Requested By: Charile1234

Genre: fluff, hurt/comfort

Spoilers: none

Warnings: a lil bit of sad and a single swear word

Dialogue Prompts: “I don't want to say goodbye, so I'm going to say… see you later. Maybe.” and “I thought I would never see you again.” (Second prompt provided by WinterBlue_Angel22 )

Terminology: f/c means “favorite color”, f/s means “favorite scent”
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Y/n’s POV:

The Day of Hearts is supposed to be a magical day where the cares of the world are temporarily replaced by requited (or unrequited) feelings of love. Silly grins, butterflies in everyone's stomachs, romantic activities… you know the drill.

However, this Day of Hearts is different, and I don't feel the slightest ounce of happiness.

I'm gazing at my best friend from afar, sighing as I fiddle with the roses I bought for him. He looks so lonely sitting on the edge of that beautifully decorated fountain. A pressure in my stomach builds up the more I think about what I'm about to tell him. He likely won't take the news we'll, but I know I can't keep this from him any longer.

“Hey, Varian…” I smile shyly and wave at him, already having to fight the feeling of oncoming tears. I want to turn back and hide forever, but it's too late for that. Varian has already perked up at the sound of my voice.

“Y/n!” A dorky, buck-toothed smile creases his lips when he lays his beautiful blue eyes on me. He stands up instantly and rushes over to me. “Gosh, it's so good to see you.”

He glances down at my arms and points at the roses I'm holding.

“Who gave you those?” he asks me innocently.

My face flushes red. Embarrassed, I briefly hide myself behind the delicate flowers before handing them to Varian. “Actually, I got these for you.”

“No way! That's so sweet of you, thanks.” The way Varian cradles the bundle of roses in his arms makes my heart practically melt. Before I can say anything else, he adds, “I got something for you, too. Something special that I hope you'll like.”

“O-Oh, you didn't have to…”

My voice trails off when Varian pulls out something heart-shaped out of his pocket and places it into my hand. His touch lingers for a few seconds more than we both intended, but he eventually pulls his hand away. The item he gifted me fits perfectly in the palm of my hand. It's f/c-colored, chalky to the touch, and has a little bit of sparkle to it. When I look back up at my friend, I immediately notice the light blush that dusts his freckled cheeks.

“It’s a bath bomb,” he tells me, “only it doesn't explode, heh heh. I noticed just how much you love the scent of f/s, so I figured you'd like to bask in it the next time you take a bath.”

I raise the bath bomb to my nose and get a good whiff of it. Yeah, it does smell like f/s. I smile, hinting a little sadness when I remember that I'll never get to have moments like these with him ever again. “Thank you, Varian. I love it.”

There it is again: that wonderful smile of his. “You're welcome.”

A sigh escapes my lips– an uncomfortable one. I didn't mean for it to sound like that. I can already sense unease radiating off of him. I mentally cringe, knowing damn well just how much he knows me. It's almost embarrassing.

Finally, he asks me, “What's wrong?”

“I, uh…”

I'm not ready for this, I tell myself. I'm not ready for this, but… he has to know.

“There's…” I take a deep breath before continuing. “There's something I need to tell you. It's something important.”

Varian nods, carefully setting the bouquet of roses on the fountain. “You can tell me, Y/n. I'll listen.”

“Ok…”

I bring my hands close to my chest, gently pressing the sparkly bath bomb against it. Oh gosh, the tears are already welling up in my eyes.

Varian’s looking straight at me, waiting for me to say something. While his gentle gaze normally sends happy butterflies through my stomach, it certainly doesn't feel that way this time. I'm so frightened. My palms are sweating and before I know it, I–

“I'm moving away,” I blurt out, squeezing my eyes shut.

My body starts to tremble and hunch over slightly as I'm fighting the urge to scream and cry. Varian's jaw drops ever so slightly, revealing just how much shock he's in. Then his expression changes. I've never seen him this heartbroken before. I bite my lip. He doesn't deserve to have his heart broken on The Day of Hearts.

“Are you serious?”

I nod slowly at his initial response, hugging myself tightly to avoid collapsing. I'm close to crying in a messy manner, but I hold myself back. I have to keep it all together. I can't worry him more.

Varian's brow furrows, distraught by the news. He then squeezes my shoulder gently after cautiously stepping closer to me. “Why are you moving?”

I take a shaky breath. “My parents aren't making enough money here, so they're making arrangements to live in one of the neighboring kingdoms instead. Apparently, they haven't told me any of this until yesterday. They've been planning this for quite a while now.”

Varian sighs, giving me the look a sad puppy would. “You're kidding… Y/n, I'm so sorry.”

A single teardrop rolls down the side of my face, prompting me to quickly wipe it away. “It's not your fault. I'm just… I'm scared, Varian– like, really scared. I don't want to leave you and the others behind.”

Varian wraps me in a warm embrace. I cry, clinging to him a clothes like I would never touch them again. Though, in a sense, that would be true. The way he sways from side to side soothes me a little, though it doesn't completely take away the pain. It only makes me long to stay here forever by his side.

