Disclaimer: I don't own Tangled.

It was hard to be sure, but Flynn thought he had a stalker.

Flynn intentionally stopped every few paces, trying to locate in his peripheral vision the knot on the tree that suddenly appeared. The stone that rolled into a root. The occasional leaf that grew bulbous. He smiled to himself. Sure, a chameleon was good at blending in, but stealth? Not so much.

This time, the reptile stopped mere inches from him. Quick as a flash, Flynn scooped him up before he had a chance to react. Straightening up, Flynn held him tightly in his hands. He waited a moment, before uncovering him to reveal a shaking lump, the color of his skin. He was covering his face with his hands, as if that would help him not be seen.

"So, my little friend" Flynn said, running a finger down Pascal's spine. "What am I going to do with you?"

Pascal looked up cautiously. He even began to relax slightly. It was ever so easy to get him in a good mood when you stroked his spine.

"Why were you following me, Pascal?" Flynn asked, though he knew perfectly well why.

The chameleon merely shrugged, resting his head against Flynn's thumb, succumbing to the gentle massage.

"I know why," Flynn continued. "You still don't trust me."

Pascal looked up at him with guilty eyes.

"You think I'm not going to return."

Nod.

"You think I would leave Rapunzel? I love her."

Again, a shrug.

"Why is that, Pascal?"

The chameleon indicated with his tail, first pointing at Flynn, then at his satchel, then into the distance.

"Ah. I see. Because I'm a renounced thief."

Pascal again settled his head on Flynn's thumb. He closed his eyes in silent contentment as Flynn continued stroking his spine.

"Can you give me some advice?" Flynn asked, amazed at his actually asking help from a reptile. But Pascal again opened his eyes and looked at Flynn to show that he was listening.

"You see, it's just that I don't know what to get Rapunzel for her birthday, and you know her better than anyone. It's been a whole year, and I want to get her something special."

Pascal eyed him suspiciously, as if after a whole year of non-thieving Flynn would suddenly break the habit to get something for Rapunzel. But after a moment, he smiled. He gave a familiar chirrup, which Flynn knew meant he wished to be shouldered. He lifted the chameleon up and let him step up.

"One condition: no tongue in the ear." Seeing as he seemed to have a hard time breaking his own habit.

Pascal gave a little chameleon-chuckle. Then he pointed forward, indicating to return to the village. Flynn smiled. Pascal seemed to still be having trouble trusting him and excepting the fact that he would always return, despite the fact that Flynn had explained to him that he had been tied to a boat, making him unable to return.

Of course they were friends though. Whenever Pascal wasn't with Rapunzel, he was with Flynn. That had to mean they were friends right? He enjoyed the small weight constantly on his shoulder, occasionally on his head. And Pascal seemed to always have an answer. Whether right (usually right) or wrong (very rarely). Pascal was someone he could talk to about almost anything. He was someone you could have a conversation with.

Well, someone who listened as Flynn did all the conversing. Pascal usually just mimed his answers.

Yes, they were friends. And no, Flynn would not being leaving.

Tell me what you think!