The Inspection

The forest path wound deeper into the woods, sunlight dappling through the leaves. Rapunzel was practically vibrating with energy. She skipped alongside me, swinging her frying pan, her massive train of golden hair trailing behind her like a royal carpet.

"So, the Heartless," she chirped, asking her hundredth question. "They hunt... light? Does that mean they hunt the sun? Or fireflies? Or... me?"

"They hunt pure hearts," I said, walking with a steady, relaxed gait. "And you, Rapunzel, are practically a beacon."

She stopped skipping. She looked down at her chest, worried. "Is that bad? Can I turn it off?"

"No. It’s who you are." I stopped walking and turned to face her. "But that means we have to be careful. When you fight Heartless, like I just did, the darkness... splashes. It can leave a residue. A taint."

Rapunzel’s eyes widened. She dropped the pan and began frantically brushing at her purple dress. "Ew! Is it on me? Get it off! I don't want to be tainted!"

"Calm down," I commanded, my voice low and soothing. "You can't brush it off. It’s invisible to the naked eye. Only a Keyblade Master can sense it. And only a Master can remove it."

I looked around the secluded clearing. We were miles from the tower and miles from the tavern. We were alone. Pascal, the chameleon on her shoulder, narrowed his eyes at me, turning a suspicious shade of brown. I ignored the lizard.

"Come here," I said. "I need to perform a safety inspection before we reach the tavern. If you walk in there smelling like darkness, the ruffians will attack you."

Rapunzel hurried over to me, standing straight as a soldier. "Okay! Inspect me! I want to be safe."

I stepped into her personal space. I was much taller than her. She had to crane her neck to look up at me, her expression one of innocent, trusting eagerness.

"Hold still," I murmured.

I raised my hand. I didn't use magic. I used my palm. I placed my hand on her forehead, pushing back her bangs. "Clear," I said.

I trailed my fingers down her cheek, along the sensitive line of her jaw, and down her neck. Her skin was incredibly soft, warm from the exertion of skipping. She shivered slightly under my touch but didn't pull away.

"Throat... clear."

I moved my hand lower. I placed it flat against her upper chest, just above the lace of her bodice. I could feel her pulse hammering against my fingertips. "Heart rate is elevated," I noted professionally.

"I... I'm just excited," she stammered, her cheeks flushing pink. "And... you're standing very close."

"A protector must be close to shield you," I said smoothly.

I slid my hand down. I cupped her left breast over the fabric of her dress. Rapunzel gasped. Her eyes shot wide open. She looked down at my hand covering her breast, then up at my face. "Um... Ray?" she squeaked. "Is... is the darkness there?"

"The heart is the center of the light," I lied, keeping my voice utterly clinical. "The darkness tries to burrow in here first. I need to check for cold spots."

I squeezed. Her breast was soft, perky, and firm. I kneaded the flesh gently, feeling the nipple harden instantly beneath the purple fabric. Rapunzel let out a shaky breath, her knees knocking together. She didn't know this was sexual; she thought it was medical. But her body knew. Her body was reacting to the stimulation of a man's hand for the first time in eighteen years.

"It feels... weird," she whispered, biting her lip. "Like... tingles."

"That means the inspection is working," I told her, massaging her breast with slow, deliberate circles. "If it didn't tingle, you'd be infected."

"Oh," she breathed, relieved. "That's good then. Keep... keep checking."

I smirked internally. She was literally asking for it. I removed my hand from her breast, leaving her chest heaving.

"Upper body seems stable," I concluded. "But the darkness is heavy. It sinks."

I crouched down in front of her. "Lift your skirt."

Rapunzel blinked. "My... my skirt?"

"Just to the knees. I need to check your legs. Shadow creeps along the ground, remember?"

"Right! Of course!" She hastily grabbed the hem of her purple dress and petticoats, hoisting them up to reveal her calves and knees. Her legs were pale and smooth, shaped perfectly.

I placed my hands on her shins. I ran them up her calves, over her knees, and onto her thighs. I didn't stop at the hemline. I slid my hands underneath the dress.

Rapunzel stiffened. "Wait! That's... that's underneath!"

"The darkness hides in the shadows, Rapunzel," I said sternly, looking up at her from my kneeling position. "Do you want to be clean, or do you want to attract monsters?"

"I want to be clean!" she cried.

"Then spread your feet apart. Let me do my job."

She obeyed. She stepped her feet shoulder-width apart. I slid my hands higher, up the silky skin of her inner thighs. It was warm and dark under the skirt. I could feel the heat radiating from her core. I traced my thumbs along the inside of her legs, reaching dangerously close to her panties.

Rapunzel was trembling violently now. She was looking at the tops of the trees, her face bright red, her breathing ragged. "Is it... is it supposed to feel like that?" she whimpered.

"Like what?"

"Like... like my stomach is doing flips."

"That's the fear leaving your body," I lied. "Trust me."

I reached the top of her thighs. I brushed my thumbs against the cotton of her underwear. I didn't go further, not yet. I just held her there, my hands firmly gripping her upper thighs, my face buried in her skirt.

"Clean," I announced.

I stood up slowly, letting my hands drag down her legs as I rose. Rapunzel dropped her skirt immediately, smoothing it down with shaking hands. She looked dizzy.

"You're all clear," I said, patting her head as if she were a good child. "You're safe to enter the tavern."

"Thank you," she exhaled, leaning against me for support. "You really are thorough, Ray. You know everything about fighting monsters."

"I do," I agreed, wrapping an arm around her waist and pulling her to my side. "Now, stay close. If anyone asks... you belong to me. It keeps the ruffians away."

"I belong to you," she repeated, testing the words. She smiled up at me, dazzling and naive. "I like the sound of that."

We continued down the path toward the Snuggly Duckling. The bird was effectively preened. Now it was time to show her off to the wolves, and let her realize that the only safe place was on my leash.