The Bells of Notre Dame (3, Riku/Sora) Part 7 of 10
Title: The Bells of Notre Dame
Author:
aurons_fan
Fandom: Kingdom Hearts
Claim: Riku/Sora
Prompt Set: Orange
Prompt: 3, Oranges
Type: Fanfic
Rating: T-R (Maybe in later chapters)
Warnings/Spoilers: Spoilers for the games Kingdom Hearts, Kingdom Hearts 2, and probably Kingdom Hearts CoM.
Disclaimer: Riku and Sora are owned by Square Enix and Disney.
Summary: After a mysterious note from the King, Riku and Sora adventure and get stuck in a world called Notre Dame
This Chapter Summary: Sora decides to stand up against Frollo's tyranny.
A/N : I'm late late late like always. <3 Anyway, the fic is getting to the parts that I adore. Or should I say movie...? Anyway, hope you enjoy the story, and leave a comment if you can. :D
For
7rainbowprompts .
After a while, Sora stopped walking and covered his face with his hands. “I can’t go anymore,” he muttered softly, glad when no horse accidently kicked him when he stood still. “Phoebus, I can’t do this anymore!”
Phoebus glanced backwards before giving a soft sigh and turning his horse back to Sora. When he approached, Sora glanced up, his fists clenched and his eyes angry. Phoebus didn’t respond and just stared ahead to the house their fellow troops were heading towards. “Sora, I have a duty. If you want to stay behind…”
“You can’t say that arresting innocent people is for your duty!” Sora exclaimed. “And you know it isn’t!”
“Well, what do you want me to do then?” Phoebus shot back before giving a sigh. He covered his face with his hand and sighed again. “This is my job. If I go against his wishes, then I’ll be arrested for insubordination.” Phoebus finally looked down at Sora, shaking his head. “I know it’s wrong, but…”
Sora shook his head and stared up at Phoebus. “If you were strong enough, you would do what you knew what was right.”
Staying quiet, Phoebus offered a hand down to Sora, who, after glancing to the rest of the troops who had marched quite some distance away, grabbed his hand and climbed onto the horse as well. As they approached the house with the windmill, Sora could have sworn he heard Phoebus mutter, “Right, huh?”
When they arrived, they saw that two guards were posted outside of the door. Sora quickly hopped off and rushed into the house as Phoebus continued to take care of the horse.
“Our home is always open to the weary traveler,” was the first thing Sora heard when he entered. The man, with his family of three behind him, was on the ground, kneeling to Frollo. “Have mercy, my lord.”
To Sora’s disgust, Frollo jerked his cloak away from the man and turned up his nose. “I am placing you and your family under house arrest until I get to the bottom of this. If what you say is true, you are innocent and have nothing to fear.”
The man’s eyes widened and he quickly climbed to his feet. “But we are innocent, I assure you!”
When Frollo continued to ignore the man, Sora narrowed his eyes and grabbed one of his sleeves. “Hey, did you hear him!?” he exclaimed, pointing back to the man in question. “He said he’s innocent, he sounds innocent… You’re just a jerk! You can’t arrest this man!”
Frollo’s eyes flashed and a pair of guards suddenly appeared on either side of Sora, grabbing his arms and holding him still. “You know, squire,” Frollo said, ignoring the fact that Sora was attempting to struggle out of their grip. “You’ve been against this gypsy extermination from the very beginning. I’m beginning to wonder if you have connections with them…”
“I am and I don’t!” Sora shouted, wondering if he should unveil the Keyblade. “But even so, your sick, twisted ways of evil are nothing to follow! You're the cruelest thing on this world!”
He cringed as the guards’ grip tightened; Frollo simply waved his arm, and they dropped him. Sora rubbed his arms, attempting to bring life back into them as Frollo leaned next to him. “Boy, you have no idea who you are dealing with,” he muttered, his voice strangely calm, considering what Sora had just accused him of. “You’re going to die here, along with these fools who are concealing the gypsies. And…” He pulled back, a malicious grin on his face. “When we capture them, I’ll make sure to let the pretty, silver haired girl know exactly what happened to you.”
Sora’s eyes widened, and he was about to lunge at Frollo when one of the guards shoved him backwards, slamming him against a table. Sora’s head connected with the edge of the table, and the next thing he knew, his world went black.
