A/N: Never bring a crossbow to a sword fight, or something like that, eh? ;)
Suitors of Rapunzel
Ch17 □ Day 30 ⌧
A couple more utterly mundane suitors were ruthlessly rejected by a disaffected, apathetic Rapunzel. The prince today did not seem like he would fare any better, though of course he himself was convinced otherwise. The Queen easily enticed her daughter to spend the morning on a patio in the gardens, while visiting with this one, hoping to draw out her sunnier disposition.
Upon entering the gardens, Rapunzel, with a keener eye, noticed that there was only a pair of uniformed guards stationed at the entrance to this area. The groundskeepers, however, numbered much more than the usual two or three. Of the few closer men, she recognized them, and they did not seem surprised at her recognition, but returned careful looks. More guards.
The Queen left the pair to their own table, and took a book to read at another nearby.
Far away from the patio entirely, two particular guards were indeed getting on with the otherwise legitimate gardening project today. Tom and Eugene took turns hoisting bags of topsoil into wheelbarrows, one after another, that others would run back and forth, ferrying them to the patio area.
Eugene moved much more slowly, continually looking out across the tops of the hedges. At this distance, he could just barely make out that there were people there at all, and they had only been identifiable when standing with his stare steady.
Suddenly a hand waved in front of his face.
He blinked back to take in his own surroundings.
Tom pitied him, shaking his head.
Eugene scoffed defensively. "What? Oh, come on. I could be worse."
Tom cocked his head and grinned sardonically. "Define 'worse.'" While they got back to work, he continued chatting to keep him present, and distracted. "Well, at least with her, it's understandable. But…" he huffed, "Wot do you see in that other girl?" He struggled to swing a bag up onto the pile.
Eugene groaned and, once his own hands were empty again, shrugged. "She's nice. Smart. Doesn't mind what I needed the pardon for, ya know? Which may be a rare boon for me itself." His eyes kept darting back to watch the patio.
"Shor, fine, whatever," Tom settled with rolled eyes. "Alright, so while you insist on wallowing, let me ask you."
"What?" Eugene was having a much easier time of it, but still grunted as he spoke.
"You know, you never brought her flowers. Always thought that was strange. Not even hand-picked free ones."
Eugene stumbled, shoulders stiffened straight.
"Yor a big romantic. So why not flowers?"
"It's… a whole thing with her."
"Wot? Doesn't she like them? She's got flowerpots in her room. She paints them everywhere…"
Eugene shook his head. "Yeah, no, she has plants around her room, but I never brought or picked her flowers at all because…" He sighed. "Do you really wanna know?"
Tom shrugged. "I'm on the committee, too. And between the two of us, I'm the only one around her anymore. Might help me to know why? And, is it even something anyone else would understand?"
Eugene tilted his head, "They probably just don't know the whole story. So, okay…"
"Well then?"
"The flower that healed her mother… gave her her power… That the witch kidnapped her for… And the old lady was so old, and knew all this, about how the magic worked, so from what we gather, she must've been using the flower herself… before they took it for her mother. Follow?"
"Alright…"
"But then, without the flower, well, she's gotta keep on keeping herself young, just to keep alive even, at that point.
"She said that Gothel told her, that when she was a baby, somebody tried to cut her hair to steal it. But, once it's cut…" He waved his hand up toward the patio.
Tom looked, and understood, repeating. "It turns brown. Stops growing. Loses its power."
"A-yup. And now we know, that that 'somebody' must've been Gothel herself. So, magic's in the baby's hair, right? So, gotta steal the whole baby."
"Okay…"
"And the Witch even used to call her, 'Her Flower.'"
"Oooh, ouch."
"So, yeah, no." Eugene set the last sack down with a heavy grunt, then sighed. "No cutting flowers to present to her, to supposedly show love."
"Got it."
Eugene slapped the top of the stack. "That's the last of it finally. Come on now, they're already here. We gotta get over there."
Rapunzel stepped into playing the character she had begun making up to play this part. It helped to mentally and emotionally remove herself from the situation. As this idea of "a princess," she was perfectly cheerful, rather ditsy, and just fed into whatever the prince du jour would babble about, as she found they all conveniently loved talking about themselves. However, her voice acting needed some more work, as she did also still sound as patronizing and disgusted as she truly felt.
This prince was no exception, droning on about some story about an outing with some other male relatives whom Rapunzel did not bother retaining the slightest bit. All of it was in a tone talking down to her.
And today, she quickly lost patience with her play-pretend game. Though they were outside, it was too beautiful a day to be stuck having to sit still in the midst of it.
Ughhh can he get on with it already. SoooOOOooo BORING. And he's got the nerve to act like my lack of interest makes ME uninteresting. Bozo.
The tea and cookies were at least much more interesting. With her chin propped up in her hand as she munched away, she continually struggled to not roll her eyes. Beneath the table, her leg impatiently bounced, waiting for the first possible opportunity to escape.
"I guess you wouldn't know anything about hunting dogs, you know," the Prince chuckled with a haughty air, though the rest of his speech did not seem refined beyond that of a young and inexperienced socialite. "Well, with the- um. Well the…"
As Rapunzel found him all the more arrogant and stuck-up, she played the same attitude right back at him. "The tower?" she lazily snarked back.
"Uhhh… yeah," the Prince mumbled awkwardly.
"Well, actually," she copied his condescending sneer from before, "I've had to deal with quite a few mongrels lately."
A tiny laugh involuntarily coughed out of Eugene's throat, imperceptible to most.
But the familiar sound caught Rapunzel's ear, and heart. Am I imagining things orrr… She slowly turned around in her seat, to eye up the row of gardeners: all those men delicately working on the flowers in the bed edging the patio behind her.
One stopped, however. He immediately dipped his head down so low, for his wide-brimmed hat to entirely cover all of his face, that he was practically staring down his own chest. Pausing his own handling of the young mums, he reached up to pull the stiff cloth brim even lower – unwittingly flashing something just as telling.
I know those forearms.
Shit. She KNOWS it's me…
Rapunzel spun back to the table, rigidly trying to pretend she did not just realize what she had. HE's here. He's HERE. He's RIGHT. HERE! Desperately, she tried to conduct herself normally. Oh my goodness… EUGENE?! Her heart pounded.
She stared into the table, but all she saw were those arms and hands. That hand, cradled in hers, for her to make it all better, to trust, to be known. Those arms holding out a pair of lanterns, that hand taking hers. Those arms pushing her away, that hand changing her life. That arm squeezing her so tightly, holding her together as her world around her had just fallen apart. That hand guiding her first everythings thereafter. Those arms defending her, an open hand befriending for her. Drunk and unable to stand, she hung on those arms, trusting those hands like no other. Retreating to the safety of those arms, that hand to the rescue once again.
Then they just… disappeared.
She used to be able to reach out and touch them whenever she wanted; they were always there. She was certain now, though, that she had never appreciated them enough, and now missed them as strongly as she should have treasured them before.
She saw them up close, in the dark, perpendicular to herself. They moved in time with deep whimpers above her - now blocking out her ears, which rang with nothing but that voice, his breath. They kept her as warm as sunshine enveloping her, wrapped around her, like now only her sheer shawl did.
"Are you okay?"
Her ears heard it warble through time, from dusk on the water two months prior. "Huh?"
The Prince repeated, "I said, are you okay?"
"Yeah!" she automatically answered. "Yeah, I-" She looked the Prince over, and suddenly her stomach plummeted, feeling nauseous. No, I can't-
"Princess?"
"Actually, I-" Her voice cracked. He's right behind me! I haven't even heard his voice since-!
'I don't believe you…'
She hiccuped as she crumbled inside, and knew that everything was about to come tumbling out. Eyes welled up, as she fought to choke back a sob, all the while her head spun with his stupidly charming face.
