My Soul Mate is the Dark One

By: RosexKnight

Anon Prompted: Soulmates!AU - "I never saw blue like that." In which Rumple realizes Belle sees the world differently than him.

Chapter Three

It was a compromise, in the end, that won out. Belle's mother, Colette he believed, had insisted on courtship.

Rumpelstiltskin was not against it by any means, it was just that he hadn't courted a woman in so long he would have no idea where to start. He'd much rather be back in his castle with his Soul Mate on his arm as his new wife. And so, they compromised. The wedding would be in a month, time for him to court Belle or at least for them to get to know each other, and time enough to plan a wedding. Her father had objected to it all, but Belle was pleased and they seemed to be enough for both of them. Her knight, it seemed, there was no pleasing. Though he didn't care.

So here they were, betrothed, in his carriage on their way back to The Dark Castle. The carriage ride was smooth thanks to his magic. But Belle seemed impossibly restless across from him, eyes wandering and looking out the window as she asked questions.

"It's your magic isn't it? That's making the ride so smooth."

"Of course."

"Is your castle very far?"

"A day's ride from here."

"Is it true you spin straw into gold?"

"A simple passtime."

"Did you used to be a spinner? Before…"

He winced, and his tone dropped "Yes."

Belle seemed to sense his unease and sat back in her cushioned seat. He had enough old wounds without his curious new fiancé opening more.

"I um…I did some reading before we left." She began. "I was wondering why my maids seemed to be so concerned when I left with you."

Rumpelstiltskin didn't answer, only glanced to her.

Belle's voice was cautious when she asked. "So the stories are true?"

"Some." He said truthfully. "I don't pay attention to all of them. But some are indeed."

"Ah." Belle went back to looking out the window but nothing in her demeanor changed.

She was still relaxed, eyes bright, she even dangled her legs off the seat as she sat back in the seat. The Dark One fidgeted. This he was not used to.

"You're not afraid."

"Why should I be?" Belle asked, turning back to him with her head tilted curiously.

"Because I am The Dark One."

"And my soul mate." The girl was giggling! "If you mean harm to me I'm sure it would have happened by now."

"Perhaps you're too trusting, dearie."

"Perhaps you're not trusting enough."

The girl was mad, he decided. Of course, he supposed if she was his soul mate she needed to be.

When he became The Dark One he'd half expected the name on his palm to simply disappear. After all, what right had he to True Love? But it never had. It was always there, reminding him someone out there was meant for him. Perhaps it was Fate's cruel way of torment.

As a spinner, he'd resigned himself to the fact that he'd never know the girl who belonged to the name on his palm. It was comforting. The sign of hope that things might be right. He'd be lying if she hadn't crossed his mind even when he was intimate with Milah. When he became The Dark One the name was comfort some days and torture the next. But he didn't need her. He had his son. That was all he needed. Until he lost Bae. And then, years later, he'd decided he was tired of being lonely.

And so he looked for her. He certainly did not expect to find this small thing sitting across from him staring out the window. But perhaps now he could observe how the magic worked. Yes this could be useful.

"What are you doing?" Rumpelstiltskin finally asked, breaking the silence between them.

"Watching the clouds." Belle replied. "Seeing what shapes they've made today."

The Dark One raised an eyebrow at her, but looked out his own window. "Shapes?"

"Yes! Sometimes they have faces. Look that one looks like a rabbit."

Rumpelstiltskin searched the sky, but all he saw was the wavy lines of white and grey against a blue back. "I don't see a rabbit."

Belle looked at him. "Have you not done this before?"

"I'm sure I have." He said, sitting back in his seat and waving his hand. "But when you're The Dark One this doesn't exactly pop up on your 'To Do' list very often."

And suddenly she was frowning. The brunette stood, crossing the carriage to sit beside him and search his window.

"There!" She said, leaning across to point. The girl was practically in his lap. "See? There are the ears. And the tail…"

It took The Dark One a moment to think coherently and follow where her finger pointed. He soon located the wisp that seemed to look as though it were a rabbit.

"Ah. Yes I see it."

He turned back to her and faltered. She was close. She was staring at him. We're her eyes always that blue?

"Anything else?" She asked, and it was hard to hide the effect she had on him.

He looked back out the window, pretending to search the sky if only to stop her staring.

"You…You said you liked reading didn't you?" Rumpelstiltskin asked after another length of silence.

"Yes." Belle answered without hesitation. "Yes I like reading very much."

He simply hummed in response.

The ride took a day as expected. When they arrived at The Dark Castle Belle seemed to be brimming with excitement. He led her inside where she twirled around the great hall, trying to take in the large table and tapestries and magical trinkets displayed around.

Then it was back to questions…

"Where did you get this one?"

"Just a simple deal in Camelot."

"And what about this one?"

"Agrabah. Traded for a potion."

"And what about the teaset?"

"Bought for a few coins at market."

Belle frowned, as if disappointed as she held the porcelain cup in her hand. Rumpelstiltskin couldn't help the quirk of his lips.

"That's boring." She complained as she looked over to him.

Rumpelstiltskin swallowed, taking his eyes from her and walking around the table. He wasn't sure why but he wanted to put more distance between them. He failed to think straight with her so close.

"What kind of ring do you want?" He asked suddenly."

She tilted her head. "Pardon?"

"Well we are betrothed." He replied with a flourish of his hand. "What kind of ring do you want? A diamond? Emerald? Peridot? Sapphire?" Belle didn't reply. "Perhaps one enchanted with a magical protection spell. Or with bits of a heart in it."

The cup hit the ground and Rumpelstiltskin found she was looking at him in horror. He didn't know why it unsettled him so. He usually took comfort in it. But not this time.

Somehow her voice was steadier than she looked. "Bits of heart?"

"I…That was a quip, dearie." He lied. "Not serious."

"Oh." She said, looking a bit relieved.

"Sure you'll be able to stomach your soul mate being The Dark One, dearie? Things get much darker than that."

"I'm sure I can manage." She said, bending to pick up the cup. "Oh."

"What?" He asked, unable to hide the annoyance in his voice.

Another mistake, judging by the way Belle's voice quivered. "It's uh…its chipped. You can hardly see it."

The Dark One relaxed, unable to look away from her eyes. Blue and full of concern and fear. He had no idea why, but he couldn't have that. Not at all.

"It's just a cup." He said with a dismissal wave of his hand. "Come. There's something else I want to show you."

Belle seemed to accept this and followed, even taking his outstretched hand when they reached the stairs. Oh but he wanted to savor this moment. The moment when they topped the stairs and she saw the books and looked as though she's been knocked breathless, unable to do anything but stare.

"There are more books here than I could read in a lifetime!"

"Well you musn't forget to eat. Can't have you withering away."

And then her arms were around him. And she was squeezing him and all he could do was pat her on the back in what he hoped was affection. Then she was back to it. Circling the room and examining every book. Her hands ran over the covers like they were long-lost friends and her eyes sparked with an impossibly blue hue.

He'd never seen blue like that.

Rumpelstiltskin cleared his throat. "I'll just bring you up some tea then."

She only hummed absently in response and he found even that he didn't mind. Perhaps having a soul mate would not be so unbearable. He would certainly need to note how the magic affected him.

Yes. Surely his racing heart and need to see her smile again was all the magic.