Chapter Text
Rebuilding the Dark Kingdom was a bigger endeavor than Eugene had ever imagined and of course as the only heir to King Edmund, he had a duty to help oversee some of the reformations such as establishing a new system of rules and laws in the government and as he was officially Corona’s Captain of the Guard and prince consort to his wife, the crown princess, he was perfect for the job.
And as Varian was the Royal Engineer and had ties to the Dark Kingdom through his dad, he was assigned to accompany both Eugene and Quirin to help restructure buildings and to create mechanisms that will help advance the Dark Kingdom for generations to come.
This was a huge deal for Team Awesome as they had now spent weeks in the Dark Kingdom working hard on their separate projects and workload but were also able to spend time together afterwards in the palace. At this point in their lives they considered themselves as brothers and they might as well have been had the Moonstone not disrupt the Brotherhood’s lives. Eugene would have grown up a prince and Quirin would have brought Varian to visit his aunt and uncles.
But there was no use dwelling on the ‘What ifs’ and they continued on with what was happening now.
One day, Varian was working in the workshop he had been given, going over his latest blueprints to copy what he did in Corona by giving the kingdom hot running water. The chamber where the Moonstone had been was perfect for the boilers and he started to make preparations. But once he turned away for a second, Hamuel clumsily flew in and ended up catching the blueprint in his beak and flew out the window.
Varian saw this a second too late, making him shout, “Hey! You stupid bird! Give that back!” He rushed out of the shop, bumping into servants, Adira, his Dad, and Eugene on the way out of the castle while shouting out his apologies.
He managed to catch sight of the bird heading straight for the newly built village below the cliff, so he got on a gondola and moved down.
He chased that flighty crow all the way to the outskirts of the kingdom and didn’t realize he was heading for a swampy part of the area.
Finally, Hamuel bumped into a tree and dropped the blueprint, to the boy’s horror it looked like it was going to drop in the swamp but suddenly a gloved hand grabbed it out of nowhere.
Varian was stunned to see a tall blonde boy with glasses was hiding within the tree branches.
He called out, “Um, thank you! That belongs to me!”
“Really? This fascinating piece of creation came from your tiny head?” the stranger quipped, waving the paper around.
Varian sputtered, “What the heck?! Who are you to act like you know anything?!”
“You’re creating a way to run hot water into people’s homes, yes?”
“Actually, this is my second time, I’ve already created this same system back in Corona.”
“Really now…? Tell me, how often do the boilers blow up when they’re in use?”
Varian gawked, “H- How did you…?”
“The method is there, but your calculations are off on how much the boilers can take when they are fully functional.”
“You- Who are you?!”
The blonde jumped down, holding out his hand, “Name’s Hugo, Engineer and alchemist extraordinaire.”
Whoa… Varian couldn’t help but think, up close Hugo was actually pretty damn gorgeous surpassing even Cassandra and Eugene-both of his ex-crushes- in the looks department. And Eugene may have been his bi awaking, but Hugo cemented it for him especially if he was a fellow scientist just like him.
“Don’t I get a name too?”
He slightly blushed in embarrassment, realizing he was staring too long, “Um, yeah, it’s Varian.” And took the hand to shake but got the blueprint back instead.
“Huh, that’s a unique name.” Hugo curiously commented.
“My dad said it was what my mother named me before… she left.” He frowned.
“Oh. I’m… sorry to hear that.” The blonde genuinely looked sad.
“It’s fine, I never knew her so there’s nothing to be upset about.”
Hugo could tell that wasn’t a convincing statement, but he didn’t press.
Varian was about to say something else when Eugene came running in, shouting the younger’s name and got in front of the boy in a protective stance.
“Stay away from him, Varian, he’s trouble.” The man hissed.
“Wha-“
“Rider?! Wow! It’s been ages!” Hugo chuckled, “You’re like an old man now!”
“And you’re that same brat that stole what I had rightfully stolen first in Bardaros!”
Varian gawked again, “You’re a thief too?!” Damn it, that should not be hot, but Hugo was becoming the whole package in his eyes, and it was hard not to gush.
