I have waited soooooooo long to re-introduce Leonard to the story. Like, so long.
1. Fun-fact: In a separate, incomplete story that's lying inside my Google Drive, I originally had Leonard's character be a gentlemen in waiting for Eugene. He was also Captain Jones' son, which would, of course, make him Cassandra's brother. That's obviously way different in this story, but I do like the idea of them (him and Cassandra) striking up some sort of friendship. It's definitely something I hope to expand upon sometime.
2. I took some very minor inspiration from one of the episodes from the series in season 2, and even borrowed some dialogue. This is certainly only the beginning of me taking inspiration from the show; I have a rough outline for the way I want things to go, but sometime soon (my guess right now is early 50s in terms of chapters, but this could very well change with how things have been going), this story is going to take a similar route to the show in some aspects. Though, of course, with some changes and adjustments.
3. Speaking about chapters, I want to just take a minute and let it sink in... this thing, if my inspiration stays afloat to keep writing, is most certainly going to go past 50 chapters; hell, maybe even 60. One of my goals right now is to get past the 200k word mark, which will happen if and only if I keep going. As of right now, I don't have any plans to stop, but I am starting college late next month... but we'll address that when we get there. Also, if you're wondering why I haven't deleted that little 'IMPORTANT AUTHOR'S NOTE' chapter, it's because I want to keep it there just for the sake of it, to be able to look back on it one day for the memories. It's not adding much to the total word count, anyway. It's barely under a thousand words.
4. I hate to beg for reviews but I'm finding myself quite proud of this little four-shot I've written. I would really love to hear what you all have to think about it; I know it's different than the normal Rapunzel and Eugene stuff, but I had to re-introduce this character somehow.
4. I know, these walls of text are annoying and you want them to stop so you can get to reading the actual story! Haha, but, seriously, my apologies for any spelling/grammar mistakes that fall through the final cut. I hope you enjoy reading!
Chapter 40 - The Prince From Dresonia: Part 2 of 4
Type: Four-shot
Description: Rapunzel, Eugene and Leonard are out in the town for a walk when things go awry. Having found himself alone, the Dresonian Prince takes a seat on a nearby bench, only to soon meet the woman he's been waiting for his whole life.
"Wow," Rapunzel remarked sarcastically, "this is so much fun."
Leonard chuckled and Eugene ignored his beloved's obvious annoyance towards the current situation. The idea he had in mind was simple, really. He brought his two friends into the town with intentions of doing nothing more than… just walking around. The night was and still is young, after all, as Rapunzel said. Plus, if his memory serves correct, he's quite sure he noticed a small band setting themselves up in the town square. And everyone knows what happens in Corona when there's music.
Yup. You guessed it: Dancing. With people of the town; commoners out in town, to be more specific. If he and Rapunzel can't find Leonard a special gal out and about there, they might as well just give up and call it a lost cause.
"Don't you worry, Leonard," Eugene remarked as he walked on one side of the Dresonian Prince, Rapunzel walking on the other. He slumped his arm over the man's shoulder, "We'll find you that special someone in no time! And I know you're wondering how I know such a fact," he added quite smugly. "Well, it's because I am, of course, the dating master."
Rapunzel leaned forward and stared at him, her arms crossed. She raised an eyebrow.
"Former! Former dating master, I mean," Eugene corrected himself through some awkward laughs, and retracted his arm. "But I still can give you some awesome and amazing tips and pointers on how to woo the lucky lady."
"Leonard doesn't need pointers," Rapunzel suggested, still visibly quite irritated. She managed to break out a soft smile, "he just needs to speak from the heart and be himself. Girls like that from a guy," -she said as she looked at Leonard- "when they open their heart for them." Leonard smiled, getting a specific feeling that Rapunzel was speaking from experience.
"Oh, no-no-no-no," Eugene retorted with a wave of his hand, killing any sense of sweetness as quickly as it had grown. "It's not about speaking from the heart, sweet pie. Though, yes, girls do like it when a guy is nice and kind. There's nothing wrong with that... but that's not how you make them stick around," -he, now, looked at Leonard- "you have to seduce them, show them who's in charge. Show them who's boss, ya dig? You have to fully buy into the art of the charm, the looks, the…" His voice was caught when Leonard let out a soft chuckle.
