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Set in the 1950's, in which Jack is a time traveller runaway, and Rapunzel a dancer. 

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Fridays at the joint always pulled the biggest of crowds, and tonight wasn't an exception.

"Go get em', Goldy," Tarot slipped his hand off of Rapunzel's bare shoulder so she could pull her shawl on and fix the pins holding the two rolls on top of her head. His teeth shone bright against dark skin as he smiled proudly. "Little Moonlight's shining star!"

Rapunzel felt a rush of red flush her cheeks at the compliment. So desperate to get off the streets, Rapunzel hadn't even expected a glance from Tarot when she walked into his joint all but two years ago. She knew she was a sight for sore eyes, but time had been wearing her down to the bone, despite her young adulthood. She'd wasted too long in a blurry blast after high school was over and done with that she'd drunken herself dry—quite literally right to the pavement. Thinking about which hole she'd be in right about now hadn't it been for the Little Moonlight made her scared to bits.

"The socs are in tonight," Tarot added just before she could push the curtain aside. "Show em' a good time."

Rapunzel smiled right back. "I always do, Daddy-O," she promised. She only vaguely remembered feeling jittery her first time dancing in front of the socs, which was a tickle in itself considering she used to be a part of their crowd. She'd learned fairly quickly that their presence was something to be revelled in; They were quieter than the Moonlight's usual customers, and their stacks of loose dough made her want to perform at the absolute tip top of her abilities.

The crowd cheered as she slowly curled against the curtain, taking her rightful place onstage as the music roared to life. Rapunzel moved seamlessly with the trumpets flaring against soft piano. Though she'd always preferred dancing the doo-wop, there was something about jazz that ignited a spark deep inside Rapunzel. It was nostalgic, a sound to get lost in, and it was perfect for a sleazy club like this one.

Rapunzel looked up to give a rewarding look to the table of socs sitting in the corner, impossible to miss, only to lock eyes with another man standing still in the crowd. The room erupted as Mer and Poppy strolled out behind Rapunzel, but his crystal blue eyes stayed firmly on her. The nerve of him! Showing up around her all week only to ignore her—or, worse yet, disappear—each time she'd craved from him approach her. The least he could have done was introduce himself like a proper gentleman. Then again, no proper gentleman would come here, if they weren't hangin' with the socs. Everyone worth a dime knew that being seen in a place like the Little Moonlight as a lone social was simply asking to be treated like a lowly greaser. Thing was, this man didn't look like he was a part of either crowd. His attire screamed social, but his attitude yelled greaser. So which in the devil was he? Rapunzel had figured out how to woo the dough out of every kind of man who walked in here, but she couldn't figure out how to wrap her finger around this odd ball. Hell, she wasn't even sure she wanted to wrap her finger around him. She wasn't even sure if...

Rapunzel practically shook her head mid-dance in realization. Enough not knowing. This was her territory, and she was in control here.

Easy as cutting a smooth slice of pie, Rapunzel tuned out the prying hey, dolly's from overly cranked men and shifted all her efforts into wooing the silver-haired one from her place on stage. She moved gracefully, long hair swishing to and fro, all the while never taking her eyes away from him for more than a second. No matter how much she hated to admit it to herself, Rapunzel didn't want him to disappear again. There was a strange curiosity to him that she needed to figure out. He was a spark in the darkness she couldn't help to be drawn to.

"A dreamboat that one, isn't he?" Poppy commented over the sound, catching on to Rapunzel's motives. Over the heads of bobbing men, she caught Merida smirking at her too. Rapunzel knew they'd be asking questions at the apartment later—no sense turning back now. And besides...

Their focus was on something else now. When Rapunzel turned to look, she was surprised to see Silver Hair moving through the crowd.

Toward the stage.

Her stomach flipped and flopped, an army of butterflies erupting through her. Cool it, Raps, she told herself. You're being ridiculous. But her heart made no attempt to listen. She strutted toward the stranger, then crouched slightly on her heels until she found herself slightly higher than eye-level.

Something glimmered in the man's eyes, a mixture of lust Rapunzel recognized all too well, but another she found herself completely at loss about. "Crescent Moon?" He asked, referencing to her show name. Tarot had been the one to suggest the change from her previous one once he'd deemed her the star of his joint.

"The one and only," Rapunzel purred.

He lifted a hand, revealing a fan of dough between his fingertips. "Mind if I take you to the back?"

