Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

How the hell did I fall in love this time?

And honestly, I can‘t believe I get to call you mine

I blinked and suddenly I had a Valentine

- Valentine, Laufey

Cassandra felt it in her nerves.

She is up to something I'm sure of it.

She eyed the brunette still fiddling with her phone at the foot of the king-size. Rapunzel had her back to her, seemingly unaware of Cassandra's suspicious onyx eyes. Perhaps it was instinct or a vibe, but there had been a tingling energy coming from her lover ever since Cassandra came home. Hairs stood on the back of her neck, meaning either a fight was about to break out or Rapunzel was about to pounce her. So she had one eye trained on her at all times in the low light of her lamp. 

Cassandra smiled smugly to herself as she returned to her mystery book.

Don't go thinking you can get the drop on me, Raps.

...

Where did she go?

Suddenly, a weight landed in her lap. "Gotcha!"

"Oof!"

"Do you mind?" Cassandra grumbled. She was more upset at her failed fight-or-flight instincts than the freckle-faced beauty straddling her.

Rapunzel only giggled, clearly in a playful mood. She swiped the book out of her hands.

"This is a good book, Cass," the book was dumped on the pillow beside her. "But wouldn't you rather read me instead?"

Oh ho! That's what she was looking for.

It should have been obvious Rapunzel was looking for love and attention. What else would she want from her this time of night? 

"I don't know I did just start a new chapter."

"You can start over, can't you?" Rapunzel's voice had that hushed tone. The one that warned Cassandra might be in for more than some light making out.

Looks like I'm not getting a quiet night to myself. Although, she does look scrumptious in this nightgown of hers.

"What's got you feeling so antsy, Sunshine?"

"Oh nothing," she feigned innocence. "You looked so lonely lying there by yourself. Besides, I'm feeling extra-attracted to you tonight."

"Just me?" Cassandra asked, remembering their other bedmate in the restroom.

"Maaaybeee..."

Cass rolled her eyes but made no move to keep soft hands from exploring. Her touch lingered across her biceps, squeezing them, as she journeyed down to the planes of Cassandra's toned stomach. A droopy smile grew on her face, green eyes glimmering.

"Hehehe... aaaaabs..."

"Having fun there, Raps?"

The brunette's rosy cheeks loomed closer. "I always have fun with you, Moonbeam. Maybe I can take this nightie off and...!"

Cassandra puts a finger on Rapunzel's lips, cutting her off—sort of. She couldn't resist kissing and nuzzling the offered digit, mind likely swimming with thoughts of what to do with it. Rapunzel was horny what else was new?

"Settle down a little, girl." Cassandra was talking to herself as well as Rapunzel. The press of her lover's hips wiggling against hers was getting her going.

"Come on... play with me."

"Alright, let's play a game."

"What gAH!"

Cassandra surprised Rapunzel with a pillow to the face, stunning her long enough to pull her laughing girlfriend into a hug and roll around on top. Her attempts to escape Rapunzel's clutches were in vain as nimble fingers held her by her crimson sleep shorts.

"Nice moves, Cass." chuckled Rapunzel. "But you won't get away from me that-"

Cassandra slammed her hands on the other side of Rapunzel's head. The suddenness seemed to shut her up and made those green eyes widen in surprise. The dark-haired sapphic smirked to herself. Who says I can't be playful too?

"I have to put up with a lot from you don't I, princess?" Cassandra mused, cupping a freckled cheek with her blackened hand.

Her 'princess' poured love into nuzzling the scarred palm. Cass had ideas of her own and they began with slowly circling pouty lips with a stiff thumb. From there it sloped down along her neckline to press into the goosebumps prickling the quivering skin. Cassandra could just make out the rainbow tattoo on her collarbone through the sheer garment. Under her coarse hand, Rapunzel shivered in excitement.

"But you're right..." Cassandra squeezed Rapunzel's breast stealing a gasp from her. "This is better than lying here by myself."