--
When Frollo slammed the door shut, he gestured to one of the guards, who handed him a pole which he locked the door with. Another guard handed him a torch, which he turned to Phoebus. “Burn it,” he ordered, attempting to hand him the torch.
“What?!” Phoebus’s eyes grew wide before attempting to glance in through the windows. “The boy, Sora. He’s inside, isn’t he? I can’t burn it!”
Frollo’s eyes were calm, trained…cruel. “Until it smolders, these people are traitors and must be made example of.” He forced the torch into Phoebus’s hand. “All of them.”
“With all due respect, sir,” Phoebus all but spat, “I was not trained to murder the innocent.”
Frollo climbed onto his horse, before looking down at Phoebus. “But you were trained to follow orders.”
Phoebus looked at the torch he was holding and thought back to Sora’s words. I can’t murder these people, he thought as he began to approach a barrel of rainwater that sat outside the house. And I refuse to set anything alight, knowing that the kid is inside.
Eyes widening, Frollo’s glare intensified as Phoebus stuck the torch into the barrel. “Insolent coward.”
Phoebus gave the beginnings of a smirk.
Grabbing another torch from another guard, Frollo held it up to the windmill, which quickly caught alight. The house, being attached to said windmill, caught fire instantly, and the screams from inside became excruciatingly loud. Phoebus didn’t even register what he was doing jumped through the window and approached the family, who looked grateful to see him. He grabbed the two children from where they placed, and the father of the two picked up Sora’s limp form. Phoebus kicked down the door of the house, and they all ran outside just before it caved in.
Phoebus breathed deeply, the realization of what he’d just done going through his head as he gave the children off to their mother and the father handed him Sora. Before he could analyze what had happened, a guard struck Phoebus over the head with the handle of his sword, and both tumbled to the ground.
Frollo approached, his boot about to step on Sora’s head, and Phoebus’s eyes swam in and out of focus. “The sentence for insubordination is death. Such a pity…” He frowned in a mocking way down to Phoebus. “You threw away such a promising career.”
Mustering as much as a smile as he could, Phoebus looked up at Frollo. “Consider it my highest honor, sir.”
Nodding his head, Frollo moved away from the two of them. Phoebus began to scan throughout the crowd, wondering if this was going to be his final vision in life when he heard something softly whiz by. He knew the guard who about to chop his head off had to be in mid-swing when a rock suddenly hit Frollo’s horse and the creature reared up, surprising the guards and throwing an equally surprised Frollo off.
Phoebus quickly pulled away from the guards that held him down, grabbed Sora, all but threw the kid’s limp body onto the crazed horse, and climbed on himself before nudging its sides and forcing the horse into a gallop. A smile spread across his face at what he was doing, but he made sure to keep one hand tight on the reins and one tight on Sora to prevent them from falling off.
Before he could register it, an arrow pierced his side. The hand that was holding the reins quickly went to clutch at his side in pain, and he, along with Sora, tumbled over the side of the bridge and into the murky water of the river.
--
After what she had seen, Esmeralda was certainly glad that Riku had decided to come along with her while scavenging the town. At first, she assumed that he would stick out, but a simple cloth to cover his head made it easier to disguise the boy. It was due to his sharp eyesight that alerted them both to the fact that Sora had been locked inside the burning house, and he was the one who pointed out which horse was Frollo’s. What would have been an easy task for her was a little more difficult, seeing as they had to stay far away, lest they be caught by the guards. And for his help, she was very glad he was there.
But right now, as she held him by his waist to hold him back, her feet digging into the soil, she half wished that he’d stayed behind.
“I’m going to kill that Frollo!” he hissed, his mind torn between running up to the top of the bridge and showing the man what a Keyblade could do, and saving Sora from the depths of the river.
Esmeralda kept a firm grip on his waist; when the guards looked down the side of the bridge, she quickly covered his mouth and pressed both of them against the stone backing.
“Don't waste your arrows. Let the traitor rot in his watery grave!” Riku stopped fidgeting when he heard Frollo’s cruel voice. “Find the girl. If you have to burn this city to the ground, so be it.”
When the stomping of men’s feet and the clomping of horses’ hooves finally disappeared, Riku broke from Esmeralda’s grasp and dove into the water headfirst. Internally thanking his swimming skills he acquired from living on an island all his life, he dove deeper and deeper until he saw a glimpse of silver, and grabbed it. He quickly swam to the surface and gasped for fresh air, glancing over and making sure that the person he was holding was Sora - it was the silver glint from his crown necklace that had reveled itself while he was underwater.
