Chapter Text
Eugene blankly stared at the wall, wincing once again as Stalyan's foot kicked his stomach for what felt like the thousandth time. He had begged her to stop several times, but of course she didn't. His stomach hurt, and so did his head, considering she had slapped him quite often in the last hours. It hurt so bad...he just wanted everything to stop, Stalyan had become so ruthless and vicious, and Eugene knew that if he had anything left in his stomach, he would've thrown it back up by now.
Can't she just have any mercy? I just want this to end...I want her to just kill me instead of torturing me...
The man let out a desperate moan and weakly muttered, “S-stop, please! I can't-Just kill me already!", he meant it. There was nothing left for him to keep fighting for, but Stalyan was still very determined to get Flynn Rider back. Though she wouldn't manage that, he'd never be Flynn again, never in his life. That was a promise he'd made to himself and to...Rapunzel...And besides, he wouldn't even know how to be Flynn again if he wanted it, which he obviously didn’t…but Stalyan didn’t care.
“Say it then. Say the word and I'll stop this.", Stalyan pressed a kiss to his forehead, making him shudder in disgust and dread. He hated that she thought it was okay to touch him without his permission! The way she enjoyed doing this when she knew he didn’t want it from her!
He just shuddered and eventually, deciding he had nothing left to lose anyway, choked out, “I'm sorry! I'm sorry, okay?", Eugene didn't want to say it, really, he didn't, but maybe if he did what she asked, she'd do him a favor then and kill him. A stupid wish. He knew she wanted him, she probably even wanted to make him steal again, because Flynn had done that with pleasure. Eugene didn't. He hadn't stolen in years and had no intention to do it again in his life. He also had no intention of getting back together with his abusive ex, especially now after…after what she’d done to him and his friends…his sunshine…
“There it is. Good boy.", she patted his cheek and he flinched.
STOP TOUCHING ME! I'M NOT A PUPPET! I'M NOT YOURS, I AM MY OWN PERSON! THE ONLY PERSON THAT'S ALLOWED TO CALL ME THEIRS IS RAPUNZEL!
Stalyan rolled her eyes at his reaction and scolded, "Flynn, stop being dramatic. As long as you behave, everything will be fine. And besides, don’t act so surprised, you know how this is gonna go. We're gonna get out of here soon and find my father. Then we can get married, without that dumb princess and her pathetic friends interrupting us this time. And then things can finally go back to the way they were before you left me…Besides, I'm really looking forward to our wedding night.", she winked, eyes gleaming with mockery.
"My friends aren’t pathetic, you’re the pathetic one! Forcing me to get back with you when you KNOW I don’t want it! Can’t you find yourself another man? Are you really that desperate? You talk about us, about a WEDDING NIGHT! A wedding night that’s NOT GONNA HAPPEN! Are you insane? You killed my friends and kidnapped me! You’re sending me back to the man who wants me dead, the man I thought WAS dead himself! Don’t you realize how INSANE that is? Why can’t you just…move on?! Leave me be…You never really loved me anyway! If you did you wouldn’t have hurt me the way you did! Ugh…", he narrowed his eyes angrily, inwardly cursing her as he slumped his shoulders, he was so malnourished and tired, he couldn’t think straight with all this yelling and manipulation…
"You deserved it. You deserved every slap, even all those years ago! Also, do you really think you're in a position to tell me you're not gonna sleep with me? You know I'll find a way, I always do. Oh, and my dad is just fine, thank you for asking! And yeah, he's ready to beat the life out of you, to be honest. Mhm, maybe I’ll stop him from doing so, maybe not. I guess we’ll see, Rider.", she chuckled, clearly enjoying her powerful and superior position. She had always been superior to him, even when they had first been together. Eugene and Lance had worked for the Baron, and he would've killed them if they just left or Eugene left Stalyan. That was why he had to wait until the day of the wedding to escape with his best friend, when everyone was busy preparing their precious Stalyan for the ceremony and preparing the food, decoration and everything else.
"Now how about we continue our little session?", Stalyan turned around, grabbing a knife.
Oh no no no, please no!
