The police officer sighed. "So let me just make sure I have your story straight. You don't know Flynn Rider."
"Not really, no." Josef said as he and Jakob shook their heads in unison. They were now being detained for questioning in the interrogation room at a police precinct they had been brought to.
"You'd never met Flynn Rider before today."
"Correct."
"You had no idea you were illegally trespassing into a secure, private facility."
"No idea."
"And you didn't know you were there to aid in the theft of property worth a sizable fortune."
"Nope."
The officer leaned back in his chair with a frown. "So... You two are either the biggest idiots in the world, or you think that I am."
Josef's mouth worked but no sounds came out. The cop continued, "Supposing what you're telling me is true. Why would Flynn Rider grab two strangers off the street and take them with him on a big heist? How much sense does that make?"
"Quite a lot of sense, actually."
The officer and the two teenagers shifted their attention towards the sound of the stern, unfamiliar voice. A new man had entered the room. He was broad shouldered and tall, emphasized by his perfect posture. He was about middle age, though he looked younger than his stark white hair would suggest. He wore a trench coat over his suit.
Miffed, the cop asked, "And you would be?"
"Detective Colt." From within his coat, he pulled out a gold badge and held it up.
The officer squinted at it, lips pressed into a thin line. Then both eyebrows shot up his forehead. "Detective Maximus Colt?" The other man gave a curt nod. "What brings a big shot like you into our neck of the woods?"
"Rider," he said the name with a sour twist to his lips.
He crossed his arms. "Okay then… so enlighten us. Why would a master thief pick up a pair of chumps," here, Jakob made an offended outcry which the officer ignored, "and bring them with him on a major job?"
"It's simple: scapegoats. Rider wore gloves. There are fingerprints all over the crime scene, but they all belong to the chumps. Then there is the security footage. We just finished reviewing it and you never see Rider's face. He always positions one of the chumps between him and a camera. The few times he doesn't, all you get is the back of his head. Then when he makes his escape, he abandons the chumps-"
"Do you seriously have to keep calling us that?" Josef asked.
"...he abandons the chumps," he bit out, narrowing his eyes, "for Corona's Finest to catch. Now we obviously know there was a third guy besides these two, but we have no clue what his face looks like and no other physical evidence to track him down and link him to the crime. So what seems to be the more attractive option here: to admit that the chumps are nothing more than chumps and the real culprit slipped through our fingers, or to pin everything on the chumps that Rider all but gift wrapped for us?"
The officer glared up at the detective and was quiet for a moment. Finally, and with obvious reluctance, he said, "Fine. Supposing there's the remotest possibility that you're right. How do you suggest we proceed?"
"Give me the room."
The cop just stared at him in silence, looking like he had just sucked on a lemon. Eventually, his chair rattled as he slid it back and stood up. He walked passed Colt and passed the mirrored glass on the wall. He left the interrogation room, closing the door behind him.
The detective took a seat across from the twins. "Now listen, boys. Just because you weren't the masterminds behind all this, doesn't mean you're off the hook. Ignorance is no excuse. You were still trespassing where you didn't belong, handling delicate, priceless stuff you shouldn't have been-"
"We touched nothing!" Josef argued stubbornly.
Colt fixed him with a hard stare for a few seconds, then reached into his coat. He pulled out a large black-and-white photo and slapped it on the table. It was a still taken from the security footage and though it was slightly blurry, it depicted clearly enough one of the twins at the crime scene, regally decked out in bracelets, necklaces, and a tiara. "So this isn't you?"
Josef stewed in silence as he eyed the photo, then grumbled, "I can actually say with all honesty that that isn't me."
A nervous laugh bubbled up from Jakob beside him. "That would be me."
"My mistake," Detective Colt deadpanned. "The point is, while I'm willing to believe your story, that doesn't mean you get off scot free. There will be consequences. I can help ease those for you, but I'm going to need you two to help me with a couple things first."
While Josef narrowed his eyes dubiously, Jakob asked, "Like what?"
"Well, for starters, we'll want you to describe Rider to a sketch artist so we finally have some idea what this guy looks like."