The crushing heaviness in her chest felt his weight atop her again. The bright sun above made her squint the same as staring up at the gas lamps above her bed, for access to her neck. A drink of tea moistening her lips, brought his taste back instead. Nervously tucking that stubborn lock of hair behind her ear, where it no longer stayed, only emphasized that drastic swiping cut. And how she had to do it herself now.
Eugene tried to return to the delicate handling of the chrysanthmums. Tried to concentrate on the color patterns and spacing, keeping the soil loose around them, so they would have room and ability around them to grow and spread their branches out. He slipped his bare hands down below to inspect the prepared holes dug, before gently lowering the supple young plant inside. Not too deep, just enough to hold the molded form of tightly packed dirt, through which the tendrils of white fibrous roots darted in and out and moved around in. With both hands, he scooped some of the loose and fresh, dark, rich, moist topsoil to surround it, softly wrapping around its mound in the new bed.
As he introduced each one to the ground for the first time, his mind twisted itself around with what he had explained to Tom earlier. I wonder if I should have brought her back at all. Is this really where she belongs? Maybe she was meant to be plucked from here.
Rapunzel's screamed at her. How could he be right here - the same person who did all those things? He's just calmly planting flowers a few feet from me?! Like NOTHING?! Rapunzel gripped the edge of the table. He has a new girlfriend. He doesn't want me anymore. He doesn't care. He doesn't-! Why is he even here? So close? Why did he laugh at that? Why- Why- WHY- She jumped up from her seat, and raced back to the door to the castle.
Startled at the sound of her metal chair scraping against the patio brick, Eugene picked his head up, to see her running away. Shit…
"Ah- Princess!" the Prince called after her, but merely stood up and watched her as well.
She disappeared inside.
The Prince looked all around, and spotted Eugene.
His eyes were locked on that far door, squinting with a bit lip.
"Hey you," the Prince called over to him.
He was busy trying to figure out where she was running to. Bedroom? Art studio? Library? Kitchen? Hmmm… Probably bedroom- Ah, turned left inside. Definitely bedroom-
"HEY," the Prince yelled, making his way over to him, walking right over to block the sun and cast his shadow over Eugene, still on the ground.
Eugene blinked at realizing the light change, and finally looked straight up to the Prince.
"You thought something was funny?"
Ugh. Eugene rolled his eyes and got to his feet slowly, carefully stretching out and cracking stiff knees. As he straightened up, he stretched his back and shoulders out, to more popping crinkles. Finally he stepped over the flowerbed and onto the patio, to stand face to face with the Prince.
"Oh-ho," the Prince scoffed. "You do have some nerve-"
"Listen, buddy," Eugene scoffed back, holding a hand up. "Yes, it is very funny, the way she was talking back to you talking down to her. You were asking for it, and she gave it to ya. And that last one, you walked right into."
The Prince watched him standing up face to face with him, completely incredulous. "How dare you!"
Eugene's face quirked. "What?" he chuckled again, merely bemused, as he brushed pollen from his hands. "She said it, not me."
"Who do you think you are?!" he suddenly shouted at him as if he were an army captain. "Where do you get off telling me what's right? You insult me? Then ignore me?! I can't believe how lax Corona is with their help! You're a servant to your King and you should reflect well upon him! But you forget yourself and won't even address royal guests properly?!"
Eugene was preoccupied rubbing an itch on his nose, only paying attention to making sure he used a dirt-free part of his sleeve, then sniffled as he put his hands on his hips. "Sorry, bit of late hay fever." Every bit of him cocked, looking the Prince over. Then he pointedly glanced behind him, over to the Queen with a look, knowing she could read his face perfectly.
She smirked back.
Eugene reciprocated with a tiny tongue-clicking nod to her, then sighed back at the Prince.
"Unbelievable-"
"Yeah, come on, you're outta here." He motioned in the air for the Prince to get moving, still being thoughtful to not grab the man's white jacket with his dirty hands.
The Prince backed a step away anyway, also thinking of keeping that dirt away from his exquisite clothing. "Excuse me- wh-"
Eugene also beckoned the set of uniformed guards, snapping then flicking two fingers, to come over toward them.
"Wha-" The Prince whirled around, astonished to see two guards indeed making their way to him. "Your Majesty!" he turned to cry to her.
The Queen merely took another sip of tea, eyeing the Prince over her cup.
"You don't talk to the Princess that way," Eugene explained, "And you don't talk to me that way."
The two guards arrived behind him. Each grabbed each arm.
The Prince shirked them off, seeming to also get ahold of calming himself down. "I can leave on my own."
Eugene watched him calmly, also preferring it to not have to be too forceful a removal. "Then please do so."
The Prince shook his head. "This is ridiculously backwards-"
"No, Prince Robert Roark, Your Royal Highness of Sheldreik, it is not. I know exactly who you are. It's you who seems to not know who I am."
The Prince narrowed his eyes at him and tilted his head. "Are you Fl-...?"
Eugene lifted his hat up and let it fall behind him, catching on the string around his neck, then crossed his arms.
The Prince's eyes widened. "Y-"
"Yeah. Hi. How ya doin'. Ya know, I had hoped you were just nervous during your interview this morning."
"I was confused why I had to go through such a stupid bureaucratic process, just to meet her! I'm a prince! I have a right to meet the crown pr-"
"You do not," Eugene scoffed. He smirked as he shook his head, and finally could not hold back his small laugh. "This ain't your kingdom."
"And you still shouldn't insult those in power, anywhere. You're just the thief wh-"
"My name is Eugene Fitzherbert. And I am a much more patient man than you, but you are right, that it's best not to insult people with power over you. So, if you'd like to see the Princess again, you will do so surrounded by guards, so you may apologize, before you leave Corona. Because I say so."
"Apologize?!" he scoffed.
"Or you could leave without apologizing." Eugene shrugged. "She didn't seem to like you either, so I doubt she'll have any strong feelings about it one way or the other."
The Prince smirked. "Oh, so you're an expert on the Princess's feelings now, are you?"
His smugness fell, though he tried not to let it show, covering up with an ever-more threatening tone. "Hell of a lot more'n you. And if you don't go willingly," he motioned with his brow at one of the guards standing beside the prince, "I'm about to be an expert on kicking your ass."
The Prince looked knocked back already at the brazen lowbrow verbal assault alone.
A guard beside him gripped his bicep.
The Prince shook him off again. "I will not be bullied around by some lowlife, no-count, servants! Your Majesty, would you PLEASE-" He turned to the Queen. "Ah-..."
The Queen was still settled back in her seat, watching intently, and looking quite pleased.
"Your Majesty?!" the impetuous Prince cried out again.
"Young man," she announced, "You are indeed under the jurisdiction of the Kingdom of Corona while you reside within our borders. Here today, that falls under myself, and the Coronan Guard. Specifically, the extraordinary men you see around you, including the ones currently dressed to blend in with the gardeners. Not just anyone guards my daughter."
Eugene crossed his arms again, even cockier this time. "You'd think a Prince would get that." Seriously, though, if this is how you treat servants, that doesn't bode well for a wife or children, let alone ruling. Don't any of them have self-control? "And have better manners as a guest. I mean, at very least, behave yourself? Unless that's somehow too difficult for you to handle on your own. You have your servants do that for ya, too?"
Suddenly the guards, on either side of the Prince, had securely locked their elbows around his. Although, he had been too stunned to even ready a punch.
Before he knew it, he was being dragged away, backwards - still facing Eugene's deliciously smug mocking face.
"Straight to the dock, boys. Don't need that filth in the castle. Don't worry, we'll have someone pack up your garbage and load it onto your ship before you leave."
