A/N: As always, thanks to my beta, Le Chat Noir.
Episode 57: Resignation
By: Elektra
"What, exactly, was the point of ordering one of your lackeys to shoot your son?" Martine Robichaux asked Shay as she sat on the other side of his desk in the study.
Shay laughed."I did not need to order anything. I simply took control of the body on my own." He sighed wistfully. "I have not done that in awhile. It was fun possessing another for a few enjoyable moments." Shay then frowned. "Until Erik dusted it."
"And what happened to Erik afterwards?"
Shay shrugged. "I do not know. I only shot the boy in the shoulder - or rather, made that THING shoot him - I am sure he survived. Now if you do not mind, Ms. Robichaux, I am rather busy. Please see yourself out of my study."
Martine studied him and frowned. He was sure something was crossing her mind at that moment, but she did not share what. Instead, she stood up and left him to his thoughts.
In truth, the little experiment he had conducted was to make sure his powers were not completely failing him. He had "borrowed" the creature to do his bidding, controlling Its lesser mind to see if he was still capable of such a thing.
His experiment had proved successful.
Though, while Shay still had the power to see into another's mind and, to some extent, control it, he was growing increasingly weak as far as his physical prowess was concerned.
Why? It was enough he seemed to be losing control with the boy - he had chalked that up to the belief that perhaps Erik was growing stronger - but to physically feel as he did was a mystery. There should be no reason for it.
And what if he had tried to control a mind that was a little more complex than an un-dead creature? What if he had tried to control a human mind? Would he even be able to do such a thing anymore? He was starting to wonder now.
There was only one way to find out. He would have to "borrow" a human and see.
But who?
A smile crossed Shay's lips as the answer came to him.
He would "borrow" the one person who could possibly bring his son back to him.
Christine's and Meg's apartment
Erik stood before his suitcase in Christine's room. Feeling a desperate need to shower and change into a fresh pair of clothing, he reached in with his good arm to pull out a shirt and trousers. He headed to the washroom and Christine followed behind with towels and washcloths.
"Here, let me help you ... " she said as she reached up and assisted his arm out of the sling, then grasped the hem of his shirt to raise it up over his head. He winced at the movement, but knew that it would have been worse if he'd had to do it himself.
Christine then reached for the buttons on his trousers and Erik quickly grabbed her wrist. "I believe I can take it from here."
She looked up at him with a pout. "You've never minded before."
Erik leaned down to meet her eyes. "Beloved, those were vastly different circumstances." He pressed a kiss to her forehead. "I am quite capable of showering by myself tonight."
"What if you need help?" she asked worriedly.
"I will leave the door unlocked and call you."
Christine was still hesitant, but soon nodded and headed out to allow him privacy.
Christine and Meg's kitchen - 2am
"Hey there... I thought I heard someone out here..."
Erik glanced up from the tea he was steeping to see Meg coming out of her bedroom. "You have company tonight," he said, nodding towards the lumpy blanket he could see through her doorway.
"Yeah," Meg smiled shyly. "Raoul and I have gotten pretty close." She was silent for a few moments. "Um... I haven't seen you in a while," she continued as she leaned back against the counter a few feet from him. "I... I just wanted to thank you... for saving my life."
"You are welcome." He glanced away. "Christine informed me she told you about the Executioner."
"Yeah... well... she... she figured, after what happened... " She fidgeted nervously.
"You look uncomfortable, Little Giry." He coolly took a sip of his tea. "If you do not want me here, I will leave in the morning. I can understand how my presence would be unsettling."
"Chrissy really wants you here." Meg offered a small smile. "She likes playing nursemaid."
"I do not want you ill at ease in your own home."
She shook her head. "No, it's ok. Really." She smiled. "I mean, if Chrissy is letting Raoul stay here a few nights a week, it's only fair for you too."
He studied her for a moment, unsure. "If you say so." He finished his tea, then washed the mug out quickly. "Good night, Little Giry."
"G'night, Erik," she replied, then pushed away from the counter and headed back into her room.
