Tangled!

The stars twinkled above them as Rapunzel and Flynn continued their journey through the forest. The warmth of the day had faded, replaced by the cool embrace of the night. Fireflies flickered between the trees, casting tiny golden glows that danced in the dark.

Rapunzel walked in quiet awe, her fingers lightly brushing the rough bark of the trees. Even at night, the world was alive.

Flynn, on the other hand, was focused on something far more practical.

"We need a place to sleep," he muttered, scanning the area. "And by 'place,' I mean somewhere without wolves, bears, or whatever other nightmare creatures are lurking out here."

Rapunzel tilted her head. "Are there really wolves?"

Flynn paused. "Well… probably."

Rapunzel's eyes widened. "Oh."

"Don't worry," Flynn said quickly, holding up a hand. "They probably won't bother us."

Rapunzel frowned. "That's not very reassuring."

Flynn smirked. "Would you rather I lie?"

She huffed but said nothing, glancing around. "What about up there?" She pointed to a large tree with thick, sturdy branches. "It looks safe."

Flynn raised an eyebrow. "You want to sleep in a tree?"

"Well, I did grow up in a tower," she reminded him.

"…Fair point."

A few minutes later, they had awkwardly climbed up onto a large branch, balancing as best they could. Pascal curled up beside Rapunzel, his tiny body rising and falling with each sleepy breath.

Flynn leaned back against the trunk, adjusting his satchel. "Well, this is officially the weirdest sleeping arrangement I've ever had."

Rapunzel giggled. "What's the second weirdest?"

Flynn smirked. "There was this one time I had to sleep inside a barrel to hide from the royal guards. I smelled like pickles for weeks."

Rapunzel burst out laughing, quickly covering her mouth. "Pickles?"

"It was terrible." He shook his head dramatically. "The suffering I endured…"

Rapunzel's laughter softened into a smile. She looked up at the sky, hugging her knees to her chest.

Flynn noticed the shift in her expression. "What's on your mind?"

She hesitated, then sighed. "I was just thinking about… Mother."

Flynn didn't say anything right away. He had a feeling this wasn't just a passing thought.

Rapunzel toyed with a strand of her hair. "She always told me the world was dangerous. That people would hurt me. But… being out here, it doesn't feel like that." She glanced at him. "You don't feel like that."

Flynn stiffened slightly.

He wasn't sure what to say to that.

He was a thief. A liar. A runaway. He wasn't good.

And yet, she looked at him like he was someone trustworthy.

Someone safe.

"I don't know if she was wrong," Rapunzel continued, looking back at the stars. "But I do know I've never felt more free than I do right now."

Flynn leaned his head back against the tree, exhaling. "Yeah. Freedom's a funny thing."

Rapunzel turned to him. "What do you mean?"

He hesitated.

Then, without really knowing why, he spoke.

"I changed my name, you know."

Rapunzel blinked. "You what?"

He smirked, though there was something tired behind it. "Flynn Rider isn't my real name."

Rapunzel stared at him, stunned. "Then… what is?"

Flynn looked away.

For a moment, he considered dodging the question. But something about Rapunzel, about the way she listened, the way she cared, made him say it anyway.

"Eugene," he muttered. "Eugene Fitzherbert."

Rapunzel's eyes widened. "Eugene?"

Flynn sighed. "Yeah, yeah. Laugh it up."

But Rapunzel didn't laugh. She just tilted her head. "Why did you change it?"

He hesitated. Then, with a half-smirk, he said, "Flynn Rider sounds cooler."

Rapunzel wasn't convinced. "That's not the real reason."

Flynn sighed, rubbing the back of his neck. "No, it's not."

Rapunzel waited.

Finally, Flynn exhaled. "When I was a kid, I used to read this book about this daring rogue named Flynnigan Rider. He stole from the rich, went on grand adventures, always got the girl… He was everything I wasn't."

Rapunzel's face softened.

Flynn gave her a small, almost sheepish grin. "So, I became him."

Rapunzel didn't respond right away.

Then, she smiled.

"Well, Eugene," she said, voice warm, "I think I like you better."

Flynn blinked.

For the first time in a long time, he had no witty comeback. No smirk. No sarcasm.

Just… silence.

And in that silence, something shifted.

The stars twinkled above them, the wind whispering through the leaves, carrying Rapunzel's words like a secret between the trees.

For the first time in his life…

Eugene wasn't sure if he wanted to be Flynn Rider anymore.