Disclaimer: I do not own PhofOp.
Scars of the Past
"Is that…" Erik suspected as he spotted Miss Daae. Christine having tensed up when she heard his voice behind her. "Chocolate, Miss Daae?"
Christine turned to glance up at him with guilty eyes, in her hand was an almost finished chocolate bar half raised to her mouth.
"Today I don't have a singing lesson?" she pleaded, making her eyes wider for good measure.
Erik's lips twitched before letting out a dramatic sigh. He stepped over the stone bench that she was seated on outside the café that Raoul had chosen for their outing and sat down next to her. He placed his hand on top of her head, and gently patted the backside of it a couple times before letting his hand drop.
"I suppose you are correct, I shall let it go this time."
Christine had curiously rosy cheeks but gave him a triumphant grin before placing the rest of the chocolate in her mouth, chewing it in apparent pleasure.
"How are your final classes coming along?" Erik questioned, leaning himself back on his hands, stretching his legs out in front of him. As he spoke, he caught sight of Raoul inside the café, who was apparently ordering for them. That was fine, Mr. de Chagny knew what he liked.
Christine shrugged, swallowing the chocolate before answering. "I got a couple that have a big assignment due soon but not too worried about it. I'm just glad that this semester is finally going to be over, it's been pretty stressful this time."
"Oh?" Erik turned his eyes to focus on her. "I do hope that I am not adding unnecessary stress as well."
Christine laughed brightly, Erik's fingers twitching at the sound in an urge to capture it and keep it close.
"No, never! I would say that when I'm with you those have been the highlights of the semester."
Erik felt his cheeks heat under his mask, heartbeat stuttering. He was glad that when he spoke, his voice was steady. "Glad to be of service."
"What service?" Raoul questioned as he came up to where they were sitting.
"Oh nothing." Christine replied with a grin.
Raoul shrugged before handing Christine her hot chocolate and Erik his tea. He pulled a chair from one of the tables nearby and dragged it over to the bench. He sat down and raised his legs so that his feet were resting crisscrossed at the ankles in between Erik and Christine.
"Ugh! Get your feet off!" Christine snapped, slapping Raoul's ankle.
"What?!" he protested, but not moving his feet. "It's not like its antique furniture. It's stone!"
Christine's nose wrinkled in disgust. "It's still your feet on where I'm sitting!"
"I'll take them off if Erik has a problem with it." Surprising Erik when he was suddenly added into the conversation. Really, he preferred it a lot better only to observe when the couple argues. It does not happen often and Erik constantly finds himself amused when it does occur because it is always over such trivial things. Even more amusing is when the cause of the argument blows over within a few minutes and they are back to normal.
But right now, he had two pairs of eyes attempting to stare him down onto their side.
"It does not bother me." Erik began. When Raoul gave a "Ha!" he continued, "However, if it is making Miss Daae uncomfortable, I would rather you have your feet down Mr. de Chagny." This time, Christine gave out a "Ha!" and Raoul took his feet off the bench mumbling what sounded like "always… Christine's side," and "lucky… cute" but Erik did not hear all and could have misheard.
Christine gave a little hop to the side, now sitting within a few inches of him, startling Erik but he did not move away. She stuck her tongue out at Raoul.
"Now you can't put your feet up. Just try it." She challenged making Raoul roll his eyes in reply but said nothing. He only leaned back in his seat, taking a long sip of the coffee he purchased.
"Miss Daae and I were talking about how her classes were going." Erik explained to Raoul, believing a subject change was in order. "What about you? Do you find yourself wishing for the semester to be over as soon as possible, like she is?"
"Only every minute of every day." Raoul snorted, taking another sip from his cup before slouching backwards in the chair. "I got two big projects I got to get done within the next two weeks and a paper by the end of this week. Then there are the finals themselves."
Erik frowned at that, slightly concerned for the apparent stressed youth. "Would it not be better for you to focus on your studies then? Instead of attending Miss Daae's lessons?"
