UPDATED as of: August 16, 2:30pm
A/N: I am not dead.
Chapter 5: Tangled vs The Truth
"Where do you suppose we start to look for Mr. Flemming first, Captain?" Rapunzel bounced up to him in the main courtyard. Except for the King, they had gathered there, along with a carriage, waiting for him. Eugene strolled up close behind on her heel, keeping his eyes on the hem of her dress, watching with concern for where her still-bare feet stepped. Still a head taller than her, he caught the Captain's attention instead of her. She continued, "How about the last place he was seen?"
"Exactly, Princess," the Captain responded over her. He abandoned his attempt at an eye game with Eugene since he did not seem able to perturb him anymore. "Mr. Bryn?"
Bryn turned his attention from idly watching Eugene to the Captain. "His wife said he was last seen at L'égout, on the night of the Festival of Lost Lights."
Rapunzel and Eugene both perked up at the mention of that night. Eugene gulped as he looked up to the architect and asked nervously, "Before or after the lanterns?"
Bryn eyed him carefully, but smiled graciously. "Before."
They both breathed easier, catching glances of each other's relief.
The Captain frowned, remembering the timeline the King had relayed to him. He still narrowed his eyes at Eugene.
Bryn smirked at Eugene. "And where were you, during the Lantern Ceremony?"
Without making eye contact, he answered humbly. "I was out on the bay with her. We got out there early so we'd have a good view for the whole thing…" Didn't realize we were creating a possible alibi at the same time!
"Your Highness?" he turned to Rapunzel to confirm.
"Eugene was with me the entire day," she said with an edge.
Bryn pressed his lips into a hard line, his eyes darting around to everyone, finally settling on the Captain. "Excuse me, Captain, but if we're going to L'égout to investigate, I feel the Princess should not be accompanying us."
The Captain regarded his concern, but looked to Rapunzel, so bright and eagerly waiting to get going, til that remark put a damper on her enthusiasm. "We'll see what-"
Eugene could no longer contain a laugh. "Buddy, this Princess has seen worse than L'égout."
"I have?" she asked Eugene. "You mean the Snuggly Duckling?"
Bryn's eyes widened at her, then to Eugene. With a definitive authority he whipped out in rapid fire, "You took the Crown Princess of Corona to a seedy lowlife hostel like the Snuggly Duckling!"
Eugene smirked with arms crossed. "Relax, it was fine. And see? L'égout wishes it were the Snuggly Duckling."
Rapunzel giggled. "Aw, the Snuggly Duckling was cozy, and the guys there are all just big mush balls."
The Captain softened on Rapunzel, and merely grunted at them with a shrug. "We'll see what the King says."
"What was that Captain?" The King finally walked up to the group, delayed from changing into more suitable street attire.
"Mr. Bryn suggested that the Princess stay behind while we head to L'égout," he informed him.
"Well, uh, Rapunzel?" the King said uncertainly, but looked to her already knowing the answer.
Rapunzel looked to him with all her smiley determination still rearing to go. "I'll be fine," she urged. "I said I want to help, and I'm gonna do it! Besides, I'd love to see more of the town here!"
Eugene and the King both smirked at her. "Well," the King stated, "There you have it."
Bryn looked exasperated, but resumed directing. "Very well then. Let us get going." He climbed into the carriage first.
Eugene followed him, but once inside, he paused, and turned back around- Wait- Rapunzel's never- Only to see Bryn was already offering his hand out to help her up and in.
"There you go, my dear."
"Oh, thank you!" She took his offer of help and managed to clamber in without much fuss. "Wooow," she sighed as she looked around inside.
Eugene watched her, as he moved as far to one side of the seat as he could, giving her plenty of her own space, but subconsciously hoping she would sit close beside him. She noticed; a cuter shyness bloomed on her face and she plopped down. As she wiggled in the seat and their arms brushed, however, he panicked. Bryn sat opposite him now, glaring, and the King opposite Rapunzel, but also glaring Eugene down. He shifted around uncomfortably, then sat on his hands and glued his eyes out the window.
"Oh it's so beautiful inside!" she gasped as she ran her hands over the velvet upholstery and satin linings, with gold fixtures and tassels hanging off of everything. "I saw a couple of these the other day, but we couldn't ride in one."
Eugene bit his lips, then sighed and lowered the curtain on his window and looked toward the King even as he wanted to speak to Rapunzel. "I wouldn't've had enough for a carriage ride and the boat, and the streets were so packed anyway-"
"And I kept darting off to look at things," she added.
He giggled, "Yeah, aaand you kept getting distracted by every little thing," but quickly sobered again. "Uh, so yeah, we couldn't. And now, this is so no one sees me, isn't it." He finally lifted his worried eyes to the King's face. "It's only one street over from here."
The King stared back, serious. "Yes." He switched back to watching Rapunzel, a simple joy and awe resting over him. "Either of you, I suppose. Naturally, we don't want to stir up any more alarm, or any more rumors."
Eugene leaned his arm against the window and head on his hand, staring into space toward the floor.
"More rumors?" she asked.
The King took a heavy breath. "There's always rumors of what really happened to you, as a baby, but this year…" His eyes glazed over as he trailed off. "This year was especially difficult."
I know a look like that at least… No more questions. She fell silent and turned back to watch out her own window, idly smiling once more. Especially difficult, more rumors… Did someone see us? She smiled fondly back on the day again, still trying to comprehend how it truly had all been for her specifically. Her happiness from finally seeing it all swelled evermore.
Eugene tried to keep his mind clear, but also knew what it all meant. We were definitely seen.
"What about um, Mom?" Rapunzel asked her father.
"Oh, she's working out some other details," the King brightly informed her. "Like making sure your room is in order." He smiled at her proudly.
"Oh, wow," she exclaimed. "Alright! That sounds- that sounds really nice…" She had subdued herself once more by the end.
The Captain finally climbed into the driver's seat, and they were off.
Rapunzel perked up watching the outside world suddenly moving through the window. But her thoughts continued elsewhere. She turned back inside, to look over to a very sullen Eugene. She looked for his hand, but with it under his thigh, she reached for his knee.
He startled and whipped his attention to her with a terror on his face. WHAT do you think you're doing?!
"Thank you," she said calmly. "I never actually said thank you, for taking me to the festival."
Eugene softened incredibly on her, her face lulling him into a sense of safety as always. "You didn't have to say it. I could tell you were thankful," he grinned, then nodded, "But you're welcome." They shared a smile for a moment, then gracefully parted, her hand replacing itself in her own lap.
The King watched them, his mustache hiding his own grin, but turning his cheeks more rosy.
At L'égout, they waited for the Captain to open the door for them. The King exited, then Bryn, who turned back, ready to charmingly help Rapunzel again. Eugene frowned, but followed her out quietly, then stood between them.
"After you, Rider," the Captain said with a sinister politeness, motioning towards the front door of the establishment.
Eugene cringed, at both still having to answer to the name, and having to go first. Rapunzel noticed his distress, and grabbed his arm to hang on, which did nothing to assuage his worries. Instead, his eyes slowly closed and he silently sighed, trying not to acknowledge her. But he stepped up to the entrance, even with the Princess in tow.
He opened the door, and walked inside, heading straight for the bar while dipping his head down to block his face with Rapunzel's. She, however, lit up all over again at the new sight of the tavern. This early in the day, it was empty and quiet. It was dim like the Snuggly Duckling, and likewise had a large bar and giant, bare fireplace, but this place was much classier, and there was hardly anyone around. A bartender stood behind the bar, turning around to the sound of the door as he dried a glass. And a group of three men hunched around a small table near a bright bay window, barely lifting their eyes from their hands. They were playing cards, which piqued Rapunzel's interest. She dropped Eugene's arm, much to his alarm, and flitted toward the table.
"Ra-!" Eugene began, but switched to a hushed, "Blondie!" He ended up groaning as he let her go. He quickly tried to duck his head again, pretending to fix his bangs as he tried to cover his face.
The bartender's beady eyes finally recognized him. "Flynn Rider!" he raised his voice with a confident authority, "I'd heard you were raising hell through town before, but what're you doin-" He spotted the Captain waiting at the door behind Eugene. "Oh-"
"Little hard to explain but I'm not here for any trouble, man," he said humbly. "Just-"
"Flynn Rider?!" A squeakier male voice popped up from the card table across the room.
Rapunzel turned to follow the lanky man's gaze to Eugene. "Oh, well, actually-" She shyly raised a finger to protest, but he was already on his way over. The other men threw their hands down in frustration, and the largest one began lecturing Rapunzel.
"Augh, man!" he hung on Eugene's shoulders. "What're you doin' back here again?! You just love temptin' those numbnuts guards, heh!"
"Not now-" Eugene tried to ignore him, when suddenly the man was lifted off of him. He turned around in fright, but strangely calmed when he saw it was only the Captain, who then quickly handcuffed the man. "Hey, wait-"
"You're not in charge here, Rider," he bellowed happily. "This guy knows you, he knows something."
"What? Flynn!?" he looked back to Eugene in shock and terror. "You're working with them now?!"
Eugene stood up straight, his arm still nervously resting on the bar, furrowed eyes on the man, but he merely pursed his lips. I… am…
"Let's go." The Captain began dragging him towards the door.
"Wait-" Eugene threw his arm out, trying again. "Please, he doesn't have anything to do with this-"
"You wanna hand him that paper in your pocket?" the Captain sneered.
Eugene was taken aback, but quickly fell silent and just looked away.
Rapunzel hurried back, looking to bolster his spirits.
"You're a traitor!" the man suddenly cried. "Rider! You're a dirty rotten traitor! Who else you gonna sell out!"
Eugene closed his eyes.
Rapunzel rubbed his arm. "Are you okay?"
"I dunno…" he whispered honestly. "His name's Nick, and he's a terrible pickpocket but a better cardshark. He's got no connections. Nobody likes him. I've never even actually been in this bar before, but obviously he hops around."
The bartender had taken to just leaning on the bar in front of them, his mustache twitching as he watched and listened.
The Captain returned alone, staring Eugene down. "Nice work, Rider," he sneered sarcastically. "Guess we all have our skill set here."
"That wasn't fair," Eugene mumbled. "You had me go in first just to see what would happen."
"Criminals don't play fair," the Captain bit.
"Apparently, neither do you," he mumbled again, surprisingly devoid of actual animosity.
"How dare you," the Captain rumbled even lower than usual. "He's being brought in for questioning, but he is Wanted. Although, he didn't gloat, red-handed, about stealing the crown jewels. He'll get a trial."
"How do you know him?" Rapunzel asked Eugene. This is getting kinda scary...
He remained silent.
"Eugene?"
He sighed. "We were at the orphanage together. I used to look out for the younger kids. He… can't be older than you." He bit his lip. He's got nothing, and no one. But he shook his head and ran a hand over his face. "Anyway, about the professor. We're looking for Professor Flemming, or at least some information about him, or his whereabouts?"
The Captain followed in shifting gears, and jumped in to explain. "He was last seen coming out of this building during the Lantern Festival." He pulled out the drawing of him.
The bartender shook his head. "I don't know him, and I don't recall seeing that man specifically. We were extremely busy that night. The place was packed."
The Captain grunted in frustration.
"Who's 'at?" One of the other card players, an older man, spoke up.
The Captain turned toward him, holding the drawing up again. "Professor Flemming."
The other man got up and slowly approached. "Hmmm, you sellin' pardon deals, though?"
Both Eugene and the Captain rolled their eyes at him, but the Captain answered. "That depends. Do you have any useful information?"
"Yeaaah, the pencil-neck geek was in here drinkin' like a man twice his size."
"Well-" Eugene piped up, immediately regretting the attention it brought to him, but finished his thought. "He was more of a nerd. I'd- I'd say nerd."
"Well that nerd, said he was celebratin' about to be rich. Nick, who ya just took there, started tryin' to butter him up, an' they disappeared outside. Next thing I know, Nick comes back in, not lookin' too happy. But alone."
Eugene quirked his brow and frowned. "What're you sayin'?" Nick wouldn't… murder someone, would he?
The old man shrugged innocently. "I dunno, but it seemed suspicious to me. He's been in a lotta debt. I thought a chance to swindle that businessman or whoever, seemed like a good shot. Dunno what happened though."
"That all?" the Captain asked.
"That's all I know."
"Would you mind coming in for more questioning?"
"I'd mind if it's in shackles."
"Not unless you make it necessary."
"Which way?" Rapunzel suddenly asked, drawing everyone's attention. "Which way did they leave? Front door? Or is there a back door?"
"Back door," the old man answered.
"Thanks," Rapunzel said, "And your name?"
"John."
Rapunzel stared him down to remember his face, then abruptly turned. "You guys comin'?" she called over her shoulder.
Both Eugene and the Captain jumped to follow her.
The back door only led out to a tight alleyway with only a dead-end to the left. They followed it right, around a curve, and came out between two entirely other buildings.
