A/N: I'm alive! Trip was amazing! More like Broken Dreams' upcoming Ch11, compared to the day about to unfold here…
Suitors of Rapunzel
Ch10 □ Day -14 ⌧
playlist on YouTube as SoR - Ch10: Day -14
Eugene and Rapunzel walked along the shoreline at low tide, in the high hopes of the bright and cheery late morning sun. Both barefoot and hand in hand, the summer ocean breeze toyed with and teased their hair all about their heads, occasionally blocking their vision.
Rapunzel played with swishing her own handmade white and pink skirt back and forth as they walked together. The spots of gold-haloed emeralds on her healing ears indeed still complemented her and her outfit.
Eugene held her other hand, with his half-open white button down shirt sleeves rolled up, and shoved his other hand into a pocket of his brown pants, cuffed up to his knees. The bare dot on his ear was well forgotten, but would take so much longer to close.
She watched the waves far out beyond them, absolutely mesmerized. She still could not get enough of the beautiful landscape and views around the island.
He watched his feet as he swung each step out to scuff up some sand with it. He was trying to enjoy what he knew was a perfect outing, but his worries kept ebbing back, furrowing his brow.
Even the sounds of roaring water crashing and birds calling seemed too perfect to interrupt. It was their dream moments like this that he dare not disturb. After all, he obviously did not want any of this to end, ever.
Rapunzel's curious chirping joined the beautiful audioscape. "How long does this low tide last? I mean, how far do you think we could go before we have to head back for lunch?"
All Eugene had heard was that the silence of speech had been broken, and concerning a time limit at that. "Your dad wants to see me this afternoon."
"What?" Alarmed at the jarring 'answer,' she finally looked up at him.
He switched to looking off into the distance, biting his lips.
"What does he wanna see you for?"
"I think… I mean, one way or another, I think it's probably about… what to do with me."
That worry now stained her, too. "What do you think he's gonna do?"
"I don't know," he whined in spite of wanting to remain calm, especially for her sake. "Obviously no punishment. And I know that there was always the promise of some vague 'reward' for whoever found you, but, I don't know– Is he considering that not executing me is reward enough? Life for a life? And I mean–" he rolled his head around, annoyed with his past self for now needing to clarify he was not trying to be an asshole, "I don't need money or stuff or whatever. But… Objectively, as far as monarchies go, you are worth more than any amount of gold. Whoever marries you, succeeds him. And I know that's a lot to even dream of, let alone ask for… Whether or not I deserve that position is another matter entirely. But you know…" He stopped walking and turned them to face each other.
She reached to finger comb his hair back against the wind, a small comfort that meant the world to his soul.
Even squinting in the overbearing sunlight, they stared into each other's eyes. He in turn brushed through her hair over her ear, though it likewise did not have a prayer in the wind to actually affect it. "You know that you're all I want. To just stay with you…"
Her own brow furrowed for him, but she smiled. "I know, Eugene."
He sighed, relieved to at least have her understanding.
"And it may be a lot to dream of, but I'm pretty sure finding me, helping me, and dying in order to save me, is 'a lot,' too."
He smiled pitifully, hoping she was right.
"But for now!" she excitedly announced, "I wanna see how many big seashells we can find!" She jumped into a little stance, then darted off to the surf's edge, giggling as she glanced back over her shoulder.
Eugene guffawed, his mood instantly lifted. He headed after her, eventually catching her right in the surf.
She squealed with laughter, hair flying wildly as he swept her up by her waist from behind.
"Waaaaah-ohhhhh!" He spun her around right there as he barged in a bit, the same time as a small wave splashing up against his shins.
"Ah! My dress!" She barely could get it out past her laughing, and desperately grappling to hold onto his arms across her front. "No no no! Ah! DOOON'T put me down! My dress'll get wet!"
He smirked at her, which she caught with only enough time to know she was in trouble.
"N-" She barely had a chance to gasp at all.
He tossed her up in the air.
"Na-ohhhh!" she squealed again, unable to help laughing at the way it caught her stomach.
He caught her again, this time situating her bridal style. His own laughing made it a struggle to make sure he indeed got enough of her skirt to hold it up away from the water.
She hung on around his neck, half nuzzling him there, fingers all idly caressing him without a second thought.
He finally trudged back in to where the surf did not get higher than a good foot-covering. When he set her down, neither let go just yet.
She gripped his billowy white shirt, and kept her cheek raised to press against his lowered one.
He breathed deeply, hands squeezing her waist, trying to take in the whole scene of what might prove to be a rare privilege he was about to lose. I love her - I wanna say it again, but… He sighed. She just has to know that I'll never leave her.
She likewise could feel the tension hanging over their heads. I can't lose him. Not again. "He has to let you stay."
"Blondie," he whispered finally, as they pulled slightly apart to actually see each other face to face. "Look at me– I would never. One way or another, no matter what, I am staying."
She grinned and nodded, tears pricking the corners of her eyes. "Thank you…"
Arms all full of seashells, Rapunzel and Eugene approached her bedroom door, which Tom was still standing outside of, chatting with another guard. His shift should have ended hours ago, yet he was still here.
"Ah! Princess! Eugene!" Tom greeted so cheerfully it set a red flag off in Eugene's head. "I was just talking with Francis here about how nobody wants to work anymore."
Eugene watched him warily, and just nodded. "Yeah…?"
"Did you know there's records of the same thing being said going all the way back to the Ancient Romans?!" Tom chuckled, a bit too excited about the nerdy trivia. But then his searching eyes landed on the horde of seashells. "Well- oh dear!" Tom jumped to it, reaching to take some shells from Rapunzel, even though she clearly had them. "There we are. Come on, now, I'll help you inside with them."
"Oh," Rapunzel was even a little surprised at the help. "Uh, okay. Thanks."
Once the trio had piled inside, Eugene made sure to close the door.
Tom stood in the center of the room, and turned to face him. He looked very concerned and anxious, staring at Eugene until he noticed him, then turned his gaze toward Rapunzel. "You have got to be more careful," he whispered.
"Careful?" she repeated.
