Chapter Text
Varian’s POV:
I found Y/N hiding behind one of my metal junks.
“Wait, wait, wait! I can explain!” she croaked, wide-eyed, as I woke her up from her slumber.
In my house.
Behind my stuff.
“Why are you here” I asked, not bothering to hide my disgust.
“I’ll explain. See, yesterday, I was strolling around Old Corona when the blizzard started getting stronger so I decided to go back to my lab but then I heard a noise form your lab and I couldn’t help but peek through the little window and I saw everything that went down and by that time the blizzard had gotten really bad so I had to seek shelter here but the blizzard is gone now so I will be taking your leave and …..thank you for having me”
Her face was bright red and her eyes darted around, looking for an escape. She stood up to leave when I grabbed her arm to stop her.
“You saw everything” I said searching her e/c eyes.
She took in a deep breath and replied, “everything”
I sighed and let go off her arm. “I went to the palace you know- to find Rapunzel and ask her for help” I said maintaining eyed contact, “You know what she did Y/N? She turned me away. I was dragged outside in the cold, hard blizzard while she sat there playing Queen. Tell me Y/N, isn’t the Queen supposed to help her citizens. Does my father not deserve help after everything he has done for the King?”
I don’t know why I told her that. Maybe it was the growing feeling of loneliness which was eating me alive ever since my ‘friends’ had abandoned me; or maybe it was the fact that she had seen what had gone down that made me spill my thoughts to the girl I hate.
She took both of my hands in hers and gave me the sincerest look I had ever gotten. “Varian, I honestly don’t know what to say and I know nothing can comfort you or make your pain more bearable; but I think it’s important to consider that the Princess probably had a lot on her mind since she had the responsibility of all of Corona on her shoulders. I know you find this unjust, and in a way, it is, but blaming the Princess is not going to get you anywhere.”
My vision was getting increasingly blurry by the second. There was a sharp pang in my heart when I said, “Only she could have helped me, but she didn’t.”
My voice cracked and my throat felt scratchy from the lack of water. My breaths felt short and suffocating. With a start, I realized that I was sobbing.
Y/N looked worried as she stepped closer and wrapped her arms around me, pulling me into a tight hug. I tried stopping my tears, but they fell down my cheeks and onto Y/N’s light blue jacket.
I rested my head on her shoulder and cried harder than I had ever cried before. I couldn’t stop. Flashbacks of the previous night played in my head. Me pouring that damned solution of the Black Rock, the Amber growing out of control, my dad pushing me out of the way, him getting trapped.
Y/N stepped back and held my face in her soft, gloved hands. I must’ve looked horrible, but she looked at me like I was the most beautiful thing she had ever seen. “Shhh Varian don’t cry. I promise you I will try my hardest to free your father. I will go speak to the King, I will ask Rapunzel for help, I will do everything in my power to support you…. just please don’t cry. Everything will be okay.”
“No Y/N, nothing will ever be okay again” I choked, stepping away from her. How could she think everything will be okay. She doesn’t understand. My dad is gone. First my mom, and now him. I wiped my eyes with my sleeves and looked at the girl in front of me.
She looked sad. Tears were gathering in her eyes as she tried reaching for my hands. I pulled away and said, “Y/N, I appreciate you trying to help, but there is nothing you can do. The king won’t listen; Rapunzel won’t listen, and all your pleas will go to waste as the Royals continue in their ignorance. Go back Y/N, it’s no use.”
“Varian-”
“Leave. Go back to the palace”
When she didn’t listen, I grabbed her shoulders and steered her outside. Despite her struggles, I managed to kick her out and locked the door.
I rested my back against the door and blocked out her protests. I needed to start preparing.
I will free my father, one way or another.
Y/N’S POV:
Back when we were friends, Varian and I used to sneak into his house to do experiments in his basement. Eventually we decided to dig an underground pathway from starting from a huge olive tree to our secret lab. It was hard work, but after about six months of meeting up after school with shovels in our hands and fire in our eyes, we couldn’t make it.
It was too much work.
Fortunately, we had managed to reach about ten feet away from his house which proved to be of use today.
I rummaged inside my satchel for one of my explosives. My hand touched a cylindrical metal, and I smiled as I started walking towards the Olive tree.
Finding the entrance wasn’t hard and soon, I was underground, traversing through the narrow path on all fours until I reached the dead end. I fitted the explosive in and pressed the activation button.
The explosive went up with a loud bang as the roof of the tunnel tore open, spitting dirt on the surface somebody’s lawn. Why hadn’t we thought of this.
The way ahead cleared and I crawled forward till I reached the outside of Varian’s basement. I pulled out a hammer from my satchel and attacked the wall with all my might. The wall gave way, and I squeezed my way into his house.
Catching my breath, I looked around. The whole this was filled to the brim with four large machines with steam blowing out of them. Each had its own entourage of levers and buttons with heat radiating off them. I made my way towards the stairs leading upstairs, careful not to set anything off.
I reached the top of the staircase and slowly pulled the door open. It creaked and revealed a small hallway. I treaded carefully and reached the sitting room.
Gods, it had been a while since I came here. It was dark, but I could see the vases of Mrs. Asteria’s favorite flowers sitting on the window mantel. Cushions of different shapes and sizes lay untidily on the sofas with the scent of faint lavender in the air.
It used to be stronger; but ever since she left, this house has never really been the same. I felt like something was missing; but then again, I had only been here a few times after her death.
A distant memory came to me, of Mrs. Asteria teaching us about different kinds of machines as we ate cookies together. It was sweet. I still remember the taste of her signature machine-shaped cookies featuring inventions from all time periods, from the wheel to the clock. I still remember the feel of her hands as she guided us on how to draw a perfect circle.
Fifth of October, five years ago, two kids lost their mom.
My legs felt weak and all I could think about was how different it would have been if she was alive. Varian and I would be friends-not rivals, his father would be a much more understanding person, and we probably wouldn’t even be it this mess.
All I wanted to do was to lay on the bright blue sofa and forget everything. All I want is to be seven again.
I closed my eyes, and a single teardrop escaped my eyes. I wanted to cry out; but Mrs. Asteria’s son needed me, and I was going to help him.
For Mrs. Asteria, for him, and for all that’s happened.
I traipsed away from the sitting room and towards the lab. I reached the door and peeked through the gap and saw Varian packing. I waited for him to leave and watched as he dumped scrolls, pens and solutions into his satchel. He closed the mouth of his satchel and hoisting it on his shoulders, rushed out the main door and into the open air.
I slowly entered the lab and saw him making his way towards the palace.
He seems to have a plan.