"Unhand him and come quietly!" the Captain commanded severely.

Frollo rolled his eyes at the Gerard's swaggering bravado as Cezanne chuckled at him while pressing the poniard hard against Jehan's Adam's apple.

He held the boy still and kept his red eyes locked with those of the Minister. The guards surrounded the two and steadied themselves as they waited Frollo's orders.

"Just release the boy," Frollo ordered, tightening his hold on his crossbow. "I assure you, he isn't worth such trouble."

The drunken anger etched in Cezanne's face resembled a hungry wolf. "How low can you stoop, Minister?" he taunted. "Sending your own brother in as your spy? He's not a very effective one either, is he? And don't you know how much I despise a traitor?" He pressed the blade even harder, drawing some blood from Jehan's neck who whimpered in fear.

"Claude!" Jehan cried again. "Help me! The plan didn't work!"

Frollo scoffed at this. "Oh, it worked for the most part; you just happened to go and compromise it upon its most crucial point!"

"Treacherous son of a whore!" Cezanne bellowed angrily at the boy, tightening his lock on him.

Frollo flinched at the look of intimidation that was evident in Jehan's face. "Monsieur Cezanne," Frollo calmly addressed, trying to fool the drunken madman into lowering his guard. "I implore that you to let my brother go, or else this will end badly."

The man's eyes darted around to see the numerous soldiers armed to the teeth with their swords and arrows and ready to attack. Although, how often does someone have such leverage over the mighty Minister of Justice? "I will release dear little Jehan here…on a few conditions."

Frollo and Gerard glanced at each other in uncertainty and confusion, never lowering their weapons.

Of course, Frollo thought sarcastically.

"I don't negotiate with lawbreakers," he deadpanned, pointing his crossbow.

"Sir," Gerard whispered. "What about your brother?"

The Minister displayed a frown of inner turmoil at the question, slightly unsure of how to answer. But he couldn't show vulnerability now.

Cezanne smirked. "How much does the life of this lying brat mean to you?"

Frollo examined the terror in Jehan's red-rimmed blue eyes and his heart wretched at the sight. He had to protect his brother at all costs…but letting a criminal hold power over him? Could he allow a man like this gain superiority over him in such peril?

Others might try the same ploy to evade arrest, he mentally argued with himself. And what if his enforcements saw him as weak too? He could potentially lose all influence and authority he held over Paris; the last thing he needed was a rebellion against his power.

Then again…could he live knowing he wouldn't have taken that risk for his brother?

"What are your conditions?" he asked reluctantly, lowering his weapon a little.

Grinning triumphantly, Cezanne replied, "I knew you'd bend to that. You will allow me go free and I will release your boy. Once we do so, you will not pursue me or my men. Do you understand, Minister?"

His face grimacing, Frollo looked over to Jehan who could only choke out, "Claude…just do it!"

The arrogance instilled in the Minister decided on another approach. Surely the man was so inebriated that even he couldn't be serious about committing such malice. "And if I do not?" Frollo then asked skeptically, a quick smirk appearing to further taunt the man and his threat.

Cezanne gritted his teeth menacingly at the judge. "Perhaps this might change your mind."

Jehan wailed and crimson leaked from his side as the knife's blade entered his flesh, the sound and sight causing the judge's vision to turn red instantly.

THWACK!

"Minister!" he barely heard Gerard exclaim in astonishment.

"Jesus Christ, Claude!" Jehan's pained voiced screeched.

For a moment, the judge did not see anything and could only hear a faint buzzing in his ears, not registering anything around him. Shaking his head then blinking back to the present, the shocked man noticed the arrow from his crossbow gone. Frollo shifted his gaze and examined his handiwork: Cezanne lay on the cobblestone street in a heap with an arrow lodged in the center of his face, dark red streams pouring from the wound and fragmented bone caving into the injury. The silver moonlight from above made it especially unsettling.

Looking around, Jehan clutched at his side desperately and his guards' faces were all painted with bewilderment. Specks of blood hung on the ends of Jehan's blond curls as well as his shirt.

"Claude, what have you done?!" Jehan cried shakily.

Doing his best to regain his composure, Frollo bitingly responded, "I protected you, of course, you feckless ingrate!"

"You killed him! My God, you didn't have to kill the man!"

Frollo sneered at Jehan's ignorance. "Would you rather I allow him to slit your throat and leave you for dead?"

Jehan opened and closed his mouth looking for a response but was at a loss for words. He studied his hand, which was now covered in blood. Suddenly he blanched and wobbled more on his feet than before, knees about to buckle under him. Frollo quickly gripped him by the arms and steadied him.

