"Do I really have to be blindfolded?" Nadir asked.

Erik glared down at him at the boat. How many times was he going to ask that same question?

"Erik trusts no one," he replied ominously, and Nadir sighed.

He had been blindfolded over an hour ago, at Erik's insistence. It was, ironically, also at Erik's insistence that he was even going to the house on the underground lake - Erik had refused to transport his piles and piles of architectural drawings up to where Nadir could look at them in the light like a normal person, instead insisting that there were far too many and he would simply have to come down to see them and help him pick the best ones.

His sense of direction while blindfolded was not the best, but he was nearly certain that at one point Erik had made him walk in circles around an empty room for several minutes. He'd like to think it had been because Erik wanted to make sure he was disoriented enough before he took him underground, an action undertaken because Erik wanted to keep himself safe, but he had a feeling it was far more likely that Erik had made him do it because he found it amusing.

Still, he supposed it might all be worth it in the end. They had been talking for a few weeks now about Erik's interest to returning to normal, regular work in architecture, and finally Erik had asked for help with narrowing down which designs would be best for a portfolio to send to prospective clients, and Nadir had agreed immediately. It wasn't often that Erik asked for help.

The gentle sounds of the pole in the water came to a stop.

"Stand," Erik said simply.

Nadir stood up.

"There's a step up in front of you."

Nadir reached his hands out to feel for the supposed step. He scrabbled up as best he could, feeling Erik step past him and up onto the dock. Once he was standing, Nadir wobbled a bit. Why couldn't he take that blasted blindfold off yet?

Erik's eye widened as he saw the Daroga was on the verge of unknowingly tumbling off the edge of the dock and into the water. He reached a hand out, steadying him, and then regretted it as soon as he saw the little smile curving at the edge of the Daroga's lips. Once they were safely away from the water, he gave the man a less-than-gentle shove that sent him forward a few steps much faster, just for good measure. He didn't want the Daroga to think he cared about him, or some nonsense like that. It would never do.

Once past the threshold of his house, Erik reached up and theatrically pulled the blindfold off at the same time he switched the lights on. Nadir blinked painfully - he had been expecting to take the blindfold off himself, and he had not been expecting electric lights so close to his face when he did.

Erik was nothing if not dramatic.

Once his eyes adjusted he took a better look at the entryway. He knew they were underground quite far, but the house looked just a like a normal house. It made sense, he supposed - Erik craved normalcy. Still, he had been expecting something along the lines of a dark little crevice lit only by several dozen dripping candles and surrounded by stone gargoyles. The house was... charming.

"Well don't just stand there gawking," Erik frowned. "Come this way."

Erik removed his cape with a flourish, hanging it from a hook on the wall (why he had even worn a cape was beyond Nadir, no one had seen him besides himself, and he had been blindfolded nearly the entire time - he knew for a fact that cold didn't bother Erik in the least).

Nadir followed him into the workroom, where dozens - of not hundreds - of blueprints were scattered about in piles.

"I've sorted them," Erik said, picking up one from a pile. "The good, the very good, and the excellent."

Nadir pressed his lips together, studying one of the designs.

"Let's stick with the good and very good, I should think," he said. "I'm afraid the excellent might draw too much attention."

The Shah believed Erik dead, but it wouldn't do if word should begin to travel about an excellent architect who wore a mask.

"Hm. I shall try to not come up with anything too amazing, but it will be a challenge," he straightened out his lapels. "It's hard to contain this much genius."

Nadir let the remark pass without comment.

"I like this one," he held one up. "It's unusual, but not too bizarre."

Erik nodded, taking it and putting it into a pile.

"What about this one?" Erik placed one in front of Nadir.

He looked closely before putting his finger over the details for the lattice on the eaves.

"You did this same lattice on the Shah's palace," he shook his head.

Erik sighed.

"It was a good design," he whined.

"You can't use it again, Erik. It's too risky."

Erik grumbled but put the design away.

"Have you figured out what you're going to tell them about your, er-"

"A masonry accident," Erik cut him off. "Some falling stonework and I was unfortunately in the wrong place at the wrong time. I'll explain it briefly in a letter and they'll have time to adjust to the idea. They won't even ask about the mask when they see me."

