Disclaimer: I do not own PhofOp.

The 'Breakup'

"I think those two are up to something." Antoinette remarked from her spot next to Erik at the small dining table.

Erik sighed and leaned his head on his hand that was resting on the table in front of him. This had become a common conversation in the past few weeks. Antoinette had become suspicious of the young couple since the day she met them. He understood that she was concerned for him, and could even admit that the two acted strange sometimes, but not nearly enough to warrant the Madam's caution.

"And what, pray tell my dear, would that be exactly?" Erik questioned with a dry tone.

"I don't know! That's what I have been trying to find out!" Antoinette huffed. "But they have something going on about them, I can feel it."

While Erik was not one to dismiss a person's gut instinct, he was reluctant to believe his friend completely. He was the one that spent the most time with the couple, and they seem fine to him.

"What are your thoughts, Nadir?" Erik asked, using his free hand to gesture towards where he heard the man cooking in the kitchen before placing it on the table.

"I'm not sure you want to know my thoughts." Nadir stated not pausing in his chomping of vegetables.

Erik sighed and leaned back in his chair, the hand that held his head moved to rest on the table while his other hand laid in his lap. "That tells me everything right there."

"Look, they seem like a perfectly normal couple." Nadir protested. "But there is something off about them, I do not know what it is but they…"

Erik waited for Nadir to continue but when he did not, Erik turned his head towards him. "They what?"

"They do not seem completely human." Antoinette finished softly.

Erik raised an eyebrow at that. "Isn't that a little harsh, my dear?"

He did not need to see to know that Antoinette shrugged, he could hear it in her tone when she spoke.

"Maybe, but you don't see how pale they are, or how unnaturally pretty they are, or their expressions when me or Nadir come near you."

"Well, of course not." Erik deadpanned, rubbing his forehead. "But do you not think you might be exaggerating a little?"

"If it was only me or Nadir, sure, but we both agree and that has to tell you something." Antoinette countered. "Do not forget that Ayesha still doesn't like them either."

That made Erik pause because it was true. It was not often that his two best friends agreed on something like this, especially when it was about someone. The two of them were usually on opposing sides of every argument they found themselves in, though Erik was sure that it was mostly because they liked arguing for the fun of it. Yet here they were, agreeing on the opinion of not one but two people. Two people whom they think might not even be human. It was a ridiculous thought, but the fact that they shared it made Erik stop.

And there was also Ayesha too. Antoinette was correct in her statement that the cat didn't like them. If either of them got anywhere near the door to the apartment, Erik would hear her sprint out if she was in the living room, heading back to his bedroom which was the furthest room from the front door. Nadir had told Erik one time after he had asked where she was that she had hidden under his bed. That was the place that had only been reserved for thunderstorms. Thankfully, Ayesha was no longer skittish around him, but Antoinette pointing that specific fact out reminded him of Ayesha's behavior.

"What do you expect me to do?" Erik inquired softly.

"If possible, never talk to them again. Break all ties." Antoinette announced. When Erik gave her a look, that told her what he thought about that idea and its likelihood of being accomplished, she continued. "Yes, I know, that probably won't work since they know where you work and live."

"You could always tell them to leave you alone." Nadir offered from his spot in the kitchen. Erik could tell that he had finished chopping and was mixing everything together.

"Oh, sure. You two are the ones that are suspicious of them, yet I'm the one that needs to tell the suspected serial killers to go away." Erik stated dryly.

"We never said serial killers, though it's a possibility." Antoinette remarked thoughtfully.

Erik scowled but Nadir spoke before he could reply.

"Worse case, I can get you a restraining order on them." Nadir offered. "I got a few strings I could pull, it'll be simple enough to get one."

"You think that would be necessary?" Erik gawked. How did this conversation turn out this way? They had gone from suspicions to getting a restraining order!

"If they don't leave you alone, yes." Nadir replied firmly, telling Erik that he was all too willing to go through with that offer.

"What I do not understand is why you're having such a hard time believing us." Antoinette added. "Usually, you're the one that's the most cautious of us, yet you don't seem to think anything is off about them. Why?"

"How would I know?" Erik shrugged.

And he did not. He'll admit that the first time he had met them, they had caused a warning bell to go off in his head, but that had also been the night, Mr. de Chagny had puked on his front porch and Miss Daae came and retrieved him. It had not been the best first impression, but Erik's worries were soon silent after he met both of them again. The two of them were kind, and rather intelligent for their ages, even if Mr. de Chagny did not always act his age. They made him laugh and smile as easily as Antoinette and Nadir did, and instead of being careful around the fact that he could not see, they were curious and eager to learn more.

Mr. de Chagny would tell him elaborate stories while Erik worked that he would declare false though the younger would protest that they were all true. When Miss Daae discovered that Erik enjoyed composing, she would help him by singing for him as he tried to come up with a word or note that could bring the whole piece together. Miss Daae had the most amazing voice Erik has ever heard and it had brought him amazing inspiration of music that would play to her voice while Mr. de Chagny's stories inspired compositions that told a story on their own through music.