Seeing his men still confused and dumbfounded at the episode that had just occurred, Frollo instantly barked, "What are you all simply standing around for?! Have this mess cleaned up and have any associates of this man apprehended at once!" sending the men scrambling.

"Sir, what about your brother?" the Captain asked.

Holding the boy's faint form up, Frollo answered, "I have to treat his wound. See that such matters are attended to, Captain."

"Yes, sir!"

Before the Minister could take off, Gerard stopped him and quietly asked, "Sir, was all that really necessary?"

Stoically, Frollo answered, "We may discuss ethics at another time, but I believe what transpired was indeed necessary to prevent such a dangerous character from continuing to evade the law. Right now I must tend to this one's injury before it becomes infected."

With some trouble, Frollo managed to lift his wounded brother up onto his horse. Removing his black cape, he bundled it and pressed it the gash to suppress the bleeding. He then made headway towards the Palace of Justice, all the while trying to wrap his mind around what had just occurred.

X

It was fortunate that Jehan was out cold while his brother treated his knife wound, considering the boy would have whined to Kingdom Come if he was awake. After stitching up his unconscious brother, Frollo left him to sleep it off in one of the Palace's many guestrooms. Meanwhile, the judge was left to lament in his study. As he sat at his desk, he stared blankly at the surface trying to recall what had gone through his mind during his action.

Impulsively killing a man? Seems more along the lines of some foolhardy youth set on trying to prove himself, he thought to himself confused.

No, it hadn't been the first time he had taken the life of another (his track record was quite evident of that). But only once had killed another without such intent, and that occurred on that one winter's night in front of Notre Dame. He had always covered up that episode by asserting that his judicial duty required him of doing so. It was instinctive that he would give such a response to the Captain's question about the need for such violence when rescuing his brother.

It just seemed so out of character for the judge. But at the same time, it made perfect sense: his familial instincts had simply taken over and he did what he felt he needed to in order to protect his younger brother, like a wolf protecting its pack. It took him back to the days as a young man and having to scale a tall oak when Jehan had marooned himself among the branches. Even then, the serious Minister could not help but laugh a little at the thought of such dedication he had to his naïve teenage brother.

As long as one less bloodthirsty savage is out of the way, then everything seemed to have worked itself out.

X

The Minister had decided to continue his work from his study since it seemed wiser than to be out and about while Jehan was still recovering. Orange light from the late day's sun streamed in through the windows of his study. A slow knock at the door broke the concentration of his work, Frollo beckoning them to enter.

"Claude?" Jehan's voice lowly addressed, causing his brother to look up immediately at the teen entering his study. His steps were slow and his eyes seemed darker; obviously the injury of his side still ailed him.

"You're looking well, at least better than yesterday," Frollo commented, leaning back in his chair. He motioned for his brother to sit down.

Jehan's eyes were red and most of his energy was still sapped from him, but took a seat before his brother, the Minister. Sheepishly, he then said, "I wanted to thank you, Claude. You know…for everything."

Frollo raised an eyebrow at him. "Do you mean preventing you from being murdered by a maniacal crimelord or keeping you from bleeding to death?"

Jehan averted his gaze from the judge. "Both. And…I'm sorry about getting into trouble."

For a moment, Frollo wanted to admonish Jehan for his careless behavior, but the notion of the boy actually apologizing for his errors and showing gratitude was one that should be savored. He simply nodded and replied, "You are forgiven. Although it would do you well to not be so rash in your decision making. Still," pulling open one of the drawers of his desk, Frollo retrieved a coin purse and placed it in front of Jehan. "A deal is a deal and Cezanne is no more."

Taking it, Jehan counted the silver pieces and perked up a little, brightly saying, "Don't worry, Claude; next time I promise things will go over more smoothly!"

Frollo's eyes flickered away from his brother's. "I appreciate such sentiment, however, there will not be a "next time," given the circumstances that followed because of you. So, it appears that we both have learned something: you need to be wiser about your actions, and I should not involve you in my work."

Jehan slumped in his seat, pouting at the stern faced Minister. "That's a shame," he said. "It was fun working with you, Claude. Despite this," he pointed to his side, indicating his wound.

"Yes, you are a paradigm of gallantry," Frollo sarcastically commented. "Chances are that such an injury will leave only a small scar so you needn't worry about the damage done to your precious skin."

Jehan sneered. "I guess, and maybe the girls might like it," his brother scoffing at this.

Figures, Claude thought sardonically.

