Chapter 64: The Struggle

Claude woke up to what may have been the greatest shock of his life.

Of all people, Quasimodo should have been the last one to be curled up against him right now. And yet, there he was, his large arms holding onto the man he'd previously called his master.

Claude painfully remembered the conversation that had led to this. His past had been disclosed in detail. Quasimodo knew all about his miserable life, and that knowledge had helped him to forgive the man responsible for the deaths of his parents.

That was a good thing, something Claude should feel grateful for. And he did. But at the same time, a feeling of dread overwhelmed him.

Quasimodo knew everything. Everything...

As if sensing that someone was thinking of him, the hunchback stirred. He looked as shocked as Claude when his eyes opened, memories suddenly returning.

They let go of each other.

"Um... Good morning." Quasimodo said awkwardly.

Claude turned his face away from the younger man. It was difficult to look at him right now, after sharing so much.

"...Good morning." He returned.

Those words certainly weren't enough to acknowledge what had led to the two of them crying to sleep in that embrace. But what else was there to say?

"We should check on Esmeralda." Claude suggested.

"Oh, yes!" Quasimodo agreed. "I hope she's doing alright..."

He also hoped that Claude was alright. The judge kept avoiding eye contact with him.

Esmeralda was barely awake when two figures quietly entered the room. She was slightly surprised when she realized who they were, merely because they were together. The sight of Quasimodo in the same room as Claude had become an incredible one, but there didn't seem to be the slightest ounce of tension between them.

Claude came to Esmeralda's side, laying a hand on her arm.

"How are you feeling?" He asked with concern.

"Glad to be alive..." Esmeralda replied weakly.

Her pain had worsened, but that felt insignificant considering that she'd nearly died.

"Are you hungry?" Claude asked.

Esmeralda nodded.

"Wait a moment. I'll get you something to eat."

Claude stroked Esmeralda's cheek as he spoke, but he suddenly remembered that Quasimodo was in the room. Claude glanced at him and noticed a mildly uncomfortable expression. Probably best not to touch Esmeralda like that in front of him...

Claude left the room, still avoiding eye contact, and leaving Quasimodo to take his place next to Esmeralda.

"Hi, Esmeralda." Quasimodo greeted.

"Hi." Esmeralda returned with a faint smile. "I didn't think you'd be here this early."

"I actually stayed the night." Quasimodo informed.

"Really?"

"Yeah, really. It's a little hard to believe. Twenty years in Frollo's care and this is the first time I've been to his house..."

Quasimodo realized how negative he was starting to sound. He quickly corrected that.

"But... I'm not mad at him anymore."

Esmeralda questioned if the pain was making her mishear things.

"What?" She asked in surprise.

"I... Talked to him." Quasimodo explained. "Like you said I should..."

"What did he tell you?" Esmeralda inquired.

"Um... Everything."

"So you know about..."

Quasimodo frowned as he thought of everything he'd just learned.

"He told me about the burn..." He started. "And why he was so obsessed with himself... And how you and the archdeacon helped him..."

The bell ringer shook his head regretfully.

"It all makes sense now." He said with guilt. "I wish I'd asked sooner..."

"I'm just glad you finally did." Esmeralda said gratefully.

"But I'm a little worried. He's trying not to look at me now..."

Esmeralda frowned when she realized what Claude must be struggling with currently.

"Give him some time." She encouraged. "It wasn't easy for him to say all that."

Quasimodo nodded sadly.

Claude soon returned with a plate of food, at which point Quasimodo decided he should be leaving.

"I should go." He announced. "Elaine will be expecting to see me soon because I normally have meals with her. But I'll be back later, if that's alright."

"I'd be happy to see you." Esmeralda assured.

Quasimodo looked at Claude, who only glanced at him briefly before fixing his eyes on some spot on the wall.

"Come anytime." He said coldly.

Quasimodo was disappointed by his adoptive father's mood, but he didn't show it. He quickly said his goodbye to Esmeralda and left.

Claude came back to the side of the bed and brought the plate to Esmeralda. She ate slowly, but was sure to finish her meal before bringing up the obvious problem.

"You're being awfully abrupt with Quasimodo." She mentioned disappointedly.

Claude frowned.

"I know I shouldn't." He said regretfully. "But... I assume he told you about our conversation."

Esmeralda nodded.

"I feel terrible for this." Claude went on. "But I find it hard to look at him after that..."

Esmeralda looked at him sympathetically.

"I know why you feel that way." She assured. "I know you're uncomfortable with people knowing your secrets. But he's not the type of person to make it hard for you."

"I know." Claude sighed. "But this is different from when I told you. And even Jean."

"Why?"

"Jean already knew, and you saw plenty of vulnerable moments beforehand. Besides, you've proven that you understand me. And you always hated me before, so it wasn't as if I had any respect to lose."

"Respect? Claude, no decent person would respect you less because of what happened to you. Quasimodo certainly wouldn't."

Claude sighed.

"I know it's not rational." He admitted. "But I can't help feeling that it's bound to happen. Losing respect seems like the natural way to react. It's how I react to myself, when I remember being a pitiful battered child..."

Claude regretted his words when he noticed the look on Esmeralda's face. It was upsetting her to see Claude still look at his past this way.

"I'm sorry." Claude apologized. "I know I shouldn't be thinking that way."

"There's no shame in what you've been through." Esmeralda reminded.

"I'm trying to believe that." Claude sighed. "I truly am..."

Esmeralda was sad to not know the solution to this. It pained her to know that all of her support had not been enough to end this persistent shame.

Claude realized what she must be thinking. He squeezed her hand.

"Before you start to feel bad about yourself," He said comfortingly. "Know that you have helped me a great deal. I can't begin to describe how much happier my life has been since you came into it."

Esmeralda weakly smiled before her pain forced her back into a frown. She groaned.

"Oh, my darling..." Claude whispered mournfully. "I'm sorry you're so hurt."

He touched his hand to her cheek, gently caressing her skin.

"I'll be okay..." Esmeralda managed. "I'm just glad you're here..."

"Of course I am." Claude assured. "My dearest friend..."

Just hearing him talk seemed to dull the pain. Awful as it was, Esmeralda saw little significance in the injury compared to the sight of Claude, alive and well. Saving him had been worth every ounce of the agony.

"Don't worry about Quasimodo." Claude encouraged. "I'll apologize when he's back."

"Good..." Esmeralda murmured.

Drowsiness took hold of her and her eyelids started to fall. Claude kissed her forehead and encouraged her to rest.

In Esmeralda's life, resting hadn't always been easy. But it was easy now. She was safe, and so was Claude. He was there for her, and so was Quasimodo. Nothing about the situation was perfect, but it was a relief just to know that every crisis was over.

Things were going to be okay. That made it easy to rest.

I think that was the longest I've ever taken to update this story, but I'm sure not done! We're getting closer to the end, but I still have quite a few chapters to write before then, so stay tuned!