N/A: Hey this is a continuation of a one-shot by Lucifer Rosemaunt to please read that first :) Hope you enjoy and please review
Rating: T
Word count: 2,053
Disclaimer: No...just no
Raoul took a deep breath and forced himself to be calm and in control. He had lost control before, and because of that his world was now one of darkness. Stepping carefully to the side the viscount bowed politely to the approaching group of actors and granted them a simple "good evening". They replied in the same manner before moving on. Raoul himself simply continued on his customary route, acting as though he'd never been interrupted. Soon enough he found himself back at box four where Henri waited patiently for him.
"Your band is tied differently sir" Henri pointed out referring to the cloth he had tied over his eyes before they had left for the opera house earlier. Even though it appeared to be a statement Raoul knew that it was really meant as a question.
"It fell" he said simply as he took his customary seat. Henri made no further comments on the subject.
The feature tonight was Il Muto, a comedy that Raoul couldn't say he was particularly fond of. Once the opera had begun he let his mind wander. He wondered who the man he'd met earlier was. He was nothing like the others in the opera house, or out of it for that matter. He smelled like the oil used on organs, parchment, charcoal, and something that Raoul couldn't place. He moved almost silently, and yet for all of this he talked like a gentleman. He had a trace of a foreign accent, Persian perhaps. Also he did not act like the others. He did not treat Raoul as though he were made of glass, or as though he was a deity. No the mystery man treated him as you would anyone else; this was what really drew Raoul's attention. It had been a long time since someone besides Henri had done that. Suddenly a deep voice penetrated the opera house.
"Did I not instruct that box five was to be kept empty?" It boomed, commenting obviously on the presence of Firmin and one of his lady friends in that box. Raoul knew that if he could see he would be staring at the owner of said voice in shock. As it was he was most likely gaping in the general direction of where it was coming from. It was the same man he'd been talking to earlier.
"He's here, the phantom of the opera" one of the chorus girls, Meg Giry he believed whispered.
"It's him" another one said in the same way. He was fairly certain that that voice belonged to Christine Daae
"The phantom?" Raoul mouthed. He had of course heard all about the phantom of the opera from the cast and crew; not to mention the fact the managers insisted on reading him every one of the man's notes. He didn't see why they had to do that when he always told them just to follow the instructions, but that was a subject for another time. With his identity revealed the man's response to his question earlier made quite a bit more sense. A resident and an outcast hun, I wonder why he stays apart from the others.
Trying to salvage the opera Carlotta started to sing again. Raoul winced slightly as she hits notes that he knew were off. He wished that the managers had taken his advice and fired her, but for some strange reason they'd insisted on keeping the singer. The reason was a mystery as even he could tell that she was past her prime. Just then said dive let out a horrible croak.
Biting his lip Raoul tried very hard not to burst out laughing. Perhaps this would finally force her out of the theater. He permitted a small smirk to grace his lips as he thought that perhaps that was the goal of whoever had caused this.
Well Raoul was trying to control his emotions Carlotta had let out several more croaks and had rushed off the stage in tears. The curtain was quickly closed and the managers rushed on.
"Ladies and gentlemen we apologize. The performance will continue in 10 minutes time, when the roll of the Countess will be played by Miss Daae. Until then we would crave your indulgence for a few moments." Firmin said quickly.
"Meanwhile we'd like to give you the ballet from act three of tonight's opera" Andre added. It took a moment before the music got started again, but once it did they managed to perform the ballet and then get through the rest of the opera smoothly.
Christine sang the lead part beautifully throughout the rest of the opera. Raoul had to admit that she had a gorgeous voice. Clapping along with the rest of the theater Raoul made sure that the cloth over his eyes was still in place before making his way down to the scheduled gala. He grimaced slightly at the thought of said event. A few years ago he'd have been exited and eager to attend, but now he had absolutely no wish to be a part of such a display. And yet because of his station he had no choice in the matter. Besides he owed it to the opera house to play the charming (well as charming as one with his disadvantages can be) patron. It was in the job description after all.
"Henri, how would you feel about becoming a viscount for the evening?" Raoul proposed grinning at his valet.
"No thank you sir, I believe my current post to be the more manageable position at the moment" Henri replied, his eyes sparkling with mirth.
"Some help you are proving to be" Raoul huffed, sensing the small smirk that had appeared on Henri's face. "Well time to go immerse myself into the awaiting nest of vipers and prying Pandora's" he said irritably.
"You are not required to remain there for long, a couple hours at most. You really are being far too dramatic." Henri scolded good-naturedly.
"I know, but I detest these functions! All of those ignorant fools staring at me, offering their sympathy and then whispering about me behind my back when they think I can't hear them. It's all so superficial!" Raoul complained.
