A/N: ONE DAY REMAINS.
Suitors of Rapunzel
Ch12 □ Day -1 ⌧playlist on YouTube as SoR - Ch12: Day -1
After spending the day out and about the shops in town, Rapunzel and Eugene, in full guard uniform, were back in her bedroom. She was getting ready for dinner with her parents, and he was merely waiting before he went to eat with Tom in the mess hall.
He sat sideways on her chaise, pulled over near the glass balcony doors. Head and arms leaning over the upright back piece, he stared out the window, watching seagulls flying around wherever they pleased. Ship's not here yet, so at least he won't be at dinner tonight.
Rapunzel noticed his melancholy before it even registered to him. "Eugene?" She headed over to him and touched his shoulder.
"Hm?" he grunted.
"What's the matter?"
He sighed and sat up a little straighter. He really did not want to voice these worries, did not want to speak it into existence, lest he create paranoia without good reason, or be the cause of the reveal himself. But, talking strategy over with her was a necessity. "Do you think we're being too conspicuous? Like, do you think your parents, or anyone, could be suspicious of us?"
She dropped her hand and frowned to the side. "I don't know. I hope not."
He cringed up at her. "Today was wonderful, and I don't mean to put a damper on it, but… Well we've had that black cloud hanging over us all day, anyway. And I can't help thinking, what if people notice that you're always going off places with me? What if a shopkeeper thinks we seem a lil too close and, overly friendly?"
She returned a more hopeful perspective. "But you were in uniform, you just looked all official. And I'm not always with just you. There's Tom, too."
"Yeah, but," he rolled his eyes, til he turned a sultry look back on her, "Tom doesn't look at you like he wants to do this." He grabbed her arm, pulled her down into his lap, and immediately honed in to kiss her.
She fell into his lap, and into a fit of giggles, but gladly welcomed his lips.
While they sat making out, a knock came at the door. "Your Highness?" Tom's voice came through.
"Mm," she pulled away, "Come in!"
"Hey," Tom greeted as he entered, careful to shut the door right behind him.
"Hey," Eugene called over.
Once he was close enough, Rapunzel asked quietly, "Hey, do you think my parents suspect anything?"
"Oh," he seemed surprised at the question and crossed his arms, "Well, I don't know. No one's said anything to me, and I haven't heard anything."
"I think…" Eugene mused, "I think your parents probably do suspect something is up with us..."
Rapunzel turned back to him. "You really thinks so?"
"It's just," he stared into space, "The way they look at me, the way they speak to me…"
She sighed. "Me, too, actually. And dinner's been filled with- like… 'Leading' questions."
"You don't think you've revealed anything, though?"
"No. No, of course not. Eugene, if there's one thing I am used to, it's just that: Pleasing someone enough to make them believe you're still their 'perfect little good girl.'" She sat cute and pouting for a moment, before settling back to casual.
Eugene only worried more. Is that what you're doing with me? "Uh, Tom? What do you think? Or could you maybe try to find out if they do know anything for real?"
Tom scoffed, but smiled at the ridiculous idea. "I con't just ask them."
"Please?" Rapunzel begged. "Just let us know if this is working."
He watched her carefully, and finally sighed. "I'll see what I can do."
"Alright," she moped. "Time for dinner?"
He nodded slightly.
She hugged Eugene goodbye.
"Love you, Blondie." He squeezed her tight.
She hummed to herself, smiling, and pecked a kiss on his lips. "I'll see you when I get back!"
He smiled back. "See ya." But he could not stop his eyebrows from pinching together. Why, Blondie…
As she walked away, though, her smile disappeared and she bit her lip. Please, stop… You look and sound so pitiful when you say that. Just like my parents. But it's different for me! At least none of them press it. And I know they all know how I feel.
While Tom was escorting Rapunzel to dinner with her parents, Eugene remained behind, still staring out the window.
I'm the one stuck here, now. Nicer than a cell in the actual prison, but still. Just waiting. For what? What will we ever have beyond this? Even a nice day out was strained with the tension of not being able to be ourselves the whole time. We're just living new lies.
