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Varian tried to ignore his pain as they travelled back to the castle. He knew he had some major bruising and was 90% sure he had a few cracked ribs. His binder didn't make the pain any better, but of course he couldn't just take it off in front of all these people. Then they'd know about his secret, and then they'd.. they'd... well, Varian could only guess how they'd react.
At least he didn't have to walk all the way back. Him and Eugene were riding Maximus.
Varian shifted a little bit and grimaced it pain.
"Varian?" Rapunzel sounded concerned, "Are you okay?"
"Yeah, just a little- Ow ow ow," Varian cut himself off as Max jumped over a log, causing the young alchemist's pain to flare up.
"Did Cass hurt you?" Eugene asked.
"I'm fine, really."
"Answer me kid. Did Cassandra hurt you?"
"Just a little," Varian admitted, "I just need some rest."
"Maybe I should check your injuries." Rapunzel suggested.
"NO!" Varian yelled, sounding a little too panicked. He couldn't let them find out. They'd never see him the same again.
"Blondie's right," Eugene told him, "You need to get those injuries checked out."
"No, no, no. Please no. I promise I'm fine. Just please no."
Of course, this just made Eugene and Rapunzel more concerned.
"Rapunzel, Max, Varian, and I are going to stop for a minute," Eugene told Lance, "You and the girls take Fiddella and the frog and keep going. We'll catch up soon."
"N-no, please. I-I'm fine. Please. I p-promise I'm O-okay," Varian was crying now as Eugene lifted him off Maximus and set him down against a tree.
"I promise Varian, I'm not going to hurt you. I just need to see how bad your injuries are." Rapunzel assured him, "Where are you hurt?"
"I'm f-fine."
"No you're not."
"Please, l-lets just g-go."
"For real Goggles, just tell her where you're hurt."
Varian, sighed, finally giving in, "M-my chest and back mostly. My wrist are also raw from when she tied me up, and I hit my head a few times."
"Okay," Rapunzel said, "Let's check the worst injuries first. Can you take your shirt off please?"
"No." Varian could hear his heart racing with fear.
"Why not?"
"I-I just can't."
"Varian, I need to make sure your ribs aren't broken." Rapunzel was getting really worried.
Varian knew she wasn't going to give up. Tears streaming down his face, he shakily removed his shirt.
"Umm... What's that?" Rapunzel asked confused. Obviously she meant his binder.
"Nothing!" He exclaimed. Maybe he could still hide it.
"Well, whatever it is, it's compressing your chest. You'll have to take it off, it's just hurting your injured ribs."
"Please no," Varian pleaded, his voice barely above a wisper.
"Varian-"
"If I take it off you'll hate me."
"I won't hate you Varian." She assured him.
"We won't hate you Hairstripe."
"You'll think I'm a girl." Varian said, more tears running down his face.
"What? Why would we think that?" Eugene was confused.
"Because of what's under this damned thing." Varian answered.
"Oh." Rapunzel said. Something clicked and she realized what this thing was, why it was compressing the boy's chest. "Varian, you... you were born a... you have..."
"Yeah, I have boobs." He admitted. He couldn't believe he just came right out and said it. "I wasn't born Varian. I was born a girl. But I'm not a girl, I'm a boy. I promise I'm a boy."
"Goggles, It's okay, if you say you're a boy you're a boy." Eugene assured him.
"What matters is that you're our friend Varian." Rapunzel assured, "We still need to check your injuries though. Considering the umm... unique situation though, one of us can look away when you take that thing off. Who do you feel most comfortable with having check your injuries?"
Varian thought for a minute. He really didn't want anyone to see his chest. But he knew that his injuries needed checked, and he knew that both of them were trustworthy.
"Rapunzel" He answered.
"Okay goggles," Eugene said, "I'll take Max over this way, yell if you need me."
Varian slipped off his binder, feeling uncomfortable as Rapunzel examined his chest and back injuries. She used some stuff from their medical kit, but she couldn't really do much. Once she was finished, Varian put his shirt back on, feeling embarrassed.
"Thank you, Princess." He said.
"Of course Varian." Replied Rapunzel, "If you ever need someone to talk to, me and Eugene are always here for you."
"You don't think all this is weird?"
"Varian, maybe this is a little wierd, but so am I. I have 70 foot long magic hair! Weird doesn't mean bad. You are an amazing person, and you're my friend. No amount of weirdness will change that."
"Thanks Rapunzel."
When they caught up with the rest of the group, Varian panicked a bit. He wasn't wearing his binder, someone would notice. But they didn't. Or if they did, they didn't say anything.
They made it back to the castle, where Varian used some of his alchemy stuff to treat his injuries. Varian was happy. Happy he had friends that accepted him. Happy that he didn't have to hide his secret from them. Just happy.