Disclaimer: I do not own PhofOp.

Pushy Pushy

Erik could hear a voice calling out to him, bringing him back into awareness. He thought he felt someone touching his face but the gesture was brief enough that he wondered if he imagined it.

He heard the voice again, and this time he was able to open his eyes, not that it did him any good, but the person speaking would know he was awake.

It was not fun waking up after being knocked unconscious, it caused his head to swarm in dizziness that eyes made worst as they tried to locate something to focus on which was impossible. It was not pleasant at all and it got worse when Erik realized that he had no idea where he was. A downside of not being able to take in one's surroundings. For all he knew, he could be across the city or in the exact spot he was attacked.

He quickly sat up, causing a rush to his head that made him cringe, but he ignored it. He reached out towards the side to search for his cane.

"Whoa! Hey, slow down." A male voice cautioned, placing his hand on Erik's shoulder.

As soon as he felt the touch, Erik twisted around and grabbed the wrist of the man. Erik could feel the coolness of the man's skin which was strange since it was the middle of summer but he ignored that to focus on other matters.

"Where am I?" he demanded.

"Okay, okay, um, you're in an alley between two shops on Clover Rd. to your left is Heavenly Bakery and your right is Lair of Music." The male's voice explained in a calming tone, not trying to break out of Erik's grip.

Something about the voice sounded familiar but Erik was too relieved by the fact that he was where he was supposed to be. He slumped forward and let the man go, and began to stand. He almost stumbled but was able to regain his balance. He reached out to the right and his hand made contact with a brick wall.

"Here." The man stated, making Erik turn towards him. "Your cane."

Erik held out his other hand in the open air towards where he heard the voice came from and waited expectantly. There was a pause before the familiar weight of the cane was dropped into his hand. He had to stop a smirk from appearing as he wrapped his fingers around it. It was amusing when people forgot that he could not grab anything held out to him, even when it was something like his cane.

Other than his head, Erik felt uninjured, he was pretty sure he was going to have a large bruise later on where he was knocked against the wall. With his free hand, he rubbed the spot and flinched at the sensitive skin.

"Are you alright?" The voice asked nervously. Erik found that peculiar since he was not the one to have caused him injury.

"As well as one could be when knocked unconscious." Erik remarked causally, taking his hand away from his head.

"I'm sorry." The male apologized sheepishly. "I wish I was here sooner, but I found you like this and was going to call an ambulance if you hadn't woken up."

"You have my thanks either way." Erik replied. He searched himself to see what the person had taken.

Strangely enough, everything was where it was supposed to be.

Erik frowned in confusion. Why would someone attack him and not take anything?

"Can I take you anywhere?" the voice continued, being closer than before, taking Erik off guard. He was quiet.

"No, I'm where I need to be." Erik told him. "Though if you can tell me where the entrance to the alley is, that would be helpful."

There was a confused paused.

"In front of you, maybe five yards ahead of you." The voice answered in bewilderment.

"Thank you, Mr.…" Erik trailed off, wrapping the cane's strap around his wrist and placing the tip to the ground.

"De Chagny." The man announced with a grin in his tone. "Raoul de Chagny."

Erik paused at that. Now he knew why the voice had sounded familiar, it was because this was the man that had been there at his and Nadir's apartment the previous night. It was surprising that the man was up this early the morning after his apparent drunkenness last night. Erik has had his fair share of morning afters when he was younger, but the man seemed to be in prefect health.

Erik knew that he could not questioned him about it. That would give away the fact that Nadir had not been as alone as the two thought.

It did not help that Erik had hoped to avoid the two of them yet the very next day he was talking to one of them.

Erik mentally shook his head and spoke. "Well, Mr. de Chagny, thank you for your assistance."

"I can't believe it! You own this place? Really?" Mr. de Chagny voice questioned in awe a couple yards from Erik.

Erik rubbed his temples in irritation. He had not been able get rid of the man after he had left the alley. Instead, he had insisted that he remain by Erik's side for the day lest the person who had attacked him come back. Erik had protested heavily how unlikely that was going to happen but Mr. de Chagny persisted and Erik relented. Mostly because he knew that he would have a hard time kicking out someone who could avoid him. Erik was fast, but he had quickly learned that Mr. de Chagny was faster.

Erik placed his hands down and leaned against the counter in front of him. "Yes, and would you please stop touching everything."

"How do you know I'm touching anything?" Mr. de Chagny protested, the pout in his tone.

"Because you are the type to do so. Plus I can hear the instruments being taken off their stands." Erik deadpanned.

"I can barely hear that!" Mr. de Chagny argued, giving away the fact that he had indeed been picking up the instruments.

The place in question that they were in was a music shop. Erik had owned the place for almost twenty years now. He had inherited the shop from an elderly couple that had taken a liking to him when he had been young. He would show up to their shop almost every day to mess with the instruments. The owners had been irritated at first by him doing so but once they realized that he could play all of them, their curiosity peaked and allowed him to play for them.

