AN: Hi, my dear Tangled lovers! Today's featured song is… Don't Blame Me by Tyler Ward! It's a cover, actually, of a Taylor Swift song, and a longtime favorite of mine. But, when listening to the Tyler Ward version this past week, I realized the song has such Eugene vibes when presented by a male singer. Lyrics such as:
I've been breaking hearts a long time
And toying with them other girls, just playthings for me to use
Something happened for the first time in the darkest little paradise
Shaking, pacing, I just need you
ALSO, the following line: "I once was poison ivy, but now I'm your daisy"
You're telling me that's NOT Eugene Fitzherbert referring to how he's changed for his princess? I simply pictured this song playing in the background of one of the scenes that commences below, so see if you can figure out which! Long story short, if you're interested, check out the song and let me know if it relates to Eugene as much as I think it does.
Okay, I digress. Enjoy this chapter that is Rated M for… reasons.
Chapter 8: Marriage is Just Another Word for Lifelong Chains
Prince Charles despises men like Flynn Rider – Eugene Fitzherbert – whatever the guy's real name is.
Charles had certainly heard of the thief before – well, when he'd still carried his former identity, before he'd started going by a name as hideous as Eugene Fitzherbert. If it were Charles, he would've stuck with the whole Flynn Rider moniker – at least it had made him sound cool.
The prince had seen the wanted signs, the ones that had been splattered across every storefront window and stapled to every wooden door in his kingdom – just in case the infamous thief who'd stolen the Lost Princess of Corona's crown had decided to take cover in another country. Maddoline was no stranger to Flynn Rider's escapades, either – he'd spent a few months there, terrorizing the local population with his petty heists.
Anticlimactically, Rider had gotten caught for precisely zero of his crimes, and had Charles's father, the king, ready to sign a death warrant if given the chance. It had been unlikely that the thief would flee to Maddoline territory in the wake of stealing Corona's most precious memento, kept to commemorate their lost princess, what with how long it would take to get there on foot, and how despised he was in the region. But, the notion hadn't been entirely impossible, and the citizens of Maddoline would have loved to see Flynn Rider behind bars just as much as Corona's. There had been a sizable bounty on Rider's head – the signs had read, 'Wanted: Dead or Alive.' Then, he suddenly shows up with the lost princess, claiming to be in love with her, claiming he's committed to turning over a new leaf within days of knowing her?
It all sounded a little shady to Charles, but he really wasn't one to pry.
Charles hadn't expected Rider – Eugene – to be there at the palace, hadn't realized that the man standing there in the council meeting that first day he'd arrived in Corona, was the same person as the notorious thief. Needless to say, Charles had been shocked when the ex-thief had introduced himself, his hand wrapped around the princess's waist – his promised future wife's waist.
Regardless, Eugene strikes Charles as the kind of guy that has bedded a lot of women, manipulated a lot of men to get exactly what he wants, and yet, somehow always finds a way to come out of a shitstorm smelling like roses. After all, the guy had punched him in the face at a ball thrown to celebrate his marriage to the princess. The ex-thief, guard, princess's boyfriend – whatever he was – hadn't been so much as punished for such inappropriate, unsanctified actions. It was clear that the man had learned nothing of noble, respectable behavior after spending an entire year in the palace.
If Charles were king, instead of future Queen Consort (which, he hoped he would be, if he played his cards right here in Corona), he would've sent the Fitzherbert fellow right out on his ass after the performance he'd given at the engagement ball. Eugene, Prince Charles thinks to himself, must have everyone in the kingdom of Corona but him under some kind of ridiculous spell.
There was really no other feasible explanation as to why a convicted criminal with an extensive rap sheet had been allowed to not only reside in the palace as an employee, but carry out a serious, long-term relationship with the princess. The princess that he surely has corrupted before Charles ever could've gotten his hands on her.
None of it makes a shred of sense.
The Maddolineon prince squints against the rays of the early morning sun, watching from his balcony as Eugene marches along the castle wall, a sword dangling from his hip, donning a sharp red uniform. This older man is so full of himself, so untrustworthy, so... unconditionally adored by the princess. It was plain as day, written all over Princess Rapunzel's face whenever she was in the same room as the former thief: she was in love with him.
It was completely mindboggling to Charles. He'd been a thief, of all things. The man had stolen her crown. The only reason they'd met was because of Fitzherbert's selfish, lowlife tendencies.
And she'd still fallen in love with him. Was the princess seriously that gullible?
It wasn't lost on Charles that the princess had experienced a less than typical upbringing. If she was a bit gullible, could he really blame her? It also wasn't lost on Charles that the princess hadn't wanted anything to do with him since he'd arrived here at the palace three short months ago. Sure, she was a kind, sweet girl, and definitely pretty enough — a little feisty when she wanted to be, but clearly caring and genuine by nature. He liked that about her. He liked a woman who treated others with respect, because that was the behavior expected of any future queen. Charles understood the dynamic of her past – at least, from as much information as he could piece together, with what he'd gathered from the council and the hushed gossip that typically swirled amongst the palace staff.
He'd actually been impressed with how smart and witty the princess had turned out to be, because frankly, he hadn't expected much from her in that department, not after being filled in on her strange life story.