“Guilty Hairstripe.” Hugo rubbed his neck.
“Hey! Only I get to call him that! You have no right whatsoever!” Eugene protested.
“Interesting, so is he your sidekick on heists then?”
“What no! My thieving days are behind me! I’m married to the Princess of Corona now and- Why am I telling you this?! You’re obviously here to do no good!” wagging his finger at him.
Hugo shrugged, “Can’t say you’re wrong. I was sent to scope out the place by my boss. The Dark Kingdom is no longer hard to get to so what treasures will we find there?”
Eugene rolled his eyes, “Figures.” Then said to himself, “I’ll have to post some guards in front of the royal vault now…”
By then, Quirin made his appearance, “Boys, there you are! Your Highness, the king is requesting for you-“
At the same time a gray-haired woman came from behind the trees, yelling, “Hugo! Why have you left your post-“
“Donella!” the man growled.
The woman’s eyes widen before scowling, “Quirin…”
The three young men stood there stunned from the older adults’ exchange.
They know each other? Both Varian and Hugo unknowingly thought together.
Quirin quickly moved his son behind him, “What are you doing here? Get out!”
“Dad? Who is she?”
Donella narrowed her eyes toward Varian, before saying, “He looks exactly like her, Quirin.”
The man bellowed, “DON’T YOU DARE BRING ULLA IN THIS!”
Eugene was outright stunned by Quirin’s outburst while Hugo was startled. But Varian was just confused, this woman… knew his mother? And judging from how poorly his father reacted to her, there was definitely some bad history between them. But why?
The two older people stared the other down before Quirin said, “Varian, return to the castle. Now.”
The boy gulped, knowing that was a direct order, as much as their relationship has gotten better this past year he knew it was best not to cross his father when he was like this.
Donella turned to her ward, “Hugo, we’re leaving, the plan is ruined now.”
Hugo didn’t object and started to go just as Varian started to leave. The both of them exchanged one last look, while uttering a low, “Bye/Bye…”
Eugene immediately noticed that, and his eyes widen, thinking, Uh-oh… I know that look…
This definitely did not bode well for his honorary little brother.
Varian hardly ate dinner, his father refused to give him straight answers on that strange woman. A woman that Hugo apparently worked for. Hugo… will he ever see him again? From that brief encounter alone, he was the most interesting person he ever met in his life! Eugene and Rapunzel came close but Hugo… Hugo was different, and that reason was well… Varian really likes him. He had it down bad for Cass before but this time… something was unique about this crush, something special.
He felt a genuine connection between him and the other boy, and he wanted more of it. But now… he can’t… Eugene had bad blood with the blonde and his father even more so with Hugo’s boss. A boss his mother apparently knew… he still can’t get over that, he never knew Ulla so why should it matter if someone else knew her too beside his father?
He sighed and stared out his bedroom window.
Eugene tracked down Quirin after dinner, shouting, “Quirin!”
The man looked back, “Yes, Your Highness?”
Eugene wanted to correct him on his title but now was not the time, Varian needed him.
“You need to talk to him, whatever is going on here, I’m sure-“
Quirin cut in, “I’m sorry, Prince, but I can’t. There’s too many painful memories that surround my past with my wife. I cannot let him go down a path that will end up destroying him like it destroyed her… As long as he is far away from that woman, he will be safe.” He moved on, not saying another word.
Edmund had witnessed the exchange and went to his son, patting his shoulder.
“Leave it be, son, Quirin has been through a lot and it’s not easy to get a man to open up to such wounds.”
“Do you know then?”
“Only of how he courted the mother of his child, I’m afraid I do not know of what became of her fate.”
Adira came on to the scene, “Indeed, I too only know so much of the Lady Ulla, but from what I understand Varian has many of her traits and it is why Quirin is so protective of the boy even when that boy shall soon be a man.”
Hector joined them then, “Well said sister, it is foolish of him to do so. That boy will be legally of age in less than two years, he won’t stay with Quirin forever.”
Adira nodded, “Not much can be done to persuade our brother otherwise.”
