Board Thread:General Discussion/@comment-11058666-20141228031222/@comment-11058666-20150605235241

The Joker and Harlequin are a classic example of an abusive relationship. He beats her up whenever she fails to do his bidding, and constantly manipulates her, but sadly she is just too blindly in love with him to ever leave him, even though he probably doesn't love her back.

Rumple has told Belle some pretty sickening lies, and that manipulative garbage he pulled in S4 is almost unforgivable, but again, he'd never actually go out of his way to hurt her. I know the relationship seems a little creepy, considering that their origin involves Rumple buying Belle as if she was some kind of slave and forcing her to take care of his castle, but it's not abusive. If anyone's being hurt, it's the poor people that get in Rumple's way. :P