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As Flynn Rider, Eugene had often been close to death. In fact, he’d been in so many scrapes he’d honestly lost count. Even more recently, he had quite actually, in point of fact, died.
This, though, was perhaps one of the most embarrassing scrapes.
“Step away from the princess, thief.”
Eugene had been accompanying Rapunzel to meet her lady-in-waiting. It was the last occasion he expected to be met with a blade terrifyingly close to his throat.
“Whoa, whoa!” Rapunzel’s hand was at the woman’s. The severe eyes met Rapunzel’s.
“Your highness, this is Flynn Rider, one of the most wanted criminals in Corona.”
Rapunzel looked confused a moment until it clicked.
“They really should’ve told you more, huh?” Rapunzel gave a laugh and somehow it didn’t sound like it was at her, to the lady-in-waiting. “Flynn Rider is Eugene Fitzherbert. My…boyfriend.”
Cassandra gaped as Eugene wriggled away from her dagger.
“It’s true,” he spoke, “I turned over a new leaf. Don’t feel bad though, you’re not the only one in this castle who’s tried to kill me.”
Cassandra looked from him, to her.
“My… apologies, your highness,” she spoke, tucking her dagger away inside her dress, a red in her face equal parts frustration and embarrassment.
“Are those standard issue for ladies in waiting?” Eugene asked.
“I don’t know, is that facial hair standard issue for manchildren who fancy themself Robin Hood?”
“Hey, hey, that’s not true,” he spoke.
She raised an expectant brow.
“I have never fancied myself Robin Hood, I fancied myself Flynnigan Rider. Maybe if you read more you’d know that.”
Rapunzel looked between the two of them, looking for all the world as though something didn’t add up.
“Uh… Eugene? We just sorted out this was a misunderstanding… why are you still fighting?”
“I made one joke because she pulled a blade on me and she’s acting like I’m some- some criminal.”
Cassandra gave a flat gaze.
“Look- whatever this is. Let’s start over,” Rapunzel said, looking apologetically to her new Lady in Waiting, taking a deep breath.. She took her hands, looking in the eyes. Rapunzel beamed.
“It’s so nice to meet you.”
Cassandra couldn’t help but relax a little. The princess’ demeanor was inviting. “The same to you, princess. My name is Cassandra. I’m the daughter of your father’s guard captain. I apologize again for my actions with your boyfriend. Your father was… very clear I was chosen for this position because he trusted me to protect you as well as serve you.”
Rapunzel smiled, with a little chuckle. “It’s alright, Cassandra. We understand. Don’t we, Eugene?”
“...Yeah, I mean. I was pretty good at my old job. And I probably am not remotely what you expected from the name Eugene.”
Cassandra chuckled.
“Not really at all. I kind of expected someone a little more… slim, bookish.”
Eugene made a gesture toward her with his hand, looking to Rapunzel. “See? This is why I needed the name.”
Rapunzel gave a little laugh. “Eugene…”
“I’m kidding, Rapunzel.” He kissed her forehead. “I wouldn’t trade all the reputation in the world for a life with you.”
Dammit. The way she looks at him… Cassandra knew them and there… as much as she had instantly disliked the man, she couldn’t hate him. Not in the full chested way she had on learning what he’d got away with.
Nine Months Later.
Cassandra and Eugene sat by each other in Rapunzel’s quarters. The night before, Rapunzel had said it. It had bubbled out of her as easy as anything.
“I love you too, Cassandra.”
They had all spoken about it, of course. But this was the first time that Eugene and Cassandra had had a moment alone since, while Rapunzel was otherwise occupied.
“So…” Eugene spoke, “…this your first time with this kind of thing?”
“Yeah,” Cassandra admitted, “I never thought a lot about… love. When you’re a woman and you want to be something, it’s kind of the enemy.”
“The… enemy?” Eugene raised a brow. “Are you telling me the woman who held me at dagger point was afraid of love?”
Cassandra flushed red, “not afraid! But… when a women loves a man, there are expectations she’s gonna drop everything to do for him. Her career is considered over, and… I don’t want that.”
Eugene nodded. “I can respect that.And we’re both in a very… unique position because we both love the princess. I… I thought I would be jealous but I’m not.”
“You’re not?” She echoed, curious.
“Yeah. I don’t know what’s different. I know if it was some guy, if she looked at like… Lance, or something like that, I would be.”
He looked at her.
“But I love Rapunzel and… I see how she looks at you.”
Cassandra looked down with a little chuckle. “She said something like that too. And for what it’s worth…”
She paused.
“…oh come on, you can’t start a sentence like that and stop, Cassandra.”
“I had a thought like that about you too,” she finally replied, “A long while ago. I was… very ready to hate you when we met.”
“Really? I never could have known, what with how you put a knife to my throat in seconds.”
She punched his shoulder playfully. “I was about to get to a part that compliments you.”
“I understand your fear of choking. Please continue,” he replied, “I promise I’ll resuscitate you if you do.”
“…it was how she looked at you,” Cassandra finally finished, “you kissed her forehead and said some sweet little line and seeing you both… it sounds dumb, but you were just too sweet together for me to hate.”
He blinked.
“You go for sweet?” He spoke in disbelief.
She flushed a deep red. “Not normally and I swear if you tell anyone Fitzherbert I will put that knife in you.”
He laughed gently. “It’s safe with me, Cassandra. You’re safe with me.”
“How the heck did a master thief learn to be so reassuring?” She asked, relaxing a little.
He gave a lopsided grin. “Well. As much as I avoid ruminating on it, Rapunzel was not my first time with a frightened woman. Someone with my looks learns to be disarming quickly. It’s a survival trait for that job, if you can put someone at ease you can usually slip away easily.”
“So you’re saying I should keep an extra eye on the exits,” she teased.
His face turned a little more serious and suddenly one of his arms was on the other side of her, pressing against the wall behind her. He looked her in the eye. “That ended the day I died, Cassandra. I am going nowhere. Rapunzel loves me and believes in me, and if she feels the same way about you now… I’m gonna have to do everything I can to see it too.” He leaned closer. “You know, when you get this close, you have very pretty eyes.”
“And when you get this close, I can do something about that mouth,” Cassandra replied before capturing his lips in a kiss before he could do it to her. For 57 glorious seconds the walls were down between them before they felt eyes on them. Rapunzel had arrived back and entered the room, only alerting them when she had closed the door.
“…don’t stop on my account,” she spoke, with a slight flush and her infectious smile, “It's nice seeing you two look at each other the way you look at me, for once.”
Eugene gave a little flush. “I’ll never look at anyone quite the way I look at you, Rapunzel. But I can start to see what you see in her.”