(Warning: Long Chapter)

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Chapter 39 -
Giovanni Didn't Come To Paint
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“Why Hello~ Milady.”

Cass looks beside her and sees Varian smirking up at her after sitting down. She groans and rolls her eyes. You sit next to Varian, clearly still asleep since this thing started early.

“What is HE doing here?” Cassandra asks you.

You shrug and yawn, “Too early to talk, please call back later.” Your head falls onto Varian's shoulder.

You didn't know how long you were asleep, but you opened your eyes when a whistle is blown. Silently you watch Eugene go throughout the course and mentally growl since Cassandra’s dad is picking on Eugene.

Seriously. Having a bigger guard on Eugene's back as Eugene does one push up. He climbs up a very high wooden wall and when he lands, he's catapulted up.

“Ah!” His shirt catches on the corner of the wall on the top. The Captain and other guards taunt and laugh at him.

It was late again and Eugene had gone inside with a defeated posture and looked extremely tired.

The three of you look to each other before going in after him. Cass leans on the door frame of Eugene's bedroom, “Ready to give up?”

Eugene scoffs, slouching back on his bed, “Oh, you'd love that wouldn't you?”

Cass bites her lip, “Honestly, I don't care.”

You sit next to Eugene and can tell Cass secretly does care. Varian is standing next to her. “Look….it doesn't matter anyway. No matter how hard I try on that final tomorrow, your dad will cook up on some cheap shot to make sure I fail.” He crosses his arms, stressfully, “He wants me out, end of story.”

Cass glances away and goes to walk until you speak up, “Eugene, you're way too much effort to become something you're not. Use who you really are to show the Captain, or just prove to anyone that you are more than what they see.”

You smile as Cass gives her say too, “You know for someone who spent most of his life breaking the rules to get want he wants. You're having an awful lot of trouble dealing with someone who is breaking the rules to get what HE wants.”

She leaves and you pat Eugene’s shoulder, “You can do it.” You get up and head to the door, but Varian stops you.

“Mr. Rider, you do know you are my hero. You are a legend because you used your brain.”

“Half of the time.” You mumble.

“You make your own rules, use what you do best and be the devilishly handsome, FLYNN RIDER!” Varian pants and you gently pull him out. “Varian's right, just be yourself, Eugene!”

“(____)! I need to stay one more night to cheer, Flynn on tomorrow! I know he can do it!” Varian gives you pleading eyes and you laugh.

“You didn't have to ask. I'm sure he needs his fanboy to cheer him on.”

The next morning, you were a little more awake than the day before. You yawn and lean on Max now since Varian was on the other side of Cass.

You realize something. Shorty was asleep and in line for the training course. It took awhile, but Eugene finally came out.

“Complete the course before the whistle blows.” The captain said then jumps when Eugene speaks up in a sarcastic tone.

“Actually, sir. Can you go through that one more time? It's just my brain is so use to tuning your voice out that I-”

The Captain glares in annoyance, “Line up, Rider! I can't believe you made it this far.” Eugene grins smugly, but Captain smirks, “But I'm glad you did because I made this course difficult, especially for YOU.”

Varian holds in an excited yell as Eugene just smiles emphatically, “I'm touched.” He hugs the Captain and he's shoved off. “Get off of me!”

The Captain points, “Go!”

Eugene takes off and as he goes along the course, the Captain kept gesturing other guards to make each course difficult.

“GO FLYNN RIDER!” Varian cheers and fanboys, “Seeing him in action is the so AMAZING!”

You laugh and watch Eugene almost go for the finish line, but he stops and heads over to pick up Shorty. He says something to the Captain and you notice Eugene stealthily swipe the whistle. He runs.

“Ha! You lose!” The Captain laughs and tries to find his whistle, “Where's my whis-”

Eugene blows it and is on the other side of the finish line, “Complete the course before the whistle blows. Look at that! I can follow rules. I’ll take a medium uniform sir. Athletic fit.” He throws the whistle back.