Eugene stepped out of the shadows of the alleyway into the sun, shielding his eyes as he looked around. Rapunzel followed, likewise trying to get her bearings.
"This is the back of the castle, right?" she asked as she looked back and forth between the castle one layer of street higher than them, and the vast ocean out before them.
"Yeah," Eugene answered, troubled. "No one would see anything back here, especially since-"
"All the action of the festival was up front," Rapunzel finished, just as horrified as he was. I'm beginning to think… something horrible happened to him...
There were no other business fronts or homes back here. The terrain was too difficult, even for the mountain island this kingdom had otherwise sprung from. There was a narrow road that wound around to the other side where humanity grew again. But the only signs of life here were wild bushes, scrub, and some sea birds perching on the rocks below. The only mark of man was the black pipe railing that ran along the edge, trying to impose some order and safety, supposedly keeping people from the dangerous rocks and tides below.
Rapunzel leaned over the railing to see how far she could see. The sea breeze ruffled her loose short hair, swirling it into a mess that felt so refreshingly wild. The rocky mountainside was too steep; she could hear the waves crash against the rocks, but could barely see where they met. Eugene joined her, but tried to regain his air of aloofness between them.
The Captain followed them to the railing, but kept a farther distance. The King appeared from the alleyway last, to the sight of his daughter and her friend, comfortably lounging against the railing, taking in the sight. He tried to join them, and feebly reached towards her. "Ah, Darling- uh, watch yourself- there..."
Rapunzel only briefly glanced back to him, unsure of what to make of his remark. Eugene's leaning over just as far? ...but does he also mean exactly what he says, more like Eugene does, without everything being a game?
Eugene rolled his eyes and huffed a smirk at the simply awkward paternal instinct of the monarch. But then a huge moving blot on the landscape caught all their eyes.
"Oh, wow," Rapunzel suddenly gasped. "What big birds!"
Eugene squinted in the daylight, his brow wrinkling further as he put together what he was seeing. Oh no… Teeth clenched and frown deepened. Extremely large, black birds were swirling around, congregated on the rocks below, focused on a particular spot.
"Rider?" the Captain called, certain they both were thinking the same thing.
Not even registering the old name, Eugene turned to him with a grim face. They shared an unfortunately knowing look. The Captain pointed with his chin towards Rapunzel, and Eugene nodded. She's going to be so upset… He looked to her and sighed. Hesitantly, he put his arm out across her front, urging her away from the railing. "Those aren't just any birds, Bl- uh, Your Highness."
"Oh?" she curiously looked up to him, but had already picked up on his and the Captain's mood shift. Worriedly, she asked, "Well, um, what are they?"
"They're vultures," Eugene answered her, locking eyes with her for the first time in a while.
They don't quite look like any pictures I've seen but- then that means- Rapunzel gasped, covering her mouth. She lunged back toward the railing, expecting to push past Eugene's arm.
"Blondie!" He grunted but braced his arm across her chest and grabbed her far upper arm, tightening his hold on her when she struggled. "I promise, you won't like whatever's down there!"
"I know what's down there! I can help!"
"No, Blondie, you-" He glanced around her hair and determined eyes, and calmed down. "Alright, maybe you can help…"
She reached for the railing, but still he pulled her back.
"Let us go first, though."
With a groan, she relented. "Fiiine."
He could not help but grin at her stubborn face, as he nudged the grumpy princess aside. She crossed her arms and glared at him critically. Eugene tried to shake his blush, and to prepare himself for what he was about to deal with. He looked over to catch the Captain's eye. "Captain? I'm just gonna head down and take a look." He pointed down the slope as he climbed over the railing.
The Captain nodded, and headed over the railing himself. He followed amicably, focused on the task at hand, rather than patrolling his former target. Once they had made their way down some of the boulders, the Captain spoke up so only Eugene could hear him, and not the rest of the group waiting at the top, not over the thunderous crash of the waves and unbridled wind. "Ya know," he waited for Eugene to glance to him, which he did respectfully, "It's gonna take at least two of us to get him back up there."
"Yeah," Eugene morosely agreed.
The Captain lowered his voice and pulled his chin down farther. "This isn't something the Princess should see."
Eugene did not like the idea either, but decided to push it aside. "Sir, trust me, she may be able to help."
He merely scowled, but was quickly distracted by them reaching their destination. The vultures scuttled back to make way, but still lingered closeby, waiting for their next chance. The man's body lay face down in a most unnatural position, with several areas of his clothing torn open, exposing wounds.
Eugene tried to pull the side of his white collar over his nose from the stench.
"Check him for any sign of mortal wounds."
Eugene accepted the grunt work without question. After a deep breath, he bent down and pulled the man's shoulder to turn him enough to see his face. A quick once over showed no other obvious causes of death, only broken bones, sun exposure, and where the vultures had already broken the skin. He let go and stood back again to take another breath. "That's him," he sighed, saddened at the confirmation for who he had known to be a good man. "But no other signs of injury before-" He turned to point up the rocky cliff face, only to see Rapunzel swiftly maneuvering her way down. Behind her, the King futilely reached out from the safe side of the railing, calling for her. Eugene stiffened, waiting for her but grimacing the whole time.
At the spot where Eugene was standing, she reached out to grab his hand, which he offered for balance. Oh, boy... "Is- is that him?" She cautiously dared to lay her eyes upon the body, distracting herself by brushing her hair out of her vision. It's been two days…
"Yeah, it's him," Eugene said calmly.
"Your Highness," the Captain reached for her, "You don't need to be here-"
Rapunzel recoiled to clinging on Eugene's arm, merely staring at the Captain's outstretched hand. I know he's supposed to be helping us now, but, I wish they'd stop trying to stop me...
Eugene gulped, but the Princess showing her affections was not his only worry.
They looked to each other. "Eugene, maybe I can-"
Eugene grunted as if clearing his throat, while jerking her shoulder to stop her from talking.
Like that! She pouted at him harshly.
He sighed, giving in. He leaned down to whisper to her. "Just do it quietly."
She nodded meekly, suddenly shy from all the eyes on her. While still holding onto Eugene's hand for balance, she knelt down. She took a deep breath, regretting her proximity already. With a scrunched up nose and grimace, she took the dead man's hand.
"Your Highness-" the Captain immediately reached for her.
"Ah-" Eugene reached out to stop him. "Just, let her."
The dry salty sea breeze was making her eyes water anyway, so she wiped one eye with a finger and knelt down. She wiped her tears onto the man's hand, then with a great and strange effort, maneuvered it to touch the tips of her short brown hair. She scrunched her face up, but took a careful breath through her flared nose, then began, quietly and quickly reciting. "Flower gleam and glow let your power shine make the clock reverse bring back what once was mine..."
Please work, Eugene prayed.
...nothing happened...
Rapunzel stared in shock, but felt a sneaking panic creeping up inside. It… didn't work...
"Blondie, I…" Eugene switched gears, and finally gripped both her shoulders, urged her to her feet, then turned her into his chest. She mournfully burrowed into him, muffling her whimpers of frustration. He held her securely, comforting her. "I'm sorry. I'm so sorry, but it's alright. It's alright. We don't really know why it worked before." He stroked over her hair, kicking himself. "You can't save everyone, Sweetie."
His scent and the feel of his strong chest and arms covering her, had her upset all over again after being deprived of him basically since they had first caught sight of the bridge that morning. Eugeeene!
"What was that all about?" the Captain called over the sound of the wind and waves on the rocks.
"We'll explain later," he called back. Later as in Never. "Blondie," he pried her off of himself, "Go on back up." He motioned with his head, but then noticed three more guards filing down the rocks towards them. "Alright?"
"Alright," she mumbled and wiped her hair away from her face. Well that hug was nice while it lasted. Despairingly, she pulled away and turned to head back up. I… couldn't save him… I can't save anyone now…
"You-" the Captain called to him, "Go up with her. They can help me take him up."
Rapunzel morosely set to climbing up the rocks again, not expecting Eugene to bother trying to be close to her, even after his brief embrace. Yet suddenly, she heard him leaping faster to catch up, and then there he was beside her. She looked up at his face, trying not to look startled. She noticed he was half-slouching to the side toward her, though his eyes remained far ahead of them. His warm hand purposely reached to tap hers; she darted her eyes to it.
"I don't like this," he shot out under his breath, still favoring leaning towards her.
She pouted. "What, helping?"
"No, I wanna get to the bottom of this, too. But I mean this whole thing. There's something fishy going on here."
She sniffed the air, indeed smelling fish, along with saltwater-
"Fishy as in suspicious." Once they were back over the railing, out of the corner of his eye, he noticed the King approaching Rapunzel, with a look intending to comfort her.
"Oh-" she began, embarrassed at missing the idiom, but suddenly Eugene yanked her hand again to pull her a few feet away, derailing her train of thought again. "What?" He's been so standoffish-
He tried to whisper quickly. "I'm not comfor-"
"Rapunzel," the King called, capturing her attention anyway. "Darling, are you alright?" He grabbed for her shoulder.
Rapunzel smiled at his concern, "I'm-" but was shocked at his outreach. She settled into a smile again, and tried pitching forward to collide with him in a happy hug. "I'm fine, thanks!" Oh- he's holding me just as tight as Eugene just did! She lost her breath a little. Is this… is this what having a real family is gonna feel like?! All the time?! And after a similar amount of time, she pulled away.
The King rubbed her shoulders, smiled with a wince, and turned back to attend to the other guards descending.
Eugene had patiently watched with a pensive smile. "Blondie," he desperately called for her attention again, and she turned around. He crossed his arms and scratched his neck, but stepped in close to her to whisper. "I'm not comfortable leaving you here."
"You-!" She yelled at first, but then hissed quietly herself. "I knew you were lying!"
Oh shit I- He took an indignant deep breath, pursing his lips defensively. "Look, I don't mean to scare you-" ...but I feel like I've put your life in danger.
She glanced back, distracted by the commotion. Does he know something…? She focused back on his crossed arms, with her own furrowed brow and hushed, hurt voice. "Eugene, I- I promise I won't tell anyone but, do you- do you know anything about-"
What- "Rapunzel," he said adamantly, then quieted again, "I don't do this stuff. And I was with you the whole time. We have no idea who could've done this."
Then- that's almost scarier! Not knowing who! She cringed. "So, they're still out there…"
"Yeah," Eugene nodded. "I don't believe that Nick would've bothered with something like this-"
"But if he thought he could get the crown?" Rapunzel volleyed right back. "The money for the crown?"
"Ah-..." Eugene frowned, then sighed. "I don't know."
"Or some kind of reward for getting the map passed along?"
Eugene had kept his attention split, and it paid off. "Heads up," he quickly muttered.
The Captain came up behind Rapunzel. "Precisely my hunch, Your Highness." He looked to Eugene. "We're gonna have to know everyone involved here."
Eugene sighed. "If you can guarantee everyone's safety."
"Whatever it takes to route this out," he nodded sternly.
Eugene threw his head to the side in resigned despair. "I just thought…" He sighed, but looked back to the Captain. "I thought I was the fall guy."
He scoffed. "You know how many snakes this medusa had, and you thought you would be the only fall guy?"
Eugene's brow raised in unfortunate understanding. He nodded.
The King rejoined the group. "If anything, you were the red herring," he added, seasoned with disdain from the pain the theft had caused the old man. "'Flynn Rider' is infamous as 'The Kingdom's Greatest Thief' because you were the biggest show-off. You caught everyone's attention, a single day before what would have been The Lost Princess's coronation!"
Eugene winced and lowered his gaze, shaking his head. "I didn't remember it was the 18th anniversary…" Maybe I would've put 2 and 2 together if I had…
"Everyone was so focused on YOU, that no one caught- this!" He pointed angrily.
Eugene frowned hard at that. YOU'RE the one who told them what to focus on. A stupid crown instead of a man's life. -a crown that was the only sentimental thing left… He sighed.
Rapunzel watched the back and forths, feeling more conflicted than ever before, pulled in so many different directions. Finally she decided to interject, bold and loud, "It led him to me."
The King froze, then turned to her, once again nothing but softness. "Yes, it did…"
Eugene grinned sheepishly at her. I mean, yeah…
Rapunzel continued, "And if Mr. Fleming likely gave someone else a map, to give to Eugene, then who killed Mr. Fleming?"
Everyone looked to each other for either accusations or ideas, but the Captain spoke. "We don't know, Your Highness."
'Your guy?'" the King repeated.
"Well," Eugene answered, "I had a representative, too." He shrugged."Just someone from the guild."
"But you can trust him?" the King asked.
"Can you trust any of them?" the Captain quipped.
The King shot a quick glare at him, but Eugene answered them both. "Well I trust him."
"Does he trust you?"
Eugene leaned back, suddenly unsure of this. "Ummm..."
"Do you have a way to contact him? A meeting point or something?" the King suggested.