"I am aware of that sir, but it is your duty as a viscount and as the main patron of the opera house to attend these events." Henri reminded him.
"Duty, how I have come to hate that word" Raoul sighed. "But I must still abide by its rules" he added quickly; before Henri got the chance to start lecturing him.
Raoul fixed his best Viscount smile on his face; the one that made him look high class and polite, but distant. He knew that it was the sort of look people (even if they weren't aware of it) wanted, and expected him to have. With a bit of help from Henri Raoul made it down to the entrance hall with the grand staircase. He stood beside the managers ready to greet all the guests.
For the next hour Raoul forced himself to keep on smiling as he greeted different patrons and high members of society. He shook the men's hands, kissed the ladies (never overstepping his bounds of course) and replied politely to each one by name. He acted every bit the young, eligible viscount. He was certain that had he not received his injuries he would at present be in the midst of being swarmed by young noble ladies.
About that he felt torn. On one hand he was extremely grateful that he now had no reasons to prolong his time at this cursed event. On the other had he never been injured he might be out on the dance floor flirting and dancing with a nice girl right now. Indeed had he never received his injuries he would most likely be having the time of his life at this event.
Raoul shook his head slightly. Those thoughts would do him no good. What was done was done and no amount of fantasizing could take the consequences away. His only option was to continue to live with his fate. Finally the managers introduced the last of the guests, and Raoul was freed to enjoy the evening. Fake smile still in place Raoul inclined his head in the managers' direction and slunk away into the crowd. Henri was instantly at his side.
"If you'd follow me please viscount, there's something you need to take care of immediately" Henri said just loud enough so that the people around them could hear. Raoul nodded, knowing very well that this was all really just a ruse that would permit them to sneak off. Henri led him out to the front of the Opera house.
"I'll go fetch the carriage, if you wouldn't mind waiting here for a moment viscount" Henri said heading off to do just that knowing Raoul wouldn't care.
"Leaving so soon?" A voice asked from behind Raoul.
"Indeed I am Monsieur fantome. I have an important business transaction tomorrow and I wish to be well rested." Raoul replied in an offhand way.
"Really is that so? It seemed to me as if you were simply trying to escape" Erik taunted.
"Not everything is as it appears" Raoul said gravely. He'd learned that lesson the hard way. When he was young he'd seen nothing but the glory of the navy, the way everyone seemed to think better of you if you wore a navy uniform. His inability to see deeper than that had cost him the opportunity to see anything at all.
"Wise words that unfortunately do not always prove true" Erik replied thinking about some of the things in his life that were exactly how they appeared.
"Perhaps not always, but often" was the viscount's reply. Erik glared what would a boy know of such things?
"And what would someone in your place know of such things Monsieur viscount?" Erik demanded voice hard.
"More than one would think it appears" Raoul replied, calm as always.
"One would be surprised that you could know much of anything that needs to be seen" Erik said angrily. "O I apologise, I didn't mean to make light of such a sensitive subject." He said, once again feigning an apology as his hand reached out to gently trace the cloth over Raoul's eyes.
"Do not fear Monsieur, I learned this lesson before my accident" Raoul reassured, completely ignoring Erik's fake apology as well as his hand. Erik glared at the still irritably calm boy before smirking as an idea came to mind.
"How comforting, and here I thought the only thing your head was good for was to hold all this hair" he punctuated his sentence by pulling Raoul's ribbon out of his hair causing it to cascade down his neck as it fell out of the ponytail it had been in. "Nice to know that you are intelligent enough to learn."
"Was that really necessary monsieur?" Raoul demanded his words laced with the tinniest bit of anger and irritation that he was trying to suppress. He'd already blown up at this man twice, and had no wish to embarrass himself by doing so a third time, no matter how much the other was asking for it.
"I believe so, yes" Erik replied smugly. He really enjoyed destroying the blonde's facade; enjoyed seeing a side of him that he kept hidden from regular society.
"What do you want monsieur? I highly doubt that you sought me out simply for a chat" Raoul asked with an irritated sigh.
"I was bored, and I find playing with you to be rather…amusing" Erik stated.
"How nice to know that you've found a use for me" Raoul replied through gritted teeth. He tried to calm himself down; the phantom obviously was hoping for a reaction, so Raoul could not give one. It was as simple as that. Luckily for him and his steadily failing control Henri chose that moment to appear.
"The carriage is ready viscount" he said. Raoul nodded and they silently left the opera house. Erik watched them from the shadows with a smirk.
"Yes viscount I believe that I have indeed found a use for you" he whispered; smirk growing ever bigger as he planned. He had a new toy to play with now, and that could mean nothing but trouble for the opera house and its unfortunate patron.