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

A/N: Happy birthday, Chibi-Kaz! Woohoo, celebrate because Raoul and Erik are going to meet in this chapter. I haven't slept in 30 hours (that's my fault though. I promised to update and instead I spent most of the day celebrating Labor Day weekend. But I made it. I made it! Now I'm off to zzzzzzzzzzzzz)

o.o.o.o

Imaginary Friends

Chapter 10 – Imaginary Love Complication

o.o.o.o

By: Lucifer Rosemaunt

o.o.o.o

Last time: Christine is returned. She thinks her kidnapping was a dream and she slept walked since she can't logically believe what actually happened. Raoul is warring against the managers (who think he's pretending to be the opera ghost), Carlotta (who knows Raoul's trying to oust her from her position as prima donna), and Piangi (who's moral support for Carlotta). Erik feels as though he's losing Christine and betraying Raoul (though he can't betray him if he'd listened to his whole no-Raoul rule which he isn't listening to). He wants to hurt the managers (for their impudence), Carlotta (because who doesn't want to), Piangi (because he's just in the way), and Raoul's imaginary ladylove (who was made up so that Raoul could deflect Christine so that Erik wouldn't be mad but who's mad anyway). Oh, and now Raoul is going to force another meeting with Erik. (Yay! Utter madness)

o.o.o

Christine immersed herself in rehearsals. She tried to put everything out of her mind besides her role. She was able to let the mystery of her disappearance drift away. She was also able to partially ignore the initial disappointment she felt upon discovering that Raoul had a ladylove.

That had truly been a shock, but now that she had time to think about it, she did not know what exactly she had been expecting. It had been more than ten years since they had seen each other. He knew nothing about her now, and she did not know anything about him either. It had been a nice idea though, a nice thought that their childhood crushes would become something more. It was the sort of love-meant-to-be story that she dreamed about.

Now that she spent more time talking with him, she discovered that she loved him but how she would love a best friend or the brother that she never had. If they had married they would have had a nice companionship probably better than most, but there would not have been anything more. They would not have had passion.

Christine wanted passion. She wanted excitement and eternal love. She wanted to be so deeply in love with another person that she could daydream about him at the mere mention. Christine wanted what Raoul seemed to have.

She could not help but find him innocently adorable. She knew that he was one year older than she was, but his reaction to her questions made him seem so much younger. She teased him every opportunity she could about his mystery love, and while she thought that he would have eventually built up an immunity to her questions, he still blushed and stuttered slightly. He would have a distant expression on his face as he described her and how he felt for her.

Christine was intent to make him blush for every time that he had made her feel left out, and she had much more teasing to do especially since he would often get the same expression on his face now. While she now knew he was thinking about his love, she wondered who or what he had been thinking about when they had been younger. Maybe he had had another sweetheart then too.

Christine knew she could be jealous and angry with him, but looking at him, she just could not bring herself to be anything but glad for him. He was kind and hardworking. Almost everyone in the opera house liked him, and even Meg knew of Christine's and his past together. She had informed Meg that nothing with Raoul was ever going to happen, so Meg had begun to console her only to find that Christine was not heartbroken. Revealing her goal to make him blush, Meg decided to help.

Between the two of them, Raoul did not stand a chance. The second he stepped foot in the opera house, he was targeted. He tried to the best of his ability to avoid both girls and their merciless teasing.

o.o.o

The managers, Carlotta, and Piangi had stopped harassing Raoul especially since the accidents failed to stop even when he had returned to work. Andre was now completely convinced that Raoul could not have been the perpetrator of the accidents, but Firmin was still dubious. His logic would not allow some ghost to exist. However, now he was more cautious around the opera house. He believed that Raoul had someone working with him.

Erik watched them closely to see if any of them dared to bother Raoul again like they had before. The 'accidents' had continued to happen because Raoul had yet to tell him to stop so apparently he had not broken their deal.

