Make Me Weak (table: c, prompt 04: hot cocoa)
Make Me Weak
Then the Queen began to cry and sob so bitterly that the little man was sorry for her…
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: The quote comes from Rumpelstiltskin’s own tale, it was then he decided instead of just taking her first born, he would give her three days to guess his name. That’s what gave me this bunny.
Rating: PG-13
Warnings: The rating would be lower but rum is poured, language flies and it’s Ruby, she likes to say naughty things.
Prompts: Hot Cocoa (table: c, prompt 04: hot cocoa) onceuponaprompt
Genre: Comfort
Word Count: 1,479
Cast: (in order of appearance/mention) Mr. Gold, Granny, Ruby
Summary: She always made him weak, but the sight of her tears struck him deeper than he ever realized.
He arrived at the Bed and Breakfast like he did on the first Tuesday of every month to collect from Granny. But she was not there, but the sounds of her Granddaughter’s weeping surprised him. He limped into the closest room, which was empty, then hobbled to the next. He found her sitting in the kitchen, her body shuddering with sobs; the sight struck something deep within him.
He cleared his throat, not to startle her, “Ruby, dear, are you alright?”
She looked up at him, her heavy makeup was streaked and running, her eyes were red. She tried to open her mouth but instead of her lovely voice, it was a shuddering inhale that broke into another sob. She shook her head; he reached into his pocket for a handkerchief and held it out to her. She accepted it, dabbing at her doe eyes.
“If you don’t mind my intrusion but what has you so devastated?” he asked, through all the years of knowing this woman, he had never seen her shed a tear. Not even while he watched her misstep in her favorite heels, breaking her ankle, she just frowned and asked for someone to call an ambulance. He listened to her inhale again; it was still hard for her to draw a breath.
He had very few weaknesses, but he knew this was the one he would never be able to fight. A beautiful girl, in tears, in pain, it tugged at him. His sympathy always got the best of him, watching a woman weep was hard for him to handle after all this time. It was not because he felt women were weak, it was the opposite; he revered women for their strength, their power. They could bring life, their love could start and end wars, their smile could brighten the darkest day and their kindness could tame even the wildest heart. So to see such pain from someone who could be so strong affected him.
She opened her mouth, struggling to find her voice, “I…I…”
“Would some hot chocolate make it better, pet?” he asked. Usually he would refrain from such a tender nickname, but when she smiled through her tears gratefully and nodded, he knew he didn’t offend her.
As he busied himself to find the items to make her drink, he heard her begin to calm down. He looked to her as he placed the items on the counter, including some rum. She smiled in approval, watching him closely. He imagined that she was probably expecting the packaged nonsense that they pass off for hot cocoa but that was not for him. Given how sorrowful Ruby had been when he walked in, knew this would cheer her up. He put milk and half and half a pan until it began to simmer. He chopped up a chocolate bar he had found in the fridge and placed it into the pan. Once it was all well incorporated, he poured it into a cup, topping it off with rum.
“Thank you,” she croaked as he handed her the steaming cup. He poured himself the remainder, topped it off with some rum as well, and then took a seat.
He watched as she took a drink, her red lips turning up. She let out a moan of satisfaction; it brought a smile to his face. “I’m glad you’re enjoying it dear,” he told her, “I must admit I’ve never seen you so upset, it was worrying.”
She sighed softly, “I’m sorry, I didn’t realize what time it was, I just got overwhelmed,” she apologized, she set down her drink and he took the opportunity to capture her hand in his. Her skin was so soft, as he imagined it to be.
“Never apologize, you do not need to stifle your emotions around me,” he insisted, confused to why she should apologize. “I did not realize I intimated you enough that you feel you have to act a certain way in my presence.”
She shook her head, her eyes growing wide, “No, no…fuck. Damn it…” she cursed; she pulled her hand from his and buried her face in her palms. “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean it like that, I’m just… the world biggest fuck up right now.” He reached the space between her hands and lifted her chin; he locked his gaze with hers as her eyes glittered with fresh tears.
“You are not,” Gold told her, “You are one of the strongest women I know. I mean, you have to put up with the vicious hag you call a Grandmother,” he said, trying to lighten the mood and was rewarded with her laughter.
She took another drink of her hot chocolate, this time a smile lit her lips, “She’s not that bad. She just doesn’t like you,” she stated.
“Oh really? My, my, how will I ever mend my broken heart?” he asked, smiling as Ruby laughed some more. “It warms me hear your laughter,” he told her.
“I thought that was the rum,” she retorted, he eyed her glass which was almost empty. “Thank you, Mr. Gold, I never thought you’d be the one to make me smile today,” she informed him.
He smiled softly at her, “I’m glad I could. It does distress me to see you cry. You could say it’s a weakness, to see a beautiful girl cry, I feel I have to do something to make you stop.”
Ruby nodded, “Well booze does help,” she said, “And so does chocolate.”
