Author's Note : Hey, everyone! Thanks for all your support! I know I've been busy lately, so I hope this chapter will make up for my long delay. I've been busy with college and family things for a while now. I've also been having trouble with finding time to write this chapter at my college computer lab. But, I just got a new laptop a few days ago, so now I'll be quicker at updating this fic. I never expected to have so many for this story. Imagine my surprise to see 2,586 views after not logging in a few months. Thank you for all the support and reviews I've received lately. I'll like to thank BellaEllaWriter, adventure prince, Introvertingeverywhere, spnfanfromeurope, and two guest for the reviews after chapter 2. I forgot to thank you some of you for your reviews since chapter 2. I'll also like to thank all of my followers for your support as well. You guys all give me strength to continue to write, Thank you! Now, Eugene might seem a bit OC in this chapter and I'll be making him a backstory as I go along. I've also been posting this story on my Deviant Art account as well. I'm known as DizziePie38. I'll also be posting this whole fanfic on my Archieve of Our Own as well. My profile is the same as this one, BlackRoseAki. You can use whatever is more convenient for you! Hope you all like! Enjoy!

Chapter 5

Eugene was confused. He didn't know what to do. He's never dealt with kids before. 'No, that's a lie,' he berated himself. He distinctly remembers helping out the caregivers at his orphanage with some of the younger kids. But, even then, he only did that for his own benefit. The old lady in charge had many books left over from her own days of being a parent, but she never let anyone borrow "The Tales of Flynnigan Rider" collection unless she really trusted them. Apparently, those books were the only symbols left of her sons who rarely visited.

The only reason he was even interested in the book series was because the elder women read it all the kids every night. Apparently, she only kept the first few books in the her room and the others were in some hard to reach place for an old lady like herself. The tales of the daring and dashing thief soon found a place in Eugene's heart. But, eventually the same old tales bored him and he wanted to read the others.

Though he could've spent his time differently, he decided help the time worn women around the orphanage. He did extra chores around the children's home. He helped the younger kids with their homework. He even took care of the really small babies, though he left the diaper changing part to the matron. Every minute of his spare time was spent helping this lady in charge.

In his head, he was helping her for his own gain, but he knew in his heart, he was helping her because he wanted to please the only motherly figure he had in his sad life. Eventually his hard work paid off in the end. He convinced the older lady to let him borrow the books so he can read them to the younger kids to keep them busy. The women realized she can trust this young boy who's been helping her do her duties, she let him.

Eugene was overjoyed to read more about his favorite hero and even spread his delight with the others kids. He would always read to all the kids sometime in the day. His mind was soon filled with such great ideas of becoming a thief just like his idol. But, he could never make himself leave the children's home because if he did, the old matron would not be able to handle all the children by herself.

But, eventually he did leave, but only to escape the memories of the old lady. She had gotten deathly ill and was eventually on her last breaths. Eugene was afraid of going to see the elderly women was she died, but when he was told she asked to see him one last, he could not refuse.

He approached the old women, lying motionless on the small bed. The room was dark and smelled like death. The women on the bed, motioned him to come closer and gave him one last hug. Her last words to him, to anyone, were, "You were like the son I never had. My real sons never returned to me to get their books, so I want you to have them. I know you'll share them with others." With those words said, her hand went limp in his hand and her old heart stopped beating. The old woman was gone and it felt like she took a part of Eugene away as well.

The next few days went by in a flash. He didn't remember any details of the next few days till the funeral. The children were only allowed to visit her grave on Sundays, but Eugene had other plans. The new matron in charge talked to Eugene a week after the death. The old lady's will stated she wants all her stuff to be donated to the orphanage, all except . . . her books. She wanted Eugene to have them and so he did.

After he received the books from the matron, Eugene put his plan into action. He spent the next day with his best friend, Arnwaldo, making sure he was as happy as an orphan can be. After a fun filled day, Eugene read the first Flynn Rider book to him till he finally nodded off to sleep. Making sure he was really asleep, he left him a note before taking his stuff and leaving the room. He felt some guilt for leaving one of his only friends, but then he reminded himself that Arnwaldo had a better chance of being adopted than Eugene. When Eugene was out of the orphanage, he looked back one last time and said, "Goodbye." Eugene Fitzherbert left his first home that day and never came back.

'If I can be a good friend to Arnwaldo, I can try to be a friend to Varian,' Eugene told himself as he looked down at the young teen in his lap.

"So, Varian, I heard you're a fan of the Flynn Rider book series? Which books do you have?" asked Eugene, trying to start a conversation.