Nadir nodded thoughtfully.

"I think that just might work."

Erik pressed his lips together. The fact of the matter was that it had already worked, but there was no way he could say that without also revealing that he had had something built. What, exactly, had been built was absolutely none of the Daroga's business - a shameful secret that was Erik's and Erik's alone. Well, it wouldn't stay a secret forever, he supposed. But it wouldn't matter to him when word did finally get out, he would be much past caring what anyone thought or said at that point.

"Ah," he said suddenly, his mind pulled from thoughts of writing wills and what all he would leave for Christine besides the house he was having built for her. "I have more in a trunk."

"More?" Nadir's brow knit. "Are you serious?"

He knew he shouldn't have been surprised - it wasn't like Erik had much of anything else to do with his time. But still - he was already surrounded with designs. How could there possibly be more?

Erik was trying to get at a trunk that was underneath of a great pile of things - crates with who knows what in them, a broken bronze statue, another trunk. He pulled them all away quickly, making a small noise of effort as he tried to lift the top trunk, only to suddenly drop it on the ground.

Nadir was startled by the noise of it falling at first, but he was deeply concerned by happened after - Erik raised a trembling hand placed it over his heart, a look of frightened dread passing over his face as he did so. It seemed he struggled for a moment to take a deep breath.

"Erik," Nadir asked uneasily. "Are you okay?"

"I'm fine," he snapped, but the look on his face said otherwise.

He shoved the fallen trunk away with his foot and stooped to retrieve the papers that were in the other. By the time he came back to the table Nadir was at, he looked as though nothing had happened at all.

He showed him the recently retrieved designs, and there were two that Nadir though would be excellent to include. They were debating the merits of a third from the trunk when high, feminine voice made them both freeze.

"Erik?" she called out.

Nadir turned to Erik, baffled.

"Erik, are you here?"

Erik was still as a statue, his shoulders stiff and his lips a thin line.

"Your boat is out front, I thought for certain you were here - if you don't say anything I'm just going to come in and drink all your tea," she teased.

"We are in the workroom," he finally managed with a sour look on his face directed at the Daroga.

Out in the hallway Christine wrinkled her nose and laughed to herself. 'We'? He was always so funny, talking in the third person at times. She shook her head as she neared the workroom. 'We' indeed - who could ever possibly be here except for him and herself-

She stopped short in the doorway.

There was someone else in Erik's house.

"Oh!" she was suddenly quite embarrassed.

Nadir took in the image of the young soprano standing in the doorway, of how she glanced between him and Erik, seeking understanding from her tutor, fiddling with a large gold key on a chain around her neck.

He narrowed his eyes and shifted that glare to Erik, who was leaning both hands on the table for support. He returned the Daroga's stare sheepishly. He looked like a fox a that had been caught in a henhouse, a child discovered by his parents with his hand in the cookie jar.

"Ah," Nadir said. "Am I interrupting a singing lesson, perhaps?"

Christine tittered nervously.

"Oh, no, we don't have a lesson today," she turned the key around in her little hand. "It seems it's me who's interrupting, I'm afraid..."

"Christine," Erik spoke up suddenly. "Why don't you go in the kitchen for a moment and get yourself some tea and a snack, dear?"

She nodded and quickly headed for the kitchen.

"'Erik trusts no one', hmm?" Nadir asked sardonically. "'Dear'? Looked to me like you gave her a key to your house, didn't you?"

Erik's grip on the table tightened.

"Erik," he admonished. "What's she doing here, if not for a lesson?"

"She's here for some tea, Daroga, I thought we both made that quite clear. Do try to keep up," he swallowed dryly.

"Erik," he shook his head at him. "Why is Christine Daaé coming to spend time in your house with you? How long has this been going on?"

Erik fidgeted nervously.

"She's a poor little orphan, Daroga, it's nothing like what you're thinking. She has no one, so she comes here sometimes because enjoys it. Hasn't the child had a hard enough life? Who are we to deny her whatever scrap of happiness she can glean from this cold world?"

