Erik sighs and turns the page in his book. He's trying to be patient as he waits for Christine to return from her shopping trip. Her trips usually never take this long, but he knows that sometimes she gets distracted and loses track of time. Still, it is rather late, and he hopes she'll come back soon.
Christine's hands are still shaking as she makes her way down the catacombs to her home. She's trying her best to compose herself before Erik sees her, but the task is difficult. She feels so silly - everything turned out fine, considering - but towards the end things had the potential to turn very quickly. She's still utterly shocked at the situation and her reaction.
She had been on her way back when before she knew it she was getting robbed. The presence of the small pistol had unnerved her, and she had quickly handed over her purse as requested. That was so close to being the blessed end of it, but as the man was about to leave he had suddenly caught a glimpse of her ring and demanded it as well. It was then that Christine had surprised even herself by refusing quite loudly. That had angered him, obviously, and he had grabbed it quite roughly off of her finger.
So all things considered, she had exited that situation very well - she was alive and relatively untouched except for her hand. It could have ended much worse - but that thought still brings her no comfort. Her hand hurts and she suspects it will hurt even more when the adrenaline isn't flowing as freely as it is now, she was held at gunpoint, and her ring is gone. She's still shaken from the suddenness of it, how easily it could have gone another direction. She thinks of how poor Erik would be waiting for her here with no idea of what had happened - what would he do if she never returned? She wants to cry just thinking about it.
She tries to take a steadying breath but feels no better for it. She fears Erik's reaction - not for herself, no, he'd never hurt her in any way or be angry at her for this - no, she's worried what he'll do when finds out someone has harmed his Nightingale. She was safe from his rage, but there were no guarantees for anyone else. Even so, there's nothing she wants more in this moment than to be in his presence and feel him near.
The playful remark of her tardiness dies on Erik's tongue as he looks up to see her tear stained face and trembling lip. He drops his book to the floor and jumps from his chair, rushing to her side.
"Christine! What has happened?"
His heart is pounding in chest and he berates himself for not realizing sooner that she was late because of some calamity.
He gently places his hands on her shoulders, guiding her to couch. She leans into his touch, letting him sit her down.
"It's fine, Erik, everything is fine," she tries to reassure him but if anything her wavering words have the opposite effect on him.
"Christine-" Erik is on the verge of panicking.
"There was a man with a gun and he robbed me, but really everything is fine," in that moment she isn't certain which of them she's trying to convince.
She lets him gather her in his arms.
"Are you alright? Did he harm you?"
"I'm alright, I think - I'm just so frightened! He took my purse, but Erik - he also took my ring," her voice finally breaks when she tells him so, and she lifts her left hand for him to view.
Erik was already furious that anyone would cause his wife such fright and dare to steal her belongings - but when he sees her bruised hand and now-crooked finger, his blood practically boils.
"Christine- your finger is broken!"
He tries to push down the seething rage, because that won't help Christine right now. Christine needs gentleness and a soothing voice, not his offended anger. There will be time for that later.
"Are you sure you're alright aside from your hand?"
She nods.
"I- I tried going to the police, Erik, and I gave them a description of the man, but they said they probably couldn't do anything about it. They took down my information and said they'd contact me if my things turned up, but they aren't actually going to look for them or the robber."
"It's because they are utterly incompetent, my love," he murmurs and kisses her forehead. "But do not worry about that right now - we must fix your finger so it will heal properly."
He scoops her up and carries her to the kitchen, where he places her on a chair and promptly grabs the first aid kit. When he returns he kneels beside her and deftly sets to work on fixing her finger. He distracts her from any pain by prompting her with questions - what the man looked like, where it happened, and so on.
"How does it feel?" he asks when he's finished.
"Better, thank you," she tells him appreciatively.
She still feels jumpy, but she feels much safer with him here. She reaches out for him and he pulls her into his arms once more.
He stands up with her and carries her to their room. He astutely realizes that with her bandaged hand she will have trouble removing her various layers of clothing and unlacing her corset, so he helps her to undress and to put on her nightgown. Christine knows that she could have managed it on her own with some difficulty, but there's something appealing about being fussed over and dressed by her husband as though she were a doll, especially after the day she's had, so she lets him do so. When he's finished he picks her up once more, setting her on the bed and climbing up next to her.
