Hi everyone! This is my first Erik&Raoul chapter story. I absolutely adore the pairing and was inspired to write a piece dealing with the possible empathy that could exist between the two. Really they are not that different from each other. I hope you enjoy reading it, and reviews are very much appreciated. Thank you!
Disclaimer: I do not own Phantom of the Opera. The brilliant Gaston Leroux does!
'SURPASSING PREDJUDICE'
~~Chapter 1: The Beauty of Human Compassion~~
Raoul sat alone on top the opera house, his arms wrapped around his knees, and his eyes staring blindly ahead into the depths of the Parisian night. The lamps of the street cast an eerie glow on the roof tiles, and strange shadows played along the walls due to the weak illumination. The air was chilly, and the breeze was callous as it blew forcefully on Raoul, reminding him that it was nearing winter.
Raoul shivered and pulled his coat tighter around his shoulders. He didn't even know why he had chosen to come here. He knew he just needed someplace to be alone, and to reflect. He recalled his last encounter with the woman he loved. Tonight, she had finally dropped the weight, she had told him that she no longer wanted to be with him because it was too complicated, and told him that she needed someone who would understand her better. She had told him that she still cared about him, and that she still wanted a friendship with him, but Raoul was too heartbroken to stay and listen. With a quick goodbye, he had left. He had tried to understand her reasoning, but he couldn't. They had been engaged, she had told him that she had loved him, and they had both seemed so joyful. Yet Raoul couldn't help but think he was being played with all along, as if he was the second wheel, coming only after Christine's Phantom. She had finally chosen, and she had chosen him.
Tears prickled Raoul's eyes and they stung. He rubbed them furiously to try and stop the tears, but that only seemed to irritate them more. He felt anger, and self-loathing rise from within. He felt burning anger towards the world. Towards Christine for not choosing him and not staying by his side after all he'd done for her. He felt anger towards her for playing with his heart, and leading him on. He was also angry at the Opera Ghost, who after all this time had already won long ago and knowing that he never really did stand a chance. But more than anyone, he was angry at himself. He was angry for being stupid and not listening to his brother, and letting himself get hurt like this. He was angry that he didn't see this coming. He was angry that he had lost the only girl he had ever truly loved! He hated himself because he felt weak. But Mon Dieu, was it painful.
"I hope you're happy now Monsieur Opera Ghost!" he spat into the night, eyes glinting with hatred, and a high cold laugh escaping his mouth.
"Congratulations, you won after all" he whispered sullenly, as he put his head between his knees.
"Did I Viscount?" asked a silky calm voice that came from the shadows.
Raoul jumped to his feet as quick as lighting, managing to draw his sword by the time he was on his feet. Holding his sword steadily in front of him, Raoul scanned the shadows but could see nothing. He knew who it was, and he was not in the mood to deal with him, nor would he let himself be taunted.
"Show yourself!" he hissed into the shadows, sword ready to strike at the first sign of attack. To Raoul's astonishment, the phantom moved into plain view and stared at Raoul with an expression he couldn't fathom. He wasn't armed and was standing not too far away from Raoul's sword. For the first time in his presence, there the phantom stood, virtually defenseless in front of him, no sword or lasso in sight.
Raoul stared, slightly taken aback. He lifted his sword higher and pointed it at the man's throat. "What do you want?" he barked nastily. "I see no reason for you to be here. It's over, you've won! I lost! Unless you've come here to gloat" Raoul shot nastily.
"No I haven't…" the man stated quietly. He moved forward a few steps only inches away from Raoul's sword. Raoul's eyes widened and he took a couple of shocked steps back. The man' expression didn't change. He continued to look at Raoul with that same guarded, yet deep expression.
"Well then go away!" Raoul shot irately, jabbing his sword towards him slightly to prove his point, resulting in the Phantom sidestepping the jab.
"I wish to talk with you." He stated simply, ignoring Raoul's discourtesy.
Raoul lowered his sword a little.
"What!" he exclaimed, flabbergasted.
"Surely you aren't deaf Viscount. I said, I want to speak with you" the Phantom stated again, rather annoyed.
Raoul opened his mouth to say something, but then shut it. He then narrowed his eyes, and looked at the phantom distrustfully. "What about!" He asked skeptically.
"Christine." The other man replied.
Raoul narrowed his eyes and gave the phantom a vicious glare. "No thank you!" Raoul replied indignantly. "I refuse to be involved with this anymore, now if you will excuse me, it is late and I have other engagements I need to attend to" he said tersely, before sheathing his sword and walking toward the entrance to the opera house.
Raoul suddenly found that his path was blocked by the man that was seconds ago behind him. How did he move that fast? his mind asked, stunned. The man looked at him with a hard stare, and his stance was tall and determined.
Raoul eyes narrowed. "Move!" he snapped angrily, losing just about every ounce of patience he had with the man.
"No" he replied simply. "I wish to speak to you about what happened between you and Christine".
That did it! Raoul lashed out with a fist aimed towards the phantoms chin, which was blocked easily by a hand which grabbed his wrist. The force of his punch sent him off balance, but he was steadied instantly by the phantom hold. "I DON'T WANT TO TALK ABOUT IT! I JUST WANT TO BE LEFT ALONE! SHE BROKE OFF OUR ENGAGEMENT! YOU HAVE WON! YET YOU STILL PERSIST ON TORMENTING ME!" he screamed painfully, tears now falling from his eyes and running down both cheeks.
His knees suddenly shook and he collapsed to the floor, the man fell too, holding onto him. Raoul didn't give a damn anymore. Damn his pride, it hurt too much. He had loved her with all his heart and soul. He was would have risked everything for her; his title, his money, his brother's esteem, even his life, yet she had still played him around and disregarded him towards the end. He unleashed his emotions then and wept into the Phantom's shoulder, no longer thinking, nor caring if it was his enemy, but rather a human being there to comfort him.
"I know how you feel…" the voice spoke quietly, his voice full of empathy, his hands patting his back gently. "I felt the same way when I saw her with you… when she betrayed me" he said sadly.
Raoul paused and looked up at the man who comforted him. Bright amber eyes looked at him sympathetically, glowing through a white porcelain mask. Raoul had never seen this person look at him with any emotion other than hatred, and the sudden change unnerved him. The two usually couldn't stand to be in each other's presence and when they were, they were always fighting over Christine. The transformation completely threw him off.
"Why! Raoul asked silently. "Why are you doing this? You hate me!"
"Because I understand what you're going through and no one should have to go through it alone… even you viscount." He stated honestly, and his eyes widening slightly as if he only just realized the fact.
Raoul looked at the man in front of him. Here stood a different person to whom he was use to. The phantom's eyes no longer held that hatred and burning anger towards him. His eyes were open, and compassion shone from their depths, something that Raoul would never have imagined was possible in a thousand lifetimes. For the first time in his life he was no longer blinded by his prejudice and he saw the Phantom of the Opera for what he truly was, just a man. A man that had experienced the same heartache he currently felt, and a man that was capable of realizing when others suffered from this aswel. This revelation left him in awe for a few seconds, before he asked the question he wished to know for the first time ever.
"What is your name?" He asked softly.
The man's eyes widened and he looked down at the man in shock, before a very slight upturn of the lips graced his mouth. "Erik." He replied genially.
Raoul smiled briefly, before removing himself from Erik and standing on his two feet. He felt slightly disorientated and his emotions were in turmoil due to the events of the day. He had to get away for now. He needed time to think. He quickly started to walk, and when he reached the rooftop exit, he paused. Finally he turned and met the others eyes silently.
"Thank you." He whispered, the sound as light as the changed wind that that now wafted between them.