Disclaimer: Please don't sue. I don't own POTO... All I own is an overactive imagination.
Summary: ErikRaoul slash. Time, a 3parts Series. Installment 05. The aftermath of Christine's wake, count the days when things start to change again.
Warning(s): slash (that's homosexual content for those of you who don't know)
Pairing(s): ErikRaoul
A/N: Let's hope I like this chapter better.
Story note: I don't know how OOC Erik is, but he did seem a little too complacent in the last chapter. Raoul is acting super weird though.
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Time: Days
Part02:Damages
o.o.o.o
By: Lucifer Rosemaunt
o.o.o.o
Last time: Christine's still messing things up since Raoul believes that Erik's really just playing with his mind. He's hanging with Meg because Madame Giry asked him to. Erik's kind of wary of how to approach Raoul since they had an argument. (Like that's going to last)
o.o.o.o
o.o.o
Just one day after the hallway had been completed the managers approached Raoul.
"Something must be done about the opera ghost," Firmin stated.
Raoul looked at him unimpressed, "You said yourself you did not believe the ghost had anything to do with this. I explicitly sent Christine away because she was a danger to the opera house."
Firmin nodded, but he raised a note, "The ghost is not pleased with the work being done and threatens to reburn it if it's not to his standards."
Raoul was tempted for just a moment to grab the note away from him. He stifled that urge.
"It's exactly the same as before," Andre exclaimed about the redecoration of the hallway. He was right of course. Nothing had been changed about the hallway. Raoul had known nothing but the exact same thing would be incongruous to the building.
Erik was just throwing a fit and Raoul saw the manipulation for what it was.
"Don't worry about the ghost," Raoul stated confidently, "I'll cover any subsequent damage to the hallway that he makes."
Raoul did not believe anything like the incident would happen again especially since Christine left. And if anything did happen, he would demand that the money come from Erik's pay. He was not in the mood to be playing these games. He refused to fall prey to that again.
o.o.o
Erik wondered if the note would have the desired effect. He was tired of walking on eggshells around Raoul. He was tired of waiting for Raoul to calm down and speak to him again. This note was a sure way to get Raoul's attention. Of course, the managers would go to complain to him. He wanted Raoul to get mad. An angry Raoul Erik knew how to deal with. This passive aggressive Raoul was annoying.
He had tried waiting. He had waited before and then Meg had been there. He had waited and then Christine had come. Luckily, Christine was no longer an issue, but Meg was still a threat.
Unless he got rid of Meg.
That was an interesting plan.
Then, maybe he could wait a little longer and let Raoul have his space. He could let Raoul get whatever was with him out of his system and then Erik would not have to worry about putting that hurt expression back on his face. Not that he cared too much of course. He just did not want to have to deal with Raoul running away from him every chance he got. It got quite bothersome.
He set to writing a few notes: one to Raoul and one to Meg Giry.
o.o.o
Raoul received the ghost's note the next morning. It was not addressed to him nor was it signed by the ghost, but the seal spoke for itself.
You will cover my damages? That is too kind. Perhaps you can meet me in the storage room to talk about the conditions of your kindness.
He glared at the paper as though it had just insulted his honor. The ghost was mocking him. Well, perhaps not mocking, but trying to lure him back into the opera house.
Raoul was lonely, but he still had his pride. And, his pride would not allow him to speak to the ghost again until he received an apology. An apology? Raoul knew the ghost would not apologize. He did not know what he wanted. He wanted a way to know that the ghost was not manipulating him like Christine had said. It was true that the ghost manipulated the managers. That was obvious. And though there were no such obvious attempts to control him, Raoul was not sure that his manipulation was not subtle.
He did not know; so, he refused to raise his hopes too much.
Raoul wondered what he should do about this note. He did not want to give into the ghost but he did want to respond. And since Raoul was not going to meet Erik in the storage room, he would have to send a note.
You will pay for your own damages. I do not wish to see another fire in the opera house. And no, I am quite preoccupied.
He reread the note to make sure it did not give the ghost any wrong ideas.
Now, he only had the problem of getting the note to the opera ghost. Raoul did not want to ask Madame Giry because he did not want to place her in any sort of danger, but he did not want to leave it where anyone might find it. So, Raoul was forced to go to the storage room. He made certain that it was broad daylight when he went before he slipped the note underneath the door. He figured that if someone did find the note, they would not really understand what was being said. He signed neither Erik's nor his name.