Considering her surprising whit, what Charles couldn't comprehend was why the princess had been so apprehensive to marry him, why she'd kicked and screamed to the council for weeks about the whole affair. Thankfully for him, she'd finally given up and accepted her fate when the council had refused to back out of the legal agreement settled with the Maddoline kingdom.
Charles understood that the marriage had been unexpected, but arranged marriages happen all the time in their line of work. It was practically a birth right as a royal. Sure, she hadn't been walking in royal shoes for very long, but her parents must have explained such expectations to her, hadn't they? The princess's parents had been arranged in marriage, after all. His own parents had been as well, and they seemed to like one another. If anything, there was at least mutual admiration and respect present between the two parties.
Princess Rapunzel had made it very clear, upon Charles's arrival, that there would not be any mutual admiration throughout their three month courtship leading up to the wedding, if you could even call it a courtship. It was obvious that she only spent time with him when she absolutely had to, and their conversations never went beyond small talk, and bland discussions about the weather. She was always peeking over her shoulder, always looking toward the door – never giving the prince her full, undivided attention – as if expecting him to walk in, to whisk her away. This really frustrated Charles, because he wasn't sure how he was supposed to be married to someone if they were always too busy lusting after someone else.
After all, he'd come all this way, had agreed to leave his entire life behind in Maddoline, only to be greeted by an incredibly cold and ungrateful shoulder. If Charles could make a few sacrifices for his kingdom, why couldn't the princess do the same for hers? Charles understood that Rapunzel had already been in love with someone else when he'd arrived, that she had spent the majority of her life manipulated and naïve. He'd even felt a little guilty for bursting the young princess's bubble, for dragging her from her fairytale world.
But that's just what it was – a bubble, a fairytale. The princess had been living in a bubble of delusion, and her parents had let her. She was lucky that he had arrived and shown her the reality of her situation, the reality of what it means to be a princess. Had she really thought she'd be allowed to marry a commoner, let alone a convicted thief? Arranged marriages amongst noble families formed generations-long alliances, built economies, and typically allowed both parties to reap sizable benefits. Didn't the princess understand that letting go of her boyfriend was worth feeling a little teenage heartbreak, when that heartbreak would bring her entire country success and much-needed good fortune?
It all seemed a bit selfish of her, really.
Princess Rapunzel could fall in love with a thief, but not with him? Charles is accomplished, rich, and a prince, for crying out loud — not to mention the far superior looking of the two men – not that he liked to brag. Despite how much it irked Charles, Corona's adored princess clearly still held a flame for the thief-turned-palace-guard, a flame that still burned steady and bright, even after the marriage was finalized.
A flame that Charles needed to snuff out as soon as possible.
Only one week into their marriage, and Charles had only kissed Rapunzel once, on their wedding day at the ceremony, and that had been no more than a half-hearted peck. It was embarrassing, really, the way she'd rejected him on their wedding night. Women never rejected him. And for the rejection to come from his very own wife? Charles had never felt a slap in the face that stung quite so hard – it had hurt even worse than when Eugene had punched him square in the nose. Truly, Charles was receiving far more abuse here in Corona than he deserved, and it was about time that it came to an end.
Charles knows he shouldn't be surprised – he shouldn't be surprised that she hadn't wanted to sleep with him, not when Eugene is still around, luring her in. The prince had always pictured his wedding night as a frenzy of clothes being thrown to the floor, a lust-filled experience of tangled limbs and hot kisses. Instead, the princess had wordlessly changed out of her fancy white dress and into a rather modest nightgown, scooted to the very edge of the bed, and went to sleep. To sleep. Just like that, as if he didn't even exist.
It was absolutely unacceptable.
Charles wasn't stupid and he surely wasn't blind. He knew what, or more so, who was keeping the princess just out of his grasp, the reason she was purposefully keeping herself at arm's length. She was so close to him, sleeping in his bed every night, yet emotionally so far away. He knew Rapunzel hadn't wanted to be with him, hadn't seen it coming, even. His arrival had clearly blindsided her completely, and he understood that she'd need some time to adjust to the idea of him.
He'd been nothing but patient with her. But it had already been three months, and Charles so wished that the princess could just let go of this rash, violent ex-boyfriend of hers already. Better yet, that Eugene would take a hint and leave the palace, or that someone with a rational mind would kick the former thief out.
How was their marriage ever supposed to blossom with an ex-love lingering around?
And Charles tried with her. God, he tried. But it were as though she had no intention of trying back. Why would she, when Fitzherbert's hands were still wrapped around her delicate neck? (Metaphorically speaking, of course). The ex-thief was like… like a venom that had taken over her young, impressionable mind, twisting her insides, and making her nearly impossible to talk to.
In all honesty, the princess was delightful, a fairly cheerful girl on her own account, but a desperately distracted girl.
But Charles would fix that, with time.
It was just so… maddening, though, knowing that his wife wanted someone that wasn't him. The princess would flinch every time Charles went to hold her hand, every time he leaned in to kiss her goodnight. She was married to him now. There are certain expectations that a married woman is expected to fulfill, and such expectations start in the bedroom. There would be no room left there for former flames, not when there were endless duties to attend to, successors to make, and a kingdom to be run.