"I don't think I'll be able to sleep a wink tonight like this," she laughs nervously.
Her hands are still shaking and she holds them out for Erik to see.
"Would you like something to help you sleep, my love?" he murmurs into her hair.
She nods.
"Will you stay with me?"
He hesitates - honesty, always.
"I will stay until you fall asleep," he kisses the side of her face.
Christine frowns.
"Why, where are you going?"
"To get your belongings back, of course."
"Oh Erik, are you sure?" she clings to him. "He was armed, it isn't safe."
"It has been many years, but I assure you I'm still quite capable in this area."
She swallows hard when the meaning behind his words sinks in.
"Erik," she whispers, her wide eyes full of concern as she looks up at him. "You aren't going to kill him, are you?"
He doesn't reply immediately and she gives a small cry.
"Please don't, Erik - please! The police won't investigate a robbery but they will most definitely investigate a murder! I can't lose you like that, Erik, I can't! They'll lock in prison, they'll execute you!"
"It's alright Christine - I didn't say I was definitely set on a particular course action..."
"Erik!" she practically sobs. "Promise me! Promise me you won't!"
"I promise, I promise you, Christine - I will spare his life," he wipes away the tears on her cheeks. "But surely you know I must defend myself if it comes to that..."
"Then promise me that you won't put yourself in a situation that requires defending yourself," she sniffs, her lip quivering.
"I shall use the utmost caution, my angel."
"Good," she sinks into his arms. "And you must be here when I wake up."
"Of course, Christine," he kisses her one more time before settling her against the pillows.
He rises, reluctant to leave her even for a few moments, and heads to the kitchen where he prepares a draught of his own recipe which will allow her a peaceful and dreamless sleep. He brings the cup back to the bedroom and hands it to her.
She doesn't drink it right away, instead waiting as he settles in next to her. He pulls her onto his lap and begins to sing softly to her. She sighs and drinks the medicine down, letting him take the cup when she's finished and setting it on the nightstand. She lets her head rest on his chest, her eyes slipping closed as she feels his hand running up and down her shoulder and arm, soothing her. His other arm is around her waist, his broad hand splayed across her ribs. She feels completely enveloped by him, completely and finally safe. Slowly she drifts off into slumber.
When he's certain she has fallen asleep he lets his song trail off. He knows he should be on his way, should be hunting down the vile scoundrel who dared to terrorize his precious angel, but he finds it difficult to have leave her here alone. She is safe, nothing here can harm her, he knows this, but he prefers to be near her regardless. He lingers for a while longer, remembering her wish for him to stay with her as he continues his soft touches, brushing her hair away from her face. At last he gently lowers her to the pillows and presses one last kiss to her forehead. He must be going.
When Erik steps outside, away from the presence of his wife, all remnants of tenderness fall away. It's almost frighteningly easy to fall back into the role of Angel of Death - but no, not exactly, he had promised Christine after all... And of course he'd promised Nadir as well, but his vow to his wife held far more importance to him. Perhaps not the Angel of Death, but an avenging Angel all the same.
It isn't terribly hard to track down the man, though it does take a few hours to find the trail he's left behind. He takes notice of a man who matches the description given by Christine, a man who is clutching a small velvet purse that Erik doesn't recognize, and so he silently follows him. By the small hours of the morning he's found the hovel that's being used as his hiding place. When he finally feels that man is likely asleep, he creeps inside silently, and sure enough he sees Christine's purse in the corner, along with a number of other women's handbags. Erik narrows his eyes at this, wondering how many other women this fiend has accosted. The man is asleep on a small cot, and Erik stops his search of the room for a few moments to observe him with contempt. His hand twitches out of habit, the old thin red rope coiled tightly in his sleeve. How easy it would be, Erik thinks. But even now he finds, even in the midst of the cold fury, he feels no real bloodlust. He will keep his word to his angel, to the Daroga, and to himself.
Still, he finds the man reprehensible. Erik had done more than his share of pickpocketing back in his day, but that was entirely different, he tells himself. What Erik did had required finesse, skill, and cunning. Any brute could point a gun in someone's face and inelegantly demand their belongings, but when Erik had robbed, why - they didn't even know it was happening! There was no harm done, no terrified women crying their eyes out... Just appropriated funds. That surely separated him from the likes of this clown on the cot in the corner. An unbidden thought arises in his mind and makes him uneasy - the thought that perhaps Christine would look down upon stealing of all kinds regardless, but Erik does not like this thought at all and pushes it back down again. His pickpocketing days are long behind him, anyway.