He was still frustrated with those four however since he could never seem to catch them talking about the plans he was certain they had. The managers were absent a few days from the opera house. Raoul seemed to think noting about it, but Erik could not help but be suspicious of their actions. The managers could not have another business on the side. The opera house took too much time and money. They would spread themselves too thin on another project.

Moreover, Carlotta would leave the opera house for extended periods of time. Erik had planned to follow her one time but then Raoul had arrived and... honestly, Erik had been distracted. Then the opportunity to follow her never arose again.

Something was happening with them, but Erik could not seem to find out what it was, which meant that he would not be able to stop whatever it was. Erik did not like surprises, especially surprises he could not control.

There was also the budding relationship between Christine and Raoul. Erik knew that Raoul was indeed trying to keep him end of their deal, but now that Christine often sought out Raoul, a fact of which he was not well pleased, he had to keep a closer eye on him. At least, that's what he told himself. Raoul seemed to try to avoid her as much as possible. He could not blame him.

Christine would hound him about that whore and Erik was glad for the days when Raoul did manage to escape from her. Now that Christine had enlisted the help of the Giry girl however, Raoul had a harder time even stepping foot inside the theatre without being attacked.

Erik was not sure who he was more angry with Christine or Raoul.

Christine had not lost her focus though. She actually became more focused on her singing and Erik would find her practicing her scales and vocals by herself. He even had to tell her to stop singing to give her voice and throat time to recuperate from the amount of stress she was placing on herself.

He could not find fault with her. It was not her that was the problem. Erik knew that he was the problem. Christine was doing everything right. She was just as she had been before Raoul had arrived; she was more dedicated actually. She spoke to him – or to her angel at least – and told him everything that she felt and thought.

He hated the times that she would speak of Raoul and relay everything about his love life. Hearing it a second time was not making it easier. He tried to tune it out, but it just seemed as though she was flaunting it. Erik had been wracking his brain trying to remember if he had heard anything about a love interest of the Vicomte before he had ever arrived. He could never think of ever hearing mention of a woman.

It was driving him mad.

There had to be a clue somewhere that would lead him to discovering the true identity of Raoul's ladylove. Erik had considered the fact that Raoul had been lying. It seemed the only logical conclusion and now that he thought back on it, Raoul did seem unsure of what he was saying. His love confession was either a miserable attempt at lying or a genuine reluctance to let Christine know he had someone else even though he had attempted to court her. While Erik was leaning towards the former, he knew that his thoughts were tempered with his newfound jealousy. He could have been seeing what he wanted to see not what was actually there.

Raoul had answers to all of Christine's questions. He would get that distant look in his eyes and sometimes a small upturn of the corner of his lips. It was not quite a smile or a grin, just a small sign of amusement as though he were remembering a special moment. He loved her enough to be engaged. Raoul could not be lying.

Erik did not know what he thought. His mind was a jumbled mess ever since Raoul had arrived.

It was because of this fact that he knew it was not Christine's fault. His emotions seemed to be causing all the problems. It was his traitorous thoughts that made him feel less close to Christine than he had ever been. He felt Christine slipping away from him. He felt his desire to have her fade. Maybe not fade, but take secondary precedence.

His thoughts always tended to stray towards a certain patron, a certain Vicomte.

He could not even be mad at Raoul, could not stay mad at least. It was not his fault that Erik's eyes just eventually followed him. It was not his fault that even though Erik knew he should be focusing on Christine's career, he wanted to make sure Raoul was fine first. It was not his fault that Erik could not forget about him.

Even Raoul had been doing everything right. From what he could tell, Raoul had kept the managers in line and ensured that everything he requested would come to pass. He had not even seen Raoul break the chaperoned thirty minute three times a day rule once, which was becoming quite the task.

Erik just had to remind himself that he was watching Raoul only because Christine had taken an interest not because he was intrigued by his life. It did not matter that he wanted to ask more questions than Christine ever managed before Raoul ran fleeing with a blush colouring his face. It was not like that was the highlight of his days.

o.o.o

In the days that had passed, Raoul fluctuated between wanting to go into the tunnels and knowing that he should not go. Erik had not been so uncertain. He had been quite vocal about wanting to go into the tunnels.