Rapunzel pulled Cassandra in by her hair to mash their lips together. She answered the call in her belly by pressing her lover into the mattress, loving the moan against her mouth and the feel of hands dancing along her back.

"You're so strong..." Words came out as hot excited gasps as Cassandra's kisses moved down her neck further and-

"Hey, ladies?"

The two break away to see Eugene standing at the threshold of their bathroom with a towel wrapped around his waist.

"Sorry to interrupt, have either of you seen my moisturizer? You know my good moisturizer?"

He asks me like I would know.

"Oooh," Rapunzel winced. "I think I gave it to Lance."

"GODDAMMIT!" The man yelled running a hand through his damp hair. "He has enough moisturizers what the fuck?!"

He banged the door. Cass rolled her eyes. "Drama queen."

Rapunzel squeezed her cheeks with a warning. "Hey! Be nice."

Cassandra cockily smooched that cute freckled nose. "I am nice enough."

"Caaasss..."

There she goes again.

"Relax, Raps," she soothed. "I'll be extra nice when he finally gets out."

The bathroom door swung open. It seemed the universe was eager to make Cassandra eat her words. Eugene swaggered to the bed having traded in his towel for dark blue sleep pants.

"Crisis averted. I found one of my reserves."

Dark eyes narrowed at Rapunzel's mischievous eyebrow raise.

"Hey, Fitzherbert, do you want to make out with Raps before she gets too needy?"

"Hey!"

"No no, no need to stop on my account," Eugene dove into his side of the bed, posing when he reached the pillows. "Unless Madame Blondie wants to of course."

"No, I insist," Cassandra said swiping back her book. "I got reading to get back to."

Rapunzel shook her head. "I'd be in trouble if you guys didn't know how to share."

"We're a work in progress," intoned Eugene with a mighty stretch. "Now scooch over, Cass. I want to give my wife some hickies."

Cassandra freed Rapunzel who eagerly crawled over to her husband. She was quick to pepper his cheekbones with loving pecks while her fingers fiddled in his chest hair. Eugene held her tight as he amped up the passion. Cassandra meanwhile readjusted her pillows and allowed herself to relax, finally left to read in peace.

Or so she thought. Her bedmates, in their excitement, had not only made their way to her side but flopped directly onto her belly. Jeez, these two.

"Excuse you," she said, firmly annoyed.

"We just want you to feel loved too, Cassie," Rapunzel said through her laughter.

"You can include me without making out on top of me. Shoo!"

The pair relented away for their one-on-one time. Cass opened back her book though every so often her eyes glanced at her partners wrapped up in each other. It was an odd thing this arrangement of theirs. She could easily ignore the looks and the whispers, yet it was difficult to bear moments like this. Once again stuck as the third wheel just off to the side. They had done well to accompany her, often intolerably so, but old habits are the hardest to die. 

This is fine. I can make this work.

She felt fingers creep into her own. Even being mashed by Eugene's smug face Rapunzel made an effort to reach out to her to show her she mattered too. Her thumb tenderly caressed the scarred hand and squeezed.

I'm sorry. I love you, Rapunzel said without saying.

Cassandra brought that hand to her lips and kissed it saying a vow for each.

I love you too.

I'll try again.

I promise.

Chapter Text

And then I brush and brush and brush and brush my hair

- When Will My Life Begin, Tangled

As far back as Rapunzel could remember, she always had a special relationship with her hair. It was her favorite way to express herself as a child. She and her mom would style it as something new and eye-catching every school year. She had quite the run of elaborate braids and pigtails through elementary school. Halfway through sixth grade, she discovered hair dyes, and her world wasn’t the same again. Violet streaks into purple one summer, then red highlights in her bangs the next. She was blonde past her waist when she met Eugene. Naturally brown with a frayed pixie cut when she met Cassandra. While she and her hair went through many fashions, split ends, and dusty days, there was one hairdo she hadn’t tried until now.

It was making her partners frantic.

