Disclaimer: I DO NOT OWN PHANTOM OF THE OPERA. Simple as that.
Chap.5
Erik was once again careful going over the debris and stuff, but this time he didn't have Christine in his arms. Now she was behind him, letting him lead her by the hand. "This place was so beautiful." Christine said looking around. Erik turned his head to look at her and gave her a glare. She returned a "sorry." Look. He nodded and turned back. "It looks so different." Christine continued. Erik sighed. "My dear, are you trying to make me feel like this is my entire fault!" Erik asked her. "No, Im just thinking aloud." She explained. "Well think not aloud, I know what I did was wrong, no need to remind me of that horrible chandelier accident." Erik said as he kept walking. "I am truly sorry Erik." He turned his head and smiled at her. "I know, Christine, I know." They finally got to the Opera Populaire Entrance. Or what was left of it anyway. Erik gently sighed and tightened his grip on Christine's hand signaling that he was nervous about going out into the open. She gave his hand a comforting squeeze telling him that it was all right. He nodded slightly and led Christine along.
"Where are we going Erik?" Christine asked. They were walking along the streets of Paris hand in hand. Erik looked around, and saw people staring at him. He just wanted to shout at them, tell them to leave him and Christine alone. That was the old him, the Phantom of The Opera, Now he was just plain Erik. Erik DeLuca. (A/n. I don't know! I couldn't think of a last name for him and then when I was riding in the car I saw a sign that said Deluca's park or something so that's what I'm going with. So leave me alone!) He glared at the bystanders who were staring at him. They didn't seem to see, for if they did they would surely turn away. "Erik?" He heard his name being called. He turned to Christine and saw that she had an annoyed/confused look on her face. "Im sorry, were you saying something, my love." Christine huphed "yes, as a matter of fact. I was asking you were we are going." "oh, well we are going to a small little restaurant." Christine rubbed his hand gently with her thumb. "that's very brave of you." He Gave her a 'ha ha very funny' look. She returned a sly smile. "I have nothing to fear, if you are with me." He turned his head and looked down at her. "for I know you will stand up for me, just like earlier today in court and you will stop me from attacking whomever gets me angry. Because you know, I still do have some of the Phantom still in me, somewhere." She felt him tense up and turned her eyes to behind him. People were staring at him and he sensed it, living down in a basement for most of your life could raise your senses a bit. But just a bit. She smiled gently at them and told them with her eyes to please stop staring. They didn't get it. "come on, let's get out of here. I can feel you are uncomfortable." He leaned closer to her and she felt his warm breath against her ear. "Thank you, my dear." His voice was so quiet and love filled, it just sent shivers up and down her body. Erik sensed this and grinned to himself.
They finally got to the Restaurant. They still got looks from people, but they just ignored. Well Christine did, Erik had to try hard to keep himself from pouncing at the pedestrians and telling them to leave them alone and stop staring. Christine also helped him to not attack the bystanders, by quietly whispering things. The restaurant was entitled, La Bastille .They looked at each other, nodded and Erik opened the door. They walked in, and only a few people turned their heads to see who came in, and soon they returned to their business. Erik was impressed, he expected everybody to turn and gawk and stare and some people even to say "It's the Phantom of the Opera!"