"Hang on a sec," Josef said. "You're making this guy sound like some big deal. How is it you don't even know what he looks like?"
"Cuz he's real good at making sure nothing and no one catches his face. This is the first time he's ever worked with someone that we know of, so it'll be good to finally put a face to the name."
"Okay… what else did you want?"
"Specifics," the detective stated. "Particularly on Rider's escape."
Josef let loose an annoyed huff. "We already told the other guy everything we know. He had this hook-gun thingie, he shot it at some far away building, then he disappeared into the night."
"But what building?"
"How should I know, it was dark!"
He frowned. "You have to remember something. At least a direction."
They shook their heads, but Jakob suddenly stopped and blinked a couple times. "Wait. There was something... he said we were in the largest building in Corona. And he pointed out the second largest one, which we could see through the window."
"And that's where he went?"
"...yeah, I think so."
Rubbing a finger against his chin, Colt muttered, "It's a start." He abruptly rose to his feet and turned to leave.
"Hang on, what about us?" Jakob called after him.
"Get with the sketch artist, then we'll talk. I'll be out for a bit, so we'll pick this up when I return." The door slammed behind him as he left.
"You ready yet, Blondie?" Flynn asked impatiently as he leaned a shoulder against the wall, arms folded across his chest.
"Almost," Rapunzel said as she put her pen down. She reviewed the note she had just written with a critical eye. Deciding that it met her approval, she signed it and hung it on the fridge under a Groot magnet, where she was sure her mother would see it. Then she jogged over to her backpack that she had been hastily packing with everything she thought she might need for her trip. It was a rich green and embellished with a golden symbol of three triangles arranged to form a larger triangle. She tapped her chin thoughtfully as she looked around, then stuffed a few last minute items into the all but bursting pack.
Watching her lazily, he said, "I still don't get it. The festival isn't until tomorrow, right? So why do we have to leave right now? Why not sleep in your own bed tonight, then leave in the morning? What's the big hurry?"
She zipped up her backpack and threw it over her shoulder, stumbling slightly under its weight. "The big hurry," she grunted, "is that we need to be outta here before Mother gets home."
"Oh." He pursed his lips. "Should I even bother asking?"
"No, you really shouldn't."
"Got it. I'm guessing that's also why we're leaving through the balcony instead of using the front door," he jerked a thumb towards it.
"That… plus remember that bodyguard I mentioned earlier? He's two hundred and fifty pounds of pure muscle." Again, she had never seen Pascal before, so she had no idea if that was true and it was purely an educated guess. It sure sounded good though! She made a show of sizing Flynn up and then added for good measure, "He'd squash you like a bug."
"Right… yeah, I think I'll take my chances with the thousand foot drop of certain death out there. Liking my odds there better."
She snorted. "Smart choice." She then began to walk towards the door leading out to the balcony.
Flynn's arm shot out in front of her and blocked her path. "Hold it, Blondie. Where's my satchel?"
Reaching behind her to pat the side of her backpack, she said, "In here with everything else. Don't worry, it'll be safe and sound until I return it to you… after the festival. And don't you go getting any ideas about trying to steal it before then." She put a hand to her skillet, which hung at her hip. "Otherwise, Old Faithful here might have something to say about it."
His eyelids drooped and his lips pressed into a flat line. "Old Faithful? Seriously?"
She smirked and puffed up her chest. "Yes, seriously. It hasn't failed me yet, has it?"
"Whatever," he shrugged as he turned and exited out onto the balcony.
She began to follow him, but hesitated at the door. Was this really a good idea? Or was she just being impulsive and letting her restlessness cloud her better judgement? Originally, she had planned to show her mother the creature in the closet to prove to her that she wasn't defenseless and was ready to venture out into the world. And maybe… if she had played her cards right, just maybe she would have been able to convince her.
