If Rapunzel was being honest she would've never done this a year ago. Going to talk with Varian just didn't seem like a good idea, nor was it really something she felt comfortable with. In fact, she tried to not even think about him, or anything related to him. However, now, after Cassandra's betrayal, she was left with a feeling, tho stronger than last time, that was so painfully familiar. It was as if, everything she trusted, everything safe, all got pulled away from under her, all at once, and she was now falling with no one to catch her.

Only two people had made her feel like that before, one being her "mother" and the other Varian. Even if Gothel had been around, Rapunzel still knew which one of them she'd prefer to talk to. While Rapunzel, more than most people, was aware of the seriousness of Varian's crimes, she was surprised when she was informed that he was being kept in an isolated cell in the lower dungeons. As far as Rapunzel had been concerned, no prisoner got sent down there, and as far as she could understand from the guard, who was being very vague about it all, no other prisoner than Varian was down there, nor would they ever be.

Which was rather understandable, really. The lower dungeons didn't have any windows, as they were below the ground, and they were cold, damp and just plain uncomfortable to be in. Rapunzel had only been down there once, and very briefly, but she surely wasn't too keen on returning. She couldn't even imagine spending a year down there. Just the thought made her want to run back up the stairs and out into the sun.

The guard lead Rapunzel down the last set of stairs, and down a hall with cells. She felt a knot in her stomach. They'd be there soon. Any moment she'd be face to face with Varian. Last time they talked, he'd been consumed by a so destructive anger she'd never seen anything like, until just recently, but she'd seen it so many times again in her nightmares. Varian had haunted her for months. Only recently had he faded from her nightmares, only to now be brought back forcefully by recent events, and now she was about to bring him back by choice. She was suddenly not so sure about this.

She felt her heart miss a beat as the guard leading her stopped in front of the last cell. No turning back. Everything felt so unreal. She felt dizzy and lightheaded, as she took the last steps towards the cell containing her old friend. Then her heart completely stopped for a second, as she failed to hold back a loud gasp.

Varian was there, but he looked nothing like last time she saw him, or how he'd ever looked. In fact, she almost doubted it was him. He was almost tangled up in chains. Chains around his wrists, thighs, legs- chains everywhere. His usually curly and fluffy hair was flat, long, dirty and greasy, almost covering half of his face, which was bruised and surprisingly pale. Dark circles laid under his eyes as if he hadn't slept for years, yet he seemed to be getting that sleep at that very moment, and Rapunzel got a feeling he probably hadn't been doing much else. She felt her heart twist as she looked at her old friend. He looked so small and helpless all chained up.

"What did you do to him?" Rapunzel's voice was shaky, barely a whisper.

"Monsters have to be contained, princess. I believe you of all people know exactly how dangerous he can be." The guard said, calmly. "If you ask me," he added, giving her a cold look. "we should leave, before he wakes up."

Rapunzel shook her head, staring at the kid in front of her, fighting back the urge to throw up, as she suddenly felt sick. Sure, what Varian had done was terrible and she wasn't even sure she'd ever be able to really forgive him, but this? Did anyone deserve something like this? She took in a deep breath, trying to calm herself before she spoke. "Varian?" No reply. He didn't even seem to have heard her.

"Varian?" This time a bit louder. He flinched, his head flying up at such a speed that Rapunzel barely saw the movement. He stared out at her from behind his long, black hair. Fear shining in his eyes. His breathing way too fast and uneven. "Hey- hey," She said, softly, trying to calm mostly him, but also herself. "I'm not here to hurt you." She said it before even thinking. Of course she wasn't there to hurt him. Surely he didn't think- but her words seemed to calm him a bit, though he was still tense. Whether that was caused by him being forced to stand in that position, chained to a wall all day, or her presence she wasn't sure of.

She turned to the guard, reaching out her hand for him to hand her the keys. "I wish to speak with him alone." She said, ignoring the uncertainty still creeping at the back of her mind. She stood there, waiting, as she listened to the guards footsteps fade away, before she spoke again. "I need to talk with you, Varian." His name felt so familiar in her mouth, and she had to spit it out, as if it was burning hot. She took in a deep breath. He couldn't hurt her, she reminded herself. She'd be fine. Everything was fine.

"Why?" She flinched at the sound of his voice. She'd almost expected him to not be able to talk. I took her a moment before she registered the question, but before she could reply, he answered for her. "Something happened?" A look of concern crossed his face before he went back to looking fearful. His voice was hoarse and shaky, as if he hadn't used it in months. Rapunzel found herself briefly wondering if that was the case. She studied him for a moment, still feeling her heart beating rapidly against her chest. He wasn't exactly threatening. He had always been quite small for his age, but the kid was smaller than ever, he seemed to be shivering quite badly and he still had that panicked look in his eyes.

Rapunzel took in another deep breath, preparing herself for probably one of the hardest conversations she was gonna have to have. "Do you remember the day you stole the sun flower?" Once again, Varian flinched. This time a bit more violently. She involuntarily took a step back.

He hummed, looking down at the floor between them. "Yeah." Pause. "I remember." He more whispered than said this, as if he was afraid that mentioning it would make it more real. He looked back up at her, and she felt a sting in her chest as their eyes locked. She couldn't explain why, but she suddenly felt like crying, which she'd so far managed to hold back, ever since what happened with...

"Why do you ask?" His voice was suddenly soft. The panic seemed to have left for a moment, as all his focus now fell on figuring out what was going on.

Rapunzel shook her head, trying to clear her thoughts. "Can I-" she gestured to the cell, fiddling with the keys. "Can I come in and talk with you?" That was apparently not the right thing to say, as a look of terror came over Varian's face. He shut his eyes tightly. Shaking his head violently, as he frantically mumbled something to himself. Rapunzel felt herself tense, unsure of the situation. "Varian? Hey-" He opened his eyes abruptly, staring at her in panic. "Rapunzel you can't- please-" He rambled off, before she interrupted. "Varian, I'm not gonna hurt you."

"I know." He almost yelled. Seemingly startling himself, just as much as her. "I'm afraid of hurting you." He whispered. His eyes, once again, landing on the floor between them. "You of all people should know what kind of monster I am." He said. His voice cracking at the end of the sentence.

"Varian, you're not-"

"Not what? Huh? Are we living in the same universe Rapunzel? Because, last time I checked, I drugged people with the truth serum, manipulated you, kidnapped your mom, threatened you and your father and tried to..." he took in a shaky breath, clearly fighting back tears. "Rapunzel, I tried to kill you. Your family..." Then the dam broke, and he couldn't hold it back anymore. He cried desperately, trying to hold it back, but with no luck. Rapunzel was surprised to realise that she was crying too.

"The monster" looked at her, his eyes blurry with tears, which had made white striped down his cheeks where they had washed away the dirt where it had fallen. "I'm sorry, Rapunzel." He took a deep breath, trying to regain control of his voice. "I don't expect you to forgive me. I don't expect you to be able to... nor want to," His voice cracked and he took another deep breath. "but I'm really sorry."