And what about her feelings? After everything we went through… Even if the little things were just a crush, an infatuation, with the first man she ever met– She still offered to trade her freedom for my life. And I died for her. She knows I'm serious. –Am I too serious? Did I push 'too much, too fast,' even just from sneaking in here the very first night?
It's been a month, and sometimes I feel I know her less than ever… …has something changed for her? –Or is it just all the stress of suddenly living in a new place, with a new family, and all this pressure and expectations she never imagined before?
I wanna help her through all that! But does she want me to?
I just… I just want her to love me. Even if the best I can do is this guard job. Even if we can't have anything like a real, normal life, or a family. Just… tell me I'm worth something. At least to you. Tell me I've done, at least mostly, the right things, at least by you. Tell me I am doing the right thing. …is this what's right for you?
–Of course it is! I am what's best for her! I love her with all my heart, no matter what, forever and ever! I'd do anything for her, defend her to my dying breath, live a life in the shadows just to be with her. …at least I'm used to watching over my shoulder.
No one else will ever love her as much as I do. No one else could ever know her like I do.
Finally, the door opened again.
Eugene picked his head up and looked over to Tom.
He leaned back against the door, hands behind his waist, head down.
"Buddy?" Eugene called nervously. "What's up?"
With great effort, Tom finally managed to begin speaking. "What if I told you…" He paused, hesitating, second-guessing himself over and over. He choked a bit. "That they did suspect something?"
"What…" Eugene gasped, heart plummeting. He leapt to his feet and headed over to him.
Tom raised his hands. "I said 'if.' I'm not saying they do, but IF they did, then what?"
"Then I'd tell ya to stop freaking me out!" He shot his palm out to shove his shoulder. The relief of it only being a hypothetical had him chuckling, though. "God, don't scare me like that."
Tom was not amused. "But IF they did?! What's your plan here?"
Eugene found himself speechless for a moment, hanging in suspense. After a few false starts, he tried fumbling out an answer. "Then I guess I'd… really have to lay low. Maybe space out the daytime dates? Take a different shift for a while?"
He sighed.
"Hey," Eugene shot out, "It's not like I can just walk away from her. Even if they found out everything."
"I am not saying that," Tom defended.
"She needs me."
"I know that."
"I'd have to do something. But- I- I dunno, man," Eugene floundered, "I can barely think straight about all this. I'm also dealing with: New job, first real job in my life. All that secret research for the committee. And trying to build a clandestine relationship with a girl who was a innocent kidnapped prisoner all her life, but unbeknownst to her, and is now suddenly a princess. I am doing- the best I can here. So what ideas have you got?"
"Right… Well, I didn't want to bring it up around her, but," he cringed, "Have you thought about… a beard?"
Eugene threw his head to the side. Ugh.
"And I don't mean facial hair."
"I know what you mean," Eugene snapped back. "And yes, of course the thought's crossed my mind, but…" He shook his head. "I have been looking, since I am supposedly single, and there are a few cute girls around here I'd go for, but… I think involving someone else would just make this all the more complicated."
Tom nodded, sadly agreeing and understanding.
"I dunno," Eugene sighed. "I'll keep thinking about it. Let's just go eat." Plus, if she has to marry some prince - and then if I have a cover girlfriend - wouldn't that practically guarantee that we just… drift apart? He shook it out of his head with a shudder.
They lay in her bed again, just like always, just like normal… Only tonight was anything like normal.
He held her tighter. She snuggled him harder. They both looked off in different directions, where his chin rested atop her hair. Silence gripped them for the longest time. He had been feeling her nerves take over her body, but finally just rested his hand over her heart, hoping to silently calm its fast beating.
He can tell… She sighed. "I'm scared."
"I know." He kissed her forehead. "I know you are, Blondie. But we're gonna take care of you. All of us. Especially me. No matter what happens, I will always be here for you. I will always protect you."
She nodded against him, then hid her face.
"I know you're gonna be alright. But ya know, I'm scared, too."
"Of what?"
"Of losing you."
"Oh, Eugene!" She hugged around his neck. "You're not gonna lose me! Not to some stupid prince I don't even know. Who's just here for the throne."
