Poor Unfortunate Souls (3/6)
Poor Unfortunate Souls
Note: I do not own “Once Upon A Time” and I do not make a profit from writing this story. I’m just amusing myself.
Authors Note: Please read the warnings carefully and the timeline I’m following goes as follows. Jiminy was nearly 30 when he became “The Cricket”. His parents had been working for Rumpelstiltskin all his life. This takes place about 5 years after Pinocchio became a real boy, given Geppetto’s age which is about 55; this makes Jiminy about 85 at this point.
Setting: Enchanted Forest
Rating: R
Warnings: language, sensuality, adult concepts and interaction
Genre: Angst/Drama/Bittersweet Romance
Word Count: 1,870
Cast: (in order of appearance/mention) Jiminy Cricket, Rumpelstiltskin, Red Riding Hood, Geppetto, Blue Fairy
Summary: Jiminy Cricket felt the term "poor unfortunate soul" was a term created for him, all he wanted to do was love, but fate had other plans.
PART THREE
Jiminy was once again alone in Red Riding Hood’s home, preparing dinner. He enjoyed doing it for her, given how happily she always devoured his meals. As he checked on the simmering pot, he heard a whooshing noise and realized he was not alone. Turning quickly he found Rumpelstiltskin standing behind him, looking amused.
“Hello Cricket. Fairing well?” he asked, a wicked smile upon his features.
That is none of your business, Jiminy replied, which made the Imp laugh, hard.
His giggling scarcely ceased as he chuckled out, “Yes it is. You do realize you only have four more days to gain your love or you will revert to your form with no voice and no hope on becoming human again, correct?” The Imp asked.
Jiminy felt his stomach drop, That was not the deal. I would regain my voice no matter if I reverted to my Cricket body. Read the contract again.
To his surprised Rumpelstiltskin did as he suggested and from the frown Rumpelstiltskin’s face, he was indeed correct. “Well then, you’re right about that. Hmm, I really should read my own deals before we both sign them. Anyways, you still need to have her commit to you the sunsets on day five. Given how you do not have your voice, you haven’t even kissed her yet. Tick tock Cricket.”
Jiminy felt himself blush at the memories of how they had spent their night, Rumpelstiltskin let out a giggle. “Oh Jiminy, you’re such a naughty little Cricket aren’t you? Lips everywhere but hers? I must say I am impressed. I didn’t think you had it in you.” When Jiminy looked at the Imp in shock, Rumpelstiltskin tapped his head. “Foresight, dearie, sometimes it is fun.”
You’re disgusting, Jiminy insisted, turning back to the fire.
Rumpelstiltskin merely shrugged, “As that may be, you’re going to have to tell her what I’m doing here,” he said, Jiminy’s brows knitted together and he was about to ask what the Imp was going on about when the door banged open. Red burst in, weapons ready.
“Out of my home Imp. I’ve told you that you are not welcome here,” she hissed, Jiminy frowned; he should have known that Rumpelstiltskin would be interested in the woman as well.
Rumpelstiltskin laughed, “I know I’m not dear but I had to speak to my good friend,” he said mildly, faking innocence.
“What business do you have with him?” she demanded, weapons still pointed, ready to strike.
Jiminy hung his head as the Imp careless blurted out, “Why, his humanity of course. It’s all I could do to help an old friend.”
Red’s attention swung to Jiminy, blades still pointed at the Imp. “What?”
We’re not friends, ignore him, Jiminy informed her, Red just glared.
“And I turned him human. He naturally can’t tell you, so I figured I’d break the news,” Rumpelstiltskin said with a grin.
Do you really have nothing better to do with your time than this? Jiminy asked, glaring as the Imp’s shook his head.
“No, not for a few more years,” he cackled, “I have to do something ease my boredom, interfering in your relationship seemed the best way to go.”
Red Riding Hood holstered one dagger, “Is that true Jiminy, you made a deal with the Imp to become human?”
Yes, I did, he was the only one who could help me. He told her, his attention focused purely on her.
She glanced at Rumpelstiltskin before looking at Jiminy, “Why?”
Jiminy inhaled, he stepped closer to her and seized her hand, Because, Lady Red, I love you, I watched you grow from a small naïve child to a powerful woman. I’ve waited to feel this way about someone all my years. I could not take being alone anymore. I have lived for so long without knowing what it was like to love and be loved in return. Even if you turn me away now, I will at least have the memories of how it felt to hold you, to wake beside you-
“Amongst other things!” Rumpelstiltskin hooted, which caused Red to heave a blade at him. He disappeared in a puff of smoke, his giggles echoing in the silence.