“We'll get through this together, ok?” Varian says to me, gripping me tighter and nuzzling his face into the crook of my neck. “Maybe you don't have to go? I can take you back to my house and– and I can make you a makeshift bedroom.”

I sniffle softly and rub Varian's shoulder out of reassurance. “I think I have no choice, Varian. I'm sorry…”

“Oh…” I feel him start to tense up. “I understand. I don't want to upset your parents or anything. I just… I don't want you to go, either. You're important to me.”

I give a sad chuckle, melting into Varian's touch. “You're important to me, too. You always will be.”

Suddenly, Varian pulls away from me, still gripping onto my shoulders. His face becomes redder by the second before he suggests, “Let's spend the rest of the time we got left together, ok? I don't want this all to go to waste.”

I smile, wiping away the remainder of my tears. “I like that idea. I got until tonight.”

“Deal.”

Time Skip To Later That Night…

“Y/n, can you make this quick?” Mother calls from the horse buggy. “Your father and I would like to head out as soon as we can.”

“Ok!” I reply, turning back around and sighing softly when I see Varian. “Well, this is it…”

He's standing right in front of me, tears in his eyes and hands in his pockets. “Yeah…”

It's awkward for a minute. We can't seem to take our eyes off each other, though.

Clearing his throat, Varian pulls out a letter from his pocket and holds it out to me. It's sealed with a red heart sticker. “It's the only type of sticker being sold today. Read it later, will you?”

I take it gratefully. “Thank you, and don't worry. I will.”

More silence.

Then a deep breath.

Varian pulls me in for another hug, to which I accept. Only this time, he's the one crying instead of me. His crying is definitely a lot softer than mine was earlier, making it clear that he doesn't want to admit how much this sudden change is eating away at him.

“I'm so sorry you have to leave,” he whispers.

“I'm sorry, too,” I say sadly. “I really am.”

“Promise me you'll write?”

“I promise.”

Varian pulls away again. He sniffles and wipes at his eyes, chuckling sheepishly. “Good. I don't know what I'd do if I couldn't talk to you. I'll send you lots of letters every day, if I have to.”

That last statement makes me laugh. “I don't deserve you, Varian. You're amazing.”

“Hey, you gotta do what you gotta do.” Varian rubs the back of his neck and smiles.

“Y/n, it's time to go!” The hurried cries of my mother are persistant.

“I have to go now,” I say to him.

Varian waves one last goodbye to me, holding back a second round of tears. “I guess this is goodbye, then.”

I shake my head. “I don't want to say goodbye, so I'm going to say… see you later. Maybe.”

“Ok.” Varian smiles sadly. “See you later.”

My heart thumps in my chest as I walk over to my dearest friend and plant a kiss on his cheek. “Until we meet again, Moondrop.”

I don't even turn around to see Varian's likely dumbfounded reaction as I rush over to the buggy where my parents are seated. I choose to sit across from my parents when I step inside, holding the letter tightly on my lap. Then the buggy starts to move. I don't even look back then. It hurts to much to see his face now.

After driving for a while, my eyes fall to where the letter is. Without much hesitation, I open the envelope without ripping the sticker that's sealing its contents from me. After pulling out the sheet of paper that's inside it, I begin to read.

Dear Y/n,

I'm sorry if this seems rushed. That's because it is. I was trying to whip up a quick yet meaningful farewell letter before you left, so hopefully I succeeded. Let me know in the next letter you send!

There's something that's been on my mind ever since everything that's happened in the last few years since we met. We've been through so much together, and it's made me realize just how much you mean to me. You are my best and closest friend, and there's no one else more special than you are to me (except maybe Flynn Rider, but this isn't about him).

On the second sheet of paper in this envelope, there are a bunch of signatures and notes from all our friends. I hope you get the time to read them all. The Princess spent a lot of extra time writing her note to you. I think I sat around waiting in her room for more than fifteen minutes. She's very precise about what she writes, I'll tell you that.

One last thing. Getting back on that first note, there's something else I haven't told you before that I should've told you a long time ago.

The truth is that I'm deeply in love with you.

I'm sorry I kept that to myself for so long. You deserve better than that, but I'm so much of a coward that I kept my true feelings hidden away. I hope you forgive me.

Yours Truly,

Varian Ruddiger

I burst into tears right then and there. Covering my mouth with my hand, I curl up on the seat and hold the letter close to my chest. I wish that I had told him my feelings as well.

Three Years Later…

Corona hasn't changed much. All the same people are here, bustling around the same streets and shops. Even so, returning here doesn't sit quite right by me.

I'm awkwardly stumbling around Corona's paved and tiled streets, avoiding eye contact with everyone and anyone I come across. I haven't seen them in years. Would they even recognize or remember me?

Would he even remember me?

From the letters we've exchanged, I picked up that Varian now works for Rapunzel as the Royal Engineer and Science Expert. I've already checked Old Corona, but Quirin is the only inhabitant left of the Ruddiger Household. He told me that Varian has moved into the castle, which doesn't surprise me one bit. Rapunzel would most certainly need him close by in case he's needed.

That's the part that makes sense.

What doesn't make sense is Varian kissing someone else…

… right in front of me.

