Title: The Start

Fandom: The Phantom of the Opera (2004 movie)

Characters: Madame Giry/Erik (the Phantom)

Prompt: Beginnings

Word Count: 168

Rating: PG

Summary: Nervous. You aren't good enough for her, Erik.

Author's Notes:

Click.

Shoes on stone. He'd recognize the sound anywhere, he was sure. Her shoes. He lifted his head. There she was. Vibrant. Red hair, braided, so it stayed out of her clear eyes. Gold in that hair so that it wasn't shrill. She looked lovely. She moved with the grace of years of practice, balance, dancing. Sometimes she would kiss his cheek and say in her autumn-leaves voice, "Bonjour, Erik." It was one of those days. Sometimes her lips would brush across his forehead, maybe if he asked. Love. He wanted more. He grabbed her and pulled her down, nearly onto his lap.

Her hands tensed and shook when their lips met.

Nervous. You aren't good enough for her, Erik.

Not good enough for her.

Devil's Child.

She doesn't want a demon.

He recoiled as if burned, she slid away and stumbled, she nearly fell. "No," she said to him, and his heart nearly stopped. "No, Erik, don't turn away from me, don't-"

She wants a demon.