"Is this what happened to the others?! You know kicking everyone out will never get YOU any closer to her! You may have royal favor, but you're still just a criminal who got lucky to play 'hero'ONE time. YOU'LL never be a PRINCE!"
Eugene managed to not react until the man was out of sight. Then he cast his eyes down to the side, clenched his jaw, and much to his chagrin, his posture deflated a little. His feet cemented to the ground and his spine turned to stone, though he wanted to crumble on the spot.
Defeat. Still. 'Cause… He's right. He replaced his hat and bowed his head, to cover his face once more with the wide brim. Underneath, he gritted his teeth, and wished he could scream out all his frustrations right here and now. Or go punch him. To think I helped put you here in the first place! Just like the others. They either suck or she hates them anyway, even the nice ones. What am I doing wrong?
But no, it's not the rules keeping us apart… It's more pathetic than that. She just doesn't want me.
"Eugene?"
He jumped at the soft voice suddenly so close to him, and so closely resembling hers.
The Queen had silently moved to his side. She took hold of his elbow, offering her comfort. "Don't listen to that boy. But, Dear, why do you keep doing this to yourself?"
He sighed and looked her in the eye.
"I see how upset you are around her."
"I keep asking myself that very same question." But then he looked away and continued quietly. "But I think we both know the answer to that." Finally, he bowed his head to her and remembered to add, "Ah, Your Majesty."
She smiled and nodded back to acknowledge the address, but then sighed, still trying to get him to take it easy. "Eugene, please…" But she knew it was no use.
"Thank you for the backup."
"Well thank you! You think any of these uppity brutes would listen to even ME without the threat of you standing by my side?" She tapped at his bicep, smirking.
"Pfft, yeah, right?" he agreed.
"You know, I must say, I am very proud of how you've been conducting yourself throughout your short time here so far."
He blushed. "These two months have felt a lot longer, really."
"Mmm. You know what? Come on in, you should take a break."
"Oh," he perked up, but his brow immediately furrowed. "Um, well, actually, I should get back to this. And I still have to, um, have to-" He could not even think of a lie. "Well, these mums've outgrown their seedling trays, so-"
"Eugene," she stated firmly, as she snatched up his dirt-smeared hand.
He flinched, and gave a small tug to get his hand back, but she held on. "Your Majesty, I'm all dirty-"
She chuckled. "Good clean topsoil is all that is! Come on, those flowers will still be waiting here for you to tend. They aren't going to just get up and wander off on you."
He smiled. Could this woman be any more motherly... "If I leave them out here in the sun like this, they'll wilt."
"Go on," Tom called over, getting their attention as he took his place. "I've got them."
"Well then," he turned back to the Queen, "If you insist..." He took his hat off again with his other hand, and allowed the Queen to lead him inside.
After cooling down in her bedroom, and easily avoiding another two foreign princes lounging around her own castle, Rapunzel decided to head to the library to unwind and help take her mind off her whole life. The very thought of snuggling up in a window seat with a thick book put a relaxed smile on her face.
But her smile vanished as she entered the library, and gasped.
Eugene looked up from his seat at the sound of the door opening. He had washed up a bit, lost the hat, and was set up on the other side of a long narrow study table, hunched over in a wooden chair. An elbow on the table rose to hold his head up on his wrist. Two emptied tea cups sat between him and another disturbed but empty seat. The spread of books before him were too large to be novels. In fact, the fingers of his other hand held a couple different places in one book, which itself was holding a place in the middle of a different book.
They locked eyes.
Rapunzel's jaw fell open in shock, frozen in her tracks.
Eugene startled as well, and sat up straight, but hesitated for what to actually do or say.
"Oh, um, I- uh… I'm sorry," Rapunzel squeaked, with a cringing smile, backing up to the door again. Ohmygosh, please don't be mad at me!
Just 'I'm sorry' again? But ah, shit. Ugh this day… But Darlin', you don't need to be the one to leave. He shook his head. "N-no, it's okay." But he shut the book he had been reading from, front facing down, and stood up. "I can go-" to the King's meeting room- "Uh, somewhere else…"
"Oh! No, you don't have to go!" She waved her hands around. "I didn't mean to disturb you. I didn't know you were in here, I- I'm sorry..."
There it is again. He paused and looked up to her, a little too hopefully. Can we… talk? But he quickly squashed any such thoughts. "No, I'm sorry, but thank you. I think I'd better go. I'll leave you to your studies, Your Royal Highness." He bowed at the waist slightly already.
Rapunzel gulped. Oh, Eugene! Why do we have to be like this? She sucked her lips in, and summoned an idea from one such novel. Purposefully, she licked her lips, but then switched to leaving them just parted, and bit the bottom one to the side. Without looking, she stepped back and closed the door behind her.
Eugene froze. "Ra-agh…" He cleared his throat. "Wh-what are you doing?" Don't you fucking dare try anything.
"Ya know, if you stick one of those chairs under the door knob here, no one could disturb either of us."
He frowned, his nose flared, and his eyes leered at her. OHHH how DARE you! But he tried to keep his voice steady. "You should be entertaining the Prince." He picked the book up to his chest, clutching it as if prudishly covering himself. He headed towards the door, which she unfortunately guarded.
"Well," she dipped her head seductively. "I seem to have lost him." She drifted closer to him, trying to give him her best sultry look. "Maybe I could entertain you inste-"
"So go find him," he snapped in a growl, and continued stalking over. Wild goose chase should keep you 'occupado' for a while.
Her act crumbled. "No- But-!" She lunged forward and grabbed his collar, but he kept walking, and she lost her nerve and her grip. "Wait!" She next grabbed hold of the book as he passed her, and pulled it away from his chest.
He wrenched it back away from her.
The Southern Isles? She just barely spied the title. ...his island dream?
"NO," he bit sternly but quietly. No matter how much she tempted his anger, he knew he could not raise his voice to echo here, so he quietly seethed. "You are NOT doing this to me." He pointed directly at her. "You. Are not getting me in any more trouble."
"I'm not doing anything!" She huffed, and scurried back between him and the door. "But- wait!"
He took an indignant step back. Waiting. Glaring.
"Y-you could be 'in trouble' if- if you don't do as I say."
Fat chance of that. I'd do best to just keep away from you, no matter what you say. But he cocked his head to the side, ready to toy back. "And what is it you say you want me to do, exactly?"
Her face lit up - with stage fright. Did not expect that to actually work. "Uh, I want you to... not leave the library...?"
His brow cocked next, and his voice turned high-pitched. "'Not leave the library? Ehhh?'" he mocked her uncertainty, then demanded, "Is that a command or a question."
At that, she turned red with angry embarrassment, but she pointed back to the table he had been seated at. "Stay, boy. That's a command," she growled back, as authoritarian as she could.
'BOY?!' BOY! Oh fuck you. As if you don't even know my name! "Fine." He sneered at her. In one deft line of motion, he swung the book back to the table, where it landed with a satisfyingly loud slap.
Rapunzel jumped at the sound.
Eugene threw his hands out at his sides and bowed melodramatically low with one foot out, but still kept his eyes on her face. "Now what?" he dared her. Without the large book covering him, his dirtied white peasant shirt hung loosely on him, unbuttoned all the way down his sternum. The sleeves were crudely rolled up almost to his elbows. A small used-to-be dark violet vest loosely hung open around him as well.
"I meant you," she rolled her eyes, "Not just the book."
He stood tall again and stepped up to her, as she shrank back, til they were almost chest to nose. "What're you gonna do about it?" You're strong. But not stronger than me.
Her back hit the door, and she jolted with fear for a moment - not of him exactly, but of losing this game. 'What'll I do?' Grab the back of your neck, get those strong arms - urnnf! - around me. And that warm chest- press me up against a bookcase, hidden, making out! But she quickly turned smug and coy. "I could scream."
