Chapter Text
The Snuggly Duckling was unusually busy tonight. People of all ages and creeds crammed into its tiny tables with ale and dinner, their raucous laughter ringing in Varian’s ears. There was a loud crash, and Varian ducked to avoid getting hit in the face with Shorty. Man, if Dad knew he was down here instead of working in the lab… Well, he wouldn’t be mad that Varian was being social, more concerned about the atmosphere. But hey, Lance, Eugene, and Rapunzel were here too! Somewhere! So it was totally safe!
He hummed, taking a sip of his drink. Rapunzel had jokingly tried to order apple juice for him, but he was 17 now! The legal age was 16, he could handle a few drinks! Hell, he had a better tolerance than she did!
His eyes scanned the room, finally locating Lance and Rapunzel engaging in the most over-the-top waltz, complete with dips and lifts while the crowd egged them on. A beer bottle sailed overhead and Lance caught it effortlessly, locking arms with the princess as they both downed a drink. For a woman locked in a tower for 18 years, she sure knew how to party, he mused.
“Excuse me,” Varian choked, coughing as some ale dribbled down his chin.
“Shit,” he whispered and wiped at his vest. The mysterious voice laughed, and a tan hand ran a napkin across the spill. “Thanks,” Varian said, looking up, and nearly choked all over again. This guy was
cute
, with short, curly hair and amber eyes that sparkled like the setting sun. He wore a green shirt that bunched at his hips, his very nice hips… oh dear, he was staring, wasn’t he.
“Are you ok?” The cutie asked. “Didn’t knock a few screws loose, did you?”
Varian laughed, and spoke in a higher octave, “Nah, I’m good!” In fact, to show how good he was, he took a large swig of his drink for liquid courage. It settled in his stomach nice and warm, and he took a deep breath to start over. “Hi. Don’t believe we’ve met.”
“No, I don’t think so,” The other laughed. “Hard to forget a cute face like yours.”
“You’re pretty unforgettable too,” Varian hummed, resting his elbow on the counter and his head on his palm. He channeled all of the Flynn Rider he learned from Eugene; lower the eyes, smirk, tilt the head… Yes, perfect, the other boy seemed intrigued.
“I’m Varian,” he said.
“Fallon,” the boy replied. “Cute name for a cute boy.”
Varian blushed. “You’re quite insistent that I’m cute, huh?”
Fallon shrugged, gesturing to the other. “I’m a scientist! I’m observant. I only deal with facts.”
Oh, now that got his attention. “Me too! What field?” He stood ramrod straight, leaning in a bit with eyes sparkling. As much as he loved Corona, the culture focused more on the supernatural and mysterious, meaning scientists were few and far between. To be fair, after the disaster that was the expo, and the proof of Zhan Tiri existing, it made sense. But still the alchemist mourned having intellectual conversation with anyone outside of Rapunzel, and while he loved her, it just wasn’t the same as speaking to a peer.
“I’m a biologist and geologist mostly,” Fallon said. “I focus on the natural world, yknow? What is out there, why it’s out there.”
“Fascinating,” Varian breathed, a gooey smile stretching on his face. “I’m an alchemist, but I dabble in engineering,” he laughed at his own joke. If dabble can also mean “it’s my day job and the crown pays me to do it,” then yea, he dabbled.
“Oh?” Fallon leaned in closer. “How interesting. Two different sides of science. What is…”
“And what can be.” Varian responded. His eyes began to slide shut as Fallon reached around his waist to pull him closer, lips puckering…
And their lips met a thick white glove.
Varian reeled back as if he’d been slapped, opening his eyes to see the red coat attached to the glove and tracing it up to Eugene’s less than amused face lit up gold by candlelight.
“Ahem,” He said, eyes narrowed in on Fallon, who was rapidly paling as he recognized the Captain. “He needs to breathe.”
“No I don’t!” Varian protested, trying to push Eugene’s hand out of the way. He succeeded, only for Eugene to put his other hand up. Varian dug his teeth into it in frustration.
“Sorry, our Royal Engineer isn’t accepting suitors at this time,” Eugene continued as if Varian wasn’t gnawing on his arm right now.
“Royal Engin… oh,” Fallon laughed, blushing and embarrassed. “I didn’t realize who I was… I’m sorry,” He looked over at where Varian was now also slapping at Eugene’s hand with the flush of alcohol on his face. “It was nice to meet you,” He said.