Eugene interjected, “Well I can’t blame him to be honest. I know the kid he interacted with, if the woman was bad news, Glasses is worse if not more.”
Adira questioned, “Are you sure you’re not just being bias?”
Eugene sputtered before protesting, “No! It’s- I just know we can’t trust him! The reason he was here was because they were planning to steal this kingdom’s treasures!”
Edmund motioned, “That is very bad. I believe you are right not to trust this boy.”
“I already posted guards around the vault, so nothing should get through, but! We’re missing a very important point here! We can keep Varian away from the woman, her assistant on the other hand… I have every reason to believe he will try to get to Varian.”
“And why do you think that, Fishskin?” Adira raised her brow.
Hector and Edmund looked just as confused.
Eugene started to get flustered realizing this was a more personal reason and obviously couldn’t share it without this reaching back to Quirin and poor Varian would be more sheltered than before. No, this was something only his older brother-figure can help out with.
“Um, you know I just remembered I forgot to do something! Gotta run!” rushing away from the trio before they could get a word in edgewise.
Eugene knocked on the door and opened it, finding Varian sitting by the window looking up to see the crescent moon and stars twinkling above the kingdom. Ruddiger staying close by.
The older took a spot next to him, saying, “Rapunzel and I do this all the time back home. We just sit by the window and admire the quiet and night sky.”
“That… sounds nice. Wish I could do that with someone too…” still idly staring out.
Eugene sighed, “Kid. He’s not worth it.”
Varian gapped, staring in shock, “How did you…?”
“Varian, I have been in countless relationships before Rapunzel, saw many people I’ve been around to ending up with their partner in life. I would be so happy for you right now if it wasn’t for the fact that guy is walking red flag.”
“Because he’s a criminal? Eugene you do realize how hypocritical you’re sounding right?! Hell, I was a criminal! And I did way worse than mere petty thievery!”
“I know that! But being around him is only going to break your heart! He’ll just use you and leave you the first chance he gets!”
Varian gasped and hung his head, his heart starting to feel heavy. What if Eugene was right? Scientist aside, he knew nothing of Hugo and Eugene obviously had a better idea of what the blonde’s character was really like seeing how the older had been on that side of the road before.
Eugene sadly sighed and touched the other’s head, “I’m sorry, buddy. I just don’t want you to get hurt.”
“I know…” he sniffled and went in for a hug, “Thank you… I needed that.”
Eugene returned the embrace before saying, “Hey, you’re just like Sunshine, you wear your heart on your sleeve.”
“It’s just… I never met someone I could genuinely talk to about the things I love doing, I thought… he could be my friend…”
“I understand…” wrapping an arm around him.
Varian then released a yawn which in turn made Eugene do the same. The latter saying, “Okay, time to call it a night.” And he started making for the door.
The younger voiced out, “Night Gene.”
Eugene smiled, “Night Var.” and closed the door behind him.
In a campsite not far off from the Dark Kingdom, Hugo was watching the dying fire while lying on his side. Donella sleeping close by to him. He couldn’t do the same as cute freckles, pretty blue eyes, and the cool blue stripe in raven hair plagued his mind. Heck even those buck teeth were an adorable part of the boy’s face.
Don’t get attached. That was Donella’s creed. You do your job as you have to, forming bonds would only get in the way of that.
He felt something crawling from his pocket and scampered up to his arm.
Hugo let himself smile at the small mechanical mouse he named Olivia and had her jump in his hand so he could keep her close. She was the only thing he could have in his life even if he wished he could have the boy called Varian in it to.
There was just… something about the other boy… he was interesting in so many ways especially where his love for science comes into play. Hugo genuinely found a peer worthy of his intellect and he wished he could get closer to explore the possibilities they could come up with.
But… it’s not meant to be. He will never get to see his cute Goggles again.
He laid on his back and found the brightest star in the sky, he is a fool to wish upon it, but just this once he’ll indulged in foolish flights of fancy only because he never wanted anything more than anything but to see the boy again that had captured his heart so quickly.
And who knows… maybe someday his wish will come true. He just had to wait and see.