Attack on Titan x The Hunchback of Notre Dame: Out there/ Part 3

“So...where do you come from exactly?” The Hunchback asks.

“W-Well...I live inside the walls in Wall Rose. but...may I ask for your name?”

“Oh- yes, sorry about that. My name is Quasimodo.”

“Quasimodo….but doesn’t that mean…?”

Armin afterwards stopped from saying anything more and held a look of pity in his eyes.

The name Quasimodo means “Half-formed”. How could this boy have such a terrible name…?

“W-who named you that?” Armin decided to ask.

“Master Frollo. He saved my life and protects me. He’s also given me sanctuary inside this Bell tower. He’s my protector and master. Im grateful to him.”

“But...how could he give you…”

“It’s fine, really. Its just a name.”

“Yeah, but still…”

“So...about these walls. Where exactly are they?” Quasimodo decides to change the topic.

“Well...the thing is, thats what im trying to figure out. I was originally on a scouting mission outside the walls with my friends Eren and Mikasa, but somehow I fell unconscious, I think I passed out for some weird reason. But I woke up to find myself in this city and afterwards I started asking people where I was and well….that's basically the gist of it.” Armin explained his story to Quasimodo.

“Hm...perhaps you were brought here by someone….oh! Perhaps your friends? Could they be here?”

“I doubt it, I’ve known Eren and Mikasa since we were children and if I know anything, I know that they would certainly not bring me to a city i'm unfamiliar with and abandon me all alone.”

“I see…”

The two became silent, deep in thought….

“So this is probably going to take much longer to figure out isn't it?”

“Yeah, probably.” Armin nods with a sadden look.

“Don’t worry, while your here I will help hide you and I will help you figure out a way to return both to your home and your friends and while your here nobody can hurt you or drag you anyplace such as where the guards were probably trying to take you off to...while you are here, you have Sanctuary.”

“Sanctuary….”

Time has passed, the sky has turned orange with shades of red, and Armin has been by the balcony up-high in the Bell tower and he has been watching the city and people. He looked out towards the horizon to see no walls. No titans either. Just where in the world was he exactly…?

“Pretty view, isn’t it?” The hunchback joined the blonde by his side.

“Yeah...this is a really pretty place.”

“I know right? I just wished I could live out there.” Quasimodo smiled as he watched the people below.

“You...you do realize you can, right?”

“Oh no, oh no, oh no, oh no! I can’t!”

“But why not?”

“If Master Frollo knew I snuck outside, I would be in SO much trouble!”

“Your master...never lets you go outside?”

“Not ever. I'm a monster. I’d never fit in out there anyways.”

“Your a monster?! Tell me, is that was your Master Frollo has told you?”

“Yes.”

“Your not a monster. Your a human being. Don’t listen to what he tells you. He’s given you a name that means “Deformed” but has also trapped you inside this Bell tower….for your whole life?!”

“Yes.”

“You shouldn’t care what Frollo says and just go outside.”

“B-But I can’t! Besides, Master Frollo is the one who feeds me, teaches me, Gives me clothes and keeps me safe. I can never disobey him!”

….

“You know i'm actually under similar circumstances like you.” Armin mentioned.

“You are?”

“It might be different over here, but….have you ever heard of ‘Titans’?”

“Titans…? Nope, never heard of them.”

“Where I’m from, Titans started appearing years ago. They nearly wiped off humanity into extinction in a single night. But the remaining survivors were able to build walls Maria, Rose and Sina, withdrawing behind them, spending years of uneasy peace. Because we have lived inside the walls for so long, nobody has seen titans in years, unless they are in the scouts. The scouts are people who ventures outside the walls to fight titans and find out the truth about them. But many died on those expeditions. Nobody is allowed to go outside unless your in the scouts and are going on a scouting mission or expedition. My parents snuck outside but were executed by the government. Nobody under any circumstances who aren't in the scouts, are allowed to go outside the walls.”

“Your parents were killed for simply trying to sneak outside the walls…?! Im...im very sorry to hear that.”

“They were really good people. I loved them and wished they weren't killed...but, I've also dreamed of always going outside just like them. You see, my grandfather had a book covering about what exist outside the walls, hidden away. Ever since I had found it, I've loved imagining what else laid out there and i've wanted to see it all since then. And when I told Eren about the places that could exist beyond the walls, he wanted to see it too. It became both our dreams and we promised each other to go see it all together one day...and to see the Ocean.”

“We...we are both very alike. Me share more in common than I had thought. So you are trapped in your walls because of Titans….and I'm trapped inside this Bell tower because…”

“Because of Frollo.” Armin finished Quasimodo’s sentence.

“N-No, not because of Master Frollo. Because i'm not allowed out there.”

“Do you think he would kill you for going outside?”

“N-No, never! Master Frollo wouldn’t kill me! But...he would be very angry and disappointed in me if I went outside without permission.”

By now the sun has went completely down and it was dark outside.

“Wow its already dark...let me find you a place to sleep but please don’t move from the spot I put you until I tell you its ok.”

“How long will that be?”

“...Sometime in the morning, probably. But please don't move or make a sound wherever I put you. If Master Frollo finds you here….”

“I won’t make a sound or move until you tell me. Promise.”

“Ok thanks! Sounds great. Just follow me.”

Quasimodo led Armin to a spot behind some boxes and other objects and brought him a light blanket and something comfy to lay his head against.

“Good night!” Quasimodo said before leaving.

This Hunchback shown a lot of kindness….too much that a normal person would ever give to any stranger they’ve only just met.

But...Armin couldn’t help but wonder if one day, that same hunchback could ever leave this Bell tower to outside….

But before falling asleep, Armin’s thoughts drifted to his home inside the walls with Eren and Mikasa…

Eren and Mikasa….are they ok? Are they out looking for him? Did they know where he was? Where were they?

Armin didn’t know any of these answers, for now they would stay unanswered and all there was left was for Armin to sleep….