Varian paused, letting go of Eugene. “Yeah, it was,” he parroted, dumbfounded. With a wave, Fallon disappeared into the raucous crowd.
“Well,” Eugene laughed, hands on his hips. “Glad I got rid of that guy. I swear, people will try to take advantage of anyone.”
“What the heck Eugene!?” Varian whined, smacking at Eugene’s broad chest. It barely hurt him, if anything it tickled. “He wasn’t bothering me!”
“Uh, did you not see how he was staring at you?” Eugene asked.
“Yes, and I was staring right back!” Varian groaned. He loved his friends, he really did, but they were overprotective to a fault. After everything with Andrew and Cass they were pretty vigilant about making sure Varian wasn’t being used for his talents, and while he could excuse Rapunzel for having that same trauma and Lance for being a dad, Eugene? He had none of that. Part of him still saw Varian as that little twig who fanboyed over him and it drove the younger nuts.
Eugene’s smirk faltered at that. “Oh. Ohhhhhhhh.” He winced. He had thought Varian was just drunk and getting played. While Varian was indeed drunk, with the flush and feral tendencies, he definitely misinterpreted the situation, letting his protective side get the best of him. Guilt swarmed like bees in his gut. “Oh, I’m sorry Varian. I didn’t think you were into that sorta. Gotcha.”
“I’m 17 Eugene, I’m allowed to want to kiss people,” He crossed his arms. He knew it wasn’t an issue surrounding gender, Eugene and Lance made it very clear they were unapologetically bi, just like him.
“I just thought you weren’t into romance and stuff! In my defense you weren’t before!”
Varian shrugged. “Before I was a child or in prison or fighting an ancient demon.” He took a long swig of his once abandoned drink. “Trust me, if I’m not into someone who’s hitting on me, you’ll know.”
Eugene laughed. “Fair enough. But still, you’re not the best at…” he rotated his wrist as he looked for the word. “Setting boundaries. Being assertive! Not getting walked over.”
Varian rolled his eyes good naturedly. “Gee, thanks.”
“I just mean like, if you’re in trouble, or clearly not a fan of someone, come get me ok? I’ll set em straight.” The older man smirked.
“As long as you only step in when I need it and not when you want to.”
“Deal.”
They shook on it, and ordered another round.
-
That was all well and good, but Varian was a bit of a trouble magnet.
It wasn’t entirely his fault, he was prone to disaster by trade. The very nature of alchemy is to expect the unexpected, to test the limits of chemistry and what borders between magic and science. But certain troubles were outside of the pay grade, and more in the Varian has no common sense category. Leave a kid to his own devices and he’s bound to end up a mess.
Case in point, his taste in dates.
They sucked.
“It’s not that bad!” Rapunzel once tried to argue. “You and I turned out fine.”
“Yeah, cuz I gave up crime for you,” Eugene reminded. “This kid uses wanted posters as a matchmaker!”
And he wasn’t wrong! Even Lance thought that his thing for bad boys and girls bordered on extreme. But Varian was still well-known in criminal circles, and criminals were more willing to date criminals who wouldn’t rat them out, so Varian got more than a few suitors from the underground. And hey, who was he to judge?
It went like this:
- Varian would see a cute teen on a wanted poster.
- They would inevitably run into each other.
- They’d go on a date.
- A guard would pick Varian up after the date… and arrest the date in question.
- Varian would offer the date a reduced sentence and a chance at a new start. No strings attached, no second date clause, just him trying to help.
- The date would refuse, and Varian would sulk for a few days. Or, the date would accept and they’d be just friends.
- Rinse and repeat.
As much as Eugene liked to grumble and groan about Varian’s taste, he couldn’t deny that Varian got results. As Captain he was pretty good at stopping repeat offenses, but teens are teens. They just don’t want to listen to authority. But a peer that they found attractive was a much more enticing offer. So, for the most part, he let it slide. Just as long as any serious partners kept clean.
Didn’t mean he had to like it though.
At some point, Lance made a suggestion: use Varian as a honeypot to catch a more dangerous criminal. And it was… too good of an idea to pass up. So here Eugene was, squatting in a fern, getting mud on his pants and munched by mosquitoes, watching his brother’s date and trying not to run in guns blazing. They sat at a small table in an alleyway, part of a local restaurant’s outdoor patio, but more private. A single street lamp flickered behind Varian’s chair as they chatted in between pieces of food at the carved stone table. Crickets buzzed a low tune right in Eugene’s ear, but to the couple it was a pleasant hum in the background as the cool summer breeze wafted through their hairs.
The target was a woman named Claire with auburn hair that curled under her chin, twirled around a finger. Her pale skin stood out in the moonlight, boots clacking against the pavement.
Too much like Stalyan, in Eugene’s opinion. And that’s what made her dangerous.
“So,” she hummed, pulling her twirled lock away from her head and cocking it to one side. “You’ve made a name for yourself, yknow.”
“What, as the alchemist?” Varian asked. “Been like that for years.”
“No. As a serial dater.”
Varian blinked, and then blushed. “Oh, hehe, I guess?” He leaned back. “Not that I don’t want to settle down eventually, just uh. Not yet. Maybe in a year or two I’ll get more serious.”
“Didn’t get the chance to be a teen, so you’re doing it now.”
“Something like that.”
She hummed. “Got a funny taste though. Criminals only? Aren’t you like. The Royal Engineer now?”
“You sound like my brother,” Varian laughed.
“Well,” her eyes narrowed. “He is watching us, after all.”
Varian’s laughter died and Eugene’s eyes widened. Shit.
“Guards. Eyes everywhere,” Varian tried with a pained smile, but she simply smirked.
“You’ve got a reputation, pretty boy. When folks go out with you, they’re not seen again.” She leaned in. “I wonder why.”
Eugene held up a hand in silent signal for the nearby guards to go to alert. As soon as he did, the small circle of spying guards began to close in on his location. They were out of time, they needed to get him out and get her locked up-
Quick as a flash, Claire kicked Varian’s chair from under him, sending him sprawling. He let out an oof as his back hit the pavement, her boot pressed on his chest before she pulled him up into a headlock. A small knife shot out from her jacket sleeve, resting against the boy’s neck.
“I hope to be the first to escape.” She whispered in his ear.
Eugene fully stepped out of hiding, crossbow at the ready as he glared daggers into her. “Let him go,” he ordered, voice hard.
“Claire,” Varian murmured. His hands instinctively wrapped around the arm holding him prisoner. “This isn’t right. I-I can help you, if you just go willingly, I swear..!”
“You think I don’t know!?” She hissed. “Everyone knows what happens to your little dates . Either you get soft, or you get the slammer. And I refuse both options!” Her knife dug just a bit harder into his neck, forcing him to grit his teeth in pain.
“I won’t go!” She yelled. “You all better let me go or I slit your snitch’s throat right now!”
“Woah, hey! Don’t I get a say in that?” Varian protested, stomping on her foot. She let go with a cry, but not before dropping the knife facing down. It sliced through Varian’s vest like butter, embedding in his thigh for his troubles. He let out a stream of curses drowned out by Eugene’s own yell of anger. He sprang forward, ripping Varian out of her weakened grasp while his guards grabbed Claire, wincing at the blood that began to seep into Varian’s clothing and stain it maroon.
“Jesus, ow,” Varian whined, leaning into Eugene gratefully. “Worst date ever. And that’s saying something.”
“Oh?” Eugene’s voice wavered as he struggled to keep it light-hearted. Good god this kid was a walking heart attack. He loved Varian, he really did, but there were only so many near death experiences he could handle involving his precious baby brother. The guards took Claire away, no doubt she wasn’t going to accept any community service deal. “What was worse?”
“They didn’t tell you?” Varian’s smile was pained. “One time a guy took me to the bank and held me hostage. It was so boring.”
“Only you would call being held hostage boring,” Eugene huffed, lifting Varian into a bridal carry, so as not to disturb the wound. “But I think we’re done dating criminals for a few years.”
“Oh yeah, totally.”
-
Eugene took a sip of champagne, trying not to look directly into the bright linoleum floors, lest he be blinded by how shiny they were. Rapunzel laughed good-naturedly at his side, something a nobleman probably said, he wasn’t really paying attention. His job was to be eye candy while she garnered support for her near transition to queendom. Which kind of hurt, seeing as he was Captain of the Guard as well as Prince of the Dark Kingdom, but hey, it sounded fancy when he was introduced by Nigel, ergo earning the respect of the others and he didn’t have to justify his existence anymore thank god.
Speaking of justifying their existence, where the heck did Varian go?
He glanced around the room before his eyes settled on a familiar black mop resting against the buffet table. Peach tablecloth lay covered in various treats that Varian was currently digging into grumpily. Ruddiger twitched uncomfortably on his perch, bowtie and pulled back fur no doubt pinching.
“Excuse me, sunshine,” Eugene said, and with a quick peck to her cheek, he made his way over to the table to ask what pissed the alchemist off so much, but then-
“I’m back!”
The man who spoke was immaculately dressed, his baby blue overcoat trimmed with white lace and swirls. He wore black trousers tucked into pristine socks and spotless buckled boots, his auburn hair tied back in a neat ponytail so that not a single flyby strand existed. He smiled, and even that was perfect, shiny white without a single speck that gleamed harder than any tile on the ballroom floor. “I hope I didn’t keep you waiting long?”
“Nope.” Varian popped the p as he continued to snack on a truffle. He wiped his face with his sleeve, and Eugene couldn’t help but bite back a laugh, stepping back a bit to watch. Varian wasn’t kidding when he said he could handle most suitors, he wanted to see this guy get absolutely wrecked .
It’s been a boring night, so sue him.
The man cleared his throat. “I’m glad, my rose,” he simpered, and oh man , Varian’s face . His smile was so tight you could practically see his eye twitch as he gritted out more pleasantries, fingers grasping the truffle so tight it exploded in his hand.
The man sprung forward, looping an arm around Varian’s waist and another holding his hand in a dance, spinning Varian around. “You truly are the most gorgeous thing I’ve seen all evening,” he whispered as if it was some secret. “You promised another dance, yes?”
“I did, Gregario.” Varian’s teeth grinded against another.
“For a silly peasant, you dance so wonderfully,” Gregario laughed. “I had wondered why on Earth the princess would invite someone as unimportant as a Royal Engineer , much less a common-born at that, but I see now, your beauty was too much to let the rabble ruin ! And they cleaned you up so well, you’d never know!” Varian’s face burned, eyes looking anywhere but his dance partner as hot tears of anger budded in his eyes.
And Eugene saw red.
Who did this asshole think he was, mocking Varian with these fake pleasantries? Was he trying to court Varian or bully him? Regardless, neither one would stand. Why was Varian not tearing this guy to pieces? Well, if Varian wouldn’t, he would. He put on his best big brother face and moved forward, when the man spoke again:
“And, as they say,” He pulled Varian so close their noses were practically touching. “Keep your friends close, and your enemies closer. Don’t want to commit treason again, do we darling?”
Varian whimpered softly, taking a shaky breath, and Eugene’s insides turned to ice.
Ah.
As much as Varian probably absolutely despised this guy, he wasn’t about to prove him right. While he was ok with close friends teasing him, anyone else bringing up his past tended to get under his skin. He still struggled with his shame, and as much as Lance and Eugene preached making peace with your past, Varian just never could. And the little twerp was using it to his advantage.
Well. Two could play that game, asshole.
“Excuse me,” Eugene chimed, keeping his smile wide despite how it felt like pulling his own teeth out. Varian stepped away from the guy like he’d been burnt, hugging himself in comfort while Ruddiger cooed in his ear, glaring at Gregario with all the fire Eugene wanted to.
“Ah, your highness,” the suitor bowed, back perfectly straight as he lowered down with practiced ease. “It’s an honor to meet you.”
“Charmed,” Eugene grit out. “I saw you were courting our Royal Engineer?”
The guy laughed haughtily. “He is a gorgeous thing,” he reached out to stroke Varian’s cheek, but Ruddiger tried to bite the offending fingers, preventing such a move.
“Yes, he is, and he has suffered so much at the hands of people who want to use him.” Eugene wrapped a comforting arm around Varian. “As such,” his eyes narrowed into slits. “We don’t let just anyone court him.”
“If you want our dear Varian’s hand in marriage, you have to complete three tasks.” He rattled off, voice pitched high in an over-the-top manner, Varian’s eyes widening in confusion and then mirth. “First, you have to sail to Terapi Island and bring back a lantern. The locals use them as decorations, so it won’t be too hard. But if you mess up you’ll be stuck on the island till the next New Moon.” With each sentence Gregario’s face grew a shade greener.
“Next, you will travel to the Spire and retrieve the Raging Hand of Bumbados. Giant murderous hand, can’t miss it. And thirdly, to prove your devotion and willingness to protect Varian, you must venture into the Forest of No Return and bring me the venom of a Kai Spider!” He yelled at the end, most likely turning a few heads, but Varian was grinning, and to him, that was all that mattered.
Gregario gulped. “I uh… I shall… discuss this with my advisor.” With that he backed away, first slowly, then faster, till he was out of range, at which point he turned around and fled.
“Ha! Chicken,” Eugene snickered. “Dished it but couldn’t take it.”
Varian wiped away a tear. “Thanks, Eugene. That was hilarious.”
Eugene hummed. “Oh I was serious about that.”
“Wait, what?”
-
Varian hummed under his breath as he strode through the castle’s halls, walking in time to the song in his head so each soft note from his boot acted like a drum. The blueprints in his hands shifted slightly as he turned a corner into the guards’ quarters. Eugene was doing… well, actually, he didn’t know what the hell Eugene was up to at the moment. With everyone having a job and such, it got harder and harder to keep tabs enough to bump into one another. The one exception was Varian’s twice-a-week meetings with Rapunzel. She’d stop by his lab to get a progress report, and then they’d hang out for a little while. Sometimes she’d paint his walls, or help with a project, or Varian would listen to her rant about some advisor who wasn’t listening to her… it was nice.
His musings ended abruptly when he collided with an unfamiliar back, sending his papers flying all over the floor. “Shit,” he mumbled, scrambling for them. He reached for one, only to find a boot had taken up residence on top of it. “Excuse me, sorry, can you move? You’re stepping on my blueprints.”
The boot hesitated, finally prompting Varian to look up at who he bumped into.
The guy was maybe a few years older than him, if that, likely a new member of the guard, seeing as how he didn’t recognize him. His nose hung crookedly from an unhealed injury, eyes sunken into a narrow face. He moved his boot wordlessly, staring down at Varian in an… unnerving manner. The alchemist stood up with his prize awkwardly.
“Have we met?” He tried.
The guard blinked, then smirked, cocking a hip. “Nah, but I’m glad we did. Nice to meet ya, cutie.”
Oh, ew.
Varian scrunched up his nose, but didn’t comment. “A new recruit? I’m Varian, Royal Engineer.”
“Ah, the lab boy! Captain’s mentioned you once before,” his grin was crooked. “I’m Ron. Hope to see you around more?”
“Mm, sure,” Varian dismissed, walking off. Guy wasn’t his type, no one who applied to be a guard was. Well, maybe they could be friends?
...Nah. He looked like a jerk.
-
Turns out he was in fact a massive jerk.
In the two weeks he’s known about Ron’s existence, the guy made good on his promise of seeing Varian more. Wherever Varian looked, there he was, just staring . And it wasn’t like an awe-stricken, lovesick look. It was leering, controlling… intimidating. Anytime he saw it Varian’s confidence blew away like a dying candle, leaving only the smoky unease that now clouded him. And anytime they made eye contact, Ron would perk up, grin menacingly, and saunter over, leaving Varian running for the hills. The guy was just… creepy.
It was late one evening, Varian having just locked up his lab for the day, that things got ugly. He turned the key in the brass doorknob, satisfied to hear the click that signified no one would mess with his chemicals. And then when he turned around, Ron was right in his face .
He shrieked, falling back against the door. With one hand Ron covered Varian’s mouth, muffling his cries, the other slamming into the wall to pin Varian in place.
“Quiet, doll,” Ron hissed, all pretenses gone, smarmy smile replaced with a leer and a scowl far too similar to Andrew’s for his taste. He removed his hand from Varian’s mouth, but pinned the boy down further.
“Shouldn’t your shift be over by now?” Varian spat, unable to worm his way out of Ron’s prison. “Or did you just stay late to torture me?”
“Something like that.”
Before Varian could protest, Ron moved in closer. “I can’t stop thinking about you,” he admitted, arrogant tone seeping into the wood’s cracks. Did he really think this would endear Varian to him? His eyes flitted up and down and he bit his lip.
The longer he stood there, just staring at him with an ugly hunger in his eyes, the sicker Varian felt.
“Ok, that’s enough,” he said, using all of his strength to force Ron off of him. The guard’s mouth dropped open, as if no one had ever done that to him. With a huff, Varian began to march off.
A fatal error.
With his back turned, he couldn’t see the anger and lust in Ron’s eyes as he wrapped his arms around Varian’s waist, pulling him back until he was flush against the older teen’s body. Varian squirmed, but the guy was a guard for a reason.
