.
And if she is to do so alive, then she must find it within herself to love.
Really love.
He had thought it would be the boy that would break her, but he doesn't have time to wait around for the Sheriff to battle with her psyche and bully down the barriers she has built around her heart.
He needs her scared.
He needs her to realise she matters to someone.
To accept the very idea of love when it's offered to her.
To do this, he needs Regina to know for certain that she loves the blonde. That it goes deeper than caring.
Deeper than lust.
And, he's almost certain that what the brunette feels is love - else she wouldn't be here right now; she wouldn't have allowed her mask to slip - but almost isn't enough. He needs her to know for sure.
After all, as the old adage proclaims; absence makes the heart grow fonder.
Your doubt in the Saviour's ability to comprehend love saddens me, dearie, but I trust you to know best in this instance. A pity, as things will have to take a little longer than planned. Still, better safe than sorry. Better you fret that little bit harder. Care that little bit deeper.
I assure you, if your feelings are true, everyone wins in the end.
You just can't know that yet.
"Well, if it's impossible, then I'm afraid I must call an end to our conversation. It appears you have nothing I want after all."
Gold sighs dismissively.
"What...?"
Regina shakes her head, lines furrowing her brow as she stares at her devious one-time mentor incredulously.
"I don't believe I could have made myself any more clear, Madame Mayor. Now, if you please, I'd like to return to my work."
The little man advises sternly with a shooing motion of his hand.
"Gold!"
"Leave. Please."
"I will have your hide for this!"
The brunette warns, and Gold watches her curiously, doing little to hide his amusement at the way she leaves his shop in an awkward, almost jerky fashion; her mind screaming that their confrontation isn't over, but their long-ago deal forcing her to adhere to his request. Tutting his tongue against his teeth as the door slams violently shut, he sighs as he supposes he's going to have to wait for a conclusion to his admittedly conniving stunt a little while longer.
All things come to those who wait...
Finishing his tea and pulling on his coat, he slips out from behind the counter to go and check on the Sheriff.
"Are you awake, dearie? If so, I imagine you have a fair few questions for me, but I- What have you done?!"
Dark eyes flash with alarm as Gold surveys the scene in front of him, before he limps swiftly out of the room as fast as his battered leg will allow.