Chapter Text
It was the mid-18th century. A turning point in history. The brutal end of a bloody battle hung thick in the air.
And two souls conferred in the dark shadows of the early morning.
The pair was separated by bars- thick and secure. Not easily broken. The woman on one side stood with one hand rested against the cold metal, a sad smile on her face. The young man on the other kept his hands back, tucked under his armpits. His face held none of the resigned content of his companion.
“This isn’t fair.”
“I know.”
“They can’t do this.”
“They already have.” The man looked away, brow furrowing.
The woman sighed, lifting her other hand up to the bars.
“None of this is fair,” she whispered. “They don’t play fair. Fair isn’t in the cards anymore.”
“I won’t let it happen.”
“There isn’t anything you can do to stop it.”
“Yes there is!” He protested, hands curling into fists. “I can get you out of here! I can take you with me, and we can leave. You don’t-“ He squeezed his eyes shut. “You don’t have to die.”
“I can’t abandon my people,” she said simply, face determined and shoulders squared despite all she’d been through. Despite all she’d lost .
Despite everyone she’d lost.
“You’ll be killed!”
“I won’t run away,” she stated, tone final. “My fate is sealed. If it’s all going down, then I’m… I’m going down with it.” Her face fell a little, and she gave him a sad smile. “Like a captain with her ship.”
“No you won’t!” He snapped, slamming a fist against the bars. “Don’t you dare! I can’t-“ He sucked in a harsh breath. “I can’t lose you! I’m not- not strong enough.” He deflated, letting his face fall against the bars. “I can’t lose anybody else.”
“Oh Varian,” she whispered, reaching through the bars and cupping his face.
Red eyes flicked up to meet green.
“You were always going to have to lose us,” she said sadly, brushing her thumb against his cheek. “It’s just… a little sooner than we’d hoped.”
“Please,” he begged, wrapping his hands around hers. “Please don’t do this.”
“Promise me something.”
“Don’t leave me alone,” he pleaded, eyes filling with tears.
“Promise me that you won’t follow me,” she said softly. “That you won’t follow us. Promise me you won’t try. Keep on living.” She reached through the bars and pressed a kiss to his forehead. “Do it for me. Do it for- for the others.”
“Rapunzel,” he whimpered.
“All those extra years,” she continued, cupping his face with both hands and wiping at his tears. “Live them for us, okay?”
Silence fell over them.
“Please,” she whispered, staring into his cherry colored eyes. “You have to promise me. If I see you again, then that’s- that’s great. But not if it’s by your own hand.”
“I promise,” he mumbled, tears spilling over his pale cheeks. “I promise.”
“Good.” She pressed another kiss to his forehead, then held him as close as they could manage.
They stayed like that until she knew they had to separate, or she might not be able to let him leave.
“Now get out of here,” she said quickly, pulling away. “If they find you here, there’s no getting away again. Leave and don’t look back.”
“I-“ He swallowed, nodding. “I will.”
“Don’t stop moving until you’re at least a few kingdoms away,” she continued, stepping away from the bars. “Trust no one. Stay on guard.”
“I will.”
“And hey,” she added, shooting him a small smile. “Try to have a little fun for me, okay?”
“I’ll- I’ll try,” he stuttered, wiping at his eyes. With a shuddering breath, he started for the door.
“Goodbye, Varian,” she called, one hand gripping the bars again. “I’m really glad we mistook you for a wizard, all those years ago.”
His gaze fell to his feet. Don’t look back.
“I’m glad too,” he muttered. “Goodbye, Rapunzel.”
Only one soul was left in the dungeons when the sun rose.
And with the strike of a match, the soul was snuffed.
It was the early 21st century. An ordinary, boring time. And a young man with music blaring in his headphones was about to become roadkill.
His eyes were glued to his phone, and his favorite band was playing, so excuse him if he didn’t hear the people yelling for him to look out.
What he did hear was the horn beeping at him, and the screech of a whole freaking bus as it got far too close for comfort.
But then a body rammed into him and he tumbled out of the way, just narrowing avoiding an early grave.
Or a free tuition.
He spluttered, blinking up at the body now pinning him down. A stranger stared down at him, looking mildly pissed off.
“Would it kill you to watch where you’re going?” The man snapped.
What was mildly intriguing was the appearance of the stranger. Chunky black sunglasses straight out of the 60s hid his eyes, with a retro looking Star Wars hoodie tucked into ratty jeans. He had a mop of messy black and blue hair, with freckles splashed over his pale cheeks.
“Well hi there,” Hugo hummed, grinning dopily up at him. “Thanks for rescuing me.”
“Idiot,” the stranger scoffed, already climbing up off of him. He felt cold without his presence.
“Wait up!” He called, jogging after the man as he started off down the sidewalk. “Hey, really. Thanks a lot. Even though that could have potentially paid off my student debt-“
“If you’d survived,” the stranger drawled.
“-if I’d survived,” Hugo agreed, undeterred. “I really appreciate it.” He skipped forward a little, cutting the man off and dipping his head a little. “In fact, I’d like to make it up to you! Lunch?”
The stranger stared at him (at least he might have been? Really dark glasses.)
“Are you kidding?”
“Dead serious,” Hugo said happily. “I’ve got to make it up to you somehow.”
“It’s no big deal,” he dismissed, moving to walk past him, and Hugo cut him off again.
“On the contrary, it is,” he insisted. “You saved my life. A little lunch is nowhere near enough payment, but I’d still like to compensate you somehow. So how’s about it? Lunch?”
For a moment he was partially concerned the stranger might actually punch him. But he just kind of sagged, then shrugged.
“Whatever.”
He’d take that as a yes.
