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: Well, you'll all be glad to know that I made my deadline (last Sunday)! Yeah, and you got two chapters Labour Day Weekend. Isn't that stupendous? This week and the following weeks don't look to be any better as far as workload goes though. However, I have high hopes that I'll be able to update at least twice a week even if those two times are one day apart. I'll just work extra hard on the weekends. So, I promise 2 chapters a week. I don't know how long the chapters will be though (much dubiousness on the length). I'm increasing the hours I'm writing so hopefully that will help.

Story Note: I'm starting to be mean to Raoul again. He's cold and hurting and now this…

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Imaginary Friends

Chapter 11 – Two-faced?

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By: Lucifer Rosemaunt

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Last time: Christine and Meg tease Raoul about his imaginary ladylove turned fiancé. Erik grows steadily obsessed with Raoul and realizes he's basically screwing things up with Christine because of Raoul; he can't seem to help it. Raoul goes into the tunnels, gets lost, and falls into the lake. He is caught by Erik who is actually being quite nice to him. Oh, and Raoul finds out that Erik paints.

o.o.o

Erik grabbed Raoul's shoulders with every intention to pull him into an embrace. For reasons still unknown to Erik, his eyes focused on Raoul's lips, then slowly down his neck and into the gap in his shirt. Erik's breath caught in his throat before he realized what he was doing. He wanted to trail his hands down that path or maybe his lips.

Erik shook his head to remove those thoughts from his mind. He did not want to do anything but hold Raoul just like he once had when they had been younger. That was it. The urge had been so strong that his rational side had not any time to react. He finally managed to look Raoul in the face, and seeing Raoul's confused expression made him realize that this was not his Raoul.

Well, Raoul was his.

He simply was not the little boy he once had been. It was odd because fifteen years ago, he had been reluctant to allow Raoul to touch him. Now, he was the one initiating all the physical contact between them. He was the one that wanted to touch him. Erik had been right to believe that he would get too used to it, and now he was not even allowed to touch Raoul; at least, not without drawing suspicion.

This was the patron of the opera house. This was Raoul fifteen years later. This was a Raoul who had no idea who he was besides being the opera ghost.

Erik knew he could not actually hug Raoul, but what to do now that his hands were on his shoulders?

Raoul glanced at the hands holding him steady. They were surprisingly warm, and while he wanted all the warmth he could currently get, this was a little awkward. Raoul could actually feel the other man's body heat. He could not read the ghost's expression but when the ghost's tongue darted out to lick his lips, Raoul suddenly felt too close, much too close to him.

Erik hastily adjusted the blanket so that Raoul was fully wrapped in it, and Erik would not be tempted to stare at his body. "You look cold." Erik stated. He did not wait to hear a response before walking away. "Let's move closer to the fire."

Just as quickly as he had been there, Erik was across the room. Raoul looked at the ghost's back in confusion.

I thought he was going to do something else. Erik commented.

Yeah, Raoul agreed. I thought he was going to hit us too.

Yeah... hit. That's what I was thinking. Erik commented.

Raoul was about to ask what he meant by that last comment when the ghost turned around motioning him to sit down.

Raoul navigated through the many canvases to sit on the settee closest to the fireplace. He had passed many paintings that he wanted to spend more time looking at, but he knew that now was not the time. He glanced at the ghost and opened his mouth to say anything, but seeing the masked man sitting quietly watching him made him look away. Raoul found that he could not look at the ghost for very long. It was a little disconcerting. It was not so much the mask because Raoul just found it fascinating. It was the steady, knowing gaze. It always felt as though all his thoughts were laid bare by that gaze.

Raoul stared into the fire trying to think of something to say. What could he possibly say to the ghost? He could thank him for saving his life, but he did not want to be the one to break the uneasy silence. He had heard that the ghost had quite mercurial emotions and a violent temper. He did not want to be prematurely removed from this room. He was finally warming up. He had a strange sensation of pins and needles over his limbs, but that was better than the temporary numbness he had felt.

He glanced over at the ghost and noticed that he was being stared at rather intently. He felt his face heat up at the scrutiny. He pulled the blanket off his shoulders and onto his head. His hair was still wet, but this also gave him the opportunity to hide his face. He wondered what the ghost must see. Raoul had trespassed and hurt himself in the process. He probably looked pathetic.