“Then my work here is done,” he teased, “Your Gran give you the money?” he asked. Ruby pulled the roll of cash from her shirt, placing it into his palm. He arched his brows, though he knew he shouldn’t be surprised that’s where she kept her money since her pants were usually too tight to fit anything in.
Ruby drew a breath, “We’re about 40 dollars short this time, that’s part of the reason why I was panicking. I have no money at all, I put all I had up but it still wasn’t enough. And I know that you’re going to roll it over and add inter-“
He shushed her gently, “Ruby dear, the debt isn’t yours. I am humbled you have given all you had. But I promise I will not count it against your Grandmother if you do me one, small favor,” he said, she perked up, leaning forward.
“Anything,” the tone in her voice implied many things but given how worked up she had been, he was not about to take advantage of her. Not that it wasn’t tempting to him but he felt like taking the high road with her, it would only tarnish him more if anyone thought he would take advantage of a young woman over a low amount of money.
He once again cradled her face in his palms, savoring the feel of her skin, “Have a good day.”
“Excuse me?” she blurted out, when he repeated what he said, she continued to stare dumbfounded. “Really?”
“Really,” he replied, “That’s all I ask of you.”
She nuzzled his hand and moved her face so she could place a kiss to his palm. “Thank you,” she whispered.
“No, my Dear, there is no need to thank me,” he said, as he stood slowly sliding her face from his hands. “Just tell no one my weakness,” he winked as he pocketed the money, she stood with him, a smile on her face.
“I won’t and I promise I won’t exploit it either,” her voice was sincere, and he found himself reaching for her again. He couldn’t resist her, pulling her close, he held her against him. She seemed to relax in his embrace, something he was not expecting.
He nuzzled her ear, “You are the most beautiful person I’ve ever met, my dear.” He felt her shiver as he breathed the words against her skin.
“And you’re the most surprising person I know, Mr. Gold,” She told him, he relished the feeling of her leaning into him. “If you ever need a shoulder to cry on…or anything else, you know where to find me.” He bit back a groan at the implications.
He pulled away from her, instantly missing the warmth of her body, the scent of her skin. “I’ll keep that in mind, Pet,” he purred, a wicked grin lit her face and he hated having to part with her. Unfortunately there were several things he knew he needed to do, instead of finding the closest surface (possibly the kitchen table) and bending her over it. Though he was tempted to say fuck it and have at, but he couldn’t bring himself to do it. Instead he turned and walked out into the day, and didn’t hate himself for exposing one of his few weaknesses. But yet again, Ruby always made him weak…
---
END
Then the Queen began to cry and sob so bitterly that the little man was sorry for her…
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: The quote comes from Rumpelstiltskin’s own tale, it was then he decided instead of just taking her first born, he would give her three days to guess his name. That’s what gave me this bunny.
Rating: PG-13
Warnings: The rating would be lower but rum is poured, language flies and it’s Ruby, she likes to say naughty things.
Prompts: Hot Cocoa (table: c, prompt 04: hot cocoa) onceuponaprompt
Genre: Comfort
Word Count: 1,479
Cast: (in order of appearance/mention) Mr. Gold, Granny, Ruby
Summary: She always made him weak, but the sight of her tears struck him deeper than he ever realized.
He arrived at the Bed and Breakfast like he did on the first Tuesday of every month to collect from Granny. But she was not there, but the sounds of her Granddaughter’s weeping surprised him. He limped into the closest room, which was empty, then hobbled to the next. He found her sitting in the kitchen, her body shuddering with sobs; the sight struck something deep within him.
He cleared his throat, not to startle her, “Ruby, dear, are you alright?”
She looked up at him, her heavy makeup was streaked and running, her eyes were red. She tried to open her mouth but instead of her lovely voice, it was a shuddering inhale that broke into another sob. She shook her head; he reached into his pocket for a handkerchief and held it out to her. She accepted it, dabbing at her doe eyes.
“If you don’t mind my intrusion but what has you so devastated?” he asked, through all the years of knowing this woman, he had never seen her shed a tear. Not even while he watched her misstep in her favorite heels, breaking her ankle, she just frowned and asked for someone to call an ambulance. He listened to her inhale again; it was still hard for her to draw a breath.
He had very few weaknesses, but he knew this was the one he would never be able to fight. A beautiful girl, in tears, in pain, it tugged at him. His sympathy always got the best of him, watching a woman weep was hard for him to handle after all this time. It was not because he felt women were weak, it was the opposite; he revered women for their strength, their power. They could bring life, their love could start and end wars, their smile could brighten the darkest day and their kindness could tame even the wildest heart. So to see such pain from someone who could be so strong affected him.
She opened her mouth, struggling to find her voice, “I…I…”
“Would some hot chocolate make it better, pet?” he asked. Usually he would refrain from such a tender nickname, but when she smiled through her tears gratefully and nodded, he knew he didn’t offend her.