He could not deny the nervousness he felt however. Erik had been kind enough to leave him alone. Raoul was not certain if that was kindness or if that was part of some larger plan, but the distance was both a blessing and a curse because even though he had not seen Erik, his thoughts were constantly filled with the man. Going to the storage room whether it was broad daylight or not seemed quite foolish on his part.
Luckily, Erik did not appear as Raoul expected he would. Once the letter left his hands, he could not ignore his desire to run out of the opera house any longer though. He half-expected Meg to suddenly appear again, but he exited the opera house without anyone stopping him.
o.o.o
Madame Giry stared at the note in her hands.
Meg was huddled on her bed hugging her pillow.
Mlle Giry
Stay away from the Vicomte. You can easily be disposed of. A second warning may just be one too late.
Your most obedient servant, OG
Sighing, Madame Giry knew it was pointless to get angry at the ghost. It was her fault for not stopping Meg. It was her fault for encouraging it. She had not been blind to her daughter's intentions, and even though the Vicomte looked reluctant, she thought it could not hurt for her to keep trying. Apparently, it would hurt if she kept trying.
"Stay away from the Vicomte, Meg," Madame Giry stated. Her tone indicated there would be no argument on this. This was non-negotiable; after all, it was her daughter's life.
Apparently, Erik had set his sights on the patron. This, too, Madame Giry knew she should have noticed, but she had not believed it possible. Then again, the fact that the boy was still alive should not have been possible. They had a connection, she knew that now and Erik was not going to let a second person slip away from him. She would have to warn Raoul about it. Erik was dangerous in this mood. He may harm those he hated, but the ones he held dear also suffered.
"But…" Meg still tried anyway.
Madame Giry knew she would have to be straightforward no matter how painful it was for her daughter to hear, "The Vicomte is not interested in you."
"Not yet maybe!" Meg interjected. Her lips quivered.
"No," her mother shook her head, "he won't. The opera ghost won't let you get near him."
"Why are you taking the ghost's side?" Meg cried, "Why would the ghost care?"
"The ghost and the patron have a special dependent relationship," Madame Giry tried to explain what could have happened. "I take his side only because I want you to live." Madame Giry did not want to admit to the fact that perhaps this new connection could also bring Erik some sort of happiness. Christine's departure had been difficult on both Erik and Raoul. However, Erik had not reacted as poorly as he should have and she suspected that was mostly due to the patron.
Meg shook her head. Her tears splashing on the bed. Madame Giry pulled her close. After a bit of reluctance, Meg hugged her back.
"I'll speak with the Vicomte," Madame Giry told her.
o.o.o
You threatened Meg! Are you insane? Stop this madness now. Do not harm her.
Erik was pleasantly surprised when Raoul took the initiative to write him back after that initial letter to him. He frowned at the message, but was glad that Madame Giry had taken care of that problem.
Maybe Raoul would understand just what he was getting into. Maybe he would understand that he was not allowed to flirt with anyone. Raoul was lucky that he even let him speak to others or to live outside of his opera house. He sent a letter back.
You can thank me later. Perhaps you wish to meet now.
Raoul decided not to take the bait and refused to respond. There would be enough of this manipulation. Erik was trying to control his life. He would not have it. Now that Raoul thought about it, Erik had even managed to get him to go back to the storage room when Raoul had sworn to himself that he would stay away.
Erik was cunning, and unfortunately, Raoul knew he was susceptible to those machinations. One last note and he would stay away forever.
Stay away from Meg. I mean it.
Erik read this last note suspiciously. He had thought that Raoul was pleased or would be pleased now that Meg was finally leaving him alone. It was not as though he had not seen the sometimes frustrated look on Raoul's face whenever he was cornered. Although it was only sometimes, Erik was certain that Raoul was just hiding his real annoyance and was being too much of a 'gentleman' to say anything about it. Now Raoul had the freedom to walk around the opera house without being bombarded by the chorus girl. It was below his station anyway.
Christine had been a chorus girl, too. Erik frowned. Perhaps Raoul was not interested in Christine because she had been a childhood friend. Perhaps, like the managers, Raoul had an interest in scantily clad chorus girls.
This was not pleasant to learn at all. Erik should have seen it sooner. He'd been too distracted by the fact that it had been Christine at all to notice that perhaps Raoul had liked her for another reason entirely apart from the obvious.
That settled it. Meg had to be disposed of.
o.o.o
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End part 02
Word count: 1,748
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A/N: Don't forget to R/R (Read and Review)!
Story review: God, even Erik's jumping to conclusions now. Forget the fact that Raoul hadn't even noticed her when Christine had been a chorus girl. Kind of short.
Author review: A little better chapter.
