Flickering Memories

[Flynn Rider]

March 25th

Flynn Rider could punch a wall.

Oh no, wait. Shani would think that's too much effort, give me another week of bed rest. 

Eugene wasn't bitter (OK, maybe he was a LITTLE bitter... how could you tell?) about being placed on bed rest, but it did sting to know others were out there fixing people's problems. That should be him! The more time he spent stuck in this bed the more work the others would have to do. He was fine! In fact, he'd get up right now, and show everyone he was OK. Then maybe they-

Oh, right. Ropes. Loose around the hands, but low enough the Rogue couldn't reach. Tugging gently again, Flynn recognized the slightly tightening knot as the one Silver tied. Damn robot hands...

Pretty sure the others did it as a joke, but it wasn't very funny. OK, it's going to be really funny a few weeks from now, but Flynn certainly wasn't appreciating it right now. "One of these days, I'm gonna get these guys back so hard...", Flynn muttered to himself. "Hope no one misses their blankets..."

No. He couldn't do that. They had all been through so much. 

Huela. The remaining Pride Rock bloodline. Jasper's family. 

Rapunzel.

Oh, God. What's she's been through. What I put her through. No one should have to deal with almost losing a close friend.

No one should let their actions scare the ones they love.

Flynn struggled a bit to sit up, then slunk back down to where the ropes let him rest. He needed to reach her and tell her how sorry he was; that he shouldn't have let her see him be so weak again. Hopefully, time heals this wound.

[Rapunzel]

Humming, cheery humming, drifted through the air proceeding the lost princess. She was wearing a much thicker winter coat and pants. She was so glad Dhall could whip these up when they had first arrived. Spring maybe creeping up on them, but it was still far off and Canada still had a thick coat of snow.

"Eugene!" Rapunzel's humming was interrupted as she called out to her dearest and closest friend. Her head peeked around the corner, and her hand rapped on the wall, "Knock knock!"

She stepped around the corner carrying her ever present satchel, and a steaming bowl of thick and nourishing stew. She picked her way to his bedside, and then sat down on the edge.

"How's my favorite patient?" Rapunzel smiled almost teasingly.

[Flynn Rider]

"Knock Knock! How's my favorite patient?"

Flynn may have rolled his eyes, but the growing smile on his face betrayed how he felt. If anyone claimed Rapunzel at her finest wasn't a bubbling blonde ray of sunshine, they were kidding themselves. Even when the whole army fell to shambles and they fled their second adopted home, she kept a happy, sunny disposition. Oh man, who wouldn't love her?

Wait. I'm getting off track again.

"Well, I'm still tied up, but this knot's not- Er, it isn't that nasty a knot. Had to be Silver or one of his men, feels too much like a sailor's knot. I bet another..." Flynn strained and grabbed one of the frays with his fingertips. "...Definitely another couple of hours and I'll be out of this."

Flynn worked with his fingertips, seeing if he could loosen the knot carefully while still talking with Blondie. "So, how's the rest of the camp, Blondie? People surviving? Does anyone need an extra hand? Pretty sure I'm all better, maybe Grand Medic Shani will finally let me out of here." Not that he disliked the lioness, he just...wanted...to MOVE again. Be more than another filled bed.

There was something else, though.

"Hey, you, uh, got a minute? I need to talk to you."

[Rapunzel]

"Uh-huh," Rapunzel drawled, raising a disbelieving eyebrow... before she dropped her light teasing, "The camp is really coming together. People are really tough..."

It was really amazing to see how everyone was... well they weren't bouncing back. But they were rebuilding after being practically back to square one. It really made Rapunzel proud to be a part of this camp and the wonderful people who have become her friends and family.

"So, you don't have to worry about a thing, Mr.Fitzherbert," she mixed the stew idly with the spoon she brought, "And I happen to agree with 'Grand Medic Shani'. You nearly died, Eugene!"

Rapunzel lifted a spoon, "Thus, bed rest and good food, now say 'ahh'!"

She didnt seem to think it embarassing to hand feed Eugene. Nope. Not at all... oh, who was she kidding, she knew it was embarassing for him. She just wanted to get a little more harmless ribbing in before actually untieing him.

But his question, and tone caused her to pause. She put the spoon down and bowl aside, "Of course... what is it, Eugene?"

[Flynn Rider]

Eugene stuffed back a laugh. He had a reputation to keep after all; it wasn't professional for a World-Famous-Rogue such as himself to be caught up in silly antics (or at least ENJOY them). But it was Rapunzel after all, and she was everything to him. So he held the laugh back... barely. Hopefully, she'd notice and appreciate it.

Catching her eye, Flynn caught the hint of worry. Maybe the tone drop was significant enough, but in any case, he had her. So might as well make the most of it while he could. "Rapunzel... Y'know... You're right. I almost died. Again. And it was because I decided that to be a hero was better than being smart and running. And I kept wanting to be the hero out here, and take a load off of everyone else, and look where I ended up." Gesturing as best he could with his tied up hands, the man released a pent-up sigh. "...And worst of all I worried the people who I care about the most. People who care about me in return. People who tease me with soup while I'm tied to a bed-post because I'm too stubborn for my own good."

His eyes couldn't meet hers. "...I want to be by your side as your dreams come true, Rapunzel. No matter what happens, I want you to know I will come running for you as my main focus. Because I ne-"

A slight catch.

"Because WE need you."