Tom hopped over to her vanity, and set the seashells down, amidst other such treasures and gifts. There also sat a small ceramic unicorn, her charm bracelet, drying flowers, and other such knickknacks, most of them counterparts to similar ones piling up on Eugene's dresser downstairs. Tom turned back toward them, though, and began approaching them once more, as they likewise came to converge with him. From his jacket pocket, he pulled a pair of broken-seal letters, and handed them back to Rapunzel.
Both their eyes bugged out.
Eugene was immediately thrown into a panic. The things I've written in there-! Not exactly for anyone else's eyes! "TOM-"
Rapunzel turned to scorn. "What were you-"
Tom cut them both off sternly. "You left them sitting right out on yor vanity here. Where any maid or another guard could have found them."
Eugene tried to take a deep steadying breath, running a hand through his hair as he spun in a small circle. "Did you read them?"
"No," Tom balked, "Of course not! I've got to listen to you two awrl night; d'you think I wann'er read what yor thinking, too?"
Rapunzel was losing control of her breathing. "And no one else saw them?"
"Not that I know of."
Worried, feeling helpless not even knowing what to do, she looked to Eugene.
He met her desperate pout with a careful resilience. Turning serious with licked lips, he scanned the rest of the room.
His eyes landed on her bed. He hopped to it, and checked underneath where she had hid his pajama gift. Too wide open under here… And ANY nosy gossip on staff would know to look there first…
He stood, looking around again, gnawing on his lip.
"Eugene?" she whimpered.
"Just hang on, Blondie."
Tom watched him with great curiosity and concern as well.
Finally, Eugene tilted his head at her night table. "Maybe?" He hurried around the bed, and knelt at the table, feeling around underneath the dropped edge. "Herm…"
"Underneath?" Rapunzel asked. "Like, strapped underneath?"
He felt around some more, then just looked underneath. Some thin slates here, a little box…
With a big heaving sigh, he stood back up, as he clapped and rubbed his hands together. "Sooo! I could build you a little drawer, like… A cigar box would be the perfect size, and then it'll slide just a little bit out, before dropping down." He demonstrated with his hands as he explained.
She lit up with hope and wonder, gasping as she drew her arms to herself. "Ohhh! Eugene! Really?!"
"Yeah," he chuckled, bringing her into his arms, where she eagerly latched onto him. "Anything for you, Blondie. Anything you ever need or want, just ask. Please."
Eugene had learned extremely quickly that he did not need to be so rigid around the King and Queen. He did not have to stand stiff as a pole, though he had good posture anyway. He did not need to sit straight backed and still, either. He could slouch, lean on the table, and just be comfortably himself. Although he usually opted to conduct himself at least a casual level of proper.
But that was at the dining table, or tea table, or patio table...
This was the council table in the King's study. At this vast stretch of hauntingly barren surface, imposingly carved legs, and exquisitely decorated chairs, everything was different. Here, there were no homey touches of embroidered cloth covering the shiny, polished mahogany. Here, the future of the world was argued out, as kingdoms rose, fell, and realigned over and over.
In the seat to the left of the King's at the head, Eugene sat, awkwardly trying to act stoic and reverent, while the blood drained from him in ice cold panic, but his mind raced.
The King himself was up and pacing about, as he fetched himself a goblet of water, and refilled it a few times.
On the table before Eugene, lay an oversized piece of heavy parchment, and the weight it carried was more than just in its quality of paper stock. Finished reading, he delicately laid it back down. He leaned forward every so often, intently rereading parts of it, and otherwise sat back in shock.
"Everything you ever wanted," the Captain chuckled to him in good humor. He sat across from him, leaning forward with arms extended onto the table and hands folded, a soft, happy smirk under his mustache.
Eugene bounced his brow, dishearteningly, without actually looking at him. "'Want-ed,'" he repeated sadly.
The King stopped his pacing to stare at him, and the Captain frowned quizzically.
"Your Majesty," he looked up to him, "I can't accept all this." I'm not sure this looks exactly right… Separate land?
The King only looked at him more harshly. "Eugene, there are no strings attached to any of this- brrp, that is of course, except for, as stated, loyalty to the crown. Which, in full practice, means that, if ever called on, you-"
"I'd be 'expected to send men, horses, weapons, food, and any other supplies as requested or offered, in aid to His or Her Majesty, the King or Queen of Corona-'" he read off the parchment. "I get that. I know how this system works. But..." Eugene sighed, unsure how to properly refuse this contract without diminishing his immense gratitude. "The pardon goes without saying. The money- well, some of the money- frankly, I would really just need to get by within the law, I guess." If I can't have a permanent royal allowance as an… in-law. He gulped. "But, the rest, honestly…?" His voice squeaked at the end in uncertainty.
"Well, Eugene," the King furrowed his brow and spoke more gently. "This would be an enormous amount of responsibility. But it's also a great honor."
"I know. No, oh, I know it is, Sire," Eugene eagerly reassured him. "And I can't thank you enough, or even express how thankful I am to you for even offering any of this, to me. Of all people..."
"Eugene," the King smiled, "Of all people, you are the only one who found the princess. And rescued her. And brought her back home."
"I rescued Rapunzel," he muttered, "Not 'the princess...'"
"Mr. Fitzherbert," his true surname still sounded strange on the Captain's tongue as he carefully inquired, "What more is there that you want?"
HER. Eugene turned his attention to each man, respectfully, then just looked back to the paper. He took a deep breath, ran his hands down his face, and then stretched his hands out before him on the table, ready to try explain. "You've already been more than generous. When you told me that you wanted to meet this morning, I did expect it to be about a reward, but I was under the impression that it was either an official explanation of a-life-for-a-life, or…" HER. He sighed. "Like I said, the money is a welcome surprise- Thank you- Again! But... But Duke? I mean, what- what brought this on?" And does this mean I can marry HER?