After that, the couple no longer minded when Erik would come, and would always let him play when and what he wanted. The instruments that were sold were all non-air instruments. The place was filled with string pieces. From violins to basses, harps to guitars. Erik even had a few pianos, though not many since there were few people that could purchase a full size piano because they wished to learn.

Erik could play them all, though his personal favorite was the piano. A couple years after Erik had started coming to the shop, the couple sold their shop to him and retired down south.

By the location of Mr. de Chagny's voice, Erik could tell that he was in the violin section. With a small sigh, Erik left his front counter and made his way over. He had long since memorized the layout of the shop, therefore did not need his cane to get to Mr. de Chagny.

"Put the violin down." Erik ordered, close enough to stop.

He heard Mr. de Chagny startled but made no move to put the instrument down. "Can you play?"

"I believe it would be a waste of my time owning a music shop if I did not." Erik replied dryly.

"Would you play for me?"

Erik raised his eyebrow at that. "Why would I? Would you leave if I do?"

"Nope." Erik could hear the grin. "But I'll stop touching everything if you do."

Erik thought about that for a moment. It was annoying that the man would not leave at his request, but the offer of him being less troubling while he had to deal with him was a tempting offer.

Knowing his decision, Erik took in a deep breath through his nose before letting it out. He held out his hands to take the violin and bow. Having won, Mr. de Chagny easily handed the items over.

"Which item number is it?" Erik asked as he placed the violin under his chin and whipped the bow on top of the strings.

"349." Mr. de Chagny replied with a hint of confusion.

Ah, classical it is then, Erik thought before closing his eyes. He had just the piece in mind. Adjusting his hands on the strings, he began to play.

He began with a slow rhythm. He doubted that Mr. de Chagny would recognize the piece he was playing, but it was quite famous in the music world. One of the most prestigious composers was the creator after all.

Erik played in accordance to what the piece needed, picking up speed only to slow down than pick up pace again. He lost himself in the music, allowing his hands to play what they have long ago memorized. It was one of the longer pieces for a violin, but that made the piece all the more exquisite.

Erik had planned on completing the first half of the piece but ended up doing the whole thing. Call it what you will, but he always felt the need to complete performing a piece once he's started. He finished the last part, letting the last note draw out for a few seconds before allowing silence to take over.

Erik lifted his chin and removed the violin from his shoulder and neck, feeling refreshed as he always did after playing music.

"There." Erik stated. "I have played for you. Now can you please stop touching everything?"

Mr. de Chagny did not answer and if it was not for Erik feeling his presence, he would have thought that the other man had left.

Suddenly, the presence was right in front of him, the coolness of the other's skin coming off him like an aura.

"Beautiful." Mr. de Chagny whispered, close enough that Erik could feel his cool breath against his face.

Erik cringed back, not liking the little space between them, though he could not stop the blush from appearing on his cheeks. How he hated blushing.

"Thank you." Erik acknowledged as steady as he could get his voice. He thinks he did well. He lifted the violin and bow between them. "Now put this back and do not touch anything."

The violin and bow were carefully taken from his hands and Erik heard the bell on the front door open, informing him that he had a customer.

For the rest of the day, he tried to not get into conversation with Mr. de Chagny. He was lucky that the day held a few customers, some of them looking to buy their first instrument, which always took at least an hour. Before Erik had to close up, Mr. de Chagny left him, saying that he had to go meet up with his girlfriend but also claimed that he would be back.

Erik did not mind in the least when the younger had left. He wanted to make sure that he did not discover that he was living with Nadir as long as possible. However, he suspected that it might not be as long as he would like if Mr. de Chagny's parting words were anything to go by.

Closing time came and Erik locked up his shop. He headed back towards his apartment and knew that Nadir was already home by the smell of dinner being cooked as he walked in the door. Ayesha gave him a meow in greeting and pressed herself against his leg.

The next second, he heard her hiss softly and dart away. Erik frowned. Ayesha has never hissed at him before.

"That cat is bipolar, I swear." He heard Nadir's voice coming from the kitchen.

"She has never acted that way towards me." Erik pointed out, walking towards him.

"Maybe you smell different." Nadir suggested with a teasing tone.

Erik heard him walk back into the kitchen and followed after him. He went to their small table and sat down. He thought about Nadir's statement and could not help but wonder if maybe he was right. Ayesha acted in a similar way when Mr. de Chagny had shown up last night and today he had spent the day in his presence. Could the two be connected? Erik did not know.

What he did know was that there might be more to those two new neighbors than he had first believed.

Yay for next chapter! Hope everyone enjoyed it. If interested, I placed the link up for the music Erik played on the violin for Raoul. I know you can't click on it but maybe type it in? I don't know. Anyway, I you enjoyed the chapter, be sure to leave a review! They are great to read! Next chapter will be in Christine's POV!

See ya next time!

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