Erik watched Meg as she closed the door. The sound of Raoul's voice, followed by a lock clicking into place did not go unnoticed by his alert ears.
He did not blame them for it.
With a deep breath, Erik turned around and headed back to Christine's room.
The Next Morning
"I just can't get away from you, can I?" Raoul DeChagny asked as Erik took a seat at the breakfast table.
"I heard you causing Little Giry distress last night after her and I parted ways in the kitchen." Erik commented.
Raoul frowned. "I didn't cause Meggy ANY distress. We were-"
"Truly, DeChagny, I do not wish to be appraised of your personal business with Antoinette's daughter. It disturbs me."
"You're the one who brought it up!" Raoul snapped.
Erik's black cotton mask crinkled as he furrowed his brow beneath it. "Tell me - exactly how did you and Little Giry grow so close so quickly?"
Raoul looked at his bowl of Fruit Loops. "It wasn't quickly. It was building for a while. Once you ... " he tried to find the right word, "... disposed of Adam, it eased the weight on our shoulders and it just... happened." He glanced back at Erik. "I thought you didn't want to know?"
"Details I do not want to know. But I AM curious as to this sudden change in your relationship. What are your intentions towards her?" Erik narrowed his eyes suspiciously. "I DO hope it is more than physical."
Raoul's eyes went wide as he stared at the man across the table. "When did you become her protective older brother?"
Erik scoffed. "I never said I was. But I owe her mother much and I feel it's my duty to protect the girl."
Raoul raised a perfectly plucked eyebrow. "So are you going to drag me into the air ducts and get me to piss my pants?" he asked.
Erik smirked coldly. "Ah, she told you about my chat with her LAST lover."
"She did. And I stand by the fact that you're a creepy bastard." He added more milk to his cereal. "And yes, Erik, it's a lot more than physical. I LIKE Meg. Very much."
"And where is Little Giry now?" Erik asked.
"Still sleeping. She was tired," Raoul answered. "I should ask about Christine."
"Still sleeping... " Erik glanced away, somewhat embarrassed. "She was tired as well."
"Oh please! You've only got one good arm!" Raoul pointed out Erik's sling. Erik remained silent. The handsome blonde man seemed confused, until the realization hit him. "That would mean-" he stopped and shuddered violently and returned to his cereal.
After a few moments, he slowly looked back up at Erik, his voice growing quieter. "Chrissy and me... we... we never got that close. Just so you know. I ... I didn't want you to think-"
"I know," Erik interrupted shortly.
Raoul nodded quickly, "Right, right. Of course. I mean... it... it would've been impossible NOT to." He stopped when he saw Erik's golden eyes narrow into slits, his hand clenching into a fist. "I'm shutting up now."
"Please do," Erik replied icily.
After a few more minutes of awkward silence, however, Raoul spoke again. "So what's going on at the Populaire? I've been told there are some changes to the musicians, dancers, and chorus members."
"For the better, I assure you," Erik answered, glad for the change in topic. "The chorus sounds much clearer, the corps de ballet is in step as they should be, and the orchestra keeps in tune. The theatre has received much positive publicity lately as well, especially in regards to the Populaire's new diva. She has received rather rave reviews."
Raoul nodded. "I wouldn't have expected any less. You've taught her well." He leaned back in his chair and studied the man before him. "I'll give you this much - you seemed to be exactly what Christine - and the Populaire - needed."
Erik glanced at Raoul, surprised by his words, then quickly looked back to his bacon and eggs. He offered a curt nod of thanks to the younger man before finishing the food before him.
A week later
The next week saw the arrival of Madame Giry to the apartment, and a lack of need for Erik's sling, though his shoulder was still quite tender.
"Well? What's this now?" Erik asked as he sat with Giry on the couch.
She handed him a folder. "I told him you didn't want it, but he insisted I give it to you anyway,"
Erik opened the folder and skimmed over the papers. "No," he said. "I will not do it."
Giry nodded. "Might I suggest, then, that you take it to Gus and let him know first hand? He didn't seem to take MY word for it."
"I will do that right now," he answered. He put the folder down and pulled his duster on carefully before heading to the door. "Tell Christine where I am, will you?"