"Child- what- Erik, she's a grown woman!" Nadir sputtered. "And did you really think framing this as having a young orphan coming to your house all her own was really any better?"

Erik paused. Nadir had a point. He frowned.

"We are just friends, Daroga, and that is the truth."

"Friends? Friends? Are you so sure about that?"

Erik shifted uncomfortably. He knew that friendships between a man and woman were few and far between - practically unheard of. But she seemed to have no problem with it, trusting him far more than even he thought was wise, and he had never cared much for societal conventions, so what was the real harm in it?

He knew what the Daroga was thinking, but it still didn't adequately prepare him for his next questions.

"Friends," Erik insisted petulantly. "I am capable of having a friend, you know."

Nadir sighed heavily, rubbing his temples.

"How long?"

"A few years now," he wouldn't meet his eye.

Nadir groaned.

"You do know she's courting the Vicomte, don't you?"

Erik looked taken aback.

"She told me she wasn't."

"Oh, Erik - you haven't- please tell me you haven't done anything to compromise her virtue."

Erik felt he was going melt into a puddle of shame. He wanted nothing more than to simply disappear so he wouldn't have to answer or even think about that question.

"No!" he choked. "Her virtue had not been compromised, I assure you! And that's none of your business anyway!"

"Keeping you from making mistakes and ruining people is my business," he hissed back. "She has a serious chance with the Vicomte, but she's not going to have any chance with anyone if they find out that you couldn't keep your hands to yourself!"

Erik was nearly hyperventilating, his hands shaking as he tried the rearrange papers on the table. His eyes darted here and there but couldn't seem to focus on much of anything.

"But she told me she wasn't courting the Vicomte," he said pathetically.

"Oh? What's the matter, Erik? Don't you want to see your friend happily married to a rich man?"

Erik glared at him, confirming Nadir's suspicions about his true feelings toward her.

Christine was walking down the hall with a very small plate that contained an even smaller pastry. She smiled at it, thinking of the care Erik must have gone to while cooking such a delicate item. She was mentally rehearsing small talk as she approached the workroom. Walking through the doorway, she smiled politely at both men, only vaguely taking in that they both looked like they were in the middle of an argument.

"It's been quite lovely weather we've been having, isn't-"

Erik wheeled around and cut her off.

"Are you courting the Vicomte?" he demanded.

Her words died on her tongue, and her arms went slack. The pastry slid off the plate and fell on the floor. Her face turned bright red.

"Is this what you talk about when I'm not in the room?" she glanced between the two of them, hurt written across her features, before staring at Erik. "You've already asked me that before, and I already told you. I wouldn't lie to you."

He could see the tears forming in the corner of her eyes, partly from embarrassment, partly from hurt that he didn't believe her.

Erik turned to Nadir and pointed a finger at Christine.

"Look what you've done to her, Daroga," he accused.

Nadir's eyebrows flew up.

Erik left the table and hurried to Christine's side. He placed a comforting hand on her shoulder.

"I'm sorry, sweet," he murmured quietly. "I truly am. Now, let's go to the kitchen and get you another pastry, okay?"

Nadir watched the scene unfolding with disbelieving eyes. Erik seemed almost... tender. Did he- did he just- did he call her 'sweet'?

He led her out the door, shooting one last dirty look back at the Daroga.

"You gave us both quite a surprise," he chuckled as they walked to the kitchen. "I wasn't expecting you today."

"I'm sorry," she said sheepishly. "I didn't know you had company today."

"Hmm. You're far more preferable company than the Daroga, believe me," he patted her back softly and she giggled. "But he's helping me put together a portfolio for architectural work."

"Oh, Erik!" she turned to him, eyes shining. "Are you really going to work in architecture again?"

"It would appear that way," he gave a little shrug.

"Oh, I'm so happy!"

She had mentioned on several occasions that he might benefit from returning to real work, and she was beyond pleased that he had finally agreed.

"Were you not going to ask me to help you with your portfolio?" she pretended to pout.