"I didn't take you to be such a professional in this department, Eugene," he said as his last laugh came out.
Eugene raised an eyebrow, taking the remark as hostile. "Well, I'll have you know, Leo, I have slept with many women in my days."
Leonard raised an eyebrow, too, now feeling quite intrigued. But he'd be lying if he wasn't also feeling a tad devilish, because he could see out of the corner of his eye how Rapunzel's brows raised at such a remark. "Have you now," she asked.
"Yup," Eugene said through a smug grin, obviously not thinking straight... because if he were, he would've noticed it was Rapunzel, his fiancée, who asked this question. And he would've noticed the slight sharpness in her voice, as if she was trying to sound gentle while holding in a ferocious blaze. "And if memory serves correct, I'd say the number probably rounds out to around twenty four; well, twenty five if you count yourself, sunshine, unless we want to also count that time we role-played last week-"
"That's it!" Rapunzel rolled up her sleeves, all three of them having stopped walking. She stomped the short distance to Eugene, who stood there with widened and fearful eyes. "You and I are going to go have a talk!" She grabbed onto his earlobe and yanked him off to the side towards a nearby alleyway.
"Ow! Punz, Blondie- OW, jeez, when'd you get such a strong grip?" She continued to pull him despite his pleas, and soon enough, Leonard found himself standing there all alone, taken aback by the sudden circumstances. The Prince couldn't help but laugh out of purely finding the situation funny, but also because he was quite nervous. Though he tries to hide it through the official royal and proper talk, deep down inside he knows he's nothing more than an awkward chap who can't talk to girls he finds attractive, or women he finds to be attractive, more specifically, for the life of him. It's quite ironic that he, a Prince, is completely the opposite of formal and official when it all falls to a set of pretty eyes.
He stood there for a minute, having put both his hands in his pockets while whistling a soft tune and nodding to some of the passing by civilians. None of them appear to recognize me to be royalty, which is a good sign to start.
One of the things he noticed right away was how far they had apparently walked in such short time, because he was now standing on the short little pathway that led down to the main town-square which was shaped like a large circle. He looked to the alleyway, unable to hear the voice of his cousin and her soon to be husband talking, but from the looks of things, things appeared to be quite heated. Thinking that they might be a while, he walked over to a nearby bench and took a seat. He rested back against it, ravishing in the sensation of peace and quiet. He never got all that much peace and quiet in his life, despite having a big and luxurious room all to himself back home in Dresonia. But it's especially been like this with the current living situation.
Speaking about the living situation at home, that's... actually why he came here in the first place.
He thought about the inevitable meeting he'd be asking to have with his Aunt and Uncle, dreading it, but also anticipating it at the same time. What he would be requesting of them would be massive, monumental even. But he hopes dearly that they at-least consider it, because he's not sure his own family would welcome him back after all that had happened-
"Is this seat taken?"
Leonard's head jerked to the side, having been thrown out of his thoughts. He looked up and met the eyes of this unfamiliar woman, his heart immediately stopping right then and there. His mouth dropped slowly, for he had never seen such beauty, such... flare. Her eyes were a mystic blue, the color of the ocean on a warm summer day, similar to how he knew his were. Her hair, her brown hair to be more specific, was flowing freely like a waterfall, dropping down to her shoulders. Her cheeks were a faint red, perhaps from the cold, and she had a dark blue knitted-cap on her head, a scarf of the same color around her neck.
The lady figure jerked her eyes to the side, clearly growing more and more uncomfortable as he continued to stare at her. She furrowed her brows and leaned forward, "Earth to.."
Leonard shook himself out of his daze, chuckling awkwardly, "Oh, oh, oh dear. My, my apologies, miss. What... what was it that you.. needed?" His voice and words were choppy, for he now found himself to be quite nervous. Of course you are, he thought inwardly to himself, you can't talk to a beautiful, fine lady even if your life depended on it-
"I was asking if that seat was taken," she said, pointing to the side of the bench he sat on that was unoccupied.