"Of course," Giry replied, and Erik headed out.
Guild HQ
"In case you did not get the memo, I am quitting as the Executioner." Erik said as stormed into the Guild Director's office and threw his special assignment on Gus Leroux's desk.
"Oh? There was a memo?" Leroux asked as he looked up at Erik from his chair.
Erik narrowed his eyes. "Surely Antoinette's mentioned it."
"It's that Catherine, isn't it?" Leroux stated.
"Her name is Christine," Erik answered. "And my hands are stained enough as it is. I will not soak them with fresh blood!"
Leroux sighed as he came around his desk and leaned against it. "All this for some little girl who took pity on you."
"She did not take pity on me!" Erik hissed.
"How do you know?" he asked. "No doubt she saw your face and felt bad for you."
Erik was on Leroux in a flash, hands slamming down on the mahogany desk as he blocked the short portly man in, ignoring the pain shooting through his shoulder.
"You know NOTHING of her!" he hissed. "You are to look for another Executioner effective immediately. I refuse all special assignments from here on in." He pushed away and turned on his heel, heading to the door.
"And what if she leaves you?" Leroux called out as he collected himself once again. "Who are you going to take it out on? Some poor passer-by?"
Erik froze, his back still to Leroux. "She will not leave me."
Leroux sighed. "You think a beautiful twenty-one year old girl would want to spend the rest of her life with a violent monster ten years her senior?"
"She will NOT leave me!" Erik snarled, his fist implanting itself in the wall beside the door.
There was silence for a moment. When Leroux spoke again, his voice was soft. "You're too much like your father. Though I give you credit for not going on a mindless killing spree. Yet."
Erik's eyes shifted to the hole he had made. He slowly slid his hand out and calmly brushed off the drywall. "What do you know of my father?"
"More than you, Erik. Perhaps if you do this assignment," he indicated the folder still on the table. "I'll tell you a bit more about him."
Erik let out a harsh laugh. "I will not be victim to such manipulation."
"Ahh, right. I forgot. You're the one who likes to do the manipulating."
Ignoring the comment, Erik glanced back to Leroux. "Gus, I have officially made my resignation as Executioner. Should you need a Hunter, however, then I will still be available. Goodbye." He turned to the door again.
"Do you honestly think that girl can tame you?" Leroux asked. "Because the hole in my wall says otherwise."
"I will tame myself!"
"That's all very romantic, Erik... but what will happen when SHE is the one to raise your ire? No relationship is perfect, after all. One day, the monster will break free from the man it was pretending to be. Why, you might even hurt her."
Erik stormed towards Leroux, grabbing the man angrily by the collar. "I will NEVER hurt Christine!" he growled, wanting to squeeze until Leroux was well and truly passed out.
... the monster will break free from the man it was pretending to be...
Erik immediately let go, taking a slow deep breath as he collected his thoughts and calmed his temper.
He coolly brushed his hair out of his eyes and spoke again, his voice low. "I may be a monster to you, but things are different with Christine."
Without another word, Erik quickly headed out the door, leaving a wheezing Leroux staring after him.
Christine and Meg's apartment - later
Christine watched Erik from her bed as he quietly entered her room. She glanced over at the clock on her nightstand. He had been gone several hours. She had wondered if he had disappeared once again.
But no. Here he was, whipping off his mask and shirt as if the fabric had personally offended him. He then yanked loose the buckles on his boots and kicked them off angrily.
It didn't take much to realize he was in one of his moods again.
"Erik?" she called softly.
Her breath caught when he turned to her, the low-wattage lamp on the other side of the room doing nothing to hide the dark anger simmering in those golden eyes.
She knew this anger was not aimed at her, however, and pushed off her sheets to hold her arms out to him. "What's wrong?"
Erik said nothing as he stalked towards her, pressing her down onto the mattress before sliding himself atop her and burrowing his face against her neck.
He did nothing more.
Christine slid her arms and legs around him, attempting her best to embrace the man who was twice her size. His breathing was harsh, his hard lean body tight with tension.
