Chasing Dreams

So, given that this is the first of the Interlude chapters, I feel I should take some time to explain how I plan to structure this story for the foreseeable future.

While the main story is ongoing, I plan to update in between chapters of the major arcs with short interlude chapters that do not contribute directly to the ongoing plot, but are mostly to provide characterization and worldbuilding moments for both Rapunzel and Eugene. And fluff, too, can't forget the fluff.

Such chapters will usually be shorter in length than the main arc ones, but I hope you all enjoy them all the same. The general schedule will be Interlude chapters go in between two arc ones.

Disclaimer: I own nothing.

Summary: For a moment, she simply stood there, touched by the simple gesture of what he had done for her.

The first time Eugene had told her to sit on the bed, Rapunzel hadn't been entirely sure what he was on about.

The caravan they were travelling with had stopped at a village along the way to Caldis and it was the first night she'd been able to spend in a room with a proper bed ever since she'd... left. Notwithstanding her curiosity about the quiet town they'd found themselves in – was that an actual cow? – she was exhausted by the long trip and she'd quickly staggered off to her room.

The sun's rays on her face were what roused her from slumber the next day. As she stirred and blinked sleep away, the thought came to her mind that maybe the people running the inn should have properly figured out curtains by now.

Pulling herself into a sitting position, she was about to hop out of bed and see to getting herself some breakfast when she heard Eugene's voice.

"No, hang on, sit down a minute."

She settled down, although first sharing a questioning look with Pascal. The chameleon looked as confused as she was, and so she almost looked over her shoulder to ask Eugene what the matter was.

A moment before she could, though, she felt his hands gently pulling on her hair.

"Eugene?"

"Just hold on a moment, blondie," Eugene sounded preoccupied, as if he were focusing on something else. "I haven't done this in a really long time so it's probably for the best I don't get distracted."

Rapunzel frowned. The way he tugged at her hair felt strangely familiar... like she had felt back when...

"Hey, hang on, are you braiding my hair?"

"Heh," Eugene's chuckle had a hint of the self-conscious about it. "Well, back in the orphanage some of the younger girls had trouble with keeping their hair neatly braided. So who would they call on for help but big brother Eugene?"

"And you remembered how to do it? After all these years?" almost unconsciously, she leaned in closer to him. She liked it, the feeling of his hands running through her hair.

"Well I am more than a little rusty – and I've never really dealt with hair quite as long as yours before, but I've been working it out the past couple of days so I should be able to get this done."

"You mean you've been thinking about this?" she wasn't sure why she felt quite so surprised about this. The idea that someone, anyone, would spend several days puzzling out the best way to do something for her was... well, not entirely alien, but something she wasn't quite used to.

Not just yet.

"Well, hey, it's your big adventure. Start of your life!" Eugene chuckled. "Wouldn't do to have your hair getting in the way all the time, would it?"

Briefly she recalled the first time she had stepped into the city.

"No, I guess not."

It took quite a bit longer than either of them fully anticipated, but Eugene had said he was rusty, and there was a whole lot of hair to work with anyway.

Finally, he gave a satisfied sigh and moved back, "So, blondie. What do you think?"

She stood up and looked over her shoulder. Eugene's braid was nowhere as fancy as the one the girls had crafted for her on the day of the festival – for one thing, there weren't any flowers and he didn't have the benefit of four sets of hands working together.

But he had accomplished what he'd set out to do. Her hair was tightly woven together in thick clumps, several ribbons or bands tying them together at regular intervals. She twirled about experimentally. Yes, she could walk without the curtain of hair dragging along behind her.

For a moment, she simply stood there, touched by the simple gesture of what he had done for her.

And then she smiled at him.

"Eugene... It's wonderful. Thank you so much."

He smiled at her as well as he reached up to lightly grasp her hands, stroking it affectionately.

"Glad you like it."

Chapter End