With every other hiding place coming up empty, Erik realizes it must be in that wooden box by the man's bed. He sighs silently and approaches him, putting his foot carefully on the gun that the man had foolishly stowed on the floor by the bed. With a swift movement, Erik sends the gun across the room out of either of their reach. At the same time he grabs the man roughly by the shoulder and flips him over, then sinking a bruising grip into his arm.
"Is Monsieur such a coward that he must steal from women at gunpoint?" Erik tuts at him.
The man yelps and tries to free himself from Erik's grasp, but the hold only gets tighter and more painful.
"Where is the jewelry, Monsieur? In the box?" Erik nods to the box on the other side of the bed.
The man is spitting insults at him but they die on his tongue as Erik twists his arm just so. He finally tells him that yes, the jewelry is in the box and that he can have it if he just lets go.
"Open it," Erik commands him.
The man reaches over and opens the box, revealing a number of rings and bracelets and necklaces. Christine's ring is surely in there somewhere.
"Ah, very good. I'll just be taking all of these and I'll be on my way."
He releases the man's arm and in an instant the man is reaching down where the gun used to be.
Erik mirrors his movement, reaching down and grabbing one of his hands in both of his.
"Why Monsieur, I thought you said I could take the items and leave if I let you go? Are you one to go back on your word so easily?"
There's seemingly no around to hear the scream that follows, but if there is, it's cause is not investigated.
On his way back he stops by the police station, leaving the extra purses and jewelry on their doorstep before knocking on the door quite loudly. He quickly walks on, Christine's purse tucked under his arm and her ring on his finger. He's far out of sight by the time a very puzzled police officer opens the door to find the stolen loot deposited there. The officer brings the items inside, and as he's setting them down on his desk he realizes that several match the description of bags that had been reported stolen. He scratches his head and pulls out the stack papers where the reports were recorded. He will have a number of women to contact in the morning, but he's still baffled at how it came about.
Erik is suddenly tired as he crosses the underground lake. His task complete and the danger gone, the adrenaline ebbs in his veins and now all he wants to do is to curl up next to his Christine. He disembarks from the small boat and before he leaves the lake behind he slips the appropriated gun into the water and lets it sink to the bottom.
He stops in the doorway of the bedroom first thing, making sure that she's okay. She's still deeply asleep, and he longs to join her, but he's also acutely aware that due to his night's exploits he smells quite strongly of dirty alleyway and stale hay and trashy hovel. He needs to wash up first, and he can tell she'll likely sleep for a while longer anyway so he takes his time in doing so.
By the time he's finished cleaning, the sun is just beginning to illuminate the edges of the sky, although down here no one would have a way of knowing that.
Dressed in fresh clothes, his mask and wig firmly back in place - she's had a very trying time, and he doesn't want to frighten her when she wakes - he stands in the doorway a moment before whispering her name. He approaches to bed, calling her softly once more. She shifts, slowly coming to surface of wakefulness. He carefully gets into bed next to her, placing a hand on her waist and nuzzles his face against the crook of her neck.
"Christine... My dear... Wake up, I have something for you."
She blinks her eyes open, trying to make her way through the haze of her mind. She tries to remember the previous night - had she been worried about something? But how could she have any worries when Erik was here calling her so softly and kissing her so sweetly? She smiles, hoping to always be able to wake up in such a way.
"Give me your hand, love," he asks her.
She reaches her injured hand out.
"Your other hand, darling."
She frowns in concentration, her muddled mind trying to make sense of his request. Surely one hand is as good as the other...? But she holds the other hand up all the same.
With her left hand wrapped and bound, he can't very well put her ring on that one, so they'll have to settle with the right hand for now. He takes the ring off his own finger and slides it on to hers, her eyes opening wide as she feels the thin metal against her skin. The haze recedes and yesterday's memories begin to come back in a rush.
"Oh, Erik-" she breathes as she rolls onto her back and examines her hand.
Catching the candlelight in the room, the ring twinkles at her from the fourth finger on her right hand.
