They went back down to his lair, she to her violin and he to his piano. For the next couple of hours, they played various pieces together. When they finally broke for a late lunch, Nicole took the time once again to check on Erik's wounds. Erik noted her devotion to his care and well-being, and was secretly grateful for it. It was still a new concept for him to have someone be that interested in his health and well-being.
Once she was done with her medical checkup, she fixed them both another plate full of fruits, cheeses, and the remaining amount of bread from the morning's breakfast.
As she handed him his plate, something odd came over him as he stated, "You must really like taking care of injured animals."
"Injured animals? Whatever do you mean?" she asked with some confusion.
"I've just noted how quick you are to take care of me, so I simply concluded that you have a thing for wounded creatures," he said.
"I've taken care of a few wounded creatures in my time, yes. However, you hardly qualify as a 'creature,'" she said, noting a hint of his signature self-loathing in his voice as he said the word 'creature.' "And I'd appreciate it if you didn't talk in such a manner anymore, either," she said with a touch of annoyance in her voice.
"Don't I qualify, though?" he asked with a smirk, realizing he was pushing her buttons but unable to stop himself.
"No, you don't. Why would you say such a silly thing?" she questioned.
He looked at her and remembered his promise to himself that he was going to start enjoying the time they had together rather than beating himself up over how much he felt he didn't deserve the enjoyment and comfort he got from her company.
"Oh, never mind. Old habit flaring up, I'm afraid. Remember that whole sabotage thing I mentioned earlier?" he asked. "I guess it's a habit I shall have to work on breaking whenever you're around, my dear. I do apologize."
"You mean the habit you have of being confrontational just to be ornery?" she asked lightly.
"Yes, that very one," he said with a soft chuckle.
"Well, as long as we're on the subject of your bad habits," she started with a smile, "I have one you need to work on breaking, if you don't mind the suggestion, that is."
"Do I really want to hear it?" he asked, a hint of irritation just around the corner.
She saw that he was prepared to get annoyed with her if she continued along her current train of thought. She hadn't meant to irritate him, but she felt it had to be said if they were going to continue to spend time together, and she thought it best to take advantage of the fact that he couldn't easily escape at the moment. "Actually, you're going to hear it whether you like it or not," she stated finally.
He raised his eyebrows to her, wondering how she could dare talk to him in such a manner.
Slightly intimidated by the expression on his face, she began to speak again, "It's just that…I've noticed your tendency to…how can I put it? Your tendency to degrade yourself, such as with the "creature" comment, and…"
"And what?" he asked, the definite tone of irritation creeping into his voice now.
She looked down at her feet as she paused before continuing with a strong voice, "And your uncanny ability to start an argument out of nothing at all." She paused again, knowing she was about to upset him, but she felt he needed to hear what she had to say. She gave him a stern looked and said, "And frankly. Erik, I'm tired of it. I don't know what all you've had to endure during your lifetime to cause you to be so bitter and to have such a low opinion of yourself, but your self-pity is driving me mad. If you insist on belittling yourself whilst I'm around, I'm afraid I'll have to leave."
The tone in her voice caused Erik to recoil a bit. When he recovered his composure, he could feel himself getting angry. Who did this girl think she was, telling him he couldn't feel sorry for himself when she was around? He was fully entitled to such feelings of self-pity and self-loathing if he damn well pleased, and he wasn't about to let her tell him otherwise. The anger started to grow in him. His inner voice tried to remind him of the promise he'd made to enjoy every little moment with her, but he quickly silenced that voice and let his agitation rise.
"You wonder why I'm bitter and have such a low opinion of myself? Would you really like to know why?" he asked vehemently.
His anger took her by surprise. He could see that she was on the verge of tears as she quietly said, "Yes, I would."
Erik paused as he thought about the consequences of the action he was about to take. When his old feeling of chasing her away so as to avoid any more pain to either of them resurfaced, he decided his forthcoming action would be worth the pain he thought he could save them both from having to go through. He didn't want her to leave as she was the one bright thing in his life; however, as he felt he could never be loved by a being as beautiful and as pure as Nicole, he figured it was time to put an end to things once and for all. He just knew she'd run, and in the end, Erik figured it would be for the best.
"You really want to know? Okay. I'll show you," he growled. With that, he pulled her close to him and removed his mask and wig. He pointed to his scarred face and yelled, "This is why I call myself a creature instead of a man. This is why people turn and run from me. Do I frighten you? Do I?"
She let out only a small gasp when he removed his mask, but the piercing look in his eyes felt like a dagger in her heart. She tried to shake off the arm holding her, but his grip only tightened. In his anger, Erik had accidentally knocked her off-balance, so her effort to regain her balance in order to avoid falling seemed to him like she was recoiling in fear. He let her arm go, and she fell back anyway. He then stormed off to the far end of the room, head down and tears falling freely. He knew he'd passed the point of no return with her, and it broke his heart.
"Go ahead and go," he said, his back to her. "Leave me…just like everyone else has. I know you want to. The look of horror on your face says it all."
She closed her eyes as she sat there, replaying the whirlwind of events that had just occurred, trying to wrap her mind around the whole situation. Finally, she got up and walked over to Erik and put her right hand gently on his left shoulder. Her touch was so soft and delicate that he turned around even though he didn't want to face her. When he looked down at her, he saw the tears and the pity in her eyes, and it only served to raise his ire again. He closed his eyes and took a deep breath.
"I'm so sorry, Erik. I…didn't know," she began. When he had turned around, her hand had remained on him, though she had allowed it to follow around and down to his forearm. She looked down as her fingers moved over to his chest and softly smoothed out the front of his shirt. When she looked back up at him, her eyes were wet with tears, but he saw something more than pity in her eyes this time. He saw that the affection which had been there previously had returned.
Her look softened him, and he lifted his left hand up and caressed her cheek, wiping away her tears. She closed her eyes at his touch, lips slightly parted as she held her breath. Erik couldn't believe that she stood in front of him, eyes closed, and allowed him, a monster, to caress her cheek and dry her tears. He thought it must be a mistake and waited for her to recoil or for him to wake up from another dream. When she didn't recoil, and he determined this was no dream, his own eyes started to tear up again.
When she opened her eyes, she saw the fresh tears on his cheeks. She took the hand he'd been caressing her cheek with and with a gentle squeeze, led him back to the piano bench where she gestured for him to sit. She pulled a chair up in front of him and sat on the edge of it, leaning close to him. She placed her right hand on his left hand which was resting on his left leg, and caressed the previously covered side of his cheek with her left hand.
Her touch made him close his eyes again and take a deep breath, and a few more tears escaped his eyes and slid down his face. Again, she wiped away his tears. He couldn't believe she wasn't revolted by the feel of his horribly mangled cheek, and at the same time, he was nearly overwhelmed by the wonderful feeling he felt he could get used to if allowed to…the feeling of being truly desired for the first time in his life.