Noting his friend’s condition, he hurried to the shore and began stripping him of his heavier clothes. A part of his mind almost smirked at what he was doing, but he easily shook it off, realizing that with all these heavy, useless clothes on, Sora could catch a fever. Besides, of course, the fact that Sora wasn’t waking up anyway.
Esmeralda looked over to him as she laid Phoebus onto the grassy shore. “We need to get them somewhere safe,” Riku muttered to her as he leaded his head onto Sora’s stomach. The boy was breathing, he confirmed, but lightly.
She nodded and brushed a piece of Phoebus’s hair out of his face. He, on the other hand, looked as though he was slipping in and out of consciousness. “Yes, but we can’t take them back to the Court of Miracles now… Frollo’s men might follow us.”
Riku bit lip him, mind racing as he attempted to think of places. How would he know?! He wasn’t from around here? Sora didn’t know anyone here either…
Except…
“That bell ringer!” he exclaimed, before wincing and looking around. Alright - no one there. “Quasimodo, I think. You met him, right?”
Esmeralda nodded slowly, as what Riku was said sunk into her head. She gave a glance down to Phoebus before hefting him over her shoulder. Riku did the same with Sora, and looked up at her. “We better hurry; I know a gypsy who could help us grab some supplies for these two, but we must be quick!” After saying which, she took off almost silently. Riku blinked in surprise - Phoebus did not look light, for one - before running after her as well.
Sora… Wake up soon…!
--
Quasimodo heard a light knocking on the door, and he turned as Esmeralda stepped inside, a smile on her face. Quasimodo’s face lit up at the sight of her. “Esmeralda! You’re all right! I knew you’d come back.”
She smiled and gave him a tight hug. “You’ve done so much for me already, my friend, but I must ask your help one more time.”
When he quickly nodded, she turned back to the door; another gypsy was currently carrying the unconscious body of Phoebus and Riku had Sora in his arms. Quasimodo’s eyes widened as he gestured they both to bring the bodies to his bed.
As Phoebus came to consciousness and began to be healed by Esmeralda, Riku turned his back to the others and looked down to Sora. His friend still hadn’t moved from where he’d laid him, so Riku, after quickly looking over his shoulder, pulled a potion out of his pants pocket and force fed it to Sora.
A coughing stutter brought the brunet back and when his eyes connected with Riku’s, Riku gave a sigh in relief and hugged Sora tightly. “Wow…” Sora began, patting Riku’s back. “What…what happened?”
“What happened?” Riku echoed, pulling back and looking Sora in the eyes. “I have no idea. Esmeralda and I picked you guys up from the river. I guess you needed some help…?” He meant it as a joke, but from being so worried about Sora, his voice came out cracked, and he gave a small wince. He lowered his head onto Sora’s shoulder and closed his eyes. “You idiot… what happened?”
Sora smiled and leaned against Riku. “Well… I insulted Frollo…” Riku snorted softly at that one, “And then one of his guards shoved me back into the man’s house, and I …” He winced and reached to the back of his head before wincing again. “Ow. I guess I hit my head against something, ‘cause I don’t remember anything after that.”
“Sora…” Riku groaned before sighing and looking into his eyes. “You should have been careful. Frollo is a dangerously creepy man.”
“I know…” He grinned before rubbing the back of his head again, wincing for a third time.
Riku frowned and looked away from Sora. After this adventure (if they lived through it, that is), they’d all go home and Sora would end up with Kairi, while Riku would cheer for them on the side. At least, in theory, that was how it was supposed to go. But Riku really didn’t want to have to see that and he wanted Sora to at least know how he felt, especially since they could die at any given moment.
“Sora…” he began, glancing up to the brunet, but his attention was elsewhere. More especially, on the couple right behind Riku, attentively making out as Quasimodo stared in horror. Oh, well, that was one love triangle he didn’t want to break into.
Before he could say anything else, the goat, Djali, gave a bleat, and Quasimodo rushed to the window. His eyes widened and he turned back to the four of them. “Frollo’s coming. You two must leave now!” He opened the door, pointing down a stairwell. “Go down the south tower steps.”
