Chapter Text
It was a drab night in the Poison Apple bar as Rumplestiltskin sauntered in, rain dripping off his soaking clothes and hair. He glanced around at the rather desolate bar, a few familiar faces here and there but none that piqued his interest. Mostly just lowlife thugs, and worthless nothing. Just like him.
The redheaded man climbed onto a stool at the bar, doing his best to ignore the chill he was starting to feel from sitting in his damp clothes. The bartender waltzed over to him upon noticing his presence and gave the small man a polite smile before asking a simple, “What can I get for you short stuff?”
“Beer,” Rumple muttered before placing one of his few silver pieces onto the old wooden bar. The bartender happily took the piece, slipping it into her bosom before quickly filling a large tankard and handing it to the redhead. He hastily took a sip from it, feeling that oh-so-pleasurable warmth brewing up in the back of his throat as he drank. He sighed in slight contentment before the despair began to drag him down once again.
But it wasn’t his fault he had ended up like this. No! It couldn’t have been! All his scams had been perfect before…before….
His eyes locked onto a muted crystal ball showing footage of that damn ogre. He glared at the glass, silently wishing death upon that vile being who ruined his life. He took away his chance to be a king! He took away his chance to rule it all! And most importantly, he took away his Fifi!
Rumple gritted his teeth hard while gripping the handle of the tankard, barely containing his rage when he heard someone take a seat beside him. He rolled his eyes softly, ‘of all the places to sit’ he thought as he took another big chug of his beer. He tried to ignore the person beside him, who he could see ordering one of the fruitiest cocktails Rumple had ever seen. The redhead’s focus had been drawn to his reflection as he tried to avoid looking at the person sitting beside him. He looked awful. He was ragged and it was clear to anyone who could see that he had most likely been sleeping in stables or just boxes. He sighed burying his face in his arms as he desperately tried to hide his reflection.
“You know, that scheme of yours was really something,” a smooth voice came, pulling Rumple out of his thoughts. He blinked as he sat up, glancing over at the man beside him. Whoever he was, he had money. Rumple could tell just by the stunning hooded cloak the man had draped over his shoulders and head. “I mean you almost got him. You almost took down that foul ogre. I bet you could taste your victory when-”
“Yeah, yeah, yeah. I don’t need your pity alright? I know I lost! Despite everything I still lost! I lost my business, my kingdom, and my Fifi! I lost….everything,” Rumple muttered to himself as he tried to keep his dignity intact. He flinched slightly upon feeling a hand resting on his shoulder. He turned to look at the man beside him who seemed more sympathetic than pitiful.
“I get it. I too lost so much to that dreadful ogre,” the taller man explained in a sad tone before finally removing his hood. Rumple knew who he was immediately. The blonde hair, the shimmering eyes, not to mention the smile that could probably blind someone if they looked at it too long. There sat Prince Charming himself, as regal and poised as ever. Rumple silently admitted to himself that Prince Charming was beautiful. And yet it seems his run-ins with Shrek had left his previously flawless skin, muddled with scars. “So you see Rumple. I simply wish to ally with you. All I want is what you want. I want revenge. I want to make that ogre roth in the underbelly of hell for every scar that he marred on my face. So, are you with me?”
Rumple stared at the young man for a moment, considering his options carefully, before smirking. “Do you even need to ask?”