Allegra waited outside, tapping her foot. She paused and looked down at the bandaged arm. Suddenly she thought about ripping off the cloth and swinging her arm up and down, run, jump around, do anything to prove to others that she wasn't weak.
Too many people thought of her that way. An innocent flower to be cared for, preserved in a glass case for safety. She hated the way she looked, especially injured. Nya looked confident and strong, someone that scoffed at anyone who dared to think she needed help. Allegra wished she was more like her.
Erik was the worst of all, treating her like a little sister about to go off into the real world. Not knowing the persistent dangers around every corner, constantly following her. She knew those shadows though, she had been through a lot in life despite looking naive.
That was why she had grabbed Meg's defense gun. To save herself from the shadows for once.. Or maybe to save herself from the person in the mirror. Shatter it with a bullet.
Allegra's thoughts were interrupted by Erik walking out of the opera house. He seemed abnormal, like something was bothering him. "What's wrong?" she asked.
"You have a bad habit at peering into everyone's lives, you know that?" He glared at her. "Why don't you just shut up sometimes, okay? Leave me alone."
"Hey, rude! This is from the guy that was so worried about me earlier. What happened to him?"
"He woke up," Erik growled, walking past her.
Allegra reached out for his hand but it passed through. "Are you going to tell me if you found anything at least?!"
He threw the binder on the ground, a few clippings falling out. She carefully collected them and placed them back. "What's your problem?!"
Erik turned around, the brown in his eye turning a slight shade of red and his face scrunching up in hatred. "You! Everything about you!" As he walked towards her she stumbled back, tears forming. "I hate you!" he yelled, cursing. "You make me hate myself more! Why don't you just die already and end my misery?!"
She started to cry from the fear and sadness, hating herself even as the tears continued to fall. To make up for her sign of weakness she started to walk away as confidently as she could, though her arms around the binder shook. "You know what?" she said, looking back at him. "You are the monster you think you are. And I was stupid for falling in love with him."
Erik stared at her, utterly surprised. His expression shattered like a glass mirage, and he looked down to shield an array of tears falling down. "I-I'm sorry. I'm so sorry, I-I don't know.. Oh, God, I am." His knees gave way and he sat down hard on the ground, wrapping his arms around himself in a cocoon.
Despite feeling like she had been shot again, she tentatively walked over to him.
He seemed to be gaining control of himself, but hid his face from her. "I fell in love with you too," he admitted. "If anything that makes me worse."
Allegra felt wobbly, a migraine creeping into her mind. "Why did you say those things then?"
"I meant to push you away, protect you from myself. I didn't mean to hurt you, I don't know why I said those things on purpose…"
"... Maybe it was the side of you my mother ran away from."
"... Maybe it was.. Why aren't you running away then? Obviously I'm unpredictable. A grenade."
"Because I'm stronger than her. You're my only hope, even if you do scare me sometimes. And… buried inside you, I know a part of you cares about me."
He looked up at her, poking his head out of his arms like an injured animal. "Do you often treat others with such compassion?"
"Those that deserve it, and even those that don't, because I know no one else would care to offer theirs."
He shook his head. "Such a plain way of looking at the world in black and white…" He sighed. "Are you going to let me continue 'snooping around' with you now that you know everything?"
"Hm… On one condition."
"Anything, I swear."
"If you wear the hat."
Erik bitterly laughed. "Fine, give me the stupid hat if it makes you happy."
Allegra took off the hat and gave it to him. "This doesn't mean I forgive you though. That really did hurt."
"I don't ask for your forgiveness. Obviously I don't deserve it," he muttered, putting the hat on.
"Are you sure I'm the one that thinks in white and black? Some things are clear. Like when you love someone, you think, 'This is what love feels like.' Clear as day. But when someone kills someone else in defense, it's not as clear. It's still murder, but does defense really clear the crime?"
"Maybe they should both die so there is no more arguing about it."
"There's that sadistic humor I love. Now come on, Idiot, we're losing daylight."
He stood up, an annoyed look on his face as they walked together. "Hey, Idiot is my nickname for you, Idiot."
"Sure, Phantom."
"Phantom? Really? That's like an insult."
"Oh, and Idiot isn't?"
"... Good point." Erik smirked at Allegra, and she smiled back.
Allegra looked at the back of the binder, the later dates. It was pretty terrible, the words about her. Anyone would be heartbroken about the end of their career already, but the critics were appalling.. The last article gave the approximate location she lived near Paris. Only a few hours away by taxi. It said she was fine with visitors to 'glorify my old fame' if they didn't bring insults with them. The date was a few months ago.
She told him all of this, and after she had nothing to say silence fell.
As they walked down the street she grabbed his hand and held it firmly, surprising herself. He seemed startled and uncomfortable, but didn't pull away. After a minute or two he relaxed and tried to pretend that this was normal for them, for him. That he was alive, that this was a real possibility when it was about as real as a dream.
For now, it was okay to dream.
"You know, I suppose I just had to almost die."
"Why is that?" Erik asked, confused.
"To get even with you."
"Wait, I haven't really come close to dying, and you almost suffocated and was shot."
"When I thought Meg had killed you, it was a lot worse. At least people were there to help me. I had no one. I came close to telling Nya, but she wouldn't have understood even if I had told her everything. I felt really alone. It was like waking up from a good dream and starting to cry because it was a good dream, and you didn't want it to end. You don't really understand unless it's happened to you, like love. Books don't come close because words can't explain it. If anything no words explain it." Allegra realized she was rambling and stopped, looking down.
"I understand. And I'm sorry I caused-cause-so much pain. That was why I hid from society to begin with."
"... Well, pain is okay so long as I have someone to share it with."
"Hm, very strange idiot indeed."
"Oh shut up," Allegra laughed.
It was quiet for a bit before Allegra spoke again.
"You're forgiven," she whispered to Erik.
For now, it was okay for Erik to feel happy.
It felt nicer than the alternative.
(Good golly I've procrastinated from work again. Oh well, I can't help it. I think working as a journalist has made me realize just how much I hate working as a journalist. I honestly dread when I'm told to write an article now. Creative writing is so much better.. Luckily for you guys, this is creative writing! Thank you so much for the new review, followers, and favorites since the last update. Kind words really are impacting, and critical words are even better because then I want to become better. Thanks again! :) )