breaking a heart
The next morning, after the avengers ate breakfast with each other, Alex talks to Bucky and Thor in the hallway.
“Oh, look who’s coming.” Bucky says.
Alex follows Bucky’s gaze and sees Nat coming closer.
“Good luck, liege Alex.” Thor tells them, he and Bucky then walk away.
“Hi.” Alex says smiling.
“Hey, would you like to hang out today?” Natasha asks.
“like a date?” Alex asks awkwardly.
“If you want to.” Natasha tells them, smiling.
Alex smiles back at Natasha, “sure.”
Alex decides to bring Natasha to Granny’s, it’s the only place suitable for a date here.
The date actually goes really well, Natasha is such enjoyable company. She even made them laugh a couple times.
“…and that’s what happened in Budapest.” She says after she finished her story.
“Damn, so that’s what you and Clint always talk about.” Alex says.
“Yep, but enough about me. Tell me something I don’t know about you.” Nat tells them smiling.
“Well, let’s just say the you’re not the only one with red in your ledger.” Alex admits.
“You? Alex ‘I’m too pure for this world’ Stark? You got red in your ledger?”
“Is it that unbelievable?” Alex ask smiling.
“yeah! You’re around the nicest person I know!”
Alex laughs, “Did miss ‘I’m a total badass’ just give me a compliment?”
“Hey! I can be sweet too, and if you tell anyone I said that I’ll kill you!”
Alex laughs again, “I’m glad we’re doing this.”
Natasha takes Alex’s hand in hers and smiles, “me too.”
Belle then steps into Granny’s and goes to sit by a table alone.
“Hey, is it okay if I get over there? I need to talk to her about something important, I’ll be back in a second.” Alex asks Natasha, pointing to Belle.
“Sure.” Natasha tells them.
Alex walks to Belle and sits down opposite of her.
Belle sighs, “What do you want?”
“I’m just curious, why are you here alone? Aren’t you and Rumplestitskin…”
“It’s none of your business.” Belle says quickly.
“Look, what I said yesterday is true. I truly am sorry, I know it might be hard to believe but I’ve changed. I’m one of the good guys now and I just wanted to see how you’re doing.”
Belle sighs, then looks up to Alex. “I don’t really have a place to stay. I stayed at Rumple’s for a while but I need him to be honest with me, otherwise we can’t be in a relationship together.”
“yeah, honesty is really important. Do you have any family here?” Alex asks her.
“I’m still looking for my father, but I’m on my own for now.” Belle tells them.
Ruby, who has walked up to them, says “I could ask Granny for a room here.”
Belle looks at Ruby and smiles, “thank, uh”
“Ruby.” she says, then sits next to Alex.
“Belle.” Belle says smiling.
”What I really need though is a life, a job.” Belle tells both of them.
“Well, what do you like to do?” Alex asks.
“I do love books.” Belle answers.
“The library. It’s been closed forever but things are changing now, maybe they need a librarian.” Ruby tells Belle.
After Belle has walked out of Granny’s to go to the library Alex goes back to Natasha.
“Hi.” Alex says smiling, sitting on her original pace again.
“Hey.” Nat says smiling back at them.
“I’m sorry about..”
“Stop apologizing.” Natasha tells them.
“She’s your friend, I get it. You don’t have to apologize for talking to her.”
“Okay.” Alex says smiling.
In the background Alex hears ‘love will tear us apart’ from Joy Devision playing
“I love this song.” Alex comments.
“Joy Devision.” Nat smiles, “good taste.”
“I know.” Alex tells her.
They then laugh.
Around half an hour later David walks into Granny’s and towards Alex’s table, followed by Rumplestiltskin.
“Alex.”
“David, hi.” Alex says smiling.
“Have you seen Belle?” He asks them.
Alex looks over to Rumplestiltskin, remembering that Belle came to Granny’s to stay away from him until he’s honest with her.
“I promise I’ll look out for her Alex.” David tells them, noticing them looking at Rumple.
“She was in earlier.” Alex tells him.
“She was looking for work, Ruby and I pointed her towards the library.”
“Well do you think she’s there?” Rumplestiltskin asks.
“I don’t know, maybe” Alex tells him.
“If you find her, give her this.” Ruby tells Rumple, giving him Belle’s coat.
“No, that’s mine.” Rumple says.
Everyone looks to Rumple.
“She didn’t have anything for the cold.” He explains.
“You sure you’ll watch out for her?” Ruby asks Charming.
“Yes, why? Charming asks her.
“I think…”
“You think you can find her.”
“Yes. Lately, since things changed, I’ve been, uh, a little more sensitive to odors”
“What, you can smell her?”
Ruby reaches out to Rumpelstiltskin, Rumpelstiltskin gives her Belle's coat.
“I guess it’s cause of the wolf thing.” Ruby tells him.
“And?” Alex asks.
“I think I have a trail.”
“Good, now let’s go.” Rumpelstiltskin says.
When Alex is standing in the entrance of Granny’s, ready to go, Natasha walks up to them.
“Let me come with you.” Natasha tells them.
Alex sighs, they can’t leave Natasha alone in Granny’s. This was supposed to be their day. What’s they worst thing that can happen with Natasha joining them? As long as they try to keep the fairytale world a secret, which Alex knows they will, nothing bad can happen.
“Okay.” Alex tells her.
Natasha, Alex, Rumple and Charming walk outside, following Ruby.