Esmeralda began saying her goodbyes to Quasimodo, but Riku refused to move. They had just been reunited! How could they possibly be forced apart now? “I’ll stay behind,” he mumbled softly.
Sora and Esmeralda looked at him as though he was crazy. “No, you can’t!” Sora exclaimed, shoving Riku away from him. He hadn’t meant for it to be cruel; he just kept remembering Frollo’s taunt, and really did not want it carried out. “Leave! We’ll meet soon, don’t worry.”
“I…” Riku began, only to be grabbed by the third gypsy and hefted into the air. Esmeralda gave the man a nod, and they quickly ran out of the room.
“Quick, hide!” Quasimodo whispered to Sora, as he grabbed Phoebus’s arms. After a quick glance around the room, Sora dove under the table, only to be squished by Phoebus’s body moments later.
And not a second too soon; moments after Phoebus disappeared out of sight, Frollo’s footsteps stopped and Quasimodo spoke, “Oh, master, I didn’t think you’d be coming.”
Sora gave a soft gasp and held onto Phoebus, hoping that they both stayed out of sight.
--
Frollo’s echoing words stayed with Sora as he and Phoebus emerged from other the table.
“I know where her hideout is, and tomorrow, at dawn, I’ll attack with a thousand men.”
He couldn’t really…know where The Court of Miracles was, could he? He wouldn’t attack, would he? That couldn’t happen! Esmeralda…Riku… Sora bit his lip, before he glanced up to Phoebus and Quasimodo, both who were glaring at each other.
“Fine, stay here,” Phoebus scowled, his right arm clutching his wounded left. “I’m not going to stay here and let Frollo massacre innocent people.” He gave a look at Sora before heading down the tower steps.
Sora looked up to Quasimodo, who gave him a dark look. “Look! Esmeralda already has her hero, and it’s not me,” he mumbled, crossing his arms and looking away.
His eyes became downcast, and he gave a pleading look to Quasimodo. “My best friend is down there. Please…if you can help me save him…”
Quasimodo made to glare up to Sora, but one look made his expression change from anger to pity. After a few more seconds, he groaned and grabbed his cape. “Come on.”
Sora grinned and rushed out of the room, the last thing he heard before he began descending down the steps was, “I must be out of my mind.”
To see earlier tables for this prompt, click here
Last Chapter here.
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First Chapter here.
Author:
aurons_fan
Fandom: Kingdom Hearts
Claim: Riku/Sora
Prompt Set: Orange
Prompt: 3, Oranges
Type: Fanfic
Rating: T-R (Maybe in later chapters)
Warnings/Spoilers: Spoilers for the games Kingdom Hearts, Kingdom Hearts 2, and probably Kingdom Hearts CoM.
Disclaimer: Riku and Sora are owned by Square Enix and Disney.
Summary: After a mysterious note from the King, Riku and Sora adventure and get stuck in a world called Notre Dame
This Chapter Summary: Sora decides to stand up against Frollo's tyranny.
A/N : I'm late late late like always. <3 Anyway, the fic is getting to the parts that I adore. Or should I say movie...? Anyway, hope you enjoy the story, and leave a comment if you can. :D
For
7rainbowprompts .
After a while, Sora stopped walking and covered his face with his hands. “I can’t go anymore,” he muttered softly, glad when no horse accidently kicked him when he stood still. “Phoebus, I can’t do this anymore!”
Phoebus glanced backwards before giving a soft sigh and turning his horse back to Sora. When he approached, Sora glanced up, his fists clenched and his eyes angry. Phoebus didn’t respond and just stared ahead to the house their fellow troops were heading towards. “Sora, I have a duty. If you want to stay behind…”
“You can’t say that arresting innocent people is for your duty!” Sora exclaimed. “And you know it isn’t!”
“Well, what do you want me to do then?” Phoebus shot back before giving a sigh. He covered his face with his hand and sighed again. “This is my job. If I go against his wishes, then I’ll be arrested for insubordination.” Phoebus finally looked down at Sora, shaking his head. “I know it’s wrong, but…”
Sora shook his head and stared up at Phoebus. “If you were strong enough, you would do what you knew what was right.”
Staying quiet, Phoebus offered a hand down to Sora, who, after glancing to the rest of the troops who had marched quite some distance away, grabbed his hand and climbed onto the horse as well. As they approached the house with the windmill, Sora could have sworn he heard Phoebus mutter, “Right, huh?”
