You and Esmeralda snuck into the church.

It wasn't an easy feat, with guards lurking about, but you made it. As you two slowly walked down the main hall, Captain Phoebus snuck up behind you two. You saw him before Esmeralda did, and gasped. Good thing she has amazing reaction time because she grabbed ahold of his sword from his scabbard and threw him to the ground.

"You."

"Easy, easy," he urged. "I- I- I just shaved this morning."

"Oh, really? You missed a spot."

"All right, all right." Phoebus gets backed up into a pillar. "Just calm down. Just give me a chance to apologize."

"For what?"

Phoebus grabbed the sword with gloved hands and pushed her back.

"That, for example."

He must have been mesmerized by Esmeralda because he didn't see you sneak up behind him until it was too late. You put the knife Esmeralda gave to you earlier and held it against him.

"Allow me to apologize."

"Okay, okay. I'm sorry, two against one I get it."

Esmeralda walked closer as you held the knife closer to him.

"Permit me," he says. "I'm Phoebus. It means 'sun god.'"

You all looked at him with a 'really?' face.

"And you are?"

"Is this an interrogation?" Your new friend asked.

"I believe it's called an introduction."

"You're not arresting us?"

"Not as long as you're in here. I can't"

You slowly unhand him as he stands up.

"Thank you."

"You're not at all like the other soldiers.'

"Thanks again."

"So. . . if you're not arresting us-"

"What do you want?" You finished.

Ignoring you, he stared at Esmeralda.

"I'd settle for your name."

"Esmeralda."

"Beautiful."

You faked cough with a quiet 'whipped' under your breath.

They stood closer, looking as though they were about to kiss. You rolled your eyes but snapped your neck to the door when it opened.

"Good work, Captain. Now arrest them."

Phoebus turned to her whispering, "Claim sanctuary."

"What?" you whispered.

However, Esmeralda was steaming in rage. "You tricked me."

"I'm waiting, Captain."

"I'm sorry, sir. They claimed sanctuary. There's nothing I can do."

"Then drag them outside and-"

"Frollo," the Archdeacon arrived. "You will not touch them!" He calmly walked towards you and put a hand on each of your shoulders. "Minister Frollo learned years ago to respect the sanctity of the church."

With an evil glare, Frollo signaled to the guards and left the building. You, the Archdeacon, and Djali the goat walked everyone out of the church. However Frollo snuck behind Esmeralda and captured her.

"You think you outwitted me. But I am a patient man, and foolish girls don't do well inside stone walls, especially Gypsies."

"What are you doing?" Esmeralda asked disgustedly as he sniffs her hair.

"I was just imagining a rope around that beautiful neck," he lied.

Esmeralda broke free of him. "I know what you were imagining."

"Such a clever witch. So typical of your kind to twist the truth to cloud the mind with unholy thoughts. Well, no matter. You've chosen a magnificent prison. But it is a prison, nonetheless. Set one foot outside, and you're mine." He left.

Running to where you were, which was a bit away, she looked out the door and saw guards lining around the church.

With a sigh, you slammed the door and both of you collapsed onto the ground.

"Don't worry," Esmeralda tried cheering you. "If Frollo thinks he can keep us here, he's wrong."

"Don't act rashly, my child." The Archdeacon warned. "You created quite a stir at the festival. It would be unwise to arouse Frollo's anger further."

"You saw what he did to Quasimodo! He let the crowd make a fool of him," you snapped.

"You two can't right all the wrongs in the world."

"Well no one out there will help," retorted Esmeralda.

"Perhaps there's someone in here who can."

You smiled in realization before-

"You! Bell ringer! What are you doing down here? Haven't you already caused enough trouble?"

"Quasi!" You gasped as he ran away. "Wait!"

You both followed after him.

Quasimodo made it to the bell tower before his friends stopped him.

"Way to go Quasi!"

"Congratulations!"

"We knew you had it in ya."

"Got the girls chasin' ya already."

"Actually, I- I-"

"You mustn't run too fast, or (Y/n) will getaway."

"Yes, I- I know. That's what I-"

"Give her some slack, then reel her in. Then give her some slack, then reel her in, Then give her some slack-"

"Knock it off Hugo. She's a girl not a mackerel."

"Quasi," you huffed as you tried taking in air that was lost from running. "Why did you run?"

"Yes. Well, I, uh- I have chores to do."

"We just wanted to-" Esmeralda tried explaining.

"-I- It was nice. . . seeing you. . . again." Quasi started for his loft.

"No, wait! I'm really sorry about this afternoon. I had no idea who you were. I would never in my life have pulled you. . . up. . . on the stage. . ."

Esmeralda went to observe the little town he made as you went over to Quasi and hugged him.

"Are you okay?" You whispered.

"Yes, I- I- I'm okay."

You cupped his face in your hands as you carefully looked him over for damage. If Quasi was being honest, he was absolutely living in the moment right now, but that ended a lot sooner than he hoped for.

"What's this?" Esmeralda asked.

"Oh! No, please! I- I- I'm not finished! I still have to paint them!"

But Esmeralda pulled back the small fabric anyway to reveal two figures.

"It's the blacksmith and the baker," she laughed. "You're a surprising person, Quasimodo. Not to mention lucky. All this room to yourself."

"Well, it's not just me. There's the gargoyles, the bells, and, of course, (Y/n) whenever she's able to come over."

