"What the hell are you doing here, Daroga?" Erik said, "You promised, Nadir! You promised you would never again interfere in Erik's affairs!"
"That was before you took to kidnapping young sopranos," Nadir replied calmly, "Honestly, Erik. Did you not expect that there would be some sort of trouble over all this? That childhood friend of hers has been worried sick! Everyone thought him mad with his ravings of angels and geniuses, but I knew differently. You cannot continue to hold the girl against her will, Erik!" Erik was fuming.
"SHE IS HERE OF HER OWN VOLITION!" he shouted, his normally angelic voice distorted with rage, "SHE SAID SHE WOULD STAY WITH ME! I TOLD HER SHE DID NOT HAVE TO, BUT SHE SAID SHE WOULD STAY! SHE HAS KISSED MY FOREHEAD, DAROGA! SHE SAID SHE WOULD STAY!"
"Is this true, mademoiselle?" the Persian said, turning to Christine with a look of surprise on his face, "Are you really here of your own free will?" Erik turned to her, his eyes pleading with her to say yes. She knew that if she wanted to she could go back, but Erik's heart would break if she left him. She nodded.
"I appreciate your concern, monsieur, but I am quite happy here with Erik," she said, "He has been nothing but kind to me, and you may tell Raoul not to worry, for I am quite safe as you can tell." Erik collapsed at Christine's feet, sobbing with relief.
"Thank you, Christine!" he cried, "Thank you! Thank you!" Nadir looked on as Christine knelt beside Erik and tried to calm his tears. He had never seen his friend in such a vulnerable state before, and hoped he would never have to again.
"So much for looking dignified," Erik thought as Christine stroked his hair, "How am I ever to show her that I am a man rather than a sniveling child? But oh, sweet heaven! She said she was happy here with Erik! Happy! Oh, her happiness is nothing compared to mine!" He suddenly recalled Nadir's presence and sat up quickly, turning to face him.
"As for you, sir," he began.
"Won't you join us for lunch?" Christine interrupted. Both Erik and the Daroga stared at her in disbelief.
"What?" they exclaimed in unison.
"Well, he did go to all the trouble of coming down here," said Christine, "And we were about to make lunch anyway, so..." She trailed off. Erik sighed.
"Alright," he grumbled. She smiled and gave him a quick hug.
"I'll cook this time," she said, "You two can chat." With this she disappeared into the kitchen, leaving Erik to fend for himself. There were a few moments of uncomfortable silence, but at last Erik decided to break the ice.
"Won't you sit down, Nadir?" he asked, gesturing to a chair.
"Gladly," said the Daroga. They sat down and spent another minute or so just looking at each other.
"So," Nadir said at last, "You've finally gotten what you always wanted, eh old friend?" Erik paused.
"Well, not quite," he said softly, "But more than I had ever hoped for. She's so gentle, Nadir! The way she treats me, it's like a dream. You can't imagine how it felt to have her kiss my forehead. It was the most wondrous thing this wretched body of mine has ever experienced! She taught me to waltz today, Daroga. Who would have ever guessed? I, the living corpse, waltzing with a woman!"
"I'm happy for you, Erik," said Nadir with a smile, "You deserve a bit of joy after the miserable life you've led. Are you going to ask her to marry you?" Erik chuckled.
"I don't think I could work up the nerve," he said, "If she said no, I'd die of misery. If she said yes, I'd die of joy. And even if I survived, what of the honeymoon? Would she even let me near her? If she did, I know I'd be a disappointment. I know nothing of the art of love, and even if I did, I'm an old man, Daroga. I don't think I'd be able to give her what she deserves. Do you think-"
"Erik!" said Nadir, cutting him off, "This matter is entirely between you and Christine! You will discuss it with her when the time comes, but leave me out of it!"
"Sorry old friend," Erik said with a wry chuckle, "I'm just nervous, that's all. I love her, Nadir, sometimes so much it hurts." The Daroga nodded, putting a hand to his chin in thought.
"Does she love you, Erik?" Nadir asked. Erik sighed, slumping down a bit in his chair.
"I believe," he said softly, "That she could one day come to love me. I'm so close, Nadir, so close I can almost taste it! There are times when I look at her, and she looks at me, and I think she's going to say it, but then something happens and she doesn't. When you came in, I could've sworn she was going to whisper those three sweet words in my ear. Just like you to interrupt something like that, Daroga." Nadir grinned.
"Glad to oblige," he said, "But Erik, you must understand. The girl needs time. You can't expect her to love you immediately. And people up above are quite worried. I highly doubt the De Chagny boy is going to take my word about Christine being safe. You really should let her return to the surface, if only for a little while. It would calm people down a great deal."
"And then what? Steal her away again?" Erik exclaimed, "She'll surely be asked questions as to where she was, and she can't very well say, can she? And what if I should loose her to some handsome young man? This childhood friend, Raoul, just may turn into something more! Would you be so cruel as to take away from me the only joy I've ever experienced?" He was glaring daggers at Nadir, who only shook his head sadly. At that very moment, Christine walked into the room.
"Lunch is ready," she said, looking worriedly from Erik to Nadir and back again, "Erik, you have not yet properly introduced me to your friend." Erik rolled his eyes.
"Ah yes, we must always observe social custom, even when five stories underground," he grumbled, "Christine Daae, may I present to you Nadir Khan, Persian chief of police and my eternal torment. Nadir, this is Mademoiselle Christine Daae, rising star of the Palais Garnier and most angelic Margarita ever to set foot on a stage." Nadir tipped his hat.
"A pleasure to meet you, mademoiselle," he said.
"Likewise, monsieur Kahn," she responded.