He couldn't do it. Not now. Not while he was tied to a bed in the middle of some frosted over tundra. It had to be the right moment. And this wasn't it. 

"... I guess the important thing is that what happened in Africa was my fault, not yours. I... I didn't want you to feel guilty about it."

[Rapunzel]

"Eugene..." Her voice was soft, a sad lilt to it as the former theif spoke of his near death. She wanted to tell him it was alright but even Rapunzel knew not to interrupt him. So she let him speak his peace.

His words touched her deep inside. It was both a soft warmth, comforting and safe. She melted as she listened. But then there was another part of her that fluttered like a bird.

Was she reading too much into it? His words sounded almost like a confession. But no... no that couldn't be. Rapunzel couldn't imagine what Eugene could possibly see in a naive, hopeless, girl like her. Some one who had to rely on him for everything.

No... no. Stop that Rapunzel. He's looking out for you. Making sure you aren't hurt. Even now he was taking care of her. Easing whatever guilt she might have felt.

And she did feel guilt.

The bowl had been forgotten, and Rapunzel almost dropped it when she shifted in her place. Carefully she set it aside and began to pick at the ropes tieing Eugene like she picked at her thoughts. Untangling his hands while she untangled her feelings.

Rapunzel's head was ducked, as if trying to hide her eyes behind her bangs. The only thing she had left of the golden curtains she could put between herself and the gaze of others.

She finished untieing the coarse rope, but her mind wasn't so easily settled. Finally Rapunzel took a deep breath and finally looked at him, hazel eyes peeking up.

"I... you got hurt looking for me. Almost died, twice, chasing after me. It... it scares me, Eugene. And I just..." her voice was tightening with emotions. Tears shined in her eyes and she hated it. Rapunzel bit her lip in frustration and rubbed at her face fiercely with her arm.

"You're... you're so stupid, Eugene!" Rapunzel almost bawled, but she kept it together, if only by inches, "Don't you get it? You are my hero! Several times over! And you-!"

Rapunzel's finger jabbed hard at his chest, "You WERE by my side as my dreams come true! You were the one who took me to see the lanterns! No, more than that!" Another firm finger jab, "Youre the one who helped me see the world! And- and helped me see Mo-mo-" she stuttered over the habitual, yet incorrect title, " See Gothel for who she really was!"

"So you listen to me, Mr. Fitzherbert!" the brimming tears were gone, replaced by this fiercer emotion, "you already are my hero! And you have been standing with me this whole time. And- and- well if you want to keep doing that then you need to take care of yourself!"

The thunderstorm of her emotions was starting to ebb, and she was starting to get herself under control again. Rapunzel pulled back, not just in tone, but also physically, sagging back in her seat, "Eugene... if you die... I don't know what I would do..."

[Flynn Rider]

Eugene wasn't expecting a response. And why should he? He told her that he blamed himself and his feelings for her as the culprits of his injuries. Eugene Fitzherbert admitted that he felt like acting like a hero led to not only his near death but almost led him leaving Rapunzel alone. It's a lot to take in, and the rogue did expect perhaps a few moments of silence before she spoke.

Then the knot on his right hand loosened.

Then the knot on his left.

As he gripped his wrist and rubbed gently, Eugene looked straight to see the Lost Princess' eyes brimming with tears. And then she spoke.

"I... you got hurt looking for me. Almost died, twice, chasing after me. It... it scares me, Eugene. And I just..."

His heart ached slowly. "Rapunzel, it's not your fau-"

"You're... you're so stupid, Eugene! Don't you get it? You are my hero! Several times over! And you-!  You're the one who helped me see the world! And- and helped me see Mo-mo- See Gothel for who she really was! So you listen to me, Mr. Fitzherbert! You already are my hero! And you have been standing with me this whole time. And- and- well if you want to keep doing that then you need to take care of yourself!"

Stunned silence overtook the rogue. His jaw, while not ajar, was loose in shock. She... She felt so strongly about this! Could Eugene really be her hero? Sure he did all of those things, but he didn't do it to be a hero. He took her to the lights because she forced him too. And then he showed her the world because that came with, y'know, seeing the lights. And he showed Gothel's darker, eviler side because... well, he...

He loved her. And he knew she wasn't safe. So he came to save her.

Like some kind of hero. Almost like Flynnaigan Rider.

"Eugene... if you die... I don't know what I would do..."

A hand caught hers as she reeled backward. "Rapunzel... You... You mean the world to me! And to the rest of us, sure, but especially me. You remember what we talked about back on the lake? When it was just you and me before the lanterns came, about dreams? It keeps coming to my mind and it won't leave me alone."

"I've been looking out of a window for eighteen years, dreaming about what I might feel like when those lights rise in the sky. What if it's not everything I dreamed it would be?"

"It will be."

"And what if it is? What do I do then?"

"Well, that's the good part I guess. You get to go find a new dream."

Flynn paused and smiled forlornly. "When I told you as you held me before I died that you were my new dream, that wasn't just fancy last words business. You were, are and will continue to be my dream. A dream that one day, you will live happily without any awful towers, or horrible kidnapping witches, or wars where people we know and love die around us. And I'm going to fight and live for that dream, so I can see it with my own eyes one day."

His hand squeezes gently. "You got me blondie. I'll take care of myself. BETTER care. Guess spending too many years alone led me to forget other people can need me too. I... I owe you one."