Erik could not seem to take his eyes off Raoul. It was impossible no matter how hard he tried. He had been watching Raoul for a long time now ever since he had become patron, but having him this near allowed Erik to see things he had not noticed before. His eyes easily picked up the highlights in Raoul's hair from being in the sun too much. His brown hair had lightened a great deal. He had seen the colour of his cheeks before Raoul pulled the blanket onto his head. He was a little disappointed since it hindered his view of Raoul's face, but having already seen some colour, he assumed it meant that Raoul was finally warming up.

He had realized when he had been holding Raoul's shoulders that Raoul had grown quite tall, not taller than Erik had, but tall enough. He had filled out too. He was mostly muscle. Erik was just glad that Raoul was still holding the blanket in such a way that his whole body was covered. He did not think he could control his reactions very well tonight.

What was he doing? It was hard to concentrate since his mind tried to categorize everything about Raoul. And technically, he did not try to stop it. He wanted to have this image of Raoul as an adult because Erik knew that they would be separated again. It was inevitable. He had promised himself to leave Raoul alone. He had promised to let Raoul live his life unhindered, which meant that he would have to survive off memory alone. At least now, he had a lot to remember.

This occasion had been the second time that Erik had touched Raoul and Raoul had not reacted poorly. One would think that being grabbed by the opera ghost would frighten some people. Apparently, Raoul did not see him as a threat. Erik knew that it was his fault for giving Raoul that confidence. Still, that semi-trust was misplaced since Erik had hurt him. He felt guilty for harming him.

Erik was not used to feeling guilty. He felt many things, but guilt was not one of them. That meant he regretted doing something, and he found he rarely regretted his actions. The only regrets he ever had were always concerning Raoul.

None of that mattered though. He would make sure Raoul was well before sending him away and closing the entrance Raoul used. He could not afford to be further distracted. While Raoul in his opera house was distracting, if he made a habit of disturbing his home, Erik could not be held accountable for his actions.

He finally decided to break the silence. He wanted to know not only what had happened but also why Raoul was here in the first place. He kept his voice even. "You were looking for me. Now, you have found me."

"I," Raoul tried to think, "I wanted to talk to you about your requests." He had not wanted to have this conversation so soon, but he had to say something reasonable.

"Is this about the accidents that have been occurring?" Erik knew this would be brought up. Raoul probably wanted the opera house to remain quiet and well organized.

"Partly yes."

Partly? What did that mean? "Have I broken our agreement in any way? I am a man of my word, and it is not necessary any longer, merely entertainment."

"No," Raoul replied. Erik raised an eyebrow at that. He had assumed that was the main concern. "As long as you continue not to hurt anyone, the accidents can still occur."

"Really?" Erik tried to hide his shock. Raoul actually wanted him to continue causing the accidents.

Raoul shrugged uncomfortably. "The managers seemed to have come to the conclusion that I'm manipulating them by pretending to be the opera ghost."

"I too had realized that absurdity." Erik rolled his eyes and Raoul smiled at him. Even not knowing who he was, Erik wondered how Raoul could so easily give his smiles away. How could Raoul even stand to look at him mask or not?

"The accidents can't be my fault if I'm with them when they occur," Raoul was really grateful to the ghost. Those accidents were more a help than a hindrance, "They also saved me a lot of arguments with the managers, Carlotta, and Piangi so I don't mind them in the least as long as they do not cause too much damage."

Erik nodded understanding Raoul's hint. "Then they will continue to a degree."

Raoul was glad that they seemed to be on the same page. The ghost was being so accommodating. He did not understand why no one had ever tried to bargain with the man. He was certain that many problems could have been solved had they just spoken to the ghost. In Raoul's eyes, it all must have been a misunderstanding. "I wanted to discuss the requests you had initially given for returning Christine."

"This is quite belated," Erik noted though it was not a surprise. When he had first sent the letter, he had waited to hear a response. He could admit that he had written that solely for the response; though having Raoul physically ask him about it had not been a consideration.