"Would you like to see them?"

"Of course we would, isn't that right Djali?"

"Follow me, I'll introduce you," he said as he was already helping you up to where the bells were.

"That's little Sophia," he started as he began hopping around showing each one. "And Jeane-Marie, Anne-Marie, Louse-Marie; triplets, you know."

"And who's this?"

"Big Marie. That (Y/n)'s favorite."

"Oh yeah?" Esmeralda said before shouting out a hello inside the bell.

"Would you like to see more?"

"How about it Djali? We'd love to."

"I didn't think you'd remember," you told Quasi as you both walked ahead.

"Of course I did. She's your favorite," he smiled. "I saved the best for last," he called over his shoulder for Esmeralda to hear.

It was a magnificent sight. The sun was slowly falling asleep over the horizon which cast a beautiful purple across the town and sparkled the river.

"I bet the King himself doesn't have a view like this. I could stay up here forever."

"You- you could, you know."

"No, I couldn't," frowned Esmeralda.

"Oh, yes, you have sanctuary."

"But not freedom. 'Foolish girls don't do well inside stone walls, especially Gypsies.'"

"But y- y- you're not like other Gypsies. They are. . . evil."

"Who told you that?"

"My master, Frollo. He raised me."

"Frollo is wrong, Quasi," you frowned.

"How can such a cruel man have raised someone like you?"

"Cruel? Oh, no. He saved my life. He took me in when no one else would. I am a monster, you know."

"Quasimodo, we've been over this. You're not a monster." You placed your hand on his arm.

"Look at me," Quasi motioned with open arms.

You gently held his jaw in your hand.

"Quasi, you have a wonderfully unique face," you softly said with a smile.

Esmeralda, not wanting Quasimodo to feel bad about himself, tried helping.

"Give me your hand."

"What?"

"Just let me see it."

Quasimodo gave her his palm and she hummed.

"Hmm. A long lifeline. Oh, and this one," she pointed to a small line, "means you're shy. Oh this one," she said pointing to the biggest line on his palm, "means you've already found love."

"I have?"

"Oh, yes. Huh, that's funny."

"What? What is it?"

"I don't see any. . . monster lines. Not a single one."

Quasimodo looked at his hand in amazement.

"Now you look at me," she said holding out her hand. "Do you think I'm evil?"

"No! No, no. You- you are kind and good and- and-"

"-and a Gypsie." She finished. "And maybe Frollo's wrong about the both of us."

Everyone sat in silence before Quasimodo spoke up.

"You guys helped me. Now I will help you."

"But there's no way out. They're soldiers at every door."

"Oh no," you mumbled, already knowing where this is going.

"We won't use a door."

You mean, climb down?"

"Sure. You carry Djali. I carry you. Then, I come back and carry (Y/n)."

You and Esmeralda looked at each other before nodding.

"Okay."

Esmeralda tied a scarf around Djali's eyes.

"Don't be afraid."

"I'm not afraid," she said as he lifted her.

He then jumped away with her.

It was a while before he came back, and when he did he had an unbelievable look of sadness to him.

"I know I offered to help both of you, but do you really have to go?"

"Quasi, I'm on the run. If I don't step foot out of here then Frollo will find a way to force me to."

"I could protect you."

You sighed, "I know you could, but this might be the only way for both of us to be safe. Frollo would certainly hurt you if you tried protecting me from him."

"I know, but-"

"Quasi. It's time."

With a dejected look he carefully picked you up and climbed down Notre Dame.

"Will you come back?"

"Of course I will. I'll miss you too much to not come back."

As you were nearing the bottom, you asked a question that had been on your mind.

"Quasi, why don't you come with us?"

"Oh, no. I'm never going back out there again. You saw what happened."

You landed where Esmeralda and Djali were.

"Why don't we come to see you?" Esmeralda countered.

"Here? But the soldiers, and Frollo!"

"We can come after sunset."

"But at sunset, I ring the evening mass, and after that, I clean the cloisters, and- and then I ring the vespers and-"

You kissed his cheek sweetly which made him stop with a blush.

"Whatever's good for you."

"If you ever need sanctuary, this will show you the way." Esmeralda pulled out a necklace that looked like a dreamcatcher.

"But how?"

"Just remember: When you wear this woven band, you hold the city in your hand." Quasi tucked it underneath his shirt to hide it as Djali bleats an alarm.

"Hurry, you must go."

With a last kiss on the cheek, you and Esmeralda ran down an alleyway out of view as Quasi held his cheek.

As he climbed back up the tower, Phoebus pulled him up.

"Hi there. I'm looking for those girls. Have you seen them?"

"Woah, Woah! Easy!" Phoebus tried calming him as Quasi growled.

"No Soldiers! Sanctuary! Get out!"

"Wait! All I want is to-"

"Go!"

"I mean them no harm!"

Quasi then lifted Phoebus off of the ground with one hand.

"You tell them for me that I didn't mean to trap them here, especially Esmeralda. But it was the only way I could save their lives. Will you tell them that? Will you tell her that?"

"If you go," Quasi reasoned. "Now."

"I'll go. Now, will you put me down, please?"

Quasimodo dropped him and Phoebus walked away. Before he left he turned around.

"Oh, and one more thing. Tell the girls that they're very lucky."

"Why?"

"To have a friend like you."