BEFORE READING THIS CHAPTER LETS TALK ABOUT THIS PICTURE

I DON'T SHIP IT, BUT LIKE
LOOK AT HIM
OUR BOY
LIKE, VARIAN AGED SO WELL, PUPERTY DID HIM SO FREAKING GOOD
I'M GASPING FOR AIR RN
LIKE I CAN'T EVEN-
WHERE CAN I BUY ONE
WHERE CAN I BUY ONE

(Also, credit to whoever who drew it, you're an actual god)

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Reminder: Promises are meant to be KEPT
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"I - can we - can we save her? We can save her, right?" The poor alchemist was completely out of breath, after running with full speed through the castle, following Pete and Stan who were carrying your limp body. They had now reached the medical room, and Varian was now staring with horror, as you got put on a bed, doctors examining your body.

Ever since you fainted, you hadn't woken up. Not even when you were placed safely on the back of a horse, on your way back to Corona. It had taken a little convincing, in order to get Pete and Stan to take you with them back. But Varian had insisted, and once the guards saw his teary eyes, they went along with it.

When the doctor didn't give any answers, Varian let out a cry. He walked over to your side, and without even thinking about it, he took your hands in his. He stared down at you, not sure what he was feeling. Or what he should be feeling.

He had almost just met you. And yet here he was, almost bursting with sadness, upon looking at you're closed eyes, not sure if they would ever open again. It would've been easier if it had looked like you were sleeping. But it didn't. You were in pain. Your very expression told him so.

And it wasn't exactly like the dried blood on your face and clothes helped the situation much either. 

Why did Varian feel this way? Why did he feel like he was in just in much pain as you were in? Why did his heart drop to the ground upon seeing your unconscious self? Why did every inch of him long for you to wake up? And why did it feel like the colors got drained from the world, when he feared that you didn't?

Varian wasn't stupid. The thought of him developing a crush on you had crossed his mind. Many times in fact. And just as many times, he had realized that he had indeed been struck by one of cupid's arrows.

But he just couldn't explain why. You were a criminal. The top two most wanted one, for crying out loud. You were a threat to him and his friends. Somewhat a stranger. You could be ruthless. Sneaky. And you had a bad influence on him.

So then why did he feel this way? Just why did he find you so goddamn attractive in every single way?

Was it because of your sassy attitude? Your confidence? Your bravery? Was it because that he could see beneath your layers, and tell that there was a genuinely good person? Or maybe because of the fact that you saved his life? Maybe because of how you tried to act all tough, but really you were just as sweet and caring as himself? Or was it your smile that did the trick? Or how your eyes lit up, whenever you talked about something you were interested in? How you reminded him so much of himself, but at the same time, the two of you were completely opposite? Because he found you so mysterious? Because as a boy who was used to know everything, it sure caught his attention that he couldn't figure you out.

Varian blinked, slightly flustered. Yeah, it might be one of those above that made his heart skip a few beats every time he saw you.

He didn't hear a word when the doctors told him to step away, he was too caught up in his own thoughts. And therefore he was taken by surprise when some of them pushed him a few meters back and out of the room. He wanted to scream, yell, and act up. He wanted to stay by your side, but he couldn't move a muscle. He didn't even get one last glimpse of you, before the doctors closed the door right in his face.

He took an unsteady step back. What was he going to do now? Could he translate the words on the paper that you and he had found in Argo's house, without you? He was smart. He could try. But he didn't know if he'd be able to concentrate.

"Oh, Varian." Your voice sounded inside his head. "That was very, very stupid of you."

He clenched his fists. Right now you were possibly dying, believing that he was the one who did this. That it had been his and the royal staff's plan all along. That they didn't keep their part of the deal when you so kindly had tried to help them stop Argo.

Varian was furious.

And he almost got relieved when he saw Eugene and Rapunzel running towards them from the end of the hall. He had someone to take out his anger on.

"Varian!" Rapunzel breathed. "We heard what happened, but we want to hear it directly from you." she began, but Varian already cut her off.

"You." Varian said with a shaky voice, looking at Eugene who had just entered. He walked towards the man, with a threatening finger pointed at him. "This is your fault!"

Eugene blinked, pointing at himself too. "What, me? Are you sure? What now?"

"You made a PROMISE, Eugene!" Varian yelled. He didn't care if anyone heard him. He wanted everyone to hear, he wanted you to hear that it wasn't his fault. "And you BROKE it! Both of you!" He now pointed at Rapunzel who stared at him in pure chock. "YOU PROMISED THAT YOU'D AGREE WITH HER TERMS! YOU PROMISED THAT THERE'D BE NOBODY FOLLOWING US! YOU PUT US IN DANGER!"

"What? The guards? We did that to protect you, Varian-" Eugene tried calmly, clearly fighting mentally to understand what the hell was happening, and why Varian was acting this way, but Varian cut him off. His heart was racing, his blood rushing to his head. His vision was blurry.

"SHE TRIED TO HELP US, AND LOOK WHAT SHE GOT IN RETURN! SHE'S DYING! AND IT'S BECAUSE OF YOU! AND EVEN IF SHE SURVIVES, YOU HAVE ALREADY SENTENCED HER TO DEATH! DO YOU KNOW HOW ALL OF THE VILLAINS ARE GOING TO TARGET HER, WHEN THEY FIND OUT THAT SHE GAVE THE HIDEOUT'S LOCATION TO SOME GUARDS!?"