"I said sorry!", he gasped, weakly trying to back away. He gritted his teeth, trying to somehow kick her away, but his legs hurt and he was exhausted, so it was to no use but her amusement at seeing him struggle.
Stalyan mocked him, "Oh Flynn…Are you still that naive? You really think that word means anything to me?"
Right at that moment he heard someone break open the door to the cottage and he curled into himself even more. Has she brought someone else to beat me up more? The Baron? Or the Stabbingtons?, he thought and his courage sank as he closed his eyes, suppressing a whimper of panic.
The voices were yelling something, and Eugene could tell it were several people. The voices sounded..familiar...And they were calling out his name, his real name! But...who would besides his friends?
Stalyan froze and grumbled, "Looks like they found us."
Who found us? Who is 'they'?
Eugene stiffened when she casually sat down next to him, pointing the dagger at his throat. Then he saw her grab a piece of cloth and before he could protest, the woman gagged him with it and he grunted from the shock of that thing covering his mouth. It was uncomfortable, but at least it wasn't that horrible apple again or even her hand.
"Eugene?", a female voice called out and he panted softly. He knew that voice...but it couldn't be...She was dead...
Suddenly someone kicked down the door, and a face stared right at him. A very familiar face…the person had a beard, brown eyes and was very tall...
Eugene's eyes widened when he realized it was Lance. Lance Strongbow. Arnwaldo Schnitz. His best friend, his brother! He was alive? But how? Did that mean- 3 other people walked into his sight and he let out a gasp. She was there...
She was standing in the doorway, Cassandra next to her. They looked unharmed, they all did. But how could that be? Stalyan had said she killed them...He SAW the hair clip…
He turned to Stalyan and she groaned, "They're not dead of course, you idiot! I just said it to make you believe they are, so you would be easier to break! But what a lovely little reunion this is. I'm afraid it won't be for long though."
They weren't dead...Eugene let out a relieved sob, Rapunzel was looking at him, scanning his face and body to make sure he was okay. He wasn't...Obviously he wasn't. But seeing Rapunzel standing there, completely alright and healthy made him feel better immediately.
"Eugene! Let him GO, Stalyan!", she snapped and pointed her frying pan in Stalyan's direction, ready to kill that evil woman for hurting Eugene and kidnapping him in the first place. Of course she could see his bruised cheek, swollen head and bloody shoulder. He probably looked horrible, but to Rapunzel, he looked just as beautiful and handsome as he always did. Eugene knew that.
"I don't think I will.", Stalyan was smirking, it made Eugene very uncomfortable since he knew she would do almost everything to keep him, she was ready to stab him! But now Eugene didn't want that anymore, he had a reason to fight, to live, to even smile a little.
Cassandra unsheathed her sword and hissed, "You're gonna regret it if you don't release him immediately!"
Stalyan gripped the dagger tighter and narrowed her eyes, Eugene tried to breathe as slowly and shallowly as he could, scared the weapon would cut his throat. He saw how mad Rapunzel was, she was glaring at Stalyan with hatred. Cass and Lance seemed pretty upset too, but Eugene could swear Rapunzel was more intimidating than the other two. If he was the one she was mad at, he would've been pretty scared. But Stalyan didn't seem to be.
"And you're gonna regret it if you don't stop threatening me. I could kill your precious thief in 5 seconds, so watch yourselves.", Stalyan deviously replied, smirking like she was playing some game and winning, instead of being pretty close to dying by the hands of Eugene’s friends. It probably WAS just a little game to her, since she seemed so sure she'd win.
"Just go, it's okay.", he mumbled through the gag, he didn't want them to get hurt. And he knew Stalyan would be able to hurt them...
"Shut your mouth!", Stalyan growled, pressing the dagger close to his throat, causing him to gulp and close his eyes. He had been in a similar situation a few years ago, but it had been different…
"Stalyan, put down the dagger! Come on, that's not you! I know you're smart and capable of doing this, but...why would you hurt or threaten him like that if you love him?", Lance looked at the woman with disappointment and barely concealed fear.
Eugene could swear he felt Stalyan stiffen slightly, but then she protested, "He brought this on himself. He was the one to leave me at the altar. He deserves to feel pain too, just like I did!"