He squeezed her closer. "You always got me, Blondie. I promise you that. Okay?" But do I have you?
"Hm, you've made me an awful lot of promises…" The more you make, the more I feel you won't be able to keep them all. If we even remember them!
"Nothing I don't intend to keep. I know what I'm saying. I know what it means to you. I know you."
"And you're really okay?" It would make sense if you wanted to quit...
His heart pounded at that.
"Even though… it's gotten this rough? And there's so much we can never have…" I feel bad, like I'm holding you back…
But… what if you don't really love me the same? -I already promised. And she did just say I won't lose her. He snuggled her into him, then forced a chuckle. "Naw. 'Course I'm fine. Got everything I want right here. And I know I promised that, too – Never leavin' you." I actually can't even fathom myself ever really leaving.
Oh, but please… Please be true. Please be enough. I want you to be happy, too!
He could not deny himself another moment. He gulped. "I love you, Blondie."
Well then, please believe me… She twisted in his hold, to kiss him deeply, and writhed as she changed how they lay, with her more on top of him.
Yes?! Yes? Say it!
As he was eagerly distracted with his thoughts and her lips and tongue, she managed to get into a position where he was practically cradling her top half. And where his hands landed, she leaned into.
He groped her breasts, massaging them sensually, sure to rub her nipples. He moaned more into it, and eventually extended his hands to wandering all over her body. Still, he kept that silky purple nightgown between their flesh. He even slid close to that center point between her thighs, but always back out again, never too close.
She moaned back, soaking up the attention. But it was not calming her nerves. If anything, it was all riling her up yet again. And, with such thoughts of the future closing in on them, she pictured the only good part she saw coming up: Someday, they would be here, but unclothed, as they carried on like this, but did not stop. That prospect felt scary, too, but the reassurance of him at its foundation was enough for her. However, it only served to excite her further.
Eugene, somewhat, too, was playing a mental tug-of-war with himself over whether to move forward or step back. She needs more reassurance, more confidence, more self-esteem. She needs to know how much I do want her for myself. With each step we've taken so far, she has seemed better for it – regardless of whether it made me feel closer to her or not. And tonight, this is all about her.
He trailed his kisses from her lips, across her jaw, and finally, to her ear; careful to avoid her rather new piercing. Fingers came up to brush the short brown strands away. "Blondie," he whispered so softly, "Could I… Make you cum?"
She gasped, "What…"
"Just with my hand, even just outside your nightgown still if you want. But it's totally up to you. You could just say no, it's okay. I just thought, something to take the edge off tonight, ya know? Focus on us?" Ideally.
Cumming?! In front of him?! – Ohhh, but him touching me like that- all the way till…! "Hm," she blushed, "That actually does sound nice, but…"
"But no? Or do you wanna just do it yourself?"
"No, I…" She chuckled. "Umm… We, could do that, but first, would you mind if we got some wine?"
He sighed, but kissed her forehead. "That's fine. But I gotta go get it, then."
"Okay- I mean, if you don't mind. You don't have to get up if you don't wanna."
He chuckled as he moved to get up. "It's fine. I'll go grab something from the kitchens and be right back."
She still pouted. "Couldn't Tom get it for us?"
He scoffed, humorously, as he donned his pajama shirt. "Honey, I don't think Tom would like to add concierge to the list of things he's doing for us." He stood and leaned back down to kiss her. "I'll be quick."
She curled up in bed, waiting. Spoiling me. Just don't turn into resentment.
Eugene knocked lightly on the bedroom door, checking.
The rest of the tune came back.
With a little mischievous smile, he opened the door. "Hey, Tom," he whispered.
"Hey yorself," Tom chided back. "Wot are you doin' up?"
He sighed, nodding along understandably as he closed the door behind himself. "She can't sleep. She asked me to go get some wine. I'll be right back."
He sighed back, shaking his head. "Go on, be quick about it."
"Always." He threw a smirk and wink back at him.
In the wine cellar, Eugene quickly located the open bottles of dessert wine. From those, he plucked up her favorite one.