"My dear," he smiled. "You seem to like every single design of mine. I can't very well send thousands of drawings to prospective employers."

"Mm. Fair enough," she conceded, and then looked annoyed. "But- why did you ask about Raoul again?"

Erik hesitated. He couldn't very well tell her the entire context of the conversation - the Daroga was worried that the boy wouldn't want to marry you if he thought that you had let a monster take your virginity, my dear - that would only embarrass them both terribly.

"The Daroga was merely surprised to see you here," he said carefully. "Because he thought you were courting the Vicomte."

She frowned.

"Oh dear," she sighed.

She truly wasn't courting Raoul, and she wasn't courting Erik either. She was aware it was an odd arrangement, but it seemingly worked for the time being. Still, it must look very strange - very unsavory - to anyone on the outside.

"I would tell you if anything were to change between me and him," she told him gently. "You know that I would."

She reached out and grabbed his hand, giving it a squeeze. He nodded, unable to meet her eye. His confession from earlier in the year still hung heavy between them, and although he had never uttered another word on the subject, neither of them had forgotten. It was now unfortunately a truth that the man in the other room had realized as well, had guessed at long ago, in fact - part of why he had been so worried to see Christine with a key to Erik's house.

He was in love with her, and all three of them knew it.

They returned to the workroom together, Nadir glancing sidelong at them as they entered.

"I hear you're helping Erik with his portfolio," her tone was awkward, caught between the politeness she would show him if they had met up above and the familiarity of what their situation actually was.

"It's quite a task," Nadir nodded, also unsure of how to proceed.

"May I help as well? Or at least watch?"

"Of course, Christine," Erik held out an arm and she walked up to the table to stand next to him as he pulled her close.

She nibbled on her tiny pastry and watched with wide eyes as they went through stacks of designs and discussed the merits of each one. She was a little rueful about the fact that Erik had been right - she would have been very little real help in the matter as she truly did adore each design. How could she pick which was best when she loved them all? Still, she offered her own thoughts here and there when it seemed appropriate.

Nadir watched in wonder at how the two interacted. Whatever else was going on between them, they certainly were friends. She seemed far more comfortable around Erik than he ever thought a woman might feel around him, how she'd reach out and tug on his sleeve to get his attention or let their hands brush without even flinching, how close she stood to him with her shoulder practically touching his side. They really did seem to have a rapport that could only be the result of long periods of time spent together.

As for Erik - Nadir could scarcely believe this was the same man he'd known all those years ago in Persia. He always knew that Erik had the potential to be a gentleman, to be kind - but to see it in action was still surprising. Christine seemed to be the one who could draw out that potential in him. Through the remainder of the afternoon he saw firsthand how patient and kind Erik was to her, how gently he treated her and how he listened to what she had to say and took it into consideration. Nadir couldn't help but smile at times to see his old friend like this with her. At first he had been horrified by the entire idea, but as time went on he began to realize that perhaps this strange relationship might be a good thing after all.

He had known, of course, that Erik had softened over the years - he was a little less snappish, a little less mean, and when they met (which had been far more often in recent years, ever since he had invited him to that odd dinner in Box Five and explained that he wanted to be normal, or at least try to be normal, they hade been meeting twice a month ever since) he actually asked after the Daroga's health and hobbies and seemed to marginally care about the answer. He had had no idea, however, that Erik had been doing anything other then teaching voice lessons with Christine - he certainly never would have guessed that she had been visiting his house on a regular basis for years. This had been the first time he had even been to his house, and he had to be blindfolded before he could even leave Box Five! And yet here was Christine, key in hand, walking in like she lived there. But still, if she had some part in bringing about the change in Erik, he supposed it wasn't all terrible.

He could still remember how weepy the two had been after Erik had revealed how he'd tricked her. Seeing them like this now was quite a surprise. He was glad, in a way, (although he still questioned the wisdom of it) that the two were friends - it was good for Erik to have someone to be around, someone he strove to be better for, and he was glad that Christine, from what he could tell, actually seemed to care for him and wasn't frightened or just there out of pity. And what he had said earlier was true - she was a grown woman, fully capable of making her own decisions. He might not agree with the decision, but apparently she had seen fit to pay visits to Erik in his home, and it certainly wasn't his place to tell her otherwise.