"Varian, we didn't-" Rapunzel tried, her eyes full of tears. She tried to reach out for him, but when she did, Varian shoved her hand aggressively away.

"Hey, hey, hey Varian" Eugene spoke calmly, trying to cut through to him. "We'll figure this out, okay?"

"We'll figure this out?!"

"Yeah, just take a deep breath or something."

"TAKE A DEEP BREATH? (Y/n) IS DYING IN THERE!"

"Fair point, but-"

"HOW IS IT-" Varian continued furiously, slamming his fists into the wall. He couldn't stop now. He had set his anger loose. He didn't want to stop. "THAT EVERYTIME SOMEONE I CARE ABOUT IS TAKEN AWAY FROM ME, IT'S BECAUSE YOU CAN'T KEEP YOUR PROMISES! WHY DO I ALWAYS HAVE TO PAY THE PRICE? FIRST MY DAD, AND NOW (Y/N)?" His voice cracked when he said your name.  

Deep down Varian knew that Eugene had done it in his best wishes. But at the time, he didn't care. You were dying. You - the only girl he had ever taken a proper interest in - were now fighting for your life, struggling to keep your heart beating, because of Eugene and Rapunzel.

His heart was beating in his head, every pump making him see redder. He were bleeding from his palms, because of how hard he had cut his nails in his flesh. His chin was wet from tears.

Rapunzel was half-hiding behind Eugene, as if she was afraid that Varian would go full Ready-as-I'll-ever-be on her. Normally, that would've hurt him, but right now, he couldn't care less.

In fact, right now, he almost wished he was near an automaton, so he could smash their little innocent faces into pieces. Making them hurt like he hurt. Make them taste their own medicine.

Okay, maybe that was a little too aggressive.

"Varian, how - how did (Y/n) even get hurt?" Eugene spoke carefully. Eugene looked nervously at Rapunzel, and the look they shared, told Varian exactly what they thought: Because it was the exact same question he had struggled answering himself: Why did you matter so much to him all of a sudden?

Varians fuzzy head tried to keep up. "Wha- how did she get hurt?" He repeated through gritted teeth. "She got hurt because of-"

He stopped. You face appeared in his mind, and your voice once again echoed inside of his head. "V-Varian? What was in that chocolate?"

Varian blinked, as something cleared in his head. The chocolate. The chocolate Monty had given him, and told him to share with you.

Suddenly Varian felt bad. He had falsely accused Eugene and Rapunzel for almost killing you. But they still had put you in danger. And if you were to wake up, you had a chance to get executed, because you had unwillingly leaked information about the location of the villain base. You were in danger, because of a choice they had made. And the anger rose in Varian again.

But not as much, compared to the anger Varian suddenly felt towards another man. 

He harshly pushed the two adults aside, as he ran towards the exit. He didn't say a word. He made sure that the paper with the code-words was placed safely in his pocket, as he ran. An hour ago, on his way back to Corona, he had considered sharing it with the rest of the royal staff. It could be the solution to the end of the world after all. But now he knew, that he needed to solve it himself. He had lost all trust in the people he once felt closest too. And as dumb as it may sound, this little paper, now felt as your life-line somehow. He knew that you would want him to solve the mystery. And boy, was he going to. So when you would wake up, you would be ready to save the world together with him.

But maybe you weren't going to wake up. And if so, that would be Monty's fault. Old, sweet Monty, that Varian had always liked, had nearly killed Varian's criminal girlfrie- uh, friend.

And for the first time in so long, since back then, he suddenly felt emotionless. And it was just as heartbreaking as it was scary.

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The way down to Monty's shop was way shorter than Varian had remembered it to be. It felt like he was down there in the blink of an eye.

Varian had to force himself not to knock before he burst inside. The shop was closed, and therefore empty. But Monty almost never left.

Varian hurried over to the desk, pushing everything aside in his way. He walked past the desk and went towards the back room.

"You have to be careful with Argo." You had once told him.

Varian kicked the door open without breaking a sweat. He searched the room, but Monty was nowhere to be found. His head was beginning to hurt, but that didn't stop him. He was going to find Monty. And may the gods be merciful when he did. He honestly didn't even know what he was going to do.

His gaze fell on a little piece of paper, placed on a small box on a table in the middle of the room. Varian opened the box, to find just one piece of chocolate inside, and a little note.

"In case you want to join her." It said. It wasn't Monty's handwriting. And Varian understood immediately. 

"He's always one step ahead of you."

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Okay guys, in case some of you think that Varian is over-reacting, considering how he doesn't really know you that well yet, it's simply because of the fact that yet another one that he cares about, has been taken away from him. His mother, father, and now the girl he was beginning to like D:

He's just a kid. Well, a teenager at least. And so, I think his reaction is realistic.

But like, what the hell are you even doing? Why do you just "die" like that, right in front of him? You didn't have to do him like that, guys! Give the poor boy a break !D:< Geez

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ALSO

I have so many future ideas for this story, I don't even know which to pick.

Tell me, what would you like to see? :B Like PLEASE, if you have any ideas, TELL me, I will not HESITATE TO MAKE IT HAPPEN-

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Also, can we like talk about Varian for a second. Because sometimes I feel like it's so unfair, that he isn't real. Like, this dude, sets my expectations and standards for a boy so high, and he dares to be fictional?

Screw him.

BUT LIKE

MKMKFNCJFCMDODOECERIVMETIODCR,E
I WANT HIM TO LOOK AT ME LIKE THAT!!!!

There we go. :)