"Your Majesty-" Eugene panicked, "I- I- I was supposed to…" He's goin down with me...
The Captain enjoyed watching him squirm.
He took a deep breath. But I agreed- and he could lead us to where he got the map from. "I was supposed to report back with, or without the crown."
"Eugene," the King turned stern, "I am determined to route out whoever the initial seed of this is. Any of your friends who help along the way, I'll consider granting immunity to for this instance. Now, will you be able to arrange a meeting with him?"
Eugene watched the King's edicts drop, helpless to object. He sighed. "He's not my 'friend,' but, ah, yeah, alright."
"Thank you," the King emphasized with genuine gratitude and kindness. "Now, it's getting late. Let's go collect Mr. Bryn and head on home." He turned to head back.
Eugene picked his head up. "Ah-"
"Yes, you, too," he called over his shoulder.
Sweet, looks like I get a little bit more time! Eugene smiled, but once he looked to Rapunzel, it vanished.
She was watching him, but she wore a crushed expression. You're planning to leave me here!
The carriage ride back was even more tense, but completely silent.
Upon their return, the Queen was waiting for them. She plucked Rapunzel out of the group to embrace, eager to never waste an opportunity now.
Rapunzel sunk into the hug, but her brow furrowed. I… I almost don't wanna leave them, either- but Eugene-...
"Before dinner," the Queen released her, "We have something we'd like to show you." Her motherly grin was brighter than ever.
Rapunzel cheered up herself, too. "Alright!"
The King and Queen smiled to each other, and she led the way to the throne room, now arm in arm with Rapunzel. Eugene silently followed alongside the King.
I suppose until he tells me otherwise, I'll just stick by him. Can't get in trouble if I'm with him!
The throne room doors opened, and Rapunzel could not believe the size of the spacious room, with its flying buttresses and seemingly sky-high ceiling. "Whooooa!" She craned her neck looking all around in awe.
Eugene's eyes went straight to the ceiling tile he had broken in through. It had been crudely patched with some timber and a canvas tarp. Heh, he snorted a single huff of a laugh.
The King's attention snapped to him expectantly.
He noticed; and cleared his throat and leveled his gaze.
The Queen led Rapunzel up the steps, to the pedestal where the crown sat once more on a purple pillow, eagerly presenting it. "We've waited so long for this moment!" she beamed. "We had it commissioned while I was pregnant with you, and you did get to wear it a few times as a newborn. You looked so cute with it sliding down your hair!" She giggled as she stroked Rapunzel's shy but smiley face.
Eugene had wandered beside the Queen, studying the design as she spoke. Huh, it's actually really pretty. Never really gave it a good look before.
Rapunzel scrunched her face up, happily surprised with what that sounded like to her. "Wait, it's really for me?"
"Yes!" the Queen laughed.
Eugene interrupted, "That's why I started calling it 'your crown' and said 'It wasn't being used anyway.'" He shrugged and smirked at her. "It's yours."
"Now," the Queen resumed, "I can't wait to see you as a young lady wearing it proudly."
He glanced to the Queen and smiled in agreement, then suddenly lifted the crown himself.
As the King and Queen's dumbfounded shock froze them for the moment, Eugene turned with his hands holding the crown outstretched, to Rapunzel. She stared, feeling too many things at once, but mostly dazzled by it, and his offering of it. She stood up straight and held her head high, finally cracking a soft smile for him again. He gently lowered it onto her head, twisted it a smidge to center the crystals, then let go and stepped back. His eyes drifted back down to her face, and he reflected her content smile, which then grew with his own pride and admiration.
She touched it just to ensure it felt secure, and could not help the grin that overtook her as she remembered how it had looked on her when she tried it on the other day.
Eugene held one stiff hand in front and the other behind his back, and bowed properly at the waist for her, without breaking eye contact. "Your Royal Highness." Rapunzel giggled and blushed, sparking a bigger smile and snicker from him. "Mm, you look beautiful, Rapunzel."
"You certainly do," the Queen gushed. "Oh!" She enveloped her in another squeezing hug, as tears stung her eyes. "My little girl's all grown up! But you're back now, that's all that matters! We finally- Oh, you're finally here!"
As Rapunzel lost herself hugging back, positively tingling from all the tactile support, she looked over her mom's shoulder at Eugene.
This is what you would have been missing out on! His tender eyes screamed at her. This is where you belong, and I'm just glad you'll be so happy with them!
The King clasped Eugene's shoulder. "So, returning to the scene of the crime, eh?" he chuckled.
Eugene laughed out loud with him, comfortable with when the old man was clearly joking now. "Yeah, right?" He pointed up. "By the way, you should get that fixed. And reinforced. Someone could time it with the church bells or something, and break right through there. No one would ever hear it." He smirked.
The King smirked back. "Oh really. Was that how. Well, Mr. Fitzherbert, perhaps you should stay the night so that tomorrow you may advise the architects on where the building's weaknesses are and the guards where their blind spots are."
"Wait, seriously?"
"Of course."
"Oh, uh, alright." He smiled, "Thank you." Augh, thank God, BED! And holy shit CASTLE bed!
The King jostled him a bit as his biggest smile overtook him, "No, thank YOU." He pointed to the women. "You made this happen."
Rapunzel was still listening as she and her mom clung to one another. She nodded at Eugene. "He's right."
He tucked his head down and blushed.
The Queen finally released her. "Ah, so how about dinner?"
Dinner went on for several hours, as there were so many courses, as well as enough for everyone to talk about for four lifetimes. About 10 o'clock, the Queen suggested showing Rapunzel to her new room.
"Oh my gosh," Rapunzel squealed, surprising herself with how comfortable she had become, and how wonderful this woman was. "Really?"
The Queen laughed. "Well, yes, sil-"
Rapunzel bulldozed in to correct herself. "Well, I mean obviously I need to sleep somewhere, that's not what I was surprised about, but I mean YOU'LL show me?!" I. Love. Her.
"Oh, yes! Of course!" She blushed at her daughter's reception. "Are you finished eating?"
"Oh," Rapunzel held a hand over her stomach, "I think I've been full since the appetizer!"
"Would you like to go now then?" she cautiously asked.
"Uh, yeah, sure!" Rapunzel stood up and headed towards the door with the Queen, but only a few steps away from the table, she abruptly turned back.
Eugene had turned in his seat to watch them leave, and suddenly found himself caught in the act, and locked with her eyes. Oh shit- what?
Rapunzel held her head up high. Her energy seemed bottled again as she deadpanned him. "Will you still be here in the morning?"
Eugene blinked at her question. We were just talking about- He sighed. "Yes. I will still be here."
"Promise?" She glared him down.
He briefly rolled his eyes, but then made sure to return to her eyes before he answered. "I promise." He pointed back to the King. "We were just talking about the stuff I still need to do for your dad. And I'd like to keep this paper in my pocket, and you're just all very lovely people," he smiled honestly, "So yes, Your Highness. I promise. I will still be, around the castle somewhere, tomorrow."
Rapunzel looked down but nodded, then turned back to head toward the Queen, waiting at the door.
Eugene turned back to pushing the last piece around his dessert plate, but called over his shoulder, "G'night." I know she doesn't trust what I just said but it's actually the truth now. Ah, whatever… He shook his head and shoved the last big mouthful in.
Rapunzel paused at the door to look back at him, still distrusting. "Good night," she tried to call to both Eugene and her father, without sounding heartbroken. The door opened and closed again as they exited.
"Eugene," the King sternly called for his attention.
When Eugene picked his head up, all he saw was the old greyed man still bursting with joy. "Yes, Your Majesty?" he asked.
"So, ah," he leaned back casually, "You two seem rather close."
Eugene gulped as he slumped in his chair. "Well, yes…" Oh, really. You've noticed? Ugh. When the King did not hate that answer, or respond at all, he continued. "We got to really know each other on that journey, and… Yeah. We're good friends now, so…" He glanced around for something else to devour. Anything to stop my stupid mouth. Leftover breadsticks will do.
"Understandable," the King finally added. "Well, I'm glad she's made at least one friend already."
Eugene's attention snapped back. "Oh, she's made lots of friends! All the guys at the Snuggly Duckling, and she's got the chameleon, and Maximus she tamed like a puppy. And that's just what, two days. I'm sure she's gonna try to make friends with absolutely every new person she meets!" he nervously laughed it off. "And she's so-" he stuttered and hesitated, "She- she's so nice, that she just… pulls everyone in to her. She really has an effect on people…" He trailed off, spacing out.
The King smirked at him, but changed the subject.
Rapunzel finally admitted to herself, I have never been so exhausted in my life…! But she kept walking, following her mother, while still trying to both commit the hallway layout to memory and appreciate its art.
"Here you are, Your Royal Highness!" the Queen exclaimed with gusto as she opened one of the double doors.
The fact that it had a door at all made Rapunzel grip the frame as her eyes welled up already. She took one look inside the room, and thought she would faint from her heart exploding. "Is this all for meee?" she squeaked out with hardly any voice.
The Queen chuckled, "Of course, Sweetheart."
Rapunzel started to step inside, but, overwhelmed, she twisted back and flew into her mother's arms. "Thank you!"
The Queen clutched her back, her mood falling to match her daughter's. "It's a lot, isn't it?"
Rapunzel nodded against her. "It's so big- everything here is so big- I never imagined-!"
The Queen held her for a few minutes until she calmed down.
"Alright!" Rapunzel shook her head and faced the room again, eager to explore.
The walls were Coronan purple with gold-colored marble columns, and gold-colored finished wood cornice molding, short wainscoting, and soaring coffered ceiling. Behind a sprawling bed, the headboard space looked more like the proscenium arch of a theatre stage, all upholstered and curtained with Coronan purples and golds, velvet and tassels. At the foot of the bed sat a long cushioned bench, and matching fainting couches along the walls. A thick gold-colored marble mantel framed a warm stoned fireplace. A grandfather clock, dressers, and various other furniture were polished to the same gold. And that was only the bedroom. French doors led out to a balcony, and another quadruple-wide doorway with curtains pulled back, led to more rooms.
The Queen showed her jittery daughter around the bedroom at least, and then the bathroom, and helped her get set up for a bath. "You're alright?" She held her hands up in front of her chest.
"Yeah," Rapunzel gasped. "Yeah, I think I'm gonna be alright." She grinned, her eyes sparkling as she watched her mom.
They hugged once more. "Good night, Baby."
"Good night, Mom…"
The Queen returned to the dining room and rejoined the King by his side. She was barely containing a grin and looked like her fidgety hands were holding each other back.
"She doing alright?" Eugene asked, ignoring the rumbling twinges in his abdomen.
"Yes," the Queen beamed at him. "She's ecstatic, but she's fine and settled. Thank you for asking."
"Eugene," the King sighed with a soft smile, "We will never be able to express our full gratitude to you for helping Rapunzel return to us…"
"Oh…" I mean I don't know what to say either… "Uh, well, you're welcome."
The Queen leapt forward and threw her arms around him.
"Unf!" His arms were pinned but he had unconsciously braced himself just fine. Oh, that's where Rapunzel gets it from!
"Thank you! Thank you so much, for returning her safely!" She stepped back but held his arm and cheek. "You've done such a wonderful thing, and changed all our lives. You've restored our family!" Overcome with emotion, she stepped farther back and crossed her hands over her heart. "Oh! This is all just still sinking in!" Her face trembled, and her voice strained. "Thank you."
Eugene grinned watching her get just as carried away as he had seen Rapunzel get, trying not to twist his face in response to the painful way his stomach was contracting. "You're welcome, Your Majesty. I'm sure she'll be very happy here."
"I certainly hope so..."
"If you care so deeply for her happiness, then you're already on the right track," he reassured her.
A male servant came in, drawing everyone's attention.
"Ah," the King started, "Eugene, this good man will show you to your room."
"Oh," he replied. Still kind of surprised by all this welcoming… That's probably why my stomach hurts. Nerves. "Thanks. Uh, good night then!"
"Good night," they both replied as they watched him follow the servant out.
After her bath, Rapunzel tried to lay down, but still found her mind buzzing and wide awake. She may have been exhausted, but she did not want the new things to stop or the day to end. She looked around the big new room. It's TOO big in here… She shrank in her bed, her brow furrowing. It's… Lonely. ...and what if when I wake up, Eugene really is gone? And either way, I just want to… be with him…
She turned to the pillow beside her. "Pascal, do you mind staying here? I'm gonna go find Eugene's room."
He squeaked back at her; a question.
"I'm not gonna stay there just yet, I just need to find where they take him… Then I'll sneak back there once it seems like everyone's asleep."
She crept back out of the room, to find a guard beside her door. "Oh! Hello…"
"Your Royal Highness," he bowed without even looking at her face.
"Um, can I… go?"
He stared blankly at her, almost confused. "Of course. Would you like an escort?"