They eventually all took a break after a while - Erik really did have a lot of designs to sort through - and they retired to the sitting room where they all had some tea. Nadir noticed the floral arrangement on the little table near the couch, and nodded appreciatively at the mix of fresh peonies and carnations.

"These look wonderful, Erik," he said.

Erik stared at the flowers a moment before glancing at Christine, who was giving him a mischievous smile behind her teacup. Nadir did not - and hopefully never would - know that Christine had been the one to buy them and put them there just a day ago. They talked for a while, their conversation quickly turning from stilted small talk to a discussion of recent events in the newspaper, and Nadir was quickly realizing what Erik liked about Christine. She was a deep thinker, and wasn't afraid to posit her positions and opinions despite the way many young women were taught to hold their tongues around older and more experienced men when discussing current affairs and political matters. She seemed well-read, and smart, and she kept up with the world around her.

There were moments when Nadir could have sworn he was looking at a married couple before him - the way he teased her and how she teased him right back, how at home she seemed in the sitting room as if it were her own house as well, the obvious affection they each held for the other. It nearly brought a tear to Nadir's eye that Erik was finally able to have such a relationship.

They returned to the workroom to make the final choices, and finally there was no longer a reason for Nadir to be in Erik's house, and Erik was anxious to see him out. He regretted that he could have had an entire day with Christine if it were not for the nosy old Daroga - never mind that he was the one who invited him in the first place. Still, he supposed it had not turned out so bad, even if he would have preferred the man never know about Christine's visits.

It was as she was readying to leave that she approached Erik about something.

"Erik, do you remember what happened to my locket? The one with the picture of Mamma inside? I thought for sure I had left it-"

in my bedroom

Erik's eyes went wide and he shook his head discreetly but vehemently. He remembered what had happened to it, of course - she had left it in her bedroom on the dresser and he had moved it to her shelf on the wall when he was cleaning her room. She stopped mid-sentence and glanced over at Nadir, who was pretending not to listen.

"-i-in the kitchen, w-when I was cooking, remember?"

"I do," he said gravely. "I still have it, in safe keeping."

She breathed a sigh of relief, over both that he still had it and it hadn't fallen somewhere where she couldn't get it again, and that the fact that she slept here at night - and changed her clothes, and bathed - was still a secret from Nadir. He didn't need to know that. Erik was also relieved over this - he might believe Erik when he said that nothing had happened between them, but learning the fact that she practically lived here with him would surely sway his mind.

He felt a little pang of guilt - she did live with him, essentially. Would a suitor turn her down if he learned of that? Even if it was an innocent arrangement? He pushed the thought away and reminded himself that it was Christine's own choice to do so, and that she could stop at any time if she wished. Besides, she shunned most suitors anyway - as far as he could tell, the boy was the only one who actually stood a chance with her, and he was too in love with her to care if she had occasionally stayed in a room adjacent to hallway adjacent to another man's room.

"Is it still- in the kitchen?" she asked.

"It is. On the shelf. With the... The things. You know the shelf I'm talking about..."

"Oh! Oh, I see, yes," she excused herself. "I'll just go get it before we go."

Erik hesitated, waiting until she was safely out of view and earshot before he placed a hand on Nadir's arm.

"Please, Nadir," he nearly begged. "Please don't tell anyone that Christine has been coming here. There really hasn't been anything that's happened between us, but- but I know other people won't be able to understand that. Please. She's a good girl, and her reputation shouldn't have to be ruined because of me."

Nadir's face softened at his friend's pleading.

"I won't tell anyone, Erik. I promise," he assured him. "No one will have to know."

Erik nodded.

"Good."

"You know," Nadir continued. "I was wrong earlier, I think. It was good to see her here, with you."

He paused, studying Erik's face and the concern still written across it, concern for Christine and what others might think of her and how she might be affected by his actions.

"You love her," Nadir smiled softly.

Erik looked down, shamefaced.

"It doesn't matter how I feel about her. She doesn't love me."