Eugene noticed Rapunzel was slowly walking towards them, but Stalyan was too busy arguing with Lance and Cassandra to notice. Only when the frying pan hit her did she realize their trick. She dropped the dagger and it cut Eugene's knee slightly but it didn't hurt too bad.
He let out a shaky sigh of relief when Stalyan dropped to the ground. Immediately he felt Rapunzel wrap her arms around him, and he buried his face in her hair, inhaling her scent. He couldn't hug back since his hands were still tied behind his back, so he pressed himself as close to her as possible.
The young man let out a hiss of pain when Rapunzel touched his injured shoulder by accident, and she pulled away with wide eyes as she gasped, "Sorry!"
She tried to cup his cheek but Eugene flinched, expecting a slap.
"Eugene? What did she do to you...", his favourite person whispered, seeming hurt. She wasn't upset with him though, she was upset with Stalyan for whatever she had done to him. Well, considering the punches Cassandra was currently delivering to the unconscious Stalyan while Lance held her sword, they all were. Rapunzel then carefully reached up again to take off his gag, and this time he didn’t flinch, and when the gag finally came off he immediately gasped for air. When he felt like being able to speak he muttered, "I'm s-sorry, sunshine. I didn't mean to flinch...And I'm also sorry for breaking my promise of not getting in trouble. I mean, getting kidnapped wasn't exactly my plan, but uh...it happened.", he grinned sheepishly, relief washing over him as he realized he was actually safe again.
"It's okay, Eugene. And I won't hurt you.", she said gently while Lance carefully freed Eugene's limp hands from their shackles. He slowly moved his aching arms and fingers as he mumbled, "Thanks...Thank you for rescuing me, guys."
Rapunzel put a finger on his lips and told him, "You don't thank us for this. Of course we were going to rescue you. We always will."
Because friends don't leave friends behind...
He still found it weird that Sideburns had said something so poetic back then. He still remembered it today, even though it'd been 9 years since he’d said it. That was how bizarre those words were, coming from someone as cruel and grumpy as Sideburns. Then again, he had died and came back, so anything was possible. But that quote sounded like something Rapunzel would say...He knew it wasn't possible because he could clearly remember Sideburns being the one scolding him because of Lance and him saying that stuff, but he still found it odd.
"I suggest we get out of here if Eugene is able to. And Stalyan will face some time in prison, that's for sure. I mean, she stole the eye of Pincosta, if you said the truth. I bet the sheriff would love to put her in prison.", Cassandra announced, lifting Stalyan's unconscious body up.
If this event didn't happen, Eugene and even Rapunzel might've protested and given her a second chance. But after what she did she didn't deserve that second chance, and Eugene knew she'd find a way out of prison anyway. So he wouldn't even try to defend her, she had put him through hell and he wouldn't let her get away with it. He was glad it had been him she chose to torture, and not Rapunzel or his friends, but that didn't mean he was happy about getting hurt by her for...what, one week? Or more? He didn't even know.
"Do you think you can stand?", Rapunzel looked at Eugene with concern, and her look told him he didn't have to say yes. But he didn't know if he could...He decided he would try, he didn't wanna seem weak.
"Yeah yeah, it's not that bad. Of course I can stand.", he replied, but when he tried standing, his knees immediately gave in and he tried to suppress a groan, but it slipped out anyway. His whole body hurt terribly, Stalyan had kicked him pretty hard and he didn't even want to get started on the slaps to his whole body and whipping to his knees. Not to mention he hadn’t properly used his legs in days AND had very little food and water, so his body wasn’t complying with him.
Lance frowned and picked him up, despite his protests. He felt Rapunzel grab his hand and though Eugene wouldn't admit it, he was very grateful for Lance helping him. He felt exhausted, but most of all, relieved. He closed his eyes and let out a deep sigh, meanwhile squeezing Rapunzel's soft hand. He was safe. Of course he wouldn't be alright right away, it would take time, but he would be okay. Eugene knew that he would be. And in that moment, he realized how glad he was to have stumbled upon that big tower 1 year ago. That tower, or more precisely the person in that tower, had changed his life. For the better. He would always be grateful for that. Always.
The end