Chapter 3
He felt so guilty for doing this, the other hadn't done anything wrong this time it was all him. Clopin had the bright idea of kidnapping Harry and taking him to the court of miracles, where he would be safe there or safer after all he had managed to keep away from Frollo by himself. Clopin looked at Harry who was out cold and hanging over his shoulder, he just hoped that the other would understand that he was doing it for his own good.
He hummed a merry tune as he made it down the passageway that led to the court of miracles, soon he would be home sweet home! He could smell the stew now, it would be so warm once it hit his belly and it would be divine!
That wasn't to say the bread that Harry had given him was bad, it wasn't! He was just looking forwards to something a bit meatier than bread, Clopin whistled as he made his way into the middle of the court.
"Clopin!"
"Your back!"
"Who is that?"
"How did you get free?"
Ah, it was good to be home. Even if they could be loud and very obnoxious some days they were still his family and this was still his home, he set Harry down on the floor and looked at them.
"Gather round, gather round. Have I got a story to tell you!"
Slowly everyone began to gather around Clopin as his puppet made his grand entrance.
"Where were you?"
Clopin gave a look to the puppet.
"Out."
The puppet crossed his arms.
"Out where?"
Clopin sigh as he shook his head.
"What are you my wife?"
The puppet turned its head up.
"Someone has to be!"
Several people laughed at the sight that the two made, while it was amusing to watch they really want to know what had happened to their King, he had been caught that much they did know but how had he gotten free? Clopin made sure that everyone was settled before he began to speak.
"It all started when we had left here!"
Someone snorted as another person shouted out.
"Get on with it! How did you get away?"
Clopin pouted like a child before a smile took up his face, he skipped to where Harry was and pulled him up.
"It is thanks to my new friend here! What a tale it is!"
Several people rolled their eyes as Clopin began to speak.
~~~~~~ Flash back~~~~~~
He could hear the people jeering at him, his back hurt off where he had been thrown into the wall. His head was pounding, he felt himself being dragged to the platform he could barely make anyone out. He was harshly pushed onto the platform the wood was harsh against the skin of his knees he felt someone tear his shirt off him, he braced himself for the sting of the leather that didn't come.
~~~~End Flashback~~~~~~
Some of them had moved closer as a small child began jumping up and down.
"Then what happens? Then what happens?"
Clopin look at Harry and feel guilt he can see the bruises that littered the other man's wrists, there was even a bruise at the back of his head that he had refused to let Clopin have a look at even though it was his fault to begin with. Clopin smiled as he continued his tale.
~~~~~Flash back~~~~~
He felt groggy, his head hurt as did his legs and arms. He felt as if someone had hit him with a horse, and that wasn't a pleasant feeling for him he tried to sit up but felt pain jolt through his body and a soft voice speak.
"Easy, you aren't healed yet."
Clopin felt himself being pushed backwards onto the small cot that was underneath him, he wasn't in the Court of Miracles that was for certain as he had never heard that voice before. He opened his eyes and blinked a few times trying to get used to the darkness, there was a single candle burning in the corner. Wherever he was he wasn't in the palace of Justice as no one would take care of his wounds there, they would laugh at him, demean him and beat him rather than help him.
He tried to sit up once again this time the pain was more of dull ache as he felt a set of hands help him up.
"Easy, easy you have a nasty cut on your head."
He looked at his supposed saviour, and stopped short the man had long inky black hair that was tied up in a messy ponytail and his eyes! Oh his eyes reminded Clopin of emeralds that he had seen as a small boy but they were nowhere near as beautiful as the eyes that were looking at him right now, the skin was snow white even though he could see the layer of muscle on the man's chest it was clear that he did a lot of manual labour and wasn't afraid to get his hands dirty, the ruby red lips were being abused in between a set of ice white and perfectly straight teeth.
~~~~~~End FlashBack~~~~
Many of them had looked over to where Harry was, some of them felt grateful for what he had done. But the majority of them were suspicious of why the other man had helped their king to begin with.
"Then what?"
~~~~~Flash Back~~~~~
Clopin sat up and looked around the surroundings, wherever he was it was clear that it had seen far better days so why was a man that looked as stunning as he did be living here?
"Who are you?"
The man blinked and passed him some water as he began to cough, Clopin looked at him with suspicious eyes. The man was new and he had never seen the other before and he had no idea why he had saved him, after all no one helps a gypsy out, so why did he? Would he take him to Frollo and ask for a reward?
Clopin felt a burst of anger flood his system as he pushed the other down to the floor, making sure that he had his arms pinned above his head.
"Who are you?"
The man struggled to get Clopin off him, after a few seconds he calmed down and looked at Clopin.
"I am Harry."
The voice was soft and almost musical, Clopin wondered if Harry could sing and for a brief moment he thought about asking the other to sing. Clopin shook his head and glared at the other.
"Why did you save me?"
He tightened his grip on Harry the warning clear as Harry looked at him.
"I couldn't allow…"
Harry fell quiet and looked at the wall, Clopin's grip tightened even more. Harry winced a little as he felt the blunt nails dig into his skin.
"You couldn't allow what?"
The way that Clopin had sneered made Harry think of Snape, he knew that the other was wary of him and rightly so he would be as well if he was in Clopin's position. He would wonder what the other man's motives were as well, but he didn't have any motives other than trying to save Clopin.