"You got it back. You are a wonder, Erik."
And she pulls him to her, sliding her hand under his mask and pulling it off of his face so she can pepper kisses to his malformed jaw and cheek.
"But what about you, are you alright? Did he fight you?" she turns serious.
He shakes his head.
"I am just fine, Christine. I got your purse back as well."
She hesitates before asking her next question, not entirely wanting to know the answer but knowing that her conscience would pull at her until she couldn't take it anymore.
"A-and the man? Did you...?"
"I gave you my word, Christine - the man is alive," he brushes a stray curl away from her face.
He did indeed keep word, for all Christine had asked of him was to not kill him. She had made no other request, no other set parameters he needed to abide by - if the man just so happened to have had all of his fingers broken, well, Christine did not need to know that because she did not ask about that, now did she? He was alive regardless and Erik had kept his word, that was all that mattered.
"Thank you, Erik."
Christine nestles closer to his chest, her head just under his chin. Erik sighs and holds her tightly, as they lay there in silence for a while, he lets his mind wander over the whole ordeal now that it's over. Inwardly, he's still shaken by the idea of how easily her run-in with the man could have turned wrong, of how it could happen to her again, of how next time they might something other than money, of how he could have sat in his chair waiting and waiting only for her to never come back at all. Perhaps it would be safer, wiser for him to accompany her on more of her outings. If not side by side with her, he could at least follow her in the shadows and keep a watchful eye over her. What on earth had possessed her to talk back when a gun was pointed in her face?!
He pulls back from her slightly, placing a hand on her shoulder and squeezing it and shaking her gently.
"Don't ever do that again - if someone has you at the end of a weapon and wants your jewelry, just give it to them."
She looks up at him sheepishly.
"I know, Erik. I really should have, it's just... I guess I wasn't thinking, is all. I didn't mind terribly about my purse, and if it had been any other ring..."
"But I got it back for you. And even if I couldn't, I could just buy you new one," he frowns.
"But this one has memories with it, Erik. It wouldn't be quite the same with a new one."
Erik is torn - on one hand, her insistence about how special she thinks the ring is because he gave it to her is touching and precious, but on the other hand...
He gathers her closely to him once again.
"Erik can always buy Christine a new ring, but he cannot ever find another Christine if anything were to happen to her," he tells her softly, afraid that she doesn't quite realize how frightening he found her attempt at keeping the ring from being stolen.
"Oh, Erik," she whispers as she presses her forehead to his collarbone. "I know. Heaven forbid it should happen again, but if it does, I promise I'll hand over any item he wants."
He nods at this.
"Good, good. You must always return to your Erik. He- he can't get along without you, you see," he gives an attempt at a half smile.
"Well then you won't have to get along without me, darling. I'll be extra careful," she reaches her good hand up to caress the side of his face.
"Perhaps- perhaps Erik could accompany you on your next outing."
"Oh - I would quite like that, Erik," Christine smiles.
They had gone on several more walks since the first one when they thought they were followed, some short and some longer, but he had never gone with her on a shopping trip - yet. She found she was quite looking forward to the idea, and not just because she felt slightly nervous about getting mugged again. So often she'd find little odds and ends that she wished she could point out to him or to ask his opinion on a piece of clothing or food.
How wonderful it will be, she thought to herself. She only wishes that the idea had not been prompted from such an encounter, but the happy plans she's beginning to form in her mind certainly do help to push away the events of the previous day.
They are both silent for a while, each lost in their own thoughts. Erik tries to remain vigilant, fighting against the heaviness in his eyes, but it has been a long and stressful day and he knows that nothing down here will hurt her, especially not when she's safe in his arms, and finally sleep wins out and he's pulled under its tow.
Christine lays awake as he dozes, not tired despite the early hour on account of the deepness of her earlier slumber. She listens to his steady breathing and relishes how tightly he still holds her even while sleeping. Her left hand, cradled to her chest to keep from accidentally laying on it, has begun to radiate a dull ache punctuated by a sharp pain with any movement. She makes a mental note to tell Erik of this when he awakens again - perhaps he can make something to take that pain away - but for now she lets him rest. She's terribly thankful that he managed to find her ring again, but even more thankful he managed to return unscathed. She presses a soft kiss to side of his jaw and sighs.