“You’re really going through with this, are you?” winced Eugene. Cassandra was making a similar face beside him. Lance, on the other hand, watched on with an eager grin.

“Yup!”

Rapunzel held the electric razor aloft like Excalibur.

“Oh booooyy…” Eugene mumbled.

“Pray tell why exactly?” butted in Cassandra.

“New style, new adventure!”

“That's the spirit!” cheered Lance. “Shave that hair, girl!”

“Is it really that simple for you?” Cass asked.

“It’s Rapunzel,” commented Eugene. “That’s all the motivation she ever needed.”

The brunette shook her wavy hair for the final time before flicking the razor on. Lance had his phone up and at the ready.

“Alright! Let's do this!” Rapunzel declared.

Eugene braced himself. “Oh my god.” 

“I can’t watch.” Cassandra shielded her eyes.

Bzzzzzztt!!!

“Oooohohohoho!!” Lance’s excitement filled out the suspense.

With a steady pull along her brow, Rapunzel shaved down a bundle of her hair.

“Whoa-ho-ho! Tingly!” Rapunzel chittered.

“This is just like when we shaved my head. Remember, Eugene?”

“Your Male pattern baldness hit. We weren't destroying something beautifu- OOOH NO! OH NO!” Eugene shouted, horrified. The sight of the uneven parting down the middle of his sunshine's hair was nightmare-inducing to him.

“Eugene, you're making it worse!” Cass cried from her covered eyes.

“It is… not good.”

“Relax, Eugene. I'm not leaving it like this.” Rapunzel made her point known with continuing slow swipes. Patch after patch hit the floor until Lance perked up.

“Need some help getting the back there?”

“Good idea!”

The razor hummed in Lance's hand as he smoothed down her follicles. Bit by bit, the back of her head started to match the undercut usually hidden under her braid. Cass found some courage to peek at the piles of hair at Rapunzel’s feet.

“By the sun and moon…” she sighed.

“You guys want to get in on this?"

Eugene narrowed his eyes at the patches remaining on Rapunzel’s head. “Let me smooth the rest of this out.”

He took charge of the razor. One by one, the rough patches on her scalp were smoothed out with a .

“A little here, a little there…”Eugene murmured while he worked until soon enough, he clicked the razor off. Finished. “That should do it.”

Rapunzel stared at her reflection in awe. Her whole life, she never believed she would be without her hair. Now, seeing it all buzzed down with no braid to reach for or lock to twirl on her finger was… indescribable.

“Wow…! Wow! Cass, take a look!”

The dark-haired woman dropped her hand to give her lover's new haircut a whole look. She couldn’t help but let out a surprised yet impressed laugh. “‘Wow’ is selling it short, Raps.” 

“I’ll say,” Eugene hummed.

“How does it feel?”

Rapunzel rubbed her head, as curious as a cat. “Lighter.”

Cassandra caressed her girlfriend’s head, soothing her scalp with sweet scritches. “Fuzzier too.”

A kiss was pressed to her buzzed head. Cassandra smiled at her. “But still beautiful.”

“Awwww,” Rapunzel’s face softened. An adorable sight until Eugene and Lance turned the single ‘Awww’ into a chorus. 

"Aww, shut up!" she waved them off.

"So, Sunshine..." Eugene schmoozed while nuzzling his cheek against her fuzz. "This hairdo a keeper?"

"For now," she said admiring her reflection. "I'll always grow it out." 

Chapter Text

You must remember this: a kiss is still a kiss, a sigh is just a sigh. 

- As Time Goes By, Casablanca 

Pulling into the parking spot, Eugene leaped out of his convertible. At long last he was home, but he sighed. His post-work plans had gone belly-up with a single text message.

“Gonna stay a little later at the market. Kisses!” it read. The lips emoji like sprinkles of salt on his open heart. He told her that himself. Oh well. At least, he will have the apartment to himself for a while. It was hard to remember when that last happened.

“Hello, Old Lady Crowley!” Eugene greeted with a million-dollar smile. “Nice weather, right?”