"Oh, um," she held her hands up to her chest shyly and leaned away. "N-no no, I'm fine, thanks." She left him there awkwardly and headed back towards the dining hall, til she spotted through a railing the servant leading Eugene up the stairs. She scurried off around a corner to watch where they went, then returned to her room.
The servant in front of Eugene opened the door to his guest quarters. He gripped at his stomach, trying to hide and make sense of his nausea. I think I did eat too much...
"Your rooms, sir."
"I'm sorry- roomS?" Eugene questioned, as he stepped inside after him. He froze, and his nausea was temporarily forgotten, as an excited rock settled on his stomach instead. The walls were a warm rough cut stone, interrupted by some smoother columns, but the fireplace was marble with intricate carvings all around. Everything else was a deep, dark, but polished wood: the bed frame and posts, the chest at the foot of the bed, the headboard, footboard, and canopy, the carved ceiling coffers, the molding all around, and the doors leading off into even more 'rooms.' The bedspread was a deep green and gold pattern of floral swirls that shimmered. Off to the side of the bed, a writing desk and matching chair bore the same wood, and the chair's plush cushion the same fabric as the bed. The floor was tiled marble, with different colors forming a geometric pattern of squares and smaller diamonds. Immediately opposite the entrance, two large green velvet curtains were tied back to reveal a large set of French glass doors. They led out to a spacious balcony, and allowed the cool moonlight to spill into the room. Gas lamps romantically illuminated the otherwise dim room, setting certain finishes aglow here and there. It was all too exquisite to take in fully at once.
Eugene looked back to the servant, but he was already busying himself at a door, which apparently led to a washroom. He was afraid to look in, as if he would be snooping around here in what was, surely, someone else's rooms. "Are you sure..." he called to the man, "This is... what they meant?"
"Yes, sir," he called back, before presenting himself again with a small bow. "This is to be your quarters during your stay. Any of the rooms connected from here are for your personal use."
"Um, my good man," Eugene said uneasily, trying to smile, as he patted the servant's back, "The king himself told you to put me in here? Me? Flynn Rider?"
"Oh," the servant's eyes shot open in alarm, "I'm sorry, sir, but I had been told you were going by Eugene Fitzherbert now?"
Eugene was taken aback at this, and dumbfounded for a moment. He shook his head. "Yeah, no- that's right." He repeated more quietly and slowly, "Eugene Fitzherbert..."
The man cheered up and smiled knowingly. He was an older gentleman, greying around the edges, but still quick in his step. And apparently, intrinsically understood goings-on in the castle, and in people.
Eugene rubbed his hands together, "Say, um...?" and held one out to him in question.
"Ah, Bert, sir."
"Bert." He crossed his arms and rubbed his chin. "What is this- What are these rooms normally used for?" he asked with a shrug.
"Oh, visiting kings or the like."
Eugene's face hung open.
Bert chuckled. "Well, I'll leave you to get settled. Everything you see here is at your disposal. If there is anything you require, you need only inform any of the staff and we shall see to it. There will be a guard posted outside your room at all times, though that is normal for any guest. His Majesty has requested I specifically inform you that he has only asked for their normal patrol," he stressed specially, "But otherwise please remember the guards are here just as much for your protection as anyone else now."
Eugene's face was still hanging open. He shook his head and recovered. "Uh... Yes. Dah- Thank you." He nodded.
"Goodnight, then, sir." Bert bowed a little and left him.
The door closing snapped Eugene back to motion. He walked over to the far side of the bed to sit and take off his boots. He was trying very hard to not pay any attention to the fine fabric of the bedspread, the delicateness of the thread, the plushness of the mattress. The stomach queasiness came back, so it was easy enough to distract his attention.
He had almost forgotten about the dagger in his boot all this time. He looked around for where to stash it, and came upon the fireplace mantel. Many small items decorated it, and adding a posed dagger fit right in.
He laid his shirt and doublet over the smooth, sturdy desk chair. In a closet beside the washroom, he found an extra ceramic wash bowl he was looking for. He left that on the floor beside the bed, as the queasiness would not go away. His last chore was to find and shut off all the gas lamps. The marble floor was cold on his bare feet, and the silky sheets, he had discovered, felt cold. There was a chill in the air of such a giant stone structure, so he figured to keep his pants for warmth, and in case he was woken up by a servant or maid, he would be halfway decent. With the summer heat outside, the cooler temperature was quite refreshing.
Not really sleepy, but still exhausted from the entire situation in which he found himself, Eugene decided it would be best to just turn in. Maybe I could sleep the stomach pains off? He quickly climbed into the bed, and threw the covers over his head to make the rest of the ungodly expensive room disappear. He willed his thoughts to focus on the pain, and repeated to himself over and over, I am never going to be with Ra- The Princess. So better get used to it. Swinging single and free... I am never going to be with The Princess...
In no time, it worked and he was dozing off.
From his half-slumber though, he thought he was aware of hearing a guard's boots walking away.
Just a few seconds later, his door clicked open, and then quietly closed again. These steps, however, sounded like his bare feet had on the marble floor, only, smaller... His brain was beginning to wake up, but could not will his body to move, sunken into the soft clouds of down feathers.
A weight dropped on the other side of the bed. Finally, he flung the covers back, just as Rapunzel was climbing atop the other pillow to wriggle her way under them. She frowned at Eugene disrupting her efforts, but continued anyway.
"Dah- Princess!" Eugene hissed at her. Can't say I'm shocked, though.
"Eugene, don't call me that," she scolded.
"Rapunzel." His voice was steady and flat. He felt her smooth form slide in beside him, and a cool ankle wrap around his warmed one. "You can't be here," he snapped, but laid there stunned, watching her completely ignore him and just snuggle up.
"I wasn't supposed to be a lot of places, lately, but, here I am."
"What?" He had taken to rubbing his face. As he sat up, the stomach turmoil came back, so he slunk back down with her, only half reluctantly.
"Pascal made your guard go away," she giggled. "Don't worry." His arm wound around her automatically.
Everything seemed so right, at last. Like she had shifted the whole world again. Eugene smiled. "If you say so." He snuggled them together as he yawned. She was turned on her side, one arm smushed between them, and the other across his chest. Eugene allowed her his arm for a pillow, which came back around and clutched her top arm, while his other arm likewise wrapped across her down to her waist. He laid flat on his back, back to gaping at the craftsmanship of the ceiling through the veil of the canopy. He had noticed a different scent on her, that unfortunately did not help his nausea. "Did you take a bath?" he asked bluntly.
"Y-yeah," she whispered.
He bit back a groan but still turned his head away. "Smells nice, like peaches." Or at least I'm sure it would smell nice if my stomach could handle it right now.
Rapunzel noted how rigid he still felt. She sighed, and squeaked out in a tiny hurt voice, "Eugene?"
"Hm?"
"Why have you been so cold to me all day?"
Immediately he pulled them apart to see face to face, as his hand gripped around her arm tighter. She looked terrified, and he did not even try to convince himself a moment longer that he could stand it. At long last, he melted for her sake. "Oh, Blondie...!" He snatched her back close, even pulling her up onto his chest, darting his face into her neck, braving the peach scent. "I'm sorry, I tried to tell you, that we can't show that here. You and I? We're not supposed to be together. At all. But I do love you, Blondie. I told you, that no matter what happens, don't doubt that. Please, don't doubt that."
Rapunzel sighed and also squeezed her arms around his neck as tight as she could, trying to stop her racing mind. But then WHY-! Why did it feel like he was being SUCH a jerk! He wasn't like this on my birthday!
He leaned back again just enough to reach her lips. "I will always love you, okay?"
"Okay..." she whimpered, smiling a little again. If he really loves me then we can figure something out!
"Now don't you forget it this time," he playfully scolded as he rubbed their noses. "We can't tell anyone, but I don't want you to forget what I said..." He paused on her lips. "That I love you so goddamn much."
She kissed him, but cut it short herself, shaking her head in a tiny bit of embarrassment, and confusion. "I'm sorry, I just, got worried that you... didn't."
Eugene chuckled at her. "You were worried..." He pecked another kiss on the tip of her nose, but continued laughing. "You were worried? That the guy who just died for you didn't love you anymore?" He grinned widely for her.
"Well," she joined in as she blushed. "I guess, when you put it that way..." She curled her neck up into his shoulder. "I just don't want you to leave me all alone here."
"You're not alone here." He brought a hand up to smooth her hair away, clearing a spot to kiss her temple. "And I told you, I don't want to leave you." He gulped down his own worries about needing to leave. "That's all that matters right now."
"But I… I love you," she attempted as an appeal. PLEASE don't leave!
He kissed her forehead, then nosed her nose so she would tilt her head up. "Hey." She did, and he locked their lips again. His recitations from before were shattered. "I love you, too, Blondie. But right now we need sleep, alright?" Another peck. "Sweet dreams, Blondie." She nodded and nestled her head into his shoulder, and he pecked her temple one more time before returning to admiring the ceiling.
"I certainly hope so," she whispered.
"Mm, why you say that?"
"I couldn't sleep before. I just kept thinking of nightmarish things before I could even relax."
"Oh."
"It's so big and lonely around here. But," she yawned, "At last, I can sleep. Hm, you're warm and real an..." she trailed off.
"Then I'm where I'm meant to be," he said absentmindedly, drifting off. "Hm," he smiled, "Something something light..."
"For the first time in my life," she murmured, "Things are starting to go right."
Hm, maybe, he agreed.
Boots could suddenly be heard running down the hall, lots of boots. And they were getting louder.
Oh no... He still felt himself drifting deeper towards sleep, but was forced to accept reality when the door loudly flew open. There it is.
"Eugene?" Rapunzel clutched at him tighter.
He opened his eyes, still staring blankly, locked on the ceiling. Rapunzel was trying to hide her face in his bare chest, but he merely raised his arms high in surrender. "Just stay calm, Blondie, it's okay," he urgently whispered to her, while he tried to commit the feeling of that brief snuggle to memory forever. In a few more quickened heartbeats, he knew their sweet warmth would be wretched apart.
"THERE she is!"
"Get him!"
Four guards rushed to his side of the bed; one at the foot to grab the covers off, another to pull his legs out, and two to grab his arms. Rapunzel pulled him back.
"EUGENE!" she shrieked, but she was restrained by a fifth guard who snatched her other arm back the other way. "Let go of me! Let go!" She screamed, turning to try to pound on the man's fingers.
"Blondie, it's alright-" A punch halted his jaw from continuing; although it was quite weak, poorly executed, and did not hurt much. He heard a high pitched gasp and Rapunzel screaming "No!" over and over, probably to everyone. Between their awkward positioning, and him being knocked a little dizzy, Eugene stumbled as he was yanked out of the bed. "Whoah, easy, I'm comin." He only struggled to get situated well enough that they actually could properly hold him by his arms. Each of the two guards held a hand tight under his arms, and another around his bicep at the elbow. The other two walked one in front, and one in back. They dragged him halfway to the door, before he was allowed to correct his legs. A sixth guard stood holding the door open, and still a seventh stood at the other side with a lantern.
"No! Eugene! Where are you taking him!" She lunged toward him, but the guard who held fast on her wrist stopped her from getting more than a few feet as she screamed. "EUGENE!"
Blondie you're REALLY gonna wake your parents up! "Blondie it's alright!" he tried to call back. "Just listen to them!"
Eugene felt strangely calm being forced back down the posh hallway. The door slammed behind him and her cries eventually faded away. This is what he had been expecting, and he was right. He at least had comfortable predictability here. They now each held a wrist tightly behind his back. He still did not struggle.
They were about to turn to go down the stairs, when the guard in back spoke up. "No, the King's private study."
"The King?" Eugene silently mouthed. The nausea dropped back in on his stomach like a lead weight. Now he was nervous.
"And take her to the meeting room."
Eugene was dragged over the threshold of the brightly lit study as he tripped. His neck stiffened. I am going to have to face the King, right this moment, and all these guards are going to tell him the worst!
They positioned him with his back to the far wall, forming a triangle with the King's desk to, now, his right as he faced the door. Its section of the room was raised a couple steps, and everything looked of the same impressive wood that was found in the guest quarters, only with a brighter shade of finish. While the room otherwise glittered as if everything were gold and glass, which it probably was, the king was not here yet.
Suddenly his shins were kicked out from under him, dropping him to his knees.
The guard who had been carrying the lantern with them turned and went back out the door, presumably to fetch the King. There were now two guards on each arm, keeping their death grips for intimidation. Eugene merely bit at his tongue and clenched his fists, to satisfy his nerves, and the guards a bit. They would be suspicious if he were completely limp. That makes two guards left with Rapunzel, alright. They should be able to keep her away from whatever happens here... He glanced at a grandfather clock that was within his sights. 11 PM. The king and queen are probably already asleep; they're going to have to wake them up, too... He shook his head and let it hang. He felt his blood going thin, egging on the nausea. I'm not even wearing a shirt...
Minutes as long as years passed...
