Chapter 4

Thank you for the nice reviews and story alerts! I'll try to update minimum 1 chapter a week. I'm not the most experienced with multi-chaps, and it's quite a challenge to always know where your story going- but I think I'm getting the hang of it. Thanks for reading! –Mel

Flynn was pretty sure there was something really creepy going on in Rapunzel's life with the isolation, absent Mother, inexistent Father, and most of all, the crazy long hair- but he decided that it was Rapunzel's problem, not his own.

He had his own issues to deal with.

Everyone had their own issues after all.

Flynn hated failure. He rarely failed- save for that one time he hadn't managed to out-eat Bud that year at the carnival. But he outdid him thoroughly ever since, eating twice as much as Bud the next year, then throwing up three times as much afterwards. Thinking about Bud still hurt.

The idea of not succeeding at his last job ate at him, and he found himself scribbling plans on the sheets of paper Rapunzel brought him.

Rapunzel had finally agreed to undo the hair-shackle from around his wrist, but she had reminded him firmly that she had weapons, and then she pointed to her kitchen.

After crushing up his twentieth idea, which once again had him suffocating Bud in the most painful way possible- Flynn sighed. If he was going to get any closure over Bud's betrayal, he had to confront his brother, face-to-face. They were still brothers, after all. They would settle it like men. And then, he would get the Corona tiara from Crystal. Somehow.

He glanced up at Rapunzel, who was currently working on a painting around a window. She worked slowly and steadily, her lips pursed in concentration, carefully outlining and repainting until the topcoat was smooth and neat. It was strangely soothing, watching her work, with her long blond hair circled around her.

She had a smear of blue paint on the side of her chin. He almost grinned. It was kind of cute. She was still wearing the same purple dress she was wearing that morning that seemed just a little small and ill fitting. It's hem was supposed to be at her feet, but it only ended at her ankles. It was obviously quite worn- but it was in fairly good condition. Most women would go to lengths to dress up in the presence of a man such as himself, but her lack of self-consciousness was rather endearing.

He would stay here a couple days more, he decided. Gather his wits before he started on what would truly be his last project. Having company like Rapunzel could prove pleasant, he mused. She was quite pretty, and she didn't seem to mind him staying a while. He tore his gaze away from her and looked back at his crumpled work. So now Rapunzel's Mother would become his problem after all.

Great.

Rapunzel wondered about Flynn. Where was he from? Did he have any family? How did he like living in the outside world?

He had been through something that had led him to her tower. Something bad- she was pretty sure about that. At least Flynn didn't seem dangerous in any way. He hadn't come for her hair, or to take advantage of her powers. On the contrary, he seemed completely oblivious. She silently heaved a sigh of relief. Well, at least her secret was safe. And Flynn was pleasant enough company- except for the fact that he was littering her floor, she thought wryly.

She looked up at Flynn from her painting. He was brooding over the crumpled pieces of paper. He looked like he needed a distraction. Pascal raised his eyebrows and gestured towards him.

If he wasn't going to make conversation, she would.

She put down her paintbrush.

'So, Flynn, where are you from?'

Flynn glanced up.

'Uh, Corona,' he gestured vaguely to the south.

Her curiosity was piqued.

'Co-ro-na,' she rolled the name off her tongue. It sounded strangely familiar.

'I've never been there,' Rapunzel murmured, more to herself than to Flynn.

Flynn raised his eyebrows. Corona was the nearest big city, and she'd never been there? Newhaven wasn't for miles and miles. How long had this girl been staying in this tower again?

'You don't ever miss the outside world?' he asked.

Rapunzel's eyes widened, as though she had never been asked that question before.

'I suppose not,' she said rather sadly.

She scrambled to her feet and shot him a half-hearted smile.

'I'll go prepare dinner. You are staying till after tomorrow right?'

Flynn nodded.

'I'll show you what you need to do later.'

She walked to the kitchen, a blue Pascal at her heels.

Flynn watched her leave. Rapunzel's situation was getting weirder and weirder. He wasn't even sure if he wanted to know what was going on, because he was sure it'd be pretty awful. There was something eerie about the entire situation. He almost felt sorry for her.

And Flynn Rider had learned the hard way that developing any kind of affection was the worst thing to do.

He turned back to his plans, and found that he was completely devoid of any motivation now. He needed a drink badly. Something to numb his thoughts, so his mind wouldn't wander to Bud or Crystal. Thinking about them made him want to punch something, and he was sure that Rapunzel wouldn't appreciate him making a hole in her wall.

He highly doubted Rapunzel stocked gin and tonics though.

After dinner, Rapunzel brought him upstairs to a large, circular room at the top of the tower of the room. Draperies and tapestries hung from the ceiling, and Rapunzel's signature whimsical paintings adorned the walls. Everything was done in bright, cheery colours.

'This is my room.' Rapunzel gestured.

It suited her.

Flynn stuck his hands in his pockets. He felt slightly awkward in this teenage-girl's room because it just felt slightly wrong and improper. He'd climbed out of girl's windows before, but it didn't seem right for Rapunzel. She seemed too pure to be subject to any sort of impropriety.

She walked over to her bed, and Flynn gulped.

He hoped that he wouldn't have to share the bed with her.

And she lifted up a loose floorboard.

Flynn heaved a sigh of relief, then felt a twinge of disappointment… What?

'There's some space in here,' she said.

Flynn scooted over behind Rapunzel, and looked down the surprisingly large hiding space. It wasn't very deep, but it was long. Just large enough for him to lie inside if he tucked his knees up.

'It's a little small,' Rapunzel muttered.

Flynn tapped her shoulder lightly.

'It's okay. I'll manage. I've been in tighter spots before.'

'We must make sure my Mother doesn't see you at all.'

Flynn cast her a concerned glance. Rapunzel looked really anxious.

'Alright,' he agreed.

'No, really, we have to be really careful that she doesn't even suspect that there is someone else here. She shouldn't be here too long, but if she sees you, I don't know what she'd do.'

Flynn laughed dryly.

'You make her sound horrifying. Mothers can be protective, but they generally only want the best for you.'

Rapunzel nodded. Flynn was right. Though her Mother seemed to be rather irrational sometimes, all she wanted was to protect her.

She smiled at him.

'Alright. About sleeping positions tonight-'

Flynn felt his throat close up.

'You can have my bed; I'll sleep in my Mother's room. Come on, Pascal.'

She bade him goodnight, her long blond hair trailing behind her, while Pascal shot him a long look before he chirped and scampered away.

I'm looking forward to starting on the next chapter! We'll finally meet Mother Gothel. I don't know if you've realized, but Rapunzel isn't supposed to be as curious about the outside world (because she doesn't have a motivation… yet) as she is in the original material. That doesn't make her any less resourceful of course, but it does change how they'll be getting out of the tower 2/3 chapters ahead.

Please review! (: