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Rapunzel sighs as she rolls onto her back once more. Her eyes flicker open and peer through the darkness of the room. She isn’t used to the ceiling being so far away from her.
Her mind numb, she stares through the intricate patterns of it and the details of the chandelier hanging overhead as it glistens in the moonlight.
She isn’t sure why her eyes begin to water, but she rubs them with her palms for the third time that night as she attempts to shove away her clouded thoughts. Her arms heavily drop back down to her sides.
Nothing about today seems real. So much has happened in the past few days, more than she ever experienced in her life in that tower. Never did she think she would find herself here, within the palace walls of a kingdom she never even knew existed.
Everything about it should make her feel… happy - and it does. There aren’t words to describe how ecstatic she is. But something about this place leaves her dwelling on the past, and for that she hasn’t earned a wink of sleep since they’d left her in this desolate room.
Turning her head towards the large window next to her, Rapunzel peers through the sheer curtains at the locks and bolts that line the glass balcony door. She wonders at what point her parents had those built, lamenting whatever happened here when she was a baby.
Her toes barely reach the ground as she swings her legs over the edge of the tall mattress. The tile is cold against her skin, and her feet flinch for just a moment before melting into the hard floor.
Wrapping herself in her shawl, she tip toes out of her bedroom and is careful to close the heavy door behind her without a sound.
She peers down either end of the dark hallway, finding it clear of guards for the moment.
The palace is a maze, and every corridor looks the same. Her footsteps echo within the walls and her bare feet are absolutely freezing.
His room is only one door down from hers, but the halls are so vast it feels like a lifetime before she reaches it.
Rapunzel pushes it open gently, poking her head inside before entering completely, the large door practically swallowing her whole.
He notices her almost immediately from the opposite end of the room, and to Rapunzel, it doesn’t look like he had been sleeping either. He perks up at the sound of her entering and props himself up on his elbows.
For a while, he only stares at her in disbelief, and Rapunzel too is somehow left speechless, despite their relationship with one another.
The circumstances of where they are and what happened today makes everything feel different and… weird. They’ve both convinced themselves they are living a dream.
“Uh… hey,” greets Eugene, his soft voice just above a whisper in the night.
The sight of the floor is somehow more interesting than him, which only makes the man more concerned. She pulls the shawl tighter around herself, hunching her shoulders as she shivers.
For some reason, the image of her tiny frame standing so far away from him in a white night gown makes his heart break. He hasn’t gotten used to her short hair yet.
Finally, she lifts her gaze for a moment, “Can I…”
He isn’t sure what she means until he notices her looking at his bed, her eyebrows pressed together painfully.
Eugene swallows nervously, snapping himself out of his stare. He sits up straighter, shifts to the side and lifts the corner of the blanket.
She shuffles toward him and slowly burrows underneath it. It takes a few moments of shifting for them to both settle next to one another.
His heart is pounding just as fast as hers and Eugene isn’t sure whether he should hold her or not. Even through the darkness, he can’t help but notice the sullen look on her face and he wishes it could go away. Despite it all, they aren’t often this close to each other – not in this way.
In the end, he is half sitting up, half laying down - half facing forward and half toward her. His arms rest awkwardly in his lap and he watches her pull her knees up to her chest next to him.
They aren’t touching and it’s not what either of them want. Rapunzel doesn’t look at him though she desperately wants nothing more than to nestle herself into his side until it’s impossible to get any closer. Eugene respects her too much to offer it.
He wants to ask her what’s wrong, but he’s afraid he already knows the answer. What happened in that tower earlier today would be enough to traumatize anyone.
She’d realized her entire life to be a lie, and the one person she’d loved and trusted - well, that had been a lie too. Her own supposed mother was proven to be a monster, and she’d almost lost Eugene too because of it.
While he contemplates what to say and dares himself not to move in fear of her feeling uncomfortable, he feels her head heavily plop onto his shoulder.
He peers down at her, but all his eyes are met with is the top of her head. Her hair tickles his chin, but he finds himself tilting his head onto hers too.
Hugging her knees tighter, Rapunzel takes that as an invite to burrow further into his chest.
Absentmindedly, Eugene finally wraps his arm around her shoulders and they both feel a relief of tension at the same time. They’ve never done this before.
They stay like that for a while, finally comfortable beneath the wave of unspoken words. Despite how tired they are, neither of them wants to close their eyes.
Finally, Eugene’s chest vibrates as Rapunzel mumbles against it, “Is she really gone forever?”
Eugene swallows, the disturbing sound of Gothel’s screams still etched perfectly in his memory. “Yes,” he answers, “She is.”
“I just… can’t believe this is real.” How could someone feel so happy yet so sad at the same time?
“I know,” he agrees softly, staring blankly forward. It’s been quite the adjustment for him too.
She figures that he’s probably wondering why she’s here, and hopes it wasn’t too out of line for her to visit at this time of night. She doesn’t even know what time it is.
The tears threaten to spill from her eyes again and Rapunzel shifts against him once more, seeking comfort. Her voice cracks as she whispers, “I don’t wanna be alone.”
His lips tug into the faintest smirk and his heart bubbles with warmth at that statement. He wasn’t going to ask. He’d figured she couldn’t sleep. Eugene would be lying to say he hadn’t had the exact same thought of sneaking into her room.
He would never admit it, but he doesn’t want to be alone either. Not tonight. He’d been with her endlessly every day just for them to be separated again after everything they’d just gone through.
He’s never felt so strongly about anyone before, and Rapunzel didn’t think this feeling even existed, but the thought of not having the other is a nightmare they’d never be able to live through.
He doesn’t say that, though. Instead, he smiles into her hair as he closes his eyes for the first time that night, “Okay.”