Not to mention, Charles has never been one for sharing, and he doesn't like coming in second place. To anyone.
She'd disappeared until late in the night a few evenings ago. The princess had claimed that she'd 'lost track of time reading in the library' when he'd questioned her about her disappearance. Despite the princess's otherwise plausible excuse – Charles had noticed early on how much she likes to read and learn – her face had been far too flushed, her short brunette hair far too rustled for a simple trip to the library, unless she was into reading erotica.
Which, maybe she was. Who was he to judge? After all, she'd been in a tower all her life.
Regardless, Charles, though he'd only known the princess for several months, had already picked up on quite a few of her ticks. Honestly, Princess Rapunzel wasn't very hard to see right through. The prince had quickly gathered that his new wife wasn't the most… immaculate of liars. She hadn't been able to meet his eyes when he'd asked her where she'd been the last few hours. Her voice had been nervous, strained, as if she were a young child caught with their hand in the candy dish without permission.
But he'd let his suspicions go, for now. He'd let it go, because a marriage, even an arranged one, is nothing if not built upon mutual trust and respect. Charles doesn't need to be in love with the princess. He just needs to be able to rule a kingdom alongside her in the future, and he couldn't do that if he can't learn how to trust her. For this reason, Charles knows that he needs to at least try to place some faith in Rapunzel's word, if he was going to be expected to spend the rest of his life with the spirited young princess of Corona.
But that doesn't mean he has to trust Eugene Fitzherbert. And he certainly wouldn't continue happily coming in second to him.
Rapunzel lies in her massive new bed, in her new bedroom, in a new wing of the palace. She stares blankly at the ceiling, her arms splayed out as though she were a beached starfish, counting the flowers she'd painted on the ceiling a few afternoons ago, teetering on the edge of a ladder to reach.
The princess allows her mind to wander and drift. She hates her new bedroom. Mostly because she has to share it with Charles, and mostly because it's tucked away from everything, much farther than her old bedroom had been: farther away from her parent's room, from Cassandra, from the library. She was a married woman now, and apparently, married women need 'plenty of space with their husbands' to 'enjoy the experience of being newly-weds.' Whatever that meant.
Frankly, Rapunzel doesn't want space with Charles. She wants space from Charles.
This new wing of the palace, worst of all, is a lot farther from Eugene's room in the guard's quarters than her old bedroom had been. Something about that fact irks Rapunzel, deeply. This room, the room she is now expected – no, forced – to share with Charles, is nothing like the bright, cheery bedroom she'd spent over a year in. This room is so big that it feels almost empty, and the walls are an elegant emerald color, not at all made to be covered in colorful paintings.
Rapunzel had convinced Eugene to create a mural with her in her previous bedroom, little paintings that would cover every inch of every wall, woven together to tell one grand story: the story of how they'd met, where they were now, and every detail in-between. They hadn't been able to finish the mural, because Charles had arrived unexpectedly at the palace in the midst of its creation, and Rapunzel had immediately been thrown into extensive wedding preparations. Sometimes, if she has a bit of free time between her morning and afternoon lessons, the princess will take a melancholic stroll to her old bedroom, if only to run a hand along the paintings Eugene had helped her with.
She'd even fallen asleep there a few times, usually in the window seat where she and Eugene had shared so many hard, heartfelt conversations. There, they'd had conversations about Gothel, conversations about how Rapunzel could heal from the trauma she'd endured for so many years, and what Eugene could do to help her through it. There, he'd consoled her after a multitude of early morning nightmares, nightmares that forced her to replay his horrific death in her head, over and over again. There, they'd discussed whether or not Eugene should stay with her in the palace, on the night they'd first arrived. Of course, he'd said he would, promising to never leave her again – promising there'd never again be a world in which they weren't together.
And look how that had turned out.
Promises, it seemed, were made to be broken lately. Now, Eugene and Rapunzel are forced to succumb to sneaking around like wonderstruck teenagers behind everyone's backs.
Those many important conversations they'd shared in the window seat replay in her mind's eye now, as Rapunzel lies there unmoving in her new, extravagant bed. Conversations about how Eugene would always protect her, how he'd always keep the things at bay that could hurt her. Because he'd died for her, and he'd do it all over again if he had to – his words, not hers. And over the course of a year, he'd done a remarkable job at keeping that promise, at helping her through her traumas, her deepest insecurities, and her initial fear that he would leave her all over again. Eugene had protected her from all that hurt, had cocooned her in his love and eager willingness to change for her.
Ironically, a lot was hurting the princess now, deeply, and there wasn't much Eugene could do about it. He couldn't promise to keep this pain at bay, not when they were expected to stay away from each other. Rapunzel feels as though she's living in slow motion, being tugged this way and that, making no real decisions for herself. In all honesty, it sometimes feels as though she were back in her tower. But at least in her tower, Rapunzel had been oblivious to the hurt being done to her. How does the saying go? Ignorance is bliss? Now, she can't do anything but be highly aware of the pain, pain that's a result of being all but ripped from Eugene's loving arms.
As Lance had once commented, long before Charles had arrived: "Marriage is just another word for lifelong chains."