On his way back towards the door to leave, he sensed a barely perceptible, but out-of-place sound, coming from the hall he was about to head back out to, sending him into high alert. Silently, he slipped behind the racks of wine, a couple rows away from the door, where he was completely concealed in shadows off to the side. As he did so, he could tell that the sound was becoming clearer: heavy footsteps approaching.
Much to his surprise, it was the King himself, still fully dressed. He did not notice Eugene standing over in the dark.
But he could tell the old man's face looked very troubled. He watched him carefully.
The King lumbered over to the hard liquor, sighing over and over. He randomly grabbed a bottle, and headed back out, staring into space.
Once he was gone, Eugene looked over that shelf, considering it himself. No, I wanna make sure I stay with it tonight, and make sure I'm up early tomorrow. I can share some wine for a lil help sleeping, but that's it… But maybe tomorrow I'll need it. He sighed, and headed back out as well.
"Ahhh-one bottle of the sweetest dessert wine, for My Sweetest Beloved," he charmed out smoothly as he re-entered, fancily presenting the bottle.
"Oooh, Eugene! Thank you!" she cooed back, bouncing up to her knees on the bed.
He plopped down on the edge beside her. "Well, thank you. Seems your 'midnight blue' pajamas came in handy."
"What? Did you run into trouble somehow?"
"Uh, your dad, actually, came down right after me to get something to drink, too. And I mean, he wouldn't've been upset with me being there - Lord knows I should be drinking something very strong right now - but, I just didn't wanna deal with him…" He shrugged. "So I slipped off into a corner til he'd gone, and he never saw me."
"Alright, well, that's good." She took a swig, but then offered it to him. "Mmm, do you want some?"
He shook his head. "Not really. I wanna make sure I'm up early. Just gimme a sip." He took the bottle, but as he looked down at it, he smirked and turned back to her. "Or shall I sample it off your lips?"
She gasped and blushed, surprised, but ended up just licking her own lips at the playful thought.
He took a swig anyway, then handed it back. "Well, here. Drink up. We gotta get you some sleep tonight."
She sighed. "Then again, I don't know if I even wanna sleep. I just wanna hang out with you all night."
He reached out to rub her thigh. "Sweetheart, I'm not going anywhere, alright? You just gotta meet this guy, and we're all gonna be watching over you, okay? And don't worry about me; I'm fine. I understand."
She sat with the bottle in her lap, clutching the neck, staring off into the distance. Too much. That's all too much.
He tried to lean around to see into her eyes. "Blondie?"
"I just want my mind to shut off…" she whispered.
"Hon-"
"I want you to make me cum, and I wanna pass out. I know that sometimes right after I finish it myself, I fall right to sleep, and a couple nights from during the party I don't exactly recall going to bed…" She looked down to the bottle in her lap. "I remember being with you, sometimes getting into bed, or at least into the room, but then, nothing til we were waking up the next morning."
He rubbed her thigh some more, and more comfortingly.
She smirked, though. "Except that first night."
He had a twinge of defensiveness. "I was just teasing you-"
"I know," she smiled. "I know."
"And those other nights, it was even less."
Her expression fell as she thought, though. "Well tonight I want even more."
He gulped. Ya know, NONE of this is turning me on…
"Enough of both touching and drinking should definitely have the same effect, I think."
Eugene stared her down. "So you want me to make you cum, while you're drunk?"
She tucked her head down, but her eyes looked back up at him. "Yes… Is that weird?"
That brought his crooked smile back with a chuckle. "Not at all." He shrugged. "And I get it. I understand why and all that. And you know I'm always up for helping you be naughty," he snickered, bumping her shoulder.
She giggled. "Well thank you." She lifted the bottle towards her lips-
Only for her lips to meet the back of Eugene's hand as he covered the mouth of the bottle.
"But, hey," he sighed deeply, "What if you wake up, and don't remember any of it? Just like those other nights you said. Maybe don't even remember this conversation? Will you still have wanted that?"
"Of course." She shrugged. "I trust you, Eugene. And I doubt I could ever truly forget something so important with you."
He thumbed at her cheek as he searched her eyes. "You trust me that much?"