“Perfect!” He exclaimed, waving a hand over his shoulder. “Come on, I know all the best places.”
“I’m sure you do.”
“I’m Hugo,” he said cheerfully, slowing a bit so they could walk side by side.
“That’s cool.”
“You wouldn’t happen to have a name too, would you?” He asked lightly. This guy was fun.
“I guess I do,” the stranger hummed, eyes trained ahead of him.
“And that is…?”
The guy probably rolled his eyes, if his face was any indication, but he couldn’t tell.
“Varian,” he mumbled. Hugo cracked a smile.
Now they were getting somewhere.
“That’s pretty neat,” he observed. “Never met anybody named Varian before.”
“It’s vintage,” Varian said wryly.
“I like it,” Hugo decided, leading him into the little diner they’d come upon. As they slid into a booth, he started trying to think of conversation starters.
His eyes fell to Varian’s hoodie.
“So, you’re a Star Wars fan?”
“I guess,” Varian said cryptically, tapping his fingers on the table as he looked around.
“Favorite movie?”
“The Empire Strikes Back,” he said like it was obvious. “Not any of the newer ones, that’s for sure.”
“Feelings on the prequels?”
“Disappointing. I was excited when they came out, and then they were a bit of a let down.” He scoffed. “But at least they had plot significance.”
“You were excited when they came out?” Hugo chuckled. “You had to be, what, one? Maybe two?”
“Sure,” Varian said, snorting.
A waiter came and went, and Hugo felt like he still didn’t know anything about this guy. If he was gonna spend the afternoon with him, he had to at least get to know him a little, right?
“What’s your… favorite book?”
“Couldn’t pick just one.”
“Favorite video game?”
“Anything early Nintendo.”
“Favorite… color?”
“Purple.”
“What’s with the hairstripe?” Varian paused, raising an eyebrow. Hugo hurried to reconcile. “Not judging! It’s pretty cool looking. But, uh, what’s the story behind it? An emo phase you’ve stuck with?”
“It’s natural,” Varian deadpanned.
Hugo laughed, shaking his head, but the boy didn’t so much as smile.
“You can’t be serious.”
“Dead serious,” Varian parroted, lips quirking up for the first time in a small smirk. “I was born with it. I did have a phase where I dyed it all black, but it grew back in.”
“I’m not sure I believe you,” Hugo hummed, glancing up as the waiter brought their food. Varian just shrugged.
“I didn’t ask you to,” he said simply. He finally took off those weird sunglasses, reaching for a fry, and-
“Holy fuck.”
“Hm?”
“Your eyes- are they red?”
“Mmhmm.”
“How??”
“Medical condition.”
Okay, now it was official. This guy was kinda cool.
“Damn,” he whispered. “You’re actually pretty neat.”
“Thanks?” Varian said skeptically, raising an eyebrow.
“Hey, so there’s this party my friend’s making me go to,” Hugo explained, pulling out his phone. “And I have to, you know, bring a date. Would you be interested?”
Varian looked… surprised. Shocked, even. He probably hadn’t thought this would extend past the one lunch.
But then, neither had Hugo. He’d seen a cute guy, and he’d had a free afternoon. But Varian was special. He was exciting, and interesting, and a sarcastic bastard. He had a witty response for everything he said.
Hugo kinda liked him.
“Seriously?” Varian asked slowly, looking beyond confused. “Most people think I’m weird by now.”
“Weird isn’t a bad thing,” Hugo said, smiling. “See, watch this.” He held out his hand, then bent his thumb backwards. “I have a hitch hiker’s thumb. People think it’s gross, but me? I think it’s wicked.”
“Really?” Varian chuckled, relaxing somewhat. A small smile flickered to life. He leaned one arm on the table. “I’d have to agree. That is pretty rad.”
“I know, right?” Both boys laughed, and Hugo decided he really liked Varian’s laugh. It was dorky and high-pitched, so contrasting to the cloudy demeanor he’d had for most of the afternoon.
It was cute.
“So, a second date?” He questioned, waving his phone in the air. Varian’s smile turned sarcastic.
“Was this a date?”
“What, you didn’t know?” Hugo asked innocently, feigning surprise. “Why, that’s embarrassing.”
“Alright, whatever,” Varian agreed, rolling his eyes. His nose scrunched, freckles all squishing together.
Hugo’s heart raced a little faster.
“Gonna need your number, Cherry.”
“Cherry?”
“Cherry eyes.” Varian’s face fell a little, but he recovered quickly, taking Hugo’s phone and typing in his number.
“That should work,” he said, sliding it back across the table. Hugo snorted, taking the phone back.
“Almost surprised you have a phone, mister ‘I was excited when the prequel movies came out.’” He glanced down at the new contact on his phone.
Varian’s name had a little bat emoji next to it.
“I don’t get it,” he admitted, glancing back up to the boy. Varian just grinned.
“It’s an inside joke.”
“With who?”
“Wouldn’t you like to know?” Hugo rolled his eyes, smiling.
“Okay, mystery man,” he chuckled. “Keep your secrets.”
“I plan on it,” Varian hummed, taking a sip of his drink. He paused, thoughtful, and looked back up at him. “You’re paying, right?”
“But of course.”
“Cool.” The boy flagged down the waiter again, then proceeded to order dessert.
He blinked innocently at Hugo, hardly bothering to hide his smug smile at this point.
“Want anything?”
“Not unless it’s a kiss,” he said with a wink. Varian laughed aloud, waving the waiter away.
“I thought you said this was a first date,” he teased. “Don’t those usually wait a while?”
“I dunno, are you interested in more than two dates?” Hugo queried, resting his chin in his palms. Varian just shrugged.
“Guess you’ll just have to wait and see.”