Peter did indeed handle Hans' behavior. They entered the bell tower and Hans was beaten mercilessly. He had been beaten before, but not like that evening. Peter used an old cane and mostly aimed for Hans' torso and head. After the beating, Hans was forced to beg for forgiveness from Peter.
"Did you see how the people looked at you?" Peter asked, calmly.
Hans cringed. "Yes, sir."
"How? How did they look upon you?"
"With...fear, sir."
Peter lifted Hans' chin and sighed. "Finish up your chores and go to bed. I'll return in the morning."
Hans gave a small nod. "Yes, sir."
Peter Black left down the stairs and Hans was alone. He prepared some hot water and washed his face. Venn watched as he cleaned up and bit her lip. She opened her mouth to say something, but decided it was best to leave the boy alone. Hans stared at himself in the small mirror he had and shook his head.
His lip and left cheek were bruised, and his right shoulder ached. He grabbed a broom and began to sweep the floor. In the midst of the silence, he heard noises coming from downstairs in the church. He hurried to his window and saw Peter enter his carriage and drive off.
With that, Hans rushed down to the first floor and spotted the woman from before, Elsa. She walked around the church with her arms folded and sighed deeply.
Hans stared at her and wondered why she was inside. Suddenly, she turned her head and they made eye contact. He stumbled back and hurried back up to the tower with her following.
"Hey, wait!"
She followed him and he hid behind a pillar, as she gazed in awe at all the bells. They were enormous, making her feel puny and pathetic. She ran her hand on one of them and looked around for Hans.
"Do you...ring these bells by yourself?"
Hans peaked from behind the pillar. "Uh, y-yes."
Else raised both eyebrows. "Interesting."
There was a moment of silence, until Elsa spoke again. "I see you met my sister out there. During the festival."
Hans looked confused. "Your sister?"
"The one who came out and stood up for you when Peter Black was beating you. Her name's Anna."
Hans remembered the brave young girl immediately and nodded. "Right, yes. Tell her I said 'thank you'."
"You don't have to thank her. She's always going around and aiding people who are mistreated by Black. I'm surprised you didn't just fry him when he was beating you."
Hans gave a hesitant smile and shook his head. "I couldn't do that."
"Why not?"
"He's my...father."
Elsa stared at him and grimaced. "Him? You're joking."
Hans shook his head. "No, I'm serious. He's my father. Well, he raised me when no one else would."
Elsa sat down by the window as Hans came out from behind the pillar to sit by her. She stared at him and shook her head.
"How could such a cruel man raise someone like you?"
Hans looked at her. "Like me?"
"Yeah. You're a little timid, but I can see that you try to be friendly."
Hans shook his head. "No, my father isn't...cruel. He's just a bit strict."
Elsa frowned and reached out her hand to touch the side of his bruised face. He flinched and she shook her head.
"He did that to you?"
Hans hesitated. "I deserved it. I shouldn't have disobeyed him."
She couldn't believe what he was saying. "Do you even hear yourself? He's a vile and despicable man."
"No, he's not. He saved my life. He took me in when no one else would." Hans replied, staring at his gloved hands.
Elsa noticed his gloves and narrowed her eyes at them. "What are those for?"
"They're supposed to keep my powers at bay. Nothing I touch should burn when I touch it. However, my powers have been getting stronger. The gloves aren't much help anymore."
"Why not learn to control them? That's what I did."
Hans' eyes shot at her and he grimaced. "You?"
She stared at him, blankly. "Oh, you didn't see the show earlier? I performed and showed off a bit of my magic."
Hans was shocked. "You have...powers?"
"Well, no. It's all just an act, you see. I dance around and play around with water and ice. It's all just effects. Smoke and mirrors, but some people, like Black, think it's witchcraft."
Lowering his eyes in disappointment, Hans only nodded. He stared at his hands and shut his eyes. Elsa noticed and reached out to remove his gloves. He gasped and drew his hands away from her.
"What?"
"Let me see your hands."
"Why?"
"Just let me see."
She held his hand and slowly removed the glove. Without a second thought, she held his hand in hers and side-smiled.
"See?"
Hans' eyes widened and he looked at her. "I'm not...burning you?"
She shook her head. "No. Just don't be afraid. My father used to tell me that you shouldn't fear fire, but respect it."
Respect the fire...
"You don't have to wear those gloves."
Hans started to get excited, but then quickly remembered about Peter. "Oh, no, I can't. I mean, I have to wear them. My father would be furious if I didn't wear them."
"Why?"
"I'm a..."
Elsa leaned in, raising an eyebrow.
"...a monster, you know. I could kill anyone easily."
Elsa frowned. "He told you that?"
Hans shrugged. "Look at me."
She removed the other glove and held both of his hands. His hands started to warm up a bit, so she realized he was getting nervous.
"Just look at me and don't think about your hands. Relax."
Hans looked into her blue eyes and tried to keep his breathing calm and steady. Elsa hummed quietly and he calmed down. Finally, she let go of his hands and smiled.
"So, turns out that I'm stuck in this church for the moment. Black has me under house arrest. Do you mind showing me around?"
"S-Sure. Oh, it's almost sunset! Come on!"
He led her out of the room and outside where the sky was already a bright orange color. Elsa gazed in awe at the view and sighed deeply.
"I could stay up here forever." she sighed, dreamily.
Hans blushed and stared at the city. "You could."
She shook her head. "No, I couldn't. I have my sister and besides, gypsies don't do well in stone walls."
"But, you're not like other gypsies. They're...evil."
