Disclaimer: Please don't sue. I don't own POTO... All I own is an overactive imagination.

Summary: ErikRaoul slash.

Warning(s): homosexuality (that's what slash is people, but in later chapters though)

Pairing(s): ErikRaoul

Story note:

o.o.o.o

Imaginary Friends

Chapter 04 – Unravel

o.o.o.o

By: Lucifer Rosemaunt

o.o.o.o

Last time:

Raoul and Erik meet and have their moment. :o)

o.o.o

Raoul woke up to the sounds of people yelling and laughing. The sound was muffled but it was loud enough to pull him from his sleep. He wondered why he was sleeping on such a hard floor. Remembering that he was lost, he sat up quickly and looked around. He was in a small carriage. It was not that small and to Raoul it looked to be like those carriages he saw carrying animals like horses. It was quite bare though. The cymbals he had found last night were nearby and so too was a stuffed animal. There was a pot Raoul assumed was for wastes. His stomach growled loudly when he saw the piece of bread and cup of water by the door.

Standing up, he wrapped the blanket around his shoulders and walked over to the food. He waited for a moment before taking it and eating. Hopefully, no one would mind that he ate the food. There was one small window that was near the roof of the carriage that Raoul could not reach, but it provided the light that was streaming in. It was well into the day already.

He pulled the blanket tighter around himself even though it was not cold. He munched on the hard bread and stared at the door. He pressed against it, but it did not budge. There was a dull clink that meant there was a bolt. He was alone. The stranger, Erik, was not with him, and he suddenly felt more afraid than he had in the dark.

But there were voices outside; so many voices that he could not quite understand what anyone was saying. He could yell for them. Maybe his family was outside looking for him, but because he was stuck inside this carriage, they would not know he was there. He moved towards the window so that his voice would be louder, and when he was just about to yell for help, screams of terror filled the sky and seemed to echo in the carriage.

Raoul fell back in shock.

He could make out the fact that women were screaming in fright and that some men were cursing. The sound was horrible. It sounded as though they were being attacked or worse yet being eaten by monsters. Raoul scurried away from the window and huddled in the corner of the carriage pulling the blanket over his head. Seeing the stuffed monkey nearby, he grabbed it hoping that Erik would come soon. Erik's stuffed animal would protect him until he came back.

o.o.o

The 'viewing' soon ended and so too did the beating. Erik grabbed the sack and quickly put it on. He knew he should be used to it by now since it was a normal occurrence, but nothing was normal today. He would soon be brought back to his carriage to check up on Raoul. His master did not want the boy to see him, and so Erik was given some reprieve to return to the carriage thus meaning less shows.

During the day, there were less people interested in seeing him anyway. It was at night when all evil things came out did people crowd to see him. He was glad since there was nothing for him to do in the cage since he had left the monkey toy in the carriage for Raoul to play with if he woke up before he returned. He did not know why he had decided to leave it since it was the only comfort he had when faced with the laughing, jeering faces. It was the first time that it had left his possession.

He was dragged to his feet when the tent was finally empty and his master had finished picking up the money. He was not struggling, but the gypsy tugged and jerked him forward nonetheless. Erik was thin due to the lack of food he was given and, the gypsy used his three times Erik's weight to easily push him around.

"Keep him quiet." He ordered looking around to see if anyone was around. The area around Erik's carriage was always eerily empty.

Erik nodded as his master unlocked the padlock and pushed him in. The door closed soundly and Erik waited to hear the familiar snap of the bolt falling into place.

He looked around expecting Raoul to either be asleep where he had last left him or approaching to greet him. When he saw neither occur, he began to worry. He spotted Raoul's small form hidden beneath the blanket. From what he could tell, Raoul's back was to the door. He could spot a little of the light brown hair peaking from beneath the blanket.

"Raoul." He called out softly. He could not tell what the brat was doing.

Raoul did not respond. He did not even turn around.

Erik approached him slowly. Maybe he was asleep. He doubted it. Raoul was too tense and being huddled in the corner was too uncomfortable. He could not be asleep. Crouching, Erik slowly reached out a hand and as gently as he could, placed it on Raoul's shoulder.

Raoul shrieked in terror and Erik clasped his hand over his mouth. Once again, Erik felt Raoul's tears on his hands and heard the now expected mantra of "Don't eat me."

"Raoul," Erik spoke firmly.

Erik forcefully turned Raoul to face him. Hearing the familiar voice, Raoul threw himself and wrapped his arms around Erik's neck. Not expecting the reaction, Erik fell onto his back with Raoul still attached to him.

Erik tentatively wrapped his arms around Raoul, and staring at the ceiling of the carriage, he could not help but feel glad Raoul had been kidnapped.

"Didn't I tell you I don't eat little boys, brat?"

Raoul did not loosen his hold on Erik. "You left me." He was angry, but instead of pulling away, he tightened his hold.

Erik awkwardly patted his head no longer sure where to put his arms. He could continue to hold him, but no matter how good it felt to have someone this close, Erik felt like he would become too used to it. He would expect it; crave this closeness he had never experienced before.

This was all temporary. Raoul would be gone sooner than later. Then Erik would be alone again. He would have no one to speak to. He would only feel another human being's touch when he was hit. He could not let himself get used to this.

Finally pulling away, Raoul looked at him oddly, "Why are you wearing that?"

He reached up to pull the sack away but Erik grabbed his hand.

"Don't touch it."

Raoul looked hurt, but he dropped his hand. Allowing Erik to sit up, Raoul sat on his lap reluctant to leave him for even a moment. Erik realizing that Raoul was not going to get off him any time soon, settled into as comfortable a position as he could with Raoul sitting on him.

"What were you doing in the corner?" He finally ventured to ask when he was tired of Raoul staring at the sack he wore.

"I was going to call for help because of all the people outside. I heard," Raoul continued shakily, "I heard screams. What monsters could be out during the day?"

Glad that Raoul could not see his facial expression, Erik openly frowned. Those screams were because of him. He was the monster that frightened people day or night.

Erik decided to use this to his benefit. He had to protect Raoul. "There are many monsters out there."

Raoul's eyes widened with worry. Before Erik could continue, Raoul spoke earnestly, "Then you can't go out there. It's too dangerous." Critically looking at him now, Raoul noticed bruises that he had not seen before. He lifted up one arm inspecting it before moving to the next. There were bruises everywhere littering Erik's arms and torso. "You're even hurt now!" He exclaimed.

Erik shushed him. "You have to be quiet or else the monsters will hear you."

Raoul looked around in fear.

"I have to go outside," Erik explained, "I need to protect you remember."

Raoul nodded. In a quieter voice, Raoul responded, "I don't want you to get hurt. You don't need to protect me."

Erik shook his head. "We need to find your family. I need to leave here and find them so that you can go away from here."

Erik watched as he considered his response.

"The door's locked," Raoul commented arbitrarily.

"Yes…" Erik wondered what had brought on that comment.

"Who lets you out? A monster?" Raoul asked.

Erik scoffed, "Yes, a monster."

"You're getting beaten up too?" Raoul looked genuinely surprised.

'too?' Erik wondered. "Who beats you up?" He asked. This brat was the Comte's son. He should not be being picked on by others. At least, Erik did not think it was possible. Money would protect him.

Raoul looked around as though someone might be spying on them. He held up his pinky finger in front of Erik's face. "Pinky swear you won't tell."

Erik looked at him in confusion though he knew Raoul could not see the expression. "Pinky swear?"

He looked shocked that Erik did not know what a pinky swear was, "It's a promise not to be-be… betray me." He stumbled on the word before continuing more confidently, "We can't betray each other."

"Betray?" Erik thought about the word. Who in his life hadn't betrayed him? Now, this little boy wanted to make a promise to not betray him. He did not think Raoul understood completely what he was saying, but decided to play along.

"You can't tell anyone else. It'll be our secret," Raoul explained further.

Erik grabbed the small pinky finger with his own.

Raoul leaned forward and conspiratorially whispered, "Sometimes when I'm supposed to be napping, I climb out of the window and play with the stablehand's sons. They're a little older than me but they usually let me play with them. Sometimes they end up making fun of me because I'm weaker, slower, and smaller than them. I get so mad that I end up fighting. I'm not very good in fighting though," he finished sheepishly.

Erik wondered what kind of life the boy actually led. He always thought that the rich led lives completely different from his own, but he could see remnants in it just like his own. The fighting and mocking seemed to be aspects in every part of life.