When they arrived, they saw that two guards were posted outside of the door. Sora quickly hopped off and rushed into the house as Phoebus continued to take care of the horse.
“Our home is always open to the weary traveler,” was the first thing Sora heard when he entered. The man, with his family of three behind him, was on the ground, kneeling to Frollo. “Have mercy, my lord.”
To Sora’s disgust, Frollo jerked his cloak away from the man and turned up his nose. “I am placing you and your family under house arrest until I get to the bottom of this. If what you say is true, you are innocent and have nothing to fear.”
The man’s eyes widened and he quickly climbed to his feet. “But we are innocent, I assure you!”
When Frollo continued to ignore the man, Sora narrowed his eyes and grabbed one of his sleeves. “Hey, did you hear him!?” he exclaimed, pointing back to the man in question. “He said he’s innocent, he sounds innocent… You’re just a jerk! You can’t arrest this man!”
Frollo’s eyes flashed and a pair of guards suddenly appeared on either side of Sora, grabbing his arms and holding him still. “You know, squire,” Frollo said, ignoring the fact that Sora was attempting to struggle out of their grip. “You’ve been against this gypsy extermination from the very beginning. I’m beginning to wonder if you have connections with them…”
“I am and I don’t!” Sora shouted, wondering if he should unveil the Keyblade. “But even so, your sick, twisted ways of evil are nothing to follow! You're the cruelest thing on this world!”
He cringed as the guards’ grip tightened; Frollo simply waved his arm, and they dropped him. Sora rubbed his arms, attempting to bring life back into them as Frollo leaned next to him. “Boy, you have no idea who you are dealing with,” he muttered, his voice strangely calm, considering what Sora had just accused him of. “You’re going to die here, along with these fools who are concealing the gypsies. And…” He pulled back, a malicious grin on his face. “When we capture them, I’ll make sure to let the pretty, silver haired girl know exactly what happened to you.”
Sora’s eyes widened, and he was about to lunge at Frollo when one of the guards shoved him backwards, slamming him against a table. Sora’s head connected with the edge of the table, and the next thing he knew, his world went black.
--
When Frollo slammed the door shut, he gestured to one of the guards, who handed him a pole which he locked the door with. Another guard handed him a torch, which he turned to Phoebus. “Burn it,” he ordered, attempting to hand him the torch.
“What?!” Phoebus’s eyes grew wide before attempting to glance in through the windows. “The boy, Sora. He’s inside, isn’t he? I can’t burn it!”
Frollo’s eyes were calm, trained…cruel. “Until it smolders, these people are traitors and must be made example of.” He forced the torch into Phoebus’s hand. “All of them.”
“With all due respect, sir,” Phoebus all but spat, “I was not trained to murder the innocent.”
Frollo climbed onto his horse, before looking down at Phoebus. “But you were trained to follow orders.”
Phoebus looked at the torch he was holding and thought back to Sora’s words. I can’t murder these people, he thought as he began to approach a barrel of rainwater that sat outside the house. And I refuse to set anything alight, knowing that the kid is inside.
Eyes widening, Frollo’s glare intensified as Phoebus stuck the torch into the barrel. “Insolent coward.”
Phoebus gave the beginnings of a smirk.
Grabbing another torch from another guard, Frollo held it up to the windmill, which quickly caught alight. The house, being attached to said windmill, caught fire instantly, and the screams from inside became excruciatingly loud. Phoebus didn’t even register what he was doing jumped through the window and approached the family, who looked grateful to see him. He grabbed the two children from where they placed, and the father of the two picked up Sora’s limp form. Phoebus kicked down the door of the house, and they all ran outside just before it caved in.
Phoebus breathed deeply, the realization of what he’d just done going through his head as he gave the children off to their mother and the father handed him Sora. Before he could analyze what had happened, a guard struck Phoebus over the head with the handle of his sword, and both tumbled to the ground.
Frollo approached, his boot about to step on Sora’s head, and Phoebus’s eyes swam in and out of focus. “The sentence for insubordination is death. Such a pity…” He frowned in a mocking way down to Phoebus. “You threw away such a promising career.”
Mustering as much as a smile as he could, Phoebus looked up at Frollo. “Consider it my highest honor, sir.”