A waiter came up to them. "Bonjour. Monsieur, Madame," Christine felt herself blush. This man thought that she was married to Erik. Well actually to tell the truth she kind of did want to marry him. They let it slide. This time. "follow me please." The waiter said, They followed him to a table, it was a little table. It had a nice Red colored table cloth and red leather seats. (the Phantom…oh excuse me Erik, likes Red. What can I tell ya!) And would you believe what was sitting on the corner of the table. A vase of Red Roses. Christine thought that Erik had this planned and told the restaurant to prepare it, but then she saw the shocked look on his face. Well in his eyes because the mask was covering nearly half his face. Erik decided to be a gentleman and pulled out Christine's chair. Christine gave him a surprised look. He raised his eye brows and shrugged, he motioned for Christine to sit down. She did then he took his seat across from her. "Great now that you are all settled in, Your Waiter will be with you shortly." He paused, looked at Erik, slightly raised his eye-brow and left. Then some man on the table behind the wall they were against peered over the wall, and said to Erik. "Monsieur, Where is the Masquarde." Erik's eyes flamed and shifted in his seat. Christine placed her hand on top of his which calmed him down. The man sat back down and they could hear him laughing. "I fear that is not the only insult I will get this evening." Erik said, annoyed by what just happened. "why don't you just take off that silly mask, show the world that the Phantom of The Opera is not afraid to be seen." Erik's eyes widened, 'she said that a little too loud.' He thought. "Christine." He said in a harsh whisper. "I am not the Phantom of the Opera anymore. I am Erik now, alright." He looked around to see if anyone heard that, no one seemed to be frantic or scared. He relaxed. "What was that about the Phantom of The Opera." It was the man again. "my wife there during Don Juan. She said that she saw the Phantom Of the Opera. With out his mask on! She said that the star, her name doesn't come to me right now, took it off right in front of everybody!" Erik gave Christine a petrified look and Christine returned it. "Um, good monsieur I was just saying that I saw the Phantom too." Now the man seemed interested. "Oh really! Well maybe you and my wife could talk about it. She said it was a very scary sight." Erik gave Christine an I-told-you-so look. "did you think it was, Madame?" There it was again, Madame. "oh, no. I've seen things much scarier than that."
Erik smiled, she was standing up for him again. "Well, my wife is in the restrooms. I will tell her that you saw him too! I can't believe it, I've heard so many stories of the Phantom OF the Opera. The Opera Ghost! And I always wanted to see him, Oh God I wish I could see him." He's right in front of you monsieur. "don't you, monsieur?" He was talking to Erik now. "Well I've seen him before. Yeah you could definatly say I've seen him." The man sighed. "Consider your selves lucky! Although it would be pretty creepy to see the phantom of the Opera. I sure feel bad for Miss Christine Daae, that was it! Miss Daae! She was the one who revealed his true self." This amused Erik to some great extent. That this man, could not see-even if he wasn't there-that the Phantom was sitting right in near him and Christine Daae was also sitting right near him. He couldn't keep it inside him anymore. He started to laugh. Christine and the man stared at him. Christine was shocked, that was the firs time she heard him laugh. "Monsieur what, may I ask, is so funny!" Erik continued to laugh, which got people to stare at him. "Monsieur, monsieur, monsieur! Goodness gracious monsieur!" Erik said after he calmed down. "Are you blind!" He asked getting more serious. "no, my eyesight is pretty good." Erik stood up. "then why couldn't you see who we are!" he started to raise his voice. "Erik." Christine whispered. "why couldn't you see that this…" he pointed to Christine. "…is.. Suddenly they heard a gasp. "It's Christine Daae!" A woman was standing there with her hand over her mouth, Erik turned and she gasped again. "it's the Phantom!" She shrieked. "How did I know this was going to happen." Erik said, he grabbed christine's hand and screamed. "RUN!" Erik pulled her up with such force that the chair knocked over. All the people were staring at them but no one appeared to be frantic or screaming. They just seemed to stare at him and so did Christine. "Erik! What are you doing!" Christine asked. "They know who we are!" Erik exclaimed. "no the don't!" Erik stopped. "what?" He asked confused. "they don't know who we are." Erik looked over to the man who was looking at him confused and he didn't see any woman around. "But I heard…I heard a woman say…" Christine shook her head and placed her hand on his face, well on his mask. "darling it must have been in your head." Erik looked at her then again at the man, who was looking at him like he was crazy. "umm…Sorry for the disturbance." Erik went back over to table followed by Christine. As soon as he sat down, his head hit the table with a bang. "Erik!" Christine screamed. He turned his head to one side. "What?" He asked harshly. "I just made a big imbecile out of myself! What do you want with me now?" He asked sternly picking his head up. "Nothing I thought you fainted that's all." Erik huphed. "Oh is that all. You know at least if I fainted I wouldn't have to g through embarrassment! You know what! This is what caused me to..." Christine knew what he was about to say so she covered his mouth with her hand. "Don't…say it." Erik's eyes flamed once again. (There goes his temper) He ripped Christine's hand off his mouth. "Embarrassment that is what caused me, to make the chandelier fall! That is what caused me to take you down to my lair! That's right ladies and Gentlemen I am the Phantom of The Opera!" ( and this time, it wasn't in his head!)
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