He rolled his eyes. Original. But he smiled lewdly. "Ohhh… Reeeally?" he teased in a deep, dark, but quietly rich voice. "You'd scream for me?" It would be soothing or even arousing, if not for being at odds. "And you knooow I cooould. I could make you scream."
She shook at the sight of him, as if she suddenly did not recognize him. Or at least, only recognized him as the very first version she had met. Which means this isn't even REAL. This is just Flynn Rider. Don't even have the guts to face me as yourself!
He trailed a decidedly unfriendly finger down her cheek, around under her chin, and with the slightest pressure, directed her own nerves to tilt her face up toward him. "Aren'tchyou gonna screeeam? So one of your princey-pies will find out, and tell eeeveryone else about youuu? And meee? Alooone at last?"
I'm done playing nice, Rapunzel. I'll make sure you'll stay on guard, against even the nicest ones, and stay away from me. I know how to manipulate you, and if this is what it takes, then so be it!
Rapunzel leaned away from his poisoned touch. She cringed, frowning with a crookedly open mouth, in disgust. How dare you try to play at this with me! Fake, sleazy- "Ughlc!"
I win. He dropped his hand and smiled smugly, but leaned closer still. "Whatchyou want with me in here anyway? You know, I could do, whateeever I wanted…"
But as his slimily seductive voice rang in her ears, and she felt his sweet hot breath on her cheek - things she could not have anymore; things he had stolen from her and now teased her with - she turned angry. I know what you're doing, Eugene! And it won't work! Not from YOU! I KNOW YOU! – Ohhh, but if you wanna see how I can stand up for myself now?! Her fingers crept along to reach down her thigh, to slip into the false pocket of her skirt. Betchya I can scare you worse.
Although, this being Eugene, he of course noticed the slightest movement and rustle. And, only he and her mother knew what was located there.
Suddenly, her tiny wrist was snatched in the tight vice grip of his large hand.
"Ah- eh…!" she squeaked, surprised at how she was shut down before she had barely begun to try.
"Tch-tch-tch! Awgh, 'Sweetheart,'" he schmoozed."Gonna have to be quicker than that."
As she struggled to wrench free, he merely picked her hand up and away, easily overpowering her efforts like nothing. He switched her wrist to his own right hand and pinned it to the door above her head, then reached for her thigh himself.
She gasped, freezing in place, but her anger was simmering just under the surface.
He felt the knife and holster through her skirt, palming it sensually. His lips dipped closer to her ear. "And don't make threats your opponent knows you would never act on." Of all things, you'd never actually stab ME, because of your own trauma from that alone. No matter how much you hated me. But good. Hate me. Believe it. You tryna 'scare' me, too? The more we want to stay away from each other, the easier this will be.
"H-how do you know I… I wouldn't?" She hated how she stuttered, how he could hear the butterflies in her raspy, shaky breath. Her pounding heart made her pulse in her wrist race under his fingers.
He smirked slyly. "How do you know I wouldn't? I mean, I know… how you've liked it…" He inhaled deeply through his nose, disturbing a few stray hairs of her head and tingling her scalp, as he took in her scent. That breath panted back out, tickling the nearly invisible hairs on her cheek. His hand on her thigh clenched the bunch of dress dividing them. Ohhh, I'm gonna regret this fresh reminder later tonight…
Her own breath shuddered, as her eyes darted around, though most of him was too close to focus her eyes on. His fingertips brushed close enough to the back of her thigh, sparking goosebumps up and down her leg. In his other hand, her wrist was relaxed, but the rest of her arm felt tantalizingly exposed. Ohhh, why does this somehow feel amazing when it's YOU… She tried to move her arm–
But his grip only tightened, pressing harder against the door.
She gulped with a tiny sighing whimper–
That struck his own core of butterflies. He leaned away just enough to see her pink lips.
Noses still crossed, but never touched.
She likewise stared at his lips. And she almost forgot he was even trying to be threatening.
As did he. Oh no, Eugene thought as he worked through all the sensually erotic ideas swarming around in his mind. I was just saying how I could- and I could- but now, ohhh how I want to…
Kiss me… she expected. She watched his soft lips, faint stubble around them, hovering there, twitching. She watched him with such suspense, hanging in the same limbo between how he had never actually kissed her in the boat, and how she had imagined that moment could have played out. Yes, do it! I wish you would! Do whatever to me. And come back to me!
He could imagine it perfectly: Kissing her here, pressed against the door, feeling her heaving bosom beneath him, where she would be moaning and sighing, for him. Just like the floor that one fateful morning, just like the alcove during the homecoming celebration, then later that night, and just like every time in her bed. But he did not move another millimeter.
They stayed locked there, raggedly breathing in each other's air, getting dizzy. The tension held them in perfect suspension. Not sure what the other would do; not sure what they themselves would do.
I want her – And, I actually wasn't exaggerating; I know she likes this. So I totally could and she'd – WAIT – I was supposed to be STOPPING her! SCARING her so she'd leave me alone, so my heart might one day stop hurting… His lips twitched up to a snarl as he turned vengeful. "You can't threaten me. So what're you gonna do, lil girl? Against a big bad guy like meee?"
Her face likewise gnarled. Ohhh, knock it off! Suddenly, she slapped him right across the face with a straight open palm; her other hand that he had left free.
Eugene was instantly wiped clear back to stunned. He dropped her wrist and dress, and fell back a step. Oh. Oh, well I guess you could do that, yeah. He held his cheek, not because it had been hard enough to hurt, but simply because of the shock.
Rapunzel gasped at her own action herself, but knew she was justified as she rallied back. "And you can't threaten me, either! Like you just said," she scoffed though her voice shook, "I know you couldnever follow through!" He had succeeded in making her feel nervous, but from excitement in a way she wanted. She was likewise incapable of even imagining him actually violating her.
He cringed. Shit- of course she saw right through that. Didn't even think how I left a hand free- I can't even do it right.
Seizing her moment, she shoved him away.
He stumbled back, as his adrenaline shot into flight mode.
She pursued. She planted a hand on his chest, and forced him to continue stumbling backwards, til he hit the table.
"Ahbwha- w-wait!" He cried out. His hands caught the edge of the table behind him, but he faltered and he landed on his elbows behind him. This surprise submission turned back into cornered anger.
Rapunzel grabbed hold of both partially-opened sides of his shirt.
"Wait- No!" He realized what she was doing, but was powerless to stop her fast enough.
She ripped it open the rest of the way. Buttons flew as thread snapped and cloth tore. "There." She stepped back and crossed her arms, even as she lost her breath at the sight of his bare chest.
He raised his chin at her, grimacing. You bitch!
She scoffed at his new predicament. "What are you gonna do about it?"
Tear that dress to shreds, steal that knife, that only I know is under your skirts, slice that corset open, TAKE YOU-!
Likewise, she openly gaped at his bare chest. Ohhh, I wanna run my hands over those perfect pects and abs, especially that place with no scar, that only I know… What I wish you would do, though – just… take me… take me BACK! Back to my room, back to the Eugene who was sweet!
He stayed his elbows there, panting, teeth clenched and bared, glaring up at her.
Grab me, pick me up, move me, hug me, squeeze me, kiss me!
Grab you, force YOU over this table, make you kiss me! –FURGHK!
Her face flushed as she imagined him losing control exactly how she wanted.
His voice growled out at her as he felt like nothing more than a small animal to her, that she was enjoying tormenting, and yet he let his imagination run wild with revenge and long lost lust.
-No. I know she's obviously right. I'd never. -I didn't even notice I didn't have her completely pinned - How would you even-? Anyway- But while my money IS on that she'd WANT that, the problem is that I don't want that if she's not in love with me. And she's not.