He looked to the side, viciously blushing for whatever godforsaken reason. Much to his luck, the cold weather was already helping him in this department, causing his cheeks to be a tint of red already. He pointed a finger to the open spot, "You mean this?"
The lady smirked awkwardly, and Leonard swore he was going to drop dead right then and there. Her smile is just so...
She silently nodded.
"Oh," he laughed awkwardly again. "No, it isn't. Though, I-I'm not sure you'd want to sit here, with me," Good lord, man! What are you doing!?
The lady looked off to the side, Leonard following her gaze. Much to his surprise, all of the other benches in the area were indeed occupied. "I see, uh, haha; well, sure. If you want, of course, I'm not forcing you to." He scooted over despite the enormous amount of room that was available. The lady silently laughed, taking the seat. Heavens, her laugh is so... pretty. My word, what a fine specimen-
"You're staring at me again."
Leonard's head jerked up, his eyes widening as he bit his lip. He immediately threw it to the side and mumbled some curses at himself, probably for being such a clown and idiot. After a few seconds of this, he sighed, turning his head back to face forward. He slumped forward, his elbows resting on his knees. "I'm... I'm sorry, Miss. I haven't been having a good day."
"... I know that feeling all too well."
Her response surprised him. "You do?"
"Yeah," she turned to him, and he noticed for the first time the few, small freckles directly under her eyes. "Work's been... you know, frustrating. It doesn't help the situation, either, when my Mother and I just had ourselves quite the argument."
Leonard nodded, despite clearly not understanding nor comprehending what she means because he has not worked a single day in his life. Though, he does understand all too well what it's like to not see eye to eye with members of the family. "Family's rough," he commented, making sure to choose his words carefully.
"Mhm-hm, but even through it all, I know she and I will make amends." The lady leaned back, "We always do." She sat in silence for a few seconds before darting her eyes back to his face, and then to his obnoxiously large leather coat that bore the Dresonian Flag as a small symbol right above his right pectoral. "You don't look like you're from around here."
His eyes jumped, "Is that so?"
She nodded.
Good lord. She's smart and observant, too. "Well, er, that's because... I'm not."
"Where are you from?"
Leonard brought his hand to his chin, rubbing the few specks of stubble that's been growing there. He leaned back and for the first time in this encounter, he felt a sense of relaxation. As if all that was needed was some common chit-chat. "Dresonia; I'm from Dresonia, yeah. That Kingdom."
Her brows furrowed, "That's a long way's away, right? What brought you here to Corona?"
He bit his lip and looked off to the side. From his position on the bench, he could still clearly see his cousin and Eugene in the alleyway, both of whom still appeared to be in their heated argument. He chuckled, "My cousin, actually."
Her eyes followed his, unbeknownst to him. Her brows then raised in disbelief. "Eugene's your cousin?"
He jerked his head back to her, "Excuse me?"
She lifted a finger, "I... could recognize that guy from a mile away. And that's the Princess with him, isn't it?" She paused before waving a hand, "No, what am I saying. Of course that's her," she laughed, her eyes then widening. "Oh, yup... that's her, alright. Has to be, or Eugene's in lots of trouble."
Leonard, now confused, turned his head back to the alley only to see...
My God.
How is she...
How is he...
How are they both BREATHING!?
Eugene had Rapunzel pinned against the wall, and much to the Dresonian Prince's embarrassment, they were locked into a deep, passionate, and what appeared to be quite rough, kiss. Leonard brought a hand to his shortly trimmed hair, rubbing his neck. He laughed awkwardly, "That's them, alright."
"Yes it is," the lady giggled. "I never knew Eugene got around to looking for his living bloodline," she then turned her head back to him. "How'd you two find each other? Or... was it you who found him?"
"... Find each other?" he asked awkwardly with a tilt of the head.
"... Yeah..? You just said you're cousins, right?"
"I did?"
She nodded, her blue eyes sparkling in the small remaining remnants of sunlight.
"I... did! Yes, we are cousins!"
"I'm so happy he actually found someone from his bloodline," she said softly. Her words carried a presence that hinted to Leonard that she had some sort of extensive relationship with Eugene. "When we were younger, he always used to tell me how he wanted to go out there and explore the world, looking for the other Fitzherberts. I always took it as him being the young, adventure-looking kid I had come to befriend, never thinking he'd actually go through with it." She smiled, "But I'm glad he did." My suspicions have been confirmed then, I see.
