Disclaimer: Please don't sue. I don't own POTO... All I own is an overactive imagination.
Summary: ErikRaoul slash. Raoul and Erik meet before the whole fiasco. This is what happens.
Warning(s): homosexuality (that's what slash is people)
Pairing(s): ErikRaoul
Author Note: I've been in a weird mood since last week. I can't seem to concentrate. I think it's the holidays – well, the approaching holidays.
Story Note: Onoz! Raoul is in danger… again.
o.o.o.o
Imaginary Friends
Chapter 27 – Again?
o.o.o.o
By: Lucifer Rosemaunt
o.o.o.o
Last time: Erik spares Firmin, kills the kidnapper, and gets kind of fresh with Raoul. The Comte sets the opera house on fire. Philippe chases the Comte. Raoul convinces Erik to save Meg and Christine and Raoul goes to 'save' Firmin and Carlotta only to find that they don't need saving. Instead, someone saves him.
o.o.o
Philippe was certain he was getting closer to the exit, finally. He'd made so many turns he wasn't sure where he was anymore. Cursing, he wondered why all the hallways had to look the same. The smoke wasn't helping any; his eyes were itching and breathing in actually was beginning to hurt. The pain wasn't really due to the smoke though; every time he breathed in, he was reminded of the fact that he had been shot.
He paused when he caught sight of a figure ahead of him – maybe he'd finally caught up with the Comte. Forcing himself to run faster, he stopped short when he saw who it was and the absence of who he expected to see.
"Erik?"
Erik turned around, surprised that he had been caught unawares. Christine and Meg were safely out of the building; now he was finally able to return to Raoul, apparently too focused on trying to get back to him.
"Philippe?" Erik didn't have time for conversation, but he couldn't just ignore Raoul's brother.
"What are you doing here?" Philippe looked around as though he expected Raoul to suddenly appear. "Where's Raoul?"
"I was just going back to get him." Erik said testily before walking away. He wanted to run, but didn't want to appear frantic in front of Philippe. Maybe if he pretended not to be worried, then Philippe wouldn't think that his leaving was necessarily a bad thing.
The man had entrusted Raoul to him, and what did he do? He left Raoul alone at the source of the fire with people who had plotted to kill him in the first place. The second he'd left Raoul on that stage, he had known how bad of an idea it had been. He didn't even understand how he let the blonde convince him to leave in the first place.
It was that look. How could he possibly say no to that expression? And now, he had a sneaking suspicion that Raoul knew just how effective that expression could be. When he found him, he would force the brat never to use that look on him again.
Philippe chased after him, wincing along the way. He was getting tired, though he didn't want to admit it. Erik's strides were surprisingly long. In fact, it appeared as though the ghost was running. He ignored the pain though and focused on the only important fact right now.
"You left him?" Philippe said incredulously. He couldn't seem to catch up, so he ended up speaking to Erik's back. As such, he saw when his shoulders stiffened.
Erik mumbled something.
"What?"
"I said," Erik stopped walking to glare at Philippe properly, "He sent me away."
Philippe stopped and forced himself not to bend forward to catch his breath. "What does that mean?"
"It means." Erik turned around to continue walking towards the stage, to Raoul, "I went to warn Christine and Meg about the fire while Raoul went to help the pests. Where's the Comte?"
Philippe shrugged. "I lost him. I assume he's outside."
"Then why are you heading back towards the stage?" Erik asked pointedly.
Philippe let out a frustrated sigh. "I wasn't heading towards the stage."
"According to the direction you were heading, I'd have to disagree."
Philippe almost ran into Erik when he stopped suddenly. He felt the sudden wave of heat and wondered how Erik managed not to cringe.
"The stage isn't an option." Erik was calm, enough so that Philippe wasn't as worried as he knew he should have been. Raoul was supposedly there; of course he should be worried, but Philippe knew that Erik had to know the opera house better than he did. If he said that they weren't going to be able to get to the stage, then he'd have to believe him. Either way, if the stage were that bad, Raoul would have left already.
