You were just always talking about changing, changing
What if I was the same man, same man
The same I always was
Airborne Toxic Event - Changing Lyrics
Flynn Ryder POV
I looked at the girl sitting in front of me but unlike her I did not hold that curious expression in my eyes. I removed my sunglasses and analyzed her appearance. She was slight and looked almost delicate, the trouble started in her eyes where there was an unmistakable fiery defiance. She reminded me of someone, but I could not tell who it was. I turned to Pascal and he mentioned to Rapunzel what my duties would entail, it was the same old thing I always heard, but she listened with incredible intensity absorbing the words like sunlight to a flowering specimen.
I sighed she was going to be tough to deal with her stubbornness combined with slow analysis of others would result in a deadly optimistic attitude, one that I did not necessarily agree with. Given my past no one would be surprised about my dark outlook on life, but I made for it with my deadly good looks and my smooth sense of humor. The general had finished his debriefing and motioned for us to leave. I headed outside with her and found her car parked on the street. The door to the car was locked and I waited while she fished for her keys in a purse that was much too large for someone her size. "Be patient don't get angry…" I thought to myself. I busied myself by counting backwards from ten in my head. It did not help.
She looked at me after a moment a victorious smile on her face "Found them!" she exclaimed happily. "It's about time. C'mon let's get going." I said. She stared at me. I then realized this was the first words I had spoken to her. After only a moment of hesitation she nodded "Right." She said. The drive home was filled with a think silence. "Well I guess she's not a talkative one." I thought annoyed. "So Brownie… who are you?" She glanced over at me sizing me up "What do you mean?" she said plainly. "I mean besides working for the government. Who are you?" She thought for a moment and then her eyes widened as if realizing something for the first time. "Well I can tell you my hobbies." She offered changing the subject. "I am pretty good with baking. Painting, drawing, reading, Oh and I can make candles." She raised her eyebrows as if asking if her answer was worthy. I only replied saying "We'll come back to that first question later." My lips quirked into a smirk, she was a clever one. We pulled into a parking lot and she pulled the keys out of the ignition and sighed. I exited the vehicle and shut the door. We walked into her flat and I looked to her expectantly. When she didn't take the hint I cleared my throat. "OH! Um you need a place to sleep!" She said this as if realizing it for the first time. She led me to a small guest room that had a small bathroom on suite.
After showing me around she left saying "I'll just let you get settled." I set my bag on the bed and felt the yellow floral duvet against my fingers. It's a good thing I brought a change of sheets. I began to unload the essentials that I had packed placing things in drawers and soaps in the shower. I knew she was watching me, but did not say anything; I could understand her curiosity. I placed my last belonging in my pillow case where I always kept it. The weathered yellowing old envelope was my biggest secret.
I began to exit my room, I did this slowly so that she would have time to pretend she was not watching me. As I entered the family room she was lounging on the couch reading. Her kitchen was small, but had a subtle homey quality. Upon opening her fridge I discovered she had absolutely no food. I scratched my chin and gave her a pointed look "Do you eat anything around here?" She glanced up from her novel, "Well I just usually order take out." She replied innocently "Right" I said in an exaggerated tone. "I just don't go shopping a lot…. Okay?" She said as if I had offended her. "Why not? There's a grocery store down the street; are you telling me you have never been there before?"
She ignored this comment and looked down with a guilty expression on her face. My eyes widened has she ever left this apartment? "Alright," I said after a period of awkward silence. "Let's go to the store.'' She looked at me shocked as if I told her to swim in a pool of sharks. "C'mon" I insisted "We need good food here and you are gonna come with me to get it. What is the worse that could happen?" She looked up at me her stubbornness in her eyes began to fade. "Fine." She huffed and grabbed her bag.
She looked like a lost puppy as we walked down the side walk. I elbowed her slightly and muttered "Relax." She gave me a weak smile, but still looked as if she was about to faint. This girl did not get out enough. We walked into the small store and we spilt up. I went to the refrigerated section while she scoured the produce section. I picked out standard staple food items when I heard a strangled yelp I left my cart and went running towards the produce section.
She was pressed against the shelves, the man's forearms at either side of her head one hand over her mouth. I grabbed him by the shoulders and shoved him off. Rapunzel sank to the ground shaking. I pinned one of the guy's arms behind him and kicked the back of knees bringing him to the ground. I pulled a plastic tie from by back pocket and tightened it around his wrists. The store worker came over to us a startled look on his face I gave him a card and said "Go call the second number down and tell them the memory girl has been forgotten and they should be here in about five minutes." This was the code the military used especially for Rapunzel when she was ever in danger.
He scuttled away as I walked over to Rapunzel. "Are you okay?" I asked she did not respond. "Rapunzel!" Her gaze snapped up to me "Yeah…" she managed to get out shakily. I sighed in relief, at least she was not in shock. I sat down next to her and took a breath. The small military team burst through the doors and found us sitting against the bread aisle with the criminal still moaning softly on the floor. Two out of the five took him and placed him in an undercover squad car. "What happened?" One of them asked us. "I don't know the specifics, but he attacked her." I replied "Is that true mam?" She nodded solemnly. "Alright well we'll have to get your statements in a bit, but we will interview the shop keeper first." We nodded and he strode away.
I pulled Rapunzel up with me. "Let's finish shopping." She gave me a helpless look and shook her head. "Look you cannot be afraid of a grocery store. I will be by your side the whole way." She looked at me and said "Promise?" I replied "I promise." She nodded and we picked out different foods and when we were finished headed back to produce, where we told our statements and then left soon after. Rapunzel reported that the gentlemen who attacked her asked her if she knew "The Secret." She told him no, but he would not let go of her. The ride home was silent and I could hear sniffles beside me and I knew that nothing I could say would stop the tears from rolling down her cheeks. However, I produced the calm comforting gesture of holding her hand. She glanced over at me her eyes read and squeezed my hand, as if she was saying thank you.