And here's the new chapter! I don't know how fast I'm going to be able to update this really, I have a lot of backlog, but a fair amount of it needs fairly time-consuming editing work, so I'm just gonna update whenever possible, really.
Flynn Wanted
~2~
The Queen knew Rapunzel by her eyes. For all the times she imagined finding her baby again, all the different ways she pictured her daughter eighteen years on, the one thing that was always the same was the eyes. Their eyes; sharp green and unmistakable.
So when she met with a barefooted girl outside the palace, snags of wild brown hair at all angles – nothing like her baby's hair – and clinging to the arm of one of the Kingdom's most notorious criminals... well, she had her doubts, not least because it was too great a risk to hope.
But when she looked into the girl's eyes, she knew.
She searches her daughter's eyes now, reaches for a sign of how she's taking the news – the news that Flynn Rider has returned to the Kingdom, that the man she loves and trusts more than any other has broken his word, done what he promised he'd never do.
"The Captain of the Guard is talking with your father," she explains delicately, "but he told us that last night... Flynn Rider burgled and then gravely injured a Judge."
"What?" Rapunzel questions, her forehead creasing. "But... that can't be right." The Queen keeps hold of her child's hands, squeezes them consolingly. While she and her husband were forever grateful for the return of their daughter, it'd be a lie to say her choice of companion-come-suitor was entirely what they'd imagined.
"I'm sorry," she says softly. "I know this must be a lot for you to..."
"But when?" demands Rapunzel. "Where? How?" Her yelling rouses Pascal, who turns visible on the ledge of the door frame and then drops onto the princess's shoulder so suddenly the Queen nearly jumps out of her skin. She blinks heavily, checking that she is quite definitely awake and not dreaming – though the the accusatory looks of an unnervingly anthropomorphic chameleon don't help.
However, she knows it is real, no matter how much Rapunzel might wish it wasn't. Though her daughter introduced her saviour as Eugene, a man of his notoriety was too infamous to escape recognition, and the Queen is heartbroken the news wasn't more of a disappointment. Flynn Rider, as they knew him, had a long history of crime to account for, and an even longer line of men eager to see him pay for it.
She and her husband, overwhelmed with having their daughter back, hadn't the heart to see the man who returned their baby punished. So when Rapunzel vouched for Eugene's circumstances and reformation, they were happy to accept her plea; with the agreement of the Kingdom's chief judges, Eugene Fitzherbert was allowed a full pardon.
Yet, news of his crime does not come as too much of surprise – the dark, pessimistic worry was always there, and now she's had the misfortune to see it fulfilled. The Queen wonders if they made a mistake allowing him to carry on with Rapunzel the way he has, if maybe they just prolonged an inevitable heartbreak. Even though she and the King honestly liked the young man, they understood his past was a lot to overcome – it may have already proven unsurpassable.
"I heard only a few details," she tells Rapunzel with resignation, and the little chameleon on her shoulder pales. "Only that Judge Gable has been gravely injured, and that the criminal named himself as Flynn Rider before he fled."
"... I see," the princess murmurs, her head hanging low as her eyebrows draw together into a thoughtful frown. "I just don't understand, mom," she finally announces, raising her eyes and blinking, as if shaking herself from a lingering dream. "Why would anyone do that?"
"Pride, perhaps?" her mother answers. "Some criminals–"
"No!" she interrupts, her eyes sharpening as she rubs the sleep from them. "I meant, why would anyone pretend they're Flynn Rider?"
"Pretend?" the Queen echoes, and feels disappointment stick in her throat, strangling her ability to speak. She expected Rapunzel to take the news badly, but had honestly hoped for better than denial. "You mean to call it false?"
"Of course! Eugene couldn't possibly have done that," she retorts bluntly, and from her shoulder Pascal nods with confidence; they both know Eugene was in her room all night, so unless he could be in two places at once it was impossible he committed any crimes – except for his presence here, of course.
"Perhaps you should talk to the Captain," her mother requests diplomatically, and it occurs to Rapunzel that she thinks she's just being loyal to the man she loves, rather than having unequivocal proof of his innocence.. "He may make things seem a little clearer."