The King opened his mouth-
But the Captain spoke first, gravelly and serious, but his fervor was without animosity. "Young man." He leaned forward. "You'll recall that Maximus and my men and I were chasing you all those three days. And for years before, on and off. At some point, you convinced my most trusted and loyal horse to throw away his own honor and risk his life for you. You know he's no dumb beast; you did something to make him believe in you. And I saw firsthand how you protected her, fought for her, when you both swear you had no idea who she was. And, and..." He floundered for explanation, but dismissively waved his hands. "Whatever happened, whether magic healed you or whatever, I do believe you all when you said that you -Flynn Rider- made a choice to put her freedom before your life. THAT," he slapped the table, then made a fist and pointed at him, "Is what makes a knight. THAT is what qualities you hope for in any noble, especially as high as a Duke! The fate of the kingdom- people's very lives- are in your hands."
Eugene rolled his eyes.
"And, not only that, but you represent your King. If you show weakness, it represents your King as weak. However, you've clearly already taken to the lifestyle of a noble," he chuckled knowingly, "And if there is anything I have always trusted you in, it's your con artist skills. No offense."
Eugene had to tuck his tongue into his cheek to drive down the smirk that tugged at his lips.
"Eugene," the King began his own arguing statement. "There is no way I could ever repay you, for bringing my-y-y..." His voice sounded like it was about to blubber into a sob, but instead, was shoved back down with the rest of his emotions.
Eugene noticed, and looked on, more intrigued than before.
The King cleared his throat, but continued more softly. "My baby girl, home. So, please, take what I can give you. You'll want for nothing!"
But I want HER. He looked back to the parchment so as to not make a sour face directly at the King. His confliction could come later on about whether he was being selfish, or really just doing as she wished. And she wants me. Well, maybe, a Duke… could? Marry a princess?
The King's eyes remained intense upon him. "Son," he said, "Is there something else you want? Aaanything else?"
Eugene dared to gaze up into the King's eyes. He may have hugged me on the balcony, been friendly with me all this time, but that doesn't mean I could ever take his place, and that's exactly what it would eventually mean.
The two men, brows furrowed, sympathetically locked eyes for what felt like an eternity.
He is strong, caring. He'll want to see her taken care of. And he's grateful to me, but marrying his 'baby girl?' Me? The thief? No matter what he's done for me, I don't even know if he would ever do that. He suddenly felt very small in his seat. "Well, cooould Iii, take some time to think about it?"
The King yielded his gaze back down, and stood up straight once more as he spoke. "Of course, of course. This is a very big decision. I should certainly hope you'll take the time to consider everything."
Eugene dipped his head slightly toward him. "Thank you, Your Majesty."
Across from him, the Captain nodded in agreement.
Eugene snatched the initiative to give a deadline. "I'll have my answer for you… very soon. By the end of the day."
"Oh, yes, very good," the King answered cheerfully, "Thank you." Although, he seemed a bit saddened and weary.
Eugene let his assumed observation pass. After all, the past couple weeks had been quite an emotional ride for everyone. He simply nodded back. "Would that be all for now then, Your Majesty?"
He indeed seemed distracted, but he smiled warmly to him. "Yes, that's all then. Take the contract with you, read it over again, see if there are any changes you'd like to make. You have all the info we have at the moment there, but don't hesitate to ask any questions. We'll be waiting on your response."
Eugene nodded again. Only, if your answer to this question is 'no,' it'll forever alter how you view me anyway! I can find out elsewhere. He carefully focused on standing up from his seat as quietly, smoothly, and respectfully as he could. The wooden chair legs against marble flooring were not so merciful. He stepped up to the King and held out his hand. "Again, thank you, Sire, for everything. I owe you my life, regardless of any fealty contract."
The King merely glanced at his hand, then back to his face, seeming to frown.
Eugene began to sweat as he was left hanging a moment too long, so he waved his hand a bit and further extended his arm. "I-I just don't want you to think I'm being ungrateful. I'm not try-"
"Eugene," the King smirked. "You're a hero."
Suddenly, Eugene felt his hand pushed out of the way, as the King embraced him again. He melted a bit there, hugging him back, hoping it was what a father-in-law should feel like.
He waited, soaking it up til he felt the King end it with a deep sigh, then he quickly stood up straight. "Well then, ah…" As he cleared his throat, he reached to take the parchment and rolled it up. He nodded, still grinning with hope, to both the Captain and the King.
Goddammit, how's she always right? She said there might be a chance, who knows, crazier things have happened to her!
"Thank you, again," Eugene stressed as he backed away to the door.
"By tonight, please," the King called to him.
"Yes. Yes, of course, Sir."
Back in the library, Tom and Rapunzel anxiously tried to pass the time, awaiting his return. Piles of exchanged book recommendations sat on either side of them, where they sat atop a long table.
"No, no," Tom was chuckling, "Erspecially if every piece has been replaced? Then it's not the same!"
"But!" Rapunzel laughed back.
"It's just. not. the same!"
"But you've changed several times over in your life, and you're still you!"
"Weh- alright, shor, but it's not like there are two of me running around!"
They both burst out laughing harder.
"Guys?" Eugene interrupted, clearly anxious, rolling the parchment around and around in his hands.
Both heads darted to him.
"Eugene!" Rapunzel exclaimed. She had heard and seen him enter, but now eagerly wanted him to have her full attention.
Tom looked up, still smiling expectantly, but tried to quell his playful state back to solemn.
"What did he say!?" She jumped up to grab his arms excitedly, jumping up and down.
"Well, ah," he grinned, holding the parchment up. "It's all in here, kinda." He shrugged.
Tom grinned, following their excitement. "Well! Open it up!"
"Yeah!" Rapunzel cheered. "Open it!"
Eugene chuckled. "They already explained most of it to me, but, ahhh… mmm-" He unfurled it on the table before them. Sweeping his hand out over to present it, he announced, shakily, "How does a Duke sound?"
Tom's smile vanished. "What?"
Eugene followed his dip. "What?"
"He offered you Duke?"
"Yeah," he answered nervously, "Why?"
"That's all?"
"Wh-whadaya mean, 'Is that all?'"
"Gimme that." Tom snatched it out of his dumbfounded hands, and stepped away to read it.
"Euuugene?" Rapunzel nervously called.