Meanwhile, the last two guards had taken longer with Rapunzel. She did want to go follow in hopes of rejoining Eugene, but they squirmed with restraining her wrists while they waited for the others to get a head start before they released her. "Where are they taking him?!" she demanded again, her voice raw and ragged. DID I just get him in trouble?
"To the King." It was the first time one of them actually answered her. "We're to take you to Queen."
She shoved past them and marched towards the door and pointed for one of them to lead. "Then let's go."
Without seeming like it was because of her command, one guard led the way out. Rapunzel followed him and the other followed close behind her.
The doorknob finally turned, too slowly, but finally was thrown open carelessly. The King was in front.
"YOUR MAJESTY, PLEASE-" Eugene's back bolted upright as he strained against the guards to let him gesture with his palms open. But his plea turned into a curt yell when a forearm hit the base of his neck, and all four guards forced him lower for a bow, just a few feet from the King. That arm stayed leaning on his neck so all he could see was the floor, which he began studying intensely.
"Your Majesty." The guards all dipped their heads momentarily.
"I can't believe this," the King was saying as he strode to his desk, "You woke us both up for this; there had better be something to it!" He sounded just as angry at the guards as he was at the news.
Eugene felt his mouth go dry, yet tried to swallow.
"As I said, sire," the returned lantern guard spoke, "We found the Princess, in bed with him."
Eugene flinched.
"And is this true?" the King asked.
"Of course, Si-" the guards holding him began to speak up.
"I'm asking him," the King bellowed.
The arm released Eugene's neck, and cautiously, he turned to look up to the King, who stared back at him. His eyes were bloodshot, his bedrobe disheveled. Next to him was the Captain who had followed him in, now standing with his sword drawn but pointed down. His frown did not even look smug. Normally he at least looks like he's savoring my fuckups and when he's got me cornered. Now he just looks, disappointed?
The King spoke up, snatching his full attention back. "I pardoned all your crimes, welcomed you with open arms, and what is this now? It's been less than twelve hours!"
"Your Majesty," he licked his lips but his voice still shook. "I- I didn't do anything, but-" he arched his back, to the guards' protest. He was extremely aware of his exposed nipples and navel now, but somehow baring his chest to the King felt like he was proving his truthfulness and honesty with that vulnerability. "She was there, w-with me, but-! But!" The guards were just jostling him on their own now. "But I didn't do anything! Your Majesty, I would never hurt Rapunzel, I swear-"
"Oh, sure, maybe not hurt her, but-" the Captain spoke up.
"NO!" Eugene's attention darted to the Captain for a moment, while still squirming against the guards a bit. Oh, no, he's not only disappointed but disgusted and yikes I don't know if I have EVER seen him so angry! He gritted his teeth, tried to ignore him, and resumed addressing the King. "Please, Your Majesty, we weren't-! It wasn't what they were thinking!" He had to get out of this, and getting out of the guards felt like one in the same. The panic erupting from his stomach was muddling his thinking. "Please! I've already spent a few days with the Princess, and I haven't done anything!" He struggled, frantic now, desperate to throw himself at the King's feet.
"Like we can trust his word, Your Majesty," the Captain sneered to the sleepy King.
"Sir, Please! She'll tell you herself! I wouldn't ever cause her honor to be questioned."
"Seems you have already called that into question here tonight," the King managed to quip through grogginess.
He's also still really pissed under there. "Alright maybe so, but, I- I..." He hung his head again, trying to swallow enough to keep the boiling bile down. "Just 'cause you could imagine something, doesn't mean it happened…"
"Your Majesty," the Captain turned to the King, "I tried to warn you. If it wasn't jewels, it'd be... well, something like this."
Eugene slowly shook his head, first to deny the Captain's remark, then kept going because it flowed to keep pace with the dizziness. "Your Majesty," he tried to start again, but ended up coughing awkwardly, as all four guards still held his arms fast.
"Enough already," the King rolled his neck. "Someone just give me the whole story."
"She-" Eugene started, but he could not manage it loudly enough in time.
"Yes Sire," the Captain began over Eugene. "It's simple enough. The guard posted at the Princess's door left momentarily to check on a disturbance. When he returned to check on the Princess, my men found this good-for-nothing in bed with her!"
"HEY," he snapped, "I was good enough to actually find her and rescue her! Unlike you sorry sacks ah-rrrrgh!" All four guards simultaneously yanked him hard enough to halt his tongue in a growl. He still openly snarled at the Captain. "How many YEEEARS did you let her go missing, being abused and hidden away, terrified of human contact!"
The Captain recoiled from the rebuke, but quickly recovered. "That doesn't make you good enough for her," he sneered.
"Captain-" the King tried to stop him.
"How LONG did you actually look?!" Eugene yelled back. "If I was able to accidentally stumble onta her?!"
"AND?!" he yelled back. "Did you think this was some game, boy?!" The Captain punctuated himself with slow steps towards Eugene, whose pulsing neck and worry lines betrayed him as he shrunk in fear.
"Captain!" the King tried again.
"That you'd just be handed the Princess as a reward!"
"No!" Eugene sneered, throwing the word out as disrespectfully as possible. "I know that, you idiot! I just-... She-..." Half of him was selfishly just trying to push the blame to her, the other half was having trouble remembering whatever he had thought would be a good reason for her to stay, all while his esophagus felt like it was both burning and swaying within his chest. "She trusts me. And she was having nightmares, she said."
"Oh, sure," the Captain mocked. "How conven-"
"Captain," the King finally said in a scarily quiet tone, "After all that has just happened for her, I'd be skeptical if she were not having nightmares. But regardless, the indecency of the situation does still stand."
Eugene could feel the blood draining from his arms, and his face, from either hanging there so long, or because he was about to lose his grip on his stomach.
"Eugene," the King turned his attention back to him, "Come now, you admit to it, yet are arguing? For what? That you were not wrong? You may not have been raised with any sort of nobility, but you're smarter than that." He paused for an answer, but Eugene was staring into the floor. "Eugene! Look at me."
"M'sorry," he picked his face up. It was drained of all color and bursting with clammy sweat. He could not focus his eyes on the King, but he still pointed his head in that direction. "If we could just... alone? Please..." he mumbled out.
"What?" the King asked. "No. You'll say whatever you have to right here and now. You're not getting out of this one. We have been extremely gracious to you, but I thought you were smart enough to understand that we will not allow you to take advantage of anything- or anyONE here. Now, tell me, WHAT possible explanation do you have to tell in your defense. Nightmares or not, she is no longer your responsibility."
The King had a point. He thought a moment, while focusing on steadying his shallow breathing. I did already admit we were together, and duh everyone saw it, but I keep trying to defend it- sure, 'cause I do want to be with her goddamnit, and she with me- but, what else...? This guy's been so nice and trusting to me, I just- "Sire," he hung his head, swallowing several times, though his throat felt wrong, to hold his insides back a little longer, lest he lose this train of thought again. The wave seemed to pass and settle again for the time being. "You have been so kind, and merciful, and trusting... I'm just sorry that we worried you so much over this. I was only trying to comfort her. She was in no danger, of, anything. I've never had any intention of- doing- what we're all thinking. I guess I should have turned her away as soon as she came in, but she wouldn't listen, 'cause she just wanted to be there; I could have sent for the Queen perhaps-"
"But- wait, what?"
Eugene stopped talking, and looked up, unsure of what the King's new question was.
"'As soon as she came in?'" the King asked.
"Oh," the Captain had a realization. "Um, Sire-"
Eugene realized the situation a step farther, and faster. "She came into my bed. Didn't they tell you that much?" To add to his effect, he tugged on the guards and tried to get one foot on the ground in front of him, leaving him on only one knee.
The King, with his own scowl, looked from Eugene's scowl to the Captain's horror. Then, he looked back to Eugene, and both scowls turned apprehensive. "So you swear you've never touched her?"
Eugene was hit with new shock and did a double take. "Me?" He let his other leg drop back to the knee. I thought I was out of the woods with that, damnit! "Your Majesty," he whined, "You've seen us all day. I can't stop her. And the past few days have been the same."
"Wherever you were," the King yawned, yet contained his air of anger, "Is no excuse, if regardless there were indiscretions."
"Indiscretions?" Telling her my real name was 'indiscreet.' Tying me to a chair was 'indiscreet!' The hell does he mean vague 'indiscretions?!' He blinked hard. Oh, but 'touch her?' "I- can't... say that... I... haven't." Fate, sealed. Check, and mate. "I mean, we've kissed?" Admitting to something is more believable than nothing... "Sh-she-she, though- she kissed me, though! Before I even knew she was the princess!" I'm screwed.
The King only looked at him confused. "Why are you being so honest?" He immediately turned to the Captain. "Why is he being so honest?"
In the meeting room, Rapunzel sat sideways in a cushioned chair, pulled out from the large mahogany meeting table. Her feet perched on the rung between the chair's feet, so she could hunch over, elbows on her knees, hands fidgeting, mind racing with worry and rage. What if I lose him again? I can't- I can't go back to that- and I won't go back to the person I used to be- all obedient and complacent and too WEAK to help anybody! He's everything. If I lose him, I lose everythi-
Suddenly yelling erupted from the other side of the wall to her right, making her jump in her seat. Eugene-? She shuddered, staring at the closed door on that wall. Tears hugged the rims of her eyes, threatening to spill.
"Rapunzel?" The Queen peaked into the meeting room through the open door to the hall, past awkward guards.
"Oh, Your Majesty," one of them said softly as he stepped aside to reveal Rapunzel, hunched over in an office chair, head in her hands. "I think she's... crying..."
The Queen sighed and brushed past him. "Hey," she gently offered along with a tentative touch on her arm.
Rapunzel jumped again, startled at her tender approach.
"I just want to talk to you."
"Where is he?" she snapped immediately, still on edge.
"He- he's safe, don't wor-"
"Ugh, Mother!" Rapunzel stood up and whipped around in frustration, but froze, her eyes no longer seeing the reality in front of her, but rather a thousand yard stare into nothing.
"Rapunzel?" The Queen rushed to her, grabbing her shoulders as she leaned in front of her.
The vision of her old life faded and she snapped out of it. "Mom," she suddenly broke down, flinging her arms around her. "I'm sorry, I'm so sorry! I just- I don't know!" I can't believe I called her that!
"Awgh, Sweetie," she embraced her back tightly, as Rapunzel whimpered more. "I'm sorry. I guess this isn't going to be as easy as we all may have thought. But I love you, Baby. I have loved you your entire life. I am so sorry I haven't been there for you, and I am just trying to do what I can now-"
Rapunzel shook her head, guilt bubbling up. "No, no it's not your fault. But I-" She tried to take a deep breath through her hyperventilating as they separated. "I-..." I need my freedom to- And he…The two were linked in her mind. But she fell silent, afraid to voice either.
The Queen nodded at her logic, but remained concerned as she tried to express herself. "But?" she finally asked. "I'm listening," she added so softly, her hands squeezing her shoulders.
Rapunzel felt herself warming up to her, but the yelling on the other side of the wall was still intermittently booming through. She finally sighed and shook her head, her eyes and thoughts weary. "I don't know…"
The Queen relented the deeper issue, and tried a different, more immediately pressing topic. "Rapunzel…" She brushed her mussed swoop of hair back together and out of her face, bringing an easy, slight smile to her daughter's face with that action alone. "Sweetie, we want you to be happy here. And we are trying… to help you. You've," she smiled through her own tears, "Come back and lit up our lives like such a ray of sunshine, we can barely believe it. We would do anything for you, no matter what." She cupped her cheek; Rapunzel leaned into it, smiling wholeheartedly. "We love you, Baby." She sniffled, still smiling with a mix of joy and pain. "But you're a grown up, young lady, now, so…" She paused to lick her lips. "Please, Rapunzel…"
Oh no. Rapunzel noticed the anticipation in her voice, and sat up straighter, anxiously awaiting the drop.
"Just tell me what happened tonight."
There it is. And I refuse to get Eugene in trouble! Rapunzel bit her lips together and shook her head. "Nothing happened."
"Rapunzel," the Queen strained, "If he hurt you-"
"He didn't hurt me!" she squealed all of a sudden, deeply offended and shocked. "How could you even-!?"
"Then please," she begged, "Please help me to understand-"
"Understand what?!" she yelled, setting back into a panic.
"What happened! What was he doing with you!"
Rapunzel's white hot panic was back and dizzying. "I just couldn't sleep…" What do I say - what if they find out - what is going on – what… I am freaking out!
"You were having trouble sleeping?" the Queen calmly reiterated. "And so-"
"So I went to go find him! Just to talk! 'Cause I knew that then, I could sleep! Okay!?"
"You went to find him? Wait, yo-"
"YES! He did NOTHING WRONG!"
"Rapunzel-" she reached out to calm her down.
"What did you do to him!" Rapunzel downright growled at her.
"Nothing-"
"No, WHERE is HE?!" Rapunzel turned and ran to that other door, but the knob was locked, so she began fidgeting with it. "Where did they take him?!"