He briefly wondered if he was taking the right course of action by allowing Raoul speak to him as such. He had kept all the previous patrons and managers at bay with skillfully placed threats and accidents. From the shadows, he had ordered them to do his bidding and they did so in fear of him. Erik would not have wanted it any other way, but this was no ordinary patron. This was Raoul and as much as Erik told himself that staying away was the only thing he should do, he could not bring himself to send Raoul away.

"I had been busy." Raoul explained.

"I noticed."

Raoul narrowed his eyes. "You know everything that happens in this opera house. Is that how the rumour goes?"

"Yes," Erik wondered where Raoul was going with this topic.

Raoul looked suspiciously at him. "Everything?"

"I'm a ghost."

"You're a man."

Erik frowned.

Raoul shrugged, "You're solid. I've felt you."

"Of course you have. I've been kind enough to help you, and yet you seek to complain about a few requests when your life has been saved."

Raoul stood up irritated and the blanket dropped in his irritation. He gestured with his hands, "I thank you for saving my life, but you cannot just ask of me whatever you desire and expect me to agree unconditionally."

Erik wished Raoul had not stood up and dropped the blanket. He also wished that Raoul would use one of his hands to pull his trousers up because as it were, those trousers hung perilously low on Raoul's hips. Raoul had also failed to fasten the last few buttons on the shirt, and Erik found himself staring at the Vicomte's belly button and the small trail of hair that teasingly led his eyes downward.

He gulped and forced his eyes to Raoul's face, "Have I been unreasonable?"

"You've told me to not talk with Christine more than three times a day!" Raoul's arms went out in exasperation.

And his shirt was pulled up. Erik distantly wondered what gesture it would take for the pants to fall though they did seem to firmly stay at his hips. Erik stared at the trail of hair again; those trousers were very low on his hips.

It took a while to process what Raoul had said so when Erik finally answered Raoul was glaring at him. "Do we really need to hear about your fiancé more than three times a day?"

"My fiancé?" Raoul faltered. "You heard that!"

Erik frowned. He had not wanted to breach this topic so directly but he had not been thinking very clearly. He did not want to hear about her any longer though he was curious as to who she was and where she resided – for knowledge's sake only of course. "I don't think I could have avoided hearing about it."

Raoul blushed and finally sat down pulling the blanket on himself again. He could not believe that he had just yelled at the ghost. He had been momentarily outraged. Of course the ghost had been unreasonable, and though that three times a day rule benefited him in the long run, it did not excuse the ghost for ordering him to keep such a ridiculous request. He took a deep breath and tried to calm down. His heart was beating quickly and he felt himself flush. At least he was not as cold as he was before. He was starting to feel better.

Should I tell him that it was a lie? Raoul voiced his uncertainty.

"Vicomte," the ghost exclaimed indignantly cutting off any response Raoul could have possibly have heard.

Raoul looked at him wondering at the tone of voice. He had sounded mad but Raoul could not quite make out the expression on his face.

"Don't do that," Erik ordered.

"Don't do what?"

Although Erik knew Raoul was really confused, he spat out, "Don't act innocent."

Raoul was only furthered confused by the ghost's reaction.

What is he...? He tried to ask Erik for help, but once again, the ghost called out distracting him from a response. Raoul could do nothing but stare. He could not understand the rapid change in the ghost's attitude. Raoul shifted uncertainly as those green eyes stared angrily at him.

Erik knew Raoul did not understand, and that was part of why he was annoyed. Raoul was too innocent. He was too guileless in all he did, and it was all Erik's fault that he was annoyed. Erik's emotions were once again the cause of discontent just like with Christine, but he could not help it. He did not want Raoul thinking about someone else when he was with him, and it was frustrating trying to explain it. "You get this distant look in your eyes and I know you're not here."

Raoul still did not look as though he fully understood, and it took him a while to remember that Christine used to say the same thing. She had been a bratty child always wanting his attention. He had not been used to giving someone his undivided attention. He usually only had Erik to talk to and it became second nature to do so even when Christine was around.

"I don't know what to say."

'I have an imaginary friend' might be quite self-explanatory. Erik suggested.

Raoul saw the ghost frown. He realized he had done it again, but he could not quite control when it occurred anymore. Erik talked when he wanted to talk. Raoul waited for another censure. There was no way that he could defend himself, but he could try. However, the ghost did not say anything.