"I dunno, Blondie, I dunno yet." Eugene made his way over to take her into his arms, then leaned back against the table.
Tom poured over the document line by line, growing more and more worried. Still skimming it a second time, he turned back towards them. "And yor shor he didn't say anything else?"
"Tom," Rapunzel whined, "You're scaring me…"
Eugene spit it right out. "Can a Duke marry a Princess?"
Tom finally looked up to him, his entire expression very grave.
Eugene tightened his grip on Rapunzel.
"A Duke," Tom began, "Can marry anyone he wants– Anyone can marry whomever they want, really, but…"
"But?" Eugene demanded.
"If a Duke marries a Princess, then she will also be a Duchess, but never anything else higher than a Princess."
Eugene's eyes widened, pupils dilated in true shock, as both his heart rate and stomach plummeted. "I-..."
"What?" Rapunzel asked. "What does that mean for us?"
"It means," Tom cringed as he tried to delicately explain to her, "That you would never become Queen. And Corona would be heirless once again."
"Permanently…" Eugene whispered without much other thought going on, as if a bomb had gone off too close to his ears, leaving only the panic of a blank tone.
"No…" Rapunzel gasped, vision tunnelling. She whirled around within Eugene's arms to look up at him.
He met her eyes with the sorrow of just having learned a loved one had been lost, for this was just as horrific. His weak voice just barely squeaked out, "It's not enough."
"I'm so sorry," Tom offered to both of them, through his own shock and stun. "I thought for sure, it would be… something, that would've been enough. If not outright - I mean, you saved THEE bloody princess, the only one we've got - then, I thought, if he wanted anything more, it would be something like, a challenge, to, like, I dunno wot - prove yourself in battle or something! Go study in Paris! Not just… thrown a bone like this…"
In a daze, Eugene continued. "He asked if I wanted to change anything, but I don't think he meant pencilling-in that I could inherit his entire kingdom…"
"No," Tom shook his head in agreement. "That would be for the land details, the exact gold amount…" He shook the paper in the air. "This is ridiculous. Thief to ruler - I get that that's a stretch. But this effectively-!"
"I get it," Eugene snapped at him, as he watched Rapunzel slowly falling apart in his arms. Much more softly, he nudged her. "Blondie?"
Rapunzel was having trouble breathing. "Eugene?" If not him, then- WHAT?! "A 'Duke?' And- land? But-? Eugene?" she whimpered.
"It's not enough," he choked out, eyes tearing up. "He's offering me so much- but it's just barely too little- to keep you out of reach…"
Her face began screwing up. "-away from you?"
"Oh- no no no no no!" he cupped her cheek, "Sweetheart, I'm not goin' anywhere."
She was already crying. "I can't do this without you, Eugene!"
"Shhh, shhh… You won't. You won't have to do this without me." He squeezed her close into his chest. "I'm not going anywhere. I promised you, I'm not leaving you. I would never wanna leave you. Ever. I'm with you. I-..." He choked and gasped for a tearful breath himself. "I love you, Blondie."
She nodded against him, squeezing him tighter as she hid her face in his chest. He's so wonderful - Please! Please STAY so wonderful! I'll never have anything like with you! Please just stay…
But she sniffled, and tried to find a voice. "I can't- make you, but, please… stay…" It was all she could get out before tears clogged her throat.
Eugene looked straight up to the ceiling, sucking in a hard breath. God damn it! What MORE do you want from me?! Take it! Just take everything! I'm all YOURS! PLEASE! Just- PLEASE BLONDIE! You wanna marry me but won't say it back?
But I don't even know, he calmed himself down, How normal relationships like this are supposed to work myself. Is two weeks too fast to say it? Not that we're normal in any other sense. That haunting vision of her bound with a chain and gagged, but bargaining for his life, flashed by again, stinging worse than the vacancy in her words. Why else would she give her life for me? I can wait for you. For YOU, I'd do anything.
So he merely sighed and nodded as he brought his head back down beside hers. "I promised. I promise. I'm staying. No matter what. Don't you worry about that."
"You promise?" she repeated.
"I promise. I promise, I promise. I will never, ever leave you, Blondie. I love you. I could never."
"Thank you," she cried into him.
He tried to sound cheerful, but it just sounded pathetic through his garbling throat. "I know I got you stuck in my heart now. You got it all tied up in you, heh…"
Tom leaned back against the table, watching them intensely. Suddenly he stood up straight, left the parchment on the table, and began marching towards the door.
"Tom?" Rapunzel called after him, wiping at her face.
"I'm going to see what the King really has to say about this."
"Tom, you can't-!" she cried out, just as desperate still.
"Relax," he turned as he walked, now with a smile and a hand patting the air at her. "It's alright. I understand."
As he left, Eugene only concentrated on comforting Rapunzel. "Shh, shh, it's okay. It's gonna be okay. I'm right here."
"I can't- Anybody else, I can't!" She shook her head against him, also worried that she was not making sense.
"I know, I know." He pressed a hard kiss to her temple, desperate to literally soothe her brain itself. "I understand."
Rather than stand around with dreadful nerves just waiting, Rapunzel and Eugene found Corona history books detailing… exactly what Tom had conveyed to them.
"Blondie," Eugene held her hands clasped within both of his, up between them as he searched her face and gazed as deep as he could into her eyes. "I am going to need you, to TRUST me."
Her lip quivered, but she nodded. "For what?"
"I'm gonna go wait for Tom, but I want you to go to your bedroom and take a rest, okay?"
She pulled away slightly. "What're you-"
"I just don't want you to worry…" He licked his lips. "That I won't come back."
She studied his face back, seeing only his indomitable loyalty. With a deep breath, she nodded.
"Okay? I'm- sorry, but we are going to have to trust each other more than ever right now."
"Okay," she nodded again.
"Okay." He kissed her forehead. "I will be right in as soon as I can - and- and I don't mean any loophole in that - certainly before dinner. Tonight. I'll be in."
She breathed much easier at his reassurances. "Okay. Yes. I do believe you, Eugene. I trust you."
