Fandom: Phantom of the Opera
Disclaimer: Please don't sue. I don't own *insert fandom name from above*... All I own is an overactive imagination.
Summary: Offshoot from Gallery Piece chapter 03. Good graces are often given to those with persistence.
Warning(s): slash
Pairing(s): Erik/Raoul
Word Count: 2,091
A/N: I forgot how much I love this story. I've had this first draft for a long while now and just never found the time to edit it. Hopefully, this will throw you back into the story.
Story note: Madame Giry takes charge! :)
o.o.o.o
All Apologies
By: Lucifer Rosemaunt
Chapter 07 – Madame Giry
o.o.o.o
He had barely entered the hallway when his way was blocked. "Madame Giry." He took a deep breath in to calm himself. The dulcet notes of the opera he had left behind that filtered gently through the doors did nothing to soothe his frayed nerves. Even after all his time with Erik, he had somehow forgotten just how influential the opera ghost was. "Not you as well."
She showed her hands, empty save for the cane she carried with her. "We must speak in private."
Somehow that did not make him feel any more at ease. She was too close to Erik and he did not believe that the masked man was above coercing her into playing a messenger as well. But, he had already expected such a request when she had appeared and was now resigned to being accosted by every occupant of the opera house. He would deal with it in stride.
Following her silently, he kept most of his attention on their surroundings, half-expecting the opera ghost to make an appearance himself. He was unsure how he should react if he were to meet Erik face to face again. It was a meeting that should have occurred days ago and yet, it still seemed much too soon. Raoul hated that everything dealing with their relationship was innately conflicting. Little of their interactions made much sense and although he was mostly resolved to return their relationship to the status quo of before the cemetery, the small part that still held some affection for the masked man rebelled against such an idea. He had never wanted this love to start with, and being rid of it seemed the best conclusion. Perhaps if they finally did have another confrontation, the answer would be that much clearer.
Madame Giry had led him to the studio space where the ballet corps rehearsed, far enough from the auditorium that they were cocooned in silence, their footsteps the only accompaniment to their breathing. The sheer amount of mirrors present at the front of the studio actually made Raoul anxious, but Madame Giry was the ballet instructor. There were few places she would have thought to bring him. He considered it to be simply a part of his growing paranoia that this seemed to be some sort of trap. He did note, however, that the space had been brightly lit despite being completely empty; so, she must have expected to bring him here.
"You and the opera ghost…" Madame Giry started.
He almost openly winced at such an opening as innocuous as it should have been. It was weighted because of the pause, as though she were emphasizing the fact that they were, in fact, a pair.
"You and he both are making life difficult here." She chastised, her hand tightening on her cane, "You mustn't take your frustrations out on the rest of us."
"You suffer not for my sake!" he angrily retorted, voice rising loud enough that the following silence was near deafening.
She stared at him in surprise.
He shut his eyes in response, rubbing his face with one hand. In a muted voice, he said, "I apologize for shouting." He was just as much a victim as the rest of them, though none seemed to view him as such.
Madame Giry had never actually witnessed the viscount lose his composure. Even when the notes had started, the man had always been calm and determined, annoyed perhaps but never this. He faced the managers' hysteria with an answering serenity that was admirable. Seeing his so obvious agitation only cemented her decision in saying what she must, although now she decided to redirect her focus. "The ghost has been acting differently as of late."
"So I have heard," Raoul answered slowly, trying to sound innocently interested. It wouldn't do as a patron to simply not care, but he was tired of hearing it. Of course he knew the ghost was acting differently. He was neither blind nor deaf as they must all think him to be, seeing as everyone also knew he was the center of this current tempest.
She glared at him for the pretense of detachment, angry that he would think her fool enough to believe such a lie. "Not simply recently," she explained, voice hardening to the tone she used with the ballet corps when they were behaving especially poorly, "You must remember that I know more of the ghost than any other." She added seriously, "More even than Christine."
He looked away then, unable to meet her eyes, wondering just how much she knew. Surely Erik did not share the entirety of his actions with her; the opera ghost did not seem the type. However, she did have the rather ghost-like, uncanny ability to know of such happenings regardless of whether she had been told or not. Raoul could pinpoint where she may have learned of the news though. Christine must have told her something. His once dear, childhood sweetheart had been utterly distressed. Certainly, she had divulged and sought solace in Meg's arms. Meg would have then told her mother, and here, now they were to have this awkward conversation.
Surely she, who apparently knew Erik better than any of them, would want him to apologize as well. He wondered how she would try to convince him to make amends, simply order him to 'Forgive the ghost.'
"You must leave," she stated suddenly.
Raoul actually took a step back in confusion. "What?"
"Leave Paris," her voice was steady, her eyes serious, "for your sake, to end this madness. Or, stay to make amends with the ghost and deal with the consequences. I fear you may regret your decision eventually either way." She stated his options so plainly, as though those were the only two choices available to him.