Erik didn't want to show the fact that he was ready to scream in frustration. Going another way would only take more time and even then, the fire would have probably blocked that path as well. He didn't have as much faith as Philippe in believing that Raoul would have already left. He could only hope that Raoul was smart enough to have done so already. He was working with that theory, but with Raoul's penchant for trouble, Erik was near panicking.
"Outside?" Philippe asked. They couldn't search the whole opera house for Raoul, but anyone in a burning building would head the same way. Outside.
Erik nodded almost imperceptibly before heading back down the hallway. Philippe simply followed. He couldn't help but remark.
"I can't believe you left him alone."
"He…" Erik couldn't even say it.
Philippe smirked, glad that Erik wasn't looking in his direction. It was good to know he wasn't the only one. "He gave you that look, didn't he?"
Erik glanced at him but didn't reply.
o.o.o
As they hobbled through the hallways, the managers and Carlotta were forced to change directions when the fire forced them away from the nearest exit. Firmin was beginning to walk slower.
"Hurry up!" Carlotta yelled, even as she tried to drag Firmin faster away from the flames that seemed to be catching up to them.
Firmin winced as he placed too much weight on his leg. "I'm going as fast as I can."
Andre coughed and stumbled. The three pitched towards the ground, but Carlotta managed to help them all stay on their feet. Adrenaline was running through her system. She couldn't believe that the Comte had tried to burn them alive. She had known he could be rather cold at times, but this was unbelievable. The man had actually tried to kill them – she realized she shouldn't have been that shocked. The Vicomte had never done anything to him and he had almost been killed.
"The Comte is to blame," Firmin said quietly, looking around as though he'd see employees just standing in the hallway. He gasped as they stumbled again but pushed forward. The fear of being burned alive was a good incentive to ignore the pain.
"What?" Andre asked. His shoulders were beginning to hurt from the weight from Firmin, but it was the smoke that was truly bothering him. The hallways were dark even with the fire practically surrounding them. He looked around, expecting to see the Comte. Why else would Firmin bring him up?
Firmin explained, "We need to have the same story."
Carlotta nodded. It made sense. "It's all the Comte's fault."
"And the Vicomte?" Andre asked. He wasn't sure if he agreed with what they were planning, but it was true that they needed a story. This would be the perfect opportunity to get rid of the Comte. Even he could see that.
"Keep him out of the story," Firmin replied after a moment, "The ghost will not be pleased."
"And the ghost?" Andre feared the repercussions of what would happen. Would the ghost even be a problem any longer?
Carlotta answered for him, "Do you want to go against him after this?"
Andre shook his head. He could remember the sound of that man falling from the catwalk. The ghost hadn't even hesitated. If it weren't for the Vicomte, Firmin would probably be dead as well.
"It was all the Comte's fault regardless," Firmin stated firmly.
They continued to walk for a while. They were pulling away from the fire as they reached the main entrance. Firmin wasn't sure who he was thanking but he was just grateful that the flooring was marble. However, he thought of all the flammable materials in the theatre: the stage would be ruined, the seats, the curtains, the hallways near the stage, the props. The building would remain standing, of that Firmin was certain, but everything inside would have to be replaced. Was that even possible?
Andre surprised Firmin by asking aloud, "Can it be salvaged?"
He wondered at their similar thoughts. "I don't know." He answered, sighing. He really didn't know, but he knew who to blame and for the first time since his arrival in the opera house, it wasn't the ghost's fault. His lips tightened to a straight line, "But the Comte..."
"Agreed." Andre nodded, seeing the determination on his face.
"Agreed." Carlotta echoed.
o.o.o
In the side exit where much of the deliveries for the props were brought, Raoul and his saviour burst through the building as the flames licked at their heels. Raoul tried to shake the fog that had descended in his mind. Lowered to the cold stone floor, he kicked aside some of the snow that had gathered there. He wouldn't be able to remain standing, of that he was certain. He tried to catch his breath now that he could finally breathe something other than smoke. Coughing viciously, it took him some time before he could speak.
"Thank you."
"There's nothing to thank," Madame Giry replied, "I should apologize."
She hadn't seen what had happened, but she had a feeling that she knew. The ghost, Erik had probably gotten angry with the managers for plotting against Raoul. Then, just like he always did, he acted before he thought about the consequences. She knew he was ready to leave, but to burn the opera house? What about Christine's future? What about all their livelihoods?
