Chapter 12: Clara's Dream
Finding a captain willing to provide safe passage out of France turned out to be easy once Erik showed them the diamond he offered as payment... Unfortunately the ship was a cargo ship which meant Erik, Clara, Nadir, Antoinette and Meg were forced to stay in the uncomfortable lodgings that came in the form of the ship's hold... A fact that Nadir wasn't afraid to make his displeasure known about multiple times.
It didn't take Erik to make his way up on deck in search of Clara as a way of preventing his urge to murder the wining Persian... He found her standing at the ship's bow as she looked over the edge at the waves below as the ship carried them far from the Parisian shores,
"I wonder if Antoinette would scold me if I were to keelhaul Nadir" Erik spoke up in a teasing manner, making his presence known as he came to stand by her side and Clara looked at him with an amused smile,
"i'm pretty sure I would even if she didn't" she joked, prompting the masked man to chuckle lightly as they both proceeded to begin admiring the ocean's waves that were illuminated by the glow of the moon,
"... The captain informed me that we're bound for American shores. Manhattan to be precise" Erik explained after a moment of silence that passed between them,
"Seems apt... I've heard that it's a place that many travel to for a new start" Clara replied before turning to look at him,
"... Will you miss Paris?" she asked gently, watching as he frowned thoughtfully before nodding,
"There will be things I am certain I will miss... The opera house... My organ. My music box that featured a monkey in Persian robes..." Erik listed,
"... Christine?" Clara pressed gently and saw how Erik looked down at the deck floor at the sound of the name... He nodded after a moment,
"Yes... I am sure I will miss her... But only the memory of her voice and the inspiration it provided for my music" he admitted as he looked at her gently,
"... What of you?... Shall you miss Paris?" Erik asked and watched her smile sadly as she nodded,
"It was my home so I shall most certainly will miss it... A part of my heart shall always remain there" she admitted,
"... Nadir discovered that I had been declared dead after the mob's raid of the underground" she continued and Erik looked at her with stunned sadness,
"... I'm so sorry" he told her as he knew this meant she could never return to the only home she had ever known... He took a hesitant step towards her and offered her his hand... Watching as she smiled at it gently before placing her own within his and he gently coaxed her into following him to the center of the ship's deck and he slowly placed his right hand on her waist, making Clara smile brightly as she placed her left on his shoulder and she giggled softly as Erik began leading them in a gentle waltz,
"... I thought you said you felt foolish dancing without music" Clara teased him lightly,
"Yes well, I've discovered that music is never far from me when I look at you" Erik replied and watched her smile up at him gently before resting her head on his chest, listening to the gentle thump of his heartbeat that he tried to keep under control as they continued their silent waltz,
"... What will we do once we reach America?" Clara asked gently after a moment that found Erik resting his unmasked cheek against the crown of her head,
"... I am not entirely sure... I fear that we shall have to head to some unpleasant areas in order to obtain documents of false identification... I fear that my... my mask as well as what hides beneath it will make chances of seeking employment impossible" Erik murmured, looking down when Clara lifted her head to look up at him gently,
"... Maybe we could try and open our own store or something... A bakery or something" Clara suggested and Erik smirked in amusement,
"I'm not much of a baker and Nadir would eat the inventory" he pointed causing Clara to giggle,
"Well I'm certain someone with your level of intelligence could come up with something" she stated but smiled when she saw his thoughtful expression,
"... And apparently already have" she accused, prompting Erik to smile down at her,
"You know me too well... I have found myself considering an idea that... Well it is something I have dreamed of for a while... More of a fantasy than an ambition but... I've found myself thinking of it a lot since we left France as there is actually a possibility that it could become a reality..." he admitted,
"... As much as I despise my very existence... I cannot help but think that there are surely people in this world like myself... Forced to hide from society because of their differences... Outcast and refused the opportunity to actual live their lives and make a living for themselves... As much as I claimed that the Opera Populaire was mine... It never truly was and I have always dreamed of owning my own opera house, theater or concert hall... One in which people like myself could perform, earn a living... Be admired by the public that originally ridiculed them" Erik explained, closing his eyes in bliss when Clara cupped his cheek, watching as he turned his head into her warm touch,
"Erik, That is an amazing idea and I think it's something you should pursue" Clara encouraged him gently but saw him shake his head with uncertainly,
"...There is no guarantee that it would succeed" he pointed out,
"No one would invest in such an idea" he continued and Clara smiled,
"I would... But unfortunately I'm a bit short on money right now... Don't suppose you hid any other diamonds behind my ear that you could use to pursue the idea yourself" she teased lightly and Erik chuckled,
"... I'm pretty sure I hid at least one other diamond upon your person" he told her before reaching behind her ear, conjuring another diamond causing Clara to smile brightly with a delighted giggle as Erik smiled down at her just as brightly with a chuckle,
"Don't tell, Nadir" he teased with a smug wink and Clara smiled, shaking her head in amusement as he pocketed the diamond away safely before proceeding to spin her gently before continuing with their waltz.
It was sometime later after Erik and Clara returned below deck and Nadir watched with a smug smile as Erik removed his cloak, placing it over a now sleeping Clara as a blanket whom had a snoozing Sasha-Too's head resting on her shoulder,
"... I have a wager with myself that you'll be married to her within a year" Nadir teased quietly,
"Shut up, Daroga" Erik grumbled, moving away across the hold where he sat on one of the crates,
"... I owe myself an extra hundred if children follow" he teased further, ducking when Erik threw an apple at his head with a warning glare,
"You are no fun" Nadir grumbled, picking up the apple before taking a big bite and Erik shook his head, looking towards a sleeping Clara whom was lost in a deep peaceful slumber with a gentle smile on her face as dreams of the future filled her mind,
"... Clara hasn't seen my face" Erik murmured after a long moment of silence causing Nadir to look at him surprised with a mouthful of apple that he soon swallowed,
"... Please don't throw another apple at me but... It sounds as if you're actually considering showing her... That you actually want too which is shocking considering the amount of times in Persia I saw you vow that you would rather die than show anyone" Nadir said and Erik sighed, closing his eyes as he sat back against more stacked up cargo crates as he looked at Clara's sleeping form,
"... There was a time when I hoped that another woman would become my wife without ever seeing behind my mask... A foolish thing to think possible" Erik grumbled,
"... But Clara... What I feel for her..." he continued but ended up sighing in defeat, closing his eyes tiredly,
"Have you told her?" Nadir asked,
"Of course not... I won't allow myself to believe the possibility that any woman could ever love me... Especially not Clara... My heart barely survived the unfortunate mistake of a heartbreak that was Christine... I know my heart would not be able to take a heartbreak regarding Clara" Erik stated firmly but Nadir shook his head, unimpressed,
"Erik if you can't see how much that girl cares for you then I am inclined to believe that you're legally blind. I know it may be easier said than done but... Just try... Try and open your heart to her properly. Show her your face and tell her how you feel" Nadir told him and Erik sighed, looking back towards Clara's sleeping form, smiling gently at how Sasha-Too snuggled her furry face into Clara's neck as the former phantom considered Nadir's words... Could Clara truly love him if she saw behind the mask?... Could a future with her actually be possible?
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QueenOfDisney96