"If I were as tall and big as you, I'd never be made fun of. Philippe says I'll grow to be big and tall some day, maybe taller than you."

Erik just sat and listened at how easily Raoul could speak to him. He commented offhandedly, "I doubt it, brat."

Raoul pouted. "I will. Just you see."

Erik doubted that too. He did not think they would ever cross paths again after Raoul's family came.

Raoul busied himself with a piece of string that had come loose from the sack on Erik's head. "Can I see your face?"

"No."

"Did someone hit you there too?"

He wondered how to answer that. It was true. His master hardly avoided his face whenever he was being beaten, but that was not the reason he wore it.

Instead of verbally responding, Erik nodded widely enough to be noticed.

"Then when my family comes, you're going away with me," Raoul decided hugging Erik again. He nestled in his arms and though Erik thought himself to be all bones, Raoul seemed to be very comfortable. "You don't need to go out anymore. They'll find me. I'm sure they will, and then we'll leave together."

Erik did not know how to respond to such a statement so he did not. He let Raoul cling to him and he loosely held onto him in return. He had never thought of leaving this place. It had not seemed possible. He had not wanted to raise his hopes for nothing. Now, he could not help but think about it. Raoul was so confident, but he was just a child. It did not mean anything.

It would be something close to another hour before he had to leave for another show. He wondered why this child was quietly sitting on him. He thought all children Raoul's age was full of energy. They were all brats, but this one was different. He was quiet and sedate. It was the first time in his life that Erik felt content in the silence. It might have been the first time that Erik ever felt content in his life. A while had passed and he thought Raoul had fallen back asleep when he shifted in his arms so that he was looking at the sack. The older teen waited for him to ask about his face again. Instead, Raoul ordered, "Sing me a song."

Erik wondered about Raoul's thought process. The brat seemed to jump from topic to topic.

"My mother sings to me sometimes. She says it's easier to remember people in a song," Raoul explained.

"Do you want to remember me?" Erik asked. He did not like singing. In truth, he had never tried it before. He barely spoke, much less sing. What was there to sing about?

"Of course." Raoul replied immediately.

Erik tried to think of any song he had ever heard. Nothing came. So, he started to hum a random melody before making up words to go along. It was all nonsense, but Raoul smiled at him encouragingly.

When the song was done, Raoul sighed contentedly. "I like your voice."

A sound at the door caught Erik's attention. He hurriedly lifted Raoul off him and carried him to the corner. Raoul looked at him in confusion.

Erik simply wrapped the blanket around him. "Don't make a sound. I'll be right back."

"But…" Raoul made a move to stand up, but Erik pointed at him to stay.

"Everything's going to be alright. I'm looking for your family."

Raoul looked unconvinced, but he stayed where he was. The door opened slightly and Erik walked out.

o.o.o

The Chagny family did not stop until midmorning to have brunch. Philippe woke up to his mother shaking and urgently calling him.

"Philippe. Philippe. You need to wake up, dear," she spoke softly.

Philippe opened his eyes and noticed that his sisters were still asleep. His mother was trying to stay calm, but he could easily see her panic.

"What's wrong, mother?" He was becoming worried. His mother was never like this. She was usually so composed.

She looked towards his sisters and spoke quietly, "Raoul's missing."

"Missing?" Philippe turned to the back of the carriage and sure enough, it was empty. He logically knew that if his mother said so that Raoul would not be there, but he had needed to see it for himself. Turning around, it was then that he noticed the cloak that had been covering Raoul on the seat beside his mother. He stood up to leave the carriage.

Stopping him, his mother said, "Your father went out to see if he wandered away while we hadn't noticed."

"Well," he stated firmly, "I'm going too. It'll be better with more people."

He knew his mother wanted to leave to look for Raoul herself, but Philippe had the impression that his father told her to watch them. If she could not go, Philippe would go in her place.

Her voice stopped him again. "You're sure he was there this morning."

He nodded. "I placed him there myself."

As he jumped out of the carriage into the unfamiliar town, he was not so certain. He had placed him there, but he had gone upstairs to get his sisters. Could something have happened in that short time? He found himself thinking something had. It was all his fault. He should have checked again. Instead, he had been half-asleep. He had seen a shape he thought had been Raoul. He did not even bother to check if it had been. He would set things right. He had to.