Then this Flynn Rider character had shown up. True, she had dispatched him just as easily as she had her first attacker - more easily in fact, one might argue. However, this complicated matters. One intruder was an anomaly… but two? On the same exact day, within a few hours of each other no less? That might freak her mom out, get her thinking that Rapunzel's secret hideout was not so secret anymore. Then she might think someone might actually be out to get her daughter. And that would mean moving Rapunzel somewhere new, somewhere more secure, more secluded… more alone. Then she'd lock her up, throw away the key, and Rapunzel could kiss goodbye any dreams she ever had of going to the Starlight Festival.
So Rapunzel had come to the decision that if she was ever going to be free of her cage, she'd have to take matters into her own hands. She had been planning to go by herself, but then while interrogating Flynn, inspiration had struck: why go it alone when she had a perfectly capable guide right in front of her? While she was eager to escape her confinement, the idea of being alone out in the big, wide, unknown world was mildly intimidating. It would be much better to have someone there to watch her back and make sure she didn't lose her way.
Of course, there was the fact that that person was a complete stranger. A stranger that had broken into her home. A stranger she had cracked over the head with her frying pan. A stranger who had only agreed to help her because she had coerced him against his will by taking something that belonged to him that he wanted back.
Yup. Nothing could possibly go wrong with this plan. It was foolproof.
She glanced out of the corner of her eye at her wardrobe. There still hadn't been any sound or movement from it, not since she had trapped that thing in there. Now wasn't exactly the time to investigate it, but damned if she wasn't curious. What was going on in there? Why was it being so quiet? Not knowing, not being able to see inside was driving her crazy. Was it still in there? Was it just unconscious? Was it alive? Dead? ...both?
...Schrodinger's pyjama monster...
"You coming, Blondie?" Flynn called from outside, breaking her out of her musings.
She blinked and shook her head. "Yeah, right behind you." She spared the closet one last glance before trotting outside. It would just have to wait until she got back.
As she stepped out into the night air, she saw him standing next to the wall lining the terrace, looking over the edge. He didn't look up when she moved to stand beside him. Instead, he pointed down the side of the building. "There," he said. "About ten stories down. See that bit jutting out? Looks like it's another balcony. If we reach that, then we should be able to break into that floor and use the elevator to get to the lobby."
She squinted at the spot he indicated, then looked back at him. "What if there are people on that floor?"
Without missing a beat, he deadpanned, "Then their blood is on your hands."
Her eyes went wide as she stared at him. Then she laughed nervously, "You're joking... r-right?"
He flashed her a bright smile. "Guess we'll see." That didn't reassure her, and it must have shown on her face, for he added, "If you're having second thoughts, now's the time to speak up. I'll understand. Everyone has their limits. Some people are just not cut out for stuff like this."
She narrowed her eyes at him. Was he challenging her? With a harrumph, she straightened her shoulders and marched over to the largest tree in her terrace garden. Reeling in her hair by the handfuls, she asked, "You said that balcony was about ten stories down?"
"Yup."
Nodding, she continued to gather her hair, pooling it at her feet. She scrutinized it, seeming to carefully measure it with her eyes. When she appeared to be satisfied with the amount she had collected, she wrapped some of it around the trunk of the tree and tied it into a knot.
"Uh… what are you doing?" he asked, crooking an eyebrow.
Instead of saying anything, she just gave him a cocky smirk and a two finger salute. She then looped some of her hair tightly around her hands, taking a firm hold of it. Then without any warning, she took off running, charging straight for the edge of the terrace.
"What the-?!" she heard him yelp. A split second later, she could hear the sound of his pounding footsteps chasing after her. That only spurred her to run faster. The wall was coming up quick in front of her. "Blondie, no!" Too late. She leapt up onto the bench, using her momentum to carry her onto the ledge before launching herself forward. Then there was nothing but air beneath her feet.
On second thought, perhaps this wasn't such a brilliant idea. Ah well. Hindsight is twenty-twenty, right?
She probably should have been scared, but she wasn't. Instead, every detail fascinated her. The air whistled in her ears as she fell. The streets below were beautiful with their colorful, glowing dots from lamps and cars. The building - her building - was a glossy blur beside her, all except for her own reflection in the windows as it followed down beside her.