He took deep breaths. His own chest and stomach were keenly aware now, and resentful, of their unwilling exposure. "Why?!" he barked back. He stood up, shaking his ruined shirt out, from where it had still been tucked in his pants. "You wanna keep me around just so you could have another plaything?! Like you been toying with all these other guys?!" How dare you treat me like them!
She blinked back to the fight, her frustration, and the slight she felt against the power she was trying to wrangle herself. "I am the Princess of Corona, and you have to do as I command!"
He scoffed and sneered at her. "Desperation's not a good look on ya, Princess. And, your subjects need to do as you command. Not me."
She lifted her head to look down her nose at him. "If you're not my subject, then what are you? Still my father's prisoner?" This is one area you CAN'T beat me in!
"I work for your dad - Not you. No one else around? I ain't gotta do shit for you. But ya know, huh," he licked his lips and shook his head with a strange smile. "Who the hell do you think YOU are? Without me, you wouldn't even be here."
"Well, without ME, you'd either still be on the run, still dead, or already hanged."
"Well, runnin' on the lam's not lookin' so bad right now!"
"Urgh!" She stomped her foot and thrust her fists down. "What is wrong with you?!"
"What's wrong with ME?!" he gestured to himself, then down at his clothes. "You just tore my shirt open," he whined. Craze showed in his face, which he shoved in hers. "And where's your guard?!" Why are you even on the loose around here to be able to come bother me?
Her eyes kept wandering around his chest, a most welcome sight compared to his current expression. "YOU'RE my guard!"
"Not anymore!"
She twisted her face away. "Stop it," she whined, "Just stop it! Or I'll have you banned from the library!"
He noted her voice, and the strain in her face as she squinted her eyes in fear. Granted, he towered over her and was leaning over her again. "Oh, I see how it is. 'Do as I say, or I'll ruin your life?' Very nice. Definitely the perfect lil paragon. The very picture," he sneered so dirtily, "Of a 'PRINCESS.'"
She pouted at how that stung. And he only let me go once I threatened to take books away from him! He may never have to worry about being elitist, but he's still just an egotist! I was just another girl, wasn't I?! She yughlc-ed at him, but polished her voice. "You will STAY here until you can address me PROPERLY, or you will NEVER set foot in here again."
"So you're gonna keep me from leaving the library, or else you'll ban me from the library? Because that makes sense! Make up your mind!"
"No, it's: You leave this room now, you leave forever. I want you to STAY and show me the respect I deserve!"
"'Respect' you DESERVE?! Okay, ya know what, ya royal brat? Fine, that's how ya wanna be treated?" His eyes were like burning ice, as he stared her down, as his stubborn heart screamed out for her, in pain, where he kept it caged. He yanked his vest and shirt off the rest of the way, and whipped the clothing down to the ground.
She blanched at his loss of clothing, but was mostly confused. "What're you doing?"
He gestured to himself. "Showing you all the respect you deserve. Here's all my 'respect for you.' 'Cause I don't know where the hell it went, but it's gone."
"Urgh! Why are you so stubborn!"
"I dunno, I guess you just bring out the worst in me!"
"And you in me!"
God I REALLY do wanna kiss you- fucking spitfire you've always been!
Oh how I want you to kiss me- dangerous sexy smart and strong! Do it!
KISS ME, you crazy wild girl. I HATE everything you've become. But kiss me, dammit!
I wish I could kiss you, but, ohhh, you wanna see my WORST? She stood up straight and tall, backing up to give him plenty of space. "Kneel."
Fuck… He blinked back in surprise, jaw dropped.
"KNEEL," she tried to raise her volume but deepen her voice. It was successful enough to come off as serious, and scathing. "Or else what are you even doing here?"
With many deep breaths, each flare of his nose deepened his sneering expression. As prompted, though, he indeed remembered why he was here at all. To protect you. Not only because I promised to, but because I love you. Suddenly, her furious war face looked cute to him again. Her short, spiky hair stuck out like simply a mad little girl, angry about nothing more than a playground scuffle. Her pout looked adorable, her stance attractively confident. He felt his own tantrum melt away. He finally exhaled, shoulders drooped, expression fallen.
He dipped to just one knee, leaning on the other with his arm, and tilted his head down. A little. "Your Royal Highness," he bit.
"There. Thank you."
He moved to stand back up-
"Ah! Nah-ah-ah." She wagged a finger.
Are you fucking kidding me?! With a grunt, he fell back into position.
She waited, looking him over. Somehow, all she could think about, was every time he had picked her up. Sometimes just to ride Maximus, others more playful, like running into the surf with her. Every time, they were both laughing in pure blissful joy.
The man on the floor in front of her now was miserable. Powerless. Not even interested in ever picking her up again.
It's just her. Nobody else around. Just suck it up. –No. It IS just her, and there is NOBODY else around! With another growl, he shot up to his feet. "I don't have to put up with this." He shouldered past her, and out the door finally. I got my answer last month.
Eugene slammed the door behind himself as he stormed out of the library, still seething, still shirtless, and immediately turned to head down the hall.
"Whoa-" a startled gasp came from far down the other end behind him.
That voice made him stop in his tracks. His heart was fluttering between what felt like four different rhythms now. He gulped, blushing as he even thought of turning around, yet he did. A weakened crooked smile grew on him. "Brenna! Hi!"
With a full laundry basket on her hip, she began walking toward him, also blushing. "Eugene! Um, what are you… What happened?" she ended up chuckling, while still blatantly eating up his bare chest and arms with her eyes.
"I- uh-" Blondie I swear to God you better not open that door! "I- was doing some gardening, and I-... hah… uh…"
She watched him quizzically. "You were gardening in the library?"
He sighed in defeat, but kept his charming smile. "It's a long story. The Queen brought me in to get cleaned up but- I had other work to do for the King in here, and I'mmm," he licked his lips, "Just waiting on a new shirt."
"Well," she laughed, "Here." She set the laundry basket down, and began fishing through the clothing in it. "You're in luck!"
Guard uniforms. "Oh, sweet! Oh my God, thank you!"
She finally found a long-sleeved white shirt with his name in it. "Here you go!" He quickly pulled it on. As he busied with adjusting it about himself, rolling up the sleeves where he usually liked them otherwise, she reached to smooth his hair back into place, but stopped short, her fingers anxiously twitching in the air, until she ultimately pulled her hand back.
He noticed, and his cheeks lit up, as his eyes widened.
"Oh, ah- hm, your hair, uh- right- right there, yeah," she giggled as she verbally directed him instead.
"Thanks," he giggled. "Perfect timing," he smiled to her, a little too long. "With- the shirt, I mean, yeahhh… Thank you!"
Her smile pursed tight as she nodded. "Your welcome," she giggled back.
"Well, then I, uh…" He kept a paranoid watch on the library door handle, and so hopped back to it. He grabbed the handle and held it in place, his foot planted against it as well. "I better get back to that research, then!"
"Yeah! Uh, yeah! Okay!" Just as flustered, she looked to get going too. But she still eyed him, since he looked like he was trying to calm down from something. "Are you okay?"
Is this ever going anywhere, either? "Well, um, actually– Hey, sooo…"
"Sooooo?"
He looked her all over, and thought of how easily he had fallen, again, but how hesitant he was all month. At least I didn't fall as hard. "I um," he paused to lick his lips, "Look, I am trying my best here. I don't want you to get the wrong idea, but I don't really know how any of this is supposed to really work, okay? I've never actually dated anyone before." With Blondie it's not like I even COULD do this…
She suddenly looked panicked, then confused. "Wait, really? But you-"
"I know, I know," he blushed, embarrassed forever. "My reputation precedes me. But I've never…" Suddenly his heart fluttered. "Never been this serious before." Not with anyone the world could ever know about… He pouted internally, but only for a moment. But it does feel so great to be able to just - not have to live in the shadows!
