He's Not Always A Beast (Rumplestiltskin x Reader)

Chapter 2: His Maid

(1375 words)

Your POV

Staring at Rumple for a bit before turning to the foyer. Glancing back to him while his mouth was opening to speak. Doing the same little circle around me again, just as he did before.

"Can't have you wearing that, you'll leave more dirt than you would clean."

Furrowing my brows at him, spinning his hand again and my clothes were changed. My hair was clean, I had a little make-up, a dress, and shoes. Looking at me for a moment he giggled gently.

"Don't you clean up nice, never would have guessed that."

Raising my hand in a sarcastic hurt, looking at him.

"You wound me." Smiling wide and giggling again. "Where should I get started? I am to be your maid" my voice curious on what to do while stepping closer to him.

Looking at me for a moment as if in disbelief before turning on his heels starting his way up the stairs. "You are to clean each one of the bed chambers, every study, every lounge room." Stating while his shoes made gentle clicks up the stairs, myself being on his heels.

"So, you mean every room in the building?" My voice sarcastic making him stop and turn around on his heels.

"That would be it. You better watch it; I'll take that tongue of yours." His finger rose and pointed at me while lifting a brow.

Crossing my arms and smirking gently. Raising my hand and waving him off "If you wanted to do that, you would have already. Besides, I think you like the banter I give in return to yours." Smiling as I put my hand on his.

Pulling his hand from mine quickly, narrowed his eyes at me before turning and going up the stairs. "I'll be in the one room that you aren't allowed into. The room at the top of the west tower. If you need me, say my name. Though I can't say if I'll show up or not." Vanishing in the same cloud as earlier.

Tilting my head and humming gently, shaking my head. "You can't avoid me forever, Rumple! Interaction with another being might be good for you." Mumbling the last part of my statement. Getting something to dust with, stressing in the first room I found. pushing the door open discovering a red room.

Admiring the little things on display, a wand, a vase, or two. A china hutch on the back of the room filled with various things. Smiling a little while having at them searching for a place to start. Humming a little while dusting, my voice carrying through the room, the echo going down the hall.

Checking as quickly as possible, being lost in thought as I did as I was told. My humming turned to singing, moving a vase from its stand and wiping down the pedestal and the vase before putting it back down. Moving to the next knick-knack in the room, picking the wand up by its stand, cleaning it the same way as with the last display.

Putting it down and straightened it out before heading my way to the next area and continuing there.

"It is difficult to spin when I can't hear my thoughts with the singing"

Jumping before looking around. Not seeing anything furrowing my brows before feeling someone touch me. Grabbing the hand, bending down, and launching the person over me. Blooming as none other than Rumple staring up at me from the floor, gasping and hopping away from him before helping him off the floor.

"I'm sorry, you scared me." Panicking and brushing him off before turning to me.

"You're quicker than I had thought you to be."

"Well, that tends to happen when you spend your whole life running from people. Learning to defend yourself is easier than waiting around to die."

Moving my way from him and returning to dusting again. This time taking a large blanket off a looking glass. Cleaning it before looking at myself in it. Glancing at the so-called beast that was behind me. His hands were clasped in front of him, his face was solemn. Stepping closer to me, he stood next to me before brushing some hair from my shoulder.

"Is that why you didn't have any shoes?"

Shaking my head and stepping away from him. "It doesn't matter, I have shoes now. I rather put the past behind me than dwell on it."

He began to step closer to me before I made my way from him again. Following me quickly, finding another room to start cleaning, this time I didn't take any time to admire it.

"Why would you want to do that? The past is what gives us power."

Spinning on my heels and looking at him, he stopped, smiling gently as he had gotten what he wanted. A rise out of me. "You don't know what I've been through, I would rather forget the past than use it. My past is what defines me, no one else should ever have to know what was in it."

Narrowing his eyes at me for a moment before vanishing again. Turning around and crossed my arms in front of my body with a huge. Knowing I shouldn't have snapped at him. Why would I do that? I should have just told him. Why am I so stubborn?

Shaking my head, I made my way to the next room and started to clean. Only this time, I didn't sing. Dusting as quickly as I was before but not as cheery. It was in my head, a habit that I found myself doing more than I should.

When cleaning the table that was in the room. At least that was before I felt someone grab my arm. I instinctively swung only to feel my hand get caught in another's.

"You have some fire, I like that."

Blinking and focusing on the subject to see Rumple in front of me. He let go of my hand, looking down at me. Being a little taller than me, I had to look up slightly to meet his eyes. The pupils were small while the irises were large. Affectively earning a mad look to them as his eyes were looking at mine.

"Why were you crying?"

Shaking my head in a quick denial, I rose my hand to wipe my face. Ready to print him wrong, only stopping when feeling something wet. Looking to see the tear on my hand my head fell.

"Why would you care to know?"

"Curiosity." his shoulders went up in a bored shrug.

Humming gently before speaking. "That is what killed the cat." Looking at him, while tilting his head, studying me. Another tear began to fall before lifting his hand to wipe it away with his thumb. Looking down at me slightly for a moment before he put a finger under my chin.

"Hold your head up high, dearie. Can't let your enemies see your weakness, they'll use it against you."

Looking at him before blinking in surprise. Why would he say something like this? "I don't have any enemies. You should hear what the nearby village says of you."

His eyes blinking, his hand fell to his side before making his way to lean on the table I was cleaning.

"I'm well aware of what the mortals of the Enchanted Forest say of me. I've been called quite a few names. Dark One, Imp, Coward, Crocodile. They only add fuel to my fire."

Staring as his eyes looked through me, that same mad smile came back, his eyes mirroring the look in the amusement and joy of the memory. Feeling what I was positive was terror, my eyes dancing between that smile and his eyes. Noticing it his head lowered. Walking closer to him before stepping in front of him. Picking up his chin as he did mine, smiling gently.

"Keep your head up, your life will pass you by if you keep your head towards the Earth."

Looking at me for a moment. "Keep cleaning, before I sell you to those huntsmen from earlier." Vanishing again. Looks like this is my new life with the Dark One, as his maid.