As he busied himself to find the items to make her drink, he heard her begin to calm down. He looked to her as he placed the items on the counter, including some rum. She smiled in approval, watching him closely. He imagined that she was probably expecting the packaged nonsense that they pass off for hot cocoa but that was not for him. Given how sorrowful Ruby had been when he walked in, knew this would cheer her up. He put milk and half and half a pan until it began to simmer. He chopped up a chocolate bar he had found in the fridge and placed it into the pan. Once it was all well incorporated, he poured it into a cup, topping it off with rum.
“Thank you,” she croaked as he handed her the steaming cup. He poured himself the remainder, topped it off with some rum as well, and then took a seat.
He watched as she took a drink, her red lips turning up. She let out a moan of satisfaction; it brought a smile to his face. “I’m glad you’re enjoying it dear,” he told her, “I must admit I’ve never seen you so upset, it was worrying.”
She sighed softly, “I’m sorry, I didn’t realize what time it was, I just got overwhelmed,” she apologized, she set down her drink and he took the opportunity to capture her hand in his. Her skin was so soft, as he imagined it to be.
“Never apologize, you do not need to stifle your emotions around me,” he insisted, confused to why she should apologize. “I did not realize I intimated you enough that you feel you have to act a certain way in my presence.”
She shook her head, her eyes growing wide, “No, no…fuck. Damn it…” she cursed; she pulled her hand from his and buried her face in her palms. “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean it like that, I’m just… the world biggest fuck up right now.” He reached the space between her hands and lifted her chin; he locked his gaze with hers as her eyes glittered with fresh tears.
“You are not,” Gold told her, “You are one of the strongest women I know. I mean, you have to put up with the vicious hag you call a Grandmother,” he said, trying to lighten the mood and was rewarded with her laughter.
She took another drink of her hot chocolate, this time a smile lit her lips, “She’s not that bad. She just doesn’t like you,” she stated.
“Oh really? My, my, how will I ever mend my broken heart?” he asked, smiling as Ruby laughed some more. “It warms me hear your laughter,” he told her.
“I thought that was the rum,” she retorted, he eyed her glass which was almost empty. “Thank you, Mr. Gold, I never thought you’d be the one to make me smile today,” she informed him.
He smiled softly at her, “I’m glad I could. It does distress me to see you cry. You could say it’s a weakness, to see a beautiful girl cry, I feel I have to do something to make you stop.”
Ruby nodded, “Well booze does help,” she said, “And so does chocolate.”
“Then my work here is done,” he teased, “Your Gran give you the money?” he asked. Ruby pulled the roll of cash from her shirt, placing it into his palm. He arched his brows, though he knew he shouldn’t be surprised that’s where she kept her money since her pants were usually too tight to fit anything in.
Ruby drew a breath, “We’re about 40 dollars short this time, that’s part of the reason why I was panicking. I have no money at all, I put all I had up but it still wasn’t enough. And I know that you’re going to roll it over and add inter-“
He shushed her gently, “Ruby dear, the debt isn’t yours. I am humbled you have given all you had. But I promise I will not count it against your Grandmother if you do me one, small favor,” he said, she perked up, leaning forward.
“Anything,” the tone in her voice implied many things but given how worked up she had been, he was not about to take advantage of her. Not that it wasn’t tempting to him but he felt like taking the high road with her, it would only tarnish him more if anyone thought he would take advantage of a young woman over a low amount of money.
He once again cradled her face in his palms, savoring the feel of her skin, “Have a good day.”
“Excuse me?” she blurted out, when he repeated what he said, she continued to stare dumbfounded. “Really?”
“Really,” he replied, “That’s all I ask of you.”
She nuzzled his hand and moved her face so she could place a kiss to his palm. “Thank you,” she whispered.
“No, my Dear, there is no need to thank me,” he said, as he stood slowly sliding her face from his hands. “Just tell no one my weakness,” he winked as he pocketed the money, she stood with him, a smile on her face.
“I won’t and I promise I won’t exploit it either,” her voice was sincere, and he found himself reaching for her again. He couldn’t resist her, pulling her close, he held her against him. She seemed to relax in his embrace, something he was not expecting.
He nuzzled her ear, “You are the most beautiful person I’ve ever met, my dear.” He felt her shiver as he breathed the words against her skin.
“And you’re the most surprising person I know, Mr. Gold,” She told him, he relished the feeling of her leaning into him. “If you ever need a shoulder to cry on…or anything else, you know where to find me.” He bit back a groan at the implications.
He pulled away from her, instantly missing the warmth of her body, the scent of her skin. “I’ll keep that in mind, Pet,” he purred, a wicked grin lit her face and he hated having to part with her. Unfortunately there were several things he knew he needed to do, instead of finding the closest surface (possibly the kitchen table) and bending her over it. Though he was tempted to say fuck it and have at, but he couldn’t bring himself to do it. Instead he turned and walked out into the day, and didn’t hate himself for exposing one of his few weaknesses. But yet again, Ruby always made him weak…
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END