"Leroux upset you," she noted as her fingers slid into his hair and gently massaged his scalp. "Madame told me you went and told him you quit as Executioner. What happened?"
"We had words... " he growled against her neck.
"I was worried when you didn't come back."
"I needed to ease my temper."
"It didn't work," she pointed out.
"I did not stay out long enough," he answered tersely, but she could feel the tension in his body slowly easing as she continued the scalp massage.
"No, you stayed out too long," she replied, "You just let it stew and made it worse. NOW you're starting to calm down."
He raised his head and met her eyes. "Do you enjoy contradicting me?"
"Yes. Haven't you figured that out yet?"
He brought his face back to her neck. "I do not like it!" he hissed.
"You'd like it less if I didn't contradict you."
She was right, of course. But he was far too stubborn to admit that.
"At least I am not a monster to you," Erik muttered.
Christine frowned. "Is that what Leroux called you?" Erik didn't answer. "I don't know the man, but from what Madame told me, he seems to be like that. He probably didn't want to look for a new Executioner, so he figured he'd piss you off and get you to change your mind."
She took a deep breath and pressed her cheek against his. "But yeah, you're just Erik to me. And Erik defies description."
Erik raised his head for only a second before his mouth suddenly demanded hers, surprising Christine with the intensity. She couldn't help but release a soft whimper from her throat as his fingers slid beneath her shirt and reminded her how well those graceful hands knew her body.
He quickly broke the kiss, attempting to catch his breath.
"Um... wow... "Christine gasped. "That was... unexpected... "
"I am still rather... tense... from my conversation with the portly bastard." He closed his eyes, "Forgive me. I need to find a better outlet."
Christine grasped his arms before he could slide off her. "No you don't."
"Angel, I cannot expect you to-"
"Yes you can," she insisted.
He frowned. "You are contradicting me again!"
"No I'm not."
"Christine... " he warned.
"Hey... you're the one who started with the wandering hands and the tonsil hockey! I wasn't exactly unaffected by that, you know!"
Erik found himself at a loss for words. He had planned to go outside and Hunt some unlucky creature in an attempt to work off his tension, but-
"It'll be therapeutic," Christine offered. "It helps release endorphins and stuff."
Erik studied the lovely girl beneath him for a moment, then did something he had not done since he sent Grandma Giry into Raoul DeChagny's room that fateful Christmas Eve.
Erik burst out laughing.
"I'm serious!" Christine pouted, but he paid no heed. "Stop laughing! You're creepy when you laugh!"
He shook his head, "It is just... you talk about it so innocently... " Erik quickly sobered when he felt her hands slide over his backside, making it clear she was quite serious - and not so innocent. His voice dropped to a low growl. "Oh, Christine... "
Therapeutic indeed!
Populaire - A week later
Erik took his place in Box 5 as he waited for Christine to take the stage. He had returned to his underground home - no longer an invalid with a weak shoulder - and had since made it a habit of catching as many of Christine's performances as possible, offering tips and suggestions where he thought she could improve.
Though he missed being at her side every night - spending only a few precious evenings together when she was not expected at the Populaire the next morning - it would have to be the way of things until his surprise was ready. A few more months now, he had been told. And he fully expected the construction crew to stick to that timetable. If not, a disaster beyond their imaginations would occur.
The overture began and Erik immediately focused his attention to the stage. Once again, he was pleased to see Christine give a rave-worthy performance - though was that a noticeable breath she took between notes? He would have to work on that with her. The audience should never hear the diva breathing heavily.
His thoughts were interrupted as the lights in the theatre began to flicker. Faintly at first, then more deliberately still, until finally the entire building was plunged into darkness.
A scream was heard through the sound system, and Erik knew Christine was in trouble. He raced out of Box 5 and ran to the stage - no doubt he was the only one who could actually see where he was going at the moment.
When the lights came back up, the audience was stunned into silence as the entire cast was laid out unconscious.
But something was missing among the unmoving figures. Something was wrong.
The Populaire's newest diva was nowhere to be found.
END OF EPISODE 57