Okay. So yeah. I don't really know what to put here, so I'm gonna shut up.

Yeah.

Vc, thanks. I will for now.

icanhearthedrums thank you for coming and checking out my second fic. There will be a fight for Cynthia's affections. The two charmers haha.

Stargazer1364 thank you so very much! I'm sure you could be, it just takes a little faith.

That morning, when Nadir arrived - he had her on her arm. They were laughing and smiling and Erik had never seen his friend look happier. Cynthia's smile was so sweet and bright that all of the men stopped and stared, for they had never noticed this little Daylily until she was on one of the grandest arms in London.

Nadir made a snide a joke about someone with bad breath and Cynthia chuckled. So soft. Her light giggle was more divine than any song bird, any opera, any instrument that any man had ever heard. To think sometimes she could be wickedly stern and majorly cruel.

Erik was in awe, yet shock at the outfit she donned. Presumably bought by his good friend Nadir (who to Erik lacked any sense in style and got all of his grandeur from him). It was her usual red, that suited her skin as the color was made just for her and all her beauty. Her beautiful and bright pale skin.

It was a nice dress though, it was very tight at the chest - making mens eyes trail to that area, thinking those dark thoughts that made them into monsters. It was tight around the waist too. Leaving no curve, no shape or delve unrevealed - it made her body look so very beautiful and very true. It showed everyone everything that she had - all of her assets... every last one.

Erik found his mouth parting slightly at the sight of her. She looked uncomfortable wearing it, but obviously couldn't see how it looked - had she not been with Nadir, one would have thought her a common prostitute. No woman would ever dare show that much skin! Not now not ever! Fuming, Erik stormed over and grabbed her arm - causing more to stare.

She grit her teeth and shrieked in pain, trying to pull away - whilst Nadir growled.

"Get off me you ruffian!" She screamed and everyone began to gather around, Nadir clenched a fist and prepared to punch his friend who had been so good to him for years.

"I cannot believe you Nadir!" Erik dragged her into a room, Nadir followed in behind, ready to fight the Phantom for her. He was hurting her, as he slammed the door she slapped him on the unmasked side of his face. It stung and burned, not because of the pain. But the idea of her raising her hand to him hurt him even more inside - the fact she hated him so much as to strike him...

"You think it is appropriate to parade her around in such sultry and provocative material?!" The veins on his face stuck out as he ranted, nearly going red with pure ferocity.

"It's not provocative, nor is it sultry! It is... modern!" Justified the Persian, but Cynthia seemed to read the air and pressed a hand o her chest, feeling the dangerous amount of exposed flesh there and blushing. Erik stared at her, never seeing her look so innocent.

Her eyes were shut and a blush crossed her cheeks as her mouth made a soft little 'O' in realisation. She looked almost like a flustered child as she shifted foot to foot, clutching her very bare chest. Nadir looked at her, ashamed a little at himself for letting the shop assistant sell her such filth... and for himself for picking it out.

But before Nadir could even apologise or offer her his coat, Erik had stepped in. The Phantom removed his jacket and helped her on with it, she shrugged it on quickly and gratefully. He buttoned it up for her. It still suited the outfit she wore, contrasting brilliantly with bright red and covering her up simultaneously.

Nadir stared at his Phantom friend curiously as he was tenderly wrapping the jacket around her bare shoulders and taking great care in buttoning the shirt up. He had never seen him so patient about anything in his life. When Nadir would ask Erik if he could borrow his coat, he would either deny him, or would throw it at him and grumble. But now he was so gentle...

Perhaps Erik was getting soft in his older age. After all, he recognised how wicked and selfish he had been - murdering to get his way. Plus he often found his friend crying after hours or in his dressing room - very unstable. The only thing that was keeping him sane was this job.

Alternately, there was something in the mans eye. His friend had shown that he has been prone to fall in love in the past, with so many women on sight - then that dangerous obsession with Christine Daae... It couldn't possibly be that. Nadir grit his teeth as Erik teased with her hair and commended her playing. How could he not see it before?

