A/N: Disclaimer: I own nothing. The characters are not mine, and I highly doubt they ever will. Disney verse, but characters are from the French Gothic novel by Victor Hugo published in 1831.
Alright, so, explanation. This idea came to me when I was watching The Hunchback of Notre dame, and during the Festival of Fools scene when Clopin Trouillefou just kinda shows up behind Frollo's 'judicial' chair, and just kinda touches him. Not sure how that sprung up an 'undone' pairing that 'seems to have no shippers whatsoever and it's depressing-'. This is Slash, which is guy x guy, M/M- Homosexuality. As bluntly as possible, so of you do not approve, do not read, because I KNOW Frollo (And Clopin) has some awesome faithful psycho fangirls out there that I'd rather not be on the battle end of. But yes, Frollo x Clopin.
So, yeah. Imagine, what if it was Clopin (King of Truands- King of the Gypsy's) instead of Esmeralda, that Frollo finds his 'hellfire attraction' directed to? What if it was Clopin that stood up for Quasimodo and defied the judge in replace of the Gypsy girl, and what if it were he that had run into the church for sanctuary from the guards and knights. Befriended the giant beast, and was aided in escape before soon being caught by a series of unfortunate events where the judge had come across the Court of Miracles. What if Frollo burned down all of Paris in search for the Gypsy king, and that the offer for the pyre or himself was given when the last moment arise? The sin of romance and dirty perverse thoughts clouding Frollos mind when he gazed upon the man. The disgust and fear that Frollo faced when he was forced to realise that his desires were directed to a man. (Homosexual relations back then, or mere thoughts of it, were ungodly, and it was even worse when they involved a Gypsy)
Sound good? No? Didn't think so. But I believed that this pairing needed more justice, it's unlikely, but I don't know, I like it. Anywho, I hope I got my message across, and please, do enjoy the story; and if you think I should continue, please let me know, because I'm not sure. Thank you for fighting through my long authors note, and enjoy the story~! ^^
The bells of the cathedral rung loudly at this unlucky hour of the day, with people and innocent civilians yelling for these events to stop, the pleading and cries for mercy were left deft on the ears of the 'ritious' and the judicial. They were so loud, but were treated with unnerving silence, against the bells. The loud ringing and clattering of metal against metal, with violent vibrations running through the air in waves, and the Gypsy king looked up almost helplessly up at the bell towers, and wished that his friend would help, but he knew that the giant beast was just as afraid as he was of the monster only so many feet away from him. Judge Claude Frollo.
The ropes were grinding against Clopin's skin, making the flesh grow tender and raw under the rough straw made material. His wrists were tied tightly against the pyres staff, digging into his skin painfully, and stinging every attempt he made to break free. Clopins hips were strapped almost achingly painfully against the staff, while his white prisoner attired shirt clad torso was leaning forward, straining his arms in the process, but he couldn't help it.
"-..and all of the unholy sorcery he had committed against god, and all of his people..-"
Frollo, read professionally from the papers in his hands, reading off all of the 'Crimes' Clopin had committed. All of them were dramatically exaggerated on his behalf, but it didn't matter. Who would ever believe a Gypsy?
"-..soiling the streets of Paris with his vermin followers behind him every step of the way..-"
Now, that sounded like more of a personal remark than a crime, but evidently nobody could tell the difference. Deep chocolate brown eyes looked over towards the largely oversized executioner, who wouldn't be putting an end to his life this sickening day. The cool airs of autumn brushed past his body in a blur, making the edges of his clothing flutter, and his thick raven black hair almost dance. He felt almost exposed without his mask, and proper attire; his clothing having been taken away, most likely burned, and his hat and earring removed.
His body thrashed against the restraints, as Frollo gave him a look. He wasn't sure what it meant, but he saw so much resentment, loathing, and a hit of something that made the Gypsy king's heart sink, and he wasn't sure why.
The wooden planks under his feet felt rough and he could feel some loose jagged splinters stabbing at his heels, it hurt, to say the least, but nothing he couldn't handle. He moved his body slightly, only to feel the skin and muscle strain against one another as the rope pulled painfully against his limbs, a frustrated puff of air blew out of his lips.