Rapunzel eyed him up and down. He was pretty. Scrawnier than her usual customers, wearing an unbuttoned light blue and white chemise tucked into sandy-coloured pants. His hair was lightly gelled into a trunk do, an alluring white she'd only ever seen on old folks. He was mesmerizing to watch, but that didn't stop Rapunzel from standing right back up to her full height. She felt taller than she naturally was, and not only because of the stilettos on her feet. The socs loved getting what they wanted, and the greasers preferred a cat-and-mouse chase, so what would happen if she gave someone that was neither both?

"After the show." She told him as she walk away. Only sparing him a single glance over her shoulder proved difficult. She'd expected him to disappear by the time the girls and she were done with their dance, and he did—or so she thought. She spotted a silver head quickly after, lurking by the back hall.

"Split the tips with Mer, Popsikins." Rapunzel gave her friend a wink, thinking of the doll of a shop they lived over. She didn't need more money than what she'd earned in between her skin and underclothes. "Get yourself those rockin' shoes you were eyeing."

Poppy squealed as Rapunzel walked away, right past Silver Hair and into the hall. She could feel his eyes on her as she walked. Neither of them said a word until she pushed through a door. The man shut it behind them, taking one, two steps toward her. He stopped just before where she sat on the arm of the sofa.

"Nineteen." Was all he said. Rapunzel expected more to come, but he simply stared at her as if she was supposed to understand what he'd meant.

"Dollars or minutes?"

The man shook his head. "Your age. You can be more than nineteen."

Rapunzel shifted. "Twenty-two, actually." It felt strange, saying that; She didn't usually reveal her age to customers. Not that they ever asked, anywho. All they ever came for was a dance to make them forget their lousy lives outside of the club. More than a dance, if they were trusted to keep it under the table. The fuzz hadn't caught em' yet, and Tarot had no intention of getting a shut down.

"Just a year younger than me," the man noted. "How'd a sweet girl like you end up in a place like this?"

"A sweet girl like—?" Rapunzel bit her tongue. Tarot's rules included no talk backs, unless our fella's were pushin'. And this man wasn't even coming close to pushin'. "It's a gig," she said instead. "And I enjoy it, in all truthfulness."

"But why?"

A laugh escaped Rapunzel's lips. "Are you writing a book?"

Silver Hair shrugged. "I guess you can say that."

Rapunzel shook her head slightly, mesmerized by his straight tone; No added lah-dee-dah lilted his voice. "You've such an odd way with words," she said. "I didn't mean it literally, though, if you are, congratulations. You're just askin' too many questions, is all." Rapunzel cleared her throat when no reply was given. She motioned to the sofa, giving the man her best heavy-lidded, green-eyed look. "So, whatcha' waitin' for, then? Come on, have a seat."

But the man closed his eyes briefly and breathed a soft sort of laugh. Then, he took a step back, offering a hand out to her. "Dance with me."

Rapunzel lifted her brows in surprise. "You're asking for a doo-wop?"

"Something a little slower," a playful smirk grew on the man's lips. "With a kiss, if you're willing."

A flush rushed to her cheeks, thankfully hidden by the dimmed yellow lights in the room. "The Little Moonlight doesn't do no kissin'."

"Even with special cases?"

Rapunzel breathed a short laugh and took the hand still being offered. She found herself being pulled tight against Silver Hair's chest. "Alright," she decided. "Razz my berries. What makes you a special case, mister...?"

"Jackson Overland," he was quick to answer. "But call me Jack." Hands slipped over her waist as Rapunzel lay her arms loosely around Jack's neck. "And let's see... I'm handsome, you like me, and I'm leaving tonight. I've already been here too long."

"Leavin' where?"

"Are you writing a book?"

Rapunzel couldn't help but laugh. "I see. Peggin' my own words against me. That's not very gentlemanly of you."

"Who says I'm a gentleman?" Jack spun her around, dropping her into a smooth dip. He brought his head down to her until his lips were but an inch from her own. The heat curling against her mouth warmed other parts of her. He dipped down slightly more, coming closer and closer, until he suddenly pulled her right back up to their earlier swing.

Rapunzel felt breathless. "Actor," she mumbled playfully. But all she received from Jack was a frown.

"Slang?" He guessed after a moment.

"For a show off, yeah." Rapunzel pushed Jack down, suddenly, right onto the sofa she knew they'd moved in front of. She fell swiftly with him, landing right on his lap. "Don't cha leave the house?"

Jack grinned, hands tightening over her hips ever so slightly. "Haven't been home in a while, actually."

Rapunzel shifted on his lap, earning a pleasured groan in return. "Maybe this is a good time to go back."

Jack grinned lazily, chuckling like she'd just told a panic-and-a-half. "I don't think so."

