[Private] The Hunchback of Notre Dame (AdAstra)

[UncoordinatedPisces]

Aimee listened to Phoebus intently, she liked hearing his voice. He wanted me to kill innocent people. Aimee's eyes lingered up to his. I was just doing what everyone else should've done. The teenager continued stitching. When he said she was doing a good job, she couldn't stop her smile growing wide. She finished and looked back up at him, to find that his eyes were locked to hers.

To her surprise, she didn't hesitate when he stroked her cheek. But Aimee could feel herself blushing and she bit her bottom lip out of embarrassment. She raised her own hand up to her cheek and took his, pulling it down. She held it for a while, just smiling at him dreamily. Something was telling her to get closer but she was feeling too giddy to move.

"I-um...um...", she mumbled, trying to say something but the words weren't forming. She was suppressing teenager giggles, for she didn't want to embarrass herself more. She was mature, she could handle this. But looking at Phoebus made her loose herself a couple of times. She just sat there smiling, hoping that this happiness wasn't going to go away.

[AdAstrα]

Phoebus smiled as he moved closer to her. Mesmerized by her innocent beauty, his heart began to pound as they held hands, her skin soft and warm against his.

"You're a beautiful girl, Aimee." he whispered, "I hope you know that."

Looking into her eyes, he could tell that she was nervous, and this somehow made him feel calmer. To think that she had feelings for him...he hadn't dared to hope before. Afraid of disappointment, he had kept his feelings locked up deep inside, scared of what might happen if they were set free. But now...things had changed. He was no longer frightened. Only overwhelmed. Overwhelmed with emotions for another, beautiful human being.

Before he could even think about it, he leaned forward and kissed her. Her soft lips against his, the happiness he felt was simply beyond everything he had ever felt in his entire life.

[UncoordinatedPisces]

Phoebus' words echoed in her mind, suddenly, nothing else seemed to matter apart from the person in front of her. His words blocked out the thoughts of Frollo, and everything that had happened in her life. He was coming closer, and Aimee didn't know whether she was nervous, excited or dazed. It was a mixture of both really that stopped her from hesitating when the kiss happened.

She was smiling into the kiss, and it took her all she had left not to start crying because she was so overwhelmed with happiness. The fact that Phoebus was older and the fact that Quasi and Esmeralda were there didn't effect her. Aimee was fully happy for the first time in years. A kiss that only lasted 5 seconds felt like minutes. She only pulled away to see if it had really happened.

Smiling like an idiot and blushing like not tomorrow, she just looked at Phoebus, her hand gripping his again like she'd never let go.

[AdAstrα]

Phoebus merely gazed at her, knowing there and then that he had done the right thing. Her reaction said it all; the way she smiled, the way she blushed...the way she held his hand. So gently and yet, at the same time, so tight; as if she never ever wanted to let go. He did not want her to, either; in fact he could have done anything to just remain in that moment forever. The world around them no longer mattered, and would never matter again, as long as they were together...from that moment on, they would be joined together by their love for eachother...

Still overwhelmed with emotions, he was just about to kiss her again when Quasimodo came running, his eyes wide in horror.

"Frollo's coming!" he exclaimed, "You must leave!"

[UncoordinatedPisces]

Aimee's face dropped. She went as white as snow.
"Oh no...", she mouthed. Looking at Phoebus, "Oh no, oh no. No no no". Panic riddled in her eyes, because she was thinking one thing. How's Phoebus going to get out here with that injury right now? "We've got to hide", she said, voice a little high and at breaking point. You couldn't blame her though, she was already shaking.

She glanced around, her eyes fixed on the table. Both of them could fit under it surely. It seemed stupid, but they couldn't climb and hide in the bells. "Come on, we'll have to go under the table", she would of laughed, but she was too nervous to even smile. She pulled Phoebus up on his feet, struggling to keep up his weight.

[AdAstrα]

Quasimodo took Esmeralda's hand, quickly showing her the way out. "Go down the south tower steps!" he said anxiously, his heart pounding with fear.
"Be careful, my friend." she said gratefully, "Promise you won't let anything happen to him."
"I promise." Quasimodo said, "He'll be safe here with me and Aimee."
"Thank you." And with another glance in his direction, the gypsy turned around and started running as quickly as she could out into the hall and down the stairs.

