Rose Red

Let's Make a Deal

"Welcome to Neverland," he greeted, stepping closer to me. We were now about four feet apart. "The Shadow told me that you have magic. Is this true?"

"Yes," I confirmed. "I guess that that was the reason that I was expected to do everything myself."

He chuckled. "Why are you here? Is it because of your magic?" He cocked his head to the side, a curious look on his face, as if he was trying to figure me out. "Are you running from something, Rose?"

My breath hitched in my throat.

How could he possibly know? I thought to myself.

"So I'm right," he smirked again, stepping closer again. "What are you running from?"

His false sympathy angered me and the thought of Rumplestiltskin knowing where I was filled me with fear.

"It really isn't your business," I defended.

"Oh, it really is," he retorted, stepping so close that our breathing mixed. "If you're going to stay on my island, I have to know why you're here."

"Then you'll be pleased to know that I'm going to tell you," I exasperated. "I'm not using Neverland as a hiding place. I have to advance my magic to teach someone who is very important to me."

"What's your magic like?" he asked, his curiosity returning. He stepped towards me once more, we were touching now.

Surprisingly, this didn't shake my confidence at all.

"I don't think that you could handle it," I replied.

I remembered all of the things that my magic could do. It was highly valued in the Enchanted Forest. I knew that if Pan knew of its qualities, he would want to keep my magic to himself. This furthered my curiosity as to what was wrong with him, thinking back to the concerned look that had been present in his eyes.

He smirked down at me and stepped back.

"You know," he started, beginning to pace. "I'm usually the one who knows who is coming to Neverland and when they are coming here, not the other way around. It takes a special magic for someone to turn the tables like that. A magic that is extremely powerful and highly valued."

I nodded in understanding. Unlike most magic, mine never came with a price. The price for my lessons with Rumplestiltskin wasn't because of my use of magic, it was my use of his time.

I had been born with it, so it never cost unless I asked a yielder of dark magic to help.

"Can I see?" Pan asked, giving me a slightly pleading look. "Your magic, I mean."

I smiled darkly at him, ready to try to use it again, but not ready to show him what he wanted to see.

"No," I lied. I opened my mind, focusing only on him, commanding my magic to find out anything about his past that I could use.

He sighed in defeat.

"Well, I suppose the we need to make a deal regarding your stay here," he offered.

I cringed at the words "make a deal". I had certainly heard those words enough in my life and I really hadn't wanted them to be a part of the first conversation that I had in a new realm.

"I suppose so," I sighed. "But I think that it should be more of a terms of service agreement."

"What do you mean?"

"Well, for example, you let me stay on the island, and I'll be one of your Lost Boys."

"But you're not a boy."

"Wendy and Tinker Bell weren't either."

"Wendy was supposed to be a mother. Tink is just a friend."

"Mhmm." I hummed. "Another term can be that you don't tell anyone from anywhere that I'm staying on this island, and I won't tell anyone that you're Rumplestiltskin's father."

His face darkened and his smirk disappeared.

"I am not that anymore, and I never will be," he said, his voice cracking. "How do you know that?"

"You wanted to see what my magic could do," I answered. "That's only the beginning."

He ran his fingers through his hair as what seemed to me as a gesture that referenced anger management.

"If you tell anyone who I was, I will personally escort you to Rumplestiltskin," he threatened.

"That's why I suggested it as a part of the agreement."

The flustered look disappeared from his face as I waited for him to respond. His playful smirk returned.

"Good, then," he said. "Now I suppose that we will have to list the rest of our terms and conditions. My turn. You cannot go snooping into my past and I will not go snooping into yours. You cannot ask me any questions that I'm unwilling to answer and the same goes for me."

"You have to let me come and go as I please, but I will tell you before I do so," I stated. "Neither you or the Lost Boys can force me to use my magic against my will, but I will follow your orders as long as they are reasonable."

"You cannot go snooping around the island without my permission," he corrected. "That will fall into the question agreement. And I will help you with your magic-whether you need it or not- if you stay in Hangman's Tree with me."

His mischievous grin spread as he stated his last condition.

"No!" I protested. "Absolutely not! I just met you, I can't stay in an enclosed space with you!"

"I'm not going to allow you freedom when I don't know what you can do," he reasoned.

As much as I hated it, he seemed to be doing this for his safety and not just to try to intimidate me or anything. He seemed as if he really needed me to agree to this. So I did.

"Fine," I sighed. "I have a horrible feeling about this."

"You'll get over it," he laughed. "Now do we have an agreement?"

I hesitated for a moment, thinking everything over. We had the same requirements, really. Nothing he asked was terribly unreasonable.

"Yes," I finally answered.

He smiled and held out his hand for me to shake. I took it and we sealed the deal.

When the shake was over, he didn't let go of my hand. Instead, he pulled me close and leaned down to whisper in my ear.

"Felix is coming," he started. "Until you break the ice with the Lost Boys, you are my prisoner."

Before I could ask who Felix was, he spun me around as a rustle was heard in the bushes. He held my wrists together behind my back with one hand while he 'restrained' my midsection with the other arm.

"It's showtime," he whispered.