Varian jumps, “Yes! He did it!” He hugs Cassandra and she rolls her eyes.

Her hand pats his head, “Yeah, yeah. Now get off me.” She pushes Varian off.

You cross your arms and annoyingly look away when Varian blushes shyly, “Sorry, Milady.”

After Eugene, Cassandra, the Captain, and other guards leave to get Eugene started on his first duty. You and Varian were left to wander around the castle.  

“Varian, do you like Cassandra.”

Varian smiles, “Yeah, who wouldn't?”

“Eugene doesn't like her.”

“Well he doesn't see how brave and extraordinary she is, besides, Cassandra is our friend.”

You hum and you two stop when Eugene in a Royal Guard uniform and hugs you two around the shoulders, “Guess who's a Royal Guard? And I'm finally on break.”

“What duty did they give you?” Varian asks.

“Dungeon Duty.”

You look at him in confusion, “Dungeon Duty? Well what are you doing up here? You're supposed to be there until someone takes your place.”

Eugene laughs and shakes his head, “Oh no. The Cap said to watch the prisoner EVERY 5 minutes. I walked around the block twice, so now I have a 10 minutes break.” He grins and taps his head, “Math.”

“That's what you said at the Baker's and look how that turned out.” You cross your arms.

Varian looks like he was going over what Eugene had calculated, “Mr. Rider, you're right, but that of kinda math doesn't necessarily fit in with any Royal Guard duties. Especially if you have to be there the whole time, like (____) said.”

Eugene scoffs, “Oh what do you two know? You're not as smart as me and I finished school, easiest three days of my life.” He smirks and walks off.

Varian stares after Eugene, “Did he just say-”

You hold up a hand, “It's best not to question him.

Rudiger comes out of nowhere and hops onto your back, purring. “Hey Rudiger.” You scratch under his chin and he purrs.

Varian rolls his eyes when you hold Rudiger like a baby, “He's just too adorable. I mean look at him, Varian!” You hold up Rudiger to him.

Rudiger smiles and chitters happily, holdings is hands out to Varian. Varian blinks at him then looks at you as you grin at him with a soft expression. Varian takes Rudiger and chuckles, petting his head, “I agree. You can't be mad at this face.”

You giggle and when you two go around the corner, Eugene had done the same and the three of you are knocked to the floor.

Your eyes spot a wooden container and something rolled up inside slightly opens a bit.Robin the XI painting?

“Idiots!” Giovanni says in an accent and growls, trying to get up from the tangle.

“Sorry, Giovanni! Here let me help you.” Eugene helps him up and Varian helps you.
You hold the container in your hands and Rudiger sniffs it from Varian’s shoulder before poofing up at Giovanni.

“Ahhh!” Giovanni growl grumpily and waves his hands at you three, “Watch’a where ya goin’!!!” He turns to you to take the container, but you hold on. “Give’a it to me!”

You still hold on and Eugene chuckles sheepishly, “(____), give Giovanni his document tube back.”

“No.”

“(____). Now is not the time to be stubborn in front of someone important.”

“Why would someone like Giovanni be trying to steal Robin the XI painting?”

Suddenly you're swung into Eugene and you both groan.

Giovanni ran and Eugene picks you up, “(____). You do not accuse someone that they stole, especially Giovanni.”

“But that isn't Giovanni!”

“Something smells fishy.” Varian hums, tapping his chin and Shorty is next to him. He pulls out a fish from his beard, “That, would be me.”

Varian stares at him weirdly, then yelps when Rudiger takes off, “Rudiger!” He runs over him, “I'll catch up in a bit!” He yells down the hall.

You struggle, but Eugene held you over his shoulder, “So you won't beat up Giovanni. Let's go check on Blondie’s portrait.”

“But Eugene!”

“No, buts.”