"Well... okay," she agrees, glancing at Pascal, who gives her a firm nod and gestures with his tail for the door. "Right. Good idea," she said more forcefully, and strides past her mother out into the hall. "I can set this whole thing straight right now."
In the chambers of her parents – where the stiff-suited Captain of the Guard seems overdressed in his uniform while the Royal Family are still in their bedclothes – Rapunzel and a remarkably dour-looking lizard demand to know what is going on. The same story is related of a robbery in the Judge's house, an ensuing fight and the criminal's boast of his identity – made to the victim's wife shortly before the the fiend's escape.
"No," Rapunzel insists time and time again. "There has to be some kind of mistake."
"But Your Highness, with all due respect," addresses the Captain, "why would a criminal pretend to be Flynn Rider? What could he have to gain from it?"
"Well... I don't know," huffs Rapunzel. "How should I? I just know that Eugene can't possibly have been there."
"Why not?" he asks, trying desperately to ignore the fact that the reptile on the princess's shoulder keeps making cut-throat motions at him, because he fears his reality will shatter if he admits to it.
"Because he...!" starts Rapunzel, and then suddenly stops herself. Eugene spends a great deal of time and energy impressing upon her the rules that forbid their being alone together – almost as much time and energy as he spends breaking said rules. She realises that while he might be proven innocent of one crime, his alibi itself could land him in even more trouble.
"Because... uh... I know him," she finishes lamely. "He just wouldn't do a thing like this." She can't stand the faces that her parents and the Captain make, the awkward wince and patronising smile. She knows they think she is a child, blinded by her love and unable to even comprehend Eugene as a man capable of crime.
"My men are searching for Rider now," the Captain announces to the King, turning away from Rapunzel, but consequently finding himself on the receiving end of a truly vicious look from her and her lizard companion. "Ahem, I mean... Fitzherbert," he corrects uncomfortably. "They'll bring him in the moment they capture him."
"Capture?" Rapunzel emphasises. "You're not gonna hurt him, are you?" Her voice rises sharply, and before she knows it her mother has set her arms consolingly around her shoulders.
"Be calm, pet, they won't harm him," she hushes, rubbing her daughter's shoulders gingerly. "They just need to question Eugene a little." Rapunzel looks far from happy with the prospect, and Pascal makes a series of irate-seeming sounds from her shoulder, not that they make any sense to anyone but the princess.
"If he is innocent," points out her father pragmatically, trying to save the last souring remnants of his daughter's temper. "Then surely he will be able to prove that in questioning."
"... Eugene wouldn't do a thing like this, even if he could have," is all Rapunzel says, muttering cryptically to herself; Pascal eyeballs her and nods.
"Maybe you should go sleep awhile," the Queen tries to console as she strokes her daughter's hair; she seems distraught and tired. "It will take a while for the Guard to find Fl... Eugene, and you look as if you need some rest."
"I'm not resting!" Rapunzel snaps, and her mother's hand freezes above her head, caught off-guard by the anger in her words. "I'm waiting right here until Eugene gets here and you all realise it wasn't him – then you can start to look for the real criminal!" she finishes furiously, her small hands bunched tightly into fists. But as soon as her temper runs out there's nothing left; she lets out a deflating breath; her shoulders sink, until she is hunched over – a small, frightened child again. Her mother starts to comb her fingers tenderly through her hair once more, trying in vain to smooth the uncontrollable mess.
"Okay," she relents; though the Queen is simply worried about her daughter, she knows she cannot force her into anything. It's only been a couple of months since they found each other again, and they are all still learning how to be a family – where the boundaries lie, because although she is their baby, Rapunzel is not truly a child anymore.
To her word, the new princess waits silently for almost an hour – silent to them, at least, as she is spotted whispering into her hand, where a surly-looking chameleon sits – until Eugene is finally escorted into the room. Two guards shove him roughly through the doors without ceremony, and he has a fresh bruise on his face that suggests he was not quite as cooperative as he could've been.
