Haha I still live I promise. Got distracted by Celtic Thunder fanfiction. But hey! Gonna see Tangled again tonight – so thought I'd get back to this. Reviews, as always, are better than sex.

Of Bad People and Birthdays

"Eugene?" Rapunzel asked, from the bench like root they'd found when it became obvious that they would not reach the Royal City. Flynn had gone sat her there and went to find firewood trying to get his mind off of the glowing hair that his companion possessed. It hadn't exactly worked, but she never said anything more about it, so he built up the fire in silence.

Until then.

He looked back at her, as she fidgeted with a piece of her insanely long hair, and tried to look exasperated with her use of the name he had hoped never to hear again. But he knew her stubborn enough to never stop so with a sigh he asked, "What?"

"There's something I've wanted to ask you…" She began.

"What'd I say about backstories?" He cut in.

She laughed a little, "Well, I mean, I know? But… just one question? I'll let you ask anything about me then!"

Instantly he thought there was nothing he wanted to know about her so much that that bait would work – but instantly he realized that was very much a lie. And she was practically pleading. What could she want to know about him that much? He looked at her for a long moment whilst internally smacking himself for never being able to say no to the green-eyed beauty before him. "JUST one, blondie." He permitted.

She smiled, but it came out nervous looking in the dim firelight. "So, what did you do?"

He blinked at her, "That HAS to be the vaguest thing I've ever heard."

"You know what I mean-"

"No, actually I don't."

She made a face at him before continuing, "I mean, all those people back there… the ones that wanted- wanted to kill you. You said they all don't like you. Why? What did you do?"

He stared, even gaped, at her for a second before collecting himself, "Who's to say I did anything?" He said, somewhat wildly, "Maybe they've all done something to me."

"The wanted posters… in the pub. The boys said guards were after you." She pointed out. Why, oh why, did she always have to see through him?

So he gave up trying, though still unsure of how to say it. Why should he cover it up? Some part of him asked. He was Flynn Rider, Kingdom's Greatest Thief, he should be flaunting who he was. He usually had no problem doing so. And if she didn't like it, well, it'd get her out of his hair, right? But she was so far from where her home was, she obviously had no handle on where she was or how to get on without him. He was her guide, a protector even. He wanted to stay in her eyes THAT way. He'd never been that for anyone.

But lying would work on her. It never seemed to. "Well…" He began awkwardly, "Well, I-" Well, I basically stole the priceless crown of the kingdom's beloved stolen princess, outwitted my partners in order to insure that I have more riches than I actually have plans to use.

How on EARTH was he expected to tell her that? He knew he shouldn't have agreed to this whole question deal.

"You what?" She probed, green eyes intense with curiosity. He sighed, looking away from her and back at the flames, poking another piece of fuel into them.

"I took something- from the Royal City. Something important to them, and they want it back."

Rapunzel's voice came out considerably quieter, "Why?"

He refused to look at her, "Well, it's complicated. But you know, I've got dreams… and dreams, they take money. And that's- that's not easy to come by if you don't- take… stuff." He groaned at his horrible explanation. Even sugar coated he sounded like a selfish, egotistic, bastard. Well, Flynn, a voice echoed in his mind, you really are. But… he didn't want to be. Not for her.

"Then you ask for money…" She said, still soft.

He laughed a short laugh, hoping it didn't sound TOO bitter, "Sorry, Goldie, the world doesn't exactly work that way. Never has, never will…"

"The world's a dark place, filled with cruel selfish people." She whispered bluntly. He turned to her in surprise; that was abnormally dark for the seemingly always sunny young woman. She was staring at her hands, looking most conflicted he'd seen her since the morning and not at all happy. What, had finding out the truth about him ripped all the wonder of this outside world from her? Would she shut herself away, convinced the world was as dark and terrible as she just said? Would it be all his fault?

He cleared his throat awkwardly, feeling the absurd need to apologize, "Wishing you'd taken a different guide, eh, Rapunzel?" The name sounded weird in his voice, and it hit him that it was the first time he called her by it. She looked up at him, a little surprised.

"No! I mean- no. I was- I was just quoting my mother." She said, "That's what she always told me the world was."