She should have been able to anticipate this. There had been so many signs. It was too late now. She glanced at Raoul. Maybe not too late to make things right. Now that the opera house was ruined, she refused to protect Erik any longer. He had gone too far this time. She couldn't let him hurt another person with his madness.
It had been pure luck that she happened to find Raoul when she did, but it did make her wonder where Erik had gone off to. If Raoul were the true target of his insanity now, then what would have been able to pull him away? She shook her head. It didn't matter. What mattered now was to get the Vicomte to safety and there was nowhere in Paris that would be safe. She was certain of that fact.
Raoul slumped against the wall. He couldn't seem to catch his breath.
Are you alright? Erik asked.
Yes. I think so, Raoul replied. I still feel a little ill.
I would think so. You fainted. That's usually not a good sign. Erik paused and Raoul knew he was checking him over. Your breathing doesn't sound too good.
Thank you, doctor. Raoul rolled his eyes. Just give me a second to recuperate.
He looked up at Madame Giry. When the woman looked at him worriedly, he realized that she was probably worried about Meg.
"Your daughter's fine."
Madame Giry looked at him sharply. "Why wouldn't she be?"
I don't think she was thinking about that.
Raoul leaned his head back, allowing the cool stone to clear his head. "They were waiting inside for you. Worried, but I sent someone to make sure they got out."
"Stay here." Madame Giry ran towards the front of the opera house before he could respond.
Good job, Raoul. Erik sighed. I think you scared her.
I scared her? I was trying to comfort her.
Well, now that she's gone let's go find Philippe and the ghost.
Okay. Raoul knew that agreeing meant that he should be moving, but he was so tired. He couldn't seem to summon the strength to even lift his arms.
Raoul?
He'd promised Erik to meet him, but all he wanted to do right now was sleep. Just a moment to rest, please.
Erik hesitated, but he was fairly certain that Philippe and the ghost would find eventually them. Alright. Just a moment.
o.o.o
The second the managers and Carlotta emerged from the opera house, the police officers were running up to them.
A crowd had gathered outside filled with the employees of the Opera Populaire, police officers and avid operagoers as well as passersby. None moved to help save the opera house. In fact, the officers were trying to get everyone to back up. It was obvious they were going to let the fire burn itself out; it was contained, but seeing them loitering in front to watch made the managers that much more bitter.
Andre glared at them. "Where were you?"
"What?" One of the officers asked.
Several of the others pulled Carlotta and Andre away when they saw Firmin injured.
"You were supposed to come," Andre said accusingly as he tried to keep up with the officers who had easily lifted Firmin up between them to carry him further away from the building. Carlotta was being escorted as well.
"When we arrived at the stage, we saw the fire and no one else. So, we left." The man said it as though it should have been obvious. Before Andre could properly retort, he asked, "What happened?"
Andre cast a glance behind him to the opera house. It was ruined. Everything was ruined. They had no patron, no money, no one willing to buy tickets. How would they ever rebuild?
Firmin answered for them. They had placed him on floor against a building some distance from the fire after having placed a blanket down. They could still see the fire raging on inside, but from this distance, they couldn't feel the heat of it any longer. He winced as they tore his pants leg to see the damage.
"Has the Comte come out?"
The officer looked at him in confusion. "The Comte de Montmartre?"
"Yes," Carlotta answered. "Have you seen him?"
Looking through the crowd, he saw the Comte sitting in a carriage. Someone was there to treat the wounds he'd gotten. "He's being treated. I think he has several injuries."
They all shared a look.
o.o.o
Finally out of the opera house, Philippe was rather in awe of the man who had opened a wall, led them through several tunnels that bypassed the fire that had consumed most of the hallways, and just opened a side of the opera house to let them out. He was almost disappointed to leave the opera house now that he knew there were secret tunnels. But there were more pressing issues. He'd have to ask Raoul if he'd known about those passageways – because he could not believe Raoul had not shared sooner.
Stepping in the cold night air, Philippe shivered. It had stopped snowing, but there was still some frost on the floor. He really did expect Raoul to just be there waiting for them. He wasn't.
"Where is he?"