"What is it?" she worried.
He tried to catch his breath again, but finally he just sighed out with a wide smile. "Can I come over for dinner? Sometime? So I can… Like… Meet your parents?"
Her eyes shot wide. "Oh…"
He panicked anyway, pleading with waving his hands in front, in surrender. "Or something like that! I don't even know! See?! But please, I wanna-"
She began sucking in a huge breath of excitement, calming her nerves that had thought to maybe expect the opposite.
"And I guess not tonight, obviously," he chuckled, "Or not at all, ya know. If it'd be too much trouble? It's fine, really. I don't mean to impose-"
"No, I-" She was biting back a grin, and still holding the basket of laundry up tilted toward her.
Eugene chuckled, shaking his head to the side. "It's okay, I mean, you weren't expecting this-"
"I'd just have to ask my parents."
"O-oh…" he stuttered, heart clattering at his feet. He nodded his head around, desperate to shake this shame. "Of course. Yeah, no, ya know I… I get it…" Suppose I'm lucky they haven't tried to forbid you from at least being around me… Fuckin' stupid shit I did- I got this 'criminal' stamp following me around forever now!
"Eugene," she cooed, "I would just need to let my mom know ahead of time, to make sure she cooks enough food. And my dad, I'm sure he would just like a little warning for any company, but he usually just goes along with whatever my mom says."
"Oh. Oh," he settled and smiled again. "Yeah, okay. So, what I mean by all that, though, is… this thing…" He motioned between them as he locked hopeful eyes with her. "Are we ever goin' anywhere?"
That startled her up to a bright, blushing grin. "Iii… I like to think so."
That brought his big stupid smirk back. "Really?!"
"I mean if you-?" she laughed.
"Oh, yes! Yes, of course."
"I've already told at least my mom all about you!"
"And your dad?"
"Well, he knows, but… I'm sure he'll give you a chance."
"One chance is all I need," he gasped, pulling her hands up close between them. "And Babe, thank you."
She grinned with graceful triumph herself, as she moved in for a kiss.
And Eugene swore the taste of her was only getting sweeter each and every time.
On the other side of the door, on top of their disgustingly saccharine banter, Rapunzel heard the telltale clicks and rustling. And it felt like all her blood drained from her, leaving her lightheaded. This defeat was not a crushing weight, but a weightlessness as she was tossed aside. Invisible.
She leaned against the door on her side, wondering if it would have been better if she did not know what had just happened.
When she finally blushed out of it, his heavy eyes followed her. "See ya, Eugene…"
He smiled charmingly and nodded. "See ya." He pecked her cheek again.
With a bashful grin, she headed back the way she had come, this time in a dreamy saunter, swaying with the basket against her hip.
He waited until she was out of sight to step aside and head back in.
Rapunzel fell through the door. "Whoa-ah!"
He scoffed and stepped over her. He snatched his book back off the table and headed right back towards the door.
Rapunzel collected herself and once again stood inside, in front of the again-closed door. However, now she looked down dejectedly.
He halted in front of her, but still out of arm's reach. "Let me pass," he seethed.
She meeped with a tiny voice, "I just don't want you to hate me."
He wanted to growl something back, but his heart would not let him. He also looked to the ground and lowered his voice to barely a whisper, as he felt guilt creep up. "I don't hate you." Even just kissed someone else, who I do like and want, but I know you've still got your hooks in my heart. As much as that hurts.
She looked up to him finally, heartened at hearing even that.
He looked back toward her, too, but his eyes stayed down. "But I told you I can't do this anymore. Not like this." Not if you don't love me. There's no point!
"I-..." she gasped to begin, but was unsure where to go. I don't want to LOSE you!
His heart ached seeing her upset at all. "I'm sorry," he offered. But if that's how you want to be treated now – you wanna settle into that royalty schtick? Then... He gulped. "Excuse me, Your Royal Highness."
She stepped aside for him, and he brushed past her through the door.
But he paused in the doorway. With a sigh, he spoke softly. "You know I'd never wanna hurt you. In any way."
Rapunzel picked her head up at that, standing tall. So, if this is it, then… She sneered, "You can't."
But he saw her full meaning, dropped in between the cracks of her voice. She knows I didn't mean that before. She trusts me, no matter what, and how I'd never really do anything against her. And, what he thought he saw: –and she just doesn't care enough for there to even be feelings for me to hurt anyway. He nodded, and began to walk away.
She stepped out of the library after him, but paused there, watching him try to stride down the hall. Watching him, walking away again – her blood began to boil again, and tears welled up. HOW can you just do this to me?! Leave me- Love someone else- Let me be tossed to the wolves. You just don't CARE!
But a new voice from the other end of the hall, however, caused both Rapunzel's and Eugene's nerves to jump and freeze.
"Your Highness?"
They both turned around.
Another young prince, about her own age, froze as well. "Oh- ah- I-" he stammered, at a loss, and a little starstruck.
"Whaddaya want, kid?" Eugene called out, redirecting his pissiness, not caring if he poisoned the pool.
"I- uh-" He nervously shifted back and forth for who he was addressing. "Well, I'm not scheduled to see you- the Princess- til tomorrow, so I'm just- surprised to see you!" He ended giddily. "It's nice to meet-"
"Then you wait til tomorrow-" Eugene routinely but authoritatively answered.
"No," Rapunzel rebuffed. "No, that's just fine." She calmly strutted straight up to him.
They both watched her. Waiting. Confused.
She paused right in front of him, swishing her skirt with a flourish, and giving her best sultry look: hooded eyes, batting lashes, smirking lips, chin tilted down seductively.
The young prince turned beat red.
Without warning, Rapunzel swiftly grabbed the front of his shirt, and pulled him into a kiss. A full, immediately tongue-intruding, slurping kiss.
Eugene's own chest imploded in the greatest visceral shock to his system since… her, again. Eyes wide, slightly hunched forward, his stomach turned into a sinking rock.
Once she was satisfied with her stunt show, she tastefully parted from him, and, still holding his shirt, smug and proud, looked behind her. Take THAT.
The boy wavered there, with no idea what just hit him, or what to do.
But the man at the other end of the hall, snarled, baring his teeth, appalled, in utter disgust, and insultingly wounded rage. But now I gotta stay and supervise you! And I can't tell ya NO, 'cause you're not supposed to know what control I have over that.
-And THEN! I gotta see this kid again to interview him tomorrow! The twerp was for you to gain confidence – which I guess at least that worked. But you went all the way straight over into cocky.
Rapunzel then simply dismissed him with a wave of her hand, without even looking at him.
The dazed prince hurried away. "S-ssee your roy- you- See ya! Pr-prapunzer- P-Princess!"
Rapunzel and Eugene stared, eyes locked, both ignoring him, both in disbelief otherwise.
Finally, she turned on her heel and marched back into the library, letting both doors close again.
He balled his arms up tense over his head.
"Hey, Fitz-" Tom quietly approached from the hallway around the corner, where he was headed.
His arms exploded out with a wretchedly volume-restrained grunt.
"Wot-"
Eugene joltingly shoved at Tom's shoulders as he passed him, throwing his friend back against the wall.
"Wha-! Hey!" Tom rightfully cried out at his wrongly placed outburst.
"I'm sorry," Eugene tossed back, as he hurried away. "She's in the library, alone. Just… Go." He waved his hand vaguely, then just shook his head as he continued on.
At the corner of the two halls, Tom looked back and forth between the two directions, then just hung his head.
Back inside the library, Rapunzel collapsed into a thick armchair. She stared out the window, on the verge of crying.
Eugene hurried up to the office where the committee met, both to deposit the book, and because he knew it would be empty. There, he was able to let his own frustrations out.