Alex looks at Rumplestiltskin, they used to hate the man for all the pain he caused them. Rumple was the reason Regina turned dark, but then it’s Alex’s fault Regina’s dad died.
The man Alex looks at is called Rumplestiltskin but is nothing like the man they thought they knew, he’s not a demon trying to cause pain, he’s a worried man trying to find his girlfriend.
Ruby suddenly turns and looks around her, she looks lost and confused.
“What’s wrong?” Rumplestiltskin asks her.
“I had her, but… I lost her trail.”
Ruby sneezes. then looks at the flowers “It must be the flowers. I can’t track her anymore. I’m sorry.” Ruby tells them.
“Don’t be, this is her father’s shop.” Rumple tells her.
The four of them then step into the shop and Belle’s father walked up to them.
“You again. Out. This is a private establishment. You’re not welcome.” He tells Rumplestiltskin.
“Where’s belle?”
“I won’t let anything happen to her, Moe.” Charming assures him.
“We’re just worried.” Ruby says.
“Don’t be. She’s safe. So you can stop looking.” He tells them.
“Look, if I could just have the chance to talk to her.” Rumple tries.
“You will destroy Belle like you destroy everything else. Well, I won’t let that happen” He tells Rumple.
“What have you done with her?”
“Theres only one way to get her from you.”,/p>
“What have you done?!”
“I have to make her forget about you, no matter the cost. Even if it means she forgets me too.”
“He’s sending her across town line.” Rumple states, realizing what’s happening.
They then walk outside, Charming’s holding Belle’s father.
“Where are you sending Belle across?” He asks, demanding an answer.
“You know we have patrols on the storybook line to make sure no one crosses accidentally so how are you planning to pull it off?” David asks.
They walk up to the caravan, Ruby and Nat have already stepped in. Alex stands next to charming, Charming’s still holding Moe.
Rumplestiltskin then shrugs Moe around and pushes him agains the van.
“Where?! Where are you sending her across?” He yells at him while using his can to strangle him.
“Stop it, You’re going to get him killed.” David tells Rumple.
David then looks at his hands. “Yule been down in the mines. The tunnels. They lead out of town.”
Ruby already sits in the van, Rumple and Charming step was well.
Alex looks at Natasha who looks taken aback by all thats happening here, Alex takes her hand.
They then step into the car together.
Once they all rush into the mines they hear Belle screaming.
Rumple immediately uses his magic, it’s a sort of blue light.
The magic is pulling Belle back.
“That is seriously. Wow.” Ruby comments.
Belle then steps out of the car.
“Belle, are you alright?” Rumple asks her.
“I, uh, I think so.” Belle answers him.
“Do you remember who I am?” Rumplestiltskin then asks Belle.
“I do. Rumplestiltskin. I-I remember.” Belle tells him hesitant.
“What’s wrong?” Rumple asks her.
“Thank you for what you just did, but that doesn't change that you're too cowardly to be honest with me.” Belle tells him.
Rumple looks hurt. “But, Belle, I…”
“I tried to tell him that, Belle. Come with me, darling.” Moe tells her
“After what you just tried to do to me? You're no better, father. You don't get to decide what I do or how I feel. I do. If either of you cared about me, you would've listened. I don't wanna see either of you again. Ever.” She tells both of them, she then walks away.
Alex smiles, Belle is an inspiring woman.
After David, Rumple, Moe and Ruby all walk away only Natasha and Alex are over.
“So, Guess we’re going home.” Natasha says.
“Nat, I’m sorry. Today was supposed to be our day and I ruined it.”
“That’s not what bothers me.” Nat tells them, then takes a step back. “What bothers me is that you can’t be honest with me. Can you explain what happened today?”
“What? What do you mean?” Alex asks her.
“Alex, why would someone lose their memories by crossing a town line. How can someone have magic whilst not being an avenger or any kind of hero we know about. How come Storybook isn’t on any kind of map. And how come you know everyone here?” Natasha asks them.
Alex takes a step back and looks at the ground. Natasha’s right, they can’t tell her the truth.
“I like you, Alex. But I won’t get involved with someone who can’t be honest with me.” Natasha tells them, then walks away.
When Alex comes home they try to avoid all questions about how the date went.
They feel horrible, worse than they have in a long time.
Natasha is beautiful and amazing and Alex ruined their chance.
Maybe they just don’t deserve Natasha, or anyone as good as her.
Alex walks to the bathroom, which is in the hallway, and look at themself.
Their body starts shaking and tears are forming in their eyes.
They then sink against the door, holding their head in their hands.
They look at the mirror and all they see is a broken girl, the broken girl people like Cora would always tell them they are.
A freak, a fake, a faggot.
They then look down and see their tits. They hate them. They hate their body.
“Kid? Are you okay?” Tony asks from the outside the room.
He must have heard Alex’s sobbing.
They open their mouth to say something but all that comes out are cries.
Tony then breaks into the door and sees Alex crying against the wall with their hands in their head.
He kneels down beside them, looking at Alex with concern.
“Kid? What’s wrong?” Tony ask them.
They look at him and then fall into his arms.
“Shh. Shh. Its’ alright, I got you.” Toy tells them reassuring.
After Alex somewhat calmed down Tony bring them to their room.
They lay down in their bed, they’re tired.
“I’ll leave you alone now kid. But you gotta tell me what’s wrong tomorrow, okay?”
“Okay, dad.” Alex tells them.
When Tony leaves the room they quickly fall asleep.