"-..his sins against man, and thievery of the people of Paris." Frollo finished, turning his attention to glance at the Gypsy a moment, before extending an arm to take the torch from the larger male. He handed the papers to him and made short steps to the Pyre where large bundles of sticks were being second-handedly tossed around the distressed looking king. Frollo watched in sickening pleasure as the pace of the man's breathing quickened, if only just slightly, as the judge approached.
A demeaning glare passed over Clopins features when a soft cold chuckle broke past the judges lips.
"The time has come, Gypsy." Frollo sneered, waving the torch in his hands slightly with a swift flick of his wrist. "You stand upon the brink of the abyss." His tone was deceiving, and showed false pity, mixed with amusement lacing his professional tone.
"Yet even now it is not too late." When these words were spoken, Clopin looked up at him, question and distrust in his large eyes, a slight eyebrow raising in query. Frollo gave a nearly morbid smile, cold piercing eyes staring right through the Gypsy king, and leaving the man feeling uneasy. "I can save you from the flames of this world, and the next." The elder man propositioned, hope began to flutter up the sides of the dark haired man, but questions and uncertainty tainted his mind.
Frollo's face came closer, almost uncomfortably so. He could feel the hot breath brush his cheeks as the older man spoke, and the heat radiating from the fire at such close distance. Frollo's face contorted into something awful, aging features holding words that weren't coherent or made any sort of legible sense, a sort of defiant air suddenly surrounding him in a confident and shattering way.
"Choose me," he paused, before his features turned grave, "or the fire."
Clopin's first instinct was to spit in his face, or snap back a disgustingly vaguer comment that all around just said No. However, his words and instincts caught in his throat, his eyes turning to face his people, all locked in cages, some helpless, some broken and dead inside, while others fought tooth and nail, screaming and gritting. The raven haired man looked at them, his expression becoming broken, looking to the ground of the pyre before turning to meet Frollo's gaze.
"If I say yes, will you let my people go?"
Frollo seemed taken aback, leaning away from the Gypsy.
Murmurs edged their way into the already loud crowd, perhaps questioning what had just happened. Nobody could hear what the two in question were saying, for obvious reasons of course, but they strained to anyhow. All they could see were mouths moving, facial expressions changing, and even the small amount of body language that was given.
"No." Frollo stated, face slowly becoming impassive. Clopin's face dropped, before his eyebrows furrowed together defiantly.
"Then I'll happily burn."
A growl escaped the grey haired man's lips, straightening his back impossibly. "You're making a mistake-"
"You're making the mistake, your honor," A sly, yet serious grin broke across his lips, saying his words in a mocking tone, "You can kill millions of us, but your never going to see the day where the Gypsy's, simply, disappear."
"And you'd still risk your life, for these vermin you call family?" It was more of a demanded question than a query merely out of curiosity. He raised his greying brow at the man in question, who only frowned in response.
"I'd rather die with my people, than live without."
"Your imprudence blinds you," Frollo growled, "You're denying yourself life."
"My apologies," Clopin toned in cruel mockery, "But you know us Gypsy's, we're so selfish."
"You're a fool-"
"King," Clopin retorted, "I'm the king of fools, or have you forgotten?"
Another low growl escaped his lips, before his eyes dragged over the others face. Disgust, was the first word that came to mind to the judge; disgust for the Gypsy's, disgust for their culture and lifestyle, he was feeling disgust for this man and his utter arrogance for the life around him. How could a man who lived with these vermin everyday for his entire life, be blind to how flawed they were? To how disgusting they are?
Although the longer he looked, the more he was able to compose himself. Mass executions last hours, nearly days with large groups of people. He considered strategical execution, having Gypsy's contained and kill perhaps at least 10 every day, that way he could steer away other Gypsy's if they ever dare step foot in the barriers of Paris. Banishment was an option, but not a very good one; the odds of the Gypsy's actually obeying were fairly slim.
Releasing them? All of them, without even the slightest bit of punishment? What kind of weakness would these people gaze upon him with? This King of Gypsy's wasn't worth the embarrassment- yet, he couldn't bring himself to drop the torch.
A sigh escaped the man's lips, before a plan conjured itself up. The idea was plausible, but not full proof, although commendable, it seemed somewhat futile, but if the opportunity were to arise, he will execute each and every single one of these filthy parasites.