“I don’t know why you love me, but I can promise you I am unworthy of your affection. A man such as yourself deserves someone so much better than me. I am a hunter, a killer-“
When he lifted his hand, she fell silent. I am as well. You know my dear Geppetto? She nodded and he felt tears well into his eyes as he continued his tale. Long ago, long before you were born, I was trapped by my parents into a life of thievery and deception. We robbed innocent people and drifted from town to town. I could not take it any long when I sought Rumpelstiltskin’s help to end my parents. They conned me instead and…Geppetto was only ten when he lost his parents because a spell meant for my own. I wanted to give my life to take them back, I wished with all my might when Azura came to me. She could not grant me my true wish of saving his parents but instead I changed into a form I felt held the most freedom for me.
“A Cricket?”
Yes. I have been that way ever since, I have known many people in the lands and I have never felt this way about anyone but you. He confessed, tears poured down his face, he did not feel liberated as his secret was finally revealed but shamed as he had always been.
She rushed into his arms, holding on tight, he wept into her neck, “Oh, my dear Jiminy…you’re alright. I had no idea you felt so strongly about me,” she whispered, her voice was still soft, still reeling from his story. “You are a good man. You made a mistake long ago; you have long since made up for it. You have guided Geppetto into a fine man and you’ve helped his son. You’ve saved their family more than once.”
I do not deserve your praise. I am a horrible human; I killed due to my own greed and have given my voice the selfish reason of being able to be with you. How can you be so forgiving? He asked, pulling away, she pulled him back, eyes locking with his.
She captured his face, holding it so he was unable to move, “Jiminy…” she whispered again, then leaned up and forward, gently capturing his lips with hers. It was soft, urging…he felt power wash through him and with a cry, it released, pushing her away. “What was that?” she asked, confused.
“That would be my voice returning…thanks to true loves kiss,” he said, she threw herself at him again, kissing him harder, enthralled with his words.
Slowly she broke it, not wanting to part herself from him, “Had I not witnessed that with my own eyes, I would doubt I had true love…but…it’s you…Jiminy.” He smiled shyly.
“I love you,” he said, wanting her to hear it with his own voice, “I would not have made a deal with the Imp otherwise, but I could no longer bare being without you.”
She caressed his face, then paused, “What is the rest of the deal you made?” It drew a long sigh from his lips.
“I have until the sunset of the fifth day as human, to…well…commit our relationship or I return to my Cricket state with no hopes on change to this form again.”
Red Riding Hood looked into his eyes, “Commit? In which sense? Physically?” she asked, he smiled at her hopeful tone.
“Marriage,” He replied, her eyes grew wide.
“Oh,” She said in surprise, “Jiminy…I believe in true love now that I seem to have brought your voice back but I’m sure you knew by now that I don’t believe in marriage.” He felt his heart sink.
“Oh. Well then, if you’d like to enjoy this body like you seem to want to you only have 4 days left to do it in,” he advised her, she sighed, pulling him to her.
She placed a feather light kiss to his lips, placing her hand over his heart, she broke her lips from his, looking into his eyes. “Jiminy, my dear, sweet Jiminy.” Her voice was soft, “Come to bed with me.”
As they walked into the bedroom, he watched her disrobe again, this time every piece of clothing fell. He inhale softly as she began to remove his clothes, when they were bare he took her into his arms, holding her close. He savored the feeling of her flesh on his, knowing that in a few days time, he would never feel it again. They fell back onto the bed, lips meeting, limbs entwining. He knew he would never forget the feeling of her warm skin, her lips on him, the way it felt to finally be inside her. She cried his name and when he finally released, he called out hers, the true name many had forgotten. Adelina…
She collapsed against him, draping her form across his, though he could tell she was exhausted, she couldn’t seem to stop touching his skin. She softly sighed, contented, and he swallowed hard. He trembled beneath her touch, trying to fight the sorrow that welled up within him. He knew she had no idea that she had broken his heart at her admission. But if this is how it had to be for him, he would never regret being able to lay with her, to hold her, to know what it was like to be one with her.
When he was sure she was asleep, he found himself redressing, and then he headed out into the night, needing to have some time alone. The moonlight lit his way as he journeyed to the set path; the forest itself was uncharacteristically silent. He closed his eyes, concentrating, willing any crickets around to fill the air with their song to ease his mind. He smiled as soon they filled the night; it brought some comfort, but not much.
“Hello?” came a sudden voice, “Is someone there?”
He turned to the footsteps that came crashing through the woods, a woman with dark hair came stumbling out of the underbrush. She regained her footing when she got on the trail, and looked over to him.
“Hello?” she asked again, stepping closer.
“Are you lost?” he asked, she nodded.
She looked around, frowning, “Yeah, I’m new to these parts and I got turned around,” she said.
“Well leaving the path is a bad idea.” He said, “Are you alright?” annoyance gave way to concern at the helpless look on her face.
Helpless turned to hopeful as he grew closer, “I just feel like a fool,” she said, tears filling her eyes.
“There is no need to cry, you are alright,” he said, as he reached out to touch her arm, hopeful turned to wicked. She seized his wrist quicker than he could blink.
“But you won’t be, you poor unfortunate soul,” she grinned, from where her flesh touched his, pain radiated through his veins and darkness consumed him.
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TO BE CONTINUED
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