When Rapunzel finally left the library, she found Tom waiting just outside the door, reading another worn folded up newspaper. He had taken to favoring a particular newspaper over his novels most days lately.
She was startled to see him, but he snapped to attention.
"Tom?"
"Oh! Uh, hello."
She glanced around. "Were you- waiting for me?"
"What?" he chuckled. "No, no."
She turned back to scorn, working herself up again, and cried out, "Why can't everyone just leave me alone?!"
Tom looked panicked. "Rapunzel, are you alright? Whot are you talking about?"
"First I had another stupid suitor this morning, then Eugene was spying on me, then I ran into him, and now you're stalking me!"
"Rapunzel, it's my job to follow you."
"Well stop!" She shoved him away, and started running down the hall.
"RaPUNZ-" he grunted, then groaned as he ran after her.
Up the stairs, she slowed to speed-walking down the hall towards her bedroom. "I said stop following me!" she cried out.
Tom huffed at her.
Just as she started to break into a run again, he did as well, but accelerated faster. He quickly caught up and snagged her arm.
She squealed in surprise.
Both were still moving fast, though, so he slowed down, forcing her to as well. He then managed to shift their direction to run into the side of the wall. When they hit, they dragged across it for a couple more steps, but finally stopped, with him pinning her shoulders there.
Her tears broke through instantly. I'm so pathetic - but you're all so frustrating! "Urrrgh! WHAT! What do you want?!"
"Stop, Rapunzel, just stop. I want you to calm down."
"NO-!"
"LISTEN," he yelled back. "It is my JOB to watch you. It is EUGENE'S JOB to watch you. And YOU, are gonna go through those 'stupid suitors,' til you find one you actually do LIKE."
She shook her head. Eugene hasn't been watching me anymore! But- "I don't want ANY suitor! And I don't need either of you!" She was able to abruptly break free, and continued to her bedroom.
From the other side of her slammed door, she heard another guard approach Tom, asking what her yelling was about.
"Oh, no, no, she's fine. Another dud, you know?"
They both laughed together.
Alone now, her face turned sadder, tears silently rolling. She moped over to Pascal, snuggling him close, and recounted all that had happened.
"Maybe I could at least, ask for this to wait? Wait til I can either - at least - have a chance of begging him for another chance, or wait til I can forget him, til maybe he disappears for good."
Pascal squeaked an objection, reminding her of Eugene's lack of status regardless.
"Uggghhh…" she cried more. "Then… We just need to keep them at bay… 'Cause I don't want any!"
She sat up with her knees bent up in front of her, and her skirt slid back towards her waist, as she played with the holster on her thigh, then turned the knife over and over in her hands. Idly, she began humming the healing incantation just to comfort herself.
"Make the clock reverse…" Oh how I wish we could go back in time. I miss you so much, Eugene! I miss everything about how we used to be. I wish that there was some way… I should have just said it. Now I've lost you, again! Brought you back from the DEAD, but still lost you! I'VE LOST YOU ANYWAY! Eugene… She sobbed out harder. "Bring back what once was mine…"
A tear, that had rolled down her cheek and was hanging off the bottom of her chin, finally fell to her knee.
She sniffled and wiped at her face, but then – she gasped as her eye caught the faint sunny flower shape glow on her knee where it had landed. It quickly faded back into her, but it had been there for a moment. She kept staring at it in wonder, even more confused than before.
The late August sun lingered a little longer each day, now stretched across the low sky on its way out.
Eugene was in the stable, saddling his horse, fixing to head 'home.'
Max spied him for a moment, then snuck up behind him. He shoved his shoulder with his snout.
"Oof- What?" he snapped, instantly annoyed.
Max looked concerned, but stern himself. He looked him over again, and gave a small prodding neigh.
Eugene rolled his eyes. "And just what makes you think something is bothering me?"
Max shoved him aside with his large head, reached to bite the strap he had been futilely wrestling with, and pulled it into place. When he leaned back, he glared down at him, scoldingly.
"Thanks," Eugene sneered. He gathered the reins and turned to leave.
Max backed up so he still stood in front of him, stomped his hooves, and headbutted him to stop.
"Urgh, what? C'mon, man, lemme go home."
He neighed out at him, offended; he knew he was being slighted and not told something.
"I said leave me alone. It's none of your business."
"Eugene?" Brenna's sweet voice carried in.
"Yeah, I'm in here, Babe!" he called out past the giant miffed white horse blocking him, then grinned cheekily at him. I win.
Max gave him one more hard look, before withdrawing back to his stall.
"Oh!" Brenna exclaimed as she entered the stable, to see Eugene standing there, ready to head out. "I'm so glad I caught you!" She hurried up to him.
His smile grew and grew. "Oh yeah? N' why's that?" He reached around her waist as she hugged him.
She giggled, leaning up on his chest there. "Well, and I hope you didn't eat yet."
Oh my God- tonight?! He lit up in surprise. "No, why?"
"Beeecaaause, I ran into my mom in the market before, sooo…"
"Oh my God, really?!" he cried in such disbelief, that he looked ready to cry, but he had not been so happy in weeks, at least.
"Yes! She bought extra, and she'll talk to my dad. She's just so excited to meet you!"
"Oh, Babe, that's amazing! Thank you!" He grabbed her in a hug, and spun her around. While she was still dizzy, he snatched her in a kiss.
Eugene ritually checked and rechecked his shirt and hair as he and Brenna walked up to the front door of her family home.
He had dipped into Tom's room to freshen up and get a clean guard dress uniform, which Tom lent him, though he did not seem happy about it at all.
"And you're sure this is okay?" he squeaked to her.
"Yes!" she laughed as she took his arm. She opened the door herself.
And Eugene found himself suddenly looking in on a bustling whole new world. He managed to stumble over the threshold with her, but then froze, taking it all in, and trying not to break down right there. The waves of meanings, smacking his psyche around right now, made him dizzy, and unfortunately chased his appetite away.
The first thing he felt, and the only word he could think of, was warm. The whole home, even just from the front door, he could tell, was warm, in every sense of the word. The gas lamps literally washed the entire atmosphere in a warm hue, and the kitchen must have been what was throwing heat, but it was more than that.
Random cooking noises echoed out of the kitchen somewhere yet unseen, and a mother's voice calling a little boy's name with exasperation. Said little boy was running around, shoes stomping over hardwood floors, chasing an older girl in a Sunday dress. He made some sort of terrible mouth noises, roaring after her, while she screamed with laughter, but still ran away and whined for him to stop.
A parlor to the right held tufted velvet sofas, dark stained wainscoting, mounted animal heads, tapestries, and a fireplace with candlesticks and some painted portraits in delicate frames on the mantle above it. In the nearest corner, a wooden rocking chair faced into the room. A small side table beside it held a pipe, its accessories, books, and some papers.
Directly in front of them, stairs ascended up to a whole second floor.
I WANT THIS. Eugene gulped. I don't care how greedy that makes me - I never had this - I want this! I want this more than anything! – More than Blondie? – I wanted this WITH her, but if I can't have her, I still want THIS. This… is a real life… A FAMILY.
The running young-teen girl abruptly stopped in her tracks to look at the new arrivals, and the boy did, too, once he collided with her.
"Marie, Damon," Brenna directed them, "This is my frieeend, Eugene."
"Dis he a soljer?" Damon immediately inquired.
Marie swatted his arm. "He's a royal guard."
Eugene was suddenly sweating in the long sleeve uniform on this humid late summer night, in this loving, cozy home. Guess uniforms are good for… that! –Recognition. The very first thing they thought was 'soldier' and 'guard?' Not 'thief,' 'criminal,' or even 'hero?' He blinked back, almost confused being on this end of such an interaction, being so easily identified as an unquestionable 'good guy.' Thought I'd already had my identity crisis for the day.