He was taken aback by her comments, having leaned back in his chair. He quite literally felt his breath leaving his throat as he stared forward, unable to formulate the right words to say. Should I tell her that she has it all wrong? he contemplated inwardly.
No, isn't this what you wanted? Another voice called to him inside his head. She thinks you're a commoner. She thinks you're just like her; plus she's pretty, appears to be smart, hasn't been rude to you despite your obvious awkwardness, and is a hardworking lady by the looks. She's... just *so* genuine.
He was just about to justify her comments and finally ask her what her name was when he heard a breathy whistle from the direction of the alleyway.
"Yoo-ooo Leonard," Eugene called out. His hair was all over the place, certainly a frizzy mess. Rapunzel was riding on his back piggy-back style, her head dug deep into his shoulder and neck. She was kissing him there, giggling and blushing all alike. "Ra-Rapunzel and I," he said through laughs, "we're going to head back to the castle and have ourselves a fun night-" he was caught when Rapunzel jerked his head to the side, locking her lips up with his once more.
Leonard couldn't help himself any longer. He laughed, blushing like a mad man. "That's quite alright, you two!"
Eugene escaped the kiss. "Whew!" he exhaled, wiping a brow of sweat off his forehead as Rapunzel returned to her spot kissing his neck. He looked to the Prince; or, Leonard thought he was looking at him. Instead, he was actually looking at the girl who had taken the seat. "Isabella! How's it been!?"
"You know," she waved her hand, "normal! Hectic, busy, all the alike!"
"That's good to hear-" Rapunzel again interrupted him, this time poking and prodding the side of his chest with her finger. She leaned in close to his ear and whispered something. Eugene's eyes then widened. "Hot damn, girl! Why didn't you just say so?" He then took off into a sprint, Rapunzel still riding him, in what Leonard saw to be the direction of the castle.
After they were long out of sight, the Prince leaned back in his chair and exhaled. "That was.."
"Something," the lady whose name is Isabella finished through her laughs. "Eugene's one of a kind."
Leonard turned his head and looked at her intently, absorbing the mystical shine of her eyes before feeling a little poke against his shoe. He looked down and saw Pascal there, whimpering and colored blue, looking as if he was on the brink of freezing to death.
"Oh my," Leonard gasped, reaching forward. Isabella watched him with a strange look. "Come here, little one, don't be afraid." He picked up Pascal, holding him in the palm of his right hand as he reached and grabbed for his hat with his other. He took it off before gently placed Pascal inside, "Do you think this would suffice, Pascal?"
Pascal nodded, already feeling much warmer as his scales slowly returned to the normal green-colored state. He snuggled up to the side and felt a few of Leonard's fingers from being held there in his lap.
"As for your remark," Leonard remembered what she had just commented before their little interruption, "Eugene is... one of a kind, yes, and I'm glad to have met - hey, are you alright?" He looked at her oddly while she was staring down at the knit cap in his lap.
"Did you just talk to that... creature?" she asked, her eyes still locked onto the piece of clothing.
Leonard's eyes widened. "Uhh..." Pascal heard the commotion and peeked out from inside of the hat, staring absentmindedly at the unfamiliar lady who had taken the seat next to his savior. Leonard was fully expecting this lady whose name is apparently Isabella to shriek and run off, claiming to him that he was a mad man for familiarizing himself with such a small little creature, but what he got instead was...
"Ohhhhh he's so cute!"
"...What?"
She looked up to him, her smile wide and full of joy. "I've never seen a chameleon before! Is he yours?"
"..."
Isabella ignored his silence and reached over, extending her gloved hand to the side of the knit-cap. "Hey there, little guy," she whispered carefully, her voice still full of life and excitement. "How's it going?"
Pascal smiled, feeling all warmed up now after having been suddenly ditched all of a sudden when Eugene took off with his best friend. He made a mental note to himself to talk to her later in the evening, smirking inwardly because he knew how much Rapunzel cared about him. She surely would be spoiling him with all sorts of delicious foods and meals alike in the coming days to win back his favor; it's something he takes a guilty pleasure in whenever she and the former thief forget to bring him with whenever they're going to who knows where.