Maybe he'd had a point, though Rapunzel knows that marriage with Eugene never would've felt this suffocating.
Rapunzel considers the whirlwind of events of the previous week – the rehearsal dinner, the wedding – and the following night, when she'd snuck to Eugene's room. She'd known she shouldn't have, she'd known the trouble they could both get into if caught alone together in his room, but she couldn't help herself. The way she's missed him in these past weeks is all but eating her alive, swallowing her whole. Maybe it had been wrong, but she doesn't regret it. The princess considers every heightened emotion, every moan he'd evoked from her, every soft word he'd whispered in her ear that night.
She'd had sex.
She wasn't a virgin anymore. She'd made love to Eugene, and it had been beautiful – even more beautiful than the night he'd taken her to see the lanterns. He had been beyond patient with her, so worried about not hurting her any more than he had to. It had been far better an experience than she'd imagined it would be, better than any description Eugene had given when he'd first explained to her what sex was, so many months ago. But now… now that she knows what it feels like to love him, to love him in that way, Rapunzel needs more. More of him.
As soon as physically possible.
When Eugene gets off work, after dinner with Charles and her parents, Rapunzel will go to his room, she decides. So what if it was wrong? Everything was wrong lately. She should wear something different than last time, something he likes. Maybe her purple nightgown? No, that one has long sleeves and is a bit too scratchy against her skin, leaving little red marks. Maybe the blue nightdress made of soft silk? He'd always liked that one. When she'd wear it, and he'd come to her room to kiss her goodnight, Eugene would always finger the thin straps and comment on how pretty she looks in the color, before retiring to his own room for the night.
The young princess can't help but follow where her mind takes her, imagining Eugene's rough hands all over her smooth skin, needy and possessive and gentle, all at once. The way he always desperately responds to her need for him makes her feel so… good. He makes her feel so loved, cherished, and safe.
When Rapunzel considers how loved she feels whenever his head is between her legs, she starts to feel positively warm and wet… down there. Her stomach starts to ache, but not in the 'I have to throw up' sort of way. More in the… 'I'm only human and I need satisfaction' sort of way.
Rapunzel hears the massive oak doors of her bedroom creak open, dragging her from the deep depths of her naughty thoughts about Eugene. She jumps and looks to the heavy doors, quickly scrambling from the bed when she sees Charles entering the room.
She doesn't know why she's surprised at his appearance; it is his bedroom too, after all.
Okay, Rapunzel, just act natural. Whatever you do, act like you weren't just thinking about how much you want to have sex. With Eugene. Again.
"Hello, Rapunzel." Charles greets her, a little too politely. Rapunzel likes how Eugene always calls her Blondie or Sunshine, or some other endearing nickname he'd concocted. Charles is always so stiff, so professional, his hands placed formally behind his back – a far cry from the jovial ex-thief she'd grown so accustomed to. "How are you feeling on this fine day? I noticed that you were already gone this morning when I awoke."
The blonde prince smiles, and for the first time, she notices the way the smile actually reaches his eyes. Maybe he was really trying to get to know her. Rapunzel smiles nervously back, unsure of how to stand or what to do in his presence. She'd never quite gotten comfortable around Charles, and was afraid she never would – not when she has Eugene to compare him to.
Rapunzel shrugs, trying her best not to think about Eugene.
"I'm an early riser, I suppose. I like to wake up early to paint, or go to the library –"
"You surely enjoy the library, don't you? It seems like you spend a lot of your free time there."
Was he insinuating something? Was he suspicious about the other night, about the excuse she'd provided when he'd questioned why she'd come to bed so late? Or was he just trying to make conversation and understand the workings of her daily life?
Yeah, maybe that's all it was. After all, they are married now. Married couples talk about their days with one another.
"Yeah, I-I do. I enjoy reading a lot, actually."
An awkward silence hangs between the young prince and princess, before Charles clears his throat, speaking again.
Couldn't he just leave her in peace to daydream about –
"So… I saw Eugene this morning, in passing." Charles speaks politely, but slightly sneers the name of her love. The prince had been spying on the guy, more accurately, but she doesn't need to know that. "Have you seen much of him lately?"
Rapunzel tries her best to keep a straight face, despite the blush she can feel creeping up her neck at the sound of his name, her body betraying her deepest, most private thoughts.
Oh, God. He definitely knows something. He must! Why else would he bring up Eugene, when he knows what a touchy subject it is? Hasn't he been paying any attention these last three months? Act natural, Rapunzel, act natural –
"Oh. I mean… no, not really. I don't really get to see him…" She swallows nervously, feeling her throat grow tight. "Anymore."
That wasn't totally a lie. In the three months leading up to the wedding, Rapunzel really hadn't been able to see much of Eugene. If you didn't count their little slip up last week, in which she'd seen a lot of him in one night, she'd been completely faithful to her new husband.
Well… sort of. If you didn't count the emotional cheating, either.
"Okay." Charles responds simply, seemingly satisfied with her answer, a wide, almost forced smile returning to his face. "Well, I'll see you this evening for dinner… dear." He moves forward, pressing an awkward kiss to her forehead before quickly exiting the bedroom.
