Author's Beginning Notes: This fanfic is inspired by the revelation that little Christine is probably as cute as little Erik... I hope you enjoy the story, and please leave a review; feedback is always appreciated.
Summary: (A series of one-shots set in the pre-movie dimension.) Simply snapshots in the lives of Erik and Christine in the beginning, when he was still an invisible deity, and she a rather superstitious child...
Disclaimer: The Phantom of the Opera doesn't belong to me; if it did, Christine would've gone with Erik...
In Which Erik is Embarassed, and Christine is Confused
"You're late, Christine." It was impossible for the Phantom to bottle up his smirk, especially when the young 7-year-old girl couldn't see him, whose pale cheeks deepened in a shaded blush, a nervous smile creeping on her lips.
"I'm sorry Angel, Meg and I played a little longer after dinner," she replied softly as she rubbed her neck in a gesture of embarassment.
"It's alright," the man put in kindly from behind the mirror, a little surprised at his gentleness, although by now he should've gotten used to it; ever since meeting the small Daae about a month ago and arranging these music lessons, Erik had found himself softening, much to his annoyance, but he found himself unable--or unwilling--to stop. "Just don't play too long with her before your lessons."
Her chocolate curls bouncing up and down as she nodded her head. Christine padded toward her bed, excitedly telling the Phantom how she had been practicing just like he told her to.
"Very good child. Con--wait, what are you doing," the man questioned in alarm as he straightened up from his relaxed leaning against the mirror, hoping that what he was mistaken.
"I'm just changing into my pajamas Angel," answered the girl innocently as she slightly giggled at her teacher's tone, for she had not failed to notice the alarm within it, and of course found it so absurd that it bordered on the comical; she just hoped he would not take offense. He... Christine dared not share with her Angel that she had long presumed him to be female; the girl had always pictured the Angel of Music her father spoke so highly of as the most beautiful woman to ever grace the heavens, surpassing the Virgin Mary herself. Oddly enough, her Angel's existence did not shock young Daae as much as the discovery that 'she' was in fact a 'he.'
"Don't." Erik dearly wished for roughly the hundredth time that he could kick himself; he could not let embarassment make his grasp of authority slip, especially in the presence of his student. But here he was, quietly muttering his command, easily undermining its power so that it really was no longer an order, more like a plea, and all the while a blush was creeping on his cheeks as well, sweat actually beginning to trickle down a little. This was utterly pathetic, the man thought, for he was well aware that the act of watching a little girl undress paled considerably when compared to watching a physically mature woman undress...not that it made it right, not at all, but...damn it, he shouldn't feel this much intensity in his reaction, only mild embarassment was called for!
"Huh?" Christine paused in her task, not only instinctively obeying her teacher, but also out of confusion toward his voice; his voice was not much louder than a whisper, so the girl was uncertain on whether or not she had heard him correctly, and just the very fact that the he had never talked or even sung in this quiet volume was decidely strange. He sounded actually timid, almost...almost human, no longer a distant diety. To her muted surprise, Christine found this observation more comforting than disturbing.
"Please, allow me to leave for the moment Christine, so that you may dress in privacy...I will return in 10 minutes time," and with that, the Phantom swiftly retreated down the hall a little ways off, stopping particularly close to a candle and unconsciously beginning to rock back and forth on the heels of his feet in clinging embarassment. The man rationalized; this had been the first time Christine had ever started to change her garments in his presence, and the thought of the child thinking nothing of changing in front of her Angle had not occured to him in the slightest; now that Erik was aware, he would not make the same error twice.
"...Huh?" For the first time, young Daae realized that her teacher was rather weird...
Author's Ending Notes: I hope you enjoyed that first story, and please remember to leave a review; feedback is always appreciated.