"Okay, just, go wash your face, try to relax."
"Hah," she lightened up, chuckling and nodding sarcastically at that. "Yeah, sure, okay. 'Relax.'"
"Heh," he tried to smirk back.
A few more kisses, and Rapunzel eventually went to her bedroom, while Eugene went to wait for Tom nearer the King's private office.
Tom finally rounded a corner, in a spooked daze staring into space himself now, when Eugene ambushed him.
"Well?!"
"AH!" Tom leapt back, nearly out of his skin. As he settled, he seemed to file through a thousand emotions. "Eugene." So far it was merely a reprimand for startling him.
"Sorry what did he say?!" Eugene hissed.
Tom stared at him a long while, then had to give in. He hung his head with a sigh. "I would," he choked, "Advise you… To take the offer of Duke."
"WHAT?!" Eugene was literally taken aback, feeling as if that answer was forceful enough to physically push him back the step he took.
Tom shrugged, continuing with muttering, "Maybe ask for more money, but-"
"No!" Eugene cried to him suddenly.
Tom held his hands out to calm him. "Just, trust me-"
"NO. This is bullshit." His face contorted in confusion. "I didn't do it for money?"
"Euge-"
"Or status! I'm- I'm not gonna dump Rapunzel, just to go take land somewhere else - away from the city even here?! I'm not gonna marry some random person just because - because I would need a Duchess - worrying about my own line? To pass on stuff to, that I don't even want? Fuck that shit - NO. I promised Rapunzel that I would stay with her. No matter what that means. …apparently."
"Eugene, please," Tom pleaded, "Would you just take the deal?"
A hurt and deeply insulted sneer took over his entire face as he shook his head. "Why…" his low voice shook with a quiet growling rage. "Would I ever do that?"
Tom winced, "Please, just- I am begging you-"
Eugene leaned closer, to let his volume go even lower, as he pointed towards the King's office. "That man is the one who should be begging me,on his knees, for what I did. And for not running away with her before we ever even came back here. He should be giving her, anything she wants, and what she wants, is me!"
Tom's brow furrowed, nodding and following his rant in sympathy. "I know. I know," he offered gently, reaching a hand out. "But-"
He flinched away.
"Euge-..."
He continued backing up, frowning deeper and deeper. He scanned his mind for anything to grab onto, as he felt this ground entirely give way, flinging him into the wind.
Quietly but more unhinged, Tom hissed a hardened but desperate rasp, "Eugene! Don't DO this!"
"S'not what I'm here for." Eugene shrugged and shook his head in disgust, turned, and ran.
Eugene headed straight for Rapunzel's room, but stopped short at the intersection of hallways. There, he could not catch his breath, from panic more than any exertion, but began pacing, wringing his hands.
Another guard was at her door.
Fuck! This is EXACTLY what I don't wanna have to be dealing with - just to SEE her!? - And I am the one who sent her in there!
Tom caught up to him quickly enough, though.
"Fitz," he said with his more usual off-the-cuff tone, "Will you just sit down for a moment and think-"
But as soon as Eugene had seen him approaching, he began heading to meet him.
Only, Eugene grabbed his uniform shirt collar, and began dragging him with him back down the shorter hallway to Rapunzel's door.
"Ah- hey!" Tom naturally protested.
"Uh, sir?" The other guard switched his stance, on high alert, ready to brandish his halberd.
Eugene did not even look at him as he grabbed right for one of the door handles and continued striding inside. As for Tom, he let go of him right before the threshold, between him and the other guard.
Awkwardly left there, Tom merely cleared his throat and brushed himself off, as he turned and stood up straight at attention, his back to the open doorway. He looked to the other guard, smiled an absolutely charming smile and nodded curtly, absolutely ignoring any awkwardness. "Afternoon." Still smiling, he looked straight ahead, even as he continued trying to blink through what had just happened.
The other guard watched him, utterly baffled, but let him be.
Inside, Rapunzel whirled around at the disturbance. She placed the unicorn back, atop the pile of his letters on her vanity, that she had been re-reading. "Eugene!"
"Blondie!" he cried back with a whine, as his quick and sure steps towards her did not hesitate. He walked straight up to her, only stopping once he had grabbed them together, chest to chest, heart to heart.
"Ah-" Rapunzel startled, but that was somewhat balanced out with his comfort already. But how tightly his arms squeezed her, in desperation, elevated her worry again. "Eugene? What happened?!"
He dropped his head to her shoulder, crying. "I don't wanna lose you."
"Oh!" More upset for his sake than about the news suddenly, she switched her focus to comforting him. "Oh, Eugene, you're not gonna lose me."
At the door, Tom's smile had fallen to a distressed frown. He turned around at hearing Eugene actually crying, looked them up and down, and with a bit lip, pulled the door closed, leaving the couple alone inside. He glanced back at the other guard, this time merely daring him to even think anything of it.
Eugene sobbed out more onto her shoulder, as his visions of their future, their wedding, their family, their children, their grandchildren, their legacy – all faded away, like clouds dissipating back into darkness. How are we supposed to keep this now?
And he realized the backburner of his mind had already been working out scenarios. After a lifetime of things always falling apart, a lifetime on the run, figuring everything out on the fly, he already had solutions in his back pocket. He screwed his face and eyes up all the worse, as he realized how pathetic those solutions looked.
"You're not gonna lose me," she repeated, even as she felt her own tears well up. I have no idea how, or what any of this is really going to mean, but… I'd sacrifice for him, but I WON'T give HIM up. And I don't see how they could make me. But… if he's crying so much, then, maybe there's things I don't know… "Eugene?"
"Hm?"
"I'm not sure I understand what's gonna happen now…"
"I don't know. I… I have no idea, Darlin'. Oh, Blondie…" He brushed his hand over her head, holding all of her securely to himself. With a sniffle, he leaned away to look at her, trying to collect himself.
She cringed. "My mom also said it had to be a prince…"
He nodded.
