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“Remind me again why I agreed to this?” Cass asks, squished right against the wall in a bunk which is a squeeze for two, let alone the three they’ve crammed into it now.
“Because you love me.” Rapunzel supplies, with the kind of sugary sweet smile which would earn anyone else a verbal lashing from the would-be guard, but which threatens to turn Cass to mush when it comes from Rapunzel.
It’s much too warm for all this, but despite the sticky summer heat, and the added warmth of two bodies pressed much too close either side of her, Rapunzel looks utterly content. One of the perks of being made of sunshine, Cass supposes.
“And because it’s so unfair that the two of you get to share every night and I’m stuck in there with them for company.”
“Oh, come off it, Fitzherbert. You’re telling me you’ve never cuddled up with Lance after a long day on the road?” Cass taunts.
Eugene reaches over to swat at her, but catches Rapunzel in the process.
“Sorry, blondie.” He grimaces, though his misplaced attempt does eventually hit his target as Rapunzel twists to rub the sore spot, jabbing Cass in the ribs with her elbow as she does.
“Oh, sorry, Cass—“ Rapunzel squeaks as the dark haired woman lets out a pained grunt. She tries to move back, and almost pushes Eugene from the bunk entirely.
“Sorry!”
Cass reaches behind her to steady Rapunzel, her arm settling clumsily around the blonde’s waist before she can unsettle the delicate balance keeping them all in place. The caravan bed gives an alarming groan as all three of them try to readjust their positions on it.
“It’s just going to take a little getting used to!” Rapunzel says with all of her usual optimism.
Cass settles back on her side, rather glad she’s facing away from the others, so they won’t see the way her grumpy expression melts away when Rapunzel’s arms snake around her waist.
This woman will be the death of her.
Her eyes fall shut, and she can just about feel Eugene’s knuckles brushing her back— he must have thrown his arms around Rapunzel in the same way. It’s odd, but she supposed she can get used to it— especially whenever they make it home, and into a bed big enough for this sort of thing.
Rapunzel is pressed far too close, and her breath makes Cass’s stubborn curls dance against the back of her neck, reminding her all over again that it’s long past time she cut them. Rather than pulling away, she moves closer, and Cass is suddenly pressed so close to the purple wall that her nose is almost touching it.
“Shove over, Fitzherbert…” she mutters, pushing back slightly to try and give herself room to breathe.
“If I move any further I’m going to fall—“
“Guys…” Rapunzel squeaks from between them.
“That can be arranged.” Cass warns, wriggling as far from the wall as she can given the tight space.
“Suck it up, Cass-and-ra.” Eugene responds, drawing out his mispronunciation of her name with his usual wit. He pushes further into the bunk, squishing both women further.
“Can’t Breathe, here—“ Rapunzel complains with a nervous laugh. If they hear her over their bickering they give no indication.
In his attempts at holding on, Eugene’s hand has landed on her waist rather than Rapunzel's and whatever their arrangement Cassandra is never going to get used to that.
“Hands to yourself.” She bites, reaching over to give him a proper shove.
There’s a yell, and Eugene falls from the bunk with a dull thud. In his attempt to catch himself, his fingers snag the beaded tie holding Rapunzel’s hair in place, and suddenly beads are scattering across the painted floor.
“Nice job, Cass.” Eugene complains from his new spot below them.
“I did try to tell you that you wouldn’t fit.” She bites back smugly, sitting up and shaking a few beads loose from her hair.
She’ll be the one stuck rethreading the hair ties later, but she doesn’t complain about that, looking far too pleased for having shoved him off the bunk to do so.
“Does everything have to be a fight with you two?” Rapunzel complains, trying to fix the mess their bickering has made of her hair.
Cassandra and Eugene share a look that screams yes, but neither dares say it out loud.
“It’s just not going to work while we’re on the road.” Cass eventually says, placing a hand on Rapunzel’s shoulder to try and win some forgiveness for her part in the childish scuffle.
Despite her annoyance, Rapunzel leans into the touch.
“Hang on, I’m not just going to go back to sleeping in the other room while you two are in here every night.” Eugene complains, “I’m part of this, too.”
Cassandra feels a pang of guilt, which dampens her satisfaction.
“There are two bunks.” She points out, after a tense moment. “We could switch out who takes mine.”
“…I don’t have to share with you, right?” He narrows his eyes, and she rolls hers.
“I’d rather die.” She says flatly, though a hint of a smile is creeping back onto her face.
“What do you think of that, blondie?”
“It sounds perfect!” Rapunzel announces, and Cassandra doesn’t have to see her to know she’s beaming— the happiness radiates off of her like sunshine, filling the small room. She feels the princess pull away as she leans down to hug him, where he’s still sitting on the ground, albeit less crumpled than when he’d rust landed.
“So, how do we decide who gets to share first?” Eugene asks.
“Well…” Cassandra’s smile turns wicked, and she turns over, ignoring the way those loose beads scattered across the sheets dig into her, to prove her point. She wraps her arms around Rapunzel and pulls her back away from him into her arms, earning giggles but no protest from the blonde. “I think I’ve won.”
“Hang on—“ Eugene complains, but Rapunzel gives him a soft look, and he melts. “—Tomorrow.”
“Tomorrow.” She agrees, taking one of his hands and pressing a kiss to his knuckles.
“I love you both.”
“Love you, Raps.”
“Love you too, Sunshine.” They say in almost exact unison.
Cassandra and Eugene exchange another look, and a smile.
They’d find some new argument come morning, but at least for now they were in agreement.
Rapunzel was more than worth the compromise.