She nodded, lips trembling. "Make me cum. Let me pass out. Both. I don't care. Please…"
He smirked sadly, "Well I don't actually know if you can cum while passed out, so I'll keep a close watch on ya. But, I see what you need. I gotchya."
"I trust you, with everything," she whimpered again. Then she tilted the bottle up, and though she sipped slowly, she tried to down as much as she could.
He watched her, his own brow furrowing ever deeper. "Blondie…" he whispered gently, not wanting to scold her coping, but more certain with every second that she would indeed not remember tonight. Finally, he pleaded for her immediate physical well-being, "Sweetheart, don't make yourself sick."
She finally stopped, gasping, the trace of dark liquid still on her lips.
Eugene grabbed the neck of the bottle as well, to ensure it remained upright, and, leaning on his other hand on the mattress, lunged over for her lips, lapping all around. Once finished, he nosed around her cheek. "Don't worry, I'll take care of you. Always. Promise."
She nodded against his forehead.
"You sure you don't wanna just lay down?"
She shook her head. "No. I want you."
He winced. "And I'll give you anything you want." One more peck on her lips, and he pulled away.
She returned to the bottle for more wine.
He took his own shirt off, tossing it up beside his pillow. This time, he decidedly took hold of the bottle. "Enough," he ordered firmly.
She stopped, wobbly even where she sat.
"This stuff's a lil strong for you to be chugging that much."Eugene replaced the cork and set it on the floor. Then he leaned up beside her, gently cupping her cheek. "Blondie, look at me."
Rapunzel winced from realizing how dizzy she was, but succeeded in looking him in the eye, with hers still focused. "Yeah?" Hoarse already, but still in control of normal speech and hearing.
Eugene's thumbs rubbed at her cheeks as he inspected her. "Before that really starts hitting you," his voice sounded far too worried and clinical, "You sure about this?"
"Mm-hm," she whimpered. "Please."
He lowered his voice back to a fellow, breathy, desperate lover. "Tell me what you want."
"I want you to…" She made the motion herself, but closed her eyes and blushed away from him.
His hand moved to grab the back of her neck. "Say it," he commanded. "I won't do it unless you say it," he said in a teasing voice. "And look at me."
Her eyes snapped back open to his.
"There's those pretty eyes," he praised. "So Blondie, you want me to, touch you and make you cum?"
This time she held the eye contact. "I want you to touch me-" Suddenly she gripped his wrist and shoved on his shoulder a little, looking slightly terrified.
He jerked his head back, alarmed.
"But- yeah- just above my nightgown, okay? Like through it, on top of it, not actually- um, under it…" She squeezed her legs together as she squirmed.
He smirked as he settled back in. "Your wish is my command, Your Highness."
"You know?"
"I know what you mean. I won't actually touch you skin-on-skin down there. Your thigh okay though?"
She nodded. "Yeah, that's fine, just-"
"I'll stop before I get too close, don't worry."
"Thank you."
"And for how long?" he purred out. "You want me to go til I make you cum?"
"Yes," she gasped.
"Say it."
"I…" she locked eyes with him, but closed them to whimper. "I want you to make me cum. I just wanna be with you, and do everything with you." She reopened them. "So, tonight, I just want you to get me out of my own head. Please."
He pouted at her. "Oh, Sweetheart…" He caressed her cheek again as he sighed. He kissed her for a few moments there, then broke away as he patted her hip. "Come on, let's get comfy."
He crawled up to the center of her headboard and sat back there with his legs spread, then beckoned her over. She clamored over to plop down in front of him in between his legs, while he made sure she did not sit on anything. He pushed and pulled her into position, both of them helping ensure her nightgown stayed down as far as it would go.
"R'mmber-"
"I know, not under it." He slid a hand deep around the inside of her thigh, but still over that purple silk. "And no takesies-backsies this time – You can stop me anytime, but don't try to tell me five minutes from now that you suddenly do want me under your nightgown, 'cause that I won't believe."
"Okay." Those large warm digits already in a would-be ticklish spot so close, had her breath hitching as her mind buzzed.
His teeth latched over the top of her ear, while speaking in his lowest voice. "I gotchya, Blondie. Any more rules?"
"I don't think so," she gasped.