You were never this cowardly before, Erik taunted.

Raoul frowned, I'm not six anymore. I won't do something because you call me names. He did not want to admit that he badly wanted to go and explore, but after the whole Philippe-kidnapping fiasco, he did not know if he should tempt fate.

Tempt it. You know you want to.

It was getting harder and harder to tune Erik out. Raoul knew that the opera ghost would probably not think too kindly of an intrusion in his tunnels.

He won't do anything. Erik reasoned, Last time the ghost had been quite nice.

Raoul could not argue with that. He tried to think of reasons for the ghost's benevolence, and the main reason he could think of was the fact that he was the patron. The ghost needed him. If he pushed too far, the ghost might not think of him as necessary for very much longer. Then, he would have a real problem.

You could go and avoid the ghost.

He could not go.

A reconnaissance mission.

He should not go.

Just think of all those tunnels to explore.

Raoul really wanted to go into those tunnels.

You can't tell Philippe you met the infamous ghost, knew an entrance into the tunnels, and did not take the opportunity to venture into them. Erik commented knowing that he was winning the battle.

Raoul was caving in. He was beginning to see the wisdom of Erik's words.

It'll be a change. Erik stated. Just think of a day where the most interesting thing that you did was not hiding from Christine and Meg.

Raoul groaned aloud. No matter how he tried, he could not seem to get away from them. Christine was stalking him, and it was only because of Raoul's ingenuity that Christine did not corner him more than three times a day. A good day was one where the barrage of questions only came at him once a day.

She would ask him about her. His imaginary ladylove recently turned fiancé. Even Erik had been surprised at that lie.

"What's she like? What does she look like? What are her hobbies? What's her most cherished thing?"

The questions just kept going. The only reason he had survived so far was because Erik would answer the questions.

"Mischievous and talented. Attractive, stunning even. Singing. Me."

Raoul blushed at Erik's last response. He had not expected such a response, so he had just repeated everything Erik had said without thinking.

I'm supposed to be your lover, Erik explained, that has to be my answer.

No it doesn't, Raoul raged. He was sounding like a lovesick fool in front of them. The questions made him so uncomfortable. He could feel his face grow hot at her inquiry, and Erik's answers did not help either. To get back at him, Raoul stated one day when Christine asked when he was finally going to ask for her hand in marriage, "I already have."

Christine and Erik were finally silent, and Raoul was basking in his victory. That smugness was short-lived however when Christine asked what kind of ring he had gotten. Erik waited expectantly for the answer as well.

Raoul quickly came up with a story, "It had been so spur of the moment when I asked that I did not have anything."

"You didn't have a ring?" Christine yelled and Raoul had to remind her to be quiet. "How did you do it then?"

Erik echoed the same question mockingly. You didn't have a ring? No! Tell us about it, Raoul-dear.

Raoul was panicking, and when he panicked, he could not think. After a long pause, Erik decided he could not stand to see him suffer, so he offered ideas. Dinner.

"We had just finished dinner at her favorite restaurant…"

Glad you can at least add some detail to your own story. Erik remarked.

Shut up, Raoul said trying to focus, and help me.

Erik sighed dramatically. Moonlight, candles. Any of these would work.

"… and I don't know whether it was the moonlight or the candles on our table, but the mere sight of her stole my breath away…"

Christine was watching him raptly. He smiled embarrassedly.

Wow, romantic.

Not the time, Raoul reminded him.

Erik thought for a moment, I like roses.

"I asked her to share a stroll through the gardens nearby. She agreed, and as she leaned over to smell the roses, I looked at her and knew that there was no one else I would want to be with. I kind of blurted out the question."

Christine looked ready to either squeal with delight or cry. As it were, she did both.