Relief suddenly rushed through him and he nodded, uncomfortably, "Well, I guess, in some cases… a lot of cases, really, it's the truth. There are bad people out there, plenty of them. I'm sorry you got stuck with one as a guide."

She blinked at him, looking even more surprised. "No, not you, Eugene."

"I just told you, I'm a wanted thief!" He sputtered in dumbfounded amazement.

"You're helping me with my biggest dream, you've saved my life several times, you haven't hurt me – nor do I think you ever will. " She defended, a small smile forming on her lips. "Thief you may be, Eugene-Flynn, but I KNOW you are not a bad person."

Incredible, he thought, unable to process that. He'd just told the naïve, sheltered girl that he was a cruel selfish thief and she was still fine with him. She still, dare he think it, liked him. Did she really find a way to see the best in everyone? Or did she just bring out the best in everyone? He just knew one thing right then, in the very back of his mind one desire became very clear to him.

He wanted to be the person Rapunzel thought he was.

He gave her a smirk of a smile back, hoping his expression betrayed none of his thoughts. She gave him a glowing smile in return, "Your turn." She said finally.

"My what?" He asked, distracted.

"You get to ask the question now… about me."

He regarded her for a few seconds debating how to ask what he wanted to know, or how to get the most information out in a single question. She looked back at him innocently, and his train of thought died so the first question that left him wasn't even fully thought. "What is it about these lanterns – why do you want to see them this badly?"

She looked surprised, obviously having expected a question about her hair. HE'd expected a question about her hair. Where on earth had that come from, and could he have a do over?

But she was already answering, twirling her hair in between her fingers, "The lanterns… oh they just- it's hard to explain. But, they fascinate me. I've never known- until you showed up- what they even were. Mother never told me… well, I never asked, and so they were just the floating lights. The beautiful floating lights that appear every year… ONLY that one day you know, only on my birthday. And I've just longed… my whole life… to see them. In person."

"Tomorrow is your birthday?" He asked, curiously.

She sat up a little taller, looking proud, "My 18th. 18 years and I FINALLY get to see them."

That little thing? 18? He thought, amused and amazed simultaneously. "Happy birthday, then." He said instantly.

She giggled, but looking deeply grateful under that. When the giggled died her voice sounded sadder, "No one has ever wished me a happy birthday before." Her green frined made a little growling noise by her feet, "Except you, Pascal." She added, kindly.

"Not your mother?"

She shrugged, looking away again, "She forgets." She whispered. "I know she doesn't meant to so I don't- I don't say anything so I won't upset her." She took a deep breath and let it out in a long sigh.

He tried to smile again, and wanted to tell her that he had never once gotten a happy birthday in his life either. But that was taking his back story a little further than he wanted to go with her, just yet. So after getting her reassuring smile in reply he turned back to the growing and well fed fire, accidentally lifting a piece of wood with his scratched hand. He dropped it with a cringe.

"Are you alright, Eugene?" She asked, immediately.

He sent a smirk to her, "Just fine." He lied.

She shook her head at him, "Your hand – I know you hurt it. Come here."

Unsure what she'd do, he obediently went to sit beside her. She took his hand, so suddenly he didn't think to do or say anything. After a second of looking at it she whispered, "I'm so sorry."

"Hey, it's alright." He said quickly. A cut was hardly something she needed to beat herself up about. No matter how it hurt.

She smiled shyly, "It'll be better in a second." She said and, just like that, began to wrap a thick locket of her hair around the wound, again and again like a thick bandage. He looked at it, and then at her, but she was concentrating on her work, looking wholly serene.

"Well," He said uncomfortably, "you're being strangely cryptic as you wrap your magic hair around my injured hand –ungh." He cringed as she tightened it enough to be mildly painful.

"Sorry!" She apologized instantly. He tried to smile reassuringly but was too curious to pull it off. She met his eyes straight on and said, "Just don't freak out."

And with no other warning, she began to sing.

Another thing I always wondered about; how did Rapunzel learn Flynn was a thief, and what were her thoughts. And when did Flynn learn that it was Rapunzel's birthday. Hoped you liked my rendition again. :)