After a few moments of silence, Leonard spoke up. "His name is Pascal, actually."
"Oh, so he is yours?" Isabella asked, her eyes still fixated on Pascal. She brought a finger to his head, making sure to be careful as she rubbed it gently there on top. Pascal purred in delight.
"He's... not. He belongs to the Princess."
"Oh... are you sure-"
"Positively sure, Miss... Isabella, right? That's what Eugene called you?"
She nodded, "Yup, Isabella Osborn's my name." She brought her hand back from rubbing Pascal's head and extended it out to him, "Might as well greet each other formally, now." Leonard took her gloved hand with his own and shook it, indulging himself in how small her hand and fingers were compared to his. "I also go by Iz, Izzy, Bella-"
"Bella?" he asked in a whisper.
She smiled a soft smile, "Yeah... but only some of the little kids call me that."
His brow furrowed, "The kids?"
She nodded, "Mhhm. I help my Mother out at the orphanage every so often. She's its main caretaker."
"I... I see," he said tentatively, taking this new information in. He knew she was a working lady, as per her own words, but he never expected her work to have anything to do with children. But it's not like he minds such a thing, anyway. As long as he's nowhere near them. "Well, I have a well-distinguished respect for anyone, man or woman, who can take care of a bunch of... wild, reckless children."
She raised an eyebrow, "You... respect me?"
"Did I just say that?"
"Yup, that or you meant it as a compliment towards my Mother," she chuckled.
He chuckled as well, stroking his chin. "Well, your Mother does seem like a strong woman from the sound of it. And any strong woman surely is able to raise such a strong daughter in return." He looked at her and could instantly swear that she was either blushing now from the bright tint of red on her cheeks, or that such tint was simply from the colder weather-
Wait.
Cold.
It's cold.
She *looks* cold, and I have a big, warm leather jacket! Genius thinking, Leonard!
Out of nowhere, he stepped up from his seat, placing the hat that held Pascal down on the bench before beginning to take off his jacket. "Would you like my jacket, Miss?"
Pascal slapped his head from inside his comfy hole.
Isabella stared at him as if he was crazy, "Uhh.."
Leonard took it off, immediately feeling a strong chill even through his long-sleeved collar shirt. "I mean, if you're cold, you should take my jacket," he said in an oddly serious tone. "It's only proper for gentlemen to give their lady- I mean, uh-" I'm never going to find love, aren't I?
Isabella still sat there, taken aback by his sudden gestures, and she couldn't help herself but to laugh at such a scene like this one.
She's... she's laughing at me...
He sighed, his shoulder slumping forward. He held his jacket, which was now all crumpled up and wrinkly, in his right hand, not even noticing as Isabella stood up from her seat. "I should probably get going," she said, looking up to the sky. Night was only a few minutes away by the looks of things.
He looked up, biting his lip as he stared at her again for a few seconds before finally having the strength to shake himself out of the daze. "I'm... I'm sorry, Bella." Her eyebrow quirked at his apparently chosen name for her, "I haven't had a good day at all."
"I can see that," she nodded.
"I..." He bit his lip, inwardly contemplating whether or not he should really tell her about all that had happened. But, again, this might be his only shot to repair things. "My family and I... we had a falling out last night. A big argument, where things... some regrettable things were said on both ends. Honestly, I'm only telling you this because I want you to understand why I've been... acting so strange. But hearing myself as I actually say it out loud, I think it's because... I haven't had anyone to speak to concerning it since it happened. Last night was the culmination of... so many years... so many years of being put down... I see now. My parents, my siblings... they all have said such mean and hurtful things to my face. Things I knew they thought, having heard them behind closed doors, but seeing and hearing it come from them as they sat right across the room... out in the open like that, it's... it's different. And it hurts, it hurts so god-damn more when you know it's coming from the very same people who raised you and who you grew up with. It hurts to hear them put you down as if you're worth... nothing." He looked off to the side, trying to somehow hold his ground and not cry, despite the hot burn in his eyes that was basically pleading to him to let go. But the last thing he needed was to look like a complete and utter fool by crying in front of this beautiful, strong woman named Isabella, who already appeared to be slightly startled by his out of place gentlemen-like gesture.
