Chapter Ten: Kiss Me
The setting changed as Erik gently lifted her from the floor of broken diamonds, returning to his candlelit lair. The red ribbon in the book seemed to move on its own like a living thing, welcoming its mistress back. With an elbow, he pried open the door to her bedroom. The pale blue walls trimmed in white originally designed to please the airhead Christine Daaé were suddenly swelled with the personality of the girl in his arms. Red bits of wax held various sketches and designs, vibrant opera costumes and a few everyday outfits. Tenderly, he softly placed Mel on her bed. Upon closer inspection, Erik noted that some of the sketched models were of him, various cloaks and suits and masks gracing the Populaire's favorite Phantom. But one sketch seemed to catch his eye. A man, a very handsome man with shoulder-length brown hair was modeling some kind of long, tan coat. It couldn't be! The Vicomte wasn't even in this story!
"E-Erik…" her voice was frighteningly shaky
"Mel?"
"Y-You wanted to tell me something?" she asked
She seemed so weak, so vulnerable lying there on the bed. Who would have guessed that the meek girl beyond many bandages had caused mirrors to shatter with her own voice only but less than an hour ago? He gently swept her forehead of strands of hair plastered to her skin with a mix of blood and sweat and pressed his lips to her flesh.
"You're hurt, Mel… when you feel better"
"You always…" her voice was breaking, "You always kiss me… on the forehead… even when I'm not awake. Why?"
"I think it has something to do with my original roots in the Leroux novel… there was a whole scene that involved a kiss on the forehead. How did you know that?"
"I can always feel you in my dreams and you always turn my nightmares to fantasies"
He was shocked, but it was true. From start to finish such a little kiss had so much impact
"Will you promise me something?"
"Yes, Mel?"
"Will you kiss me… on the lips some day?"
Maybe it was story-induced feelings but he was suddenly compelled to fulfill that promise someday
"Yes, yes I will! I promise… For now, I wish you sweet dreams" he whispered softly, getting up and about to blow out the candle
"Wait- don't leave. Please"
He stopped, "Are you well enough to stand?"
She wriggled beneath the covers, wincing in pain as she did so
"It hurts to move"
"Then allow me"
A/N: Are you drowning in fluffiness yet? The best is yet to come
Also, I am implementing a contest: Those of my regular reviewers know about the mini-story about Erik and the Cookies and Various Other Emo!Baking!Fiascos. (Hi Dragonfly2224!!!) Anyway, it's really hard to keep track of who is where in the story. So, you must do even better than be an awesome reviewer. From now on, every chapter or so will have either a song lyric or song title or reference or something. If you can connect the references by fandom, lyrics by song or song titles by artist, ERiK WiLL BAKE YOU COOKiES!!
But, not to sound ungrateful, you still have all my thanks and praise for your reviewing. Erik, however, needs to be convinced a little more.... *siiiigh*