Disclaimer: I don't own Phantom of the Opera or Wicked.

Remember: Keep your hand at the level of your eyes, and nothing matters but knowing nothing matters.

Chapter VII – Child's Play

Erik had never felt so liberated in his life. Elphie's control of the broomstick made for quite an exhilarating ride. They had shot almost straight upward when they took leave of Raoul's chateau, and now they drifted lazily through the afternoon sky.

Erik was gazing out toward the sea when it finally hit him, and he nearly beat Elphie senseless.

"Are you mad?" he bellowed.

"Excuse me?" she shifted on the slender handle to look at him.

"What in Garnier's name are you doing, flying up in the sky on this thing! It's mid-afternoon!"

Elphie gasped. "Ohmygosh, I never thought of that. Hang on, we're going up!"

She angled the broom slightly upward and they shot into the clouds.

"What do you mean, you never thought of that?" he roared. "It's broad daylight, and people can see you!"

The wind blew her voice into his ears with deafening clarity. "In Oz, people are accustomed to me zooming around! I'm sorry I forgot for five seconds, everything's okay now!"

"Enough!" he bellowed. "Where are we going?"

"The opera!"

They landed a few minutes later on the roof.

"I don't believe you," he was still muttering. "And I said we shouldn't come back here, or did you miss that part?"

"Of course not," Elphie was shaking cloud moisture from her cloak. "But we have time to decide what to do, come on."

She disappeared inside and he followed.

"How big is this place?" Elphie's voice echoed down to the stage floor.

"Seven floors each above and below stage level."

"How many does it hold?"

"Two thousand."

She took off across the catwalks, and Erik had to admire her fearlessness. He followed, climbing old ropes and flying through the dusty workshop area. Ragged sheets still hung over the banisters like forgotten ghosts, shivering as he passed.

They landed on the stage simultaneously, and a loud stomp echoed into the ceiling. Erik straightened from the catlike crouch, enveloped in his cloak like a shadow.

Suddenly, the door to the center aisle burst open.

"He's here, somewhere!" It was Raoul's voice. "Find him! Alive!"

Elphie darted into the shadows stage right, Erik stage left.

He caught her eye backstage, and they returned swiftly and silently to the roof.

"Well, so much for that plan," Elphie murmured, wandering to stand next to Apollo's Lyre. She looked out over the streets at the Eiffel Tower. "What's in that tower?"

Erik walked over next to her. "It's simply a monument. The icon of Paris." A note of jealousy rumbled in his voice. "It should have been this opera for which Paris is known, but with that piece of metal towering over the rest, it is hardly fit anymore."

Elphie nodded sympathetically. "Well, I suppose it's still an icon to people like dancers or actors, right?"

He made a noncommittal sound in his throat.

"Right," said Elphie assertively. She turned on her heel and went back to the door.

"What are you doing?"

"Going to see what's happening." Without further ado, she closed the door again.

Erik growled and went after her again. The wench thought she owned the place; like she could simply come and go as she pleased? The idea was laughable. He knew the building better than anyone could claim.

He found Elphaba leaning over the railing with an evil grin on her face.

"They think you're down in the cellars, but they're all too afraid to go," she explained as he looked down.

Undeniably, Raoul seemed to be having a hard time getting any men to volunteer.

"He's nothing but a man!" he shouted, and the shadowed pair had to struggle to control their laughter.

"A man, indeed," Elphie snickered, turning away. An idea lit her features and she turned to Erik, but he was gone. Confused, she looked over the edge again and noticed a moving shadow along the wall behind Raoul. However, Erik's voice echoed from the chandelier above.

"I've warned you, Monsieur le Vicomte…"

Raoul spun. "Up there!" he pointed wildly at the pathway around the crystal-and-gold structure.

One man clambered noisily up the steps to the door, but as soon as he set foot on the passage Erik's voice was barely a whisper, from the orchestra pit.

"Do you think this wise, boy? After all, you know my record…"

Raoul lunged into the pit himself. "Erik!" he screamed. "I'll destroy you if it's the last thing I…"

Elphie shook with suppressed mirth as Erik reappeared on her other side.

The Vicomte leapt from the pit, eyes flashing about for any sign of the masked terror. "Box Five!" he cried suddenly. "If he's anywhere in here, it's there!"

Several armed policemen burst into the box, and it was too perfect an opportunity for Erik to miss.

"DID I NOT INSTRUCT THAT BOX FIVE WAS TO BE KEPT EMPTY?"

His voice thundered from the walls themselves, driving the police from the box. Thankfully their screaming drowned out Elphaba's laughter, because she exploded when they all started running.

"Erik, that was amazing," she choked, wiping tears from her eyes. "I've never laughed so much!"

He shrugged. "Merci, but it was simply child's play."

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A/N: Thanks sooo much to everyone who has reviewed, it's a real self-esteem booster. Gives motivation, too. I love references of any kind, and I couldn't think of any from Drac2000, so this one had some Pirates in it. lol enjoy!