Original Cheese theme

Based off AnnamaeTezuka's 100 themes. Simple little sort fics revolving around my favorite crossover pairing, Clopin/Belle (The Hunchback of Notre Dame/Beauty and the Beast respectively.) I thought about writing all these in one connected story, but I think it would be more fun to write them all as separate stories.

Clopin kept his eyes on the prize, standing at a distance, and not looking directly at it. The market was full of people, and the cheese vendor was busy with customers, so busy, that if Clopin timed it just right, he could swipe a piece while the man wasn't looking.

He edged closer to the delicious dairy product, browsing slowly, so he wouldn't raise suspicion, he wasn't the king of gypsy's, of thieves, liars, and tricksters for nothing. Clopin knew that if he moved too fast or suddenly, someone would no doubt be drawn to his actions and he'd be caught for sure.

He turned his eyes away from the cheese licking his lips. Patience was an underappreciated art among the village folk, he could wait for his opportunity all day if he had to. Upon turning around he caught sight of the two most talked about people in the village; the hunter and the beauty.

Clopin watched for a moment, he hadn't been here long, but still it didn't take a fully educated man to realize that Gaston thought there was (or at least should be) something between him and Belle, which obviously the girl didn't seem to agree existed.

Gaston wrapped an arm around Belle's shoulder, and said something, Clopin couldn't hear at this distance, but clearly it was upsetting Belle, and she said something back, which caused Gaston's expression to narrow angrily. Clopin thought maybe he should intervene, but shook his head and turned back to the cheese.

He had to stay focused.

The gypsy king moved ever closer to his goal, subtly, acting as if he were simply browsing through the market just to look with no intention of getting anything. A few times he looked back in the direction of Gaston and Belle, and found himself relieved to see that the girl had escaped and was no where in sight as Gaston stomped around the market angrily.

Without any reason to look back Clopin turned to the cheese again giving it his full attention. He was within an arm's reach of it now. He took another step closer. All he needed now was something to distract the vender and his customers.

"What kind of cheese is that?" The woman ahead of him asked pointing to something behind the vendor.

YES!

Moving casually, Clopin reached out and grabbed the cheese, and hid it behind his back as he continued walking passed completely unnoticed. That is, so he thought, he turned around with a smug smirk back to the cheese vendor to silently gloat over his success.

There stood Belle, book in hand and her jaw dropped ever so slightly staring at him.

And there he stood with stolen cheese in his hands.

His smirk quickly became a stunned gape. They stood staring uneasily at each other for several seconds before Clopin realized what trouble he was in. Either she was going to expose him, or someone would notice that they were stopped dead in the middle of the market, and he would be caught with stolen food and punished.

Now, being the king of thieves, liars, and tricksters didn't mean Clopin wasn't above giving up. He flashed her an uneasy smile and laughed just as uneasily and walked back in the direction of the cheese vendor. While no one except Belle was watching he placed the cheese back on the table and stepped back. The vendor turned and picked up the chunk, offering it to his costumer, to Clopin's dismay.

However, the customer turned it down and paid for what she wanted and left. Clopin turned around and began formulating a plan B to get that cheese when Belle suddenly pushed past him and picked up the chunk and asked the vendor how much it was.

She paid for it, and approached Clopin, offering it to him. He stared at her warily, "What?" he said distrustfully. He had no idea what she was doing, and figured this was some sort of trap.

Belle placed the cheese in his hands "You wanted it didn't you? Its better I give it too you then let you try to steal it again." She smiled gently and continued on her way, putting her nose back in her book.

Clopin glanced from the piece of cheese in his hands to Belle and back again. "Hmmm" He slipped it into his pouch so no one would think he was stealing it this time, and reached casually out to the table next to him and slipped a hand crafted bracelet into his pouch next to the cheese, "Interesting girl."