Disclaimer: Please don't sue. I don't own POTO... All I own is an overactive imagination.

Summary: ErikRaoul various degrees of slash. One word prompts based on body parts, most parts but the one you really want.

Warning(s): slash (that's homosexual content for those of you who don't know)

Pairing(s): ErikRaoul

A/N: I'm in a disgustingly good mood right now. However, don't expect anything too serious right now (or good) particularly because the slight out of practice I am with writing E/R fics.

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Human Anatomy

Chapter 10

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By: Lucifer Rosemaunt

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"Alright." Raoul looked around to see if anyone else were around, which was rather unnecessary considering the fact that they were in the safety of Box 5. "I'll tell you."

He leaned forward to conspiratorially whisper to Erik his secret. So intent on making sure no one else was around, he failed to notice the way Erik tensed in response, his hands clutching at the armrests. Raoul took several breaths by his ear, a sensation that made Erik shudder almost imperceptibly, but then he suddenly pulled away, distancing them once again.

Erik let out a stuttered breath, even more tense now as he suppressed the impulse to simply pull Raoul to him. He didn't understand how someone could be so tempting yet absolutely oblivious to what he was doing. Erik had even gone so far as to consult Christine about Raoul's behaviour, but apparently, it was normal. Christine had similarly once harbored affections for the blond and for a while thought that Raoul had reciprocated, but later, she discovered that the thought had simply never crossed Raoul's mind. Erik was determined to make the thought cross his mind now.

"I can't. It's… " Raoul ran a hand through his hair. "It's not something I share."

Taking a steadying breath, Erik concealed his annoyance beneath the near-genial exterior he had worked hard to create in Raoul's presence. So far, it had worked.
Raoul believed he was simply misunderstood and had even gone so far as to call them friends – not exactly what he wanted, but it was far better than monster.

"I share much of myself with you, Raoul," he coaxed.

"That's not quite fair," Raoul replied, "Your talents are amazing. My talent is" he struggled to find the appropriate word, "useless."

"I would still like to know." The first step in his plan was to make sure Raoul trusted him. The unforeseen event that Raoul called him a 'friend' was actually beneficial because even though Erik himself did not know what friendship entailed, he knew that even Raoul had to recognize when that particular boundary was overstepped.

"Fine," Raoul pouted. He sat with his arm crossed, silent so long that Erik began to wonder if he was going to ignore him for the rest of the evening. Suddenly, he said, "I have a talented tongue."

At that, Erik froze in his seat. "What?" His attention immediately zeroed in on Raoul's mouth and the red tongue that peeked out of those smooth lips as Raoul grinned and showed him. After long moments of staring, Erik closed his mouth.

The playful expression disappeared quickly at his continued silence. Raoul averted his eyes, a light blush colouring his cheeks. "You're the first person I've told this to."

Erik was parts intrigued and aroused by his statement. Clearing his throat, he started, "What…? How…?" He honestly did not know what the proper response was; he did know confirming that talent for himself like he wanted to do was not it.

Raoul shrugged. "Oh, my tutor when I was younger taught me and practice of course."

That intrigue he'd felt was quickly consumed by jealousy. His mind tumbled over questions he didn't know what order to ask. How old? How many men? Exactly what was he practicing?

Before he could voice any of them, Raoul eagerly turned to him and leaned forward again. "Would you like me to show you?"

Taken aback, Erik could only nod dumbly as even the jealousy disappeared, his heart racing at the offer.

"Okay." Raoul gave him his most charming smile.

Erik leaned forward.

And Raoul said, "Un ange qui songeait à changer de visage se trouva soudain si changé que jamais plus ange ne songea à se change."*

Erik stared at him. "What did you say?"

Suddenly less sure of himself, Raoul slouched a bit, eyes on the floor between them. "I told you it was a stupid talent. My tutor said I had an aptitude for tongue twisters. Maybe I said it wrong?"

Erik stood up abruptly enough to startle him. He looked at the Vicomte for a long moment. Could Raoul really be that dense? Raoul only looked up at him in confusion. Erik opened his mouth to reply but nothing came out. Not even sure he could pretend to reassure Raoul that he'd said it perfectly, Erik bit out, "I must go." He was certain that he would take what he wanted from Raoul if they spoke any longer.

He left before he could see the disappointment evident when Raoul lifted a hand weakly and said, "Oh. Tomorrow then?"

o.o tongue o.o (wc:763)

Raoul watched them together and even he couldn't deny that they complemented each other perfectly: light and dark, forceful and willing, demanding and gracious. Where one was weak, the other was strong. Even Erik's compositions had grown more gentle almost as Christine had grown more determined. They balanced each other perfectly. Christine's delicate laugh, petite form leaning against the organ as Erik, serious as ever, through the notes he played alone demanded the best of her – and he could draw from the bottomless well of talent Christine had within her when Raoul had only floundered to let her fly.

Yet, even with so much disparity, Erik and Christine shared more similarities than Raoul would ever be able to with either of them. They'd created a world of their own filled with music and a beauty that he could never truly be a part of despite their words, despite his wants. Christine, dear Christine always insisted that he needn't worry about his affections coming to naught. She loved Erik, but not in the same manner that Raoul did. Even with her reassurances though, it did nothing to assuage his fears. Love was love, and Erik was rather indifferent to his presence. He was merely tolerated. After all, their utopia, so isolated from everyone and everything, was made for two.