He sweetly kissed her temple with a little hum. "Gimme your hand."
Entranced, she floated her right hand over to meet his.
While his right hand played with twirling their fingers around each other, his left hand slid across her breasts. He played around there, too, squeezing, pinching, rubbing.
Below, he puppeted her hand around her tummy, over her thighs, and inbetween them. At the apex, though, he directed her to merely brush over the top. But the stimulation to her mons alone made her twinge for more.
"Close your eyes."
She did.
"Just feel."
"More firsts," she happily mused.
"That's right." His soft lips gently kissed at her neck. "I want all your firsts to be with me."
She swooned right there in his hands, at such a comforting thought.
He guided her hand down, the tips of their fingers right at the point where her thighs met.
His foot slid over one of her ankles, and pushed her feet apart.
Her breathing picked up.
He whispered again, his very breath tingling her neck and down her spine. "Open for me."
She whimpered, as she parted her knees, too. But it did nothing to release the butterflies; they were merely whipped up into a frenzy.
With a deep breath, he pressed on- pressed down- pressed hard.
Her hand and nightgown still remained between them, but she gave a tiny cry out.
"Shhh…" he soothed.
Already, she could tell that this stimulation, combined with how fuzzy her whole head was getting, was a strange new sensation. It was not necessarily more intense, and she still felt sensitive all over, but with a calm warming feeling taking over from the inside out. She gyrated back against Eugene, then forward again into their hands, then back again, and threw out a deeply sensual moan.
"You have to be quiii-et," he tried to persuade her more subconsciously on her temple.
He maintained control of her hand and fingers, working patterns against her, back and forth and up and down and around. Based on where he could tell there was more give from her pussy lips – his mouth watered – and the angle of her pubic bone, he still easily kept the pressure centered around her clit.
He, too, closed his eyes to concentrate fully on her. Can't believe I just wanna get through this. I wanna make you feel amazing, Sweetie. But it is insane how not into this I am. Part of this doesn't feel right.
Yes, I want her firsts. But I also believe these experiences should be with someone she loves. And while, YES, I still want that to be me – but what if I'm not the one who should be here right now?
…I'm not moving her hand away. I can get her just like this. I'll feel her cum, but I don't wanna feel her there if that's all there is to us anymore. If that's all I'm gonna be good for. …but you get ONE.
Her moans only continued and grew, and he gave up quieting her, shocked each time that it did not summon Tom. Her sounds helped direct him better anyway, partially speeding things up. He could also tell that she was applying her own force, not just leaving her hand limp in his.
And soon, her other hand shot down to sandwich his hand in, as she whined and bucked hard against him.
"That's it, come on," he goaded.
Oh my goodness! The building and building finally had her teetering on an edge. In… front of… HIM-! The stress was long gone and dissolved. But in one great mewling cry, the built up energy and feelings all came crashing down with her at once: the ecstasy, the intoxication, the comfort.
His arms squeezed her tight to keep her from jerking around too much.
The explosion wiped her mind blank, and she collapsed into his chest.
His hand came up to cradle her head into his shoulder, caressing her hair back. "Shhh, shhh… There ya go…" He whispered on her temple, then planted a kiss there. But he gulped.
She panted a bit, but her eyes remained closed, and she no longer seemed conscious at all.
Eugene sat there, staring into space, limp princess lying in his arms, as the silence took over again. His own breathing dipped into jaggedness as his throat clogged up. "Blondie?" his small, broken voice called into the darkness.
No response.
With a deep, shaky breath, he swallowed back tears. She's out. She's… not there…
It cracked open how to pinpoint what he had been feeling this whole time.
It feels like she's just really not in the same place as me. She's not on the same page. If it's even the same book. What if - besides anything else tomorrow brings - What if… She just doesn't really love me?
Another deep breath; he looked up. I know what if. Even if she doesn't love me, so long as she needs me, so long as she even just wants me around, for anything… "I'm gonna stay right here with you, Rapunzel. For as long as I can. I love you…"
His head dropped back to nuzzle beside hers, as he fell into silent sobs. "But I feel so alone here…"
A/N: Well… Thnks fr th mmrs?
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