He was just about to run around the side when Erik caught his arm. Philippe stared at him expectantly. Raoul was still missing. Even Erik's calm demeanor couldn't stifle the panic that was beginning to grow.
"We can't be seen," Erik explained, letting go of Philippe's arm when he was certain that he wasn't going to hastily rush to the front of the opera house.
"What?"
"We can't let anyone see us."
"Well," Philippe tilted his head in confusion. "I understand why they can't see you. Why can't they see me?"
Erik rolled his eyes. "We were never here."
He stared at Philippe willing him to understand.
"The managers saw us though," Philippe pointed out.
Shrugging, Erik replied, "The managers don't have proof."
Philippe nodded. They would need to blame it on someone, but the only people who had really seen them were the managers and Carlotta. Erik was a ghost and therefore couldn't be caught. Philippe only had to say he was at the estate and they wouldn't be able to contest that since no one else had seen him. It was best to keep it that way.
"We still need to look for Raoul."
Erik didn't know how he was keeping from yelling at Philippe, but he only nodded at the obvious statement. Raoul was supposed to be here, maybe not right here, but somewhere close. Something must have happened to him in the opera house.
Making up his mind, he told Philippe his plan. "You sneak around towards the front of the opera house. Find the managers and Carlotta. I need to know where they are. Raoul said he was going to save them."
At that comment, Philippe rolled his eyes. Of course, his brother would want to help them.
"And you?"
"I'm going back inside the opera house."
Philippe wasn't sure he liked the idea of splitting up again. After all, they had split up the first time and now Raoul was missing. What if the ghost went missing, too? Pushing aside his doubts, he knew that this was the best plan. It covered more ground. The ghost was just as worried as he was. They were bound to find him.
"Meet at the estate?"
Erik nodded before using the exit they had taken to slip back inside the opera house. Philippe watched him go before leaning against the wall to catch his breath. Pressing his hand to his side, he squeezed his eyes shut, trying to fight against the pain.
o.o.o
The officer they were talking to called one of his colleagues. "Do not let the Comte de Montmartre go."
"The Comte?" The man hesitated.
Annoyed, the officer nodded. "Arrest the man."
When he left, the officer turned his attention back to the managers and Carlotta.
"This is the Comte's fault?" He still wasn't sure he could believe them, but he couldn't just let the accusation go unheeded.
Firmin shouted, "He tries to kill us and you ask if he's guilty."
"I heard that the ghost was to blame," the officer suggested.
Carlotta scoffed, "The Comte had an accomplice."
"But why? Why burn down the building he was the patron to?" The officer pressed.
Andre, the calmest of the three, finally spoke up. He hadn't wanted to be part of the lie, but it was obvious he would have to intervene. Both Carlotta and Firmin were quite passionate about their stories. He stood directly in front of the officer so that the man couldn't see the disdain on both Carlotta's and Firmin's expressions.
"I don't know how to explain it more plainly," Andre said, his voice even. The officer looked less skeptical as he listened. "After the Vicomte left, the Comte was eager to become the patron. We didn't know until later why." Andre lowered his voice as though it were a secret. The officer leaned forward in anticipation.
"Why?" He whispered as well.
Firmin watched Andre work in surprise. He didn't know Andre had it in him.
After looking around suspiciously, Andre turned his attention back to the officer who had looked around with him. Still in a hushed voice, Andre asked. "Do you know Mademoiselle Daae?"
"Of course," the officer straightened, "who doesn't know of her?"
"Well then, you must have heard the rumours that the Comte and she were having a tryst," Andre replied. There weren't any rumours yet, but he knew that several of Christine's fans had seen them introduce the Comte to her. The false rumour wouldn't be difficult to believe.
Afraid to look behind on the current gossip, the officer nodded. "Were they?"
"The Comte wanted to, but Mademoiselle Daae was less than willing," Andre pretended to reluctantly divulge.
"I've heard that the Comte's never been spurned by a woman," the officer added.
Andre only shrugged. "We told him to leave her alone and he promised that we would pay for it. We had heard that he was a volatile man, but this…" he motioned to the opera house, "this was completely unexpected."
The officer nodded knowingly.