"And my dad only offered you Duke…"
"Yeah…" Safe here, with her, he blurted it out. "I wanted a family with you…"
Oh- Whoa. Rapunzel's eyes shot wide, blanking her mind for a moment. Yes, of course. But - that would still be so far in the future! What about right now?
"I just wanted to make you happy…"
Worried more about logistics, she steered them back. "What's gonna happen to us?"
He gagged on the most basic split here: We're not gonna be able to get married. You're gonna- Oh God… "I'm gonna take care of you, no matter what. I promise."
"What are we gonna do, though? What can we do?"
Eugene cringed, knowing full well the underworld he was staring down the entrance of with her. "We're gonna…" He gulped. "You're gonna… marry a prince."
She squeaked in protest, refusing to accept the shock, even as she had seen coming.
"And you and I," Eugene gripped her upper arms and quickly continued, for any bit of solace, "We'll do what we can. We can still sneak around. We're gonna have to… Keep hiding."
They locked terrified eyes.
In disbelief, she asked, "Forever?"
His brow just furrowed more. But he cupped her cheek. "My Love… I'm so sorry…" He shook his head. "I can't give you what we want."
She stared at him, still stuck at a complete loss. "This can't be happening…"
He winced, and pulled her close against his chest again, preparing to hold her there forever, behind the closed door. His lips planted a kiss on her forehead, sealing his promises, and their secrets.
…and she finally broke down in his arms.
Eugene sent Rapunzel to dinner with her parents alone, while he went to sulk in his own room. If they don't want me to be part of their family, then I'm not suffering them for one moment longer. Not even for a fancy meal. …not that I'm even hungry…
But he did not even have long enough to fall apart yet, before a knock came at the door.
He quickly sniffled back the little that had started, cleared his throat, and called, "Who is it?"
The door merely opened in response, and in walked Tom, holding a stack of books. "Hey…" he offered quietly.
Eugene relaxed, only partly upset at the intrusion, delaying his wallowing. He wanted to be alone; but having someone there who cared about him was looking slightly better by the second. He scooted over for Tom to sit on the bed with him.
"Look, er…" Tom started, balancing the books on the bed beside him. "I'm sorry…"
Eugene looked away and shrugged. "Not like it's your fault."
He shrugged. "I just… I don't know. I-... I wish there was something I could do." He shook his head. "This isn't fair."
"Tell me about it," Eugene scoffed. "Well, whatcha got there?"
"Just a few more recommendations for you," he answered more cheerily. "All Shakespeare this time."
"Oh…" He tried to smile. "What a surprise…"
Tom gave a one-note chuckle before sobering himself as well, and brought them onto his lap. "A series, actually. Richard II, Henry IV, Parts I and II, and Henry V."
"Sounds riveting… You trying to bore me to death before I die of heartache?"
"Ohhh, on the contrary, with an attitude like that, I think you'd especially love the latter three. I know you already know the usual romantic comedies, but, ah, I think you'll get something out of these, too."
"What're they about?" Eugene rotely asked, not intending to pay attention to the answer.
Tom animatedly gave a vague overview of the young rebellious prince's story arc, every new aspect sparking a tangent.
Meanwhile, Eugene let his mind wander. Yes, much like Romeo or Lysander, he was so unjustly slighted, by an undiscerning old father; robbed of that imagined future with his love as his wife.
Those people his heart was closest to, he could not be with right now. The person he was next-best closest to, included only Tom here. Beyond that, perhaps the Captain, wherever he was. Although, the King was fast sliding down those ranks. Tom and the Captain may not be the center of attention like that family of three he loved so dearly and longed to be a part of, but they were always hovering close by. More than allowed to, they were required to be close to that family.
Eugene tilted his head with an idea, interrupting Tom's rambling. "Tom…"
"But it was the prince who had robbed him, ha-! -ah, yeah?"
"I wanna be a guard."
Tom floundered a bit with scoffing chuckles of unbelievable shock, at the left turn in conversation. Ultimately, though, he seemed happily excited about the idea.
"How?" Eugene pressed, deadly serious. "How do I join the guard? Just so I can be near her, of course. As free to come and go as you are. 'Cause, I'm staying, no matter what happens from here on out. So I wanna stay close. As close as possible."
"You?" Tom obligatorily jested, "A guard?"
"Yes!" Eugene grinned with lightly patronized offense, actually feeling excited hearing it repeated back, even like that. "What would I have to do? 'Cause I'll do anything. I miraculously do have the Captain's favor now, but, I don't know how to do this. Would I have to train? Study? Practice with supervision or something? I'll do anything, seriously, I'll do everything. Whatever it takes."
Tom ran his hand through his hair, still amused, but impressed, nodding. He chuckled and slapped Eugene's back, then proceeded to rub it. "Well well well," he grinned at him, "'Never was such a sudden scholar made.'"
Eugene chuckled. "I assume that'll make more sense later, if I actually read your nonsense?"
"Where's Eugene?" the Queen asked Rapunzel.
Rapunzel froze from pushing peas idly around her plate. She could only half look up to her mother's plate. "He said he wasn't hungry."
The Queen sent a look over to the King, who returned it nonchalantly.
"And he was busy working on something," Rapunzel added.
All through dinner, Rapunzel did not even try to participate in conversation this time. She left her answers to a simple "Yeah," or "No," or even "I don't know." Mostly, though, she spent it hating them, wondering what exactly Eugene was doing at that moment, and trying to reckon with what their 'future' might look like now.
Eugene stood right in front of the King's wide desk, where its area sat elevated a step above the rest of the room. He held two rolled parchments with him, but was most worried about holding his aching empty stomach, and faint wits.
"You have revisions?" the King asked eagerly, eyeing the old and new parchments.
"Your Majesty," Eugene gulped, keeping his eyes steady on the desk. "I can't accept your offer."
The King sat up straighter in his seat, although he seemed to be half expecting it. "But you have another?" he asked curiously, eyes narrowing.
"Yes," he answered weakly. He laid the old parchment on his desk, out of the way, and opened the new one for him.
The King leaned over with an eyeglass to read it.