Nodding his head, Frollo moved away from the two of them. Phoebus began to scan throughout the crowd, wondering if this was going to be his final vision in life when he heard something softly whiz by. He knew the guard who about to chop his head off had to be in mid-swing when a rock suddenly hit Frollo’s horse and the creature reared up, surprising the guards and throwing an equally surprised Frollo off.
Phoebus quickly pulled away from the guards that held him down, grabbed Sora, all but threw the kid’s limp body onto the crazed horse, and climbed on himself before nudging its sides and forcing the horse into a gallop. A smile spread across his face at what he was doing, but he made sure to keep one hand tight on the reins and one tight on Sora to prevent them from falling off.
Before he could register it, an arrow pierced his side. The hand that was holding the reins quickly went to clutch at his side in pain, and he, along with Sora, tumbled over the side of the bridge and into the murky water of the river.
--
After what she had seen, Esmeralda was certainly glad that Riku had decided to come along with her while scavenging the town. At first, she assumed that he would stick out, but a simple cloth to cover his head made it easier to disguise the boy. It was due to his sharp eyesight that alerted them both to the fact that Sora had been locked inside the burning house, and he was the one who pointed out which horse was Frollo’s. What would have been an easy task for her was a little more difficult, seeing as they had to stay far away, lest they be caught by the guards. And for his help, she was very glad he was there.
But right now, as she held him by his waist to hold him back, her feet digging into the soil, she half wished that he’d stayed behind.
“I’m going to kill that Frollo!” he hissed, his mind torn between running up to the top of the bridge and showing the man what a Keyblade could do, and saving Sora from the depths of the river.
Esmeralda kept a firm grip on his waist; when the guards looked down the side of the bridge, she quickly covered his mouth and pressed both of them against the stone backing.
“Don't waste your arrows. Let the traitor rot in his watery grave!” Riku stopped fidgeting when he heard Frollo’s cruel voice. “Find the girl. If you have to burn this city to the ground, so be it.”
When the stomping of men’s feet and the clomping of horses’ hooves finally disappeared, Riku broke from Esmeralda’s grasp and dove into the water headfirst. Internally thanking his swimming skills he acquired from living on an island all his life, he dove deeper and deeper until he saw a glimpse of silver, and grabbed it. He quickly swam to the surface and gasped for fresh air, glancing over and making sure that the person he was holding was Sora - it was the silver glint from his crown necklace that had reveled itself while he was underwater.
Noting his friend’s condition, he hurried to the shore and began stripping him of his heavier clothes. A part of his mind almost smirked at what he was doing, but he easily shook it off, realizing that with all these heavy, useless clothes on, Sora could catch a fever. Besides, of course, the fact that Sora wasn’t waking up anyway.
Esmeralda looked over to him as she laid Phoebus onto the grassy shore. “We need to get them somewhere safe,” Riku muttered to her as he leaded his head onto Sora’s stomach. The boy was breathing, he confirmed, but lightly.
She nodded and brushed a piece of Phoebus’s hair out of his face. He, on the other hand, looked as though he was slipping in and out of consciousness. “Yes, but we can’t take them back to the Court of Miracles now… Frollo’s men might follow us.”
Riku bit lip him, mind racing as he attempted to think of places. How would he know?! He wasn’t from around here? Sora didn’t know anyone here either…
Except…
“That bell ringer!” he exclaimed, before wincing and looking around. Alright - no one there. “Quasimodo, I think. You met him, right?”
Esmeralda nodded slowly, as what Riku was said sunk into her head. She gave a glance down to Phoebus before hefting him over her shoulder. Riku did the same with Sora, and looked up at her. “We better hurry; I know a gypsy who could help us grab some supplies for these two, but we must be quick!” After saying which, she took off almost silently. Riku blinked in surprise - Phoebus did not look light, for one - before running after her as well.
Sora… Wake up soon…!
--
Quasimodo heard a light knocking on the door, and he turned as Esmeralda stepped inside, a smile on her face. Quasimodo’s face lit up at the sight of her. “Esmeralda! You’re all right! I knew you’d come back.”
She smiled and gave him a tight hug. “You’ve done so much for me already, my friend, but I must ask your help one more time.”
When he quickly nodded, she turned back to the door; another gypsy was currently carrying the unconscious body of Phoebus and Riku had Sora in his arms. Quasimodo’s eyes widened as he gestured they both to bring the bodies to his bed.