Continuing, Andre added the information that Firmin and Carlotta had already told, "He had an accomplice tie up Firmin and pretend to be the opera ghost. Then he captured Carlotta and me before trying to set us aflame. We all saw him spread the fire."
Looking at the opera house, the officer shook his head in disappointment. He said, "You will all have to go down to the station."
Andre knew the man was already convinced though. He followed as the man's gaze swept over to the Comte as the man began to yell.
o.o.o
Philippe reached the front of the opera house and slipped through the crowd. Their attention was not on the opera house as he expected it to be but rather towards a carriage. Hearing shouting, he, too, looked towards the carriage.
The Comte was struggling against several police officers who were trying to subdue him and pull him down.
Philippe grinned when the man began to shout obscenities at the managers, Carlotta, the officers, and even the crowd. He knew there was no coming back from an insult like that. He would be ostracized by society. Apparently, the managers had found the perfect scapegoat for everything that had happened.
Glancing towards the trio, Philippe was disappointed to see Raoul nowhere near them. He didn't know if that was a good or bad thing. Perhaps Raoul had already been taken away as well, but he doubted it – not with the way that the Comte was cursing at them, not with all the officers that were currently trying to subdue the Comte.
He searched the crowd desperately. Raoul was nowhere to be seen. However, he did see Christine and the blonde over to the far side of the opera house. A woman came up to them and he hoped that it was in fact the girl's mother. He was glad for them.
Turning his attention away, he moved through the crowd, making sure he was inconspicuous as he searched for Raoul. He wouldn't give up. Maybe Raoul was just waiting for them by the side or something.
o.o.o
Raoul groaned when he was shaken.
Raoul, wake up. Erik called out.
I'm awake. Raoul replied.
Your eyes are still closed.
I'm still awake though.
He could hear voices.
"Is he alright?"
"Is who alright?" A gasp. "Raoul? What happened?"
"He's fine, for now."
He could feel hands on his forehead.
"I think he has a fever."
Was that Christine's voice?
He struggled to open his eyes. Yes, that was Christine.
"Vicomte," Madame Giry was the one who had shaken him. "We need to leave."
"Home?" Raoul asked as he struggled to his feet.
Christine pulled on his arms while Madame Giry and Meg slid under his arms to support him.
His limbs felt heavy, but he struggled to stand on his own. He didn't want them to fall.
I think I'm sick. He told Erik.
I think you're correct in your observation. That's what happens when you traipse around Paris when you don't feel well to begin with. Erik chastised.
Raoul pouted. I didn't feel sick earlier.
You were too focused on the fight to feel it.
"Where are we going?" Meg asked.
Raoul could barely focus on the words.
"I called a covered carriage. We need to leave right now," Madame Giry said. The urgency in her voice made Raoul look behind them to see if something else were happening to the building. Nothing.
"Stop moving so much, Raoul," Christine said, "We're trying to help you."
"I need to get home," Raoul murmured before his head lolled forward.
Christine looked at Madame Giry when the woman shook her head.
"Of course," Madame Giry lied before Christine could respond. They helped him into the carriage. "Just go to sleep. When you wake up, we'll be away from here."
"I need to go home. Philippe," Raoul said again. He felt much better inside the carriage since he was sitting on something other than the floor.
If we go home, I'm sure he won't be too mad. Erik reasoned.
"Just sleep," Christine coaxed as she gave Madame Giry a look that said she would have to explain what they were doing.
Raoul nodded and let himself relax.
o.o.o.o
End Chapter 27
Word count: 3,979
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A/N: Don't forget to R/R (Read and Review)!
Chapter review: Onoz! Raoul's been kidnapped… again. By Madame Giry? Weird, I hope you didn't see that coming. After all, some of you saw that Madame Giry was the one to save Raoul. Maybe I'm getting too predictable.
Vote: As stated in the previous chapters: your vote… Masked Series part 03 or Imaginary Friends continuation… honestly, they'll both have happy endings (I'm sure you were worried about that with respect to the Masked Series, but I said I'd give a happy ending) and I'll eventually write both of them, but it's your choice. Or, if you want another story, why not vote for that too… if there's a tie, I get to pick w/e story I want. :)