All of a sudden, he felt an odd sensation.. as if something had just grabbed his hand. He jerked his head and saw that she had taken his left hand, and was holding it in her right. "I'm sorry... you had to go through that." Her tone was sincere, honest even... so honest that it was his final breaking point, for he could no longer hold back the few tears that escaped his bottom eyelid. He immediately retracted his hand from her grasp and wiped them away, again cursing inwardly at himself for being so weak, for being such a clown.
"I'm... I shouldn't be crying," he rasped out.
She frowned, her gaze saddened. "Why not?"
He choked out a laugh as he wiped away the last remaining tears, "Men don't cry. It's what my Father's told me my whole life. Crying shows weakness," he said as he dropped his hand back down.
"Your father... really told you that?" She sounded shocked; saddened, even.
Leonard felt more tears welling up in his eyes. "Yes," he croaked out, still meeting her eyes head on.
It was then that Isabella bit her lip, perhaps in contemplation. She finally stepped back after a few seconds and opened her arms. Leonard looked at her, dumbfounded as to what she was doing. "What are you doing?"
She smiled, that same sincere smile he's seen from her since the first time he laid eyes on her just merely a few minutes ago. The same smile I'm slowly feeling myself fall in love with-
Wait. I didn't just say that... did I just say that?
"You look like you need a hug," she told him. "No, scratch that. You definitely need a hug."
He looked at her for a few seconds, seeing the genuine smile she wore... and that was when it clicked inside.
He likes this woman.
Despite only knowing her for barely a few minutes, something about her... her beauty, both inside and out... it's her presence, her voice, the way she speaks and... gah, everything about this girl he's seen so far has been so alluring and so... real. So...
Genuine.
He nodded slowly and walked forward into her arms, feeling as they wrapped around and about his neck. Once again, such kindness had broken his inner barriers, and he felt the burn as more wet, hot tears escaped his eyes, falling to the spot on her shoulder where his face now rested. After the initial tears, he just couldn't hold it in anymore. The events of the previous night were only the culmination of many years of this mental abuse, as he said so himself, resulting in his decision to run away... to run far away.
Isabella heard his stronger sobs and rubbed circles around his back with her fingertips, "It's alright... Mister," she then paused. "Hey, I never got your name," she said softly.
"It's... It's Leonard," he croaked through a sob, his face up against her jacket.
She chuckled, continuing her movements against his back. "It's been very nice to meet you, Leonard. And I'd just like to let you know that I don't see crying as a weakness at all."
Leonard stepped back, his face reddened and messy with tears. He made sad attempts to wipe his sadness away with the backside of his hand, "You don't?"
She shook her head, "I see crying as a sign that you are... human. That just like any other human, you feel sadness... you feel pain. Our eyes were given this ability to create tears for a reason, don't you think?"
Her words had touched him so much... so much that he even managed to break a smile. There she goes again, showing the beauty she holds not only on the outside, but on the inside as well. "That does make sense," he agreed.
She nodded. "I hate to ask... but your parents... they're the reason you've come to Corona, aren't they?"
His smile he was wearing had evaporated at such reminder, and he nodded somberly. "I see; well, I... I don't know the extent of your situation, Leonard. But I know in my case with my Mother, whom I have had many arguments with over the years; I know that deep down inside... she still loves me, and always will."
Leonard felt his breaths relaxing after this little meltdown of his. And much to his surprise, he actually felt himself starting to feel... a tad better. If that makes any sense. It's as if, again, all it took was something simple: this time around being a little waterworks. It does make sense, he thought, because he had worked so hard to avoid doing such a thing because of the words of his father. But now, after listening to this genuinely smart and awesome woman, he's starting to think that... yes, his father was wrong after all. And that maybe the reason the old man is such a cold human being is the fact that he's negated these feelings of his own.
"I... I know my parents love me," he said slowly, "but the time had come... the time, I mean, for me to get away had far passed."
"Temporarily get away, you mean?"
