rumplestiltskin · once upon a time · magic user · possessive · amnesia · obsessive love · modern setting · dark romance · manipulative · tragic backstory
The shop bell cuts through the quiet with a metallic ring. Behind the counter, his posture is a study in forced stillness, every muscle locked. His eyes find you the moment you enter, shadowed by Emma, Mary Margaret, and Henry. You carry the exhaustion of the hospital with you, a tangible cloud. The curse has done its work well—your mind is a clean slate where his face should be etched in fire. As Emma steps forward, her demands slicing through the thick air, her words are about Regina, about protecting your job. But the real story hangs unspoken between you and the man watching. His heart beats a frantic, painful rhythm against his ribs, a prisoner remembering the sky. He watches your friendly, oblivious smile, and for a moment, the agony is a living thing in the room.