"Oh Raoul," she sighed, "you are quite the catch. So romantic! I knew it would be with you."

"What does that mean?" Raoul had asked, but she did not respond. He did not want to bother her far away gaze, so he snuck away as quietly as he could.

Bravo. Erik applauded. You are now engaged.

Raoul did not want to think about that. He was going into the tunnels.

Two weeks from the opening night of Il Muto, Raoul set his plan into motion. He told the managers that he would be leaving for the night even though he had told his staff at the estate that he would be forced to stay late to do opera business. He did not think that his staff believed him, but they did not say anything more.

You're lucky word hasn't gotten out that you're engaged. Erik mused.

Raoul shrugged not worried at all. Christine's the only one who knows. She promised she would not tell anyone.

Erik snorted his disbelief.

Pretending to leave, Raoul moved deep into the opera house avoiding everyone until the opera house was completely silent.

He had made certain to bring a coat with him. He considered bringing his pistol for protection. If he ran into the ghost though, he did not want to seem hostile. So, in the end the only thing he brought with him was a thick coat and whatever exploring spirit he had.

And me.

And one imaginary friend.

It was surprisingly easy to wait out the workers. It was even easier to find his way back to the tunnel exit/entrance. It was all so easy and so quiet that Raoul was beginning to worry that something terrible was waiting for him on the other side of the wall. He struggled a bit with opening the wall, but it slid open and a blast of cold air shocked him.

He did not allow himself to hesitate. He strode into the tunnel and shut the wall behind him. He was glad that he had brought the coat. It was freezing. Now all he had to do was worry about traps and find his way back to the point where the opera ghost had intercepted him. From there he would explore a little deeper and see where the ghost had come from. Once he explored for a while, he would be appeased and leave.

He took a nearby torch and started to retrace his steps. He walked with a certain amount of confidence, which might have been the reason why he found himself confused and lost. He reached a tunnel that he did not remember ever seeing. That tunnel had never been there either. There had never been a three-pronged fork in the passageway.

We're lost. Erik deadpanned.

Raoul tried to mentally picture where they were. He could not be lost, but now that mental map he had was blurry. He could not remember if it had been two intersections or one. Had it been a lean to the right tunnel or had that been when he had left?

Raoul looked down the tunnel. He had long since passed the ones where there had been torches. His was going to go out soon. He had to keep moving forward. He could only hope to find something familiar.

Familiar? Erik asked. What's familiar about ordinary stone tunnels? They all look the same.

Raoul pointedly ignored him and began to walk faster. The tunnel suddenly narrowed, but Raoul would not admit that he was more lost now.

Maybe we should turn back.

No. Raoul stated adamantly. We're…

A stone beneath his foot depressed into the ground and the walls began to shake.

Earthquake? Raoul asked.

No! Erik screamed. Run.

The walls began to crumble inward. Raoul dashed forward narrowly dodging a falling stone. He pushed forward even as he felt stones hitting his arms. He tried to protect his head as he ran. He dropped the torch when a particularly large stone crumbled onto his hand. He could feel blood dripping onto his face. Was his arms or head bleeding? He could not rightly tell.

In the complete darkness that ensued, he failed to see the tunnel end abruptly. Raoul continued to run until his foot hit air and he plunged down. Raoul had enough time in the fall to brace himself for the impact onto stone floor. He did not expect to make it out alive.

He also did not expect to be plunged into freezing cold waters of an underground lake. Raoul frantically paddled to the surface gasping for air. He coughed and tried to get the water out of his nose.

Staying afloat, Raoul spun around in the water looking for the closest direction to shore. He still could not see anything. He was losing hope when he finally saw some flickering lights not too far away.

The water was so cold he was certain that he was going to lose feeling in his hands and feet very soon.

Just swim towards the light. Erik encouraged him.

Raoul smiled and forced his limbs to listen. His teeth were chattering. So much for staying warm.

Erik frowned. Stop talking. Just keep swimming.

