Varian's popularity in 'Tangled' fanfiction is honestly fascinating—he's like this underrated gem that the fandom latched onto with so much love. I've spent way too many nights scrolling through AO3 tags, and let me tell you, the guy gets attention. Maybe it's his tragic backstory, or that brilliant-but-misunderstood vibe, but writers adore exploring his redemption arcs, AUs where he never turns villain, or even team-ups with Rapunzel and Eugene. Some fics dive deep into his alchemy skills, turning him into a magical MacGyver, while others pair him with OC kids or Hugo from 'Tangled: The Series'. There's this one fic, 'Ashes to Ink', where he becomes a tattoo artist post-redemption—wildly creative!
What’s cool is how flexible his character is. He slots into dark academia AUs, modern-day coffee shop fluff, or even crossover fics with 'Fullmetal Alchemist'. The fandom treats him like a broken bird trope sometimes, but also lets him shine as a snarky genius. If you’re into angst with a happy ending, Varian-centric fics are a goldmine.