Wicked Game | Mr. Gold/Rumplestiltskin

2. Acts Of Service

The bell at Granny's Diner rang rapidly, as whoever just opened the door was in frantic need to get inside.

Aubrey turned her head, having just received the two coffees from Ruby like usual, ready to go to work. She was surprised to see Mary Margaret in such a fuss to get inside, usually when seen around town, the woman was so composed and sweet.

"Ruby! Coffee! I'm late!"

Aubrey noticed the state she was in, and wondered for a moment why she would stop for coffee if she was already late, but having seen the circles under her eyes, she guessed it was a familiar situation with no sleep involved. Yes, even when late, coffee is a necessity born of a sleepless night.

"I have to brew another pitcher, I just ran out," Ruby explained, hustling around the counter to the kitchen to get it started.

"Here," Aubrey handed her own cup over, knowing that she didn't need to feel so uptight about being late anymore. "I can wait a few minutes, you can take mine."

The woman smiled to her with her beautiful brown doe eyes, hesitantly taking the cup and backing away quickly. "Thank you so much, you saved my life today."

"No problem, have a nice day!"

"You too!"

And when the door shut, Aubrey turned back to the counter, where Ruby was already standing and looking at her curiously.

"Since when are you allowed to be late?"

Aubrey smiled and shook her head. "I'm not allowed, but I think I have some leeway, now."

This only confused Ruby more.

"He gives you leeway? Why?" She leaned forward, resting her elbows on the counter while the coffee was brewing behind her.

"I have no idea. About a week ago he came back from collecting rent early, which never happens... when he walked in the door he seemed so-"

"What do you mean he came back early?" She interrupted. In her eyes, and most of the town's eyes, he was a greedy man with selfish intentions, and he mistreated those who needed help from him. Coming back early implies he didn't hit all his stops.

"He came back not even half an hour after he left. I know he couldn't have gotten everyone in that time, unless he's started arranging group meetings that I don't know about."

"No, he came here to collect from Granny that day... but he didn't seem any different to me."

"I can't really describe it," Aubrey paused, setting Gold's coffee cup on the counter, unsure if it was going cold yet. "He got all emotional for some reason... started touching my hair."

She remembers how strange it was, how she felt he might have been sick or something. Looking at it now, it was like he'd been reunited with an old friend, but he's been around her for years now, as long as she can remember.

"Mr. Gold? Ew-"

"Not like that, weirdo. It was actually kinda sweet, or it would have been, if I knew what actually happened. He kept going on about not being a good boss and treating me badly... which, if we're being honest, he's just a regular boss. The work isn't that hard and I get paid pretty well, the only thing I'd complain about is just how grumpy he can be, but he mostly kept to himself..." Aubrey figured she was going off track, but she just couldn't help but follow her line of thoughts.

"You're rambling, just tell me what he does now," she demanded, turning at the ding of the old coffee maker and pouring Aubrey another coffee. She drank it like Gold did, and she'd likely take the cold one for herself.