The landlady’s typically grouchy visage somehow grimaced deeper. “What’s so nice about it?”

“Okay.”

Water off a duck’s back. Always best not to argue with a living gargoyle. Up the stairs he strode to the top floor, eager to finally relax. So much so Eugene threw the door open in exasperated relief.

“Whoo! Finally home!” he cheered as he let a boot fly high with a kick.

“JESUS!”

Eugene almost jumped out of his skin at the sudden shouting.

“What the hell?”

As it turned out, Cassandra had beaten him home. Good mood: deflated. 

“Oh. Sorry.”

He was riding such a high that he had all but forgotten the other bedmate. Their third. With her cobra lady bite, humorless attitude, and biggest damn sword collection in Corona. Or the world maybe. Eight! Boxes!

A damp towel smacked him right in the eyes. “Gah!”

“Ass.”

“Hello to you, too, Cassandra.”

The woman just grumbled with a shake of her head. The dark curls of her bob were wet, fresh from a shower if he had to guess. She even changed into her black sport top and shorts.

“Still on that?” She said, fixing him in a tense stare.

Three weeks since moving in, and things were still like this between them. Silent staredowns and petty bickering. They still hadn't had a talk, one-on-one, about… them. This new arrangement that Rapunzel had brought her into. She was always in the middle of them, playing the mediator. He could use her now.

It was still a mystery to him as to why. Why her? Of all the women alive or dead under our glorious sun for Rapunzel to fall in love with, why Cassandra? There was perhaps an argument to be made. Eugene could admit that Cassandra is not unpleasant to look at if he squinted hard enough. There had to bea lesbian out there into girls without a fashion sense, an icy personality, and cheese grater abs. 

Putting his boots away, he strode past her to the kitchen.

“I am making a drink. You want one?”

She tightened up her crossed arms with a suspicious look.

“Cass, look…” he sighed, “I want this to work. Yes, for Rapunzel, obviously for Rapunzel, but also I just don't want to argue all the fucking time. So feel free to keep glaring at me or polish your halberd if you want, but she cannot be the only thing we agree on. So do you want a drink or not?”

Cassandra stared back in silence.

At last, she shrugged. “I don’t know. What do we got?”

“I can whip something up.” 

“Anything non-alcoholic?”

“Come on, Cass, live a little." Eugene said as he brought out his shaker and jiggers. "I know it's your cheat day.”

Those dark eyes widened ever so slightly.

“Whiskey sour?”

“Coming up!”

Eugene was quick to pull out the bottles needed. A whiskey sour sounded perfect for a day like this. The rye whiskey and lemon juice splashed into his cocktail shaker. Cass patiently sat by watching him work.

“You bartend?”

“Never professionally, but I did get into mixology during Covid. I could get my license if the book doesn't work out.”

“The book that's still not finished yet? 

“Awaiting final review, thank you very much,” Eugene snapped as he threw in the egg white. “My publisher is paradoxically a slow reader.”

“So he says,” Cassandra cynically countered. “It sounds like he might be jerking you around.”

Eugene retorted by being extra obnoxious about shaking the silver shaker. “You! Don't! Know! Nothing! Bout! Publishing! I doubt you even got an ‘A’ in your English class.”

“No, but I did ace shop.”

Eugene just sighed, “God you are butch.”

Cass, to his surprise, chuckled. He had an opening for small talk.

“And you’re Jewish too.”

Cass’s gaze turned to steel. “Meaning?”

“Nothing.” The glasses clinked onto the counter. “It’s just that, for some reason, Old Lady Crowley thought I was Jewish when we first moved in. For like two years.”

“Heh. Really?”

“Yes, really. She somehow saw ‘Fitzherbert’ on the lease and assumed I knew Yiddish for some reason. I am not offended or anything, but by the third time she just kept doing it.

For crying out loud, I was raised by Catholic nuns! Sean-préachán lousy. ”

Those steely eyes widened at his sudden language change.

“I didn’t know you spoke Gaelic.”