Eugene goes into the room Rapunzel’s in and smiles, “Hey Blondie, portrait's done already?” Eugene sets you down as Rapunzel hums a yes.

“That's great and quick. How did it turn ou- Holy Horribleness!!” Eugene stares with his mouth open and you see that Rapunzel's portrait looks like it was done by a toddler.

With Varian, he ran down stairs and endless hallways until Rudiger stopped in front of a random lone closet. “Rudiger…..what….. What is it?” Varian pants then opens the door to see a small man tied up.

Varian panics and pulls off the cloth covering the guy's mouth, “Sir! What happened?”

“I am the real Giovanni!!!”

You see the door is open behind you and you run out, hoping Eugene will see the painting of Robin the XI is a fake. “If he won't believe me, then I'll do this on my own.” You almost run into Shorty, “Shorty, you're going with me.” You run again.

Shorty was going to say something, “I-...wait.” He runs after you, “What are we doing again?”

Varian had give the real Giovanni to Pete and Stan before meeting up with Eugene and Cass. “Guys! I just found the real Giovanni.”

“Good, now we can catch the REAL thief.” Cass says and hops onto Fidella. She pulls Varian behind her.

Eugene gets on Max, “Wait, wait. Where's (____)?”

Varian raises a brow, “I thought she was with you.”

Eugene feels confused then his eyes widen, “She went after the crook! Go Max!”

Varian wraps his arms around Cass, if he wasn't worried for you, he'd be thrilled that he was hugging Cassandra. Varian could barely see, but he could spot your figure and another chasing the bad guy.

You climb onto the ferry and tackle the thief. Shorty tries to climb on too, but falls into the water. “Don't worry! I believe my beard can be used as a floaty!” He goes under just as Eugene goes over him with Max.

Cass stops Fidella, “I got him!” She dives into the water and Varian helps pull her back up after Shorty is on the dock.

Quickly, you take the painting from fake Giovanni and run to hide. You pant, but try to keep quiet while in between two crates.

“(____)?” You hear Eugene whisper carefully.

You got to peek but freeze when you look up.

“There you are.” The fake Giovanni grabs the painting, but you still keep a hold on it. “YOU BRAT!” He pulls to hard and the container flings somewhere.

You run after it and Max and Eugene now appear to deal with the thief. You climb on a tall crate and gasp when the painting is bouncing toward the waters.

The waters slightly scared you and you gulp, “All for this painting.” You run and jumps to grab the rope hanging above.

Varian's eyes widen and yells in shock, watching as you swing far out to the water. Your hand grabs the belt of the container, which was an inch away from landing in the water and you swing around back to the ferry.

“Crossbow procedure number one! Always keep the safety on.” Eugene smirks and turns his head toward you.

You glare at the thief and kick him. He goes flying up and slams into a crate. You accidentally let go and fall, “Whoa!”

Eugene catches you and Max keeps hold on the thief. You pant from the slightly adrenaline of the swing before laughing, “AWESOME!”

You keep the painting around your shoulder while the ferry is turned around. Before you step off the ferry, you're pulled into a very tight embrace.

“(____)! Do realize how much you scared me!?” Varian voice wavered.

You smile, “No, but you should've seen me! I kicked-”

“Don't EVER do that again! Hear me? You aren't like Eugene or Cassandra.”

You frown, “What?”

“Varian!”

The two of you see a slightly angry Quirin. “I need to go. Take it easy for awhile okay?” Varian says in a promising tone.

You sigh, “Okay.” He hugs you and runs to his dad as Rudiger follows them with a book in his mouth.

“(____)? Everything alright?” Cassandra asks, placing a hand on you arm in worry.

You shrug her hand off and shove the painting into her arms, “Yes.” You walk off from her.

Going through town, you couldn't believe that Varian had said that to you. Did he think you weren't strong or something?

A cart goes by and something rolls off, gently stopping at your feet.

You pick it up and unroll it to find out its a poster for an event that's in a week.

Challenge of the Brave.