"Rapunzel, please, wait-!"
There was a great commotion behind, what Eugene now realized was, a door on the other side of the room opposite the desk. It had blended in well with the wall, but now it shook and light reflected off the shaking handle.
More guards, come to finally finish me. "Your Majesty," Eugene squeezed his eyes shut and picked up the pace to get this all out in a hurry. "Please, just tell Rapunzel that I ran offa my own accord, I don't want her to be upset with you for whatever you do to me..." But his voice was too low, his words mumbled through his sickness, and everyone else's attention was on the door. "Please, sir..." The panic was bubbling up his insides again. His head helplessly lolled to the side. Well, don't have to work out a new life for myself. Cut that down to a few minutes...
There were at least two women's voices, frantically arguing. The shaking knob finally turned correctly and the door flew open. Rapunzel stumbled through, with the Queen on her heels, reaching for her shoulders.
"Rapunzel, stop!" she cried.
Rapunzel's wide eyes locked with Eugene's glazed over ones. They both froze.
His attention was immediately snatched back by his body. She is HERE- His stomach retched. Seeing me and her father like this- Saliva gushed to coat his mouth so fast it hurt his ducts. And she'll think-! His eyes rolled to the back of his head as his abs took over his esophagus. In seconds, his 5-star, 5-course dinner was coming back up and sploshing on the floor before him.
Moans of "Ew," overtook most of the bystanders.
"Ah," the King smiled. "So that's why he was acting so strangely."
Rapunzel remained frozen, watching him, almost in awe. His lean muscles were on full display, flexing, taut and shiny. And I've never seen anyone sick before... Oh-! She winced. But he looks like he's in pain! "Eugene!" she shrieked as she ran towards him, but stopped short of the mess. Her worry turned to fury as she eyed the guards holding him. "Let him go!" she emphasized with her fist and a little stomp.
Dutifully, the guards slowly let him rest back on his haunches and released his arms. They flopped down as he doubled over into himself. He kept hawking up spits of leftover leftovers, shamelessly adding to the puddle now. Rapunzel went to move behind him, shooing the guards away.
At his heels, her nightgown brushed his exposed leg. "Eugene?" A single finger hesitantly just barely touched his shoulder, before he flinched and she pulled her hand away.
Eugene's hand quickly went to cover his sweaty pallored face from her; his pinky trembling. "No, no..." He wiped away at his bangs sticking to his forehead, then resumed covering his tearing eyes. The fuck... perfectly normal for puking, but really, like I need this now...
"Eugene, are you dying?" Her voice cracked at the end.
"What?" At that he had to look up, and laugh a little. "No, Blondie." A white terry cloth towel fell down onto the mess. The Queen was now also standing beside him, offering him another, smaller, towel and a drink in a glass goblet. "I, uh, just threw up," he answered Rapunzel. "I'm fine. I feel better, actually." He kept eyeing the Queen, unsure of the hospitality now.
"Here," the Queen smiled sweetly. "Take it, Eugene."
He took the smaller towel and started wiping his face off, but still looked at the glass quizzically. "Is that a potion?" There were bubbles rising up out of it, despite the liquid being clear.
"No, dear," she mused again. "It's called 'air water.' It'll settle your stomach."
Rapunzel oohed over it, as Eugene tentatively took the glass. He tried a little, scoffed, then painfully gagged the next few sips down.
"Slowly!" the Queen urged.
"Ugh. That is the worst beer I've ever had!" Yet he took more to swish his mouth out.
The Queen and King laughed, and Rapunzel joined them, not fully understanding but just happy that the situation apparently called for laughter.
"Oh, Eugene!" Rapunzel stooped to squeeze his clammy shoulders to herself in a little half-hug from behind him, and pecked his temple with a kiss. "I'm so glad you're alright!"
He halted his drink and tensed. Ever so slowly, he lowered the glass from his lips, and looked up to the Queen. Alright, she's sympathetic. 'Cause I'm a sorry sap. Thanks. I guess. He reluctantly rotated to the King. Yup, still pissed. Like it's my fault she's touching me! Beside the King, he caught the Captain about to blow his stack, his cheeks were so red. Nope! He darted back to the Queen. Please, intercede, Holy Mother! Be sympathetic for me! BEEE sympathetic!
Eugene rested back on his folded legs and stared at the towels. They were as exquisite as anything around here; once soft, white and clean as fresh fallen snow. He had completely defiled them. All because he could not help his appetite.
"Eugene?" Rapunzel's small voice tried to reach him. ...now what?
The King cleared his throat. "Eugene."
Both Eugene and Rapunzel looked up to him. The Queen had silently shifted to his side, and was just retreating from having whispered in his ear.
"Um, I'd like to speak with Eugene privately." He put on his best stern face, but it was different from before.
Eugene nodded.
"Um, Dad?"
"Rapunzel, please, go back with your mother."
"But-!" Rapunzel ran right up to him. "But he's a good guy! Please-"
"Rapunzel," he smiled. "It's alright, Sweetie. He's not in trouble."
"I'm NOT?!" Eugene's shoulders dropped and now he was utterly confused.
The Queen smiled so sweetly to him. "No," she sighed.
Rapunzel sighed heavily in relief. "Alright, then."
"Just go, Rapunzel," Eugene urged, finally looking her in the eye, albeit with his wet bloodshot ones. "I'll be fine, don't worry."
She smiled weakly back at Eugene before following the Queen out the mysterious door they had come from. All of the guards left through the door they had originally entered through, except the Captain. Both doors closed as quietly as possible.
Rapunzel kept her head hung and clutched her opposite elbow in her hand, wringing it.
The Queen sighed. "See?" she reached out for her, "He's fine. They were just questioning him."
"Questioning?!" She whipped around, pointing. "They had no reason to drag him out of bed in the first place! They had no reason to treat him like that!" Her voice cracked, on the verge of tears.
Shock took over the Queen's face, but she quickly collected herself. "Sweetheart," she noticed a hitch in her own voice, "I'm sorry. I…" She worried at her lip and hesitated, but soothingly reached to take her daughter's hand. She startled, but allowed her. "Rapunzel," she smiled with a furrowed brow, "He… He's been good to you?"
"Of course," she whined. "Mom, he saved me."
"And he listens to you?"
Rapunzel hesitated, thinking back over the day. "When we're alone, he listens to me. The rest of today, he was just, worried about what everyone would think of him. And he said… He..." I can't tell her, can I? "We're friends. But the rest of today he was just worried about getting in trouble for anything, because he is so grateful that he's-" In still coming down from her panic, she could not think of the new terms. "He's free."
"Alright," the Queen sighed. "You're alright, then? Sleeping… there?"
"Yes," she whined, choking up. "I'm the one that went in to find him. I just, wanted to- stay with him. It was scary sleeping alone in a new place… Please…"
"Alright. You can- well- I mean, you're…" She sighed, running through a million emotions at once. "You're an adult now, Rapunzel."
"...and?"
"And, so you can do whatever you want. You don't need our permission, but I-" She paused again, conflicted. "We missed out on raising you. There's so much I'm just worried about right now."
Rapunzel perked up at finally finding her place in the conversation. She calmed, placing both hands folded in front of her, but then looked to all the chairs around the meeting table. She pulled another one out, turning it sideways invitingly for the Queen, then plopped down in another one facing it. "What are you worried about?"
The Queen sighed but plopped down as well. "Everything, frankly. That's one's duty as a Queen, and as a parent," she tried to sound lighthearted. "I'm worried about you. Especially tonight. Your father and I couldn't sleep tonight, either, we were so happy and worried about you being back. There's- so much. And I don't know where you're coming from yet. But at least for tonight," she took Rapunzel's hands, "Are you absolutely, one-hundred-percent, certain, that he won't hurt you?"
Rapunzel's smile from the hand holding faded with the question of his trustworthiness again. "I-"
"And I don't mean violently, or explicitly- either way, that boy is too smart for that. I mean, I just don't want him to ever make you feel uncomfortable, or pressured, or to even just break your heart." The Queen winced, pleading with her eyes, that her daughter would not meet.
He's… expressed as much… Rapunzel's soft smile found its way back as she thought about him, and every second of every intimate encounter they had had so far. By the end, her grin was deep and her cheeks rosy. "Mom," she finally looked her in the eye, "He-" -loves me- She froze. But I can't tell her that! "He's asked me the same things. I'm sorry we made you worry. But he would never do anything I don't want."
The Queen blushed a bit herself. "Alright," she smiled with relief. "That's, wonderful to hear, actually."
Rapunzel smirked with a tender understanding at her mother, appreciating her concern, especially coupled with her acceptance of her independent choice. "He's extremely considerate of me, and my feelings, and just everything."
"He always was a," the Queen hesitated, glossing over something herself, "A good Christian boy."
Rapunzel smiled quizzically, but did not push her luck with asking.
"As long as you feel safe, and you trust him, then I think it's fine. I'll just make sure the guards are aware of your new possible whereabouts. I'm sure you can understand our worries for you in that regard. Alright?"
She hugged me so much before, so-! Rapunzel lunged forward to hug her mother, still in her seat. "Thank you! So much!"
"Oof!" The Queen laughed jovially as she enthusiastically returned the rambunctious embrace. "I think we all should get some sleep now. This was a very big day!"
Both women chuckled.
Eugene felt thrust into a horrible dream, where you can never run fast enough and the speed of everything chasing you seems too fast yet still intolerably slow. He looked up to the King expectantly.
The King looked down to him almost apologetically, then glanced to the Captain. He was teetering between rage and fear for his own hide; both directed at Eugene. A glance back to Eugene confirmed he was still gripped in terror. "Um, Captain?"
"Yes, Sire?"
"I said I would like to be able to speak with Eugene alone."
"But Sire, he's still questionable as to-"
"We'll be fine," the King nearly had his teeth gritted. "It does not behoove me any to have you here holding his tongue for him."
With every bit of reluctance, the Captain bowed to the King, and took his leave. Eugene's attention was still glued to the King, who was the only one to see the Captain's glare shooting daggers at Eugene before he disappeared beyond the door. He pointedly slammed it shut.
"Your Majesty?" The other panic overtook him. Fear of kindness, again. What does he want with me?
"Eugene, please," he smirked to him. "At least, call me 'Sir.'"
"Uh, Sir, then?"
The King still half-frowned.
"I would just like to know where I stand..."
The King continued. "My wife spoke with Rapunzel."
He nearly screamed out loud, And she knew to LIE, right?! His eyes bugged out, though, and he made a squeaky choking sound.
"She said you hadn't done anything truly wrong. Yet."
Eugene nodded stiffly. "That's- I believe that's correct, Sir."
The King glared him down. "But 'good friends,' hmm?"
Eugene stared up at him in terror, jaw dropped, breath gone. Oh, my neck… He gulped to get his throat working. "Weh- Ah-"
"Do you think I'm daft?"
"No, Sir," he was quickest to answer that one, with lowered eyes and his hands at his sides as he remained sitting on his legs.
"Do you think I wasn't watching you two like a hawk all day?"
"No, Sir," he quickly answered again, then clarified, "I- I know you were, of course."
"Do you think I didn't see how you two interacted?"
"No, Sir," he repeated, his voice up to a high pitched whine. "I- I can't control how she's been around me, but I've tried to be as respectful as I can…"
"Well, you said you wanted to talk to me alone. So, talk."
"About?"
"Rapunzel." The King leaned back against his desk, and crossed his arms.
Eugene looked like a baby deer, about to be shot. His heart pounded harder than even Rapunzel had ever made it. "She... Uh." He tried looking around for any idea of what direction to even go in talking about her.
"I need the full truth, Eugene," he warned. "Speak freely, and I'll hold nothing you say here against you."
Best to just explain everything to him, then. He sighed in defeat, and looked to the King once more. But he could not meet his eyes, so he settled for staring at the hem of his robe. "Rapunzel- the Princess is- she's not normal- I mean," he paused his struggling. "She wasn't just hidden for 18 years. When we say she was in that tower for 18 years, we mean she was only inside that tower and that is all. She had never even touched grass until a few days ago! So she knows almost nothing about men at all, Sir. What the guards were trying to imply," he shook his head, "I would never. I could never. I may have been a thief, but I've never been that sort of man. I stole things; I broke hearts; but I don't prey on women like that. And she trusts me; I could never betray that trust. For anything." I did only do what she wanted me to… Then I returned her to your protection, but now you think I haven't been protecting her? Jesus Christ… I know he's got every right to be worried but if I wanted to just do that why would I bring her back?!
The King nodded in agreement, "Mhm," as if he were listening to a buddy talk about his love life troubles.