"Why not?" Rapunzel questioned. "Everyone should enjoy being home."

Jack was quiet for a while as she rubbed her hands soothingly over his neck and shoulders. She couldn't understand why he felt as intoxicating as he did. "I... Got in trouble," he said finally, glancing her down and up again. "For stealing something and using it to travel."

Rapunzel slipped a hand up to his cheek, petting her thumb over his skin. Her voice came out soft. "Why don't cha bring it back?"

Jack leaned into her touch, whether out of consciousness or not, Rapunzel didn't know. "I'll be in a lot more trouble if do."

She brushed the curl away from Jack's forehead as he spoke, watching as it fell back into place. "Maybe it's not as bad as you think it is."

"I stole the only copy they successfully made, Rapunzel. It took them a year before they could make a replica. Trust me, it's as bad as I think."

Rapunzel stiffened at the mention of her name. No one knew her as someone outside of Crescent Moon here, save from the crew. "How did you—?"

A flash of hurt suddenly passed in Jack's eyes. He looked away as soon as he caught her looking. "It doesn't matter." He said. Except, it did. He'd known her name all along! Was it a slip up? Did he even mean to let her know he knew?

"Of course it matters!" Rapunzel exclaimed. This had never happened before. She didn't know what to do anymore, now that she'd lost her invisibility.

Rapunzel tried to step off of Jack, but his hands kept her still. "Wait!" He said. "Stay. Please. Let me... Let me explain."

Reluctantly, she obliged. "Alrighty, then. Go on."

Jack closed his eyes and leaned his head back against the sofa for a few seconds. He looked her right back in the eyes when he was done his thinking. "It took me years to find you again. You really don't remember me, Punz?"

Punz. Something about the new nickname jogged at her memory, but nothing came forward.

"We met in 1951. You were seventeen; I was twenty. You were working at this diner, just about to graduate, and—When I stole the porter, it was an accident. I got myself in with the wrong gang, and I didn't wanna go to jail. I didn't know where to go so I... I pressed every button on the porter ended up jumping—right into that damn diner."

Rapunzel was shaking her head now, refusing to remember. It felt the same as if a word she couldn't pinpoint—but knew she knew—was hangin' at the tip of her tongue. Rhona's Diner. She never thought much about why she always took the long walk to the Little Moonlight.

"They caught us in '64," Jack continued. "You'd never seen the ocean, and you were finally ready to jump into the future, even if it was just by over a decade. They appeared right when we were about to—" He cut his gaze down, suddenly, red tinting his pale skin. But, despite the zorros, Rapunzel was surprised to hear how choked up his next words were getting. "We got separated, running. You didn't know how to use the porter, so I had it." She felt his finger play affectionately with the curls falling over her hips. He couldn't look her in the eyes, but Rapunzel saw the pain written over him nonetheless. "I watched them take you, Punz. I watched them take you away from me."

Rapunzel straightened in his lap as she took in a gulp of air. "If any of this is true, then what in the heaven's am I doin' here sittin' in this joint?"

"They must've taken you in for questioning, probably about me," Jack answered. "And then they obviously dropped you right back in your timeline like I'd hoped. Didn't know why I was surprised to find out your memories about me were wiped. Those assholes." He added, lost in thought.

"That's why you weren't approaching me all week," Rapunzel realized. "You were waitin' to see me run up to you all over the moon to have you back."

Jack nodded. "I couldn't stand talking to you like none of it ever happened."

Rapunzel realized that her heart was quickening as she looked into his crystal blue eyes. She'd felt drawn to him from the moment she'd seen him walk by, something that had never happened to her before. And then when he appeared at the club...

It dawned on her, suddenly. Those two years she'd thought she'd lost to parties and shenanigans—they weren't a blurred mess of alcohol-induced amnesia. She'd spent them with him. Workin' at the diner. Travelling to the past.

Falling in love.

It dawned on her just as the fuzz appeared out of thin air behind them. She only had time to twist and catch Tarot's apologetic eye before they lifted guns flashing bright blue sparks, and forced her and Jack into bad night's sleep.

~ 2634 words ~

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If you liked this prompt, don't forget to vote and comment your thoughts! :)

Well, this didn't exactly end like I originally planned it to at all, haha.

This is my first time participating in prompts of any kind, (so bare with me, and I'm sorry if it was long!), but I had a blaaast writing this one, and I'm super duper excited for next week! Just a little hint-—It might be a video game crossover... But I'm not sure yet. ;) See you then!

(Posted February 6th, 2020)