Raoul was afraid to think that they were. Was the only true way to escape Erik's desires to leave Paris completely? There was no certainty that leaving would do even that; however, the cornerstone of the ghost's life was the opera house. Whatever role Erik believed him to play, the opera house would certainly be more important regardless. Raoul could leave and only be left to wonder what if: what if he had stayed, what if he had accepted an apology that might never come, what if he could never find anyone who made him feel half as much as Erik made him feel. Still, he could escape with his sanity. He could escape the unhealthy way that they expressed their emotions for each other or that they fought as much as they talked. He could leave.
If he stayed, it seemed Madame Giry was convinced that the only option was to somehow move beyond the incident. Could they not even return to being enemies? Raoul had to wonder if they had ever even been that. He had thought them rivals at some point, but it seemed that Erik had never seen him as such. In fact, the rivals, unbeknownst to him at the time, had been Erik and Christine. The thought was as absurd to him now as it had been then.
"You want me to leave?" Raoul asked, just to clarify.
Madame Giry replied, "I said no such thing."
"Then…?"
"You cannot remain as you are now," she explained and Raoul was certain that she did not simply believe her words. She knew them to be fact. "You two are of different worlds. You may find some commonalities now but your differences may one day destroy whatever you may have built."
He could not help but ask, "How much do you know?"
She watched him for a moment, silently gauging what truth to tell. "I know the opera ghost has had his sights on you since the moment you stepped within this opera house."
Raoul looked away from her, happening to catch his own reflection in the mirror. Dark bruising beneath his eyes, shoulders slumped slightly, he looked tired. He was tired. Had everyone known about the ghost's desires but him? That was a gross exaggeration. He was certain Christine had known nothing and still knew nothing of his attraction either. It had been obvious enough for Madame Giry to see it though, and Raoul had to admit that thinking back on it now that yes, it had been obvious. Now that Raoul finally knew him, knew the man behind the mask, and not the rumours, the older man had been stalking him. He had been obsessive and jealous.
Raoul mused, so, the ghost certainly knew of jealousy. Was the act of kissing Christine not infidelity if there were no emotions involved? Erik hadn't kissed her for the sake of kissing Christine. That was not entirely true though; there were emotions involved, namely his own. Erik had staked Raoul's emotions in that kiss.
"I suggest for your sake," Madame Giry brought him out of his musings, "that you leave." She motioned at him, to his fading image of the perfect viscount, to the fading memory of the excited novelty that was love. "You have conceded much already and look where it has brought you. How much more are you willing to change just for one man?"
Raoul didn't have an answer for that. He'd been willing to move mountains for Christine, anything for her love. He hadn't thought that he'd be changing himself or as Raoul was beginning to think of it more and more lately, losing himself.
He bowed shallowly to her, quietly saying, "Thank you for your consideration, Madame," before taking his leave. He had much to think about.
o.o.o
The second the studio door shut behind Raoul, a chill wind blasted through the room, thrusting it into darkness. Madame Giry stood where she was, eyes closing useless as they were in an attempt to hear where Erik might approach. There were no footsteps though. The wind had settled but the mirrors still trembled by some unknown force.
"Meddling woman!"
She flinched not from the volume but rather from the barely contained violence promised within it. It was a bad sign that he had chosen to remain behind the mirrors and stay hidden in his passageways. She spoke not to the man, but rather to the ghost he had become.
The mirrors rattled. "What have you done?"
She had expected to be followed; that had never been a question in her mind. The ghost, once intent on someone, would not leave them be for any reason. It had only ever been a question of how much the ghost wanted the viscount. There being no safe place within the opera house, she had chosen the place she felt most comfortable. Now, she wondered if it would have been better to have chosen a place nearer to the others. Erik would not hesitate to dispose of anyone that stood between him and his desires. She knew not whether to be more worried for herself or for the viscount now that she had proof that the ghost was this fanatical. "I am thinking only what's best for you."
"The viscount is what is best for me," he angrily retorted so quickly and vehemently that her sympathy for the viscount increased.
Madame Giry tried to reason with him. "Surely, you must see that he will not understand. He has so much."
"So much?" Erik spat, "You mean, so much more opportunity? More life than with me?" It was then that she could hear his footsteps, an angry tiger pacing within the confines of his cage. "Have I so little to offer? He stayed with me. He agreed to let me see him, to touch him."
"And then he left," she concluded, hiding her interest in just what was transpiring between the two. "He left."
"And he will come back," Each word was stressed, the ghost's voice deepening. A mirror shattered; the cage was crumbling. "He would have if you hadn't meddled in my affairs."
"He will hurt you." Madame Giry feared for her life more in this moment than any other time dealing with the opera ghost. She raised her hand to the level of her eyes. When silence was his answer, she turned about worriedly, blindly searching for him, waiting to hear the noose cut through the air with deadly accuracy.
His voice was silent, creeping up on her as a parting blow. "Then, perhaps we shall be even."
Then she was alone, the pounding of her heart making her lightheaded. She stood there, wondering just who was changing whom.
o.o.o.o
End chapter 07
A/N: Don't forget to R/R (Read and Review)!
Chapter Review: Poor Madame Giry. She does really know Erik all too well. As much as she wants his happiness, she knows that he'll probably destroy those dearest to him. And it's kind of nice that she's also trying to look out for Raoul.
But what has her actions driven Erik into doing? DX
