Chapter Text
He had always known that he was a monster.
How could he not when his father told him that every day. When his father looked at him with disgust and hatred. But most of all fear.
He was afraid of him. Afraid of his own son. His son whose shadow didn’t stay put. His son who sometimes spoke in strange and inhuman clicks and growls.
His son who didn’t even always look human.
Instead his skin would turn a strange emerald green and his eyes a molten gold. His ears would become as pointy as the elves from their stories and his teeth would be needles. His nails would be claws and his legs that of a goat. A tail of all things would sway from behind, ready to snatch anything in grabbing distance
But the strangest of all would be the vines.
Vines as black as night would grow and wrap around his arms and legs. And as he got older, would start to become a crown of thorny antlers.
Vines that would leak and ooze a tar looking substance whenever he was frightened or angry.
Though he had never used it before, he could tell that substance was dangerous. Deadly even to all but him.
With such a monster for a so it’s no wonder why his father sold. Traded him for twelve pieces of silver to a cruel blacksmith(a blacksmith who was more a monster than he at the time).
For years he was forced to work for that blacksmith. Day after day enduring beatings, burnings, and starvation. Telling himself think lovely thoughts of only to survive. The only shred of happiness in his life being the land he would see in his dreams and the shadow that moved on its own.
He endured it until couldn’t anymore.
Then he let himself be the monster his father always said he was.
There was a strange thrill to it. The feeling of blood under his claws. The red staining his tongue and teeth. The warmth in his belly after finally having a full meal. It made him feel more satisfied than he had ever been.
But what had been the most satisfying was the look in the smith’s eyes when he saw what he truly paid for. The fear they held as teeth and claws tore him to pieces.
He had let nothing go to waste. Not even a single drop of blood or shadow cast(his own shadow felt full well. Already anticipating its next meal). No traces that the smith was ever there.
And for the first time in years, he walked away free. The price of his freedom being gladly paid with the blood that filled his belly. He grinned up at the moon with his blood stained teeth and lips. He liked the taste of freedom.
His joy didn’t last long. Though he was free from the smith there was still one thing chaining him down.
Adulthood.
He couldn’t run and play like he wanted to. He couldn’t pull some mischief on others without a punch following. He couldn’t eat his fill whenever he wanted. He couldn’t let his true self be free. Instead he had to try and work(not that anyone would hire him. Not when there was something about him that made them feel afraid). Had hid his true nature and limit his ever growing appetite. If only to avoid the swords and magic that would follow.
But… there was one positive to his chain.
Her.
His Fiona. A woman who made his world feel brighter. A woman who was sharper and more clever than anyone.
A woman who wasn’t afraid of a monster.
She had discovered him by accident. He had gotten sloppy, careless even. He had gotten too comfortable with his hunts. So much so that he had forgotten to make sure he wasn’t followed.
Next thing he knew she was standing behind him as he feasted. Not even a trace of fear in her voice as she said, “ Next time be more careful. You wouldn’t want the town to discover what you are.”
He had been startled and ready to dispose of her, but something stopped him. She wasn’t afraid. She didn’t care he was a monster. So instead he asked, “Why do you care?”
All she responded with is, “Someone has to get rid of the vermin right.”
That was only the start of what he had come to believe was love. The softness of her touch. The fire in her eyes. The willingness to help choose his next meal.
Well it was no surprise that she became pregnant not much later.
When she told him he was confused and so very conflicted. He couldn’t be a father. He had no idea what a father does besides sell their own blood. How could a monster care for the very essence of innocence?
But he hid his doubts for her. He lied and told her he was excited. Would whisper sweet lies of how much he loved the little thing growing inside her. That he loved it when it came into the world.
(He lied so much that perhaps his words came to be a little true when that little things shadow began to move on its own.)
He didn’t know if he loved the little thing. The feelings he came to know as love for Fiona didn’t feel the same for the bundle called his son. But he could never say he didn’t feel anything. (Could never say without lying a possessiveness hadn’t grown. He was his. He was his little one. From the moment his little one’s shadow moved on its own he was his.)
It was because he didn’t feel nothing that he didn’t abandon him when Fiona disappeared. That he still tried despite the sleepless nights and hours upon hours of screaming.
That and because his shadow moved. Just like his papas.
It wasn’t stop at the shadow though. His little one could click and trill at him in place of cooing. When angry would make tiny growls alongside his cries. He could see all the signs.
His son was a monster too.
And he couldn’t have been happier at the realization.
It took a long time before Rumple finally let the monster inside him out. He was almost five by then. Far too long by his standards, but he supposes his little lost boy had always been on the softer side. Always too skittish to let the monster out.
No matter though. He was still young, he had plenty of time to learn. Plenty of time to become a monster.
The first time it happened was at the market. He was in the middle of drawing in more customers when a sore loser from earlier came storming in. Dragging him into a secluded alley ignoring the little boy following behind, begging him to let his papa go.
Instead, he ignored the child’s cries and threw him against the wall, a knife to his throat. Stating that he would kill him for swindling him.
Ha! As if a knife could kill him. But before he could make this fool pay, something else beat him to it. Or should he say someone else. For right before he could reveal what he really was, the man started screaming in pain. Dropping both him and the knife while thrashing his leg.