"Eugene!" Rapunzel cries, flying to her feet and throwing herself into his arms, oblivious to her parents and the half a dozen guards watching. She paws at his face frantically, stroking her fingers over the bruise along his cheekbone. "What happened? Are you oka– did they do this to you? You said you wouldn't hurt him!" she accuses the Captain ferociously, but before she can carry on any further, Eugene takes hold of her wrists and firmly lowers them.
"Easy, easy," he shushes her, sliding his grip down to her hands and stepping back, hedging a glance at the King and Queen, just to check that they've seen him controlling her overenthusiastic display of affection. "I'm fine, it's just a little scrape. Though," he adds, "it'd be just great if someone could tell me what's this is about." He turns to the Captain in invitation.
"Why don't you tell us, Rider," accuses the moustached man. "Tell us about Judge and Lady Gable."
"Who-and-such-a-such?" Eugene parrots unhelpfully, looking distressingly confused and vacant.
"You'd think you could remember them," says the Captain darkly. "You half-beat his brains out, after all."
"I..." Eugene's face creases up, as if he can see the walls of the room closing in on him, but has no idea why. "I... think you've got the wrong guy. I don't know what you're–"
"Where were you last night?" the Captain interrupts, and Eugene gropes around desperately for some kind of explanation, but his sleep-deprived mind finds nothing. Even the King stares at him expectantly, and he feels his mouth drying out as he mulls over the answer he cannot possibly give.
"I – I was at home. You know, where you guys found me? Sleeping?" he sarcastically answers at last. "You fellas kicked my butt outta bed pretty hard." He throws an accusatory look at the mute guards who stand around him.
"At home? Alone?" presses the Captain.
"Of course!" he snaps with a scowl. "Just what are you trying to imply?"
"Well, have you got a witness to that?" his interrogator asks darkly. "Anyone who could prove you were there?"
"You were there!" Eugene retorts furiously, and grabs a handful of his loose linen shirt. "I'm in my freakin' pyjamas!"
"So you were there when we arrived," the Captain manages to make the concession seem small and insignificant. "What about earlier? Can you prove you were there all night?" Eugene grimaces, and after a torturous pause, shakes his head lamely; the Captain's mouth curls into a smirk beneath his moustache. "Didn't think so, Rider. Boys..." he starts, and Rapunzel suddenly lets out an urgent noise of protest.
"Stop!" she cries. "I can pro-mmmpfh!" Before she can go on, Eugene claps a hand up to her face and covers her mouth with a look of desperation.
"Don'tyoudaaaaresayit!" he yelps in a tone so urgent and mashed together Pascal is the only living thing in the room that understands. "I mean – I know it's a lot to take in, Rapunzel, but don't go acting crazy," he amends, giving her a serious look, and she reluctantly keeps her silence. Thankfully, no one seems to suspect too much of the outburst, most likely assuming that the princess is hysterical enough to disregard.
"Well, Rider?" prompts the captain, savouring every moment of what he clearly thinks has been a long time coming.
"It's Fitzherbert," Eugene growls threateningly – not something he ever thought he'd hear himself say. "And okay, I'll admit it, I've got no witnesses or alibis for last night," he begins, "... but have you got anything to prove I wasn't where I say I was? Where exactly do you think I've been?"
"Cute, real cute, Rider," the Captain sneers. "You made a little trip to the estate of Judge Gable, didn't you? Thought you'd get your hands on some of his antiques, and battered his brains out when he tried to stop you."
"Well I hate to rain on your parade," he replies without the slightest suggestion of remorse. "Only I definitely didn't."
"That's not what our witness says," rebutts the Captain. "Did you forget your chat with the Judge's wife? Where you told her exactly who and what you are?"
"What? How ridiculous," Eugene scoffs. "Even if I did do something wrong, do you really think I'd go and just tell everyone?" He pauses dramatically, and then slowly realises that everyone in the room bar Rapunzel is giving him a severely awkward look – even Pascal's in on it; evidently, they do. "Oh. Right," he clips, and fires a panicked glance towards his one ally.