"Why? Trying to get rid of me?" Raoul asked teasingly with a raised eyebrow, letting him know that he was not serious. "Nah man, I love going to those classes. With your playing and Christine's singing, it's basically the only time I find myself without a care in the world!"
Upon speaking the word 'world' Raoul had lifted his arms high in the air at his sides as if portraying the size of the world. Christine snickered into her drink next to him and Erik found himself warm in the face again, and not because the weather was now all day faintly chilly.
They stayed quiet after that for a while, each basking in the presence of the others, sipping at drinks slowly. Though Erik noticed that when Miss Daae would shift every now and then, her hand would brush the top of his and Mr. de Chagny had decided to have one of Erik's legs trapped between the two of his.
Curious couple that they were not doing such acts to each other, but Erik did not complain since he did not actually want to watched the two do such things with the other. Besides, the acts themselves were innocent enough in his opinion.
Eventually, Christine broke the silence again.
"Erik?" when he hummed in acknowledgement she continued. "Can you tell us how you and Madame Giry met?"
Erik thought about that for a few moments, and saw no harm in it. He believed that they knew each other enough for him to tell them his past. "How about a trade-off then? You tell me how the two of you met, and I will tell of how I met Madame Giry."
"Okay." Christine agreed easily and Raoul had straightened up to listen. "We'll go first since I was the one who asked you."
"We met when we were six. My dad had taken me to the beach for a day and Raoul's family had also been there." Erik saw the soft grin the couple shared with each other. "I couldn't swim at the time, so I had played in the sand, running up and down the beach. Well, at some point, my scarf had gotten loose from me and it had landed into the ocean."
"You started crying like a baby." Raoul injected, causing Christine to send him a glare before turning back to Erik. Not looking back at him, she pointed at Raoul with her thumb.
"Yes, but this was the idiot who had ran into the freezing ocean to get it back. He was completely soaked to the bone and was shaking like a leaf in a storm. His parents were really mad at him, but all he said was—"
"The pretty girl lost her scarf." Raoul informed with a grin, making his voice higher to sound more like a child.
"Dad was sure impressed," Christine continued. "He got Raoul's parents info, and we spent a lot of time together after that."
"Well you were gone for about a year soon after." Raoul whispered softly.
Christine nodded, taking on a gloomy posture. "When my dad had died, I went to live with my aunt shortly after but I was completely out of it and didn't get out much during that time."
"You were grieving." Erik comforted, when Christine remained silent. "It is completely natural."
She hummed and continued. "Well, when I finally got out of it, I eventually went back to meeting up with Raoul and the rest is history."
"Did you know that you would end up together?" Erik probed, curious.
That got a snort out of Raoul. "Yeah, sure. I know I did, but Christine didn't see it until a few years ago."
"Patience is a virtue, you know." Christine deadpanned. The three chuckling together after.
"That is nice." Erik stated after they quieted down again. "To know so young or even right away, who you want to be with the rest of your life. It is not a common gift among people."
He meant it too. The couple before him were so suitable for each other, who were currently staring at one another with knowingly gazes, that it almost took his breath away that he was able to be in their presence. What they saw in him to do these outings with him was a mystery to him, but he would gladly take each and every opportunity as long as it lasted.
"Your turn. So what about you and Madame Giry?" Raoul ordered, raising both his brows expectantly.
"Sadly, mine is not as charming as the one the two of you shared about the beach." Erik admitted. "I guess I should start by letting you know that I was an orphan. Dropped off at an orphanage when I was two, the only reason why I know this is because when they found me, apparently I had a note on me that said my name and birthday."
"Did you ever find out why?" Christine whispered hesitantly.
"Ah well, I do remember that it was my mother who had done the deed, since I have no memory of a father. She most likely did it because she could not stand the look of me, since I was left with my mask as well."