"...Yes, yes," he said, his eyes then locking onto the spot of her jacket that he had just sobbed on. It was wet, of course, and he immediately felt so bad and so horrible for tainting her possession like that.
She noticed where his eyes were, darting hers down to the spot for a split second before immediately waving a hand. "Don't worry about the jacket-"
"Are you sure?"
"Yes," she said, her voice sounding as honest as ever. "It's nothing a good wash won't fix. And, trust me, I've been putting off washing this old thing for quite some time now." She smiled, pausing slightly before continuing, "If anything, Leonard, you've now given me a reason to," she finished with a laugh.
He joined in the laugh too, finally feeling at ease once again. "You know," he stroked the stubble of his chin, "a friend of mine actually told me something similar, recently."
"...It was Eugene, wasn't it?"
He nodded and laughed, "Yup."
She joined in, laughing alongside him before looking up to the sky. It was dark now, night having fully taken the island hostage. Her head dropped down, "I... I'm sorry, Leonard, I actually do think I need to get going."
"Curfew, I presume?"
She smirked and playfully punched her arm, "I'm nine years past that part of my life, pal."
He cocked his head, loving the way she had just interacted with him. "How old are you?"
"Twenty-seven."
"Really?" She nodded. "At first glance, I had actually thought we were the same age."
He immediately regretted making such an odd comment.
"Is that why you were staring at me?" she asked, giggling.
Leonard opened his mouth to comment, having raised a finger too. But nothing came out except for a breathy laugh. I was staring at you because you looked and still look beautiful, he admitted to himself, and perhaps I'll one day be able to work up the courage to tell you. "I don't know why I was, actually," he finally said.
She quirked an eyebrow.
"Alright, I was taken aback by your..." She leaned forward slightly and he literally felt as if his heart was about to explode. "Your eyes," he then paused. No going back now, champ. "...They... look nice."
Pascal again slapped his forehead.
'They look nice'? Really? Is that all you could come up with?
She looked slightly amused, "You think my eyes are pretty?" He slowly nodded, his head facing down as he met that same set of Ocean blue eyes he did indeed find pretty.
An awkward silence took both of them hostage for a few moments until Isabella finally decided to break it. "Okay, Mr. Eye Admirer," she said, laughing slightly. It didn't sound as if she was making fun of him, but Leonard was embarrassed beyond belief. "Back to the age topic: You know mine, so I think it's only fair if I know yours."
He nodded, "Very well... I am twenty four years old."
Her brows raised, "Wow."
"Wow..." He leaned forward, silently asking her to continue.
"I took you to be... somewhat younger, actually," she thought out loud. "But... never-mind."
Leonard felt his heart drop. Oh, dear, is she going to reject a potential friendship or something more simply because of his age? For crying out loud, Rapunzel and Eugene are six years apart and from what he knows, not a single soul has said anything about such a difference! "Is... is there something wrong with-"
"No, no... no no," she quickly said. "Gosh, I'm so awkward," You're awkward? If you're awkward, then I don't know what the hell I am. "I'm sorry if I made it seem that there is; really, I find nothing wrong with your age."
"You're sure?"
She nodded, her soft smile back. "Mhm-hm." She then looked up to the sky once again. "I actually should... get going. And it's not because of my curfew," she laughed, "I stormed out on my Mother, but before that, I promised her I'd help out this evening with the kids."
"That's perfectly reasonable," he said most sincerely.
Isabella extended her hand to him, again, "It's been very nice to meet you, Leonard..." Her words teetered off..
"Patterson. Leonard Patterson," Leonard took her hand, contemplating whether or not he should kiss it like a gentlemen before inwardly deciding against because his other gentlemen-like actions hadn't exactly gone as he had perceived them to go. So, instead, he shook it. "It's been very nice to meet you as well, Bella Osborn."
She giggled, "That's your chosen name for me?"
His face fell, "Yes... I just like the sound of it, how it flows freely off the tongue... is that alright with you? If it isn't, I will surely stop without a second's hesitation."
She nodded slowly, her soft smile causing Leonard's heart to skip a beat. Her teeth, too... perfectly white. My God, what is it with this fine female specimen? "I... I think I like it, actually. Because only a select few call me that."