Nadir was about to protest - how could what he had seen today not be love? - but stopped.

"If it's not love," he said carefully. "Then surely you must know that she enjoys you a great deal."

"It doesn't matter," he shook his head. "They might not be courting yet, but she'll marry the Vicomte. I am not foolish enough to think otherwise."

Nadir sighed sadly. He didn't know what to say, mostly because he was afraid Erik was right. How could Christine pick him over the young man with good looks and money and charm?

Erik's lips tugged into a sad semblance of a smile.

"Besides," he said. "They would make the most lovely couple, would they not?"

Nadir's heart sank. Imagine what Erik's life could have been if he were not so ugly - he would probably already be married to Christine by now. What a tragedy, and all because of his face. He felt choked up about it, and clapped a hand on Erik's shoulder. His friend was so brave, so stoic about such heartbreak he was facing. He would have expected a younger Erik to fume and rage and demand she love him, but this - facing the inevitable with calm resignation and acceptance? How noble! How self-sacrificing!

"I'm proud to call you my friend," Nadir said, his voice thick with emotion.

Erik's face fell flat, and it seemed he decided that he had shown enough of his soul for one day. He brushed Nadir's hand off of his shoulders and stalked away from him.

"Who the devil would want to be called your friend," he muttered disdainfully.

Nadir wiped a tear away from his eye as he smiled. Erik was prickly, but he knew what lay beneath all of his snark and rudeness.

Erik paused before asking, "But we are still on for chess next week, yes?"

"Of course, Erik, of course," he laughed.

Erik nodded.

Christine was coming down the hallway.

"Did you find it, my dear?"

"I did!" she pressed her hand against the locket she now wore around her neck.

"Are you ready, then?" he asked her, placing his hands behind his back.

She nodded and gave a smile that he returned while Nadir stayed in the background - oh, the tenderness of the moment between those two! How she trusted him! How much he cared for her!

Erik turned suddenly to Nadir, as though he suddenly remembered he was there. In that same gentle tone had taken with Christine, he addressed the Daroga.

"Are you ready for your blindfold?"

Nadir's mouth fell open.

"Again?"

"Yes."

"Are you serious."

"Yes."

Christine's eyes darted back and forth between them. Was he really going to blindfold him?

Sure enough, he did, regardless of how Nadir grumbled about it.

He marched the man out the door, and as he did so he leaned over and whispered to Christine.

"You know, I could march him right off the dock if I wanted to."

"I can still hear you," Nadir frowned.

Erik gave a deep, wicked chuckled, and Christine swatted at his arm, amused.

"Erik, you're terrible," she shook her head. "After all the help he gave you!"

"Yes, Erik - after all the help I gave you!"

Erik rolled his eyes and sighed heavily.

"I suppose..."

He sat him down in the boat and the tied Christine's boat to the back end of his before ferrying them all across the lake.

It was after Nadir was deposited back in Box Five and had gone on his way that Christine found the nerve to bring it up.

She looked down at the floor, frowning, her hands twisting together.

"Is he- do you think he'll say anything? About us?"

"He promised he would not."

She looked up, surprised.

"You asked him?"

"Of course. I have to look out for you, my sweet, don't I?"

He dared to reach a finger out and brush away a stray lock of hair from her face.

It was nearly a week later that she happened to be walking through the lobby of the Populaire with Raoul, his arm thrown about her shoulder in a possessive yet very welcome embrace as they made their way towards the front of the building.

Her eyes widened as she saw Nadir walking towards them. This was it. He could tell him, he could ruin everything. Her heart fluttered like a bird in her chest.

Nadir passed by them, his pace even and steady, and he didn't spare a single glance towards them.

Had he not noticed? Christine glanced back behind her - Nadir had done the same. Their eyes met, and he smiled and gave a little nod. Relief flooded through her, and she mouthed the words thank you to him.

She turned back to Raoul and nodded along to the story he was telling her. He didn't notice a thing.

Her secrets were safe once more, though ever after she did make a habit of asking Erik to tell her in advance when he was expecting the Daroga to visit.