Once the stuffy prince she must call her husband is gone, probably returning to his lessons which will prepare him to become Queen Consort someday, Rapunzel wipes his saliva from her forehead, not wanting any miniscule part of the prince to be on her body. She drops her face into her hands with a long groan, knowing that her life has become utterly complicated.
She also knows that she needs to see Eugene as soon as possible, before she absolutely loses every shred of her remaining sanity.
Eugene braces his hand against the stone shower wall, sighing in relief that the long work day is over. With the other hand, he pushes back his damp hair, letting the boiling water drum upon his sore shoulders. All he wants to do is wash off this whole day, watch it swirl down the drain.
Nothing in particular had happened today, only that Eugene had spent the majority of his shift wallowing, questioning whether or not he should even stay here in the palace, and replaying having sex with Rapunzel over and over again.
Okay, so he was a little horny, and that had made his day extra-long. He was only human.
Eugene stands there in the spray for a long time, contemplating how he'd made such a mess of his life in a mere twenty-five years. He had thought he'd really turned things around for good this time, gotten on the right path, with Rapunzel's help of course. He had to give credit where credit was due — she was the only reason he'd been doing anything remotely right for a year.
Now, it just feels like he's back at square one all over again, going through the motions of being an utterly empty, unsatisfied man. The only difference is, he definitely isn't as cool as Flynn Rider anymore. He wasn't exactly the old Eugene, either, the frightened orphan who just wanted someone to love him, anyone.
He was Weird In-Between Eugene now, as he'd labeled it, someone with attributes from both personas – the charm, sarcasm, and somewhat bloated ego of Flynn, with the caring, gentle-hearted, and unconditional love of Eugene. Not to mention the totally new attributes he'd gained since knowing Rapunzel, like consistency, and always looking on the bright side, no matter how doomed a given situation may seem.
Now, what with the unavoidable doom of Rapunzel being married to another man forever, it was a little hard to grasp onto that positive perspective she'd always pushed him to maintain. Eugene isn't really sure who he's supposed to be, where he's supposed to go from here, and the unknowingness of it all is leaving him quite depressed and confused. Should he leave the palace, try to find a job somewhere else, give Rapunzel a chance at happiness with the prince? Eugene supposes, he could always return to a life of crime, as Lance had so biased suggested. It probably wouldn't be that hard to get into the saddle again, even if he is a little out of shape.
Although, being on an island alone, surrounded by enormous piles of money, just isn't nearly as appealing as it used to be. Probably because Rapunzel wouldn't be there to enjoy it with him, to comment on how good the warm sand feels on her bare feet, or to remind him that good fortune doesn't mean anything if you don't have someone to share it with.
Scratch the island. Eugene could always find a way to get Prince Charles thrown into the doghouse, to get the council to hate the annoying prince as much as they hate him. Better yet, Eugene could just get rid of the prince altogether. That would surely solve Eugene's current predicament, in which his beloved princess had been snatched from his arms, metaphorically speaking.
Prince Charles was his current problem, the root of all of Eugene's problems. If Charles wasn't in the way, life would go back to the way it was: all sunshine and rainbows and make out sessions with Rapunzel that didn't involve her getting into trouble – well, not as much trouble as she'd be in if they got caught now.
Eugene knew a guy, someone he'd met as a result of a black-market dealing, a man who knew how to make people disappear, for cheap. Eugene could find the guy, scrape some money together, and —
"You look really deep in thought."
Eugene jumps, nearly slipping on the wet stone.
"Shit, Blondie, you scared the crap out of me! What're you doing, you can't be in here!"
"I couldn't stay away." Rapunzel shrugs, stepping over to him, joining Eugene under the steaming spray.
God, she's naked. Very, very naked.
She must get off on torturing him or something.
"You said that last time." Eugene chides her.
Last time, when she'd snuck down here the previous week, and they'd made forbidden, passionate love the night after her wedding. Eugene knows he's walking a very dangerous path, one he's sure will cause him to stumble and fall into the deep, dark ditch.
But once again, just like he knew he wouldn't, Eugene doesn't have the strength within him to actually tell her to go.
Damn it, Rapunzel. Can't you just… stop making me want you so badly, all the time?
"And you told me I needed to learn how to." Rapunzel replies, rolling her eyes, as if the sentiment is completely ridiculous.
The princess is in an exceptionally spunky mood this evening, if Eugene has ever seen her in one. He wonders what might have triggered it, but thinks better of it than to ask. They both have a lot of reasons to need some… short-lived relief lately.
Rapunzel rests her hands on her hips, and Eugene tries to hold back a laugh, because she's just so darn cute when she's trying to be serious.
"I stopped myself from coming down here for like, five days, and it was really hard to do. That has to count for something."
"You do need to learn how to stay away." Taking a bar of soap and rubbing it in his hands until bubbles have formed all over them, Eugene lathers each of Rapunzel's arms gently. "Just five days isn't gonna cut it, Princess. We're supposed to stay away from each other forever, remember? Ya know, because marriage is supposed to last forever?"
"Maybe I'll try again tomorrow." Rapunzel responds nonchalantly, as if he'd asked her to learn Latin or something of the sort.
Although, he supposes, she probably already has learned Latin in her fancy princess lessons. She reaches for the shampoo, and starts to lather some of it into her short hair.