"Fine," He sighed, watching as the glare weakened into surprise on the man's face. "I will allow them to leave, but they will be removed from the city, any trespassers will be eliminated, but they will have a chance for survival." His tone grounded itself the more he spoke, hating and loathing every single word dripping out of his mouth. He felt like he was betraying Beta Maria, and for a parasite as well.
He needed him, wanted him, desired so. He had never felt such urges in all of his existence, the burning desire creeping across his flesh and flowing through his veins, to the point of it becoming too painful to bare. Frollo felt like some beast had crawled inside of him, some demon answering the calls of the sorcerers spell, and feeding on the need. His weakness showing through and controlling him; Those large deep bright warm chocolate brown eyes, that have so many words, pictures, and emotions flashing across those expressive orbs, that can be both sinister, and kind.
The thin, slightly shorter posture he held, that contained such confidence when he walked, and moved so agile like, gracefully spinning and jumping for hours on end, as energetic and feisty as he was. The way he spoke, and sometimes sang to the children, sometimes Frollo can hear it when in passing, most of which talking about this and that, that the children would find interesting. The wonder and expression behind each and every syllable that brought Frollo listening intently despite himself, having himself watch in silent wonder with every move the man would make.
He would constantly shake these thoughts from his head, and head to the church to clear his mind. Those were ungodly, and unholy thoughts, and later believed that the man had cast a spell on his soul to make him think as such. Their was no more proof of those accusations other than the perverse thoughts and dreams that would cross his mind in a vivid haze. He needed to control himself, but he couldn't, he still can't.
Murder seemed like the best option in order to get rid of these false emotions, if Clopin were to die, then his spell would dissipate. Although the longer he thought about it, the more distasteful it seemed, right up to the point where he is standing in front of the creature of his unholist desires, and he was trying to find a way to save him.
The king of fools just watched the man, distrust evident in his eyes, but Frollo could care less as to why.
"It's a simple question," Frollo persisted, insisting an answer. "If you choose me, you will live and so will all of your people, you choose to die, you choose their death's as well."
Clopin only took a moment before his head dropped, he was to be a prisoner. All selfishness aside, he turned to face the judge, who seemed to have this manipulative gleam in his eyes.
Clopin nearly faltered, when he thought of his freedom being taken away from him, as he thought about the helplessness of his situation. His people didn't deserve to suffer because he wanted to be selfish and hard headed, too stubborn not to back down; the children's lives were to end if he were too stubborn. Women and the elderly, the infants and toddlers; he would never be able to forgive himself in the afterlife if he did something so immoral.
"I'll do it," The words made the elder man's impassive face break, as a sadistic smile crossed his lips. "Now, let my people go."
Frollo ignored the last comment before turning towards the large crowd. He raised the torch in his grasp high in the air, in order to get everyone's attention. The man opened his mouth to announce the 'Recantment,' but the Gypsy didn't hear a word of it, he was too caught up in himself to pay attention. There was a pause, in which the judge handed over the torch to be put out, heading to one of the guards.
Clopin watched as Frollo commanded distant orders, watching as the soldiers did as they were told, saluting before heading off. A single wave was gracefully presented his way from the elder judge, and very shortly afterwards there happened to be three solders by his side. Clopin felt the digging in his wrists fall away, as well as the extreme discomfort from the ropes dissipate from his midsection.
As if on instinct, his hands instantly snapped to his wrists, rubbing at the raw irritated skin. A rough metal clad hand grabbed his shoulder almost violently, shoving him forward, while another placed his hand on his arm. The third stood behind the other two watching the Gypsy king carefully, as if expecting him to make a run for it.
"Make sure to have him secured in my carriage, before releasing the parasites," Frollo commanded, looking at the three guards, "I will not tolerate any rescue attempts, or escape all the same. Are we clear?"
"Yes sir." The three men muttered, before forcefully pushing the man to said carriage at the bottom of the pyre. He was quickly shoved inside, stumbling on his feet before landing on his stomach; the sound was loud, almost booming in his ears as his body made rough contact with the steel. The ground of the metal transporter was freezing, not to mention hard. The door behind him slammed shut, and he was left in complete and utter darkness.
Alright, honestly, what do you think. I think this is messy beyond fixing but then again, I don't know. I really hope you guys like, so thank you for reading, and don't forget to review~! ^^ LLAP