Eugene shook off the friendliness he felt the King trying to exude. "And as the first person she's met, and, and, after everything... I guess I'm still the person she trusts the most, 'cause she knows me- I mean, she's known me longer- well, a couple days, but I mean- And there was a lot more danger involved than we let on earlier. And I-" He bit his lips, nervous about the declarations he was making. Saying this next thing to any father would be strange, but to tell the King that he knew better? "Your Majesty, you have been so gracious and wonderful, especially since you didn't have to be at all so with me, so, I am sorry, but please try to understand for her sake… You may be her father, but really I am the first man she's ever met, and the only other person in the world she's really gotten to know so far..."
The King closed his eyes and bowed his head. "I do understand that… and you've protected her from everything else." He looked up, beaming.
YES! But why is he smiling at me?! "Uh, yes, Sir."
"What about you, though?" The King shifted his weight to the other side and now looked dangerously curious. "How do you feel in all this?"
His tension snapped again. The truth? His ego and voice both deflated. "Sir," he slid over the couple of feet to the steps leading to the King's raised desk area. His hands gripped at the marble of the first step, and he lowered himself even closer to the ground for a pathetic grovel. "F-forgive me, Your Majesty, b-but, I need your pardon just once more. Because, I love Rapunzel. Like no one else, ever- I love her with all my heart, and she loves me back. The truth, that I obviously didn't dare mention at lunch, is that I felt it at first sight, and I knew it was serious by the end of that day, the night before her birthday. I tried to give her a good birthday out on the town, and seeing the lanterns like she wanted. I escaped to run back to her. I still had no idea she could possibly be THE Lost Princess - it never dawned on me - not until that morning after her birthday, when she told me outright that she'd figured it out herself. Then it all made sense…" He shook his head, lowering it. "I knew you'd see all the signs of her affection all day today, though I've tried to curb her, but she..." He trailed off.
"Ah-" the King started, but Eugene's panic hurtled him forward.
"I'm sorry, but I do return the sentiment, so strongly, though I'm trying to stop-" I don't want to! "I'm so sorry. I've just never felt anything like this before. I do know that with her being the Princess, that it doesn't matter, that we can't ever be," at that he squeezed his eyes shut tight, "That's why I said we're good friends. 'Cause I know that's all we could ever be! And I've explained it all to her, but she still just refuses to accept it-"
The King chuckled. "Well, it's not impossible, but yes," he cleared his throat again, "If she were to marry you, she would lose her birthright."
"I know. And I would never dream of letting her do that for me."
"Well," the King mused, "She is our only heir."
Eugene nodded, his gaze drifting downward. "Exactly. So, Your Majesty, what I wanted you to know- if I could beg you, to, just trust one thing about me, please, trust that I will always do whatever I can to protect her," his voice cracked. "I tried to get rid of the crown to keep her safe from the Stabbingtons- $7 million gold guaranteed- I gave it up- I- I ran back to the tower for her because I love her. And then I… I brought her back here... when she wanted to run off with me- I convinced her to come back here, to be with her family, where I knew I could never have her, and where you might still want my neck. So please, please believe me that all I want is to protect her." Rambling will be the death of me… "She's been safe with me these past few days," he touched his chest, "Alone, with me. And she was safe with me tonight."
An awkward pause took over, as the King mulled over his confession and waited for Eugene to blabber on more, but was too heartbroken to. "You…" He stroked his beard, under which he was smirking. "Withheld this information before."
"I know." Eugene cringed. "I'm sorry, I just- I thought if you knew, that you wouldn't trust me." He groaned and shook his head with the catch-22. "So I lied and now you don't trust me- I'm sorry I just don't know what to do!" He roughly streaked his fingers back through his hair. "But why else do you give up money like that?!" He threw his arms out with the exclamation, then fell forward onto his hands again. "And now I'm giving her up…"
"Eugene," the King said firmly but with a flavor of gentleness, "I did say I would hold nothing against you. If Rapunzel could trust you, through everything that has happened, then Lillian and I trust you. And you are doing just fine." He paused dramatically, then yawned and cleared his throat. "Ah, so. Did you hear about the celebration plans before all this commotion?"
Really? That's it? Like, really really really?! Eugene looked up and blinked, trying to focus on the new topic. "Uh, no." He sat back on his legs. "I haven't."
"Well, so far we've decided to have a week long celebration, and it will all be announced soon. As her rescuer, I insist you must be part of it all."
"Uh, well then, y-yes, absolutely, thank you, Sir." But he stared confusedly at the old, new-again father. So wait, what about me and Rapunzel? I'm really not in trouble? Nothing?!
"So, Mr. Fitzherbert, in case you were wondering where you stood, consider yourself an honored guest here for the next few weeks. Say, a month? At least?"
Eugene had to blink his shock away again. "Uh, thank you, Sir..."
The King was beaming again. "Ah, very good then." He stepped down and headed towards the door. "Off to bed, now."
I wish I could- Eugene snapped out of his daze in time. "Ah, Sir?!" he called after him.
"Yes?"
"Could I, um..." He paused and stood up as dignified as he could. "I know you must be very busy, but," he wrung the small towel in his hands, "I was wondering if you and I might take any time, like, a day? To get better acquainted. Ya know? After all, you- you've changed my life, with that pardon. I figured you might want to know who it really is you just let go free."
"Haho, nice! Yes, of course, my boy. Tomorrow- hmm," he looked extremely contemplative for a brief moment, "Tomorrow I have to, go over some things… The day after tomorrow should be good."
It was Eugene's turn to beam. "Thank you, Sir!"
The King held the door open for him as he hurried over. On his way, he dropped the towel by the other messed one, paying them no mind.
On the other side, the Queen was waiting, alone.
"Lilly?" the King looked to her.
The Queen merely smiled at him as she took his arm, then looked to Eugene. "How are you feeling, Dear?"
"Oh, uh, much better, thank you." He held his tender stomach. "And, despite all the commotion, I think I feel a lot better about everything, now," he smirked.
"Good, that's good."
He frowned though. "But if I could ask for just one thing?"
The Queen chuckled. "And what is that?"
"Just another glass of that bubbly-"
"The air-water?"
"Yeah."
She nodded and fetched him another glass from a hutch in the study.
"Thank you, so much, Your Majesty."
The Queen smiled at him. "You're welcome. And I was just going to tell you, that I've spoken with Rapunzel about everything. And, to ensure her comfort in transitioning here, well, I told her she could stay wherever she liked."
"Wha..." Eugene's face hung open yet again, with a touch of horror.
Both monarchs eyed him warily with smirks. The King dipped his head towards him, coming off as pure menacing.
The Queen looked quite formidable herself. "I sincerely doubt you need the same lecture, but you are both adults, and clearly you've survived the past few days together. We just want you to know, that we are quite fond of you, young man."
Eugene smiled dumbfoundedly.
"But we'd rather just know what is going on," the King said with knowing looks to him.
The Queen's smile vanished suddenly. "We wouldn't want to have to reinstate your sentence." Prompted by Eugene's face, however, both parents' smiles instantly returned with chuckles.
Daaahhh! "Right, ah..." Eugene bowed, "Thank you." He took one step backwards, towards the direction of the other wing, opposite of where the Royal family's quarters all were; towards where Rapunzel was waiting for him. He began melting a little. With such painful gratitude softening his face, he looked back to his rulers before him. "No, really, thank you, so much. For everything, and for understanding. I promise, you have nothing to worry about." He shook himself back to his senses when he noticed them looking wearily tired again, yet still at peace with him. "Ah, yeah, good night," he finished quickly, and left. Another night! With her! For real! He could not help the smiles overtaking him.
Eugene made his way back to his rooms alone, nursing another glass of fizzy water. He sheepishly raised it to the guard outside his door, though it did not garner a reaction. Eugene tried again with a bigger smile, "Ah, well, good night… No more shenanigans, promise." He bowed his head curtly.
The guard merely glanced at him. "Good night, sir."
Eugene sighed, but gave up and just went inside, where one of the gas lamps was already back on.
A squeak drew his attention up, and while he at first foolishly feared a mouse from the sound of it, he knew who was supposed to be in here. Rapunzel! Before the fireplace, stood his petite brunette. The dim light shimmered off her blue silk nightgown as she fidgeted in place.
"Rgh-" he choked, too excited, but also scared to get even more invested. He gulped. Ah, screw it…
Rapunzel took a half-step toward him, and her mouth opened, but she, too, froze. I hope he's not mad? "Is… everything okay?"
His crooked smile popped up, and he began walking over. "Yeah, yeah, everything's fine, now."
Her wide grin took over at seeing him happy, but then she winced. "I am so sorry I almost got you in trouble, over nothing. I didn't think that-"
"Hey, it's okay, it's okayyy," he shrugged off, too relieved to be upset about anything anymore.
"My um, mom, said that could stay, that it'd be different than you coming into my room."
Eugene rolled his eyes, "It doesn't matter that much, but, yeah, they told me the same."
"She also said something that you were a good, um, something, like- kristshun? -boy..."
"Christian," he corrected, taken aback at the comment. "I used to be, so I guess that's another reason why she trusts me."
"What's that?"
He shook his head. "It's just a… thing… I'll explain it tomorrow, okay? I'm, tired. I need to wash up after all that, I feel gross."
"Oh!" she jumped and grabbed his free hand, "I could show you how to use the bath!"
His eyes lit up. "Bath? With like, hot running water?"
She nodded enthusiastically.
"Awgh, Blondie," he moaned, squeezing her hand. "C'mere." He brought it up for a kiss. "You ARE my hero and I love you."
She giggled at the hand kiss. "Are you feeling okay now?"
"My stomach's much better, thanks to getting it all out, and this uh, 'air water' from your mom. And, heh… While I was ticked that you got us in trouble with you sneaking in here," he smiled in adoration, "I am thankful that you convinced everybody that I'm not a threat to you."
She waited on edge til he finished, then beamed with pride. "So you're really not in trouble at all?"
"Nope, nothing! Just tired," he laughed.
She bounced with excitement, and tried to bounce up to kiss him, but he leaned away, jilting her. She faltered but caught herself, startled. Eyes wide, she shot her terror out at him. "What-"
He looked back cringing, just in time to see the horror streak across her face. "Blondie-"
"What is it?" she asked again, heartbroken. He stopped- AGAIN?!
"I just threw up! My mouth's all gross and I probably stink. You can like-" Ugh, not really but- "Kiss me all you want after I get this," he motioned around his mouth and chin, "Whole situation taken care of, okay?"
I guess that makes your mouth taste bad? She cheered back up somewhat, and led him towards the bathroom. "Alright then, lemme show you!"
He was happily pulled.
Eugene fiddled with the gas lamp on the wall in the bathroom. "Theeerrre we go!" Light filled the small room, reflecting off of the mirror and gold surfaces and tile all around. "Whoa!"
Rapunzel scampered in. "Oh, nice!"
He had been stunned by the luxurious bathroom, but his smile only lit up when he saw her reaction to it. "Right?" he agreed.
"Yeah! It's a little smaller and different than mine, but oooh!"
His eyes bugged out that hers was even bigger.
It was a short and narrow room, but full of shiny ceramic tile, gold-colored fixtures, for running water plumbing, and each part within was spacious. The long vanity, with a large ornate mirror, above a deep sink, across from a huge square bathtub, set into an alcove, and another smaller one beyond the sink for the toilet. The walls of the bathtub alcove were tiled in mosaics of scenes from the kingdom, which Rapunzel was currently examining.
Eugene felt butterflies flutter with his excitement over staying someplace with such amenities. He eyed the bathtub with what felt like jealousy and greed, but his practical side rationalized that the disgust he felt with himself was partly because he did really need to wash up.
He glanced to the vanity and sink, and immediately spotted his first thing to try. "Augh, sweet, yes!" He grabbed a toothbrush, dipped it in the container beside it, and began scrubbing his mouth out. After that he found a bottle for mouthwash. With the actual taste of bile completely eradicated and replaced with freshness, he eagerly turned back to Rapunzel, who had taken to examining the mosaics. "Hey Blondie."
"Hm?" She turned around.
He grabbed her waist flush against his, slipped a hand behind her neck, and dove for her mouth. She gasped, but it immediately turned into a moan, as he welcomed her in and she explored his fresh new taste. Both were suddenly content to ignore the bathroom. He broke it first, worried to assure her further, his nose in her hair and his mouth beside her ear. "I told you I want you." And that DOES smell nice! He grinned.
"I- I guess you do," she blushed.
He rubbed their noses together, unwilling to let go, but still craving a bath. "Would you mind, if I took a bath?"
"No, I wouldn't mind!" she giggled.
"You could, um, stay, if you want. If you don't mind seeing me- well-"
She giggled again. "I've already seen you naked!"
"Yeah," he chuckled and blushed.
He closed the door. Rapunzel showed him how the tub faucet worked, and added some soap that quickly started bubbling, then looked back to him. He took her hands and touched their foreheads. "You sure you're okay to stay?" Everything the King and Queen said is true- well, could be true, with someone else.
"Yes," she sighed dreamily.
He winced. "You trust me?"