Eugene tried to explain most of it anyway. "I just made it a list. I trust you could have it transcribed to official legal jargon... The full pardon, of course, I need that. And I could use, some gold, to really make sure I'm on my feet. But, the rest…" He bit his lips together, trying not to think about it.
Brow thoroughly furrowed, the King looked up harshly at him.
With his own ever-faithful last-bout of invincible courage, Eugene kept strong eye contact with him. "I want the guarantee, of a job. On castle grounds. I understand that would come with its own lodging included, right? And, specifically, I want to be a guard."
The King looked back down to the paper, distressed and puzzled. "Eugene…" He sighed.
"I understand I'd have to qualify and train for that, so, if, for some reason, I can't cut that, I still want a job. Here."
The King stared him down hard.
"I'm sure you have something around here I could do. If not, I can learn. I'm not completely incompetent."
The King subtly rolled his eyes. "It would not look good on Corona that we did not honor ou–"
"Then make it more money," Eugene snapped, desperate. He gestured out the window. "Put up a statue or something. I don't need much. My room's already near that section. I just need a job."
The King sighed deeply. "For now, let's say…" He shook his head. "More money. And double the wage, at least. Full new wardrobe. And, ugh, I don't know…" He shook his head. "I don't know. But if you ever, need anything, you had better come to me. Please."
"Of course, Sir. Thank you."
"A guard…" He stared into space, defeated. "Fine. The Captain could set that up…" But his eyes narrowed again.
"To see if I could qualif-?"
"You're qualified," he brushed off with a hand wave.
"...oh," Eugene gasped to himself.
"But," he looked him right back in the eye, "I'll have office work for you, too, in addition to that then."
Eugene double blinked, but saw no harm in it. "Uh, sure. Okay. Thank you."
Another deep sigh, more shaking of his head. "We'll continue this later. I'll… send Tom to find you, when we're ready. But it will probably be a few days."
"Yes, Sire. Is that all then?"
He locked eyes with him. "Eugene. Are you sure about this?"
He tried to conjure up a mental image of another man - surely, very handsome, very kind, at least - sitting beside her in the throne room. Dancing with her, introduced with her. Dining with her. Traveling. With a child he could only recognize her in.
Then he saw her face laying on the pillow beside himself, in her room, staring into his eyes, smiling, giggling. Perhaps even reclined with tea and surrounded by books in the library. Trips around town. Back hallways, unfrequented closets, bushes in the garden, empty sitting rooms - all doors closed, lights dimmed, hushed. But she was in his arms.
What else is there that my life even could be at this point?
He tried to picture himself as a Duke off on the mainland somewhere - but his stomach twisted worse.
"I'm sure."
Eugene sat at Rapunzel's breakfast table, late that night. Rather, he was sitting in a chair, and flopped over the table, head dropped into his arms. He was watching her gather everything into the cigar box Tom had procured for her. He poured over every tiny detail of how she moved and held every little thing, how she organized and arranged everything just so.
Pascal was helping, trying to keep her spirits up, as he happily smiled with each piece of their memories he picked up and held high.
But, then he lost track of the slippery little fiend. Until a claw pulled his lips back and up.
Eugene groaned and tilted his head the other way.
Pascal whirred annoyedly in defeat.
Rapunzel stopped, and looked him over again. He had been like that nearly an hour at least. "Eugene, please... Eat."
He looked to her, then over to the plate of food she had brought up for him. He sighed, but pushed himself up, and forced himself to put something in his mouth.
Rapunzel watched him, and huffed a sigh. She lifted a book to show him. "So, Tom found this book about 'sign language?' I think that might be helpful, for, you know…"
He slowly closed his eyes at that. Fuck. His difficult task of eating suddenly became even more arduous.
She deflated, discouraged. She put the book down on the table, for if he felt like looking through it, and went back to her dresser. There she poked through all the different charms she had accumulated already during the Homecoming Celebration week. One was a larger double-clipped charm of a boy and girl holding hands. She unclipped it from the bracelet, and ran her fingers around the small shiny piece. She looked up to Eugene, to find he was already watching her, even as he tried to chew.
Why's she taking it off? Why's she taking THAT ONE - OFF?! "Blondie?" his voice quivered.
"Here," she sat down across from him. Still, she studied it in her hand.
"No- Blondie, please, keep it-"
"No, I mean…"
Suddenly it snapped in two.
Eugene could swear it was their hearts breaking apart.
She even handed a piece over to him:
The girl half.
"...oh."
"You keep that half. And I'll, keep the boy," she giggled.
He chuckled, and finally accepted the tiny offering.
"Eugene," she said very seriously.
"Hm?"
"I'll take a half-life with you, over a life without you."
He pouted at that. You shouldn't have to, but… He sat back all the way and motioned for her. "C'mere, please, com'ere, My Blondie."
"Oh, Eugene," Rapunzel sighed with more sympathy for him than anything. But she stepped up and around to sit sideways on his lap where he was directing her to.
He pulled her close as they held each other there. "Thank you… for everything so far. But how are you doing?"
"I'm… okay, I guess?" she answered with uncertainty.
"Are you sure?" His brow furrowed. "You're still a lil ball of energy, heh."
"Well, if I keep busy," she smirked, "It keeps my mind off it."
He sighed but smiled. "Sounds like avoiding it, to me."
"Yeah, well…" she shrugged, then made her voice smaller than ever. "What else can I do…"
He winced at that. His fingers combed back through her hair, while studying her face. Suddenly, his was a pouty frown. "You know you're so pretty…" Everyone's gonna want you…
She fought to hold back a grin as she blushed. Don't need to compliment me to keep me, but d'aaawww!
I want you myself - but I want so much more… I want everything about you, I want a whole LIFE with you! But, if not with me, then… I just need you to be happy. But fuck you're still so innocent!
His smile for her turned to cringe, but he took a deep breath. "Blondie, do you understand? What I mean? When I say you'll have to marry a prince? But that we can still 'sneak around?'"
She whipped her face away from him.
"Blon-"
"I think I do…" But- ohhh- the 'first time' on a wedding night?! Suddenly his lips were on her cheek, bringing out a light moan from how he immediately soothed her nerves.