"Y-you." Raoul stuttered in his shock, his slight jerk causing him to tug on Erik's still trapped leg as well. "Your mom had you wearing a mask since you were born?!"
"I cannot know if it was since I was born, but my first memories of clothing had to do with a mask." Erik met both their eyes one at a time seriously. "This mask is not just for show. I wear them for an excellent reason as what's underneath is far from pleasant."
"But still…" Christine began to protest but Erik raised his hand.
"It is the past, Miss Daae. Would you like for me to continue or not?"
Christine bit her lip, but did not speak.
"Now when I was given up there, Madame Giry was already there as well, having been taken away from her parents when she was five because she had been born here but her parents were illegal immigrants from France. When I had arrived she was seven and was already doing ballet lessons at a nearby school. We kept to ourselves for the first few years, though I would find myself watching her. I already liked her dancing but did not speak to her, since I was admittedly terrified at approaching her. We were both the loners there, me because of my appearance and dreadful shyness and her because while completely a marvel already, she knew very little English since all her parents spoke to her had been in French.
It was not until I was five and she was ten that we first officially met. I had been getting a beating by the owner when—yes Miss Daae I was not at the most healthy orphanage—when she had interrupted it. Standing in front of me, she took the hits upon herself until it was over. The two of us were left lying on the floor of the room, facing each other. I do not remember how long we lied there staring at one another but I do recall the smile she gave me as she said, 'petit caneton.'"
"What does that mean?" Raoul could not help but asked.
Erik shook his head slowly, a fond grin on his lips. "It means 'little duckling.' A term used for children in France. Her favorite story as a child was 'The Ugly Duckling,' and so she had named me after the story." He let out a small chuckle. "It sounds harsh but she meant it as me being the ugly duckling who ended up being the swan. Apparently, she had been watching me as much as I had been watching her and made her own conclusion towards me."
After that we became inseparable, only times we were not together was when we had to attend separate classes when school started. We grew up, she became a brilliant dancer and graduated from a dance academy. Doing only local performances until I graduated a couple years later. We left the orphanage and together we traveled to many places. I always by her side, she by mine. Eventually, she fell in love with a good man who does his country honor by serving with the Navy as a pilot. He cannot be home often, so when she became pregnant with Meg, she decided to settle down and became an instructor here. I am as I am today because of her." Erik finished.
He remained silent, letting his story seep into the couple's minds, and permitting them to make the first move. It took a little while but eventually the silence was broken.
"Why did you guys never get together?" Christine asked interested, seeing the strong bond the two must have and honestly curious about how it did not end up as a romantic relationship.
Erik shrugged, placing his now empty tea cup next to him on the bench. "There is a reason why Meg calls me Uncle, Miss Daae. We grew up through tough times together, making our bond all the more strong, but such a connection was seen and more cherished to the both of us in a sibling view. Certainly she one of the greatest women I will ever know, and love her dearly, but just as one would feel towards a sister. For the two of us, it is as simple as that."
"Damn." Raoul whispered loudly, still stunned by the whole story.
"Yes, I guess it does seem that way." Erik replied simply.
When he felt a hand grab his he turned to see Miss Daae looking at him with compassion.
"Thank you for telling us that."
He bent his head to her, before meeting her eyes again. "Glad to be of service Miss Daae."
The rest of the outing that day was peaceful for all three of them. Erik himself feeling as if a weight had been lifted from him, knowing that he had such dear friends to speak such things to.
So the past is revealed. M. Giry has always been badass. Seriously, I don't know why but I love the Girys', so I have to make them awesome! Next chapter is the big reveal and it'll take place in Christine's POV! Hope you enjoyed the read.
The show I watched Saturday was very cool. It was a lot different from the first show I've seen but it was still great, and this way I can appreciate it separately. The Christine in that show slapped Raoul, which was great! And Raoul got to punch Erik, which was not so great.
Comments are loved!