He found his father talking to police officers and waited by the side.

Noticing him, his father turned and updated him, "I've told the authorities. They're looking and I've sent word back to the last city earlier."

Philippe could tell that this was taking its toll on his father. He looked disheveled. "I think we should go back, father." At his father's questioning gaze, he continued, "Raoul wouldn't have gone without telling us and no one could've kidnapped him here. Could they?"

His father flinched at the word 'kidnapped'. He knew his father dreaded that word. Philippe had been told that many people would try to harm them in order to get money. They were lazy people who did not want to work for what they earned. However, his father had taught him, as he knew his father's father had taught him, that he could never trust kidnappers or thieves. They would like every opportunity they had, which meant that ransoms were never paid. When someone was kidnapped, Philippe knew that his father would do everything in his power to get his children back but pay a ransom.

He prayed that Raoul was only lost.

o.o.o

The afternoon managed to pass pleasantly for Erik. He would return to the carriage with Raoul waiting eagerly for him. Raoul would sit him down and inspect him for any new bruises. He would frown and pout at every new bruise. Erik was taken by surprised when Raoul decided to suddenly kiss a particularly bad bruise on his arm.

"It makes the pain go away," Raoul had responded when Erik pulled his arm away.

Erik could not actually fight that logic since the pain had gone away. It was more likely that the shock of having been kissed was the main reason the pain in his arm had gone away, but he really did not want to argue with Raoul's logic anymore. It was tiring.

After the inspection, Raoul would sit on his lap and ask Erik if anyone was looking for him. Raoul belatedly realized that Erik did not know what his family looked like, so to remedy that he had described everyone: his father and mother, his older brother, and his two older sisters. Erik nodded and listened as Raoul shared stories about his family. Although it was interesting to hear, Erik could not help but feel jealous. He did not want to be jealous of Raoul, but he could not help it. His family sounded so ideal.

The worst part of it all was the fact that even if Erik wanted to hate and be angry with Raoul, he could not. Not when the brat spoke to him animatedly, freely hugged him, and even kissed away the pain of his bruises. Not when Raoul trusted him so wholeheartedly.

After the story, Raoul would inevitably ask to see his face. Erik would say no firmly, and Raoul would give him a look that Erik was certain got the brat everything he ever wanted. It would have worked on Erik, but he knew the moment he took off the sack, he would have a very frightened child to deal with. Yet, Raoul persisted.

"Please," Raoul whined.

"No." Erik tried to say it with a tone of finality.

Apparently, Raoul was not aware of that though. "Why?"

"I'm a monster."

Raoul pouted. "Erik. I wanna see."

"You'll be frightened," and Erik was certain of this fact. He would not have these moments with Raoul once his face was shown.

"I'm not afraid of anything," Raoul would boast.

Erik scoffed every time. "You're afraid of monsters."

"Well," he would reply, "I'm afraid they'll eat me. You won't. You said you'd protect me from the monsters."

Erik shook his head. Who knew how long Raoul would be with him? He would enjoy what gestures of kindness Raoul showed him. He would relish in the kind attention he received from the boy for as long as he could.

To distract Raoul from his face, he would suggest they sing a song so that Raoul would remember him that way. For some reason, Erik did not want Raoul to forget him. He wanted to be remembered, and he found that as he created melodies and lyrics that it was easier and easier to accomplish. He wanted to see Raoul's face light up with appreciation and hear him sigh contentedly when the song was done. Raoul would even try to sing along when he asked Erik to sing it again.

Then they would sit there waiting for the time when Erik would have to go out again. He would hum quietly and Raoul would hug him tighter when he felt the time approach.

Erik hated himself. He did not know why Raoul seemed to like him. He knew that it was only because Raoul needed someone to cling to at this time. Erik was lucky enough to be that person. Lucky? He was not sure. Losing Raoul would destroy him. Barely a day and Erik wanted to keep Raoul for himself. He could not wait to get back to his carriage because he knew that Raoul would be there waiting for him. He would be waiting to make sure he was alright. He would be waiting to sit on his lap and share stories. He would be there to sing to and to hold him tighter as though it would protect him from the world. The brat was offering him more comfort than Erik could offer him.

o.o.o

It was late afternoon when word got around the carnival that the Comte's son was missing. The gypsy watched his comrades' reactions and made sure he was just as shocked. The carnival was full of officers, and he was worried. He had not been able to send the note yet so they could not have suspected him yet. He tried to convince himself that it was normal though. Children wanted to go to the carnival so it would be the first place to search for a missing child.