He watched her go, almost losing himself in daydreams, but the sound of footsteps from somewhere below brought him back to reality in a rather abrupt manner. Frollo, he thought, panicking. Running back to Aimee and Phoebus, he grabbed the man's arm firmly and helped him get under the table. "Hurry." he said, turning to Aimee, "Get in there quickly, or he'll see you."

A split second later, the door opened and in stepped Claude Frollo. Pale-skinned and dark-eyed, he looked around the room suspiciously; like a predator sensing the presence of prey.

[UncoordinatedPisces]

Aimee had just managed to follow Phoebus under the table before she heard the sound of the door open. She curled up in the very corner of where she was sitting, took Phoebus' hand, and hoped for the best. She stroked his skin, some comfort came from that but she tried to keep her breathing steady, because she knew one loud inhale could potentially have them all in for it.

Something occurred to her though. If they were caught, wouldn't Quasi be able to defend them? He was much stronger than Frollo, and Phoebus for that matter. Why hadn't he just taken down Frollo long ago? Aimee sighed, and thought, "If Frollo raised me and taught me things like that about the outside...and called himself my father...I suppose I wouldn't have the courage to firstly get past him, and then be with other people".

[AdAstrα]

Quasimodo's eyes widened in horror as he gazed at his master. Trying his best to act casual, he walked up to him with a smile that he hoped was convincing. "Master!" he said, "I didn't think you'd come!"

Frollo glanced at him with a smirk. "I'm never too busy to share a meal with you, dear boy. I brought a little treat." he said, pointing to a basket he had just placed on the table. He then sat down, and Quasimodo's heart skipped at least a few beats; his feet were so dangerously close to Aimee and Phoebus. All he had to do was move just a tad, and he would notice them...

Just then, he cleared his throat loudly, which alerted Quasimodo to the fact that he had not set the table. He rapidly sorted this out, his hands shaking so much he dropped a few plates in the process. Once he joined Frollo at the table, his eyes had narrowed suspiciously.

"Is there something troubling you, Quasimodo?" he asked, looking straight at him. He had seen that look on his face before and the realisation made him shudder; for his every move, his every reaction was being watched carefully. Frollo was analysing him, clearly suspecting that something was up and determined, naturally, to find out if he was right.

"No. No!" Quasimodo replied nervously, struggling to stay calm.

"Oh, but there is." Frollo said, smirking again, "I know there is..."

[UncoordinatedPisces]

Aimee was doing her best not to let out any form of sound. Or to even shake. She knew the consequences if they were found out. She'd be taken back to the Palace of Justice, where she doubted she'd ever leave again. Quasi will remain a prisoner up here, and Phoebus...well, she doubted she'd she him again. She glanced around, just in case there was a way out. She cursed herself mentally, of course there wasn't a way out from under the table.

"Come on Quasi", she urged with her thoughts, "Don't let us down". She looked up at Phoebus, whom she was squeezed up to under the table. At least she had him. She rested her head on the un-injured side of his chest carefully and waited. She had heard the conversation, and it seemed Quasi wasn't doing a great job of keeping calm. Frollo knew something was up.

[AdAstrα]

Quasimodo looked down nervously, finding it increasingly difficult to remain calm as Frollo kept staring at him. A grape fell to the floor as he pulled some out from inside the basket; luckily rolling over to Quasimodo. Picking it up cautiously, knowing his every move was being watched, he caught a glimpse of Aimee and Phoebus under the table. Too scared to make eye contact with them, he mouthed the word "Quiet!" before he sat up again, avoiding Frollo's gaze.

"I think....you're hiding something." Frollo said, still watching him carefully while he awaited a response.

"Oh no, master! There is nothing..."

"You're not eating, boy."

He quickly grabbed a bunch of grapes, devouring them all at once. "It's very good! Thank you." he mumbled, chewing so eagerly he had to wipe some juice off his chin. Then, his heart skipped a beat as there was a loud moan from under the table. Phoebus. he thought, panicking. He must be unconscious again...

Trying to cover the sudden noise up with an enthusiastic "Mmm!", he tried his hardest not to let his fear show, knowing that Frollo would instantly pick up on it if he did. Instead he helped himself to a few more grapes while he hoped that Aimee could somehow make the wounded man be quiet.