She appears to be one of the castle maids. I can tell by the way she's holding that broom in her hands. Then there's Varian, my one true love, kissing her right on her big, hot mouth. I don't think he notices me.

I guess surprising him wasn't such a good idea after all.

“Varian?” I hate that I'm speaking right now. Why am I speaking? He's having a moment with someone else– a moment that I shouldn't be interrupting.

Upon hearing my voice, he drops everything to look over his shoulder. His eyes widen and his jaw drops. “Y/n?”

The girl he's with peeks at me with interest before asking Varian, “Who's that?”

Then I turn and run. I don't even care that he's calling my name. My head pounds and my vision blurs with tears. I run until I reach the fountain– the very same fountain we had exchanged Day of Hearts gifts by. Oh, how the memories make my heart ache.

I don't know what I should've expected. Why wouldn't he hang around another girl while I'm gone? I left him. He deserves to have someone who'll stay by his side for all eternity. I'm not that girl.

I'll never be that girl.

“Y/n!”

Oh gosh, what is he doing? I ask myself, slowly turning around to face him. He's out of breath, and beads of sweat lace his forehead. He looks so… grown up. It only makes me long for him more.

I awkwardly raise my hand and wave at him shyly. “Hi… Long time no see.”

Without warning, Varian rushes to me and scoops me up in a hug, twirling us around until he can't anymore. When he sets me back down on land, I'm left feeling astonished.

Why is he doing this?

He still has his hands on my shoulders, pointing those sparkling blue eyes at me. I don't like how easily that made me melt.

“Y/n, that's really you, right?” He asks me this with so much desperation that it makes my heart ache. “Oh gosh, you don't know how much I missed you!”

I scoff. “You made sure to express that in your letters.”

Varian only shakes his head. “That was only a portion of my longing to have you back. I missed you so much more than that. I'm so happy to have you back!”

He embraces me once more. I don't hug him back. He notices and pulls away gently.

“What's wrong?”

My heart skips a beat. I'm getting a mad case of deja vu, and it's paining me so badly. I bite my lips nervously and take a shaky breath, not knowing how to word this properly.

“Who… Who is she?” I ask him. “That other girl?”

Varian looks away briefly, clearly feeling some shame. “That was Faith, one of the maids. We've grown quite close over the years since you left.”

I nod my head slowly. “I see.”

We stand in silence for a while– an awkward silence that I wish would go away. With a sigh, Varian begins to explain everything.

“Y/n, I'm sorry you saw that,” he says. “Really, I am. I just had to be sure she made me feel the same way I feel about you.”

I raise an eyebrow. “What do you mean?”

His cheeks flush. “Ever since you left, I… I felt like there was something missing. It was like you had left an empty space in my heart. I thought I would never see you again. That thought broke me, Y/n… I needed someone badly– someone to hold me and remind me of the way you would hold me when times got rough. That's when I met Faith, and she… she reminded me of you.”

My eyes widen at that. I bring my hands to my chest. “Oh… Varian, I… I didn't realize just how much that would affect you. I'm… I'm sorry. I'm so sorry.”

“Don't apologize, Y/n.” Varian reaches for my hand and gently pulls it to his chest. “None of this was your fault. I honestly wasn't expecting you to come back. You never said anything.”

“I was planning to surprise you,” I say, rubbing the back of my neck. “I should've seen something like this coming, honestly.”

Varian shakes his head. “No, no… I should've waited for you. That's what someone faithful would do.”

“Well, you're here now… with me. That should count for something, right?”

More silence.

“Y/n, kissing Faith didn't feel right,” Varian tells me.

I laugh softly. “That's way too much information, Varian. Maybe you shouldn't be telling me this?”

“I'm serious, Y/n. I'll never love her as much as I love you.” He lets go of my hand. “I'm going to break things off with her. She deserves to find someone better who will love her the way she needs.”

I don't say anything after that. As I watch Varian walk away into the castle, something inside me bursts.

I'm guessing it's my knees.

I collapse to the ground, hugging myself and staring after him in awe. I can't believe this is happening. He really did want me.

A tear slides down my cheek, and I know now that all that waiting wasn't for nothing.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Hi, it's been a while! I'm so sorry it took this long to get this out. I suck big time 🙇‍♀️

Lots has been going on and my mental health isn't what it used to be. I'm blaming this all on myself

I'm going to go ahead and finish the other requests I have so I don't keep you waiting. I want to keep writing, but I've been struggling to write lately. I'm trying to get back into it

Also, I'm no longer going to publish the word counts for each chapter. It takes some time to count up all the words (excluding the bolded parts), and it would make it easier to just finish and post

As a quick side note: For the past two weeks, I've been OBSESSED with Jesse Pinkman bots on c.ai! Jesse is my silly lil guy and I love him 😭❤️

As I was writing this one shot, I had to stop myself from typing in the little "*" things every time I was writing anything that wasn't dialogue 💀

(Also, that might explain the cheesy formatting of this particular chapter lol)

Anyway, I hope you enjoyed! Let me know what you think, and I'll see you in the next one shot ❤️❤️❤️