He cleared his throat and his doofy side-smile popped up. "Chyeah- Yes. Yes, I'm a royal guard. I work at the castle with your sister."
Marie instantly blushed and grinned, but covered her mouth.
Eugene watched her and just chuckled, but nodded. "So, uh, it's nice to meet you, Marie was it? That's a lovely name."
"What is that?" the motherly voice called to them.
"Oh, here!" Brenna whispered, and took to shoving Eugene ahead of her, around the stairs, and through a swinging door.
"Oh, uh, alright," he chuckled nervously.
"Mom? Eugene is here!"
The plump older woman looked, then left her spoon beside the stove and hurried over to him. "Oh! Look at you! All spiffed up in uniform!"
Eugene self-consciously ran his hands down his chest and abdomen, again checking that all the white straps were straight and buttons in place. "Y-yes! Yes, um, I became a guard shortly after the Homecoming Celebration. Ah- so thank you! Thank you." He held his hand out for hers; palm up.
"Oh my," she giggled as she placed her hand in his.
He bowed at the waist a little. "Pleasure to meet you, Mrs. Schiffe."
"And you act like a nobleman!"
Nobleman? What? Isn't this just, polite? Or was she expecting me to be an uncouth creep? Flynn Rider was always classy! He simply laughed awkwardly. "Well thank you."
"Dinner's just about ready." Then she addressed her own children broadly, "We're just waiting for your father to get home."
Eugene turned to Brenna, "Oh, uh, you never told me what your father does?"
"Oh, he has his own business. He's a hunter by trade, but it's more complicated than it sounds."
"Ahhh," Eugene himself warmed, "Still a woodsman, though? Maybe there is hope for me yet."
When her father at last returned home, he looked like he was merely switching from one workload to another.
The older man found them all in the kitchen. "Oh, you're here," he said grumpily.
"Hello, Daddy," Brenna greeted him cheerfully, with just a touch of preemptive scolding. "This is Eugene I mentioned before."
Eugene's smile plastered into a tense, hard line as he stood up straight at attention. "Sir?"
Her father was busy checking the dwindled firewood pile beside the oven, then finally gave them his attention. "Eugene?" he questioned.
"Yes, Sir?" he perked up anxiously.
"Follow me."
"Oh, of course, Sir!" Eugene leapt from his seat to follow the old man out the back door, hands nervously sweating at his sides.
In the backyard, he continued following him around a corner– and halted with hands automatically up when he heard a click. He looked up to see a rifle; her father at the other end, glaring back at him.
Eugene braced every muscle in his body, and pursed his lips hard, turned down in a frown. Narrowed eyes were torn between closing to avoid witnessing the moment he pulled the trigger, but if he did close them, the anticipation might be even worse. The Legendary Flynn Rider. The Greatest Thief in the Kingdom. Hero who found the Legendary Lost Princess after 18 long years, and rescued her- giving his own life, then coming back from the dead through her magic. – Shot dead behind a shed.
His voice managed to whimper out to him, "Y-you coulda just asked me to leave."
The old man still growled at him with the deepest grimace.
Eugene gulped. "Sir, please, I-I'm sorry, but- if something's wrong- I didn't mean t-"
"'Something's wrong,' alright. You're Flynn Rider. Why shouldn't I kick you out right now - forbid her from ever seeing you again? The castle's good pay, but it ain't worth this!"
"'This?' Sir! I- Why shouldn't you? Sir, I'm not Flynn Rider anymore. I- I rescued the Princess! I'm a guard now! And besides the castle's pay being good, the King pays me DOUBLE the highest rate, plus there's the lump sum I got-"
"A loaded ex-thief, still ain't worth it."
"Sir? I'm not a thief anymore- I earned all that! But I do understand your concerns, so if you want me gone, I'll go. But I- I've just really liked her, and she's been pretty happy with me. I can take care of her. Please, I'm sorry that I don't have a family, let alone one with any good status or anything, but I- I've gotten those things myself! Everyone's been celebrating me as a hero! The KING himself trusts me more than anyone in the world, I swear, you can just ask him! Or I could arrange a meeting, anytime, anywhere."
He pondered this a moment, then realized something else.
Eugene waited, staring down the barrel. "And come to think of it," he squeaked, "Ya know I think the King would be pretty upset if I were killed, or if I just disappeared."
"And you and the Princess?"
His heart swelled, but it felt like merely the painful inflammation of an infected wound. "We never were- anything. The story got sensationalized. But speaking of which, yeah, I was alone with her for three days, and nothing happened. I protected her; I saved her. Then I was even her personal guard for a couple of weeks. I don't- I'm not just looking for that. I'm not just some ho- teenager, ya know? I'm 26; I wanna start my own family."
He stared him down.
"-Properly! I am serious about Brenna. She's a wonderful, gorgeous young woman. Anyone would be lucky to have her. Please, I understand your reservations, believe me, I know- I'm fully aware my old reputation precedes me. But that's not me anymore. I've been pardoned two months now. All on the straight and narrow. Just ask anyone on staff. And just- I'm just asking for a single chance. Or at very least, please just let me leave, and I'll never bother any of you ever again, if that's what you wish."
And despite what happened today, can't imagine the Princess would take too kindly either to my murder… Again.
He sighed. "Alright." He finally lowered the gun. "But I'll be keeping an eye on you."
Eugene coughed out a giddy chuckle, as he nodded. "Yes, Sir! Understood! Of course."
"Now, ahmmm, let's get back inside before they worry, shall we?"
Eugene could not hold back his quivering smile and glassy eyes.
The old man tilted his head, unexpectedly touched. "Are you alright?"
He shrugged. "Nobody's ever… I've never like, gotten this before- a 'talk,' like this… Nobody's ever taken ME seriously before." The King never even gave me this, even as her friend or guard… Not even that last night when I confessed.
"Well, Eugene, you better stay on my good side. Next time it won't be a 'talk.'"
"Yes sir," he eagerly answered, though sobered back to skittish.
"You can stay for dinner, because my wife said so. That doesn't mean I trust you." He grabbed a couple chopped logs, and handed them to Eugene to bring inside; their excuse for leaving in the first place.
"Understood." He gulped and nodded.
When they returned to the table, her father insisted he sit at his right hand.
To keep an eye on me, or an honor?
"Well then, come on. Sit." Her mother casually took his hand and pulled to direct him.
Eugene blanched, flashing back to the Queen pulling him in just that morning, as well as that morning two months ago.
"So. Eugene," her father said carefully, "Tell us about yourself."
Eugene smiled as he settled into his seat, but pointedly looked from the two younger children back to their father. "Well, that is a very long story," he chuckled, "But I could abridge it for dinner. Anything else, you're welcome to ask me later." Again, just 'cause I was a criminal, doesn't mean I don't know how to be kid-friendly just fine, too! Dealt with younger kids my whole time at the orphanage.
Her father smiled slyly at him. "Very well."
Following his wife's ease, and heartened from the stories Eugene told, Brenna's father did indeed warm up to him quickly.
His belly was full of her mother's hearty cooking. He could smell the pipe smoke making it into his own clothes. A bruise would surely show tomorrow from where he had accidentally knelt on a metal toy soldier, when her brother had tried to show him his collection. He was thankful her sister had quelled her excitement and held her tongue when he realized she must have also read The Tales of Flynnigan Rider; but they both seemed to understand they could share that someday.
As they all sat around the living room chatting, Eugene kept looking over the scene, this perfect family. They were of modest means, hardworking, loving people. Even as he sat amongst them, he found himself yearning for everything he saw before him.
A real life… A FAMILY… THIS is everything I have ever wanted.
A/N: Finally! Finally back to Day 308 next chapter!
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