“A fair amount, been learning since I was a kid,” he said, simple as that. The glasses were filled, complete with a lemon wedge garnish. Cassandra offered up hers with her gloved hand.

“Slantche?” she tried.

“Slainte ,” Eugene corrected.

Their glasses clinked. By the sun, it was delicious! Nothing topped a day off like good booze and frie… associates. Just two people having a drink under the same roof… not talking.

Is it awkward again? Great.

“So uh… how did you learn the language?”

Eugene silently thanked Cassandra for breaking the silence. “There was a priest who worked with the orphanage who taught me. Heh, when I would listen.”

“How was it? The orphanage?”

You are never one to make it easy for me, Cass. “It was alright as far as I can tell. Lance and I were, of course, problem children, but we made the best of it. I remember the sisters were nice. The reverend mothers… let’s say some were more catholic than the rest.

“How catholic are we talking?”

“Catholic.”

Cassandra sucked in a breath between her teeth. “Jeez.”

“Yeeeaaahhh. They made running away from that place an easy choice, I’ll say that much.”

“I didn't have nuns at my orphanage,” Cassandra mused, finishing off her drink. “I did have tryhard edgelords follow me around at school.”

“Mmmmm.” Eugene groaned. He knew where this was going.

“They loved ‘pointing out my ‘very Jewy nose.’”

“Ooof,” winced Eugene.

“Yup.” 

“That sucks. I like your nose.”

“Alright…”

“No, no, I mean it. It’s very distinguished.”

There was not much reaction from Cassandra. Yet Eugene swore he saw the tiniest hint of a grin at the edge of her lips.

And the walls start to chip away.

“Rapunzel told me you met your dad?”

Well, that lightened the mood. “Yeah… I met him.”

“How did that go?"

Oh, how to describe Edmund Fitzherbert? If Eugene counted the ways, he would still be counting. 

“As good as it could. We only spent one afternoon together, face-to-face. The nurse said it was best to keep things as low-stress as possible.”

“Nurse?” Cassandra's eyes rose in concern.

"Yes, nurse. So I meet him at the train station, and keep in mind he is a huge man. He looks like he wrestled bears for fun in his prime. With him was his caretaker, who also looks like she wrestled wild animals in her spare time."

"Birds of a feather?" offered Cassandra.

"I guess. You would probably like her. Her name is Adira, she's like a full head taller than you and knows how to fight."

"I have heard that before," the woman puffed up her chest.

"No, I am being serious. She has like four black belts."

Cassandra handwaved him away. "Participation trophies."

Eugene almost spit out the rest of his drink from laughing. "I would love to see you fight here. She would kick both our asses."

"Tell her any time, anywhere."

"Famous last words. Anyway, Adira pulls me aside and tells me we are going to keep things calm and relaxing. I'm thinking 'What I gotta fucking tuck him in when I'm done too?' Turns out no. He just has a case of stress-induced mood swings. Adira also told me they believe he has the early signs of dementia.”

“Oh.”

The word hung heavy between the pair.

“That sucks.”

That was about as comforting as he expected from a woman like Cassandra. She always showed the emotional grace of a moose but the thought did count.

“Yeah, it isn't all bad. I call him on zoom now and then. It helps him. But enough about dads. You need a refill?”

Cassandra offered up her glass without a word. As Eugene fixed up another drink, he found himself smiling. This would be a decent setup for them: Eugene playing bartender with Cassandra as his moody regular.

“I was… going to watch a movie." Cass perked up. "Want to join?”

“What movie?”

“Casablanca.”

“Casablanca?”

“It’s one of Dad's favorites.”

Eugene felt touched. Beneath all the stone walls she put up, Cass did have a heart.

“I don't see why not. I can always go for some Bogey.”

With their drinks refilled and the movie firing up, Eugene sat down next to Cassandra. Any silence that followed was tolerable. If nothing else, this could be the start of a half-decent friendship. 

The Talk could wait. This would be alright for now.