There was something about the couple that pulled at him, an urge to get closer. They had become a bright light in the darkness that surrounded Erik on a daily basis. They were two wonderful friends that he had not believed he would ever have except in Antoinette and Nadir.

He did not want to give that up.

To him, they were a normal couple that held similar interests to Erik. But…

"I will talk to them next time I see them together." Erik promised.

"Be sure that you do and tell me everything as soon as it's over." Nadir commanded.

Erik nodded and felt Antoinette hand on top of his own. He instantly flipped his hand over and took her hand in his.

"I know that you care about them, but there is something wrong." Antoinette whispered with regret in her tone.

Erik brought her hand up to his lips and gave her fingers a soft peck. "My dear Antoinette, I refuse to cause the two of you to worry. That's that."

It took two days for Erik to see the couple again. Mr. de Chagny had visited him the previous day, but it had been awkward since Erik's mind was consumed with thinking about what he was going to tell the couple when they were finally together. He was positive that the younger man had noticed his distant attitude but had decided to not say anything, to which Erik was grateful.

Erik was in his shop shortly before closing and he heard the bell ring with the sound of two pairs of shoes hitting the floor, he knew who it was.

"Erik? You here?" he heard Mr. de Chagny's voice call out.

Erik was currently in his back office where he kept things like his paper work and safe. He made his way towards the entrance.

"I don't think the shop would be open if he wasn't here." Miss Daae teased her partner.

The tone made Erik hesitate, she sounded happy and he did not want that to go away. Did he have to do it today? Maybe he could wait until…

"There you are!" Mr. de Chagny's voice jerked Erik out of his thoughts. "What were you doing back there?"

"Shop things." Erik replied simply.

"Right, okay." Erik could hear the grin in Mr. de Chagny's tone. "So, Christine and I have been wondering—"

"There is something I would like to tell you first actually." Erik cut off, not wanting to delay. The sooner he started, the sooner it will be over.

"What's up?" Mr. de Chagny asked.

Erik could tell that they were standing across the counter from him, and Erik was grateful that there was a barrier of some kind between them. He opened his mouth to speak but no words came out.

"Erik?" Miss Daae asked in concern. "What's wrong—?"

He had not meant to flinch away, but when he felt Miss Daae's cool fingertips touch his forehead, he jerked back without meaning to. He suppose they would think that he had been startled because he had not expected the touch, but somehow, Erik doubted that. He did not want them to touch him during this, it would only make things harder.

There were a few uncomfortable moments of silence, none of them speaking.

Eventually, Erik broke it.

"I'm putting an end to this."

There was more silence, until Miss Daae broke it.

"What do you mean?" she asked and if Erik did not know any better, he would say he heard a quiver in her voice.

"I mean, that the two of you are not to return to this shop again, or to my apartment." Erik explained in a firm voice.

"What? Why?" Mr. de Chagny demanded. "This is too sudden. What happened? Is it something we did? Because we can fix it!"

Erik scowled at them. "The reason is none of your concern and I would suggest you go before I take up Nadir's real offer of getting a restraining order on the two of you."

"Restraining…!" Mr. de Chagny started in disbelief. "You can't be serious!"

"Oh, but I am." Erik countered coldly. "I do not ever wish the two of you near me again."

He hated how he was acting but it was the only way he could think of that would make them believe that he was serious. Inside he was telling himself to stop but he knew that it was for the best.

"But—!"

"Raoul!" Miss Daae's voice suddenly cut through the air. Mr. de Chagny immediately quieted and Miss Daae continued, her eyes piercing Erik. "This is what you want Erik?"

No, it's not, Erik thought as he struggled to keep his face neutral and forced a nod.

"Alright then." Miss Daae stated softly and that time, Erik knew that her voice cracked. "Come on Raoul."

Erik could hear their footsteps walk away from the counter. When he heard the door open and close again, he slumped forward as if all the energy in his body left him in a single moment. He felt exhausted and there was a feeling in his gut that seemed to be twisting inside of him as if punishing him for lying and demanding that he go after the couple.

But he could not do it.

He knew that he was supposed to call Nadir to let him know what had happened but he found himself going to his piano section instead. He got to where he knew the first piano was at and reached down to find the bench. His fingers touched the smooth seat and easily sat down on it and faced the piano.

Erik placed his fingers on top of the keys but did not press any down.

Shortly after Erik had met the couple, a song had begun to play inside his mind, one that appeared to be inspired by Miss Daae and Mr. de Chagny. It had taken Erik weeks to be able to get one piece of the song written, struggling to find the right notes that described what played inside his head.

For some reason, he felt the intense urge to play what he had written.

Erik pressed the correct keys and began to play, losing himself in the music instead of thinking about what he had just done.

I did warn you guys last chapter that something was going to happen. And this was it. Don't hate me too much, if you've read my previous works, you know how I write. So just enjoy the ride! ;) Next chapter will be in Christine's POV and be sure to leave a review if you enjoyed the chapter…or if it caused you angst, you can tell me that too. :) Reviews will keep me motivated in any case, they are lovely to read. See ya next time!