Erik stopped trying to fight it. Apparently, Raoul was deeply in love with his fiancé. He did not know what else to call that distant look. Raoul looked differently when he was simply thinking. No, this look was different. This expression really did make him feel as though he were being left out of something. Erik was very familiar with the feeling.

"Your fiancé," Erik returned to the subject at hand. He would rather hear about her than see Raoul thinking about her.

Raoul hugged the blanket tighter around himself almost fully covering his face. He should not lie to the ghost. The initial lie was for the ghost after all, but it was embarrassing to say that he could not do the gentlemanly thing and tell Christine he was not interested. He had to tell a lie to run away from a lady. He could feel his face heat up, and he felt a little dizzy. He ignored the dizziness though. It was probably just too much excitement.

"There," Raoul couldn't look at the ghost, "is none."

Erik looked at him dubiously. "What?"

"I said," Raoul glanced at the ghost to see whether he was angered, but the ghost only looked doubtful, "there is no fiancé. That was a lie so that Christine would not think anything was between us."

Erik was not sure he could believe him. He had heard so much about the woman, and though he'd had his doubts, all the information that Raoul had been telling had been consistent. There had been a lot of information, too. Erik knew that Raoul could not be able to lie that well and remember all those facts if the woman were indeed false. Moreover, if that was the case then what was with the far off expression Erik saw so often on his face?

"Do you lie, Vicomte?"

Raoul shook his head and a wave of dizziness hit him. He concentrated on the ghost and the dizziness disappeared. Raoul noted to himself that shaking his head was a bad idea. It dawned on him though that the ghost had been calling him by his first name earlier and now only reverted to his title. Not only that, the ghost had seemed genuinely worried about him. It was not the concern for a patron either. It was a concern that seemed too personal.

He looked at the ghost more closely. Those green eyes were familiar. Everything about him was familiar though. Raoul had originally decided it had been because of the voice, but though the ghost's voice was perhaps the most familiar aspect of the man, it was not the only familiar characteristic.

Are you paying attention? Erik asked. The ghost asked you a question.

Raoul ignored him. His mind was fixated on solving this mystery. He was busy trying to figure out where he had seen the ghost before. It was an eerie feeling. He suddenly desperately wanted to know why he felt that way.

"Call me Raoul." Raoul decided the best way to get to know the man would be to be on familiar terms.

Erik did not respond. Raoul had not answered his question. 'Do you lie?' He wanted to ask again, but Raoul once again diverted his attention.

"And what may I call you?"

Monsieur Opera Ghost, Erik sounded annoyed that Raoul had ignored him.

The ghost had that expression on his face that told Raoul he had his expression. He tried to focus. It would not be easy to get familiar with the ghost if he kept annoying him.

The Great Opera Terror.

It was hard though when Erik was so loud and adamant. Raoul wondered just why he was that annoyed. He had ignored Erik many a time when he was angry. Why would this time be any different?

The Masked Man of Paris.

Erik! Raoul yelled. He was getting annoyed, and for some reason, it was getting harder to focus.

A scourge

"Raoul," Erik watched as Raoul's expression simply blanked. It was the same expression as before but this time he looked mildly distressed. Erik waited for Raoul to look at him again. Raoul's attention usually would be directed back on him shortly, but Raoul's eyes remained unfocused. He remained unmoving.

A murderer.

Why are you being so cruel? Raoul asked.

Erik stood up and approached him. Still Raoul did not react. "Raoul," he called again, louder this time.

No lies, just truth.

You said you liked him. Raoul replied growing agitated. He did not understand why Erik was acting like this nor did he understand his own reaction. He just felt so mad at him for calling the ghost such names. He had heard the claims about this man. It was not as though he had never heard them before, but he had never felt so much anger at them. He felt as though he himself were being attacked.

"Raoul!" Erik could hear the alarm in his own voice.

He's a freak. A demon. The devil's spawn. A monster out to get you.

Erik grabbed Raoul's shoulders again and shook him lightly. The shaking loosed what had looked like water in Raoul's hair.

He's the reason bad things happen to people.

Instead of water, bright red liquid streamed down Raoul's face.

He's the reason bad things happened to you.

Erik had not realized that Raoul had been bleeding.