She was so perfect for him. Being blind she would never see his contorted and corpse like face, she would get to know Erik for the person and not the monster. Their feisty personalities would make a very tough relationship - but those kinds of people are usually attracted to each other. But there was a side to Cynthia that many hadn't seen - a side that Nadir had gotten to know very well, her musical spirit.

When she played the violin she was an entirely different person. The hard and feisty exterior melted away, as did the pain of so many years and it was just her and her music. Just like Erik when he played piano or sung or composed. They were like mirrored spirits...

But Nadir had loved her from the first time he met her, when she was but sixteen and was introduced to him at a sponsorship ball her parents had thrown to support the opening of his Opera house. He was desperate for money and the Rivard family were made up of famous :actresses, actors, singers, dancers, musicians, composers and directors.

He remembers the first time he spotted her across the hall. At first he only glimpsed her auburn pigtails trailing behind her as her sister was twirling her through the crowd. He remembered vividly himself chasing her around, weaving through dancers and darting his head side to side. Then the whole room went quiet as every head turned to the stage.

Sure enough, there she was - her well crafted personal black violin in her hand as she played. Twirling and dancing as she went. Capturing every mans heart in the room.

From then on he promised himself he would do all he could to capture her heart too, to feel her in his arms. He wanted to bottle up her beauty and her love and keep it perfect and pure forever. That's primarily why he hired her. Also because of her exquisite playing, he would ask her for private recitles or to come up with a little medley for him. She would stun him every single time - never growing old, never ceasing to set his heart aflame.

Now he had finally come up with the courage to ask her, it may have been too late. For now he'd have to compete with Erik who - despite his face - could be quite the charmer. The smooth voice, gentle touch, fantastic taste, musical enthrallment and the dramatic romance. There was so much to his friend, so much to be discovered and explored. Of course, Nadir had a dark pas as Erik - but at the end of the day he was now just a business man. A business man who spent most of his time signing papers, attending meetings, organising shows, drinking tea and watching as his hairline started to recede.

At this he smirked to himself. At least he had hair, rather than his ugly friend who never had enough to make a shirt cuff. But this wouldn't matter to her and that's what really mattered here. At the end of the day it would be her choice, who she loved. Nadir now knew he had a rival and they would stop at nothing to get what they wanted.

"Cynthia." He addressed the girl brashly, so brashly, she turned with a look confused and concerned. "Can you please tend to your sister, help her into costume whilst I have a word with Mr Destler?" Erik's head snapped up from looking at her. She nodded a reply, er auburn pigtails bobbed causing a ripple to travel through them like a shaking flame. She left seconds later.

"What is this about Nadi-" Before Erik could finish what he was saying, his friend slammed into him. Consequently knocking the air out of his lungs and leaving a nasty bruise on his ribs.

"You! This is about you! You and your crush on MY Cynthia!" The Persian yelled in his friends face as he kept him pinned up against the wall, a hand to his neck. The Phantom was helpless beneath the Persians grasp. Once upon a time Nadir was the tiger of assassins, so fast his prey couldn't run - so strong they could not hide. Whilst Erik tended to play more with the shadows and the elegance of tricks and traps.

Of course, she could never know.

"She isn't yours!" He struggled to speak as air was in short supply now, due to the firm and strong hand, enclosed around his muscular neck. "You're just a suitor!"

"So you don't deny you have a love for her?!" He asked impatiently. When his friend did not reply, he dragged him off the wall and slammed him against it again. Causing his back to make a nasty cracking sound.

"I-I have only taken a fancy to her, I swear!" He cried out, feeling but a helpless child. Yet his friend did not see convinced as the veins that stuck out on his head pulsed and he was entirely red, baring his teeth.

"Erik, she is the best thing that ever happened to me! You will not steal her away! Do you hear me?!" Again, he violently slammed him against the wall. "DO YOU HEAR ME?!"

"Yes..." Cynthia said from the door, her eyes sympathetic and saddened at Nadir's rash actions. "I hear you Nadir. I hear you loud and clear!"

Dra-ha-ma!