Elsa grimaced. "Who told you that? Let me guess..."
"My father."
Elsa frowned and held his face in her hands. "Look at me, okay? And, listen."
Hans felt his cheeks burn as he listened to her calm voice.
"You're not a monster. You're a very kind person. Do you think I'm evil?"
Hans stuttered. "N-No. You're...good and kind and..."
She swallowed. "And a gypsy. And maybe Peter's wrong about both of us."
Hans lowered his eyes and shook his head. Elsa cleared her throat and looked back out at the city. Then, Hans got an idea.
"You want to get out of here, right?"
"Yes. But, it's not use. There's guards at every entrance."
Hans looked down and smiled. "We won't be using a door."
"You know, when you said we would climb down, I swear you were meant metaphorically!"
Hans carried Elsa in one arm and climbed down with the other. They hopped onto gargoyles and pillars. Elsa held her breath as Hans moved faster. They made deep drops but landed safely.
"Is this your hobby or something?" Elsa panted.
"What else am I going to do in a tower all day?" Hans replied, smiling.
They finally made it down and Hans put Elsa down. "You should get going. It's dark so you'll have a good chance."
Elsa cupped the side of his face and smiled. "Come with me."
Hans gasped. "What?"
"Leave this place."
"E-Elsa, I can't. You know that. I'm not going back out there."
Elsa sighed but still smiled. "Alright. Then, I'll come to see you."
"B-But, the soldiers and Peter and-"
"I'll come after sunset."
"But, at sunset I wash the bells and sweep the floor. Then, I have to scrub the stairs and-"
Elsa smile and placed a long kiss on his cheek. His eyes widened and he stopped. "Whatever's good for you."
"Just remember what I said, okay? Relax and respect the fire."
He nodded and watched as she ran into the dark streets of Paris. With a small smile, he climbed back up the church. He reached up his hand to be greeted by another. He let out a sharp gasp and came face-to-face with Peter Black.
"Taking a walk?"
Hans climbed up and held his hands close to his chest. "I-I was just climbing around the tower to get my mind off of things, sir."
Peter Black, shockingly, seemed to believe Hans and cleared his throat. "I returned to...well, to make amends with you, dear boy."
Hans almost fainted. "Wait, what?"
Peter reached out and stroked Hans' cheek and nodded. "Hans, you know that I hate leaving you after a fight, especially when I've done absolutely nothing wrong."
Hans closed his eyes and inhaled. "I see."
Peter led the way back inside and sat down at the table, looking around. "What's different in here, Hans?"
Hans blinked. "Sir?"
"The last time I was here, someone was supposed to be in this church. Someone...that you seem to know very well."
Hans felt his stomach cringe but remained calm. "Who, sir?"
Peter raised an eyebrow and stood up. "The gypsy!"
His hand went up and slapped Hans across the face. He stumbled away in fear and covered his face with his hands. Peter saw his pale hands and gasped. He grabbed Hans by the wrist and looked at his hands, without gloves.
"Where are your gloves, Hans?"
"I-I...I don't need them, sir."
You fool! Did the gypsy tell you that?"
He grabbed Hans by the neck with both hands and shook him. "Gypsies aren't to be trusted, boy!"
"But, sir, I...I think she likes me."
Peter stared at Hans let him go. He back away and started to chuckle. "Like you?"
Hans stared at him, shaking.
"Like you? Hans...that's demented!"
"But, father, I-"
"This is why you never should've left."
Hans sighed and closed his eyes, clutching his fists. Peter rubbed his temples and gritted his teeth. "Hans, this whole romance that you've invented just proves that you're too naive to belong down there."
He and Hans walked towards the window and Peter waved his hand at the city. Hans lowered his eyes as Peter stood behind him.
"Why would she like you? Just look at you."
Hans felt his hands burning with his rage but kept his eyes on the city.
"Don't be a fool. You know that I love you, Hans. Don't you?"
Sp many other times, he would've said 'yes'. But, not tonight. Hans felt nothing but anger inside of him and turned to face Peter, angrily.
"No!"
Peter froze and raised an eyebrow. "No?"
Hans didn't even blink. He glared at Peter and clenched his fists.
"Oh, I understand. You're joking." Peter laughed.
Only Hans knows best,
Oh, Hans is so mature now
Such a clever, grown-up boy
Peter grabbed Hans by the chin, roughly and shoved him away.
Only Hans knows best
Fine, if you're so sure now
Go ahead and show her this!
Peter opened a drawer and showed Hans a small blanket that Hans knew too well. It was a shredded and old thing that Hans feared to look at.
"How could you?" Hans gasped
This is why you're here
Don't let her deceive you
Look at it and then you'll see
Hans shook his head as Peter tossed the blanket to him. "I won't! It's in the past!"
Trust me, dear boy
She'll see and then she'll leave you
I won't say I told you so
Peter yanked the blanket away from Hans and got into his face.
No, Hans, knows best!
So, if you're such a dreamboat
Put your powers to the test
Hans stared as Peter put the blanket away and shook his head, hesitantly. "Father, wait."
Peter took one final look at Hans and shook his head.
If you fail, boy
Don't come crying
Father knows best
Peter turned away and walked down the stairs, leaving Hans to his thoughts. Venn appeared and watched Hans leaned against the stone wall and slid down to the floor, crying.
Venn looked at the drawer where the blanket was and shook her head. "It wasn't your fault, Hans."
Hans shook his head and covered his eyes with his hand. "Go away, Venn. Please."