"I'm gonna…" Be your first. Never leave. Resign to a life… hidden. "I'm still gonna take care of you, Darlin'. Please, don't worry..."
"But I do have to marry someone else, so…" It does make such basic sense to me – I just don't want it to be right… "You won't be able to stay in my room with me, will you?"
"I WILL," he strongly countered. He looked her straight in the face. "I will. I will stay with you here. I will be with you as much as I can, whenever possible, for as long as possible."
She pouted and nodded. "But, otherwise? Please, tell me what I'm picturing is wrong…"
He cringed, face entirely screwed up. "Otherwise, when you have to be with him, you'll… have to-"
She meeped, hating her imagination, and how it was apparently correct.
But Eugene hugged her tighter before she could get anything else out. "I'm sorry! I'm so sorry, Blondie! I just want to make sure you understand everything here. And I'd rather get it all out right now."
"'Have to?'" She squeezed her knees together.
"I know I told you that you could do whatever you want, especially when you're with me, but… I'm sorry, but…" His voice turned into a tiny croak. "...yes."
She flinched, turning her head down into his neck, and crumpled against him. "Just tell me," she whimpered. "Exactly."
He sighed, remembering her terror from the first night of the party last week. "About sex- we will. But then, your wedding night, you'll spend with him. In a different room."
They both needed a moment to let that sink in.
"You can't have my kids; you'll have kids with him…"
Another choking moment.
"But you won't have to spend every night with him. It's a royal marriage. It'll really be up to him - but God he better listen to you - but when you're not with him… Then we can be together. Even sleep together, even sex… We'll have to really hide it all from the rest of the world as best we can, even him. But I- I don't want our relationship to turn into only physical, though. With me as a guard, preferably your guard, we should still be able to just hang out together a lot, as if we were only friends. But… it really will be just a half-life…"
She whined and clung to him tighter. I'm barely getting used to the feel of him - through clothes! But- a stranger?! For ALL of that?!
He strained, looking deep into her eyes, begging her for the same. "But I will love you for a hundred lifetimes. I'm not going anywhere."
She could breathe only when pressed against him like this. "I'll be okay as long as I have you."
He gulped. Someday. "In some way, shape, or form, you will always have me." That, I do already know for certain. There's no getting you out of my heart. I just hope I really am in yours, too.
Rapunzel had turned her maids away, insisting she could get her corset off herself from now on. Eugene, on the other hand, was getting better at it, and beginning to make it a much more sensual experience. Tonight, though, he forwent any teasing for tender worship.
Cuddled in bed, it still felt the same as always, and yet different. Warm, familiar safety, that now felt dangled over a precipice. The protective golden glow that always enveloped them, was now evermore precarious, and vulnerable to the dark cruel world around them, closing in, that cared not what they wanted.
Rapunzel burrowed into him, desperate to make everything last, to hold onto him with her very best efforts. "I'm not going anywhere, either, ya know. And please, now more than ever, make yourself comfortable around here. It's… your room, too. I trust you, and your judgement, with everything around here, even if you wanna move stuff or whatever. We can like, make it our own cozy little space here!" She nuzzled against him. "To hideaway in."
He set his face hard and determined, even as he merely stared out into the dark of the room. "Sure… But don't you worry about any of that right now, though. Just, get some sleep, and tomorrow we'll figure out how this whole thing'll work."
His mood threatened to allow her own mopiness to return. I wanna stay focused on the positive and what we CAN do… "Eugene?"
"Yeah, Blondie?"
She took his hand already holding her side, and dragged it up her thin, silky purple nightgown.
He let her control his hand as they moved slowly, cautiously watching her face. ANY forward progress, please, keep it coming. I'm trying to go slow with you, Love, for your sake, but I want to just race off into the sunset with you already. Eventually, he fully cupped her breast, with a moan of his own finally bringing a smile back to his face. Mmmboob. At least a nice way to end the worst day ever.
She gasped, and held his hand there, taking it all in. The sheer size of his hand, harder-skinned than hers, and certainly rougher than the skin underneath that cloth. Where his fingers rolled across, they drew out her nipple, a lightning bolt of sensitivity, that thankfully flooded her brain and left nothing else, nothing but buzzing pleasure in its wake.
She pressed his hand to herself, pleading for him to believe she was alright. No fighting his over-cautiousness tonight. Not when she felt even safer than ever with his grip on her breast, and just as pleased with feeling up the strong, sinewy, hairy back of his loving hand.
She saw his worried face, which was somehow still dripping with desire. Her lips lunged towards his, but she paused. "Where's Tom?"
He paused his hand, ready to retract. "He's at the door. Sent the other guy away and took the night shift. How you think I just ran in here again before?" he tried to chuckle.
The faintest smile twitched on her lips, but could not make it.
"You okay?" his voice dropped to a husky whisper.
She bit her lips and nodded. "Yeah, I'm always okay, as long as I'm with you."
"I meant with, this," he smirked.
She happily moaned an amused response. "Myeah. Just wanna make sure no one's gonna interrupt us."
"Then let's get comfy."
They took their time, stealing a couple more waking hours together. She explored his mouth, and cheeks and neck, again. And again. He continued and expanded and varied his erotic massage, focused on her comfort and pleasure more than feeling her up. More, but not only. It was not long before they were wriggling against each other, helplessly pent-up.
Rapunzel eventually rode out the slight edging and dozed off.
Eugene, however, this time, dare not leave for the bathroom himself. So he stayed there. And even as frustration delayed sleep, he found it was worth it. Being with her was worth anything.
A/N: Sorry this summer wasn't more productive on these fronts, and now you know the drill. Semester's starting up again. & a super important semester at that. So I may not be around for a while…
Please review/comment! We still have mysteries to unfold, and that meeting coming up on what will be the next chapter, Day -10.
Follow me as MiraNova23 on tumblr, at miranova23 dot tumblr dot com for Tangled Fandom Resurrection, messaging, keeping up with what's going on in my life, how the writing's going, my other fanworks, lots of Chuck vs Tangled, and all-around general Disnerdiness!