"Maybe tomorrow, huh." Eugene easily places a hand above the princess's head on the wall beside her, blocking her from moving, so she can't look away from him. "And what if someone sees you sneaking around down here again tonight? Do you have a plan for that, oh warrior princess?"
Rapunzel scoffs at the new nickname, answering the question easily.
"I'll just tell them I was getting advice from Lance. About what to do during a horrid, nasty breakup."
Eugene blinks, trying to hold back a chuckle.
"And you really think anyone would believe that?"
Rapunzel shrugs, rinsing the shampoo from her hair.
"Maybe. He must've had girlfriends before he showed up at the palace, didn't he? You did."
"I didn't have 'girlfriends.'" Eugene mutters under his breath, soaping his own body.
Eugene has had plenty of playthings, sure. But Rapunzel was his first genuine girlfriend, the only woman he'd ever loved. Okay, he'd been in one or two long-termish relationships before, if you wanted to call them that, but he'd never been in love. Any relationship he'd had as Flynn Rider had only been to gain something for himself, to selfishly meet an end that the girl could somehow help him arrive at, an end that usually had to do with money. Eugene wasn't proud of that, not anymore anyway, but that's just the kind of person Flynn Rider was.
Regardless of his questionable past, his extensive record of one-sided relationships and one-night stands, Rapunzel is the only person Eugene has truly taken seriously, and the only person who has ever taken him seriously right back. Seriously enough to make him want to change the entire course of his life for her.
And he couldn't even get that right.
Shaking his head, Eugene continues with the matter at hand.
"So, what am I going to have to do to keep you away from me, Blondie? Put a deadbolt on my door? Move to a different wing of the palace and not tell you about it?"
She giggles a little, as if the notion is absolutely absurd.
"I'd just figure it out if you did that, Eugene."
"Rapunzel," Eugene places a hand on either side of her face, looking her straight in the eye, hoping she'll receive the message – and hoping that his own brain will hear it, too. Maybe if he hears it out loud, he'll actually believe himself, and have the strength to start sending her away when she shows up unexpectedly like this.
He'd thought he would've learned his lesson after feeling like a pathetic, guilt-ridden stress ball the day after they'd had sex. And every day since then.
"I will not have a dragged out, adulterous love affair with you."
Rapunzel thinks on his words for a moment, tilting her head in a way that isn't anything less than adorable. Why does she always have to be so… cute? It makes it really hard for him to be serious, to keep his promise to himself to stay away from her.
"Why not?" Rapunzel asks, in that way of hers that makes her come off so painfully innocent, he has to wonder if she's joking or not.
Hadn't anyone ever taught her what the word cheating means?
"Be…cause… because it's wrong, Rapunzel! And manipulative and sneaky! And I'm kind of trying not to be that person anymore. And you forcing me to sneak around like this is sort of bringing back old tendencies that I've been trying really hard to suppress for over a year now!" Eugene recoils from his own outburst and sighs. "You know, we're just going to end up more hurt than we started if we continue doing this."
"Don't pretend you don't kind of like it." Rapunzel crosses her arms with a bit of a huff, pushing her bare breasts together, and he swears she knows exactly what she's doing. "All the sneaking around and the possibility of getting caught. Your past self would've thrived off this stuff."
"I mean, I guess it depends on how you look at it —"
"Exactly! I love you, and you love me. And as much as you say you've changed, which of course, you really have, there's still a little part of you," She reaches up, trailing two fingers up Eugene's chest before placing them over his heart. "That likes sneaking around. Because sneaking around together is fun."
Well, she makes a good point, he'll give her that. But Eugene has to at least try to be the sensible, responsible one here.
Eugene never thought a time in his life would come in which he would have to be responsible.
"It doesn't matter if it's fun, Rapunzel. It's still wrong. It's wrong to lust after someone who's married. It's one of the cardinal sins, for goodness sake!"
She stares up at him, blinking a few times.
"So… you're lusting after me now?"
"Ugh!" Eugene slaps a hand to his forehead in frustration, as if the way his dick is standing straight up right now at the mere sight of her in his shower, isn't answer enough to that question.
"When did you start caring about your sins? You've done plenty of bad things in your life. What makes this so different?"
Eugene feels horrible, because she understands that what they're doing is wrong, she just doesn't quite understand why it's wrong.
"I started caring pretty much the day that I met you, Blondie. And it's different because I don't want to be the reason you get in trouble."
"I can't get in trouble if we don't get caught."
"I thought we already established that's pretty unavoidable."
"I like the old Eugene better." Rapunzel pouts her lip. "The fun Eugene. You were fun when I first met you."
"And I like the old Rapunzel better. The not married Rapunzel." Eugene retorts. "But we can't all get what we want, now can we, Princess?"
As much as he doesn't want to admit it, Eugene does like this back-and-forth bickering they've had going lately, the kind that's sure to lead to desperate moans and lots of kissing.
"We can get what we want." Rapunzel concludes with a seductive look in her eye, pressing her naked body against his, and wrapping an arm around his neck. Her fingers sink into his damp hair, and Eugene freezes. Her voice lowers with every word, and he is instantly hanging on to each one – because he's a sucker, putty in her little hands. She's pushed herself onto the tips of her toes, inching her mouth closer to his as she speaks.