"That can be our little thing, then. I can call you Bella and you can call me Leo."
"Leo?"
"Yeah, I mean... that's what my cousin calls me, already."
Her eyebrow quirked. "Really? I guess it makes sense... with all those nicknames Eugene's told me he has for the Princess."
His brows furrowed, "Eugene?"
"Yes...?"
It was then Leonard remembered that Isabella does in-fact think Eugene is his cousin instead of Rapunzel. And, for whatever reason, he felt himself feeling a tad bad... a tad guilty, even, for leading her on in such an obvious manner. But, what bad could come of it if she just simply never finds out? Or, he could wait to tell her until they've gotten to know each other better, and then, perhaps, the blow of such reveal would be diminished.
I know what I must do, then. Leonard confirmed it to himself that he would, indeed, go along with this... fib until he got to know this Isabella Osborn better. "Oh, yes. Of course," he muttered. "You know Eugene, with all his funny nicknames... say, Bella? Would there be any chance I could..."
"See me again?"
His jaw clenched tight as he nodded. "Yes... see you again, yes. I'd understand if you wouldn't want to," I very much so, indeed. I have made myself look like an absolute fool in front of you and a part of me thinks you'd be crazy to want to see such a clown like myself again. "But, I must be honest with you, Bella; my cousin and... his fiancée had actually come out to the town with me tonight in hopes of finding myself another... acquaintance. I'd be lying if I said I wasn't grateful that you had come up to me asking if that seat," he pointed to the part of the bench where she had been sitting, "was taken... and I'd also be lying if I said I didn't need the talk you and I just had now."
"You know," she contemplated out loud, "I think a part of me... needed it too." She then began to back away slowly, "In all honesty, I wouldn't be opposed to actually meeting up with you again, Leo."
"You wouldn't?"
"Mhm-hm, I think I'd actually like to."
His heart skipped a beat, and he felt as if a tremendous, stupendous weight had been lifted straight off his shoulder. "You'd like to?" he squeaked out.
She giggled, "Yeah... you're interesting, Leonard Patterson. And also intriguing, to say the least." Interesting? Intriguing? I can definitely get behind adjectives such as those! "Hey, tell you what." She stopped backing away, "I work during the day out in the town, but I typically help my Mother out with the orphanage during the evenings. Feel free to come for a visit sometime, and maybe then we can resume this little conversation of ours!"
"... Would I have to look after some of the kids?" The last thing he'd ever want to do was look after a bunch of little jumping rascals full of energy, but if it was something he'd have to do to spend more time with this fine woman..
"Those are my rules, yes," she giggled.
He chuckled and rubbed the back of his neck with his free hand. "Very well, then. I'll see what I can manage."
"It's been very nice to meet you, Leonard!" She called one final time with a wave.
"It's been my honor to meet you as well, Bella," he waved too, watching as she slowly resumed her walk away until finally disappearing into the distance. When she was finally gone and out of sight, he felt a cold breeze up against his neck, sending goosebumps down his spine. And that was when he remembered that during all this time, he still was holding his jacket in his right hand. But, oddly, only when she is now gone... is he feeling the bitter coldness of this February night.
Very odd, indeed.
Leonard pulled on his jacket, ravishing in the new feeling of warmth. There wasn't much left to do for him now other than to make his trek back to the castle and have this inevitable meeting with his auntie and uncle. A meeting he's now... more relaxed about, again, probably due to meeting Isabella. I should make a mental note to ask Eugene about her, he thought to himself. They're obviously old friends to some extent.
He walked over to the bench and grabbed hold of his hat, being careful to not knock Pascal around and about. "How are you feeling, Pascal?"
Pascal chirped something, forgetting for a second that Leonard could not understand him like how Eugene and Rapunzel could. His face fell when he noticed Leonard's brows furrow in confusion, and that's when he stopped talking.
"I'm sorry, little guy. I wish I could understand you... perhaps someday Rapunzel or Eugene could teach me." Besides, if all goes to plan, I have a feeling we'll have more than enough time together for me to learn your language.
A/N: What's in store for Leonard when he returns back to Castle Corona? Find out next time on 'Living the Dream'!
Edit History (MM/DD/YY):
1. 7/8/20