"Well," said Erik, rising to his feet, "Now that that's been taken care of, let's see about lunch, shall we?" They made their way to the dining room, where Christine had set three places: one at the head of the table and one to either side. Erik took the seat at the head of the table and Nadir took the seat at his right. Christine began to serve the food. She doled out helpings of peas, mashed potatoes, and chicken sufficient to feed soldiers. Erik stared at his plate.
"Christine, this is too much," he said.
"Erik, you need to eat. Just as much as you can, of course, but please try. You're so thin," she replied, looking at him with concern. Erik couldn't refuse that look. He swore to himself that he would try to put on some weight, if only to please Christine.
"Alright," he muttered, picking up his spoon and shoving a bite of peas in his mouth. She smiled at him and began to eat as well. Nadir grinned and shook his head.
"You're the only person I've ever seen who can make him eat, miss Christine," he said with amazement, "You have a gift." Erik growled, taking a sip of wine.
"Thank you, monsieur," she said with a smile, "So, how are things above? Are you acquainted with Madame Valerius? I've been worried about her."
"No, I do not know her," said Nadir, glancing sideways at Erik who glared back at him, then hung his head.
"Would... would you like to pay her a visit, Christine?" Erik choked out, his heart breaking with every word he spoke. He looked up at Christine, whose face was bright and hopeful.
"Oh Erik, you'd really take me to see her?" she asked him, beaming, "That would mean so much to me." His jaw dropped.
"You want... m-me to take you?" he stammered. Christine's face fell.
"That is, unless you don't want to," she said, "If you'd rather I go up alone I will, but I thought..." She sighed.
"No!" cried Erik, "No, of course I'll take you! I thought you didn't want me along! Oh Christine, you continue to amaze me every day. You would really allow yourself to be seen in public with a monster like me?"
"You're not a monster, Erik," she said, taking his hand, "You're my friend. My very dear friend. You shouldn't have to hide. Might we go see Mama Valerius tomorrow?" Erik nodded. He couldn't stop smiling! "She called me her friend!" he thought, "Her very dear friend! And she wants me with her! Oh, I'll be just like a normal man on a visit! With Christine at my side I could do it, I'm sure."
"I'm so glad I could get him to come with me," thought Christine, "He needs social interaction, and it's best to start out with something easy like a visit to Mama Valerius. Oh, they're going to get on quite well, I just know it! She was the only one I felt I could tell about my Angel of Music. That is, until Raoul eavesdropped. Oh Raoul, I wonder why he's so worried about me?"
"This food is delicious," said Nadir, "You truly are a marvelous cook. It shouldn't be too difficult to get Erik to eat if all your cooking tastes like this!" Christine smiled and looked over at Erik's plate. He had eaten about a third of his chicken and most of his peas. It was impossible to tell how much, if any, he had consumed of his mashed potatoes, as he was sculpting them into an intricate structure with his fork. Christine put a hand to her mouth to stifle her laughter. Nadir, however was not so successful. When he glanced over to see what was amusing Christine he burst out laughing, startling Erik and causing him to jerk the fork and create a jagged line down the side of his creation. He scowled at Nadir.
"Erik," said Christine as politely as she could, "It's very lovely, but it's not good manners to play with your food. Perhaps clay would be better suited to your purpose?" This statement caused Nadir to laugh even harder, nearly falling out of his chair.
"Oh, my friend," he said when he had at last calmed down, "You're always working on something, aren't you?" Erik glowered at him silently from behind his mask. Sensing trouble, Christine tried to direct the discussion elsewhere.
"Would anyone like dessert?" she asked, "I made some little cakes."
"That sounds excellent!" said Nadir. Erik nodded. Christine rose and went into the kitchen to fetch the cakes. She returned momentarily carrying a tray and placed it down between the three of them. Nadir reached over and took a cake, placing it in his mouth. Erik hesitated, then took one as well.
"These are delicious!" said Nadir, taking a second one. Christine smiled.
"Thank you," she said, then helped herself to one of the cakes. Erik had finished his, and sat there licking his fingertips.
"Christine, I'd never thought that eating could actually be so... enjoyable," he said, smiling at her.
"How could it be otherwise, with her cooking?" said Nadir with a grin, pulling out his pocket watch, "Well, I'm afraid I must be going. Enjoy your afternoon." Christine bid him good-bye and Erik walked him to the door.
"Daroga," Erik hissed, "You are my friend, but in the future I should like to have Christine's company, and her cooking, to myself." Nadir laughed.
"Alright my friend," he said, "I won't be popping by again anytime soon. Take good care of yourself, and her."
"Oh, you don't have to worry about that," Erik said, "I shall protect her with my life. Good day, Daroga."
"Good day, Erik," Nadir responded, then turned and left. Erik returned hurriedly to the dining room, where he found Christine clearing plates from the table.
"Christine," he said, laying a hand on her arm, "Let Erik do that. You should not have to work. After all, you already did the cooking." He proceeded to take over the clearing of the table, removing all of the dishes and washing them in the sink before drying them and placing them in the cabinet. He turned and smiled at Christine.
"Thank you for making lunch," he said, "Erik is very grateful. Is there any way he can repay you?" Christine smiled.
"Erik," she said, "You don't need to repay me, it is I who should be repaying you! So far, you've been doing all the cooking. It's only fair that I should help out." She closed the space between them and wrapped her arms around him.
"C-Christine," he stammered, unsure of what to do. She leaned her head against his chest, closing her eyes.
"Thank you so much for offering to take me to see Mama Valerius tomorrow," she said softly, "It was very kind of you. You've always been kind to me, Erik. I just wanted to thank you for that." With that she pulled back, smiled at him, then turned and left the room.