"I couldn't allow an innocent to get hurt."
~~~~~~End Flashback~~~~~
Several of them rolled their eyes, as they looked at Clopin. They wanted to know what had happened not the whole back-story! All they wanted to know was how had he escaped and who was the person that he had brought with him.
"I think that is enough!"
Clopin pouted.
"I was getting to the good bit."
He wiggled his eyebrows as some women began to giggle, it was well known that Clopin didn't really have a gender that he preferred be they male or female love was love to them. Still none of them could deny that Harry was a very beautiful male and some of them wouldn't mind bedding him that was if Clopin hadn't claimed him first, still it was good to have him back in one piece. None of them were sure what they would do if he didn't come back, yes they had plans and ways to get out of the city but it wouldn't be the same without Clopin, he was the one that held them together and made sure that everyone followed the rules whether they liked them or not.
"Where, am I?"
Green eyes looked around and landed on Clopin who waved at him, green eyes came to life as Harry stood up and stalked over to Clopin before punching him square in the jaw.
"You complete and utter bastard! What the hell were you thinking? You can't just kidnap people!"
Clopin stood up as he rubbed his jaw; Harry had one hell of a right hook. He looked at everyone some had even moved closer just incase Harry proved to be a threat rather than a friend. What he didn't count on was a second punch to the face.
"Your and arse! A complete and utter arse!"
During his rant Harry's hair had fell out of it's plait and was loosely hanging around him like a silk black curtain, several people were openly staring at him as he glared down at Clopin.
"Do you have anything to say for yourself?"
Clopin stared up at Harry; his emerald green eyes were boring into his own dark ones. The way that Harry was stood reminded him of an angel, a very tempting angel that could very well end his life at any given moment. Clopin licked his lips.
"You're in the court of miracles."
Harry looked shocked and Clopin felt happy that he had put such a look on his face, he wasn't letting Harry go that quickly he wanted to find out what made the other man tick first.
"What?"
Clopin stood up and skipped towards the other man.
"The court of miracles. "
Harry rubbed his forehead as he looked around; there were caravans and tents set up all over. There were several fires lit as pots were on them, children were running around laughing and joking.
"Why did you bring me here?"
Clopin shrugged, he hadn't been sure of that himself. He had wanted the other man closer to him, to help him figure out just what he was and what made him tick but seeing him stood in the middle of the court made Clopin realize that Harry was meant to be there stood in the middle of the court.
"Safety."
Harry raised an eyebrow as he looked at Clopin.
"What do you mean?"
Clopin rolled his shoulders as he looked at Harry.
"Frollo's guards found your little hideaway shortly after we had left it."
Harry gulped and turned his head that place had been a home to him since he had first came to France. So for it to be gone, he didn't know how to handle it.
"I see, and you brought me here to what? Keep me safe?"
Clopin smiled.
"Exactly."
WIth that he pulled Harry over towards the fires, he was hungry and wanted to eat. He made sure that Harry was with him as he began to introduce him to everyone, he pulled Harry onto the floor as they were both handed some broth Clopin smiled as he dug straight into it. Harry stared at the bowl, he could feel everyone's eyes on him, he didn't want to be here he was grateful that Clopin had got him out of there but he could feel the walls slowly closing in on him. He had hated being in enclosed spaces since the Chamber of Secrets and the basilisk that had lived inside of it, he didn't even notice that his hands had began to shake as his breath began to get quicker. He was slowly beginning to have a panic attack.
"Harry?"
Harry didn't respond as his vision slowly began to turn black, he felt strong arms catch him before he hit the ground but that was it.
~~~~ Claude Frollo~~~~
He looked at the report and threw the glass of wine against the wall.
"We were so close to him this whole time!"
Frollo snarled as he threw things left and right, it was very rare for him to lose his temper but when he did he exploded like a volcano.
"Sir!"
Frollo whirled around and growled.
"What?"
The guard shook where he stood but he refused to back down.
"We have reason to believe that the thief was the one who freed Clopin Trouillefou as well, we found several smoke bombs in the old mill."
Could this get any worse? Frollo wanted the day to be over, all he wanted to do was sleep and pretend that the day didn't happen.
"Were you able to catch him?"
The guard shook his head mindful of Frollo's reaction.
"No Sir, we were unable to catch him and we believe that he has moved on to somewhere else."
Frollo felt his temper beginning to rise once again, could he never have a moment's peace?
"Do not worry, he is vermin and like all vermin he will resurface when he needs food."
The guard nodded and made his way out of Frollo's study leaving the man to look out of his window, he looked through the things that had been found when the guards had found the old mill that the thief had been using as a hideout. He looked at the book that had been found, and sneered no doubt the thief thought that he could educate himself it was laughable. What he didn't expect to find when he opened it was drawings the work of a master, Frollo felt his breath catch on some of the pictures they looked so real, it was almost as if Frollo could touch them. He continued to look through the book until he came to a picture of himself; he looked down at the picture how close had the thief been to him?
He must have been close in order to get the detail of his robes, the picture of him seemed so real but he knew it wasn't as there was a smile on his face. Frollo hadn't smiled since his brother had died and he doubted that he ever would again but the drawing?
It stirred something inside of him; he could feel his blood begin to heat up. He would find the thief and catch him, and when he did?
The thief would be his!