As he sat, having long since dropped the pretense of occupying his time, he watched them interact. It was cruel. It was cruel to allow him these glimpses of the life they shared, proof that he was simply extraneous. He scoffed softly to himself. If anything, he was the serpent that would lead Erik and Christine to their demise. He would end up being the one to throw them out of such harmony, and it finally occurred to him that he couldn't do that to them. He couldn't destroy their happiness when they had gone through so much to obtain it.

He had to leave; his mere presence was dangerous to them. Not bothering to hide his longing, he continued to watch them a little longer, his mind going over the next steps. It would be best to do so secretly, to leave without telling them why or else Christine might attempt to stop him. And, despite the fact that he usually waited for Christine to finish her lessons, he doubted they would notice if his presence was missing. He quietly departed Erik's home, the surprisingly soothing melody leading him out.

He was halfway to the rooms when someone grabbed his arm.

"Where are you going?"

"Erik?" Raoul turned, glancing down at the arm Erik had yet to release. "What are you doing here? Christine's lesson isn't done."

"Where do you think you are going?" Erik asked, inscrutable as ever. The meager light in the tunnel cast severe shadows across the older man making him look even more austere than normal.

Raoul glanced over his shoulder to see if Christine was behind him. He couldn't quite understand why Erik would leave in the middle of the lesson. "I have some business to attend to." It was a sentence he knew he would be using often now that he'd made up his mind to leave them be.

"Do not lie to me."

"How would you know if I'm lying?" Raoul retorted more angrily than he meant to. It was simply that while he spent all his time watching Erik, had studied him enough that if anything, Raoul would know when Erik was lying, Erik only ever watched Christine.

"Your schedule is free until this afternoon," Erik restated.

Raoul slumped ever so slightly. How stupid of him to think it was because Erik might think he knew him. No. It was the Opera Ghost's duty to be aware of everyone within the opera house, the patron included. "Just leave me be."

Erik's grip on his arm tightened in a nonverbal response.

Gritting his teeth, Raoul straightened, disappointment turning to anger because somehow he still managed to hope. "You win already," he said bitterly, not trying to disguise it as anything but, "You and Christine can have your Eden." How had he ever thought that Erik and he could have been more than enemies, that Erik would ever see anyone other than Christine? "I will no longer intrude."

He tried to turn and leave with some dignity still intact, tried to leave before Erik saw how much it pained him to admit this particular defeat, but Erik still refused to release him.

"The metaphor you make is a faulty one." Erik stated.

Raoul refused to look at him at all. He focused on the bruising grip on his arm instead as he stared blankly into the darkness.

"I am no Adam, she no Eve," the masked man continued. He spat the words out and began to crowd Raoul enough that he had to take a step back. "There is no domed sky, no night and day, no beasts nor plants that could possibly survive here."

Despite the fact he had taken another step back, Raoul responded just as heatedly and with a touch of condescension, "It's not meant to be taken literally about your home, Erik."

Erik's voice softened the slightest as he said more to himself than Raoul. "It is as true for my home as it is for Christine and my relationship." He started advancing on Raoul again, voice harsh enough that Raoul was certain physical violence was soon to follow. "You've followed us ever since the masquerade. You haven't left Christine's side and every time you are near, you stare. You stare at her, but most of the time, you stare at me. Did you think I would not notice?"

Raoul's back hit the wall and he floundered for a moment, but Erik's grip was firm.

"You've driven me to distraction."

"What? I haven't," Raoul tried to defend. How could he possibly have distracted Erik? Certainly, he knew he'd been a nuisance those first few weeks when all three of them had been on edge, trying to find how they could possibly all coexist. After that though, Erik and he had no occasion to speak to each other, so Raoul had remained silent through it all.

"You've made me see you, hear you every day for months." Erik released his arm, and Raoul had tried to take the opportunity to get away, but one hand clamped down on his shoulder and the other moved from his arm to his stomach, pushing him more firmly against the wall.

The air was forced out of Raoul's lungs, and he took that moment to wonder when Erik had ever watched him.

Erik sneered, "And now you think you are going to leave?" He laughed at the concept.

Raoul cringed when it sounded like madness echoing back at them as the residual laughter faded.

"You are not allowed to leave because you are mine." Erik was close enough that Raoul could feel his breath on his face. "I will decide when you leave."

Wishing that he hadn't watched Erik enough to know that the man meant every single word he had spoken, Raoul struggled. He managed to push himself off the wall a bit, but he was simply slammed back against the wall, Erik's hand digging into his lower ribs.

"If anyone was made from me, for me, it would be you."

o.o rib o.o (wc:1,226)

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End Chapter 10

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A/N: Don't forget to R/R (Read and Review)!

Chapter review:

Tongue - well, according to the internet, that should be a French tongue twister. The internet could be lying to me of course. It translates to:

*"An angel that dreamed of changing its face suddenly found himself so changed that never again did an angel dream of changing himself."

Which is why Erik's not only disappointed but pissy when he leaves because that quote hits too close to home right now. Worst tongue twister ever to choose, Raoul. XD

Rib – I guess I'm a liar. This turned out way more serious than it started. Blame Erik. He's insane. And sorry for all the religious references (who knows if Raoul or Erik is religious). I don't know why the concept just came to me. Generally, God made Adam after he'd created the world and taking a rib from Adam, God made Eve for him.