As Phoebus came to consciousness and began to be healed by Esmeralda, Riku turned his back to the others and looked down to Sora. His friend still hadn’t moved from where he’d laid him, so Riku, after quickly looking over his shoulder, pulled a potion out of his pants pocket and force fed it to Sora.
A coughing stutter brought the brunet back and when his eyes connected with Riku’s, Riku gave a sigh in relief and hugged Sora tightly. “Wow…” Sora began, patting Riku’s back. “What…what happened?”
“What happened?” Riku echoed, pulling back and looking Sora in the eyes. “I have no idea. Esmeralda and I picked you guys up from the river. I guess you needed some help…?” He meant it as a joke, but from being so worried about Sora, his voice came out cracked, and he gave a small wince. He lowered his head onto Sora’s shoulder and closed his eyes. “You idiot… what happened?”
Sora smiled and leaned against Riku. “Well… I insulted Frollo…” Riku snorted softly at that one, “And then one of his guards shoved me back into the man’s house, and I …” He winced and reached to the back of his head before wincing again. “Ow. I guess I hit my head against something, ‘cause I don’t remember anything after that.”
“Sora…” Riku groaned before sighing and looking into his eyes. “You should have been careful. Frollo is a dangerously creepy man.”
“I know…” He grinned before rubbing the back of his head again, wincing for a third time.
Riku frowned and looked away from Sora. After this adventure (if they lived through it, that is), they’d all go home and Sora would end up with Kairi, while Riku would cheer for them on the side. At least, in theory, that was how it was supposed to go. But Riku really didn’t want to have to see that and he wanted Sora to at least know how he felt, especially since they could die at any given moment.
“Sora…” he began, glancing up to the brunet, but his attention was elsewhere. More especially, on the couple right behind Riku, attentively making out as Quasimodo stared in horror. Oh, well, that was one love triangle he didn’t want to break into.
Before he could say anything else, the goat, Djali, gave a bleat, and Quasimodo rushed to the window. His eyes widened and he turned back to the four of them. “Frollo’s coming. You two must leave now!” He opened the door, pointing down a stairwell. “Go down the south tower steps.”
Esmeralda began saying her goodbyes to Quasimodo, but Riku refused to move. They had just been reunited! How could they possibly be forced apart now? “I’ll stay behind,” he mumbled softly.
Sora and Esmeralda looked at him as though he was crazy. “No, you can’t!” Sora exclaimed, shoving Riku away from him. He hadn’t meant for it to be cruel; he just kept remembering Frollo’s taunt, and really did not want it carried out. “Leave! We’ll meet soon, don’t worry.”
“I…” Riku began, only to be grabbed by the third gypsy and hefted into the air. Esmeralda gave the man a nod, and they quickly ran out of the room.
“Quick, hide!” Quasimodo whispered to Sora, as he grabbed Phoebus’s arms. After a quick glance around the room, Sora dove under the table, only to be squished by Phoebus’s body moments later.
And not a second too soon; moments after Phoebus disappeared out of sight, Frollo’s footsteps stopped and Quasimodo spoke, “Oh, master, I didn’t think you’d be coming.”
Sora gave a soft gasp and held onto Phoebus, hoping that they both stayed out of sight.
--
Frollo’s echoing words stayed with Sora as he and Phoebus emerged from other the table.
“I know where her hideout is, and tomorrow, at dawn, I’ll attack with a thousand men.”
He couldn’t really…know where The Court of Miracles was, could he? He wouldn’t attack, would he? That couldn’t happen! Esmeralda…Riku… Sora bit his lip, before he glanced up to Phoebus and Quasimodo, both who were glaring at each other.
“Fine, stay here,” Phoebus scowled, his right arm clutching his wounded left. “I’m not going to stay here and let Frollo massacre innocent people.” He gave a look at Sora before heading down the tower steps.
Sora looked up to Quasimodo, who gave him a dark look. “Look! Esmeralda already has her hero, and it’s not me,” he mumbled, crossing his arms and looking away.
His eyes became downcast, and he gave a pleading look to Quasimodo. “My best friend is down there. Please…if you can help me save him…”
Quasimodo made to glare up to Sora, but one look made his expression change from anger to pity. After a few more seconds, he groaned and grabbed his cape. “Come on.”
Sora grinned and rushed out of the room, the last thing he heard before he began descending down the steps was, “I must be out of my mind.”
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