"But hey, if you don't need my help, then you can always get your boy in the bell tower to do your dirty work in the future."

Frollo let out a low chuckle. "True, but first thing is first: he needs to evidence that he has some kind of ability that might deem useful."

Frollo rose from his seat and ventured across the room, laying down two glasses upon his return. Taking out the keys from his pocket he then unlocked one of the drawers of his desk, pulling out a dark bottle and uncorking it.

"Here," he said, pouring Jehan a glass before one for himself.

Jehan examined the amber colored beverage and inhaled its scent. "Brandy? Very nice."

Taking his own glass, the judge raised it. "To loyalty: may we always show dedication to those whom we owe our very livelihoods."

"And to brotherhood: because blood is thicker than water."

Clinking their glasses, the brothers downed their drinks in unison. For a moment they just sat in silence, until the younger spoke up. "Did you really have to kill him?"

The judge's eyes traveled to a small crucifix on the far side of room as though looking for the answer. "No, I suppose not," he responded nonchalantly. "The intent of the plan was to arrest him so that I may put him on trial. However, in a turn of events like such, the plan became compromised and I did what I felt was required of me for the good of both you and the city. If that meant that a crooked man lost his life in the process, then so be it."

"Yeah, but Claude, you shot the man with an arrow and acted like it was nothing. Didn't that bother you?"

Frollo shrugged. "That's the essence of my position. I've seen things much more gruesome and horrific than that of last night: people beaten, maimed, mutilated, disemboweled. Eventually it becomes second nature," Frollo explained as he refilled both of their glasses.

Jehan looked unsurely at his brother. "That's a very cheerful mindset, brother. Have you always been like this?"

"More or less," the Minister answered taking another sip.

Jehan tapped his fingers on the desk in thought. "You know, Cezanne brought up something about you when we were drinking."

"Whatever it was, I'm sure it cannot be any worse than the countless insults that have befallen me before. What did he say?"

Jehan looked at his drink. "I don't remember much, but something about how our father used to punish you…a lot."

Frollo raised his eyebrows and shifted his gaze to his glass in hand, looking somewhat ashamed at the question.

Jehan studied his brother's solemn expression, trying to read him. "How much of that statement is true?"

He bit his lip then took a drink from his brandy before replying, "It amazes me that in your whole life you have seldom ever questioned my upbringing."

"Just answer the question."

"I told you that there is much that you don't know about me, Jehan. The past is in the past and I have since moved on. The matter is of no importance or concern of yours so I suggest you drop it."

The teen shrugged. "I just want to know more about our family. But now I think I'm starting to see why you don't ever want to talk about it."

Frollo shook his head, trying to prevent any buried memories from creeping up on him that might find their way out into open discussion. "I've already explained to you that our family was no different than any other of the nobility. Except ours was more…aggressive than preferred."

"So Cezanne was telling the truth then?"

Running his fingers through his dark gray hair, Frollo suddenly came to the realization that perhaps it was time to be honest with his brother about his background.

"Let me show you something," the judge said grimly. Putting his glass aside, he then reached for the end of the purple sleeve on his right arm and pulled it towards himself, revealing his pale skin. He pointed to a long faded scar that ran up his forearm from his elbow.

Jehan's cerulean eyes widened at the sight. "What's that from?" his brother inquired, now interested. Jehan was not even aware that his brother had scars, simply assuming that a studious and serious man like him would be the last person he'd imagine carrying something as painful.

"Let us just say that this was a much lighter punishment in comparison to the others: specifically, being pushed down a few of the Palace's steps." Quickly, the Minister pulled his sleeve back over, again hiding under the dark fabric. The marks on his flesh were all harrowing memories that he made sure others did not have to know about, especially those that ran deeper than others.

"You may curse and spit at me all you wish," Frollo suddenly said, narrowing his eyes darkly. "But I never laid a hand on you, no matter how deserving you were." Raising his glass, he took a much deeper drink, suddenly regretful that he might have shown weakness by sharing something so personal.

Jehan pursed his lips. "Alright, Claude," he took a drink himself. "But can I just say that if what I've been told is true, then I hope you're not that kind of father towards your own son."

"That is the last thing I want to do."

x

*A/n: I felt like I needed a more in-depth/ sentimental moment between the brothers. Just where they're not fighting and and driving each other crazy and just sitting an talking. I appreciate the reviews I've gotten (no matter how limited) cause I hope I'm doing right by my readers.

Btw, I'm going to skip a couple years next chapter so be prepared!

P.S. If you found me on deviantart and liked my artwork ,thank you so much for further support, it means a lot!