Chapter Text
It was finally over.
They had actually done it. They’d defeated Zhan Tiri
Eugene couldn’t believe, after everything that demon had done. After all the pain and misery she had inflicted upon them, she was finally gone.
But that didn’t mean the damage she caused was gone.
He couldn’t help but let out a small laugh of disbelief as he stared at the remains of the place he’d come to call home(the first place he’s ever called home).
It was completely destroyed. Rubble and broken glass surrounded him. Shreds of once proud tapestries and paintings hung by tread on splintered wood and piles of rock.
Once one of the most beautiful castles he’s ever been in(and he’s been in more than his fair share) now laid a crumbled heap. Just another piece of the destruction that Zhan Tiri caused.
Gods it was going to take who knows how long to rebuild. To get this place livable, let alone even close to its former glory.
What were they going to do till then? He was used to not having a place to stay but Rapunzel wasn’t.
She’s never been without a bed before and he couldn’t expect her to be without one now. Not when she nearly died to save them all.
He couldn’t help but let out a sigh of resignation. Until the castle was rebuilt they were going to have to find a place to live for who knows how long.
Yes, he knew the citizens would be more than welcoming to them, but that didn’t make it any less uncomfortable.
He’s always hated being seen as burden and asking someone to let them live there for months on end is beyond being a burden. It was almost parasitic to him.
The very thought made his stomach curl. It made him want to curl up in hole in die rather than let himself be a burden on someone.
Not again. Never again.
So lost in thought he didn’t hear the foot steps behind him. Didn’t sense the person coming up to him.(a rookie mistake any good thief never makes. Maybe this castle life is softening him up to much).
He flinches when he feels a hand land on his shoulder. Causing him to jerk away and whip around to face whoever touched him.
“Quirin!” He yelped staring wide eyed at his newly revealed uncle(and wouldn’t that take some getting used to). “Don’t do that! You nearly gave me a heart attack and I’ve had enough of those today!”
“Sorry, I didn’t mean to scare you, I just wanted to talk to you about something.” He chuckled, eyes lifting up in amusement making him seem lighter in a way Eugene’s never seen before. He doesn’t think he’s actually ever heard Quirin sound anything other than annoyed or exhausted come to think of it. Let alone amused.
“Oh well what do need to talk about then.” Eugene said, ready to have something take his mind off of figuring out the living situation. Even if only for a little bit.
“Well as you know it’s going to take a long time for this castle to become livable and I figured you, Rapunzel would need a place to stay. I have an open room besides the one Adira and Edmund are sharing and Hector will probably sleep in the barn half the time” he rolls his eyes with a mixture of fondness and mild annoyance” so I figured outa offer it to you.”
“Oh!” He blinks in surprise. Out of all the things in the world that was probably the least expected things for him to hear. “Oh well thank you but I couldn’t. You already have so many people living with you and mouths to feed I couldn’t possibly impose or be a burden.”
He watched as Quirin face falls a little and his eyes become sad. Shit what’d he say wrong? What did he say to make Quirin, one of the toughest people he’s ever met, react like this?
“Oh Eugene,” Quirin says in a quiet voice and sad voice, “it’s not imposing if I’m offering to let you stay and”. He stops talking and slowly walks up to Eugene. Raising his arms and slowly reaches towards him, placing his large hands on his shoulders at seeing him not flinch.
“You’re not a burden”he says firmly, but still with an underlying sadness. As if Eugene feeling that way about himself caused him pain. “You are Edmund’s son, that means you’re my brother’s son. My nephew. I know we don’t know each other well but that makes us family and in this family we take care of each other.”
Eugene’s eyes meets Quirins in shock. Yes he’s known that they’re technically family but he’s never heard anyone but Edmund acknowledge it before.
He’s never been called a nephew before.
He doesn’t know how to feel about the warmth that starts to pool in him at the term.
“I’m sorry we weren’t there for you before”Quirin continues, making Eugene’s eyes widen.”I’m so so sorry you grew up alone and without a family. I can’t change the past but know this” he says firmly. His voice strong as steel. “As long as I’m alive you will always have a place in my home. In my family.”
Eugene’s jaw drops. How could he respond to that? How could he respond to Quirin acknowledging his pain and telling him the things he’s long to hear his whole life?
“I.. I” he stutters, his voice chocking up. “Are you sure the others are ok with us staying?” He questions, not yet willing to let himself believe in Quirin’s words.
Quirin throws his head up and lets out a loud laugh as if that was the funniest thing he’s ever in his life.
“Are you kidding Adira and Hector have been planning with Varian ways to make you stay with us for the past hour if you said no.”he says shaking his head at his families craziness. “Those two nearly beat the hell out of Edmund for not telling them who you were sooner. I had to talk them out’ve dragging you to my house once they calmed down. And of course your father is more than ok with you staying”
“Oh”Eugene says dumbly. His mind trying to rap around the fact that the craziest human he’s ever met want him to stay with him. Two people who’ve actively tried to kill him before(though admittedly it was under CassAndras control(at least the second time crazy tree man tried to kill him).
“And what about Rapunzel”he asks hesitantly, backing out of Quirin’s hold. He knew Quirin wasn’t the biggest fan of Rapunzel after he learned of what happened during the snow storm(not he completely blamed the man).
“While I’m not the biggest fan of the princess I can accept her living in my house as long as she’s respectful. Besides the rest of the family knows she’s important to you and wants to get to know her as well” Quirin says, clearly not thrilled about the thought of Rapunzel in his house, but accepting.
“Oh” Eugene says again, his mind overwhelmed. Quirin called them family. As in saying that the rest of these crazy dark kindomers were his family as well. Family that wanted to know Rapunzel because she was important go him. Family that cared about what was important to him.
“Well”, he stutters ”I’ll have ask Rapunzel. I can’t make a decision on where we’ll stay on my own and we’ll have to figure out where her parents are staying. And we have to figure out how practical going from Old Corona to here will be, but I’ll let you know what’s decided. But even if we don’t end up staying thanks for the offer” He says trying to make his voice come out even. Trying not to let Quirin hear how shocked he really was(but judging from Quirin’s face he probably knows”
Quirin nods his head in response and looks over to the direction he came from. “ Oh course, any time. I should probably head back to the rest of the brotherhood and make sure they aren’t causing any trouble”he says starting to walk back.
“Oh and Eugene” he says stopping, looking back over his shoulder at him smiling. “Even if the two of you don’t stay make sure to stop by sometime and visit. I’d like to get to know my nephew better.” He says before waking away, leaving Eugene frozen in place.
My nephew.
There it was again.
That acknowledgment that he has a family now.
He has a family that’s absolutely bat shit crazy and has tried to kill him before sure, but one that was his.
He doesn’t how to feel about it. He’s never had a family before. He’s always wanted one before never felt like it was possible for someone like him.
Now he has one and he’s so confused about it. How can you be a part of a family when you’ve never imagined anyone could want you. When you don’t know how to be a part of a family.
But based on the warmth he’s feeling again at the title of nephew, maybe he’s willing to learn