Not much good this coat is in the water. Raoul responded anyway.

He was panicking. It felt as though his arms and legs were moving through molasses not water. When he tried to breathe, he would often swallow some water. Erik did not want to think what was in the water. He did not want to think about what would happen if they did not make it ashore.

I don't think…

Erik cut him off. Don't think, just swim.

I'm tired. Raoul complained, and suddenly he was not nineteen. He was just a scared child.

Erik tried a different approach. What are you talking about tired? You used to swim so much more than this in the ocean.

Not this cold.

It's much colder in the ocean than here. The lights did not seem to be moving any closer. Just keep your head above the water and paddle.

Raoul obeyed as best he could. Erik feared they would not make it when suddenly Raoul hit shallow water. Raoul stood up shakily with the water still up to his waist. He unsteadily waded ashore.

He looked up to see spikes.

Portcullis. Erik supplied.

Raoul nodded and the moment his feet were out of the water he fell forward barely catching himself before he bashed his head into the ground. He curled up into a ball and hugged himself. He was shivering uncontrollably and he wanted to sleep.

Don't sleep. Erik said the alarm evident in his voice. Don't sleep.

Raoul pushed himself up with his arms. His joints were stiff and it hurt to move. His lungs hurt and moving his fingers was hard. He did not quite make it to a sitting position when a rope was thrown around his neck and he was viciously jerked back onto the ground.

The noose tightened and though Raoul wanted to grab it, his hands were not cooperating. He could not breathe and sleep was so close.

Erik had finished tutoring Christine for the night. He was pleased with her improvement. Upon returning to his home, he saw a body on the shore of the lake. Without a second thought, he grabbed a Punjab lasso and subdued the intruder. As he approached, he realized who it was.

Raoul pathetically fumbled with the rope. Erik quickly pushed his hands away and loosened the noose. When he finally managed to pull the rope from his neck, Raoul dropped bonelessly onto the ground.

Thinking he had done actually damage, Erik checked for a pulse.

Get up. Raoul was awake, but he wanted so badly to sleep. Raoul, get up. The ghost is here.

"Raoul." Erik called out grabbing his face.

Raoul's eyes were unfocused. Erik was shocked at how cold he was. He had not even noticed in the beginning that Raoul had been wet. He looked into the lake. He quickly pieced together what had happened. Leaning his head down, Erik was relieved that Raoul was still breathing. His heart was still beating. He grabbed his shoulders and began to lift him up. "Raoul, get up"

Raoul responded. It sounded to him as though Erik had called out to him. The fatigue abated somewhat. Raoul knew it would be bad to sleep. He needed to stay awake. He needed to get up and get out of these clothes. His eyes focused and he stared into green eyes.

"Raoul."

Raoul shook his head to clear it. "Opera ghost?"

Sighing, Erik hid his concern. He frowned and dragged Raoul to his feet. Raoul almost fell, but Erik's hands did not leave him.

Told you.

Raoul grinned. He was cold, miserable, and probably close to getting pneumonia, but the ghost was being quite generous still. Raoul half-stumbled and was half-dragged away from the shore. He was shortly abandoned left standing in the middle of a large cavern. It took him a moment to realize that the ghost had gone somewhere else. He took a moment to take in his surroundings. There were candles everywhere. He had never seen so many lit at one time. There was an organ up a few stairs and to his right there were drapes hiding what seemed to be a smaller cave.

Erik needed a moment to collect himself. He had almost killed Raoul. Hadn't he sworn that he would never harm him? Raoul, his Raoul was hurting because of him.

He needed to do something. He needed to… to… He needed clothes. Raoul should be dry. He should actually take a warm bath, but Erik did not have anything of the sort right now. He searched for a towel and a blanket. He could start a fire for warmth. First, clothes. He sorted through some extra clothes hastily throwing aside ones that seemed too large. Raoul was not that much smaller than he was, a little shorter and probably thinner but not by much. He pulled out a shirt, trousers, and a cape. Grabbing a towel and a blanket on the way back to Raoul, he paused to take a deep breath in.