“Playing hard to get only gets me more fired up,” The guy whispered in his ear, squeezing Varian’s waist with one hand, pulling Varian into a bruising kiss. The alchemist screamed into the bastard’s mouth, but Ron didn’t seem all bothered, letting the other hand wander down his chest and undoing his vest as Varian’s heart pounds so loud Ron had to have heard it. His hands continue to wander, pushing Varian up against the door, forcing his cheek to press into cool wood, fingers desperately scratching against the grain to try and get away, the panic is overtaking him-
“S...stop!” Varian yelled, squirming and trying desperately to pull his hands off, get it off it was too tight like chains like amber tendrils- why was he so weak he couldn’t stop Rapunzel or the King or Andrew or any of his abusers why was this any different-
Then, just as abrupt as they came, the hands were gone.
Varian collapsed to the floor, chest heaving as each breath struggled against a ton of bricks on his chest. He ran a hand through his disheveled hair, sounds were muffled, was someone yelling? Colors swirled around him in a nauseating rainbow, why can’t he breathe? His heart is practically a hammer, pounding so hard it physically hurts, and when did the room get so hot? Why is he shaking so much? What…
Darkness.
When he came to, he was on his bed in Corona castle, as if it had all been a bad dream. Had it been? His head was all fuzzy, the kind where dreams and reality are still mixed and you can’t tell if you’re awake yet. Frowning, Varian tried to sit up, but his head began to spin, and he fell back with a fwomp .
Yep. Definitely awake.
The door, covered in Varian’s old wanted posters (Kiera put them up to throw darts at and he was too lazy to take them down) creaked open to reveal Rapunzel’s wary smile. “Hey Varian, how are you feeling?”
“Bleh.” Varian responded.
She chuckled, sidestepping Varian’s various trinkets and blueprints that covered the floor, making her way to sit on the yellow cover that adorned Varian’s bed. She leaned against the wooden bedpost. Despite the smile, her eyes shined with untold sadness… It was her textbook “I’m hiding something to protect you” look.
He raised an unimpressed eyebrow. “What happened?” He asked dully.
“What? Nothing!”
“Come on, princess. I know that look. Either Lance snuck into my lab and turned himself into a rabbit again , or you ate the last apple pie slice, or something else. Spill.”
The princess bit back a laugh (the memory of Lance angrily thumping curses in morse code will do that) before her mood dulled again. Scooting closer, a slender yet strong hand gripped his. “Do you… remember what happened?”
It took a moment for the words to sink in, to understand what was being asked. But when it did, his smile faded as well, and his eyes turned down to the sheets. “Yea.” he bit out. “Yeah, I think so. I remember… the incident…” he bit his lip. “I don’t remember how it ended. Do… Do I want to?”
“Eugene found you and… and him. Threw him off you. He said you were unconscious when he was done subduing him, so he didn’t know if you’d been…” her voice trailed off, uncomfortable even suggesting it.
“If I’d been drugged?” Varian finished. “No, I wasn’t. Just shocked.”
Her shoulders slumped with relief. “Thank goodness. Well, the guy’s been arrested. I had to talk Eugene out of the death penalty.” The second sentence was more joking, a sad smile. “He’s busy with the paperwork but sends his love.”
Varian smiled gratefully. He’d have to give him a big hug later.
“He’s really good at protecting me,” Varian admitted softly, catching the princess’s curiosity. “I just… I wish I didn’t have to be.”
Rapunzel hummed in thought. She didn’t want to upset him, didn’t want to assume or condescend like she’d done with her friends in the past. Even if it was unintentional, she’d hurt them, and she wanted to do better. “How so?”
“Don’t wanna be a burden, I guess.” Varian shrugged. “He’s helped me fight off a lot of jerks… am I just weak, or do I attract manipulative people?”
“You’re not a burden,” she insisted. He didn’t respond, looking away, and so she gently grasped his chin and forced them to meet eyes. “You’re not. We love you. That’s why we help you. Because you’re worthy of being loved, of being helped. And it’s not that you’re incapable.” His gaze wandered at that one. “We all need help in certain places. I need help with social cues, Kiera needs help drawing anything other than a stick figure,” Varian snorted. “And you need help sticking up for yourself. Let us help you.”
His weak smile wavered slightly, tears misting in his eyes, but he nodded nonetheless, letting her pull him into a hug and hugging back in turn.
And when Eugene burst in with full theatrics, sobbing about how his poor little brother and let me smother you you walking danger magnet! Varian laughed and agreed. They didn’t view him as a weak link, but as someone worthy of protection, their little brother.
Still… he didn’t want to be cared for because he needed to be protected, he just wanted to be cared for.