Despite his efforts (which are half-hearted, at best) to pull away, Eugene ignores the voice screaming in his head, 'Make her leave, you adulterous fool!'
"If we're careful, and quick, and really… really quiet." Rapunzel finishes, her lips brushing his as the whispered, naughty words leave her mouth.
Oh, fucking hell.
Without a second thought, his hands are on either side of her face, roughly pushing her against the stone wall, only because he's been plagued by the thought of doing so all day long. Eugene kisses her deeply, deliberately, and sure enough, one of those delicious little moans rises in her throat, escaping into his mouth as she kisses him back with a matched passion.
"We really have to stop doing this." Eugene reaches down, breathless, pushing a finger between her legs, desperate for some kind of satisfaction, any kind. Rapunzel's eyes flutter shut at his touch, because she's imagined this all day, too. Her head tilts against the shower wall as the princess spreads her legs a little wider for him, inviting him to that soft, warm, tight place Eugene knows he needs to stay far away from. But he can't stop himself from giving in to her, because she's like some sort of highly addictive drug.
Like she said, maybe they'd try to stay away from each other again tomorrow. Yeah. Tomorrow sounds good.
"This will be the last time." She says, but Rapunzel's voice has gone shaky and weak, and he knows it's not true.
"I have a really hard time believing that."
Mostly because the wetness coating his finger, the telltale sign that she wants him, sends a lust through Eugene's body – a lust so big that he knows this thing between them won't be over tomorrow, no matter how hard they try to stay away from each other. Lame as it sounds coming from a man who'd spent most of his life trying to seem as masculine and capable as he could, Eugene isn't strong enough to stop it. He's not strong enough to send her away, regardless of any guilt or shame he may feel for it tomorrow. Because he loves her, because he wants her back.
Because if she's sneaking around with him, she can't be busy making successors for the crown with Charles.
And Eugene's heart, as well as his ego, just can't handle the thought of that happening.
"Then don't believe it. Let's be honest with ourselves, Eugene, just for a second." Rapunzel opens her heavy eyes, looking right at him as he continues to pump his finger inside of her all the while they're trying to, in a state of clear delusion, convince themselves they won't do this again after tonight. That after tonight, this need will be out of their systems, and they won't have to want each other so badly.
God, she's speaking with her face so close to his, Eugene can smell that intoxicating lavender scent again. She literally has him under her spell, doing her bidding for her, giving her everything he knows she wants.
All he's taught her in the past year has created a monster.
Eugene feels like a pathetic fool for it, but right now, with her voice all weak because of what he's doing between her legs, he doesn't care. He'll be a fool, for her, if only for a little while, if it means those little moans will keep falling from her mouth.
Rapunzel continues, panting quietly between her words.
"We're going to do this until we get caught. We're going to ride this train until it falls off the tracks. Because I can't stay away from you, Eugene, and as much as you might hate yourself for it, you're not going to stay away from me. You know it, and I know it."
"A horrible decision, really. Especially if we know our getting caught is inevitable."
"Normally, I would agree with you completely." She kisses him once, long and slow, before continuing. "But I like making horrible decisions when it's you I get to make them with."
Rapunzel is right. Eugene does hate himself for loving this, for being the reason she's so okay with keeping secrets. It's a dark part of him that he's been trying so hard to shove deep down lately, but can't. Because he's incredibly fascinated by the thought of this sweet princess doing bad things for his sake.
Eugene can't deny it — the thought of getting caught makes everything between them suddenly so much darker, sexier, so… forbidden. Knowing that he shouldn't have her, but seeing her standing here shaking before him anyway, is the ultimate turn-on.
But before Eugene can get around to more of those bad decisions they've been talking about, he's pulling his hand from between her legs, covering her mouth with the other. She looks up at him in surprise, her eyes grown large at the sudden interruption. Eugene motions to the petite, soaked princess is his arms to be quiet, pressing a finger to his lips, listening. He pulls her tight against him, willing her to hold still, placing a reassuring kiss to her forehead.
After years of living a life that was built around thievery, Eugene had better hearing than anyone he knew – mostly because he'd almost gotten shanked a time or two in the middle of the night, but those were stories for another time. Despite the little sounds of pleasure that had been falling from Rapunzel's mouth only moments before, Eugene could've sworn he'd heard his bedroom door open, a shuffle of feet through the room.
"Eugene… are you here?"
Rapunzel's eyes are big as saucers now, because she recognizes that voice, and so does he.
"Y-yeah, I'm just... in the shower!" Eugene calls back, his heart dropping to his feet.
Shit.
The heavy footsteps proceed, before stopping just outside the bathroom door. King Frederic clears his throat, as if he's unsure of what to say.
"I'm sorry for barging in like this, son... I know it's late. But I just wanted to… well, I wanted to know how… you were doing. I've felt— well, I've felt horrible since everything that's happened with Rapunzel. I know how the two of you feel about one another, and I feel that I'm the one to blame for –"
"It's okay!" Eugene hastily calls over the spray, praying the king won't drag the conversation out for too long. Not because he doesn't like the king, but mostly because his naked daughter is pressed against the former thief, and the king would have his neck on the hanging block in no time if he knew that.