He needed to calm down. That's what he needed. He was supposed to leave Raoul alone. He was also not supposed to hurt him, but he did that already so what reason was there to stay away from him. The reasoning was enough for him, but he knew that he could not show this weakness to him. He had to be the opera ghost, not Erik.

"What are you doing here?" Erik said gruffly.

Raoul looked lost for a moment staring at him. He had not realized how impressive the ghost was in the light. When he had seen him the first time, there had only been half as much light as there was now. Raoul could not help but stare. The mask seemed to catch the light. He shivered suddenly realizing how cold he was seeing the ghost holding another set of clothes and a blanket. He shrugged trying to think of a good excuse. "I got lost."

"You got lost?" The ghost repeated dubiously. He handed him the clothes and the towel.

You got lost? That's the best lie you could think of. Oddly enough when Erik said the same thing as the ghost, their voices did sound extremely alike.

It's not a lie. Raoul took the clothes gratefully.

Erik frowned seeing the look on Raoul's face. He knew that expression from the times that Christine talked to him. Raoul was thinking of someone else. He was probably thinking of that fiancé. It was a knee-jerk reaction that made Erik not want Raoul thinking about anyone but him. He growled. "Dry up or else the opera house will be short one patron before the end of this night."

Raoul looked around for a place to change, but Erik simply turned around giving Raoul the impression that he was supposed to change right there. Feeling uncomfortable, Raoul hesitantly began to remove his clothes. He grew more at ease since as he removed each layer of wet clothing, he was feeling less cold.

Erik had been so annoyed it did not occur to him until later that he should have let Raoul change in the sitting room. He had one fireplace that he rarely used since he did not need the heat. He had managed to build a somewhat proper home. He had been rather idealistic during the construction. In the end, he mostly used the music room and his study. The rest were used for storage that had more tables and artwork than anything else. He would be lucky if he could get the fire started in the sitting room.

He thought about Raoul, who stood behind him and had to believe that meant he was having a lucky night. He had the urge to turn around and watch Raoul change. He wanted to see the pale skin and expanse of taut flesh. Erik bit the inside of his cheek. He did not know why Raoul's presence was affecting him this much. He expected to be unsettled when around Raoul, but not like this.

Those were not thoughts of a friend. Is that what he thought of Raoul? Did he think of him as a friend?

No, the word was so inappropriate.

He did not know what category to place Raoul under. Raoul was Raoul. He had always just been Raoul. He had his own category, but what did that category entail? Did it include thoughts like that or jealousy towards Raoul's fiancé? Erik tried not to think of that whore and tried to convince himself that it was not jealousy he felt. He had never thought of Raoul as anything but that one time companion and maybe the new patron. He did not have the time to work through his thoughts about Raoul. Raoul just needed to not be engaged. It was not as complicated as working through what the Raoul-category of relationships entailed.

It was just a fact that no one was good enough for his Raoul. No one else should occupy his thoughts.

Erik could not help but think of Raoul's description of his marriage proposal. He remembered how his eyes had been unfocused and his words hesitant. His cheeks had been lightly coloured and he seemed flustered but so content. Erik had been so shocked to hear that he had proposed. He had not wanted to believe it. It just seemed wrong for Raoul to be engaged. It meant that he would be married. Not his Raoul. Raoul was still just a child. At least in Erik's mind Raoul had not grown up from the child from so long ago.

He started when a hand was placed his shoulder. Had he been so lost in his thoughts that he had not realized that Raoul had finished changing?

He turned around and Raoul stood uncertainly looking at him. The shirt hung a little loosely on him and Erik could see a bit of his chest. One hand held the towel and the other hand was holding up the pants at his waist. His bare feet were half on the pant ends and half on the stone floor. The cape was used more as a blanket than anything.

He was noticeably shivering, and Erik wanted to reach out and close the distance between them. Instead, he grabbed the towel and walked away assuming that Raoul would follow. Raoul hesitated before following.