"Nice try," glowers the Captain. "You really pulled a fast one on us for a while there – I knew this nice guy act was too good to be true."
"I'm innocent!" Eugene barks, "and if you're so sure, why don't you bring in these folks I'm meant to have robbed and have them identify me, huh?" At this, the Captain's triumphant posture weakens, and he exchanges a guilty look with the King.
"Judge... Judge Gable is still too infirm to identify you, and his wife says in the darkness it was hard to see clearly," the Captain confesses uncomfortably. "She unfortunately cannot give an accurate testimony."
"Right, so you're just taking her word for it based on someone saying the name Flynn Rider – even though it could've been anyone," he points out indignantly. "So by this logic, if I went out thieving and said I was the Lost Princess, you'd take her away for a crime she didn't commit too."
"Eugene," Rapunzel interjects, tugging on his arm and doing her best to quiet him before his attitude gets him in any more trouble with the guards. "Please calm down," she pleads, and he turns to her with an angry scowl; but he stops as he meets her eyes, frowning bitterly and he biting his tongue. He knows he isn't making things any easier for himself, but he can't help it when everyone is being so completely, illogically ridiculous. Rapunzel turns to her family and the Captain, and even through the sadness, confusion and outright exhaustion, they can see there is strength in her.
"Eugene is innocent," she tells them; a statement of fact. "Why can't you believe him? If not him, then at least believe me," she begs. "I promise he's innocent, and you know I-"
"This is a matter of the law, Princess," the Captain interrupts disdainfully, but regrets the move immediately, because the King takes his attitude none too favourably; at last he stands up to speak, which silences the flurry of argument around the room at once.
"These are my thoughts," he rumbles pensively. "If this was another criminal, he will likely strike again. So, if Fitzherbert agrees to stay secured within the palace, when there is another incident, his innocence will be proven."
"I think I know just the secure place to keep him, Your Highness," the Captain glowers, clapping his hands together greedily.
"Beg pardon, guys," Eugene cuts in, "but to me that sounds like guilty until proven innocent – I'm gonna be honest here, I'm not too hot on spending time in prison for a crime I didn't commit just to prove that I didn't commit it."
"Okay, it's a deal," Rapunzel answers her father obliviously, "but only if you promise not to hurt him." Eugene snaps his head around disbelievingly.
"Hey! Did you hear any of that?" he squawks, but then she turns to him, her hand finding his and gripping it tight.
"It's the only way, Eugene," she says quietly. "At least this way you'll be safe, and they can catch whoever really did it."
"Prison isn't my idea of safe," he protests sharply, but she fixes him with her most heart-melting look and drops her voice even further, so that only he can make out what she whispers.
"Please," she breathes, her green eyes almost luminous in the light of the morning. "It's gonna be okay. I promise." He knows that it's no breezy matter when she promises something, because she never breaks her word, but sometimes there are things beyond her control; it isn't her he can't trust, it's the rest of them. However, he begrudgingly accepts this is his best option – or at least, that all the others are going to much worse. He heaves a sigh, and on the long, weary exhale he finally gives in.
"Okay," he groans, "okay. I'll go." He feels a pressure on his shoulder, and glances aside to spot Pascal climbing up to his collar, blending quickly to the colour of his shirt; at least he knows if anything happens to him, he can guarantee Rapunzel will get word of it.
"Also, when the Judge is well enough, he should be able to identify his attacker," the King adds, an ineffectual attempt to make the situation seem less like the unwilling internment of a man yet to be charged with any crimes.
"Whomever it might be," the Captain remarks obnoxiously, and if Eugene hadn't just allowed a guard to snap a pair of shackles around his wrists, he'd have ripped the guy's stupid-looking helmet off him and beaten him with it.
Continuing feedback in the form of reviews is super appreciated, as I'm still in the process of perfecting this story so it'd be great to know how I'm doing with it.
Fun fact: I only wrote Pascal in on like my 3rd edit. Up until about chapter 7 of the backlog I totally forgot about the poor little guy.