Stop! Raoul yelled. Why are you saying this? I've just met him. He's been nice to us.

Raoul was still unaware as Erik pulled the blanket off his head and tried to find the source of the blood. Hidden by his hairline was a cut. It did not seem too bad, but Erik wondered if Raoul was suffering from a concussion. "Raoul."

No response.

You said it yourself. He looks familiar. The way Erik said it made Raoul feel as though he were missing an important fact.

That doesn't mean anything. Raoul reasoned. He just feels familiar.

He's evil. Erik scoffed, but to Raoul it was not his normal scoff. He breaks promises. He's destroyed our trust.

How? You said you liked him. Some part of Raoul knew he was overreacting. Maybe they both were overreacting, but Erik's words seemed to hurt so much. He wanted to defend the ghost partly because he knew no one else would do so and partly because his mind had somehow made this personal. He could not know if any of those things were true. He had just met the man.

We waited. We'd been waiting for so long. He can't be trusted. Get out of here. Get up and get out of here now.

"Raoul, look at me," Erik released his shoulders and grabbed his face. It was odd to look into those blue eyes and not see a reaction. He realized that he needed to stop the bleeding, but there was nothing nearby. He could not leave Raoul in this state. He grabbed the bottom of his shirt and began tearing strips. He wiped the blood from Raoul's face and tore the next strip to tie around Raoul's head.

Listen and leave now before he makes anymore false promises.

'I thought you liked him.' was the only response Raoul could muster. He felt tired again, so extremely tired. And, instead of feeling cold, he felt like he was overheating.

Get out. We can't trust him. We can't.

"Stop." Raoul yelled so suddenly that Erik actually pulled away from him. The strip of cloth dropped onto Raoul's shoulders. "Stop it, Erik!"

Erik froze where he stood. Raoul still had the far-off gaze, and Erik knew that he had not told the Vicomte his name yet. No one else knew it. He waited to see if Raoul would say anything else. Had he remembered? No, Raoul looked too far-gone. He was talking to someone else. A memory maybe? Whatever it was, it was something besides the recognition that Erik so sought.

He slowly approached Raoul again.

Raoul had not realized that he had spoken aloud. He just felt exhausted all of a sudden. It could not be a good sign and he knew it. The rational part of his brain said that allowing himself to go to sleep could mean that he would never wake up again. It had taken so much energy to be mad at Erik though. He just wanted to sleep. He asked one more time. I thought you liked him.

The last thing Raoul remembered before everything turned black was his response. I do.

Raoul went limp and nearly sliding off the settee. Erik caught him and quickly checked if he was still breathing. He sighed with relief but knew that just because Raoul was breathing did not mean that everything would turn out well. He hefted Raoul into his arms and carried him to the divan so that he could lie down.

What exactly had happened?

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End Chapter

Word count: 4,047

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A/N: Don't forget to R/R (Read and Review)!
Let's hope that in my rush to update, I don't completely suck at editing. Until next time.

Chapter review: Short chapter and another cliffhanger. [That's what you get when I have to cut it short so that I can post. :o) It's a give and take with posting. It's like Raoul's had a breakdown, but I blame it on the head wound. Let's hope he wakes up. Was it a breakdown or did imaginary!Erik finally see his chance to make Raoul see the light? One thing's for certain, Erik's going to freak out.

Thanks to you awesome reviewers!
whatevergirl – Well, he had at least warmed up. Oh, and he looks awesome in Erik's clothes. Can't you just picture it now. oo
Akaiba – Thanks for your compliment. lol, "Raoul is married to Raoul" I didn't think of it that way. Poor Erik, so jealous of himself. If only Raoul had assuaged his doubts. Too bad his concussion had to affect him.
Kytten – imaginary!Erik is hilarious and now he's helping him remember, or at least forcing him to.
PuppetofDreams – Thank you for reviewing both chapters! And we thought cute slashiness can only happen when they're young. And the managers are evil for doing that to him.
Chibi-Kaz – I know, I know another cliffhanger. I am evil, but you know another chapter's going to be up this weekend or Monday. Soon enough.
courageouscoward – Thank you for reviewing both chapters, too! Thanks for the edits. I thought this chapter was squee-able as well. :o)