She smirked at him mischievously. "Whyyy?" she purred out, stroking her finger under his goatee. "Should I not?"
He leaned away, beat red, thoroughly enjoying his own fluster. After some gulping and choking, he got control of his own smooth voice. Okay- okay- we gonna play games? He smirked deliciously. "Hmmm, yeah I dunno, after I apparently snuck into your bed to ravage the beautiful princess who I couldn't possibly have feelings for," he rolled his eyes at the end, chuckling.
She giggled, pulling their hands out to the sides, then rose up toward his face.
His smile spread wide, pinching his cheeks and eyes, as he leaned down to touch foreheads again.
"Yeaaah, I think the Captain still doesn't like you," she chuckled.
"Ya think?" he laughed. "Here, lemme…" He left her to stop the water, then reached for his pants. "Uh," he looked back to her, "Lock the door."
She snickered and did so. Yeah, no more interruptions, please!
He smirked to himself, and sighed. She's just waiting for me to-?! He shook his head as he removed them and his shorts at once.
Behind him, Rapunzel audibly choked and gulped. Whoa… Nice.
Eugene was suddenly zoned in on the bath. He carefully climbed up the step and slowly sunk into the bubbles, moaning the entire time, eliciting more giggles from Rapunzel. Everything else melted away- his past, the rest of the world, his worries- as the heat seeped into his muscles. He leaned his head back against the ledge, eyes rolled back, but rolled his face back to her. "Okay," he gasped, "Now I can die happy."
Rapunzel huffed but kept her smile, as she sat on the step and propped herself up on the ledge. "Iii, think you're lying."
He closed his eyes and stretched out. "Ya know I'm not always lying. Sometimes I'm just kidding." Finally settled, he turned to her with his natural smolder, only to see her smile fade as she avoided his eyes. "What's the matter?"
She dropped her head into her crossed arms. "I can never tell when you're lying."
He glanced away, licking his lips. "I… I've only lied to you about a few things…"
"Yea-"
"And I'm sorry," he winced at her. "I want you to trust me."
"I do trust you…"
"Well…" he thought on it. "Yeah, I said trust me, but don't believe me. But I do want you to be able to believe me, too."
She locked eyes with him, but then began studying the bubbles as she mumbled into her arms. "Can we start now, then…"
He stared at her intently, replaying it in his head to ensure he heard her correctly. "I'd like that," he answered with confidence. He floated up a bit to turn and hold himself up on the ledge near her like a merman. He took her hand, caressing it as he found her eyes. "Blondie, I just want you to know... That, whatever good comes to me out of staying here for now- like, your father giving me that pardon, they wanna honor me at this celebration next week, and in a couple days he and I are gonna just spend some time together... Just know that, I'm only here for you. I only stayed, 'cause in that moment, I…" He cringed, but finally took a deep breath. "I just couldn't bring myself to leave you."
He didn't wanna leave! She held back her grin, looking down. "When you told them who you were, I just panicked. I know I said I would fight to protect you, but, I was still scared of you getting caught. And then you just, gave yourself up."
"Yeah," he smirked with a huff, "Well, they knew who I was the second they saw me at all. If in that second they didn't scream for some guard to come kill me on the spot, I figured things were gonna be relatively okay." He ended with a chuckle. "And now lookit me!" He opened his arms up to motion around the tub. Quickly enough though, his eyes settled back with hers. He leaned against the edge again and took her hand back into both of his. Eyes closed, he pressed them to his lips. "Thank you. For everything. You've officially changed my life. You've saved my life, in all ways… You... changed me." Beyond recognition! And I don't know how to keep it this way, but I don't wanna go back.
She smiled solemnly, but arched her brow at the end. "Eugene, I may not know much about people, but I do know I can't make people change. If I could, I could've changed Gothel. I could change… here… into letting you…" She trailed off, saddened.
"You did, though," he looked on in awe of her, but clarified, "-change their minds. You vouched for me to your mom. And between the two of you, I don't think your dad's worried about me at all, really. I mean, it wasn't just the pardon; look how they're letting me stay-"
"For how long though," she pointed out morosely.
Eugene watched her intensely, finally understanding and finally trusting her competence in return. "I'm sorry," he said automatically, as soon as he felt it.
She looked up to him, utter despair in her eyes. You don't mean that… Not the way I want you to…
He licked his lips, eager to explain. "I'm sorry for how I treated you today."
She was taken aback. Wow, maybe you do mean it how I want...
"I should have trusted you, to understand." He shrugged to the side. "I thought it would be easier to let go of me if you were mad at me, or if you thought I didn't…" They locked eyes, and he could not finish the negative form of that sentence. He sighed. It's true though. I can't help it. "I love you, Blondie."
"I love you, too," she cried. "And I-…" She froze a moment, wary of voicing her desires, but quickly blinked away the doubt again. "I was just trying to show them that I trust you. And that you're not like…" You're not like Gothel. She sighed and ran her hands through her hair to hug her shoulders, though now the ends of her brown hair flicked back up. She rocked a bit where she sat, and her eyes were suddenly a thousand miles away from him. "She wasn't exactly a 'touchy' person. Not in the good sense, anyway. But you..." She groaned in frustration at herself, not wanting to offend him, but anxious to discuss the issue.
Eugene lifted his head higher in more realization. He watched the confused pain playing across her face along with the refracted light from the tub water. "I'm sorry I was pushing you away. I… didn't want anyone else thinking I was out of line, getting too close to you. Like you saw them all assume I took too far anyway. You're royalty now, ya know?"
She finally looked back to him, amazed that he understood. But… "If I'm royalty, and if that's supposed to come with special privileges, then why can't I…"
He shrugged. "Okay, well, I guess you have more power or privileges than I thought. I mean, they let you in here tonight."
She took to mumbling, "I don't wanna be here if you won't stay…"
"Sweetie…" Eugene said with great concern. "Believe me, I wish I could stay with you, just as much as you do."
She sighed and pouted.
Eugene smiled at her, though. He reached out, and slowly cupped her cheek. She latched onto the back of his hand and leaned into it. He kept their eyes deeply connected. "I've never known anyone like you." He paused as she blushed. "If you can't change people, how else do you explain me? Your crown was worth 14 million gold, and I was looking to get up to 10 of that, yet I…" He bit his lip. "I dunno. You just..."
"I think you wanted to change," she answered softly. "You just needed the opportunity."
"I needed help," his smile faded as he raised his brow in seriousness. "I've actually always wanted… this. A chance to start over." He stunned himself but felt it no lie. "I just had no means before."
She beamed and shrugged. "And I could've run away at any time, but, I knew enough that I didn't know enough to just leave on my own."
Eugene imagined when she had indeed met the Stabbingtons all alone. "I'm glad you waited," he frowned, but aimed to turn that around. "'Cause now we know you are safe, you're completely free from there, and…" His heart thudded. I don't care if it's selfish, I'm so glad I met you! "Now that I've gotten to meet you, I feel like, somehow, my life is only just really, finally, actually beginning."
He-! He feels the same?! She giggled at how he expressed it with the same words. "I…" She dipped her eyes, "I've always felt like I was waiting for my life to begin. But, it feels like it finally started when you showed up." She looked back to him with a shy smile.
Eugene turned surprisingly red witnessing her shy mutual confession to him. He giggled with her and smiled back. His hand reached out to cup her cheek, then combed back through her hair, over her ear, and down her neck, til he finally pulled away, to grasp her hand again with a dreamy sigh. There IS something so special here. And I can't ignore it just because of stupid royalty rules. "You know," he smirked, "I don't know if guys often tell you this, but you're quite the romantic, you know."
She hummed at his touch, snickered at his delivery, and relished the compliment. "Nooo," she idly cooed, but then sincerely asked, "Really? You think I'm romantic?"
Eugene guffawed. "You snuck into my room! Just to snuggle with me!"
Rapunzel giggled flirtatiously. "My- mom- the Queen, she said to watch out being alone with you, though. But I've been alone with you plenty, even when you were a stranger."
"Yeah…" He fell very somber. "You got lucky with me, though. That's all. I'm serious. This mom is right." He pointed toward the door. "I don't have pointy teeth or any kind of dark powers, but I'm bigger and stronger than you. If I was so inclined-" He halted and tore his eyes away, unable to picture it. "You saw for yourself, the Stabbingtons? They would have hurt you in ways you probably can't even imagine. There's lots of good guys in the world, yes, but your parents are just worried for you, only this time they mean it and it's a normal, healthy amount, with very good reasons." He retreated in on himself in the water. "I'd be a dick to dismiss that. They don't really know me as a person. They're just worried that I might-..." How do I even say this...
Rapunzel noticed him clam up, and remnants of old fears tugged at her nerves. Yet when she looked over this troubled, vulnerably naked man, hidden by childish bubbles, she indeed could not imagine being afraid of him in particular. At least, not beyond the fear that he might have to leave her life soon. "That you might what…" she quietly asked.
"That I'd… touch you… either when or how you didn't want me to touch you." He immediately covered his mouth, worrying about such a thing himself. If the Stabbingtons had gotten ahold of her… His fist clenched.
She lifted her head in understanding. Oh, but I've loved everything! I guess he worried me at first when he convinced me to come back, but… "You've never."
"I know!" he threw his hand out to make the collective point. "And you're touch-starved from her, but God it's not like it's hard. But they're still gonna worry that I'm manipulating you. When really I've been trying to warn you about the same things."
Rapunzel finally chuckled at that absurd thought. "I manipulated you into taking me to the lights!"
"I know, right!" he laughed back.
"Oh Eugene," she sighed happily. "This is what I've missed with you."
He blushed again, but then reversed his thoughts. "You," he pointed at her comically. "You're the one who's gotta stop hanging on my arm and pushing your boobs against me," he laughed, til he saw her expression plummet.
Wait. I've been-?!
"Oh- naw, wait, Blondie- I mean I love it, but that's how everybody figured us out so easily today. I just mean ya can't do that in front of other people. Not with me. Alone, fine. Sure. Like, yes please. But you're freakin' your dad out." He kept laughing it off until she cracked a smile again.
Secure again, she found herself yawning, but was thoughtful to cover her mouth. "Oh, excuse me-"
Eugene yawned in turn, groaning as he did, but it turned into a laugh.
"Oh, sorry!" Rapunzel worried at first, but she also began laughing. He really doesn't get mad at me for anything...
"Alright, lemme actually wash up and we'll get to bed."
"Do you mind if Iiii-" she paused to yawn again, "Urgh, mind if I stay?"
He chuckled, but did not fall victim to this one. "They're fine with it, so it's no problem. Of course you can stay." He rushed to scrub himself down. "You said you washed up already?"
She nestled her head down in her arms on the ledge of the tub. "Yeaaaah-" another yawn, this one she tried to talk through. "I took a bath before. My hair dried sooo fast..." She sighed out dreamily as she faded out into sleep.
Eugene could not help but grin as she drifted off. "Blondie?" he asked softly.
She barely responded. "...hmm..."
He smirked. "Alright," he said to himself, "Almost done." He finished up, then carefully stood and climbed out, the loud splashing not even disturbing the now-sound-asleep Princess. He quickly toweled off, then tied a dry one around his waist. He looked back down to her carefully. Sleepyhead… "Come on, Love." He gently and deftly scooped her up bridal style. She only stirred to cuddle into him more. "You've had an extremely long day. Let's get you into bed." He managed to unlock and open the door, then headed back into the bedroom.
"Nooo," she managed to protest.
"Nooo?" Eugene teased back. "What, no bed?"
"Nooo…"
"Where you gonna sleep then?"
"With you," she mumbled.
"Ohhh," he chuckled, "Still with me? Well, I got news for ya, Tough Girl." He laid her down on one side of his bed. "I'm not passing up this mattress. So-"
As he tried to pull away, she grabbed out for him, Don't leave me, but her hand merely waved through the air- til he purposely caught it himself.
He froze, staring at her, peacefully unconscious again, and her limp hand in his, remembering when he first grabbed for her hand in the boat. "I'll be right back," he quietly promised. He kissed her hand and tucked it back beside her, then pulled the covers up. He ran back to let the water drain, shut the gas lamp, and close the bathroom door again. On his way back to bed, he paused and looked to the door to the hallway. He bit his lip, but silently locked it.
He returned to find her unmoved, to which he breathed a sigh of relief. He happily climbed in from the other side of the bed, and scooted over, until he could reach his arm around her, to pull her close.
She made some noise from being disturbed, but quickly settled into him without really waking.
Eugene tucked his nose behind her ear. "I love you, Rapunzel." He tenderly kissed her neck. "Always."
A/N: Please review! I am so sorry it took me so long, but I am also starved for feedback! Anything! Quarantine has been far from a stress-free free-time...
Follow me as MiraNova23 on tumblr for Tangled Fandom Resurrection, messaging, keeping up with what's goin on in my life, how the writing's going, my other fanworks, lots of Chuck vs Tangled, and all-around general Disnerdiness.