All to try and throw off his lad who had dug his tiny teeth in. Getting his first ever taste of blood.
He was so proud.
He watched with pride as he listened to the man scream with pain as Rumple’s teeth just dug in further. A dark needle filled grin spread across his face. He had enjoyed watching the show, but now it was time for the best part.
As silent as his shadow he made his way behind the still screaming man. Without even giving his prey a chance to notice him he grabbed him by the neck firmly and SNAP. The screaming stopped and the body fell.
It was one of his least favorite methods to hunt. He didn’t get to savor the fear in the eyes or the smell of blood intoxicating him. But it was faster this way. Something he prioritized at the moment.
Crouching down beside the corpse, he looked towards laddie to get a proper look at him. Eager to see the monster his son truly was.
He wasn’t disappointed.
His son had bronzy colored crocodile scales that covered his entire body. Tiny little crocs fangs poking out of his mouth(coated in fresh blood) quivered in shock or fear. A long croc tail wrapped around his mid section as little golden claws buried themselves into his shirt. (Why the only things be two had in common in appearance were the pointy ears and the same golden eyes.)
But these differences didn’t matter to him. All it meant was he was right. His son was a monster just like him.
“Rumple”, he called, watching as his son’s head snapped up to look at him. Unshed tears burning his big golden eyes. “What’s with the tears laddie?”
“Papa!”he cried, “You killed him! He’s dead so the village will kill you! Then they’ll kill me! What’s wrong with me!” His son sobbed, curling into a tight ball. His little frame trembling as his tail curled around him tighter and shadow raced around panicking.
“Oh laddie” he trilled, his own tail wrapping around the crying little one and bring him close. “You don’t need to be frightened about that. The village will never know.”
His son only sobbed more and buried his head in his chest. Clinging to his shirt for dear life. “How can you know that!”
“Because I’ve done this before and they’ve never found out” he said softly, his claws coming to gentle rub rumble back. “As for what’s wrong with you, the answer is nothing. You’re just like me. A monster. And I’ll teach you all you need to know to be one.”
“Promise” he whispered sleepily. Completely exhausted from not only his first transformation, but his crying afterwards.
“I promise.”
And he meant it. After Rumples first transformation he started showing him all there was to be a monster. The first step being the proper meals.
Oh his son protested at first, saying it was wrong and disgusting. But he had long since become experienced with getting his little one to stop being picky. All he had to do was say how disappointed he was and remind him how ungrateful he was to refuse food and he ate with little protest. Not only that he could see the way his son’s eyes lit up at the taste. The way he easily accepted a second helping.
His boy enjoyed the taste just like him.
After his first real taste he never protested again. Instead the two would sit around the fire enjoying the fullness of their bellies. Him snacking on the eyes as Rumple gobbled up the brain.(they always shared the heart as it was both their favorites). Neither leaving even scraps of bone while their shadows dined on their foods shadows.
Once Rumple truly gained the taste for it he moved on to the other lesson.
Fending for yourself.
He started off small. Having him cut open his own food. Showing him the best places to remain unseen. How to blend in with the humans.
But most importantly how to hunt.
Oh those lessons were so much fun. Tricking the prey into feeling safe. Luring them away from the crowd. Seeing the fear in their eyes as they learned how foolish they had been. All so fantastic. And it was even better with his lost boy soaking in every lesson. Catching on as quickly as he could teach.
His lad had always been clever.
Soon enough he allowed Rumple to choose their next meal. Allowed him to get his claws wet with blood first. Let him be the cause of the fear in their eyes.
As the years passed he allowed his son more and more control over the hunts until he could do it with ease. Until it became second nature for him.
That’s when he knew he could leave. When he could finally be a boy again.
A child couldn’t have a child but he didn’t have one anymore. His son wasn’t a child anymore and could care for himself. He didn’t need him to care for him.
So he left. Went off a place he could be free. Where he can be a boy again.(we he can feed whenever he wants too).
And did he ever find it. Neverland. The land from when he was a boy. The world that he had become king in. Where the everything could be his with just a little belief.
Everything except his favorite meal.
So he would travel back to where he came from. Would lure prey in over and over again(and secretly check in on laddie while there)(once even leading him to rip apart some unfortunate souls who DARED to lay their weapons on his boy). Creating new ways to feast. Including bringing his prey back with him.
The lost boys. Boys who were unloved, unwanted. Boys who no one would miss. He’d bring them back with him and create games for them to play and fail at. Creating endless entertainment for him till he got bored.
Then he could eat his fill.
He would continue to do this for decades. Luring boys in, make them play his games, then eat his fill when he was done. Replacing every boy he ever drew in.
(all but one. His second in command. Human boy far too inhuman. He wasn’t a monster, but he wasn’t normal either. That was enough to make him keep him around).
And with each new boy he brought information would come with. Information that one day included his son. His little lost boy no longer a boy. Instead he had made a name for himself. The Dark One. A being of pure darkness. A creature rumored to eat those who tried to cross him. A true monster to the core.
He couldn’t have more proud.
His son was a monster.
But that was ok, so was his papa.