And great, now she's dropping to her knees. Why the hell is she doing that?
"Really, no grudges here!"
Eugene means it — he genuinely likes the king, he always has, and the two had formed a bit of a fatherly-son bond in the past year. Which is probably why Eugene feels a disgusting wash of guilt settling in his stomach at the current scene before him.
He really doesn't hold a grudge against King Frederic for Rapunzel's unexpected marriage, and despite his colored past, the king and queen had been nothing but good to Eugene. They'd trusted him with their daughter, given him a job, a warm bed to sleep in, three meals a day, and the consistent, structured family unit that he'd always yearned for. Sure, Eugene thought there was more the king could've done to stop the marriage from going through, to convince the council of an ulterior plan – I mean, he was the freaking king, after all. That had to count for something when it comes to all the legal bullshit. But Eugene didn't blame Frederic, per say, or hold a grudge against him for what had happened behind the closed doors of the council.
Probably because Eugene is too busy holding her half the time to hold a grudge, too.
Like right now, while she's busy sucking his cock.
I mean, seriously, Eugene is nothing more than a dead man walking. He is basically seeking out his own death at this point.
"I just— I know that you have grown quite close with Arianna and me. We've truly come to think of you as an important part of this family. My wife and I have enjoyed your presence here in the palace, and appreciate everything you've done for Rapunzel through this difficult past year. I don't want you to feel like we don't care about you anymore —"
"Rapunzel!" Eugene hisses, as quietly as he can, praying to the heavens that Frederic won't hear him, or notice the way his voice has gone strangled. He should be basking in the thoughtful, kind words of the king, words he'd always wanted to hear from a fatherly figure. Frederic didn't show his vulnerable side often, especially with Eugene, and he should be eating them up right now. Instead, he's worrying about getting caught for getting a blowjob from his once so innocent, so sweet daughter.
He'd tainted her, Eugene realizes. He was the big, bad man that had stolen her virtue and tainted her innocence, so much so that she doesn't care aboutgetting down and dirty with her own father just outside the open bathroom door.
"What are you doing? Are you nuts?"
Eugene motions to the door, wondering if his always unpredictable, always curious princess has absolutely lost her mind to give him a blowjob with her father standing maybe ten feet away. Was she just curious about what his reaction would be, does she get off on seeing him squirm? They're incredibly lucky that the shower curtain isn't sheer, and that the shower provides a significantly loud spray. Rapunzel doesn't respond, just looks up at him, bobbing her head with a smile.
God, she's good at that. How is she so good at that after doing it only one time?
He knows he should push her away, at least until the king is gone – he knows that would be the smartest thing to do – but frankly, Eugene isn't very good at making the smart choices lately, and he knows that. So, instead, Eugene's hand finds the base of her skull, his own head falling back. He braces the other hand against the wall, desperate for support, trying his damn hardest to hold back a lust-filled groan, so her father doesn't hear.
Fuck. That feels amazing.
Even after nineteen years of incredibly limited sexual knowledge, the things the princess knows how to do with minimal practice is beyond him. It's like she's a sponge, soaking up every ounce of knowledge she possibly can, storing it away to torture him with later. Rapunzel was right; maybe everything really does feel better when it's supposed to be wrong. As wrong as it is, all Eugene can focus on is the possibility of fucking her against the shower wall.
Once the king has left, of course.
"We do care, we just —"
"I-I understand, sir! Really, I do!"
"Anyway, Arianna and I were talking, and we hoped that you'd stay here in the palace, even just for a while. You've been an excellent addition and valuable asset to the guard. But I understand if it's too hard for you, what with Rapunzel being marr —"
"Thank you, sir! I was actually planning on, s-staying, for a while, if that's alright with you. I've been really… enjoying the job!"
No shit, he was going to stay, what with this little affair they have going now, what with her warm tongue dragging itself up and down his dick.
Affair aside, Eugene knows he would've stuck around anyway, if only to pass Rapunzel in the hall, or catch glimpses of her from afar every now and again. He would stick close by, so he would always know that she's alright. He would've stayed, even if he'd never get to touch her or tell her that he loves her ever again. He would've stayed, affair or not, to ensure that she'd be okay, even if that makes him incredibly selfish.
"Good. Good. I'm glad to hear that. Well, enjoy the rest of your night, son."
Oh, he'd enjoy it, alright.
"You too, sir! Thanks for... s-stopping by!"
When Eugene finally hears the bedroom door shut, and knows for sure that King Frederic is gone, he lets go of a massive breath he hadn't realized he was holding, before directing his full attention back to the situation happening before him.
"Rapunzel?" He asks, weakly.
"Mhmm?" She responds halfheartedly, only because she has a bit of a mouthful.
"I think I'm gonna come."
AN: Just me again! I want to send a personal shoutout to user Waitinginthewing, who always takes the time to leave thoughtful, detailed reviews, which I enjoy reading so much. Please feel free to leave me a review if you'd like, and let me know what you thought about the monologue from our favorite prince to hate! I like getting into different character's heads in my writing, so the full dynamic of the relationships can be understood. So, do we want more of Prince Charles? Does he do backstory? Please let me know!