Chapter 10: A Tribute To The Past
Loud crashes and bangs came from Erik's attic room and Clara sighed, looking up at her aunt whom emerged from the kitchen with a confused expression,
"What on earth is he doing up there?" she demanded causing Clara to smile sadly,
"He's..." she tried before developing a thoughtful expression as she tried to think of the right word,
"Grumpy? Has Anger issues? Full of himself? Arrogant? A recluse? A complete pain in the arse?" Nadir listed and Clara looked at him with an unimpressed glare,
"... Frustrated" she corrected with a warning tone that made The Persian hold his hands up in surrender as Clara looked back at her aunt,
"He's annoyed by the fact that the authorities are still searching for him as well as a strong level of security presence at Calais making it impossible to find safe passage out of France... Without any instruments he is without means of venting his frustration in a... Less chaotic way and so he is... Recycling any old furniture he can get his hands on that we can use as firewood" she explained prompting Antoinette to develop a sad expression of understanding and Clara sighed,
"... Annoying, Smug, A Completely unreasonable temper... Far too easily annoyed..." Nadir began listing once again but this resulted in Clara smacking him over the head with a pillow,
"Hey! It's not my fault the masked storm cloud doesn't have an instrument to play" he grumbled as Clara shook her head in amusement at his childishness but then soon sat up straight,
"... You're right" she murmured before looking at The Persian with an excited smile,
"All Erik needs is an instrument to help him through the waiting process and he'll be much happier... There must be a music store somewhere in the market. Something simple and small like a violin" she suggested but Nadir quickly shook his head,
"Absolutely not! I lived with that miserable mule and his violin for 10 years in Persia and I am telling you that I am not going to give him an excuse to play endlessly through the night. It's the cause of the mother of migraines and I've suffered from hangovers caused by an entire bottle of brandy" he protested firmly but Clara grabbed his shirt collar and pulled him close,
"Oh but you haven't suffered a migraine caused by me screaming endlessly in your ear until you do as your told" she growled firmly and Nadir gulped before nodding slowly with a bright forced smile,
"At your service, my lady" he told her timidly and Antoinette couldn't help but shake her head in amusement.
Nadir and Clara waited until nightfall before making their way to the deserted market place and they kept the hoods of their cloaks up in order to conceal their faces,
"... I'm having a great sense of de ja vu" Nadir grumbled as they moved from one shadow to another,
"... Definitely done this before... Several times actually" he continued as they both kept an eye out for any police patrols or citizens out for a late night stroll,
"... One time. I had to sneak to the shah's palace to prevent your masked moron from stealing diamonds from the shah's throne that he was replacing with glass shards... Sneaky smug bastard. We almost got caught... Almost but does he face any consequences? no... But then I'm the one that ended up getting shot in arse by one of the guards" Nadir growled quietly before following Clara as they moved to the next alleyway to check the contents of the next shop,
"... Another time Erik actually had the nerve to break into the royal gallery where he stole a very expensive manuscript containing the complete history of the royal family of Persia... He didn't even want the damn thing. He was just annoyed that the Shah had asked him to remove his mask after one of those bloody magic shows he had him perform... Who ended up getting shot in the arse again? Me" Nadir grumbled as Clara moved to check one of the other shop windows and he stayed hidden behind some crates,
"... And don't even get me started on the time that he added laxatives to my wine... He called me Diarrhea instead of Daroga for weeks... I didn't get shot in the arse that time but it certainly felt like it..." he growled,
"Nadir. If you don't shut up I will shoot you in the arse myself" Clara whispered at him firmly with a warning glare and The Persian instantly shut his lips tightly before watching as Clara continued to search the shop windows and he smiled slowly,
"... I can see why he likes you so much" Nadir said,
"What?" Clara asked confused causing Nadir to scoff quietly,
"... It is so obvious that the masked bastard holds a soft spot and a sparkle in his eye when it comes to you, Miss Clara" he pointed out with a smug, knowing smile,
"... It's also obvious that you hold the same things for him... as well as the inability to stop yourself from smiling with a gentle blush staining your cheeks whenever his name is mentioned" he teased, Chuckling quietly when Clara blushed and avoided eye contact with him,
"Try to deny it all you want but as a former Daroga I am many things. A master of stealth, intelligence, composure and... AHHHHHHH!" he screamed suddenly causing Clara to launch at him, covering his mouth,
"What the hell are you playing at?" she demanded quietly,
"I've been shot in the arse" he grumbled causing Clara to frown in confusion but when she looked up she saw no sign of anyone with a gun so she looked towards Nadir's back and she had to use every ounce of effort to not burst out laughing... At the sight of a tiny Cocker Spaniel puppy that had sunk it's teeth into Nadir's arse,
"... Not a shot in the arse" she corrected with a quiet giggle as she retrieved the puppy and petted it gently but frowned at the fact that it wore no collar and it snuggled instantly into her arms as she wrapped her cloak around it gently,
"Ratty little fur ball was after my sandwich" he grumbled but Clara ignored him,
"... The only worse thing besides having a masked bastard that plays the violin for a roommate is when a woman smiles with a thoughtful expression" Nadir moaned, prompting Clara to look at him with an amused smile,
"... We won't be needing a violin after all" she told him before moving in the direction that lead back to Erik's childhood home and Nadir growled in frustration,
"A shot in the arse. Why couldn't it have been a shot in the arse? I would have been fine mourning for my arse" he growled as he followed after her.
It was morning and Erik had removed his shirt, pouring some water into a basin from a jug and he splashed some water on his neck but soon stood up straight when a little yap came from behind him causing him to turn as a tiny ball of fur ran over to him, jumping up and wagging it's tail in excitement and Erik couldn't help but smile,
"Well hello there" he greeted, kneeling down and petted the puppy behind an ear and chuckled as it licked his hand affectionately before jumping into his arms and he spotted the collar hanging around it's neck... He reached for the small tag that he recognized to have once been a charm that hung on a necklace around Clara's neck,
"... Sasha-Too" He read the engraving that had been carved around the charm and he couldn't help but smile brightly as he remembered how he had told Clara of his beloved childhood pet,
"... She remembered" he murmured before chuckling as Sasha-Too began licking his stubble and masked cheek.
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QueenOfDisney96