The ghost hasn't shown any sign of violence.

There was nothing to lose. They passed through a tunnel and stopped in a dark room. Raoul realized belatedly that the ghost had grabbed a candle on the way.

"You haven't answered my question. What are you doing here?" Erik walked to the fireplace and was pleased to see that he had left some kindle and firewood prepared. He bent over and started the fire.

Raoul opened his mouth to say he got lost again when Erik continued.

"And people do not get lost in my tunnels without first searching for an entrance."

Raoul's mouth shut.

Ha! It had been a bad excuse.

Raoul ignored him and responded honestly, "I was searching for you and then got lost."

"I see." Erik stoked the fire lighting up the room considerably as the wood caught.

Raoul suddenly realized that the room was filled with canvasses. It looked to be a sitting room that was relatively unused.

It seems rather obvious that it's unused. Do you think the ghost entertains often?

Raoul wondered where the concerned Erik had gone.

He drowned.

Not funny. Raoul replied. He looked at the ghost's back and decided it could not hurt to look closer at the paintings. The canvases were filled with portraits of Christine as well as the Paris landscape. He was drawn to a particular painting of the Opera Populaire. It was like seeing the building for the very first time.

Erik turned around to see Raoul looking intently at one of his paintings. He had forgotten that these had even been here. He stood behind him looking over his shoulder at the painting.

"It's amazing," Raoul commented.

The truly amazing thing was how Erik could actually hear the awe in his voice.

"You paint," Raoul said more to himself than to the ghost.

He moved form canvas to canvas scrutinizing every painting. Raoul had never seen such beautiful artwork, and he had supported numerous galleries. He could not believe it. The ghost sang and painted. He had never met such a talented individual before.

Erik followed Raoul mutely. In his intrigue, Raoul seemed to forget all about his earlier chill though Erik could see goose bumps on his skin. The room would warm up soon enough. Now that he had given Raoul clothes and a fire, Erik did not know what to do next. He had not thought any further than clothes, fire, and blanket. Blanket. He was still holding the blanket.

Throwing the blanket over Raoul's shoulders, Raoul finally came to himself. He should not just be enjoying the paintings. He should be paying attention to the ghost. The ghost had already choked him once. Given however, the fact that once he realized who it had been he had stopped immediately and continued to give him dry clothes, a warm place to be, and a blanket. Maybe the ghost had simply been misjudged by everyone.

He turned around to thank him when he saw the expression on the ghost's face.

For Erik, it was a feeling of immense déjà vu. One that stopped all thought processes. Because here was Raoul again. Not the patron Raoul or the adult Raoul, it was his Raoul, the way that he had stayed in his mind all these years. And just like that day fifteen years ago, he wanted to hold him. He wanted to indulge in the ability to touch someone else. He had always thought that it was better to be not touched at all versus being beaten on a daily basis. However, in the fifteen years of his solitude, he found himself missing the touch of another whether it was kind or malicious.

Raoul had given him physical contact so freely. He had sought it from him. He had been a very tactile child, and Erik suddenly wished Raoul were fifteen years younger.

Without thinking, Erik moved forward and placed his hands on Raoul's shoulders.

o.o.o.o

End Chapter

Word count: 5,655

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

I know it's not an excuse, but I'm tired and I don't want to proofread. I read it through once, but my head hurts, I'm sleepy and I'm hungry. So it's a cliffhanger. At least the next chapter will also have Erik/Raoul action (well, not so much action, but interaction).

Chapter review: I apparently have a thing for Raoul in Erik's clothes. Oh, and I took liberties on the tunnels-ish. Yell at me if you see something bad. [I'll talk to you all later when I'm conscious again. Go check out my xanga and respond to my questions or I'll think you're ignoring me.

Thanks to you awesome reviewers! Too tired to comment though I'm sure there's something I want to say. (maybe I'll respond next chapter or not)