Chapter Text
Varian wakes in an empty room, tied to a chair. Well, not exactly empty. There are two giant redheads there. In fact, he recognizes them. This is… not great.
“He’s awake.” One of the Stabbingtons, the one Eugene always calls Sideburns, stalks up to Varian and grabs his hair, wrenching his head back and placing a knife at his throat. “You’re the princess' pet scientist, aren’t you?”
This is not good. “I don't know what you're talking about.”
“Don't play dumb. You got the Corona symbol all over your dumb wagon, hand painted by the princess from the looks of it.”
“And you assume she gave me the wagon? I stole it.”
“You're lying. Doesn't matter. Rider will pay a nice price to get you back.”
Sideburns backs away, and Varian almost sighs in relief when the knife leaves his neck. The one with the eyepatch opens a door. “You think we can get something for the kid?”
“I'm sure someone’ll pay.”
“W-wait! If it's money you want, I can get you money! Just let the kid go, I'll make sure you get all the money you could ever want!”
The two brothers glance at each other, then back to Varian. Maybe they'll- “Nah, we searched your wagon. You've got nothing cept nerd stuff, and while the princess and Rider will pay to get you back, we know you ain't important.”
They leave, slamming the door shut behind them. “Don't-” But they're not listening.
Dammit! He'd promised Su Yong would be safe and a few days on the road and they'd gotten kidnapped! And now he’s going to be blackmail against Raps and Eugene while Yong gets sold off to sun knows who!
Varian isn't sure how long he's stuck in that room, but eventually he hears something outside. It's not the Stabbingtons, whoever it is is quiet. The door handle wiggles, followed by a muffled curse and the door swinging open. The light blinds Varian for a few seconds as a lanky silhouette appears in the doorway.
“Well well well. How's that quest going?”
“Hugo?? What the fuck are you doing here?”
“That's not a nice thing to say to your rescuer. Saw you and Sparky get grabbed, figured I'd follow you.”
“Why? So you can steal the totems?”
“Tempting, but no. Unfortunately I've realized the trials will be easier with a few extra sets of hands, so I'm here to help you out, if you let me join you.”
Well. Varian isn't exactly in a position to say no. “Fine, you can join. I don't trust you, but if you’re willing to help us out I'll give you a chance.”
Hugo moves behind Varian, untying him quickly. “Great! These oafs are pretty slow and they were just leaving when I got here, so we can catch them and get going again.”
Varian rubs his wrists, and for a second Hugo's hand looks blackened, but he blinks and it's gone. Weird. “Did you see where my stuff is? We can't go at them unarmed.”
“Yeah, this way.”
Out of one room, down the hall, into another room, and Varian grabs his staff and alchemy bombs. He turns back to Hugo to see the thief spinning a knife that looks to be made of copper.
“We're not killing them.”
“Whatever you say, Goggles.”
“That's not- whatever. Let's go save Yong before he gets sold off.”
Hugo spins the knife, sheaths it, and starts off down the hall again. He’s fast, his freakishly long legs making it hard for Varian to keep up, but they both make it outside in time to see the Stabbingtons loading Yong onto the back of a horse. Varian throws a pink alchemy bomb, encasing the horse's hooves. “Let him go.”
“Oh look, it's the scientist. How'd you get free?”
“Not important. Let him go.”
Hugo throws something from just behind Varian, and it envelops the Stabbingtons in a green gas. They both drop like stones.
“What was that?”
“Sleep bomb. Those two are too thick to listen to threats.”
“You know them?”
“The Stabbingtons? Ran into them a few times. Idiots.”
They certainly are. “Let's get Yong and get going.”
Varian pulls Yong off the back of the horse and slings him over his shoulder. The kid's heavy, but manageable. Hugo ducks around the back of the building, and Varian carries Yong to the wagon, setting the kid on his bunk. Then Varian moves his alchemy stuff into the same compartment as the rest of his things. It fits, barely, and if they crash and a glass breaks it'll be a pain to clean up, but there's a space for Hugo's stuff now.
Varian climbs out of the wagon, and notices the Stabbingtons have been dragged inside. By who he doesn't know, maybe Hugo’s stronger than he looks. Speaking of, where is he? They shouldn't hang around, who knows how long the Stabbingtons would stay out.
⚙️ Hugo ⚙️
Well that was easy. The Stabbingtons had really done him a favor grabbing Goggles. Gave him an in. He just had to let Don know and grab his stuff while the other scientist was occupied with Sparks. Fortunately she was in the treeline around the back of the building.
“So?”
“I'm in.”
“Good. They can't know your real motives.”
“Relax! I know what I'm doing.”
“You better. If you fail, you know what happens. I need to get in that library. Do whatever you have to.”
“This is the last one though, right? After this I'm free?”
Donella is quiet a second too long for comfort. “You get me in that library, you keep the kid from messing anything up, and yes. You’re free. Now go, before he wonders where you are.”
Hugo nods, grabs his bag from the ground at her feet, and heads back to the wagon. He can do this. If he keeps his secrets close, he can do this. What could possibly go wrong? He's dealing with a twelve year old and some kid of a random farmer who thinks he's tough. Easy job.
🧪Varian🧪
He almost walks straight into Hugo as the thief comes out from behind the building, bag slung over his shoulder.
“Hey Goggles, watch where you're going. I didn't see you down there.”
“We should get going before the Stabbingtons wake up. I don't want them to follow us.”
Hugo just starts walking over the wagon. “Where are we headed next?”
Varian almost has to jog to keep up- seriously, why does he move so fast- while he tries to remember what his mother’ journal said. “Neserdenia.”
“Only a day or so from here. Good. You still got the totem?”
“Yeah, but I’m not telling you where.”
Hugo puts a hand to his chest. “I'm hurt Goggles. After all the help-”
“I told you that you could come along, not that I'd trust you.” The self-assured arrogant charm might've worked on Varian in the past but he knows better now. Knows what happens when you trust too easily.
“You'll like me eventually.” Hugo winks. “Everyone does.”
Varian watches Hugo climb into the wagon, wondering why every word out of the blonde’s mouth has his face flushing. He doesn’t quite know what this feeling is-
“Goggles, is this wagon built for elves?” Hugo pokes his head out of the wagon, glances down at Varian, then smirks. “Right, you’re just that short.”
Oh yeah. Now he recognizes this feeling. Loathing. Unadulterated loathing.