Her hair suddenly pulled taught. She let loose a soft hiss as the locks that were wrapped around her fingers tightened painfully. She was no longer in a downward plummet, now instead swinging swiftly towards the building. She squeezed her eyes shut, waiting for impact with the wall.
But it never came.
Her movement shifted into a wide curve upward, rapidly slowing her down. It hit a pinnacle, stopped, then swung her back in the direction she had come from. She hesitantly opened her eyes as she swayed back and forth like a pendulum. She discovered that she was now hanging just a couple feet over the balcony that Flynn had indicated. Apparently, her calculations for how much hair she should use to reach it had been spot on.
Yay, math!
Disentangling her hands from her hair, her feet landed softly on the floor. Her fingers had throbbing red marks on them from where strands of her hair had dug in. Oh well, was better than not using her hands and instead having her scalp bear the brunt of the fall. Probably would have snapped her neck that way. She flicked her hands a couple times, trying to urge blood flow back into them, then looked up with a sly grin.
Alright, Flynn Rider. Your move.
A few seconds passed where nothing happened. Then a rope abruptly came dangling down from up above, the end of it weighted with a grappling hook that hit the ground next to Rapunzel with a sharp clang. Another brief pause, then Flynn appeared as well, holding onto a tube that was sliding down the cord at a controlled speed. He planted his feet on balcony floor.
"You know," he said, "you could have waited and used this silly little thing I have called a rope."
She smugly lifted her chin at him. "My way was faster."
"Not to mention more suicidal," he muttered. "Plus, you seem to have a bit of a situation here," he pointed at her hair trailing up the side of the building where they had come from. "How do you plan to untie it at the top? It's not as if you could..." he pressed something on his metal canister and with a woosh, it reeled in the ropes, pulling in the hooks from above and below and snapping them into place on both ends.
"Push a button," he finished with a smirk, slinging the grappling hook device over his shoulder.
Unfazed, she casually wrapped her fingers around her hanging hair and gave it two swift tugs. Then it all came falling down and collapsed into a flaxen pile at their feet. She dusted her palms against each other and walked away, leaving behind a gaping Flynn.
"How…?" he began. "Just… how?"
Rapunzel glanced at him over her shoulder, and shrugged with a smile. "Skills."
She reached for the door that led inside the building and opened it upon finding it unlocked, Flynn jogging to catch up behind her. The floor they entered was empty. And it wasn't just that no one else was around - it was empty. There was no furniture, decorations, or anything else. Nothing but dusty carpets and bare walls.
"Huh. Strange. Wonder why the place is vacant," she heard Flynn say.
"It is kind of eerie," Rapunzel replied. She was not certain, but she had an inkling as to why this place was deserted. Her mother was paranoid about keeping her safe and hidden away from the rest of society. So it would not surprise her at all if her mother had rented out several floors beneath Rapunzel's home just so they would never have any curious neighbors to worry about. She kept her suspicions to herself however. This stranger did not need to know how psychotically overprotective her mother could be and the extremes she was willing to go to.
They located an elevator and once it arrived, they got inside. Rapunzel then spent about a ninety seconds gathering all her hair into the lift with them. Luckily, it was a rather large compartment so once done, the accumulated hair only came up to Flynn's thighs. Pressing the button for the lobby, the doors slid shut and the elevator began its silent descent.
AN: Another new chapter, another new character! I'm sure we all know who Detective Colt is based on - if it's totally lost on you, his first name should be a dead give away xP And the more I write the twins, the more fun I have with them. I make them a bit sillier than they were in the movie, and I'm okay with that - I'm pretty damn happy with it actually xD And OMG, Punzie and Flynn are almost out in the world! FINALLY! Next chapter will have a lil bit more with that pair, BUT ALSO we will be peeking back in on our other heroes! And don't worry, Pascal hasn't been forgot! He has a role to play in all of this too! As does our lil friend still trapped in Punzie's wardrobe ^^
Special thanks and much love to SoraKairiRikuNamine and Amarxlen for reviewing, as well as to everyone else who have shown support for this quirky little story! Thank you all for reading, hoped you liked it, please leave a review and let me know what you think! Until next time, hope you all have an astounding week! :D