He was nervous. He made sure to remind the monster that no one was to know about the child. There would be money he kept reminding himself. There would be money.

That belief was shattered when his friend approached him, "You didn't…" he left it hanging.

"No," the gypsy immediately replied, "not this time."

The other man looked relieved. "Good. The police have been told to use every force necessary. I've even heard that the Comte is refusing to pay any ransom if his child has been kidnapped. Cruel man. Apparently, he's confident that they'll find his son."

The gypsy nodded and forced the proper facial expression, but he rushed his friend out of the tent as soon as he could. There would be no money? There was no ransom. He would lose everything for nothing.

He paced restlessly. What could he do?

He could kill the child and dispose of the body. Hopefully they would not trace it back to him. Many unsolved murders occurred. It would not be too hard. However, that left him with the main problem. He had kidnapped the Comte's son to get money to sell the monster and start anew. That damn fortuneteller.

There was another way though.

Still frustrated at the destruction of his plan, he beat the monster harder than ever before. It was his going away present. Though he would lose money, there was another way to be rid of both boy and monster. They were both cursed. He needed to be rid of them. He would have no money in the end, but at least he would not be imprisoned. He did not doubt that the Comte could make his life hell.

After the show had ended, he noticed the monster barely had any energy left from the beatings to grab his sack. The gypsy grabbed the sack and dragged the monster to his feet. There was a lot of blood. He could barely stand to look at him. Grabbing a rag, he shoved it into the monster's hand before dragging him to the carriage.

"My sack," Erik pathetically begged.

The gypsy laughed at him. "That's the last show for today, monster. Clean yourself up."

Unlocking the carriage, the gypsy threw him inside.

o.o.o

Erik stumbled forward but caught himself. Before Raoul had the chance to run towards him, Erik turned around and covered his face with the rag that his master had shoved into his hand.

There was still light. Raoul would see his face.

"Stop." Erik ordered as Raoul approached him.

"But," Raoul paused, "you're bleeding." He rushed to hug him from behind. Erik pushed him away roughly and winced when he heard Raoul fall down. The brat did not start to cry though.

"Turn around and don't look until I tell you." Erik peaked over his shoulder to see Raoul do as he was told. At least he knew the brat was obedient.

He tried to wipe some of the blood away from his face, but Erik knew it would not stop bleeding for a while. Head wounds always bled too much. He tried to wipe the blood from the lacerations from his arms and torso, but the rag was already dirty so all it managed to do was smear the blood.

Erik had bit his cheek earlier and the blood was building up in his mouth. Turning around to grab the pot, he froze when he saw Raoul facing him. Quickly covering his face with the rag, he turned around and yelled, "Didn't I tell you not to look!"

o.o.o.o

End Chapter

Word count: 4,287

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A/N: Don't forget to R/R (Read and Review)!

Chapter review: Don't like this chapter too much. It's like I know what I want to happen, but the words aren't coming out the way I want them to. You'll notice it to. It's disappointing. I got tired of writing this chapter in the middle of it. Still fluffy… too much fluff. I said there'd be drama since Raoul finally sees Erik's face, but sorry that didn't happen until the very end. Things got moved around in the plot that forced that to happen. I'll make sure the next chapter is better (I'm tired of trying to fix this one).

You know what I realized? I can't take the word 'monkey' seriously. It's obscene in my head (for obvious reasons) so I felt really bad since Raoul's so innocent and I kept thinking obscene things. Erik's monkey?

Oh and pinky swears… I have no idea when that got started. It seems old, doesn't it? Probably not that old, but please excuse me. I could have cut that part out completely, but why miss a bonding session with them? Raoul's really just too damn cute as a kid.

Thanks to you awesome reviewers! Glad to see familiar names (glad not to have scared you away with UTC o) Redluna, Shadowdragons, Chibi-kaz, whatevergirl, xdark.flowerx, Tsurai no Shi, PuppetofDreams.