Varian looked up in surprise. He was so sure his new mentor would start to scold him for all the trouble he caused, not talk about books. 'He's probably planning on lecturing me on the way to his home tomorrow," the young boy thought to himself.

Shyly, Varian answered back, "I used to have the latest three books, but they . . . probably got destroyed along with my lab." Another dark reminder of his unforgivable mistake today. He expected his teacher to tell him he deserved to have his prized possessions burned, but he did not expect him to fiercely hug him.

Eugene did know if he was hugging the kid to comfort him or himself, but all he knew was that if he found out his Flynn Rider book collection was somehow destroyed, he would feel upset as well. The kid just lost his lab because he made one little mistake while trying to help his village.

"Varian, you've been punished for what happened today, so no need to dwell on the past. Okay?" Eugene asked in a tender voice. Varian simply nodded his head in response and leaned against the older man, tired from the day's events.

"By the way, your books survived the collection, along with some other things," Eugene told the young teen. The kid looked up, his eyes glowing with hope, and asked, "Really!"

"Yup! And I have the whole collection at the Castle. You can leave your books here to keep them safe and read the ones I have, if you want?" offered Eugene. He's never shared his book collection with anyone except Arnwaldo and recently, Rapunzel. But, he was willing to trust Varian with his special books.

"Really! I never even read the first and fifth book! The traveling library only had the second and third books. And I borrowed the forth from a friend!" exclaimed Varian. Eugene felt relieved that he was getting along with his new student so well.

"I got the whole series from a friend when I was around your age. She shared those stories with me just like I am going to share them with you. That's what friends do,"Eugene responded.

Varian didn't know how to respond. He's never had a real friend before. All his life, he's been ridiculed and bullied. At first, it was about his small size compared to the other boys. Then it was about being the only boy in town who doesn't have a mother. Recently, it's been about him wanting to be an alchemist. 'No one's ever offered to be his friend before, not that he deserves to be the friend of anyone,' Varian thought to himself.

"I don't deserve to have a friend. I'll just cause you more trouble if you become friends with me. You're better off without—" Varian's words were suddenly cut off as he was suddenly embraced.

"NO! Varian, I haven't had many friends in my life, so I cherish the ones I have now," explained Eugene, "I understand how you might feel like you are useless right now, but you're not. I felt like that as well when I was your age."

Eugene pulled himself away from the young boy, turning his head toward himself, and said, "Things may seem hard right now, but they will get better. Believe me, I didn't expect to be where I am today either, but now I am in a better place than where I was before. Just know I'm here for you, okay?"

His dark brown eyes met Varian's grayish blue ones. He could tell from Eugene's eyes and voice that he was telling the truth, but he couldn't bring himself to believe his words yet. 'He'll realize soon enough that I only bring others misfortune. Maybe the princess is right. I am a wizard, a wizard born with a curse,' he thought to himself.

Varian could only nod in response before he in another hug. 'I don't know if he's telling me the truth or not, but I don't mind him being my mentor if I get hugs like this.'

"Varian, as much as I don't want to ruin the moment we're having, I want to warn you. I don't like hearing you talk about yourself the way you just were. If I hear you degrading yourself like that again, I will spank you. Your father gave me permission to do, even though I would prefer not to. But, I will if I need to, understand?" the older man explained sternly.

Varian was surprised to know his father would do such a thing. 'That's weird. He's never let anyone else spank me before, even when I deserved it. He never even let the school teacher spank me. Though, Flynn's just bluffing about spanking me to look good in front of dad," he thought to himself, but still nodded to Eugene.

"Good. We can talk about some rules on our trip tomorrow," Eugene continued, "For now, let's talk about something else. Have you ever heard of the time I broke into the impenetrable castle of Equis!"

Varian inwardly groaned as he thought about the long ride the next day. 'Maybe I can walk instead," he mused, before cheering up as Eugene started his tale.

Eugene wasn't sure what he was going, but he was sure of one thing. He was capable of being a good friend and helper at the orphanage, so he can help Varian by being his friend as well.

'Well, it's not like the kid's got any more of that Flynnoelum to experiment with anymore! How much trouble could he get into without powerful and unstable liquids! I bet he'll be so well behaved, that I'll never even need to spank him!" Eugene thought to himself, as he continued to tell his tale.

Quirin discreetly watched from his place in the kitchen. He took more time than necessary to prepare dinner, but he knew this arrangement would never work out if Varian and Eugene did not connect with each other. Eugene might not realize it, but he has something special about him that just made Quirin know that his son will be safe with him. 'Yes, this mentoring idea might help Varian and even Eugene in ways they both might not expect. That is something I'm sure of,' the old man thought to himself as he finished making dinner.